| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Ashdown on Mostar | HDZ on education minister | No proofs for coup d’etat | Missing persons day |
| Air Srpska | SFOR in Bihac and Pale | Ashdown in Mostar | RS have electricity surplus |
| Old bridge in Mostar | Pensions in Federation | SFOR search | Trial on Orao case started |
| Estonians wants EU | Swedish no for Euro | Vares steel mill | Sweden said no to Euro |
| Oslobodjenje | Coup d’ etat was not being prepared |
| Dnevni Avaz | Knezevic considers the (FOSS) report legally unfounded |
| Dnevni List | “Interview with HR Paddy Ashdown: Interest of Mostar citizens to be put first”; “Norbert Winterstein Chairman of Commission”; “Ambassador Hays and RS Prime Minister Mikerevic visited Trebinje: BiH is the only country in the Balkans which has surplus electricity” |
| Vecernji List | “New Commission to Mostar”; “Hilmo Pasic: There is no sitting on two chairs” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | There will be protests of pensioners in Republika Srpska: Ramp at the border |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH Prosecutor’s Office completes an analysis of FOSS report: No grounds for investigation on coup d’etat; Agreement for new Commission in charge of creation of Statute of City of Mostar: Second attempt for unification of Mostar; EBRD: Ivanic is the member of the Steering Board of EBRD Governors |
| Blic | Damage from surplus |
Political developments | |
| Ashdown appoints commission for unifying Mostar
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 8, mentioned on the front page ‘Mostar statute to be drafted by December 15’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, mentioned on the front page ‘Ashdown: Unification of Mostar has been launched’, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Second attempt for unification of Mostar’, FENA – After witnessing the signing of a letter of obligation to find a lasting solution to the problem of the Mostar city reconstruction in line with the best European practices, High Representative Paddy Ashdown and SDHR Werner Wnendt held a news conference in the town on Monday. They spoke about steps that had to be undertaken to ensure the adoption of a permanent statute of the city of Mostar. “We have gathered here today to set in motion an urgent process of unification of Mostar, the process that is far behind its schedule,” Ashdown said, adding that this process was very important not just for the city itself but for the state too. “The guidelines set for the first commission remain guidelines for this one too,” Ashdown said, stressing that he would not allow domination of a majority over a minority. Ashdown thanked representatives of all political parties that signed the document, in which they pledged to work together for the future of Mostar and to work in the commission during its life-time. The letter of obligation to take part in the decision-making process about the future of the city of Mostar was signed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the People’s Party (NS) Welfare through Work, the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), the Social Democratic Union (SDU), the Party for BiH (SBiH) and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA). According to the letter of obligation, the High Representative appoints a commission to reform the city of Mostar, which will have at most 12 members, including representatives of political parties, experts and chairmen. The commission will look into legal measures necessary for reforming the institutional structures in Mostar, finding legal and constitutional regulations, which are contrary with this demand and propose legal documents and other legal instruments for these to be amended. The High Representative appointed Norbert Winterstein international chairman of the commission. Winterstein will be in charge of steering the commission’s work, of drafting its programme of activities and of convening its sessions. The commission chairman has the right to appoint at most five experts in the commission. The commission will undertake all efforts to find a comprehensive solution to controversial issues regarding the status of Mostar by December 15 2003. Dnevni List (front page and page 14, “Norbert Winterstein Chairman of Commission”, not signed, and page 16, “Ashdown: We shall not allow dominance of majority”, not signed), Vecernji List (front page, “New Commission to Mostar” and page 3, “Unification of Mostar follows”, “Ashdown: There will be no dominance”, by Misijana Brkic Milinkovic, Zoran Kresic), Jutarnji List (page 4, “Ashdown demands unification of Mostar”, by S. Pavic), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 13, “To unify Mostar by December 15”, by Z. Zekic) and Vjesnik (page 2, “Ashdown appointed new Commission for reorganization of Mostar”, by Hina) also reported on the issue. DL also carries reactions of political parties’ leaders on this issue. Miroslav Coric from HDZ stated: “From the statements given by leading people of some political parties today I can see that there will be no consensus, however, HDZ will certainly work in accordance with the HR’s task.” SDP president Zlatko Lagumdzija stated: “I believe that principles of this Commission are acceptable and better and I have to say that, through his associates, the HR will lead to good results.” VL says that Lagumdzija called on the HR to send a message to SDA and HDZ saying that without them there was ‘good atmosphere’ during the signing of the aforementioned document. Mirsad Kebo from SDA stated: “SDA will advocate clear positions that it stands for unified Mostar with developed forms of local self-rule according to European standards.” Safet Halilovic from Party for BiH stated: “Having in mind its political competence, I hope that this Commission will be able to offer a model of organization of Mostar to the benefit of all citizens and BiH.” DL, VL and SD carry that during the press conference the HR stated: “Those who are afraid of dominance do not have reason for it because we shall not allow any dominance of majority over minority.” The HR also said that the new Commission should complete its work by December 15. VL comments on the yesterday’s event saying that one does not have to hope too much that the result of the new Commission’s work will be the joint one because local, SDA leader Fatima Leho was the only one who did not attend yesterday’s signing of the political document. VL goes on to say that in that case the HR would pass judgment on the items that were not harmonized. Dnevni List (page 15) carries a public opinion poll in which the citizens are asked as to what they expect from the new Mostar Commission. Some interviewed citizens say that they believe that nothing should be changed and that the current organization of Mostar is the best solution. |
| DL: Interview with the HR Paddy Ashdown on Mostar | Dnevni list (front & p 7, “Interest of Mostar citizens to be put first”, by Miso Relota) carries an interview with the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, entirely dedicated to the Mostar issue. Speaking of his expectations from the new Mostar Commission, the HR says the Commission should put the interests of the citizens first. It should complete its work within the given deadline and should draft a functional plan of an efficient administration. Asked about whether the fear from alleged domination of the majority over the minority people in Mostar is justified, the HR replied there cannot be such fear either in BiH nor in Mostar. Finally, the HR called upon the citizens of Mostar to participate in the Commission’s work, to hold their representatives responsible and not to let the things to politicians only. |
| SDU on Mostar organization | Dnevni List (page 6, “Mostar should abolish Municipalities”, by Fena) carries that during the press conference of the SDU Mostar City Board, SDU vice president Sejfudin Tokic stated: “Mostar should abolish Municipalities and this is the only condition that should be met in order to get unified administration and one budget in this city.” Tokic also stressed that it is obvious that SDA and HDZ cannot resolve the Mostar issue because all the agreements, that they have reached so far, showed antagonism instead of creation of an efficient administration. |
| Ashdown addresses Circle 99 session | Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Nationalists leading BiH to an economic disaster’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘My partners in the government were elected by the people’, ONASA — The Dayton Agreement has been designed in order to put an end to the war in BiH, not to run the country, High Representative Paddy Ashdown told a Circle 99 session on Monday. “We will have to change this Agreement by reaching compromise solutions one after another, and that process has already begun through the indirect taxation and defense laws,” Ashdown said, adding that “it is through such compromises break the inter-entity boundary line monopoly.” A member of the “Circle 99” Presidency, Raif Dizdarevic, said there were two completely different systems in BiH, meaning the BiH Federation and Republika Srpska, adding that the fragmented economic space further complicates the situation in the country. “Such a system in BiH does not promise a safe future, while the Entities further regenerate nationalisms,” Dizdarevic said, noting that BiH did not have much time or patience for reforms. Speaking about unemployment and reforms in BiH, Josip Pejakovic said the “Bulldozer” initiative could not be implemented with and through the nationally burdened people occupying senior positions in the government. Jakob Finci reminded Ashdown that two initiatives for the amendments to the BiH Constitution had been conceived in the “Circle 99” milieu. “The Constitution is changed through amendments in the Parliament, while the compromises you have achieved based on your Bonn powers are insufficient,” Finci said. The High Representative said his job in BiH was to work himself out of job, but until such time a lot needs to be done in BiH, in cooperation with local partners, with regard to the civil society organization and the creation of a functioning state. “I serve BiH to the extent I serve the international community,” Ashdown concluded. |
| Bosniak-Croat ruling coalition reportedly splits over education reform | BHTV – The Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) has called for the resignation of Zijad Pasic, Federation minister for education and science. This is not the only demand by the HDZ, which also wants to reassess its partnership with the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) sources from both parties have confirmed to BHTV. Following a recent walkout by Croat ministers from a Federation government session in Mostar, the coalition has been seriously shaken and the functioning of the authorities has been brought into question. SDA vice-president Seada Palavric said: “We willl make an analysis of ministers’ performances during the previous period and then decide what to do…in any case we will continue our partnership relations with HDZ.” Velibor Jukic, member of BiH Parliament from HDZ maintains that ”there is cooperation between two parties, but communication is not very well and actual implementation of the agreed is lagging behind”. Croat representatives in the Government continue to work without any interruption. OHR underlined Government should resolve these problems on its own. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Crisis in the FBiH Government still exists’ – The HDZ-appointed Federation Ministers did not actively participate in the work of the Government on Monday, which means that the crisis in the body caused by the disputes over education reforms has been continued. Dnevni List (page 2, “Political ‘colonels or dead men’ “, by Miso Relota) carries an editorial dealing with the fact that Croat Ministers left the last session of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government. The editorial says that there are 3 possibilities with regard to resolving of this crises and the author concludes: “The first one is that the Croat ministers return with their heads bowed, that is, that the system of the decision-making does not change and that the systematic robbery of Croat territories continue. The second possibility is that they return with raised heads, that is, that the system of the decision-making changes and that the mechanism that makes impossible outvoting of Croat ministers is built in. The third possibility is that the Croat ministers never return to the FBiH Government, that is, that the Croat areas themselves start to take care of their own problems.” On the same issue DL (page 6, “Government from Wonderland”, by Slavo Kukic) says that in any democratic country the fact that one third of ministers left the session of the Government would be a certain sign of the Government’s collapse or at least an alarm for the ruling, parliamentary majority. The author goes on to say that, nevertheless, the rules that are valid elsewhere are no valid in this country. |
| SDA supports reforms in BiH | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘SDA accepted OHR’s proposal (re Mostar), Dnevni Avaz pg. 4’ Support to reforms with certain improvements (of their quality)’, FENA – Presidency of the BiH Party of Democratic Action (SDA) supports reform in the indirect taxation system, defence sector and the intelligence services, with concrete remarks to the proposed text, with the aim of improving of certain resolutions that may jeopardise the essence of reformatory goals, was announced by SDA. The Party obligates its officials at state level to monitor the procedure and in line with adopted remarks make additional efforts and try to reach a compromise for the purpose of passing the best possible solutions, was announced. The final decision on voting of representatives on these proposals will be issued by the SDA Presidency. SDA Presidency has accepted the recommendation of OHR on participating in the making of decisions on the future of Mostar, with the condition that the final decisions of the Commission are passed by consensus of representatives of all constituent peoples, was announced by SDA. |
| Ashdown’s statement to Vienna daily | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Dangerous games with Constitution’ – In an interview to the Austrian daily “Die Standard”, the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, stated that the demands and debates aimed at revising Dayton Agreement and changing BiH Constitution are dangerous, while compromises demanded by every-day-life cannot be neglected. He stressed that the final goal is to create a functional state of BIH, which would take the path towards Europe. Regarding defence reform in BiH, HiRep stated that “for the first time, politicians in BiH leave the captivity of Dayton and transfer entity jurisdiction onto the state.” HiRep also confirmed to the daily that he regularly submits report to BiH Parliament, which none of his predecessors did. Regarding this, he also admitted that those reports are actually decisions reflecting his own will. According to GS inset, Ashdown will today meet Pierre Richard Prosper, American Envoy for War Crimes. |
| SDS Main Board convened | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘SDS Main Board convened’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Elections within the party unnecessary’ – Following Monday’s session of the SDS Chair Board in Banjaluka, Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson, stated that the coming SDS Congress (to take place on 26 September in Banjaluka) will not be of election character. At this session, the Congress is to discuss the document on framework policy of SDS. Cvjetin Nikic has been elected to replace Djojo Arsenovic as Vice President of voting district 4. Stojicic also denied existence of nay rifts and conflicts within the party. He also expressed full support of SDS to Republika Srpska Association of Inmates to place a commemorative plaque at Viktor Bubanj barracks on 19 September. |
| VL editorial: “Referendum, dum, dum” | Vecernji List editorial (p 6, by Radoslav Dodig) reads that what one can conclude from renewed attempts to hold pan-Croat Assembly and referendum is that BiH Croat officials, both party and religious ones, are political dilettantes and make Croats unintentionally depict themselves as jeopardized minority. Croat officials in BiH have still not learned to act within state system framework. Dodig wonders what legitimacy an Assembly, which gathers people by the liking of the HDZ, and what legitimacy a referendum called by such an ad hoc gathering can have. “Is there a political, legal or any other kind of responsibility for the implementation of the Assembly and the referendum, which have weakened the Croat people politically, morally, legally and financially, so far? The only thing left to the constituent people smallest in number is to be wise and cunning and how to find the wise and cunning people – this is a political problem”, the editorial concludes. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Hays and Mikerevic visits Trebinje
| BHTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘RS Elektroprivreda selling electricity under the market price’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda sells power beyond lowest price’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Keys in our hands’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Damage from electricity surplus’, FENA – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays visits Trebinje on Monday. They first visited the “Industrija Alata Trebinje” company where they met with Manager Milan Grubac and Trade Union representatives and discussed problems this company was facing. “We need to find ways to support all export oriented companies, including this company. Our greatest evil is poverty and we have capacities to defeat it, but before that we need to get rid of our old habits”, Mikerevic said. Following talks in the Elektroprivreda RS headquarters Mikerevic said that he requested the management of this company to immediately remove all negative things and to take drastic action against illegal activities and those responsible for such activities. Dnevni List front & p 4, “BiH is the only country in the Balkans which has surplus electricity”, by De. L. carries that, during his visit to Trebinje with the RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and following the tour of the Tools Factory, PDHR Donald Hays stated that the Factory could surely expand its production and export had there been proper investments. The Factory’s Management and the Trade Unions are said to be ready to solve social problems if the IC and the RS Government are ready to help them in that. Speaking of Elektroprivreda RS, Hays expressed concern over the fact that only some 50% of beneficiaries pay electricity bills. |
| Nicholl: Groundless statements on BiH’s bankruptcy | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘State in which foreign currency reserves increase cannot face bankruptcy’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Nicolle: BiH is not faced with bankruptcy’, FENA – Governor of the BiH Central Bank (CBBH) Peter Nicholl regarded as groundless the statements according to which BiH is facing insolvency and bankruptcy. Such statements, which reject the necessary investments, are not only harmful for the state but are incorrect due to several reasons, said the Governor, was announced by CBBH. The first fact that confirms that BiH is not facing insolvency or bankruptcy is the total foreign debt that is moderate and is estimated at approximately 40 percent of GDP. The foreign debt has been fully serviced till now and its servicing will not represent a problem for BiH in the future, said the Governor. The fact that BiH is not facing bankruptcy is also confirmed by the foreign currency reserves of BiH, which have been increased over the past months. In the countries that face insolvency the foreign currency reserves are not increasing, but are being rapidly reduced, emphasised Governor Nicholl. |
| Ivanic member of EBRD Board | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Ivanic is the member of the Steering Board of EBRD Governors’ – Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, is the member of the Steering Board of Governors of EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). The Steering Board is consisted of one official of 60 mainly European states, plus one official for each, EU and European Investment Bank. However, the Board is to be consisted of Finance Ministers of member-states, whilst Ivanic is Foreign Minister. Ljerka Maric, BiH Foreign Minister, stated that at one of BiH COM’s session, Ministers decided that Ivanic should sit at EBRD Board as BiH Governor, whilst his deputy would be Jusuf Kumalic, BIH Deputy Finance Minister. She also noted that the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, sits as BiH official at World Bank, whilst she sits at IMF. She also noted that they do not receive any financial compensation (a sort of salaryt) for these functions. |
| SBS will not allow RS pensioners to block the border crossings | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Ramp on the border’ – The State Border Service informed the Republika Srpska Association of Pensioners that they will not succeed in their intention to block the border, as they announced in the sign of protest against the behaviour of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities. And this is another failed attempt of Republika Srpska pensioners to divert local and international public intention onto failure of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities to implement the decision of the Human Rights Chamber. According to this decision, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was to pay out pensions to all its beneficiaries, who earned it in this entity. Blic pg. 7 ‘Encouragement for pensioners’ – Director of the RS PIO Public Fund, Jovo Kosmajac, has confirmed that the World Bank and OSCE are working constructively on solving problems of pensions’ payment to beneficiaries in the place in which they had earned them. |
| Update to Balaban affair | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘New vacancy announcement would be in violation of the law’ – Dr. Zivana Gavric, who was the only counter-candidate to Milorad Balaban at the latest vacancy announcement for the position of Director of Health Care Institute, stated that re-announcement of vacancy for Director would be in violation with the Law. According to her, the only legal move that the Republika Srpska Government can make is to annul the appointment of Balaban , as ordered by Republika Srpska Ombudsman, and appoint me at the position. |
| Audit into Banjaluka Clinical Centre | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Auditors open books’ – The Republika Srpska Chief Public Sector Audit Office yesterday commenced with the audit into the management of Banjaluka Clinical Centre. Bosko Ceko, Chief Auditor, confirmed that audit for last year is currently ongoing. |
| Bids for sale of surplus of RS Army’s arms opened | Blic pg. 6 ‘SFOR is checking candidates’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘From Canada to Igman’ – “Nine companies have registered at a tender for sale of surplus of arms of the RS Army”, director of the Office for arms production and trade, Vladislav Jokic, said on Monday. Three companies are from Serbia and Montenegro, one from Canada and the others are from BiH. After opening of bids, Jokic told reporters that in next 30 days SFOR would review the operation of the companies that registered for the arms purchase. SFOR needs to verify that each potential buyer is a registered arms dealer and ensure that the weapons’ final user is not a country facing an arms embargo. After the period, the name of buyer will be announced. Sarajevo and RS media also reported on the issue. |
| Deadline for social programme expired | Blic pg. 7 ‘Protests are possible’ – Deadline for making a social programme and changing and amending the General Collective Agreement expired yesterday. The Trade Union unsuccessfully asked the Government and Economic Chamber to propose solutions for increasing the lowest labour cost and solving of problem of workers who will stay without job in process of liquidation and privatisation. But, the solutions have not been found yet. Vice-president of the RS Trade Union, Mile Ribic, says that the Trade Union will give another few days to the authority to meet its requests, because the negotiations are in full swing and it is possible that a solution will be found soon. “If our demands are not fulfilled this week, we will not have an alternative – we support negotiations, but if they are without results, protests are inevitable,” Ribic says. |
Security affairs | |
| Federation of BiH Prosecutor says state coup report unfounded
| BH Radio 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘The coup d’ etat was not being prepared’, Dnevni List front & p 5, “Attack on FBiH constitutional order not committed”, by Fena, Slobodna Dalmacija back page, “Accusations against Lagumdzija dropped”, by Hina – The chief Federation of BiH prosecutor, Zdravko Knezevic, has issued a statement in response to the FOSS (Federation Intelligence and Security Service) report on Munir Alibabic (former FOSS chief) and others including SDP leader Zlatko Lagumdzija. Knezevic said that the conclusion of the report was legally unfounded and unjustified. The report said that groups of people had been organized to engage in criminal acts, particularly acts directed against the constitutional order of the Federation. Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Enormous damage for BiH’ – Lagumdzija said that even without the Prosecutor’s press release he k new that there had been no preparations for the coup. He expressed his hope that now the authorized bodies would launch a procedure against those who had abused their offices. Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Now it is the Prosecutor’s turn’ – Munir Alibabic said that, in the past 12 months, he had been three times uder strike of SDA leadership and Ivan Vuksic (former acting FOSS Director). He added that now the FBiH Prosecution Office should launch legal proceedings against those who had prevented his from performing certain activities for an international institution. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘No grounds for investigation on coup d’etat’ also carried Knezevic’s statements and Alibabic’s reaction. |
| Intelligence service law to be officially presented to BiH authorities today | FTV, FENA – High Representative Paddy Ashdown, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, Intelligence Services Reform Commission Chair Kalman Kocsis and Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt will hold a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The press conference will mark the official hand over of the Intelligence-Security Service Law, which was prepared by the Intelligence Services Reform Commission, and which the High Representative will hand over to the BiH Council of Ministers Chair, OHR stated. After two months of intensive talks the Intelligence Services Reform Commission has in late August presented the draft law to the High Representative. Since then that law has been analysed by international experts. The law will establish a common intelligence structure in BiH in accordance with democratic principles and practice in other European countries. Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘OSA to be operational by the end of this year’ – By the end of this year, BiH will get its intelligence-security agency (OSA). The service will, according to a draft law that will be presented today, collect, analyse and distribute intelligence data relevant for protection of the BiH sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order, the newspaper learns from the reliable sources. |
| Individuals from FOSS use discrediting material to blackmail political and military officials | Vecernji List (front page, “Intelligence Service officials blackmail politicians by photographs”, and page 3, “Intelligence Service officials were also shooting politicians while they were kissing”, by Z. Jurilj) carries that according to the information coming from the sources close to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Intelligence Service (FOSS), during the last few months a few high-ranked individuals from this Service have been using discrediting material to blackmail some political and military officials. |
Education | |
| SD: “Parents ask for Ashdown’s help”
| Slobodna Dalmacija (p 14, by Petar Marincic) reports that the Council of Parents of Croat pupils who moved from Novi Seher to Ozimice school in Zepce have sent a letter to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown expressing a desire to meet him and to personally inform him on the pressures exerted and mistakes made by the Zenica-Doboj Canton Ministry of Education, as well as by OSCE Field Offices in Tuzla and Zenica. The parents also object the composition of the Interim Steering Board of the unified school, which was appointed by the Cantonal Government. Another reason the parents want to be received by the HR is to deny an image of themselves as a small group of extremists, which is created by the press and FTV. |
| Strike of HNC teachers | Vecernji List (page 7, “Salaries for July next week”, by Z.K.) carries that Prime Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Cantonal Government Miroslav Coric called on the Trade Unions of primary and secondary schools in this Canton to start classes. He added: “I believe that the payment of salaries for July will start at the end of the next week. I claim under full responsibility that there is no model according to which something could be done before.” |
Other issues | |
| Orao trial update
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Decision on request for exclusion of judges awaited for’, Blic pg. 8 – The main hearing against 17 former officials and workers at the Aviation Centre “Orao” Bijeljina, which was to take place yesterday, did not commence, because the decision of the Panel of Judges upon request of defence for exclusion of Panel Chairperson, Nebojsa Jovanovic, and Court President, Dragomir Zivanovic, is still awaited for. |
| Republika Srpska Association of Inmates remain persistent | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Sarajevo still keeping silent’ – Republika Srpska Association of inmates confirmed yesterday that they will today attend the meeting with the Mayor of Sarajevo municipality of Novi Grad, Damir Hadzic, with whom they are to discuss their request for the placement of the commemorative plaque at Viktor Bubanj military barracks on 19 September. Slavko Jovicic, Vice President of Association, reminded that the request for the placement of the plaque was addressed on 5th August, which gave enough time for authorities to prepare for it. |
| SFOR’s action in Bihac | Vecernji List (page 2, “SFOR surrounded ‘Bosnia’”, by F and Z.M.) carries that in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior of the Una-Sana Canton, SFOR members blocked yesterday restaurant ‘Bosna’ located in the center of Bihac. SFOR Commander Sabatier stated that this action took place after they had received the information that illegal weapon is placed in this restaurant, but also after 6-month long surveillance of some people. |