| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| OHR on FTV Law change | Dismissals in telecoms | FTV on Law changes | RS NA session |
|
| RS NA session walkout | RS NA session walkout | Cavic’s letter to HR |
|
| Serbia gov’t challenged | FBiH gov’t on telecoms |
|
|
| UN resolution on Iraq | Terzic in Bulgaria |
|
| Oslobodjenje | BiH in Partnership for Peace this year?; Broadcast of sessions destroys FTV; Slobodan Milosevic admired Mladic; Sefkija Cekic’s son in law chairs BH telecom |
| Dnevni Avaz | New dismissals of management boards; Paddy Ashdown in Herzegovina: Agriculture campaign presented; Durakovic resigned |
| Dnevni List | Paddy is the only one who is impressed by visit to Mostar; Tender for sale of Hercegovacka bank |
| Vecernji List | Authority pays instead of opposition, SDHR Werner Wnendt on reform to intelligence service: HDZ’s objections are not acceptable |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia-related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Republika Srpska Labour Inspectorate: One third of personnel working illegally |
| Nezavisne Novine | Opposition left RS NA session: Ruling coalition protects crime in Telekom; The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government removed the Steering Board of BH Telekom; General Manager of FTV offered resignation; Dragan Cavic : I am not authorised to form Commission for Srebrenica |
| Blic | Telekom accuses Milorad Dodik: he was selling mobile phone operator to Frenchmen; Milovan Stankovic: four-month military service |
| Ljiljan | Associates of the former Yugoslav communist secret police in BiH in the period from 1970-1990; Muhamed Filipovic: Bosnia has been occupied |
| Slobodna Bosna | A large-scale analysis of BiH a year after elections – The year eaten up by ‘Paravacs’ (those politically acting and behaving like the Serb member of the Presidency) |
| Dani | FBiH Government saving at the cost of children suffering cancer |
Economic issues | |
| FBiH government on state capital in state companies
| BHTV1, FTV, CRHB, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6, ‘Minister Brankovic appointed Steering Board of BiH Telecom’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Izet Zigic dismissed Energopetrol and BH gas steering boards’, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government removed the Steering Board of BH Telekom’ – As a part of activities on reforming procedures for managing state capital in public companies, FBiH Traffic and Communications Minister Nedzad Brankovic informed the FBiH Government on Thursday about the implementation of conclusions concerning BH Telecom and HT Mostar. In addition to comprehensive set of measures to improve workings and management of the state capital in telecommunications industry, Brankovic also used his powers to dismiss Steering Boards of BH Telecom, appoint interim board of the company, and to make changes within HT Mostar. FBiH Government also supported the analysis of dealings together with a proposal of measures for resolving the existing situation and improving dealings in four companies under the authority of the FBiH Ministry of Power, Mining and Industry.Government discussed poor performance of state companies in energy sector, such as coalmines, Energopetrol, BiH Gas. According to unofficial sources dismissals in these companies are likely to happen. Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 4 ‘New dismissals in management boards / BH Telecom’s steering board dismissed, to be followed by Energopetrol and BH gas’ – According to Avaz, new chairman of the BH Telecom’s Steering Board is Samir Causevic, professor at the Sarajevo Faculty of Traffic and Communications. Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Sefkija Ceic’s son in law chairs BH telecom’ – According to Oslobodjenje, Causevic is a son in law of dean of the Faculty of Traffic and Communications. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Batlak and Sabrihafizovic refused an offer’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Batlak and Sabrihafizovic refused generous offer’ – According to unofficial information coming from the sources close to FBiH Ministry of Traffic and Communications, members of the former BH Telecom Steering Board Edo Batlak and Dzemil Sabrihafizovic (they are both members of Party for BiH) were offered to be members of the new Steering Board. DL says that they refused this offer saying it is extremely unethical. They stated that the objections on the special auditor’s report coming from BH Telecom are not the opinion of one member only but of the whole Steering Board. |
| Opposition’s walkout form RS NA extraordinary session | CRHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Opposition walked out form the session’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘SNSD delegates walkout out from the session’, Onasa- Opposition parties lead by SNSD walkout from the RS National Assembly’s extraordinary session as agenda did not include the discussion about the audit report on Telekom Srpske. RS NA Speaker Dragan Kalinic rejected the request saying it was not ‘very clear’. The Assembly continued work with the discussion of situation in health sector. RTRS, BHTV 1 – Leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik stated: ‘We do not want to participate in this travesty and they try to avoid the responsibility for such important problems like Telecom company’. FTV, Blic pg. 13 ‘Djokic: secret selling of Telekom’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Report on Telekom Srpske on 29 October’ – Petar Djokic, SPRS president, said that the parliamentary majority is creating a secret privatisation plan for Telekom. Following his discussions with Dodik, Kalinic announced that audit reports will be included in the agenda, as it’s the first item, for the meeting on 29 October. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘Ruling coalition protects crime in Telekom’; Glas Srpske pg. 2 ‘Opposition left session’ – SNSD representative Milorad Dodik accused the Speaker of the entity Parliament, Dragan Kalinic, of misusing his function in refusing to include the discussion of report on RS Telecom in the agenda, and of violating the operational procedure by ignoring the requests of the opposition. He said that it is “primarily necessary to prevent the enormous ongoing crime”, accusing the ruling coalition of protecting crime.”Without Telecom on the daily agenda and clear determining of responsible persons for the situation in this company, we do not wish to participate in this farce”, he said. |
| Dani hails Mikerevic’s plan for RS Telecom consolidation | Dani pg. 16 Bosnian Barometer – The magazine awarded the RS Government of Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic with three stars (an excellent move) due to adoption of its plan of action for the consolidation of the RS Telecom. The Government unlike their colleagues in the Federation accepted the special auditor’s report but only as the basis for the implementation of its plan. And, according to the magazine, one of the main things defined by the Action Plan is the political position that the company’s shareholders and not the Government will decide on the fate of the RS Telecom Steering Board. |
| Ashdown visits Mostar | CRHB, FTV, BHTV 1, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Future in hand of youth’, Dnevni List front, pg 14 ‘Paddy is the only one who is impressed by visit to Mostar’, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Agriculture campaign presented’, pg 3 ‘The crisis can be avoided only with development of economy’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Only way out from the crisis is in setting production in motion’ – The High Representatives Paddy Ashdown visited Mostar on Thursday, where he met with farmers and visited their land in Baglaj. At that occasion, Ashdown promoted OHR’s Agriculture and Profit campaign. He said in Mostar he does not fear from return of ethnic and national conflict in BiH, but fears how to develop the economy in the future and avoid the raising crises. ‘In front of us there is a huge crisis that can be avoided if we quickly start the industry and overall economy in BiH,’ said Ashdown and added the economy relies on development of small entrepreneurship, private firms and agriculture. After touring an agriculture property in Blagaj and ‘Abrasevic’ Youth Cultural Centre, Ashdown said the area has great agriculture potentials. He stressed that after the visit to the agriculture property in Blagaj he sought that farmers urgently need micro-credits with favorable interest rate, as well as assistance in marketing. Ashdown also stated that the purpose of his visit to Mostar was not political and refused to comment on the work of Mostar Statute Commission. CRHB – On the sessions of Mostar Statute Commission, which are closed to public even their work was suppose to be transparent, High Representatives promised that their work will be transparent, and that Commission’s members will consult public and hold public consultations. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Agriculture is the biggest BiH potential’ – Oslobodjenje writes that only FTV cameraman and Dnevni Avaz photographer were allowed to cover the High Rep’s visit to agriculture farm. ‘I decided to have one TV camera and one photo reporter. I cannot concentrate and focus on conversation with ordinary people if I have 25 journalists around me.’ – said Ashdown. Dnevni List pg 14 ‘Paddy Ashdown escorted by Dnevni avaz only as of yesterday’ -DL’s comments that majority of editors will decide, after this behaviour of the HR, to boycott his activities and show dissatisfaction with the unequal treatment when it comes to access to information even if it means the readers and viewers were to be denied of information. |
| SD: Sale of Hercegovacka Bank | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Hercegovacka bank on sale’, Dnevni List front, pg 2 ‘Tender for sale of Hercegovacka bank’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Tender for sale of Hercegovacka bank’ – VL reports that in accordance with a request of the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, the Provisional Administrator for Hercegovacka bank, Toby Robinson, will today initiate the procedure of public tender, the aim of which to sell the bank and bank’s assets. According to VL, anyone who meets the criteria stipulated in the laws can participate in the competition, and goes on to say that the legal obligation of the Provisional Administrator is to increase the value of the bank and its assets in order to protect the bank’s clients. |
Media | |
| Jasmin Durakovic resigns from FTV
| FTV, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘General Manager of FTV offered resignation’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘No money, no property’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 4 ‘Broadcast of Parliament’s sessions could destroy FTV’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Jasmin Durakovic resigns’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘There is no money for broadcasting, House of People will have to pay it’, Vecernji List front, pg 2 ‘Durakovic placed his mandate at disposal’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Parliament failed at test of Europe’, FENA – Following the decision made by FBiH House of Peoples to impose broadcast of both houses of the FBIH Parliament at FTV, director of RTV FBiH Jasmin Durakovic submitted his resignation. He sent an open letter to FBiH Parliament protesting against such decision, and stressed it was is direct interference with the editorial policy of this public media. He added: ‘It is not financially feasible and I call on delegates to reconsider their decision which puts our institution in delicate situation… I don’t want to participate in such violation of journalist rights and independence’. He blamed ‘certain delegates in the Parliament, who even publicly invited citizens not to pay subscription, for difficult situation in FTV, as well as the Communications Regulatory Agency which limited marketing time for all media and approved transfer of licences for Pink BiH and TV Nova. CRA Spokesperson Amela Odobasic said: ‘CRA is concerned with the decision because it imposes rules on public broadcaster presenting direct interference [with editorial policy]…BiH needs independent public [broadcasting] service.’ BHTV 1 – Association of Electronic Media proposed that for commercial TV broadcasters to broadcast sessions of the Parliament Houses, but stressed that in that case mandatory prescription should be paid to these broadcasters instead of to Federation TV. |
| OHR opposes HoP decision on FTV | CRHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘OHR against the step which made BiH further from Europe’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 4 ‘Broadcast of Parliament’s sessions could destroy FTV’ – Strongly criticising such move, OHR said that the amendment to the Law on FTV, adopted in the Parliament upon the initiative of Mirnes Ajanovic, for BiH presents one step further away from Europe. OHR states that the amendment is not in accordance with the European standards, which prevents Parliaments to control editorial policy of public broadcasters. According to OHR, that is another reason for reorganisation of the entire legal framework of the system of public broadcast. Main European standard is an independent and a sustainable system, and while with present one BH cannot go into Europe. Parliament would have to choose between control over the broadcasters and integration into European structures. Coordination of the journalist associations in BiH also criticized decision and found it as direct interference in journalist’s liberties. FTV – OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic said: ‘It is interference in work of public television, which is contrary to European standards…it is not acceptable to introduce control of media… These are clear evidences that BiH needs quick and serious reforms of public broadcasting system, something that can not be delayed anymore.’ |
| RS NA session on RTRS | RTRS – At the [extraordinary] session of the RS National Assembly on Thursday delegates discussed difficult situation in RTRS. RS Traffic and Communications Minister Dragan Solaja stated that preparations for the construction of RTV building on the way were interrupted by the OHR broadcasting agent, who made an unacceptable decision. This decision establishes monopole and the RS Government insists for public to be included in the restructuring of public broadcasters due to their great significance. SDA representative requested proportional representation of all constituent nations and languages in RT RS programme. He has also warned on constant decrease of collection of RTV subscription. RS NA demanded from RTRS to carry out live broadcast of this discussion, however RTRS said it was intending to broadcast a summary of it. SNSD leader Milorad Dodik accused the ruling coalition of exerting pressure against RTRS, adding that owing to political reasons, coalition included discussion on RTRS [on the agenda of the session], because it is not satisfied with the editorial policy of this media house. |
| RS NA demands RTRS management to resign | Nezavisne Novine [second edition] ‘RTRS management asked to resign’ – SRNA news agency reported that RS National Assembly on Thursday adopted conclusion and requested the Steering Board, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of informational and political programme of RTRS to immediately resign, “owing to their failure to respect the law, and also as a sign of professional and moral responsibility for the current situation in this media house”. According to conclusions adopted, Parliament condemned the systematic violations of the Law on RTRS, which regulates the programme principles and responsibility for their implementation. And this mainly applies to the political bias of some RTRS editors. The conclusions also say that the report on audit of financial affairs at RTRS was accepted, as well as recommendations presented in this report, which are aimed at overcoming the observed irregularities. Parliament also demanded from the RS Public Defenders’ Office to immediately protect the property of RTRS, which is registered in business books as ‘nobody’s property’. The Parliament also requested the Republika Srpska Government to comply with the constitutional and legal system of BiH during preparation of the Law on RTRS. BiH regulations stipulate the existence of three public broadcasters, RTRS, FTV and PBS. |
War crimes | |
| Cavic on Ashdown’s request to establish Srebrenica Commission
| FTV, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg. 2 ‘I am not authorised to form Commission for Srebrenica’; Glas Srpske pg. 2 ‘Constitution divides jobs’, BHTV1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Only RS Government can establish Srebrenica Commission’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘I don’t have such obligation’ – At the press conference held on Thursday, RS President Dragan Cavic said that the President of the entity cannot take over duties of forming and work of a commission, whose task will be to hand a report on events in Srebrenica to the RS Government. Cavic sent a letter to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown, after High Rep stated he expected RS President to form the Commission on Srebrenica. Covic wrote: ‘The RS president cannot take the duties which belong to the bodies of executive and judiciary authorities by the Constitution, nor form bodies and services for jobs out of its jurisdiction…The RS Government and the BiH Human Rights Chamber agreed that the commission should be formed by the Government and the commission to file reports to the Government, which hands the reports to the Human Rights Chamber,’ Cavic said. Cavic said in the letter that RS should also investigate the events in Srebrenica before the stated period, because it is the integral part of the tragedy which occurred in the region, and added that the report can be finished for less than 6 months [which is deadline given by Ashdown]. RTRS – Covic added that RS has to face with violation of human rights, especially war crimes, through its institutions. |
| OSCE on RS report on Srebrenica | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘To disclose all information’, Osobodjenje pg 5 ‘To reveal the destiny of missing ones’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘HRC decision is not respected’ – OSCE is of the view that Republika Srpska authorities failed to implement decision by Human Rights Chamber dated March this year. According to press release yesterday issued by OSCE Mission to BiH, “HRC decision will be fully implemented when all relevant information related to destiny of missing persons from Srebrenica are provided.” |
| Mikerevic on SFOR/ICTY raids | RTRS – According to RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, there was not need for SFOR and Tribunal investigators to perform searches in the premises of RS intelligence service [OBS]. He stated that RS Government has turned over to ICTY all requested documents. He admitted that RS authorities and Interior MInistry did not arrest anyone for war crimes but announced progressive steps on this issue soon. Mikerevic also said he still did not know what has been taken away by SFOR. The raid on Thursday raised another issue – nobody seems to know to whom OBS is responsible. Mikerevic stated that although they are budgetary users, OBS does not give special reports to the government but to the president. On the other side, Dragan Cavic stated that ever since the 1999, when the High Representative removed Poplasen, law on OBS was changed. |
| Update on SFOR raids | Nezavisne Novine pg. 3 ‘Hague investigators confiscated the archive of war-time OBS’; Glas Srpske pg. 5 ‘Documents went to The Hague’ – The Republika Srpska President Dragan Cavic yesterday stated that the Hague investigators confiscated documents from POBS covering the time period from 1992 t0 1995 and 1995 to 2000. According to Cavic, these documents are related to ongoing ICTY cases. Blic pg. 13 ‘Documents of Banja Luka’s police taken away’- During the raids, ICTY representatives seized certain documentation of the RS Intelligence-Security Service (OBS) from the war and post-war period, including documentation of the Public Security Centre Banja Luka – this was conformed by assistant director of OBS Trifko Buha. |
| IC on SFOR raids in RS | FTV, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Searches in secret services refer to necessity of reforms’ – SFOR’s spokesperson Dave Sullivan stated that goal of the SFOR’s operation carried out on Tuesday in Sarajevo was to check the activities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Interior and Intelligence-Security Service. The purpose of a similar action that was carried out on the territory of the Republika Srpska on Wednesday was to collect documents possessed by the RS Intelligence Service. DL says that neither Sullivan nor ICTY spokesperson Refik Hodzic wanted to say whether the expected results were achieved. OHR spokesperson Kevin Sullivan stated that it is certain that each international organization, including the OHR, might be a target of wiretapping and this is being taken into consideration as well. He concluded that the recent SFOR’s actions only stress significance of the re-reorganization of the intelligence system in BiH. |
| DA editorial on SFOR/ICTY raids | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Action announced by Carla Del Ponte’ by Edina Sarac – In an editorial about SFOR raids in RS, author says that RS authorities obviously did not listened to ICTY Chief Prosecutor’s report to UN Security Council, otherwise joint SFOR and ICTY raids on Thursday would not be a surprise. Carla Del Ponte at the time stressed that RS authorities did not arrest a single war crimes suspect. Article goes on saying that action proved that Prosecution has ways to ‘pave the way towards justice and truth. Credibility of SFOR and the Tribunal reflects in their readiness to carry out the action leading towards arrest of war crimes suspects. The one carried out two days ago maintained that [credibility]… Victims in BiH optimistically believe that the next move should be arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.’ |
| Oslobodjenje editorial on RS report on Srebrenica and SFOR raids | Oslobodjenje ‘RS in the Hague’ editorial by Zija Dizdarevic – Referring to SFOR raids carried out in RS as requested by the ICTY and Paddy Ashdown’s statement that RS authorities ‘once against submitted disgraceful report on events in Srebrenica in 1995’, author writes: ‘Despite internationally established obligations, RS doesn’t give information on missing persons. Authorities and politicians in RS did everything to reduce the return to minimum… International authorities should finally approach RS alike to someone prosecuted by the Hague. Because, that is how it is.’ |
| SCG Defence Minister: ‘I don’t know where is Mladic’ | Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘I don’t know where is Ratko Mladic’ – Addressing the participants of NATO’s conference on crisis management and conflict resolution, Defence Minister of Serbia and Montenegro Boris Tadic said that he was no aware of Ratko Mladic’s whereabouts. ‘We commenced big investigation and I have to say that we don’t know where is Ratko Mladic at the moment. The important cooperation has taken place between our police and our army. But we cannot say with certainty where is he. Everybody in Europe can say that Mladic is protected by SCG Army. I am trying to find out where is he. We don’t try to find him because of you in NATO or the international community, but because ourselves. For me, our government and country it is completely unacceptable to be held responsible for a war crime. Maybe you don’t trust me, but I have to say it is like that. ’ |
| USA to suspend assistance to SCG until Ratko Mladic arrested | Nezavisne Novine pg. 5 ‘USA to suspend assistance to Serbia until Mladic is extradited to The Hague’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 6 ‘From now on without help’ – Upon request of the Democratic Party led by the former US President, Bill Clinton, the USA intends to adopt the law, according to which assistance to Serbia and Montenegro will be suspended until Ratko Mladic is apprehended and extradited to the Hague Tribunal. According to the London based Institute for Peace and War, the US Senate will undertake this step in the coming weeks, unless General Mladic is arrested. |
Security issues | |
| Interview with SDHR Werner Wnendt on intelligence
| Vecernji List front page ‘HDZ objections are not acceptable’, pg 5 ‘We shall try to resolve abuses of Intelligence Service’ by Dejan Jazvic – VL carries an interview with Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt. Asked to comment on the HDZ reserves expressed with regard to the proposed Law on BiH Intelligence-Security Service, Wnendt says: “I am glad that HDZ and other political parties are discussing that law and that they took it seriously…I went through the amendments proposed by HDZ and other political parties in details. I have to admit that I am rather confused, because many of these Amendments actually undermine high standards that the Law is trying to establish. Many of these amendments are not in accordance to the decision of the High Representative and they are contrary to recommendations of the Council of Europe.” Wnendt said that he would propose authority representatives to try to agree upon the list of changes and amendments to that law and added that he sent a letter to Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, HDZ President Barisa Colak and BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic calling on them to do it. Wnendt says that in case that they agree upon those amendments the International Community will support them. Asked whether he believes that the current BiH authorities are truly committed for the implementation of reforms, Wnendt says: “I believe that most politicians are in favor of reforms, however, I am not sure that this means that they accept the responsibility that they have.” Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Intelligence-Security Agency of BiH will work under the full control’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, Wnendt said that BiH Intelligence-Security Service [OSA] will work under the state control, supervised by the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, BiH Parliament and internal control mechanisms. SDHR also said that the obligation of the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal will we shared between State Information and Protect Agency [SIPA] and OSA. ‘The Law which defines the role of Intelligence-Security Agency at the state level is very clear. So, it gathers, analyses and passes intelligence information to protect territorial integrity and constitutional structure of BiH… Negotiations between domestic and international institutions on processing war crimes are in the process. We expect that these talks will result in establishment of the efficient system for investigating and processing war crimes in BiH.’ |
| OHR on Hadzipasic’s letter regarding FMoI | CRHB, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘OHR analyzing Hadzipasic’s letter’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘OHR analyses Hadzipasic’s letter in details’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘OHR analyses Hadzipasic’s letter’, – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown received the letter from FBH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic which gives outline of details steps to be taken in the Ministry of Interior in order to overcome present situation in the work of this ministry. The spokesperson of OHR, Kevin Sullivan, told Fena that the OHR is currently analysing the letter, which was, apart from Ashdown, also addressed to the EUPM Commissioner, Sven Frederiksen, and will respond to it once the analysis is completed. Prime Minister Hadzipasic requested from Ashdown and Frederiksen, among other things, the support in implementing of certain measures with the aim of establishing full co-ordination of all MoI organised units and fully resolve all controversial relations between the minister and director of the Police Administration. |
| Halilovic’s actions to improve situation in FMoI | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Six-member working group will draft legal documents’ – On 9 October FBiH Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic made decision to establish a working group to revise legal and other documents in an effort to solve the situation in FMoI. The task of the group is to draft legal documents on internal organization, manual on salaries, proposal for changes to the Law on FBiH Internal Affairs, etc by 24 October. |
| FOSS demands explanation from SFOR on reasons for raid | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Demand to official explain reasons for SFOR raid to FOSS premises’ – According to daily, FOSS acting director Zdravko Jukic and Acting Executive Director Nezir Fiso demanded from SFOR an official explanation for their raid to FOSS premises at the beginning of the week. Both officials claim that there was not reason to confiscate three computers, and hours-long interrogations of people working with bugging devices and similar technology within FOSS. |
Political issues | |
| Roberts on BiH and SCG accession to PfP
| Oslobodjenje cover ‘BiH in the Partnership for Peace this year?’, pg 7 ‘BiH and SCG this year in PfP?’ by Antonio Prlenda – At the press conference held on Thursday in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General George Robertson stated that it was possible for BiH and Serbia and Montenegro to become member states of the Partnership for Peace [PfP] this year. Following NATO’s conference ‘NATO’s role in crisis management and conflict resolution’, Roberts also stressed that the condition for SCG to join PfP was to arrest war crime suspect Ratko Mladic. ‘Since I will leave this position at the end of year, I have a personal interests for this to happen’ – stated Robertson. Talking about BiH, he said that people have realized that BiH is the state with its character and a future. He also said that ‘dreams’ of certain countries in the Balkans to merge with some parts of BiH would never become reality. ‘That must not happen and the international community must not allow this. ‘This is also provided by the defence reforms with single Defence ministry and one Minister. Up to now, BiH was the only country in the planet with two Defence Ministers, and without state Defence Ministry. BiH is not turned towards 21 century and we would like to help.’ – said NATO Secretary-General. In regard to the issue of EU taking over peacekeeping mission in BiH, Robertson stressed that BiH authorities will be consulted prior to any decision or announcements on the nature of future peacekeeping, and added: ‘I don’t think that you will see US leaving the mission which was very important to it, but what we have to keep doing… is estimate of the security threat. We have always carefully anticipated the number of troops need for mission in BiH… We will do that against this year.’ |
| Ljiljan on Mostar Commission | Ljiljan pgs. 30-31 ‘Battle on Neretva [headline refers to famous WWII famous battle]’ by Enes Ratkusic – According to Ratkusic, the short time period in which Chairman of the Commission for Mostar Statute Norbert Winterstein made a draft statute of the town shows that he has not lodge to much effort to do this job. “The Winterstein’s proposal (of the Mostar organization) is much less acceptable for Bosniaks than was the HDZ’s plan offered by Josip Merdzo when the failure of the former commission was already been visible,” concludes Ratkusic. |
| Slobodna Bosna analyzes situation in BiH a year after elections | Slobodna Bosna pgs. 9-11 ‘Ashdown rules through threats and dictate’, mentioned on the front page “The year eaten up by ‘Paravacs’” prepared by Asim Metiljevic – In wish to initiate a critic review of the results of the current authorities in the past 12 months after elections, the magazine polled a number of prominent BiH scientists, economists, artists and sportspersons asking them one and the same question: Whether they were satisfied with the accomplishments of the governing structure in the past year? The polled persons among others include: Sarajevo lawyer Senka Nozica, President of the Rama-Prozor Democratic Alternative Croat Association Zoran Stojanovic, Sarajevo University professors Gajo Sekulic and Dragoljub Stojanov and ICG Analyst Senad Slatina. The common in all answers is disappointment with the results achieved by the current authorities, while some even believe that the governing politicians are absolutely incompetent and irresponsible. |
| Acadamic Filipovic says BiH is a country occupied by foreigners | Ljiljan pgs. 18-22 ‘Filipovic: BiH is not protectorate, it is an occupied country’ – Interview with one of the most prominent BiH intellectuals Muhamed Filipovic. “I believe that nowadays the situation in the country is very difficult. And I am primarily blaming the international community for such the situation. The biggest illusion of our politicians is their belief that they represent and mean something and that they influence the situation in BiH,” said Filipovic, He added that the recent SFOR raid into the FBiH Interior Ministry clearly showed there was a (foreign) factor in the country, which could do everything without any obligation to report on its action or give any explanation. “This actually means that our country is not in status of protectorate but that it is an occupied country,” concludes Filipovic. |