OHR BiH Media Round-up, 17/11/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

Sarajevo : Conference on Vc

Conference on Vc corridor

Holbrooke to receive Dayton prize

Fire in Gradiska under investigation

Feature on Vukovar

Weather

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

ICTY: Halilovic acquitted

Fire in Bosanska Gradiska

ICTY acquitted Halilovic

HDZ disappointed by Halilovic verdict

Andan on war crime indictees

Reactions on Halilovic’s acquittal

HVO veterans on Halilovic case

ICTY acquits Sefer Halilovic

Ljajic meets Del Ponte

Jovicic reacts on Halilovic case

Vojkan Djurkovic imprisoned

Andan on Mladic’s arrest

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

ICTY acquits Sefer Halilovic

ICTY acquitted Halilovic

Three people died in fire in Gradiska

Comments on Halilovic’s release

Grabovica residents on acquittal

Reactions on Halilovic case

Covic and others case, update

Reactions to Halilovic’s acquittal

Update on war crimes in BiH/region

Marko Samardzija’s trial postponed

Speculations about Halilovic case

Ljajic/Andan on Mladic/Karadzic

Oslobodjenje

Tribunal acquits Sefer Halilovic

Dnevni Avaz

Sefer Halilovic acquitted

Dnevni List

Croat victims shocked

Vecernji List

Halilovic acquitted, Delic in fear

Slobodna Dalmacija

The Hague acquitted Halilovic

Nezavisne Novine

Three people died (fire in Bos. Gradiska at Cultural Centre)

Glas Srpske

Three people dead in the fire (also fire in Bos. Gradiska)

EuroBlic

Three people missing, one injured (fire in Bos. Gradiska)

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

International conference on Vc corridor commences in Sarajevo , gathers 300 participants

RHB, BH Radio 1 – International Financial Conference on 5c corridor organized by the BiH Communications and Transportation Ministry has started in Sarajevo. The conference has gathered about 300 representatives of international companies and governments, and its aim is to discuss ideas on financing the project and establish bilateral relations with possible investors. Addressing the participants, the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, outlined that the conference is a key even in commencing the activities related to this project of strategic significance for the state.

FBiH Govt in session

RHB– FBiH Government is to hold a session on Thursday. Among other issues, the FBiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Nedzad Brankovic, is to inform the Government about activities on the Josanica-Podlugovi road, and the Government is also to discuss proposal of law on stimulating of small enterprises.

CoE Committee of Ministers in session

BH Radio 1 – The meeting of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, executive body compromising of Foreign Ministers of 46 members states, started in Strasbourg today. The focus of discussion will be the issue of human rights and ways to improve the relations between CoE, EU and OSCE. BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, is to address the conference.

War crimes

Sefer Halilovic acquitted of charges for war crimes in Grabovica/Uzdol

RHB, PINK, RTS, BK TV, Hayat, RTRS – ICTY Trial Chamber on Wednesday acquitted former BiH Army general, Sefer Halilovic, of the charges for murder and violations of the laws and customs of war.  The indictment against Sefer Halilovic concerns murders allegedly committed by BiH Army troops against Croat civilians in the villages of Grabovica and Uzdol in Herzegovina in September 1993 during the operation ‘Neretva’. “The Trial Chamber has found that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Sefer Halilovic was either de jure or de facto commander of the alleged operation called Operation Neretva,” the ICTY said. FTVby Adisa Dedic– The Chamber established that the orders in case Grabovica were issued by Zulfikar Alispago and there were no sufficient evidences that Alispago was under Halilovic’s command. Concerning Uzdol, ICTY establish the commanding officer was Enver Buza. BHT 1 late news – Halilovic arrived in Sarajevo , where we was welcomed by a large group of people gathered in the Airport. Halilovic said that he feels wonderful, being that justice and fight for multiethnic BiH have prevailed.

RHB, NOVA TV, HTV 1, Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Tribunal acquits Sefer Halilovic’, by Aldijana Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘Sefer Halilovic acquitted’, by E. Sarac, Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Croat victims shocked’ and pgs 2 and pg 4 ‘Croat victims shocked because of acquitting sentence’ by Lj. Vidacak, Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Halilovic acquitted, Delic in fear’ and pgs 2 and 3 ‘Croats shocked by The Hague verdict’ by Z. Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash ‘The Hague acquitted Halilovic’ and pg 8 ‘The Hague: Halilovic is not guilty!’ by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘Sefer Halilovic acquitted’, Vecernje Novosti pg 13 ‘Halilovic acquitted’  – also reported.

HDZ disappointed with Halilovic’s acquittal

RHB, BHT 1, RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘HDZ astonished over ruling, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Crimes against Croats do not have same treatment in The Hague’, not signed’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘HDZ disappointed with verdict pronounced against Sefer Halilovic’ by HINA, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘HDZ: Reduced number of killed ones’ by H  – HDZ is unpleasantly surprised at the ICTY acquittal of former Commander of the BH Army Sefer Halilovic. The HDZ says in a statement that it is disappointed at the fact that crimes against the Croats in BH are not treated by the ICTY like other crimes. The statement also noted that over 30 innocent Croat civilians – including women and children – were brutally murdered in Grabovica, not 13 civilians as alleged in the indictment. “We wonder what happened to other victims and who will be brought to account before the Hague tribunal for this crime,” the HDZ statement says.

Croat Veterans Assoc. against Halilovic’s acquittal: it dispels all illusions about ICTY fairness

RTRS, RHB, BHT 1, Dnevni List 3 ‘Croat Associations demand explanation from The Hague’ by I. Rozic, Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Halilovic acquitted, Delic in fear’ and pgs 2 and 3 ‘Croats shocked by The Hague verdict’ by Z. Kresic  –  Bosnian Croat Associations formed during the Homeland War have issued a statement in connection with the Hague tribunal’s acquittal of Sefer Halilovic. The statement says that the verdict “dispels all illusions about the Hague tribunal’s justice and fairness. “Is somebody trying to establish that crimes against Croats did not happen? ” statement wonders.

Jovic: Who will be held responsible for these crimes?

FTV by Ljiljana Smailbegovic – “In principal I don’t comment decisions of the Court and before I see documents… I know only one thing: the crime was committed. Who did that, it is up to the Court to decide, but it is indisputable that Croats in this war were in camps, murdered, persecuted, 45% of them are still missing in BiH and no one is answering for that,” said Ivo Miro Jovic, Chairman of BiH Presidency.

RS PoWs against Halilovic’s acquittal: ICTY is anti-Serb, anti-Croat; Jovicic: PoWs to boycott BiH Court

FTV – The Chair of the RS PoWs Association, Branislav Dukic, has told SRNA that the verdict in Halilovic case is proof that the tribunal is a political court, not a court of justice. “RS PoWs gave the ICTY and Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte a large volume of documentation on Halilovic’s crimes and orders relating to the suffering of the Serbs in Srebrenica, particularly to 126 camps in Sarajevo which were established when he was commander of the so-called BH Army,” Dukic said. He announced that RS PoWs would not participate in trials at the BiH Court which puts only Serbs on trial, in line with the Hague tribunal’s “recipe”.RHB – Vice President of the RS Association of former detention camp inmates, Slavko Jovicic said that the ICTY is anti-Serb and anti-Croat.

Residents of Grabovica/Uzdol very disappointed with acquittal

RTRS, HTV1, BHT1, FTV – All these media carry reports featuring the residents of Grabovica and/or Uzdol villages and their comments to the decision to acquit Sefer Halilovic of war crimes charges. All of them expressed their disappointment. HTV 1 brings accounts by witnesses of the slaughter in Uzdol. Its reporter also stressed that nobody has yet been held accountable for crimes in Northern Hercegovina where Croats have been the victims. BHT1 reporter visited Grabovica, deserted with only few families returned. FTV says Grabovica dwellers were most disappointment with the fact that the culprits have not yet been prosecuted, wondering what did ICTY investigators did for past 12 eyars.

Tihic, Silajdzic, Ganic welcome acquittal of Halilovic

FTV, BHT1, RTRS,Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Legal authority did not support crimes’ – Member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic commented the verdict saying it confirmed the crimes committed were individual crimes, for which the local commanders were responsible, and that the side of the RBiH Army, the side of the legal BiH authorities did not have a system that stimulated, planned, supported or tolerated war crimes.FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Evidence there was no civil war but aggression’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ruling is evidence there was an aggression in BiH’- Haris Silajdzic, one of officials in wartime governments, stated that this verdict is proving that BiH hasn’t suffered the civil war but aggression. FTV – People who were then in governments and members of wartime Presidency, like Nijaz Durakovic and Tatjana Ljujic Mijatovic said that this verdict is returning faith into justice. Ejup Ganic said that he expected this acquittal, adding: “On the other side our civilians were murdered in village Grabovica and all people, who committed this crime, have to be answer for it.”

Media: R. Delic to be held responsible for war crimes in Uzdol and Grabovica

Dnevni List pg 3 ‘All responsibility shifted on Delic’ not signed carries that the sources from the ICTY claim that after the Halilovic’s acquittal there is an intention to sentence General Rasim Delic for all the crimes committed over Croats. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Delic instead of Halilovic’ by Z. Jurilj says that according to the current situation, Delic would be held accountable for the war crimes committed in Grabovica and Uzdol, while the bill of indictment might be also extended on Bakir Alispahic, a wartime Minister of Interior of the Republic of BiH, since he did not carry out an investigation on this case. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Rasim Delic in the open’ by V. Vegar says that the Halilovic’s acquittal would affect General Delic the most as well as the Bosniak political top that has been claiming for years that the BiH Army did not commit crimes unlike the other Armies.  NOVA, BHT 1, FTV Hayat – also speculate.

FTV – FTV asked Sulejman Tihic to comment the speculations on Delic. “It is hard to comment this and we should leave it up to the Court to determine the foundation of such an indictment. I consider the Court to be the best place where facts should be determined and eventual existence of liability,” said Tihic.

DL op-ed: After Halilovic’s acquittal it turns out that only Serbs and Croats committed war crimes

Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Is it possible that only Croats are murderers?’ by A. Vrebac carries an editorial in which the author says that after the Halilovic’s acquittal it turns out that Croats and Serbs only are responsible for the war crimes in the eyes of the ICTY. The author also minds the fact that the ICTY stated that 13 civilians were killed in Grabovica while actually 32 of them were killed in this massacre. 

Adnan: Mladic in ICTY by end of year?

RTRS, RHB, Hayat, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Mladic in The Hague by the end of year’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘We are doing all we can to see Mladic go to The Hague’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Mladic in The Hague by the end of year’ by S.Karic, Vecernje Novosti pg 13 ‘Mladic in The Hague by 2006!’ by M.L.  – RS Police Director Dragomir Andan stated that he hopes that Ratko Mladic will be arrested till the end of year, stressing that all services of RS, BiH and SCG are working on this issue. “All services, first of all our service and Serbian Ministry of Interior are doing everything so that General Mladic would be in Hague till the end of year. I can’t certainly say that this will be tomorrow or day after, but I hope that till the end of year this problem, which is a large problem for Serbia and for RS both, will be finished,” said Andan.

RS MoI reports to RSNA: Mladic hiding with help of SCG, RS Armies

RTRS, BHT 1 late news, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Mladic hidden by the RS and SCG Armies’ – In a report submitted to RSNA, RS Interior Ministry established that there is a doubt that Ratko Mladic uses services of current composition of RS and SCG Armies for hiding. Report stressed that in previous period, Police has interrogated about 30 former and current members of RS Army and of Military Intelligence Services, as well as people who have secured commanding place of General Mladic, near Han Pijesak. Police stated that on June 28^th, based on the data of associated of BiH OSA it has conducted an action searching for Radovan Karadzic on territory of Municipality Trebinje. It was also said in the report that Stojan Zupljanin is hiding in Adriatic area in Montenegro , about which Montenegrin authorities have been informed.

Serbian official deny negotiations with Mladic

RTRS, FTV, Hayat, BHT 1 – Chairman of SCG national council for cooperation with ICTY, Rasim Ljajic met with the ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte to talk about arrestment of ICTY fugitives still at large and SCG’s remaining obligations toward the Tribunal. During the talks Ljajic rejected the possibility that someone from Serbian Government has separate talks with Mladic without his knowledge. Ljajic said he assured Del Ponte that all information about the place where Mladic could possibly be hiding are being checked. BK TV, RTS – Mladic is hiding in woods somewhere near Serbian border, Serbian president Boris Tadic said for Israel media. Tadic is sure nobody from SCG army helps Mladic, but the main reason that he has not being arrested yet is the he is very experienced. It is not true the negotiations with Mladic are going on, Vladeta Jankovic, Serbian PM foreign politics adviser stated, adding that all the similar rumours are against the state interest. Whoever stands behind it, doesn`t mind for the wellbeing of the state, because it means we know where Mladic is, Jankovic warned. Serbian and police of RS do everything to send Mladic to Hague, Dragomir Radman, director of RS Police, said, but he added he can`t say when it will happen. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Intrigues between the lines’ by Tanjug – also brings Serbian officials denying negotiations with Mladic.

NN source: Stojan Zupljanin in ICTY soon

Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Stojan Zupljanin soon in the Hague’ by V. Popovic – Sources close to Serbian Government claim representatives of RS and Serbian MoIs are carrying out negotiations with Stojan Zupljanin, a Hague indictee, on his voluntary surrender to the Hague Tribunal since Monday morning at the Institute for Security in Belgrade. The source claims the negotiations are being brought to an end and RS MoI will be entrusted with extradition of Zupljanin to the Hague.

Jankovic case transferred to BiH Court ; Sarmadzija case postpone

RTRS, FTV, Hayat, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Case of Gojko Jankovic referred to BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Gojko Jankovic will be tried in BiH’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Trial against Gojko Jankovic in BiH’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Jankovic before BiH Court in one month’ by rv – Trial to Gojko Jankovic, indicted for rape of Bosniak women in Foca during 1993, will be held in Sarajevo, after ICTY Appeal Council rejected Jankovic’s appeal to first degree decision, which accepted the demand for transferring of this case to Bi8H Court. RTRS, FTV, Hayat, BHT1 – Start of the trial to Marko Samardzija, indicted for murder of 200 civilians in Kljuc, has been postponed before the BiH Court after the indictee asked for additional time for opening word.

Washington talks on processing war crimes

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Trial where the crime was committed’ by FENA, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘BiH Court can process the most senior officials’ – On the occasion of marking the 10th DPA anniversary, the U.S. Peace Institute and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies on Tuesday in Washington organized the talks on war crimes prosecutions in BiH. BiH Minister of Justice Slobodan Kovac, Court of BiH President Meddzida Kreso, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Court of BiH, War Crimes Chamber, Vaso Marinkovic, Court of BiH Registrar Michael Johnson and Rick Barton of the the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, have participated in the talks.  At the beginning of talks, Johnson said the Court of BiH meets all national and international standards for fair trials, which is confirmed by ICTY decision to refer case Stankovic to BiH. Kreso said that the other war crime case was launched by the Court of BiH itself, adding that the ICTY is expected to refer other cases to BiH. Kovac stressed that BiH is now in the phase of issuing its laws, while the international community assists in their implementation.

Political issues

BiH HoP adopts changes to citizenship law 

RHB, PINK, BHT 1, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Review of naturalised BiH citizens to commence’ by A.Terzic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘Changes and amendments to Law on citizenship adopted’, by Fena – The BiH House of Peoples has passed amendments to the Law on Citizenship, which predicts establishment of the BiH Commission for reviewing decisions on naturalization of foreign citizens and audit will refer on the citizenships issued from April 6^th 1992 till January 1^st 2006. This Commission will be able to annul irregular decisions on citizenships and there will not be a  possibility to lodge an appeal to its decisions. FTVby Blazica Kristo – BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic says this will remove all suspicions of security character which existed because of naturalized citizens and ease visas’ regime for BiH citizens.

RS NA enacted Law on changes and addenda to the Law on RS Court

PINK, BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘New structure of Basic Courts’ by V. P., – RS NA delegates on Wednesday adopted the Law on changes and addenda to the Law on RS Courts, by which court department will be introduced in certain municipalities in RS. RS NA also adopted that Law on changes and addenda to the Law on Privatization, Draft Law on changes and addenda to the Law on RS budgetary system, Draft Law on changes and addenda to the Law on incentives to small-sized and medium-sized firms and Draft Law on changes to the Law on internal sailing.

SDHR Ney criticises authorities for neglect of culture institutions

BHT 1 – SDHR Martin Ney met with Directors of seven Cultural Institutions in BiH, where he stressed that BiH is a founder of these Institutions and therefore its authorities are obliged to solve legal status of these Institutions. Directors of Cultural Institutions have presented their problems, emphasising that BiH authorities have to solve their legal status, and stressed their problems were overlooked, because of which some of these Institutions were closed several times. All Directors have stressed that their main problem was financing. “These Museums and Libraries weren’t acknowledged by authorities on any level. Their legal status isn’t defined with laws and because of that they don’t have financial means,” stated Ney. Beside the fact that this issue is defined by DPA this is also about the identity of this country and Ney reminded that these Institutions are the proof of that identity. Dnevni Avaz, pg 10 ‘Politicians have neglected cultural heritage of BiH’, by Z. P.  – “I have seen no other country like BiH in which politicians have neglected their cultural heritage, where politicians fail to recognise an opportunity for high-class tourism through promoting museums”, Ney said. FTVby Predrag Bosnjakovski – Ney has insisted on solving of this issue and even met with BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic and BiH Minister of Finances Ljerka Maric, but nothing was done so far. Even though Council of Ministers granted Km1 million for these institutions and even though they were closed in several occasions nothing was changed. OHR will include actively into solving these issues. BHT 1, Hayat, RTRS, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Work of judiciary welcomed’ by kta – also reported.

Topcagic: decision on commencement of talks on 21 November

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Decision on start of negotiations on the Dayton anniversary’, announced on cover ‘Decision on commencement of talks on 21 Nvoember’ by M. Cubro – The Head of BiH Directorate for European Integrations, Osman Topcagic, on Wednesday stated that EU Council of Ministers will reach a decision on launching negotiations on SAA with BiH on November 21, the day of anniversary of ratification of the Dayton Agreement. The Ambassador of Great Britain to BiH, Matthew Rycroft, stated: ‘Our goal is to launch negotiations with BiH as soon as possible. Therefore, we have decided to minimize deadlines for procedures that must be carried out within EU. We cannot specify the exact date of launching of the negotiations but we will do everything in our power to make that be as soon as possible’.

Danas: ‘Djapic and Sanader would support Ljubic’s HDZ’

Danas pgs 40 and 41, mentioned on front ‘Djapic and Sanader would support Ljubic’s HDZ’ by S. Pekic carries that HDZ Croatia and HSP Croatia are closely cooperating and that in this cooperation they also touched upon BiH open issues. Danas says that their joint conclusion is that the position of Croats is extremely difficult due to unfair IC decisions but also due to corrupted Croat political representatives in the state and FBiH bodies.  The weekly also says that in order to strengthen the Croat political position and expel HDZ President Dragan Covic from the party Sanader will support establishing of the Ljubic’s HDZ that would defeat Covic’s HDZ in the coalition with HSP Djapic-Jurisic. Apart from Sanader and Djapic this coalition would, allegedly, have a support of the Catholic Church.  

Ombudsman Kazic: State of human rights in Mostar is disaster; city authorities, OHR, OSCE responsible

Oslobodjenje, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘We live in divided city, with hypocritical authority’, by Asaf Becirovic – Carries a lengthy story about the situation in Mostar, featuring an interview with the head of Ombudsman’s office in Mostar, Amra Kazic, who underlines that the state of human rights in Mostar is a disaster, for which she blames the city authorities and the OHR and OSCE. She explains that the city authorities are pre-occupied with themselves, not implementing the Mostar Statute, whilst the OHR and OSCE are passive about it. Furthermore, Kazic heavily criticizes the process of appointment of civil servants in the Mostar City administration (in which the Croats occupy more positions than anticipated), and Kazic argues that the corresponding decision failed to observe the Constitutional Court’s decision, which says that “the three peoples are to equally participate in the work of the City administration”.

Avaz: Minister Zigic on leave, SBiH to propose new candidate

Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Zigic on leave, SBiH awaited to propose his replacement’, by M. Kukan – According to Avaz’s information, the FBiH Minister of Energy and Industry in resignation, Izet Zigic, has gone on leave until his status is solved, whilst the Presidency of SBiH should soon take a decision on a new candidate for the office. Inset ‘Almir Becarevic mentioned too’ notes that SBiH principals, Safet Halilovic and Gavrilo Grahovac, could not comment on media speculation that Zaim Backovic would fill the post. However, well-informed sources of Avaz say that the mood within SBiH is turning towards the current ‘BH Gas’ manager, Almir Becarevic.

Former Clinton ’s associate Sklar says BiH citizens should get rid of politicians

Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘Majority of BiH politicians should be simply erased’, by Sead Numanovic – Carries an interview with former US President Bill Clinton’s, economic envoy, Richard Sklar, in which he, among other issues, notes that the BiH citizens should be ‘erasing’ majority of politicians in BiH because they are only looking after their interests and consciously arranging quarrels among the people(s). He notes that BiH should have moved forward with great amounts of money that have been sent to BiH.

Turkovic: ‘We shall all be Bosnians, and not Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks!’

Vecernji List pg 5 ‘We shall all be Bosnians, and not Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks!’ by Z. Kresic – VL says BiH Ambassador to the USA Bisera Turkovic has caused a real scandal talking at the DPA discussion at the University ‘George Washington’ when she announced that 3 BiH peoples, Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks, will assimilate and feel as Bosnians. VL says that in this way she harshly violated her role of the BiH Ambassador since she presented her personal view on the future BiH organization. VL also says that this stand is nothing new and that Turkovic just reiterated the old stands of some Bosniak politicians. According to VL, a reaction from the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been expected and the article unofficially learns that she might be invited for a meeting in Sarajevo soon because of this scandal.  

B. Golub new CBC Education Minister

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Branko Golub new Education Minister’ by md – The Central Bosnia Canton Assembly unanimously elected Branko Golub for a new Education Minister in this Canton . 

Economic and judicial issues

Update on Covic/Lijanovici case/ Livingston on reasons for Nikolic’s testimony agst Lijanovics and others

RTRS, FTV,  Hayat, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘A desire for vengeance motivated Nikolic’ by A.N., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Zoran Nikolic wanted to revenge to Lijanovic’’ by S.Turcalo – Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Nikolic’s primary motif was revenge’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Livingston: Lijanovici were giving bribe on receipts?’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Sound recording charges Lucic’ by Z. Tulic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Witness reported on Lijanovic out of vengeance’ by A.Durmo – The trial for the Covic/Lijanovici case continued on Wednesday when the prosecution witness Robert Livingston was questioned. Livingston was a person in charge of contacts with former protected witness Zoran Nikolic. According to Livingston, the main motif because of which Nikolic sent a letter to the BiH Prosecution and gave testimony is revenge since Lijanovics did not pay him for the job he finished for them before the FBiH Supreme Court.

VL, SD bring into question foundation of BiH authorities’ objections to Croatian authorities with regard to construction of Peljesac bridge

Vecernji List pgs 16 and 17 ‘Sarajevo mines Peljesac bridge’ by Z. Jurilj says that the Croatian Government is not obliged to submit to the BiH authorities the complete documentation on construction of the Peljesac bridge until BiH presents a complete study which would, among the other things, define what kind of ships would be entering the Neum bay. VL also says that since the BiH authorities have never made such study their demands to the Croatian authorities with regard to this issue become dubious. VL also says that Neum does not have a status of a port at all and the study, which would show that there is a possibility to build a port there, has never been made. Slobodna Dalmacija pgs 14 and 15, mentioned on cover ‘Bridge to Peljesac ‘drawn’ in Sarajevo 2 months ago’ by Z. Tuilc claims that BiH Minister of Communications Branko Dokic and his Ministry were well informed by the competent Croatian authorities about the whole course of the Peljesac bridge project. The author concludes that such behaviour of BiH politicians can be noticed whenever Croatian officials are to visit BiH and the visit of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader announced for the end of November proves this claim.  

DA on participants of Vc corridor conference; Dokic: nobody will be privileged

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Dokic: Nobody will be privileged’, mentioned on cover, by L. Sinanovic – In the eve of the international finance conference on construction of the Vc corridor, DA reads that the representatives of the World Bank, European Investment Bank and European Development and Reconstruction Bank have confirmed their presence. Apparently, the WB has expressed the interest in the project for the first time as it deems that the latest studies prepared are professional. In addition, Bechtel, Austrian Alpina Majer’, International Group from Brussels companies will take part in the conference, as well as the delegations of France, Malaysia, Czech and Turkish delegations. Authorized Minister, Branko Dokic, stated that some meetings have already taken place, but stressed nobody will have privileged status.  

D. Corluka: ITA is ready for VAT introduction

Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Fictitious export would prevent model against VAT frauds’ by A. Vrebac carries Director of the Sector for Taxes with ITA Dinko Corluka confirmed that ITA is completely ready for beginning of the VAT application. Corluka also said that it has been worked on the special model of protection from VAT frauds with a special stress on export in which experiences from the EU countries would be used.   

Constitutional changes

RS President Cavic on constitutional changes: “We Serbs should say it clear: BiH is equally my state as it is Tihic’ and Covic’

Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9, announced on cover ‘BiH is my state, as it is Covic’ and Tihic’ by Dragan Jerinic – In a lengthy interview to daily, Dragan Cavic, RS President, speaks of numerous issues, including constitutional changes, Brussels and Washington talks, SDS transformation, police reform accusations on list of those removed/pardoned, relations with RS Government. On constitutional changes, he claims that nobody from the RS can or will accept the abolishment of RS in future changes, noting RS abolishment has no political nor international foundation. On this, he says: “We Serbs should say it clear: BiH is equally my state as it is Tihic’ and Covic’.” On Brussels talks he says politicians from F BiH wanted to cerate an non-constructive atmosphere aimed at making the IC to treat RS officials more harshly.  He says there were no pressures by the international officials during Brussels talks. He notes constitutional changes are no condition for commencement of SAA talks, but rather a need in the process to make BiH more functional and efficient. He also says that Croat officials have no clear stance in regard to third entity, noting they want to create the situation when they will be able to say nothing can be done and everything must start all over again. He reiterates RS is a reality with which everybody has to face and live. On Washington talks, he expresses expectation something will be agreed, noting Brussels provided a good basis. On police reform, he says that deadline stipulated for implementation is wide enough to find solutions, that would suit everybody and satisfy all three European criteria. EuroBlic RSpgs 2-3, announced on cover ‘We do not renounce Republika Srpska’ by Marija Milic – carries the interview along the same lines as NN’ interview. One part of interview is about appointment of BiH negotiating team, on which Cavic says that BiH COM has not as yet reached any decision in regard to the role of Igor Davidovic as chief negotiator and Osman Topcagic as head of BiH negotiating team, noting this issue should be resolved today. He notes that during Brussels talks, “we have discussed how to – through general consensus – approach organization of talks.”

HTV ‘Otvoreno’ on DPA revision, role of BiH Croats; Covic: Croats under IC pressure; Puljic not taking part in celebrating DPA; Tihic: Croat criticism justified; Croatia : agreement must come from BiH

HTV 1 ‘Otvoreno’ current affairs programme by Hoverka Novak Srzic – HTV [Croatian state television] programme dedicated to the issue of Dayton revision and role of Bosnian Croats in the process gathered a number of guest including HDZ President Dragan Covic, member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, HSP’s Mate Granic and Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. Commenting the 10^th DPA anniversary, Puljic said he could not celebrate an event that only confirmed disappearance of half of the Catholic population in BiH. On the upcoming Washington talks on the constitution, Covic said that there would be no draft of the new Constitution signed but changes to the existing one. He also disagreed with the accusations on the lack of BiH Croats unified position on the issue and said there had been many pressures from the IC officials. “They have told us more then once – you will either assimilate or disappear,” he added. It is vitally important to reach the agreement on constitutional changes in the next 5 or 6 months, but changes which would be essential and not cosmetic. “We must not fall into trap of those who only want to see the success of their project “ warned Covic. Commenting on the poll results – according to which 94% of over 1000 Croatian citizens said Croats are not equal to other peoples in BiH, Tihic said that the criticism from Croat is justified and although mechanisms of equality are in place they often are only of formal nature in some cases in FBiH and RS. On the issue of Croatian participation in the talks, Grabar-Kitarovic said that BiH needs functional state which has to be provided by the politicians within the BiH. She adds that Croatia has its constitutional obligation to help Croats in BiH and adds it does so openly and transparently both through the bilateral contacts and the IC, underlying once again that the agreement must come from BiH. Granic pointed out that other participants of DPA, including US and Europe, are active in this process and so should be Croatia.

Ivanic: New Constitution is not being written, but DA is being adjusted

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘New Constitution is not being written’ by SRNA, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘It is important new Constitution is not being developed’ by Srna – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic on Wednesday stated that Brussels talks were generally positive. ‘I, as PDP leader, think it is important that no new constitution is being developed, but the existing, Dayton Constitution is being adjusted to needs in the context of European integrations’, Ivanic said.

Tomljenovic in favour of BiH regionalization

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Tomljenovic: It is necessary to resolve Croat issue’ by F, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Croats support regionalization’ by F – RS Vice President Ivan Tomljenovic stands for regionalisation of BiH. He said that the current situation does not meet needs of the Croat people and he reminded that the future of BiH is questionable if the Croat issue was not resolved.

RS experts in constitutional rights: imposing is the worst!

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Imposing is the worst’ by Z. Markovic – Experts in constitutional rights from RS (Professor of Constitutional Laws at Banja Luka Faculty of Laws Mile Dmicic and professor at Banja Luka Faculty of Laws Petar Kunic) agree that the International Community should not impose any solutions and should only act as an advisor in the process of possible constitutional changes in BiH. Kunic claims the talks on constitutional changes were conducted in a wrong manner from the beginning – these first started as a number of private talks, which then grew into official talks. He notes the priority should have been changes to F BiH Constitution, as in accordance with recommendations of the Venice Commission. He also claims IC representatives that are participating in the talks are people who were deeply involved in wartime events therefore there is a chance they would favour one side only.

Danas: New BiH Const.  implies erasing over half DPA provisions

Danas pg 4 ‘Former HR’s Deputy Donald Hays drafted new BiH Constitution’ not signed learns from its sources that a draft of a new BiH Constitution implies erasing over a half constitutional provisions agreed 10 years ago in Dayton. 

SD op-ed on possible results of Washington talks

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 13 ‘Serb entity as bone in throat’ by B. Krsito comments on constitutional changes and speculates as to what might happen at the talks in Washington . The author says that representatives of the RS political parties do not expect any pressures and signing of anything that all participants of the talks do not agree with, while some politicians from the FBiH believe that ‘some’ document would be signed and a level of compromise would exclusively depend on the US pressure exerted against the RS politicians. 

Oslobodjenje op-ed criticises Tadic’ act of connecting Kosovo and RS/BiH status

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Entities at Kosovo’ by Edin Krehic – The author notes that the issue of resolving the status of Kosovo cannot avoid BiH, referring to Boris Tadic’ statement in Moscow (when he said that “if Albanians used the right to self-determination, other peoples in the Balkans, for example BiH, Croatia or Macedonia would acquire that same right…” The author stresses in regard to connecting RS with the destiny of Kosovo, Belgrade is trying to make a smaller BiH entity as its trump card in the struggle for acquiring authority over Pristina. On Tadic’ idea on creation of two entities in Kosovo, the author notes entities at Kosovo are far more realistic than in BiH.

NN op-ed urges adoption of constitutional changes

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Guantanamo via Washington’ by Pero Simic – The author is actually urging the adoption of constitutional changes, if possible in Washington, in order to be able to turn towards affairs ahead of BiH on the course to EU, instead of being overburdened with indecisiveness of authority officials. He sarcastically notes that in case no agreement is reached in Washington and agony of BiH people continues, it would be good if USA officials transferred all BiH officials at Washington to Guantanamo Base for some time so BiH people could take a rest.