OHR BiH Media Round-up, 17/12/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA

(18,00 hrs)

TV PINK

(18,00 hrs)

BHT 1

(19,00 hrs)

Talks on constitutional changes

Tihic on constitutional talks

Const. talks continued in Sarajevo

McElhaney on constitutional changes

Humphreys on SAA talks

Defence Commission in session

Schilling on his future work

McElhaney on constitutional talks

SAA talks update

Cases of war crimes over Serbs

BiH CoM on constitutional talks

16 kg of heroin seized in Slovenia

NTV Hayat

(19,00 hrs)

FTV

(19,30 hrs)

RTRS

(19,30 hrs)

Krivaja ceases its work

Conference on human rights

Talks on constitutional changes

Strike in Bosanski Brod oil refinery

Topcagic on SAA talks

Regional news

3^rd Congress of BiH Trade Unions

Humphries on SAA talks

Manjaca war crimes

Talks on constitutional changes

Const. talks continued in Sarajevo

Fraud case before Banjaluka’s Court

Dnevni Avaz

VAT introduction would be postponed?

Vecernji List

He served his sentence and remained in prison (Hjosipovic served his ICTY term, but remains in Spanish prison)

Nezavisne Novine

BiH gets Premier

Glas Srpske

They always want more

Constitutional changes

Talks on constitutional changes continued on Friday in Sarajevo

BH T 1 – The talks on Constitutional changes have been continued in Sarajevo on Friday. Reporter stated that the progress has been achieved in regard to reaching possible agreement related to changes at the BiH Council of Ministries, while there is still no progress achieved in regard to changes at BiH Presidency. SDS Leader Dragan Cavic stated that regarding CoM basically they have agreed on 12 Ministries and one President that will not be rotated. “We have discussed this issue into details and we are left only with trivialities about which we have different opinion” concluded Cavic.  In regard to BiH Presidency, PDP Leader Mladen Ivanic stated that the opinions still vary drastically. Reporter stated that no agreement on Constitutional changes is expected to be achieved on Friday, though there are beliefs that a joint statement will be signed similar to Washington one but more detailed. Beriz Belkic from SBiH stated no amendments will be adopted but only political stances would be defined. He added that he is not optimistic that any agreement will be signed. SDA Leader Sulejman Tihic expressed expectation that the US Institute for Peace would prepare some compromise solutions for the session. “If the proposal ensures BiH to be more functional and efficient than we would get the consensus otherwise, not, at least for SDA party” said Tihic.

Late news update – During the break, Tihic told Fena that no consensus has been reached regarding the issue of CoM. The talks were ongoing and announced to be finished by midnight .

DA: 2 new Ministries, one of Agriculture, second one still to be determined

Dnevni Avazpg 4 “Agreement on CoM reached’, announced on cover ‘Human rights embodied in Constitution’ by A.Malagic – Daily learns that the representatives of political aprties have reached an agreement regarding BiH CoM’ structure with 11 Ministries in total (with increase of two Ministries). Daily notes political representatives agreed to increase the number of Ministries for two – one would be Ministry of Agriculture, while second is still to be determined. According to daily, agreement has also been reached in regard to embodying the text of human rights protection into BiH Constitution. 

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘BiH gets Premier’ by M.Cubro – Reports on agreement reached regarding BiH COM and Premier.

Tihic: Agreement reached in regard to human rights

NTV Hayat, TV PINK – Namely, the Chair of SDA Tihic said that the leaders have agreed on a group of issues related with human rights. Tihic said that 5 pages of text, which guarantee human rights, had been adopted. The Chair of SDPZlatko Lagumdzija said that he found the talks successful due to the fact that agreement in terms of human rights had been achieved. The Chair of SNSD Milorad Dodik said that BiH needed Ministry of Economy, since it was necessary in terms on negotiations with the EU. The U.S Ambassador to BiHDouglas McElhaneysaid that the USA welcomed the fact that the participants of the meeting agreed in terms of human rights.

FTV – According to the participants, CoM will be lead by President with more authority.

RTRS –According to unofficial information, talks on constitutional changes might continue on Saturday as well.

RHB– Talks on constitutional changes are also attended by representative of the US Institute for Peace Donald Hays, US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney, British Ambassador to BiH Mathew Rycroft and Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys also took part in the talks.

Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘They always want more’ by Z.D. -Z.D. – Reports on agreement reached in the field of human rights, carrying statements of Cavic, Ivanic, Dodik.

Vecernji list pg 5 ‘Hays tells politicians: Speak of progress!’ by zk – reports no progress has been reached on constitutional reached as of Friday afternoon.

McElhaney says parties working hard to realize the joint commitment signed in Washington

RHB, TV PINK – US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney stated on Friday that the parties are working hard to realize the joint commitment signed in Washington , which is the beginning of a longer process. He said that all participants have shown a cooperative and serious attitude.

BiH CoM confirms steps in case of successful constitutional talks

TV PINK – During the session, held on Thursday, the BiH Council of Ministers has confirmed steps which are to be undertaken in case of successful constitutional talks. “The talks are being led on chairs of political parties’ levels and agreements, and if reached, they will have to be analyzed, namely, the Constitution will be changed in line with the regular procedure”, said Advisor to the BiH CoM Chair Bojan Zec Filipovic. Filipovic added that the BiH CoM tasked Legislative Office, within the BiH CoM, to be ready to start issuing amendments on the agreed texts.

Weekly commentary by RHB editor Ivica Simunovic – constitutional changes

RHB – Ivica Simunovic – Subject of regular Friday’s commentary was the issue of constitutional changes talks and question is it too late for Croat parties to form and hold a joint position in these negotiations. Simunovic first talked about Donald Hays activities (see the first story). The biggest obstacle in the negotiations is issue of the organisation of the State and middle level of authorities. Simunovic brings up the question are the Croat parties late with their talks and wonder is it inappropriate to talk about something that is not realistic at the moment. He believes that, in talks on constitutional changes, only Croat representatives don’t have strong opinion on what they want.

SAA / Other political issues

Possibility for political manipulation of SAA talks

BH T 1 – Report features the brief summary of Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Presenter stated that BIH will officially start the SAA talks on 25^th January adding that BIH will be obliged to form the negotiation team by then. BIH MP Azra Hadziahmetovic reiterated that SAA represents commercial contract between EU and BIH. Reporter stated that the problem rises from the fact that state will have to be responsible for the activities that are not in its power. Deputy Chair of BIH House of Representatives Martin Raguz stated that regarding the issue of defence they were able to react properly but only when the transfer of authorities to state level was insured. Reporter stated that Commission of Foreign Affairs at the BIH HoR expressed the concern with the existence of state and negotiation team. BIH HoR MPs believe that SAA talks could be politically manipulated for pre-election campaign since the team is consisted of Ministers from Council of Ministers that are highly positioned political leaders.Director of the BiH Directorate for European Integration, Osman Topcagic rejected the possibility of SAA negotiations being politically manipulated. Reporter concluded that the adoption of set of laws needed for tae SAA talks can be painstakingly slow process due to numerous and unnecessary business trips of the delegates.

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘They appointed themselves without Parliament certification’ by ONASA – reports on criticism of BiH parliamentarians, including Raguz.

EC is not going to issue additional SAA terms, says Humphreys

TV PINK, NTV Hayat, FTV – The Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys said on Friday that the EC was not going to issue additional Stabilization and Association Agreement terms, such as for example change in constitution, but he pointed out that the Constitution had to be changed in order for BiH to meet all the necessary terms for joining the EU.

BiH Negotiation Team is about to be established, says Topcagic

Dnevni Avaz pg8 ‘Each negotiating team will have one or two experts’ by S.T., NTV Hayat, TV PINK, FTV, RTRS – BiH House of Representatives will soon have to organize debate on coordination of activities in terms of Stabilization and Association Agreement talks, as the Foreign Affairs Commission within the BiH HoP concluded at the session held on Friday. Director to European Integration Directorate Osman Topcagic attended the debate as well. During the discussion, numerous misunderstandings regarding appointment of the SAA state delegation have been pointed out. “On December 20^th, we will be given the text on SAA talks and I hope that by that time we will have the BiH Negotiation Team established. Members of the team, who are at the same time chiefs of work groups, have been proposed by Ministries in charge”, said Topcagic.

Knauss critical of British proposal for EU budget, noting it has bad impact on BiH and SICG

Dnevni Avaz pg 5, announced on cover ‘Governments of EU state say one thing, and do another’ by S.Turcalo – In a statement to daily, Gerald Knauss, Director of ESI (European Stability Institute) says that British proposal on long-term budget (2007-2013) closes EU doors to Balkans states, since that proposal stipulates that foreign policy provisions financing pre-admission programs are reduced for 40%. Namely, he explains this would mean that BiH and SiCG would not have the same treatment as Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria have. On appointment of Christian Schwarz Schilling to the position of new HR to BiH, Knauss says: “It is of extreme importance that Schwarz Schilling makes a transition from post-ware engagement of HR with his powers towards efficient engagements of EU in BiH. Such actions demand pre-admission perspective for your state, which requires appropriate EU budget. I am convinced Schwarz Schilling would in Germany pledge for that.”

Schwarz-Schilling says economic issues, cooperation with the ICTY will be his priorities

RTRS, RHB – Newly appointed High Representative to BiH Christian Schwarz-Schilling announced that priorities in his work will be economic issues, cooperation with the ICTY, functionality of the institutions and transfer of authorities from the OHR to the Office of the EU Special Representative. He said that large investments should not be forgotten, but that focus in the next period should be on small and medium enterprises and agriculture. 

NN op-ed on Schwarz Schilling: Statements are encouraging

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A Scorpio’ by Dragan Risojevic – Commenting on one of the recent statements Christian Schwarz Schilling gave (when he said since he is Scorpio in horoscope, he knows how to prick), the author notes his statements are somewhat encouraging since he said his main priority would be economy. Hence, author concludes nobody would hold it against him to prick as long as necessary in order to ensure better life to BiH citizens.

Terzic says there are breaches of all guaranteed human rights in BiH

Dnevni Avaz pg5 ‘Kebo: Returnees are the most vulnerable category’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘The most vulnerable categories are inmates, raped women…’ by R.Cengic, TV PINK, RHB, BH T 1, NTV Hayat, FTV– Office of the UN Human Rights High Commissioner and OSCE mission to BiH have introduced BiH authorities with a document on review of situation with human rights in BiH. As he was opening the conference, the BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic said that BiH authorities had to improve communication with citizens, in order to have new as well as the existing laws transparently defined and harmonized in terms of protection of human rights. “We have achieved progress in terms of legislative, institutions, reports to international institutions, but we are still faced with certain political obstacles for having umbrella laws, which would provide basic human rights, brought at BiH level”, said BiH Minister for Human Rights Mirsad Kebo.

DA: Financial Police to be established at state level?

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Financial Police to be established at state level?’ by M.K. – As daily learns, following latest meetings in regard to future destiny of F BiH Financial Police, one option has been treated as possible, according to which Financial Police would be established at the BiH state level, owing to number of its authorities within the field of organized crime, prevention of terrorist activities.

Mikerevic calls on RS Govt. to resign

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Government must tender resignation’ by V.Popovic – Dragan Mikerevic, PDP President, stated that RS Government should tender resignation, since it has no parliament majority. He is of the time it is high time Government stepped back owing to its irresponsible conduct.

Stojicic urges establishment of Serb majority at RS NA

Glas Srpske pg5 ‘We need Serb majority’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘New Parliament majority is acceptable, as long as it is Serb’ by SRNA NTV Hayat – The RS NA Speaker Dusan Stojicic said that new assembly majority had to be established, adding that it has showed Serb majority at the RS Parliament is a factor of political stability. He added: “Parliament majority can be established either through re-definition of the existing or establishment of a completely new majority – however it is in the interest of the RS that any of the two options involves Serb majority.”

Defence/Education/Police reforms

Defence Reform Commission held its final session

BH T 1, TV PINK – BiH Defence Reform Commission held its final session on Friday. Financing the defence reform in BiH was stressed as one of the crucial issues. 278 million were planned for the Defence reform which is less than needed. Co-Chair of the Commission Raffi Gregorian said that BIH is left with ICTY cooperation challenge. “Second one is ethnical and national parallelisms in terms of military forces while the third one is abuse of religion in military forces, and the forth one is to provide necessary means in order for the reform to be carried out” added Gregorian. BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic said that the reform process will be a long-term one, with next year as the crucial one. Fifteen days after the law on defence starts being effective, Transition Office is going to be established.

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Commission completed its work’ by SRNA, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Radovanovic: There was no loser in defence reform’ by I.Sinanovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Authority to continue with defence reform’, announced on cover ‘Closer to NATO’  by A.Sisic – also report

Public debate on higher education held in BiH Parliament

Glas Srpske pg2 ‘In line with Bologna’ by Z.D., NTV Hayat – Constitutional Commissions, within BiH Parliament, held public debate on higher education on Friday in Sarajevo. According to survey, carried out by WUSS organization, small number of BiH professors has been introduced to Bologna process, which means that a lot more has to be done in terms of development of education system. Text of the draft law of new law on higher education has been recently harmonized. Due to the fact that the whole process lasted for years, BiH youth states that they were the ones who lost the most in terms of quality of education. They pointed out that they were not competitive, that they had no possibility to go to some other states and universities, etc. BiH Professors agreed that BiH politicians could have done a lot more for students in BiH. Professor Ejup Ganic said that stances between professors and students had to be harmonized and that both, students and professors, lacked seriousness. The participants of the debate agreed that the law on higher education had to be added; it was said that the law did not regulate the issue of scholarship, financing University, etc.

Bukejlovic says RS Govt. has not received official info. from BiH COM regarding establishment of Pol. Ref. Directorate/Terzic claims it did

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Republika Srpska lagging behind F BiH’ by N.Diklic – Pero Bukejlovic, RS PM, told daily that RS Government has not as yet received official proposal neither final decision of the BiH COM regarding the establishment of the Police Reform Directorate. He added nobody has asked from the RS executive authority proposal of candidates for this body. On the other hand, Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, claims the opposite, adding: “To my knowledge, this decision has been forwarded to RS Government.”

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘No request for candidates arrived’ by SRNA – carries statement of Cvijeta Kovacevic, Head of RS Government Public Affairs Office, along the same lines as Bukejlovic’.

Economy / Social Issues

Terzic: VAT introduction would be postponed

Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash, pg 2 ‘VAT introduction would be postponed?’ by S.Numanovic – Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, has appealed on delegates at entities’ Parliaments to adopt budgets for 2006 by New Year – otherwise, the VAT implementation will most likely be postponed. As Terzic told daily, such a decision would be inevitable unless resources for social funds accompanying VAT are provided. Daily also notes that it is not possible to adopt VAT by 1^st January unless entities’ budget are passed. Terzic also said that “if entities’ budgets are not adopted by New Year, BiH Parliament should schedule extraordinary session and change VAT Law, which would postponed VAT implementation.”

F BiH HjoR to discuss budget for 2006 next week

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Briga: More resources should be allocated for social programs’ by A.Dedajic – Muhamed Ibrahinovic, Chairperson of the BiH HoR, announced session of the F BiH HoR, which is to discuss budget for 2006, for beginning next week. Ismet Briga, from S BiH , said that prior to adoption of the budget, it is necessary to allocate more resources for social programs.

I think that there is no other way out but to adopt the budget for 2006, says Bukejlovic 

TV PINK, BH T 1 – While addressing the participants of public debate on draft economic politics, held in the RS Chamber of Economy the RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic said that budget and economic politics for 2006 had to be adopted by the end of the year, since these are two extremely relevant documents. Bukejlovic also said that if the budget was not to be adopted, it could endanger adoption of the BiH budget, which would also endanger the VAT introduction. Bukejlovic added that politics had to be harmonized, but that no one had right to endanger the RS economic development. “I think that there is no other way out but to adopt the budget for 2006. By not adopting it, we will endanger about 100,000 citizens who depend on it”; said Bukejlovic.

Bosanski Brod oil refinery workers on strike

Glas Srpske pg4 ‘Strike to fulfillment of demands’ by B.T., Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Workers to go in front of RS Government and Parliament on 22 December’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘They demand launch of production and salaries’ by R.Segrt, RTRS, BH T 1, TV PINK, NTV Hayat – Employees of the Oil Refinery Bosanski Brod have started a general strike. They says the strike will last until 11 of their late salaries are not paid, until their contributions are not paid and until refinery status is solved. They also want those who are responsible for such a difficult situation in this company to be identified. President of the Strike Board, Danilo Brocilo, announced that protest of the employees in oil and energy industry, organized by RS Energy Trade Union, will be held on December 22in front of the RS Government building in Banjaluka. Refinery’s management claim that new strike could have impact on new strategic partner and cause their withdrawal from the partnership.

Miscellaneous

Interview with Howard Sumka, USAID Director 

NTV Hayat – Report carries interview with Howard Sumka, USAID Director. Sumka said that in past 10 years, a lot had been achieved in terms of economy, infrastructure, return of refugees and local self-government. Sumka says that over 375 millions $ have been spent in BiH, in past 10 years. In terms of the greatest USAID successes in BiH, Sumka said that the first one referred to return of refugees and reconstruction of multiethnic society. Sumka says that a lot has been invested in small and middle companies. In terms of future USAID aid to BiH, Sumka said that there were two basic areas; development of economic sector and local government. In terms of economy, Sumka says that the USAID would continue working with small and middle companies; continue working on liberalization laws on employment in order to increase the employment rate. In terms of Governments, Sumka said that the USAID would continue strengthening local governments, overall legislation and relations between Cantons, entities and municipalities. At the end, Sumka added that he expected USAID to spend 25-30 millions $ per year, in next 5-10 years.

Alijagic’ brothers to get compensation of BAM 1.3 million

Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘RS must pay BAM 1.3 million to Alijagic’ by V.Duka – The RS and the Municipality of Trebinje will have to pay out the amount of BAM 1.3 million to Alijagic brothers as compensation for the material seized from their shop during the war. This is decision of Trebinje District Court reached Thursday after this case has been returned for re-trial by RS Supreme Court.