Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Explosion in Mostar last night | PRC session in Brcko |
| BiH Presidency in session | Patten on cooperation with ICTY |
| FBiH HoR in session | War crimes processing in |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Greek President in BIH | Search for125 war crimin. | Problems caused by snow | SBS & SFOR at borders |
| CoM session | SFOR and SBS joint action | Brucelos. epidemic in ZDC | Marihuana found in Bileca |
| Aluminij on privatisation | 6 police officers indicted | ITA controls tax stamps | Matijasevic’s press conf. |
| BIH delegation in | Greek President in BiH | Several strikes announced | ICTY indictee asset freeze |
| Oslobodjenje | Genocide was committed in |
| Dnevni Avaz | FBiH Government crisis still without resolution – Waiting for HDZ |
| Dnevni List | Workers do not give Aluminij away |
| Vecernji List | 120 sheep frozen |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Shepherd with 350 sheep trapped in snow |
| Glas Srpske | Father was arrested, son has escaped |
| Nezavisne Novine | Liquors with forged tax stamps were confiscated; RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic: I have no information on Hague fugitives being in RS; Bileca: Cocaine, marijuana and weapons were confiscated; BiH Prosecutor’s Office will takeover a part of cases |
| Blic | Minister Darko Matijasevic: Arrests are painful but inevitable; 84 kilos of marijuana, heroin and guns were confiscated |
| Vecernje Novosti | Beatings to unconsciousness; Need or deal |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Croat Alliance NHI-HSS formed | FENA – Presidents of the NHI and HSS, Kresimir Zubak and Marko Tadic respectively, signed in |
| Police Reform Commission holding session in Brcko
| RS Radio News at 1200 – The BiH Police Reform Commission is in two-day session in Brcko. Wilfred Martens, Chairman of the Commission, stated before the meeting that the future lays in the unified police structure, noting that definitions of this term are still under discussion. Darko Matijasevic, RS Minister of Interior, refused to give any statement before the meeting. Barisa Colak, BiH Security Minister, stated the overall re-organisation process of BiH police is necessary, since it does not suit the times ahead of this state. The meeting, which is closed for public, is also attended by the representatives of the EUPM, OHR and EU. |
War crimes | |
| Oslobodjenje: Genocide was committed in
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘Genocide was committed in Eastern Sarajevo, Pale and Foca?!’ by N. Idrizovic – With regard to 8 war crime suspects who were arrested by the RS Ministry of Interior on Monday, Oslobodjenje lists crimes that these persons are charged with. The author of the article also says that transferring of such serious crimes to domestic courts represents recognition of the domestic judiciary and confidence that BiH courts can do this task in an honest and high-quality way. An inset in Oslobodjenje under headline ‘Another 200 bills of indictment!’ says that according to Oslobodjenje sources there is panic in the RS since according to unconfirmed information about 200 arrest warrants against war crime suspects who hide in the RS were issued in the Federation of BiH. |
| Hartmann, Ahmic on RS MoI actions on arrest of war crime suspects
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS MoI has not brought single criminal before ICTY’ by A. Omeragic carries Spokesperson of the ICTY Prosecution Florence Hartmann who welcomed the action of the RS MoI carried out on Monday during which 8 war crime suspects were arrested, however, she also reminded that the RS police has not arrested yet a single indictee that the ICTY is looking for. Bosniak Liaison Officer for Relations with the ICTY Amir Ahmic also believes that during the aforementioned action the RS MoI has arrested ‘executors of crimes’ and reminded that there are over 1000 of them in BiH. He added that according to his opinion by this attempt the RS MoI is trying to avoid sanctions before ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte submits a new report on cooperation with the ICTY. |
| NN: Update to 8 arrested persons
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3 ‘BiH Prosecutor’s Office will takeover a part of cases’ by A. Sisic – BiH Prosecutor’s Office will takeover the processing of several cases of persons indicted of war crimes from among the eight arrested on Monday, as the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Tuesday. |
| NN op-ed on arrest of 8 war crimes indictees
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A symbolic praise’ by Josip Blazevic – The author comments on the most recent action of the RS police, which resulted in the arrest of eight persons war crimes suspects. He notes this is a first positive step forward of the RS authorities in the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, adding this was just an action and nothing beyond it, implying the action has not resulted from determination of RS authorities to do so, but instead aimed at alleviating the threats against RS coming from the Occident diplomatic circles. He adds that judging by initial reactions from the international organisations, this action of arrest would not even partially free RS of the mortgage regarding cooperation with the ICTY. |
| SFOR expects ICTY indictees to be arrested as well
| FTV, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘SFOR welcomed the arrests’, EuroBlic, pg. RS3 ‘SFOR praises RS police’ by D. S., Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Encouragement from Srpska’ by N. Z., Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘SFOR expect the Hague indictees to be arrested as well’ reported that COMSFOR on Tuesday welcomed the apprehension of 8 men indicted for war crimes by the Sarajevo Cantonal Court but that SFOR also expected the Hague indictees to be brought to justice as well. |
| High Representative welcomes EU assets freeze on ICTY Indictees
| Herceg Bosna Radio, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Hague indictees closer to face justice’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Attacks on criminal networks to start’ – “The asset freeze announced by the EU today is another measure which will restrict the space in which those who are avoiding justice can operate. It underlines the EU’s support of the ICTY mandate,” said the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on Tuesday following the Council of the European Union’s Decision to freeze all the assets of 18 ICTY indictees. “This Decision underlines that we are no longer waiting but are attacking these criminal networks root and branch”, said the High Representative. The High Representative hopes that the BiH Institutions will, as earlier, declare their support for this joint action and without delay freeze the assets of the eighteen individuals named by the EU today. “The European future of BiH depends on its willingness to co-operate with, support and uphold the ICTY. This country has a special interest in promoting these measures. The BiH authorities must take action to honor their said commitments. Not to do so would send a negative signal. It is absolutely essential for the BiH authorities to show they are serious about ICTY co-operation,” emphasized the High Representative. Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Ashdown welcomes decision on freezing of assets of 18 ICTY indictees’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘OHR welcomes decision on assets freeze’, by vr, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Assets of ICTY indictees frozen’, by D. Pasic,Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘We are attacking criminal networks that are avoiding justice’ by V. Popovic, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘No more waiting’ by Fena, EuroBlic, pg. RS3 ‘Another 18 people on the black list’ by D. S. also carried the statement. |
| RS Interior Minister on apprehension of war crime suspects
| BHT, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic: I have no information on Hague fugitives being in RS’ and pg. 3 ‘I have no information that the Hague fugitives are in RS’ by S. Karic, EuroBlic, cover ‘Minister Darko Matijasevic: Arrests are painful but inevitable’ and pg. RS2 ‘Painful but inevitable’ Rajna Radosavljevic – RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic held a press conference on Tuesday regarding the arrest of 8 persons accused of war crimes. He has stated he had no information that any of the Hague indictees is currently in the area of RS. Matijasevic says that this step forward was made for the benefit of RS and the future of Serbs and all other citizens. EuroBlic, cover ‘Minister Darko Matijasevic: Arrests are painful but inevitable’ and pg. RS2 ‘Painful but inevitable’ Rajna Radosavljevic – quotes Minister Matijasevic as saying: ‘Comments of individuals from OHR that we have arrested small fry are inconsistent because, for us, both small and large crimes are equal before the law. This is surely a painful step for RS, but it is inevitable’. Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Arrests are a painful obligation’ by V. Janjic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Apprehension of war criminals is a painful step for RS’ by Orijana Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘There are no information that the Hague indictees are in the RS territory’, Dnevni List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Arrest of suspects with label A’, by Erna Mackic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Minister announces new arrests’, by A. Macanovic also covered the press conference. |
| UN Secretary-General Annan says Srebrenica Report should be followed up by action
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘RS should arrest all war criminals’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Report of Srebrenica Commission will lead to concrete actions’, by NINA, EuroBlic, pg. RS2 ‘Anan complimented RS authority’ by Beta, FENA – The RS Government’s Report on the Serb crime against the Bosniaks of Srebrenica should initiate action against the perpetrators, the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, stated on Tuesday. Annan welcomed the conclusions from the report on the massacre of Bosniaks in Srebrenica in 1995, and particularly the the RS government apology for the committed crimes and condolences conveyed to the victims’ families. Annan said that this “courageous act” contributes to building of trust and reconciliation amongst the peoples in BiH. |
Political developments/reforms | |
| FBiH Government crisis still without resolution
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘HDZ is being waited for final resolution of crises’ and pg 4 ‘Final agreement on crises only after meeting with HDZ’ by Ad. H. reports that a meeting between SDA and SBiH Ministers led by Federation of BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic was held in Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Speeding up privatization is crucial task’ not signed carries a similar report on the aforementioned meeting based on the press release issued by the Federation of BiH Government Press Office. Dnevni List, pg 7, mentioned on front, ‘SDA Ministers give in to pressures coming from Party for BiH’, by Nermin Bise also covered the issue. |
| VL: SBiH plans to topple Minister Vrankic
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Party for BiH wants to topple Minister Vrankic’, mentioned on front ‘Silajdzic wants to topple Vrankic’, by Zoran Kresic – VL announces that the FBiH Parliament’s House of Representatives will tomorrow (Thursday) be discussing the re-balance of the FBiH budget for 2004, which was prepared by the FBiH Government. VL argues that because of tense relations within the ruling majority, especially because of pressures coming from the SBiH, the issue of budget re-balance could be used by the SBiH MPs as an excuse to launch an attack on the FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, which is in fact a retaliation for the rejection of the SBiH’s initiative regarding the changes to the Law on privatization and revision in the ‘Aluminij’ Company of Mostar. |
| Greek President visits BiH
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘reconstruction of the building of former (pre-war) BiH Government to start’ by Az. Kalamujic, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘BiH accession to NATO, EU is Greek interest as well’ – Greek President Konstatinos Stefanopulos on Tuesday arrived in a one-day official visit to BiH. Stefanopulos met with BIH Presidency members. Stefanopulos believes that the economic cooperation between BIH and Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Cooperation with Greece in banking sector too’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Bad economic cooperation between BiH and Greece’, by E. Mackic, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Joint fight against crimes was announced’ by A. Sisicalso reported on the visit. |
| BiH CoM session
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Financing 5c corridor with funds earned through selling GSM licenses’ by V. Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Request for extradition of Bensajeh andf Lahmar to be sent to US authorities’ by F.C., Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Financing of highways from GSM licences after all’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘Improve control of BiH-Croatia state borders’, by Zdenko Rerig, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ’70 million € for roads’ by N. Krsman, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Corridor from one’s own pocket’ by Srna – At a session in Sarajevo on Tuesday, the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) among other things accepted the new text of the agreement between the High Representative and State of BiH on establishing the Office of Registry at the BiH State Court’s Division for War Crimes and Division for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption. In spite of IMF’s opposition, the CoM also confirmed its initial decision that the construction of the 5c Corridor would be financed with funds earned through selling of GSM licenses. |
| HDZ BiH Presidency session
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘HDZ leaders removed in Usora, Jajce, Mostar…’ by V.Z., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘HDZ Boards in five cities dismissed’, Dnevni List, pg 7, mentioned on front, by Ivica Glibusic – The Presidency of HDZ BiH held its session at Busovaca yesterday (Tuesday) during which it analyzed the results achieved in the latest, local elections. The Presidency concluded that the party did not achieve the expected results. Spokesman of HDZ BiH, Pero Pavlovic, explains: “Wanting to make the work of the party more successful, the Presidency of HDZ took a decision to dissolve the municipal organization at Usora, and municipal boards of HDZ at |
| VL:
| Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Continuation of Dayton next year at Geneva’, by Zoran Kresic – VL reads that the association called ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina 2005’, which advocates closing down of the “Paddy Ashdown’s Office in Sarajevo” , confirms that everything is ready for organization of the ‘Dayton II’ conference that would take place in Geneva next year, which would result in BiH relying more on its forces en route to the EU. According to VL, the conference is being announced by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), and according to Christoph Solioz, the executive director of the ‘BiH 2005’ Association, the OHR should close down in 2005 and transfer most of its powers to domestic authorities. VL goes on to say that HR Ashdown, despite supporting the exit strategy of the IC in principle, is against a new peace conference that would decide about the future of institutions of BiH and of his office. “Dayton II is out of question”, Ashdown stated recently, reads VL. Furthermore, VL says that HR Ashdown supports gradual decreasing of authorities of the OHR, however he is not doing it fully in practice. VL also claims that HR Ashdown’s powers come from decisions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), however the PIC does not control HR Ashdown’s decision, who can still, according to the Bonn powers, remove presidents, prime ministers, judges etc without right to appeal. |
| SDA’s Seada Palavric on the Dayton Agreement
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Deficiencies of Dayton must be removed’ by BETA – Seada Palavric, SDA Vice President, stated that SDA would sign Dayton Peace Agreement again under the same circumstances, adding that the DA has some deficiencies that need to be removed. She explained: “The negative aspect of the |
| BiH Defense Minister Radovanovic on the budget for the next year | BHT, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Budget for the next year amounts 350 million KM’ by Srna – The total budget for entities’ and State Defense Ministry for 2005 will amount 350 millions of KM, as BiH Defense Minister Nikola Radovanovic said. He underlined that the planned budget for 2005 is for 20-30% lower that in 2002,when the budgetfor defense reached 500 millions of KM. |
Economic/Social issues/Corruption | |
| PDHR Hays says foreign investors are waiting for introduction of VAT in BiH
| Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Practical, just and efficient’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘To create an efficient control of public revenues’, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Foreign investors waiting for introduction of VAT’, by ds, FENA – There are certain foreign investors who are prepared to invest in BiH immediately after the introduction of VAT, which would result in creating several thousand new jobs overnight, the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, told a group of BiH economic journalists on Tuesday. Expressing support to introduction of a single VAT rate, Hays said that, at the very beginning, BiH should have a simple VAT system that is easier to monitor. He rejected the claims that the introduction of VAT with a single rate of 17 percent means that the prices of all products would go up by 17 percent. “BiH annually loses 1.5 billion KM due to corruption, incompetence and lack of political will to collect the taxes, and each system that collects more funds will provide the citizens with more opportunities. Thus, every answer to the question on whether VAT is a more efficient and justified system is – positive,” said Hays. Hays said that on basis of the previous debate, he believes that the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank would insist with the prime ministers in BiH that they work on designing the relevant social programmes simultaneously with introducing VAT. |
| Aluminij Trade Unions opposes selective revision of privatisation
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘Workers do not give Aluminij away’, by Jurislav Petrovic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Some want to destroy the best company’, by Valentina Rupcic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘They want to rob Aluminij’, by Z. Zekic – ‘Aluminij’ Company of Mostar’s Independent Union issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the latest attempts of BiH Federation Minister of Energy, Industry and Mining, Izet Zigic,aimedat introducing ‘discriminating’ amendments to the law on selective revision of privatization. The |
| ITA action in
| BHT, FTV, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 ‘Liquors with forged tax stamps were confiscated’ by M. Rener – Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) officers have conducted a control of validity of tax stamps on several locations in |
| VL on corruption in NGOs in BiH: 2 billion KMs laundered
| Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Non-governmental organization launder 2 billion KMs’, by Zdenko Jurilj – VL notes that there are 8230 NGOs in BiH and that most of them are used as tools to launder money and get rich quickly. VL says that according to unofficial estimates, some 2 billion KMs have been laundered in BiH through various NGOs since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. As the most obvious example, the daily cites the Srebrenica case, claiming that numerous NGOs, helped by domestic and international officials, laundered more than 100 million Euros worth of donations. This was confirmed for VL by the President of ‘Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa enclaves’ Association, Munira Subasic, who says the IC has been informed about the issue, as well as the Dutch Government, which donated lot of money, however, says Subasic, there are no judicial investigations into it. |
| FBiH Chamber Commerce’s Lasic on foreign banks in BiH
| Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Hercegovacka bank did not fall because of criminal, but because of politics’, by Miroslav Vasilj – Carries an interview with the President of FBiH Economic Chamber, Jago Lasic, in which he, among other things, regrets that the FBiH does not have its own development bank that would help the economy in the entity. Lasic notes that there were plans to establish such bank some 2-3 years ago, however nothing happened. Questioned as to what consequences it might cause to the BiH economy in the future and who does not want that a development bank is established in BiH, Lasic notes that without such a bank it will be very difficult to build roads. Regarding the latter, Lasic says: “Foreigners are standing in our way. It is about interest of those people who bought banks in order to have big interest rates in place. Hercegovacka bank did not fall because of criminal, but because of politics. Simply, it was in the way of other banks”. |
| Reactions on pensioners’ protests
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Police exceeded authority’ by V. Iliktarevic, Glas Srpske, pg. 5 ‘Force exceeded measure’ by R. Skondric -The RS pensioners’ representatives are of the view that by use of force and causing bodily injuries, RS police at Monday protest of pensioners exceeded its authorities, hence investigation should be conducted against persons who ordered the action. Rade Rakulj, President of the RS Association of Pensioners, expressed surprise over the fact that massive police forces intervened at the protest. He added that at some cities in RS, pensioners were called for a talk at police stations, “where they were blackmailed to give up on the protest or they would be penalised with BAM 1000 ban.” SNSD expressed expectation that RS Government would immediately make a public apology to pensioners and launch investigation on person who had ordered the action. According to NN inset ‘MoI: They reacted professionally’; Darko Matijasevic, RS MoI, expressed regret over the injuries caused during pensioners’ protests, noting that MoI would investigate every single case, and if established any policeman exceeded authority, legal measures would be undertaken against him. According to Nijaz Smajlovic, Banja Luka PSC Chief, the police reacted professionally, adding there is no information on use of force. Accoridng to NN inset 2 ‘Petition for removal of RS Government’, Banja Luka Association of Pensioners has commenced with preparations for collecting the signatures for removal of RS Government. Oslobodjenje pg 2 also covered the issue. |
| Announcement on new pensioners’ protests
| EuroBlic RSpg 5 ‘Again on the streets tomorrow’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Banja Luka Association of Pensioners told EuroBlic that following Monday’s protest, Banja Luka Association of Pensioners has commenced with preparations for collecting the signatures for removal of RS Government. Association announced that the pensioners would join the protests of Confederation of the Unions scheduled for Thursday. |
| RS Interior Minister on pensioners’ protests
| Vecernje Novosti, pg. 20 ‘They are accusing each other’ by M. Labus, N. Gagic, Glas Srpske, pg. 5 ‘Investigation was announced’ by V. J. – the article reports on the pensioners’ protests and their demands. The inset ‘Police Minister’ carries a statement of RS Police Minister Darko Matijasevic, who has stated that the RS Police has reacted professionally and has applied no force in any case. ‘If any force was applied on pensioners, we will determine whose responsibility it was’, Matijasevic concluded. |
| SNSD reaction on pensioners’ protest
| RTRS, Glas Srpske, pg. 5 ‘They expect an excuse of the Government’ by Lj. C – SNSD has condemned ‘an unnecessary use of force against pensioners’ and has stated it expected from RS Government to send a public excuse to pensioners and to launch an investigation on persons that have ordered the use of force. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Bad weather in Livno kills 120 sheep | Vecernji List, front pg splash and pgs 8-9, ‘120 sheep frozen’, not signed – One Jozo Bakovic from Livno lost 120 sheep in a blizzard near Livno. His shepherd Ramiz Velic survived ‘by miracle’. |
| Bad weather in Posusje causes problems to shepherds | Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 14 ‘Shepherd with 350 sheep trapped in snow’, by Danijel Ivankovic – One Miro Raic, who is snowed in together with his 350 sheep at a place called Stitar in the municipality of Posusje, is appealing that somebody rescues him and foremost his sheep. |
| RS Police action in Bileca
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 ‘Bileca: Cocaine, marijuana and weapons were confiscated’ by N. Kolak and S. Karic, Glas Srpske, cover page story ‘Father was arrested, son has escaped’ by E. G. S., EuroBlic, cover ‘84 kilos of marijuana, heroin and guns were confiscated’ and pg. RS 2 ‘84 kilos of marijuana were confiscated’ by V. M. – RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) police officers seized 90 kilograms of marijuana from a family house in Bileca area. On Monday evening and Tuesday morning several housing objects were searched in this area. The Police are searching for six suspects. |