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| ICTY: Kordic, Cerkez appeals |
| ICTY: Maglov case status conference |
| Reactions to HR’s decisions |
TV news broadcast on 16 Decemebr 2004
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| HR announced measures | HR announced measures | HR announced measures | RS MoI action in BL |
| EUFOR searching premises | US sanctions SDS and PDP | Reactions on HR’s decision | HR announced measures |
| CoM in session | Reactions in RS | EUFOR action | Reactions to HR measures |
| Indictment vs. Silajdzic | Mikerevic on measures | Delalic pleaded not guilty | RS NA in session |
| Oslobodjenje | Sanctions for helping, hiding |
| Dnevni Avaz | Coordinated measures against RS: |
| Dnevni List | Mostar: Verdict to Covic already passed |
| Vecernji List | Ashdown abolishes RS’ Defence Ministry |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Kordic family full of optimism |
| Glas Srpske | New punishments in April |
| Nezavisne Novine | Abolishing of the entity Ministries of Defense; Ivanic, Cavic and Mikerevic were banned from entering |
| Blic | Accounts of SDS were blocked and police officers were removed; 28 delegates have signed the demand for removal of the Government |
| Vecernje Novosti | The police is taking heat |
| Nacional | A trap for Karadzic and Mladic |
| Slobodna Bosna | Exclusive: 48 hours of hell in family Varesanovic; Work results of foreign judges in BiH: To easily promised rule of law |
| Dani | Chronicles of a kidnapping case |
| Ljiljan | Mustafa Spahic Mujki: Our candidate for new “reis” will be Enes Karic; Exclusive: Big conflict between foreign judges and prosecutors in BiH |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Solana’s spokesperson: Ashdown’s decisions important steps to establishment of full cooperation with ICTY | FENA – Spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Cristina Gallach, says the yesterday’s decisions of the HR and EUSR, Paddy Ashdown, represent important steps towards cleaning up of elements that obstruct the cooperation with the ICTY. Gallach says that without considerable progress in cooperation with the ICTY, BiH will not be able to enter the next stage of European integration. |
Measures against RS | |
| Ashdown removed nine RS officials, announced other measures against RS
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Sanctions for helping, hiding The Hague indictees’, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘America supports Ashdown’, pg 2 ‘Nine officials sacked, ministries of police and defense to be abolished’, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Ashdown abolishes RS’ Defence Ministry’ and pg 3 ‘Ashdown announces abolishment of RS’ Defence Ministry’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Leaders of SDS and PDP banned from entering USA’, by D. Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘Hard measures against protectors of war criminals in RS’, by Zdenko Rerig, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Abolishing of the entity Ministries of Defense’ and pgs. 2-3 ‘Nine persons were removed, SDS and PDP leaderships were banned from entering USA’ by M. Cubro, insets ‘Audits at public firms’ and ‘Police must be unified’, Glas Srpske, cover page story ‘New punishments in April’ by N. Z., Vecernje Novosti, cover ‘The police is taking heat’ and pg. 5 ‘The police is the first to take heat’ by Sl. P. and M. L., EuroBlic, cover and pg. RS1 ‘Accounts of SDS were blocked and police officers were removed’ by Dusanka Stanisic – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on Thursdaysacked nine RS officials, mainly heads of police stations. At a press conference in |
| Ashdown urges RS Government to implement Srebrenica report recommendations
| Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘A letter to Mikerevic’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Conclusions from Srebrenica report must be realized’ by Srna, SRNA – High Representative Paddy Ashdown has sent a letter to RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic in which he welcomes the RS Government’s commitment to implement the conclusions of the Srebrenica commission’s final report. “It is very important for the citizens of BiH, especially those who are referred to in the report, as well as BiH’s international credibility, that the recommendations from the report are implemented fully,” Ashdown’s letter to Mikerevic says. The letter also says that one of the key recommendations of the report is that “government bodies should study again the activities and engagement of war crimes suspects who are still holding posts in government bodies, institutions and public offices” and that it was of upmost importance that this recommendation be implemented immediately. |
| SDS’ assets frozen, SDS, PDP leaders banned from entering
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘SDS, PDP leaders banned from entering US’, and pg 2 ‘There are evidences that companies owned by Luka Karadzic were being used to help his brother’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Cavic and Ivanic unwanted in US’, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Ashdown abolishes RS’ Defence Ministry’ and pg 3 ‘Ashdown announces abolishment of RS’ Defence Ministry’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Leaders of SDS and PDP banned from entering USA’, by D. Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘USA freeze all SDS’ assets’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Ivanic, Cavic and Mikerevic were banned from entering America’ and pg. 3 ‘Ivanic, Cavic and Mikerevic cannot enter USA’ by M. C., Glas Srpske, pg. 4 ‘Neither money nor traveling’ not signed, EuroBlic, EuroBlic, cover and pg. RS1 ‘Accounts of SDS were blocked and police officers were removed’ by Dusanka Stanisic inset ‘Stop to transactions with SDS’, Vecernje Novosti, cover ‘The police is taking heat’ and pg. 5 ‘The police is the first to take heat’ by Sl. P. and M. L. inset ‘American punishments’, SRNA – US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney announced on Thursday that, because of lack of cooperation with the Hague tribunal, the US government had frozen the funds of the ruling Serb Democratic Party (SDS) in the USA and banned financial dealing of US citizens with the party. The |
| EUFOR Commander: RS Army assisted hiding of
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Leakey: RS Army assisted hiding of The Hague fugitives’, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Ashdown abolishes RS’ Defence Ministry’ and pg 3 ‘Ashdown announces abolishment of RS’ Defence Ministry’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Leaders of SDS and PDP banned from entering USA’, by D. Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘USA freeze all SDS’ assets’, not signed – General David Leakey, the commander of the new EU peacekeeping mission in BiH, said that elements of the RS military had used the extensive underground facility to harbour war crimes suspects. “Some of the underground tunnels and bunkers in the area of Han Pijesak have been used by persons indicted for war crimes,” he told reporters in |
| RS Premier Mikerevic says Ashdown’s decision dictate without precedent
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘This is announcement of changes to RS and BiH Constitutions’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Dictate without precedent’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Mikerevic: a dictate from OHR’ not signed, Glas Srpske, pg. 4 ‘Dictate without precedent’ by N. D., ONASA – Republika Srpska Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said on Thursday that the measures announced earlier in the day by High Representative Paddy Ashdown did not shock the public, but that his messages to the RS institutions were much more shocking. “The thing that must surprise the serious and responsible people in the RS are the assessments and opinions given so easily, suspicions without arguments on which measures for the next year are based, and these mean announced changes to the RS and BiH constitutions,” Mikerevic said. He added that the High Representative’s measures presented “dictate without precedent” which obliged everyone to accept the ideas and projects of the High Representative. “The OHR, unfortunately, needs no partners, only executors,” Mikerevic said. |
| RSNA Speaker Stojicic: Sanctions against RS/Bosnian Serbs strongest attack on
| SRNA – RS National Assembly Speaker Dusan Stojicic has said that, following Thursday’s measures by the international community’s High Representative in BiH, a possibility of holding a referendum in the RS should be considered in order to defend its institutions as their abolition is unacceptable. “No one in the RS has a mandate to accept the abolition of RS institutions. No one in the RS will accept that the RS and its institutions become collateral damage of reform processes,” Stojicic told SRNA. He said that with Thursday announced measures of High Representative Paddy Ashdown, “delivered once again without arguments, the OHR has demonstrated its power and its attitude in accordance to which all responsibility for the lack of cooperation with |
| RS Defence Minister Stankovic surprised with announcement of Entity Defence Ministries abolishment | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Mikerevic: a dictate from OHR’ not signed – Milovan Stankovic, RS Minister of Defense, was surprised with the decision on abolishing of the entity Ministries of Defense. ‘Ashdown’s decision is entirely unknown to me and I was not informed on this. Nevertheless, it is the fact that Ashdown can do whatever he wants and whatever he pleases, without asking anyone for an opinion’, Stankovic said. |
| BiH Presidency members on HR-announced measures
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 “Tihic: I doubt full cooperation of RS with the Hague will be ensured soon’ by A.M. – BiH Presidency member, Sulejman Tihic, commented that the HR-announced measures will not change the situation in RS drastically, however added that they could have effect in long-term. “I am not sure that the announced measures can bring to unconditional RS’ cooperation with the ICTY and the change of the situation in this entity until the April 2005, when BiH could potentially be admitted to Partnership for Peace. However, looking at this move in a long term,… I believe that… measures, especially those in field of defence and security, will ensure RS cooperation and respect of Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Removal of RS Government would bring to crisis in BiH’ by S. Rozajac – Article brings both Tihic’s and Covic’s statement. |
| Hadzipasic satisfied with measures in both defence and police fields
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Hadzipasic: I am happy about solutions in both defence and police’ by Fena – “I can express my sorrow over the lack of cooperation with the ICTY, but I am also very glad about the solutions announced today in both defence and police [sectors],” comments FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, to the measures announced by the HR. Asked whether Federation of BiH opposes the abolishment of its entity Interior Ministry, Hadzipasic answers: “I will be sorry [about abolishment], we have good Minister.” Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Removal of RS Government would bring to crisis in BiH’ by |
| Colak, Lagumdzija on the measures
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Removal of RS Government would bring to crisis in BiH’ by S. Rozajac – BiH Security Minsiter, Barisa Colak, welcomed the measures the field of defence and police, adding that the removal of the government [of RS] would bring to the crisis in BiH, thus this solution was the best. SDP leader, Zlatko Lagumdzija, commented that the problems of this country are not the decision of the High Representatives but the lack of responsibility of the local authorities. |
| SBiH’s Murselovic on HR-announced measures
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘It has been proved that they have obstructed the full cooperation with the ICTY’ not signed – The Party for BiH’s delegate to RS National Assembly, Muharem Murselovic, stated that the HR decision regarding the RS Defence Ministry has been expected as it was failing to show determination to cooperation with ICTY. “It is normal for this segment, which assisted indictees, to be at the state level and avoid these possibilities [of helping suspects] in the future,” said Murselovic underlying that defence reforms must be completed. |
| Reactions to measures against RS by SDS’ Bojic, PDP’s Trifkovic, SDA’s Sadovic and SDP’s Popovic, SPRS, Party for BiH’s Belkic, SNSD’s Radojicic
| BHT reporter gathered reactions from the representatives of the RS National Assembly (RS NA).“We will analyze the HR measures, and only then take position as the party’s Presidency, and I don’t have formed personal opinion on this subject yet,” said SDS representative, Borislav Bojic. “Regarding limitations and restrictions, that is restriction to human rights and freedom. After all, the HR consider that he has right to act this way, and will party’s leadership be able to travel, maybe it is not in plan for this leadership to travel,” said PDP representative, Nevenka Trifkovic. Some sides are not satisfied with announced measures, with their strength. “Those forces in the RS that are obstructing progress in BiH, that are slowing down BiH on way to Euro-Atlantic integrations, they just won another fight over international community,” said Tarik Sadovic, SDA representative. “It is clear to international community, including Mr. Ashdown, that this is one process that is near to its end and that maybe it would be better to give a little bit more time for things to happen in natural way, not to do it hastily. Still, it is a fact that there is less time now,” said Slobodan Popovic, SDP representative. FTV carried Bojic’s and RTRS carried Trifkovic’s statement. Nezavisne Novine, pgs. 2-3 ‘RS is embittered, Federation of BiH welcomed punishments’ by N. N. also carries reactions of Borislav Bojic (SDS), Nevenka Trifkovic (PDP), Nade Radovic (SDS), Tarik Sadovic (SDA) and Zlatko Lagumdzija (SDP). Apart from these reactions, the article also carries reactions of: SPRS assessed the decision on punishing RS Ministry of Defense and RS MoI as inappropriate and emphasized it can only accept sanctions towards individuals that have brought to the situation in which these institutions are not complying with their obligations. Igor Radojicic (SNSD) says this party still has not formed an official stance on these measures (RTRS also carried Radojicic’s statement). Beriz Belkic (Party for BiH) supported the decision of the High Representative and US Ambassador. |
| Reactions in the FBiH
| BHT – The HR measures in FBiH are appraised as not sharp enough, but the only possible measures at this moment, comments BHT. SDA welcomes the HR measures, but it also expects stronger ones in the coming months. “SDA is not sure that announced measures would lead to fulfilment of RS obligations towards ICTY by the April next year when NATO summit will be held again,” said SDA Vice President,Seada Palavric. BiH Security Minister and HDZ President, Barisa Colak, believes that current reform process and unification of police structures in BiH will not be decelerated. “Reforms will go on, with these measures or without them, but it is for sure that some things will happen during and after reforms, against those for which is determined that they weren’t working in accordance to the law,” said Colak. Opposition parties believe that the HR should be much more radical in announcing sanctions to RS authorities. “The High representative decided only to create vision that his reformers are doing something, and as he said, this is not an event, this is beginning of the process. Can you think about the man who, today, nine years after |
| Reactions by removed officials
| FTV, Glas Srpske, pg. 4 ‘Bitter fruits of lies’ by D. T., ONASA – Chairman of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) municipal board Foca and delegate in the BiH House of Peoples Nade Radovic said on Thursday that he does not know why he was sacked by High Representative Paddy Ashdown. “It is obviously another violation of human rights,” Radovic said, denying all accusations. Glas Srpske, pg. 4 ‘Skocajic’ not signed – The Chief of PSC Trebinje, Mrksa Skocajic, refused to comment the decision on his removal. ‘Let them find someone better than me, if they can’, he stated. The Chief of Foca PSC, Milomir Malis, says everything said about him were lies and he announced he would provide with a more detailed response soon. The Deputy Chief of PSC Foca, Zoran Ostojic, also claims he was removed upon constructed claims of Bosniak and other media and some intelligence circles. He said it is futile to file any complaints, since the truth in BiH has been defeated. Glas Srpske, pg. 4 ‘My conscience is clear’ by S. A. – this is a reaction of Cedomir Popovic, the Head of the Department for Veterans and Disabled Persons Protection in Bileca, who said he does not understand why HR has removed him. ‘I suppose he did this because during the war I was a member of RS Army…’, Popovic said. Glas Srpske, pg. 4 ‘There are no reasons’ by S. S. – Chief of Zvornik PSC Milorad Maric refused to comment his removal until he receives an official notification on this. The Head of State Border Service in Zvornik, Petko Pavlovic, found out about his removal from GS journalist and was surprised to hear about it. He claims there were no reasons for such a decision of the HR. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on measures against RS
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Front opposite of RS’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Commenting to the set of measures announced by the HR, US Ambassador and EUFOR Commander, the author says that removals in the police indicated that the places where suspects are being assisted are known, while the sanctions against SDS and PDP were the harshest. “This also located political [both party and individual] responsibility for the reason of dispute,” says the author concluding that international community has front opposite of RS. |
| DL on latest measures: BiH integrating more, need for new Foreign Minister
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Paddy’s sanctions’, by Ivica Glibusic – Commenting on measures imposed by the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, the author says the measures are finally showing the direction BiH is heading, namely the decision to abolish the entity MoDs and MoIs clearly shows that BiH is integrating more and more, and in the same time the entities are getting weaker. According to the author, it is a sign that, slowly but surely, the Dayton-born BiH is being abolished. Noting that the US administration’s decision against the PDP and SDS leaderships caused an even bigger echo than the HR’s measures, the author wonders what happens next if the decision is to affect the BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, because the EU will most likely support the US’ decision and in that case BiH will have to look for another foreign minister, which will be a difficult task for the ruling parties. “How much is the Republika Srpska leadership ready to pay for the lack of cooperation with |
| Ljiljan: “RS Government will fall”
| Ljiljan pgs 17-18 ‘Government will fall down’ by Milada Dreca – In light of measures announced by the OHR, Ljiljan reads that RS Government has reached an agreement on collective resignation while it is also not excluded for Serb representatives in state institutions to withdraw from their positions. “This would bring RS to decide on its future, since extraordinary situation or even a threat of it would not suit anybody, including High Representative, who would than have to consider consequences of his decisions.” Journalist also examines the demands to remove the Government, saying that RS President Dragan Cavic doesn’t object the removal of the current government at the same time seeking alternative solutions in a form of “Serb trilling” – SDS, PDP, SNSD for the “new” government. This, says Ljiljan, is the only way to ensure Assembly’s majority. Ljiljan underlines that while panic is in raise in RS, sanctions by the IC would not be great due to fear that they cold slow down reform processes in BiH. However, “one cannot ignore the fact that sanction were and still are extreme mean of pressure on RS authorities to speed up reforms for BiH’s entrance to EU… which will bring to transfer of entities powers to the state level.” |
Crime/security/legal proceedings/judiciary | |
| EUFOR raid in Han Pijesak
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Routine control of passengers, vehicles’, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘EUFOR enters majority of barracks’, by De. L., Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘EUFOR carried out un-announced operation’, by bs, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘EUFOR searching for Mladic?’, by A. Macanovic, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4 ‘A part of facilities of RS Army was sealed’ by N. Krsman, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Han Pijesak was blocked’ by Z. Jovanovic and M. Dzepina – EUFOR conducted an inspection early Thursday morning in military facilities in Crna Rijeka where RS Army Headquarters was seated during the war in BiH. The EUFOR units have set up checkpoints at the access roads to Han Pijesak and Crna Rijeka where an underground facility is located. The inspection was carried out without the presence of the RS Police. Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Army had known everything’ not signed – The EUFOR Commander General David Leakey, said that on Thursday his troops have inspected several military installations near Han Pijesak, which had been used by persons indicted for war crimes. He added that some of these underground installations are unsafe and represent a hazard to the general public, noting that only those installations with a legitimate use should stay operational, while the reminder will be closed. |
| Softic: ‘Case of lawsuit against NATO will not help
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Softic: Decision will not influence the BIH lawsuit against SCG’ by A.Malagic – BiH’s legal representative in the lawsuit against SCG for aggression and genocide, Sakib Softic, stated that the decision of the International Justice Court in the Hague, which brought decision two days ago that it did not have jurisdiction in the case of SCG’s lawsuit against NATO, will not have influence on the lawsuit filed by BiH. The Court explained that the reason for its decision was that in 1999, when the lawsuit was filed, SCG was not the UN member state. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Case with NATO will not help Belgrade to drop BIH’s lawsuit’, mentioned on cover, by Az. Kalamujic – Softic adds that “SCG has no more possibilities to file new demands for the revision of the lawsuit BiH filed against it,” but added that SCG representatives do stand some chance with regard to lawsuit filed by Croatia against them. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Lawsuit of SiCG against NATO cannot have an influence on the lawsuit of BiH’ by M. Cubro, mentioned on cover also covered the issue. |
| DL on charges against Dragan Covic: Verdict to Dragan Covic already passed
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 8 ‘Mostar: Verdict to Dragan Covic already passed’, by Zvonimir Jukic – Reminding that the Cantonal Court in Mostar ruled on October 15 this year that the transfer of ‘Eronet’ shares onto the three private companies (Croherc, Alpina komerc and Hercegovina osiguranje) was illegal, the author argues that the verdict in fact confirms the illegal conduct of the then leadership (of HPT Mostar), which transferred the said shares. The author explains that the then Chairman of HPT Mostar Steering Board was the current Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, against whom two criminal reports have been pressed in relation to the ‘Eronet’ case, and the author wonders whether the Cantonal Court Mostar’s verdict will affect the outcome of trials that will be conducted against Covic before the BiH Court regarding the ‘Eronet’ case. |
| Kordic second instance verdict today
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 15 ‘Kordic family full of optimism’, by Danijel Ivankovic – Appeals Council of the ICTY will be passing the verdict to the appeal lodged by Dario Kordic, who was found guilty in the first instance. Kordic’s family and friends are optimistic about the outcome of the verdict. |
| ICTY Prosecution to indict Silajdzic?
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Indictment raised against Haris Silajdzic’, by H – The Mostar-based ‘Danas’ weekly reports, calling upon its sources in Sarajevo and The Hague, that the ICTY Prosecution raised the indictment against former BiH Foreign Affairs Minister, Haris Silajdzic, which should be handed out to the BiH authorities in January 2005 the latest. Allegedly, the indictment has been raised on basis of documentation that had been submitted to the ICTY investigators by the Serb and Croat offices in charge of cooperation with the ICTY. Allegedly, Silajdzic will be held responsible for murders and expulsions of non-Bosniak population, establishment of concentration camps and infiltration of mujahiddin into the BiH Army troops. |
| SB critical of work of foreign prosecutors in BiH
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 22-25 ‘Much-vaunted foreign prosecutors before the judicial debacle’, mentioned on cover ‘To easily promised rule of law’, by Suzana Mijatovic – SB article analyses the work of foreign prosecutors led by Canadian John McNair in the Special department for organized crime, economic crime and corruption within the BiH Prosecution. It reads: “Arrival of allegedly eminent and professionally proven prosecutors from abroad and the first energetic steps they made in fight against organized crime and corruption was welcomed by the public with euphoria and huge expectations; however judicial processes led up to date or those still in procedures with the regard the indictments filed by the foreign prosecutors [against Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce, Miroslav Fazlic, Aleksandar Mandic…] leave bitter taste of disappointment, improvisation, confusion, even basic lack of competencies of the foreign legal ‘savors’.” Article further examines in details those moves it considers to be mistakes of the prosecutors McNair, Jonathan Ratel and Jonathan Schmidt in mentioned cases. |
| Ljiljan on the work of foreign prosecutors in BiH
| Ljiljan pg 16 ‘Conflict between foreign judges and prosecutors in BiH?’, mentioned on cover‘Exclusive: Big conflict between foreign judges and prosecutors in BiH’, by Mugdim Hasanovic – Ljiljan’s source claims that foreigners in BiH Prosecution and BiH Court are in the conflict, further explaining that the reason is evident from the example of Georg Halbah, who allegedly rejected to present the indictment field by the Special department for organized crime, economic crime and corruption in BiH Prosecution in the case of Hercegovacka banka as it would contradict official police of his country, Germany, to support Croats in BiH. Source also says that no foreign prosecutor was surprised with this explanation, “which of course makes it obvious that all of them would act equally if there were in position to represent the indictment against somebody from a people supported by the official politics of their country.” Ljiljan’s source concludes: “We were sure that international community sends top lawyers in our country, and we got judges losing cases.” |
Economic/social issues | |
| UNHCHR supports privatization audit
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Privatization audit must be carried out’, mentioned on cover, by M.K. – The head of the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in BiH, Madeleine Rees, commented for Avaz that the privatization process in BiH must be revised. “Somebody has to be held responsible for having some companies worth millions bought for a single KM and for workers’ rights being violated at the end,” said Rees adding that the transparency is also disputable in privatized companies that now operate successfully. “If there were irregularities, those who committed them must be processed,” stressed Rees. |
| FBiH Govt adopts changes and amendments to privatization law | FTV, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Draft law on privatization of companies determined’, by N. Bise – The FBiH Government adopted at its session held yesterday (Thursday), the Changes and amendments to the law on privatization in form of a draft, which should remove ambiguities and clarify some issues pertaining to privatization. The changes stipulate that the privatization can be done in form of a contract on joint investment, however a potential partner ought to be selected in an open competition. The changes, among other issues, also envision that the privatization (of companies) can be done though privatization of parts of companies, which are results of division of companies into smaller parts. One of the important changes to this law concerns the issue of who can participate in the privatisation process. The new regulation specifies that all domestic and foreign companies with private capital in excess of 50 percent can participate in the privatisation process. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘To ban state companies from foreign countries from participating in privatisation (in FBiH)’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Draft law on privatization was determined without HDZ Ministers’ by R. C. also covered the issue. |
| Farmers block Orasje border crossing
| Dnevni List, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘There are no subsidies for wheat, and the year is almost over’, by T. Bijelic, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘We are being punished for bigger production’, mentioned on front ‘Farmers block border’, by Nada Koturic – Around 100 farmers with fifty tractors blocked the Orasje border crossing on Thursday for an hour because of unpaid subsidies from the FBiH budget for this year’s wheat harvest. Producers of wheat request the payment of the subsidies by December 21 this year, as well as the payment of subsidies for other products. The blockade of the border crossing Orasje will resume on Friday (today) and it will last two hours. |
| RS NA adopted budget re-balance
| RTRS, Nezavisne novine, pg. 4 ‘Budget re-balance was adopted’ not signed, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘More money for pensioners’ by D. Zec – RS National Assembly adopted the budget rebalance for 2004 in the amount of approximately 1,035 billion KM on Thursday. RS NA also discussed the draft budget for 2005. Representatives of the Trade Union of employees at the budget payroll think 2005 Draft Budget was unacceptable, since it foresees a 4% decrease of their salaries, therefore they have requested from RS NA delegates to return the document back to RS Government to implement changes. Obrad Belenzada, the Chairman of the Confederation of the RS Trade Unions, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact the RS Government has not planned more funds in 2005 budget for revival of economy, protection of domestic production and incentives to exports. |
| RS Government’s Work Group on payments to PBES
| Nezavisne novine, pg. 4 ‘RS Government’s Work Group claims transactions were not disputable’ by A. S. – A work group of RS Ministry of Finances, which had a task to investigate on payments from public funds to bank accounts of PBES, has found no evidence these transactions were disputable, as a source close to RS Government claims. The source claims the investigation was completed on Wednesday. ‘No evidence was found on any payments to this bank after June 20, 2003 when the temporary administration with Tobi Robinson was introduced’, the source claims. |
Police reform/miscellaneous | |
| RS NGOs coordinator: Cavic will remove Entity Government | Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Cavic removes entity Government’, by A. Beus – The President of RS Association of POWs and President of Coordination centre of NGOs (in RS), Branislav Dukic, told DL that the previously announced protests of the NGOs in RS were not held because the RS President, Dragan Cavic, has promised to fulfill three requests of the NGOs, including the removal of the RS Government. Other requests are related to rejection of Police Restructuring Commission’s proposals. |
| Update to DNS’s initiative for removal of RS Government
| EuroBlic, cover ‘28 delegates have signed the demand for removal of the Government’ and pg. RS2 ’28 signatures against the Government’ by R. R. – DNS delegate Drago Kalabic on Thursday stated that 28 delegates at RS NA have signed the initiative of DNS for removal of RS Government. DNS believes the initiative would get a support of the Assembly majority because ‘RS has never had worse Government’. EuroBlic inset ‘The Radicals are supportive too’ – quotes SRS President Milanko Mihajlica as saying: ‘Nobody has offered us to sign this initiative as yet, but we will support it because we have already said we do not support this Government’. |
| PRC member Jozic says single Police in BiH inevitable
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Five Police regions instead of cantonal MoIs’, mentioned on front ‘Police in five regions of state’, by Dejan Jazvic – Carries a Police Reform Commission member, Mato Jozic, as saying it is evident that BiH will have a single Police, with the joint budget, the same uniforms and other joint features. The article also reiterates that there are three proposals regarding the number of Police regions/areas, however VL notes that all three proposal envisage that the regions will be crossing over the entity borders. |
| GS: Reactions to PRC work, initiatives
| Glas Srpske, pg. 5 ‘Introduction to crisis’ by G. Dakic – the article reads that should a decision be imposed, by which RS MoI would be abolished and by which policing would be organized by regions in BiH, it would mean the most severe violation of the Dayton Agreement and it would represent an introduction to a political crisis similar to the one in 1991, which resulted in war. SRS President Milanko Mihajlica says the work of PRC was essentially a common farce directed by the High Representative. He added that should it still happen that HR Ashdown decides to organize the police by regions, it would be completely clear that his basic task is to realize war-time goals of SDA. SDS delegate at RS NA Stanko Pivasevic says everything reminds him of 1991 when Bosniaks and Croats had regularly outvoted Serb representatives at BiH joint institutions. ‘I think Wilfred Martens had no right to propose to Ashdown something that is not in accordance with the Dayton Agreement’, Pivasevic says. RS NA delegate and President of Democratic Party of RS Predrag Kovacevic says RS must have its Ministry of Interior and its Director of the Police. |
| SB on future police structure in BiH
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 30-32 ‘RS MoI pays the price of not arresting criminals’ by Mirha Dedic – SB presents the concepts of the future BiH police structure agreed within the Police Reform Commission. In addition, it reads that while RS authorities strongly oppose the abolishment of the RS MoI, according to SB source close to RS Government, Serbian President Boris Tadic told RS leadership during his recent that they should accept the concept of joint police. However, SB says that its well informed source claims that Dragan Cavic had to stick to his attitude of saving RS MoI as his party, SDS, holds his responsible for bad elections results in |