| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Conference in Sarajevo | Conference on BiH | SFOR actions | SFOR action in Bocinje |
| Covic visited Siroki Brijeg | Humphreys in Banja Luka | Sheffer on BiH | Islamic Groups in FBIH |
| SFOR searched Bocinje | SFOR actions | Humphreys in Banja Luka | Conference in Sarajevo |
| Meeting of BiH HoR reps | Sheffer on BiH | Conference on BiH | Humphreys in Banja Luka |
| Oslobodjenje | SFOR raided Bocinja; New BiH structure: ten cantons; one entity and a district; Tomic accuses MoD candidate: Stevic’s place is in the Hague: Following the murder of Zihad Hasanovic: Killed because of failed smuggling of heroin from Turkey |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown replaces Interior MInister?; OHR shocked with proposal: Stevic will not be Defence Minister; SFOR raided Bocinja; Hasanovic killed because of the heroin?; Marinko Jurcevic: Investigations into some of the most powerful ones are on-going |
| Dnevni List | Sarajevo: Suspect Friar Ivan Sevo questioned; Abolish entities, transfer authority onto state and cantons |
| Vecernji List | SFOR searched mujahiddin houses in Bocinja; Pack: Dayton agreement needs re-examining |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Don Tomo Vuksic replies to Bajram sermon of Mostar Mufti: Cross over Mostar threatens no one |
| Glas Srpske | Paying off loan for municipality reconstruction is not certain – They wash hands of loan; Exhibition in Paris – Sokolac pupils awarded; Police above police; Serbia celebrates and fears; Lack of money locked maternity hospital; Priest gamble away his cowl |
| Nezavisne Novine | Conflict of transport companies in Sarajevo because of bus lines with Srpsko Sarajevo – GRAS drivers blocked Cetrotrans; SFOR soldiers in search for weapons in Bocinja; Investigation on murder of Zihad Hasanovic – Murdered because heroin from Turkey didn’t come to Sarajevo; Mihail Stojakovic, Workers Union leader in PMP Cajavec – Salaries will be paid to workers who were in hunger strike; Investigation on acetic acid anhydride import – Employees of RBS Company from Bijeljina on hearing; BiH Council of Ministers – No agreement on Law on University education |
| Blic | Dragan Cavic: RS must not be a collateral damage of reforms in BiH; RS railroads – crime not being spoken of: Director stronger than the state; Education: BiH loses at least 62 million dollars without the law; Micic’s Mercedes stolen |
Political issues | |
| Round-table on possible Dayton Peace Agreement changes | RHB, Nezavisne novine pg 5 ‘BiH Constitution should be changed’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Serbs do not give up Dayton’, Dnevni List front, pg 2 ‘Abolish entities, transfer authority onto state and cantons’, Vecernji List front ‘Pack: Dayton agreement needs re-examining’, pg 2 ‘D. Pack: Dayton does not really set BiH’s road to EU’, Blic pg 12 ‘Through the Dayton to EU’ – The foundations ‘Konrad Adenauer’, ‘Heinrich Boll’, ‘Friedrich Ebert’ and ‘Friedrich Naumann’ organized the round table on the possible changes to the Dayton Peace Agreement, which was held in Sarajevo on Monday. The session under the title ‘BiH on the road to a functioning state – visions, perspectives and concepts’ was attended by a number of local and international officials. Doris Pack, member of the European Parliament who recently called upon DPA changes, who opened the conference, stated that it was time to have Dayton in the agenda and to find out whether DPA enables or disables BiH’s chances to be admitted to EU. Gerald Knaus, the Director of European Stability Initiative presented their initiative for changing the structure of BiH, which stipulated abolishment of FBIH and BiH organized in 12 cantons and RS, and stressed that the Constitution can only be changed by consensus and that it was necessary to start from the Constitution presently in power. It is also necessary, said Knaus, to change the role of the international community in BiH, because that what was necessary after the war, is now becoming an obstacle. The Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, said that nine years after the signing of DPA it was the time to move forward, but also added that BiH officials never discussed this issue before. BHTV 1 – President of SDS in resignation and RSNA Speaker, Dragan Kalinic categorically rejected any possibilities for changes to the Dayton and abolishment of RS. “If District Brcko would become a RS Canton, RS would be divided into two parts, and that is totally unacceptable thing for RS and for all of us from RS”, said Kalinic. “For a long time I am disagreeing with Mr. Kalinic, but I think that RS shouldn’t be abolished. And in that way I haven’t understood European Parliamentarians and their demand”, Milorad Dodik, SNSD President. “I think that Entities should be abolished, both of them, because they are a ‘brake’ to development, economical development, they are ‘brake’ for economic reforms”, said Sulejman Tihic, SDA President.“We don’t consider this to be best solution and the problems evident in FBiH, as a result of truly undefined and unregulated relations among Bosniaks and Croats,….should not be solved over RS back”, said Kalinic. Asked to comment the possibility of the third entity, HDZ Vice President Martin Raguz said: “For us the issue is not an entity, …but rights of people, meaning Croat people, arranged in the same way as rights of other two peoples. Will that be trough Cantons, but that that solution should be standardized”. FTV – PDP Vice President, Branko Dokic, said that problem was how to convince RS citizens that they would be equal to FBiH or Brcko’s citizens. He added that position of this party is that citizens should declare about reorganization on referendum. BiH political parties have agreed that reorganization is necessary, but they haven’t agreed about ways it could be done. “We welcome it (the initiative) as one of possible suggestions …for functional BiH,… to us in HDZ it is clear, and we have been saying it before, Dayton’s model of BiH organization gave its results and positive one, but every day it shows its limits more and more”, said Martin Raguz, “You have seen from presentation, not only from me but other representatives from RS that we are against radical change of Dayton’s Agreement, that we think that this radical change would open series of new issues and drawn this country to new uncertainty”, said Dragan Kalinic. “When it comes to initiative herself, there are some unclearness, there are some debatable issues. It is unclear what to do with entities’ powers, do they go to Canton or to the State. Also. It is unclear why RS wasn’t analysed, but only FBiH. Does that mean that RS is functioning well, if it functions well why FBiH shouldn’t be one Canton. It (meaning initiative) has good points and those are abolishment of Entities, which are obviously a ‘brake’ and to economic development but also to the reforms we are supposed to carry out, not only for ours sake but for entrance in EU”- said Sulejman Tihic, SDA President. RTRS – “I support initiative by the European Parliament that BiH can function with RS, Brcko District and 10 Cantons. We could save 10 Million KM on administration”, said Jerko Ivankovic from Party for Prosperity. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Tihic: Dayton has some mistakes we need to correct’ – Sulejman Tihic stated for Avaz: “Dayton agreement was signed in completely different time and conditions… It has some mistakes we should correct. I expect that in a future there could be a meeting organized again, after listening to all suggestions and objections.” Oslobodjenje cover, pg 5 ‘Ten cantons, one entity and a district’ – Commenting ESI initiative, Zeljko Komsic said: “The weakness of this concept is that it gives only on the surface a way to overcome existing condition. I am afraid that it doesn’t deal with national concept of the state, but with the technical modalities in order to reach necessary administration cuts.” |
| VN interview with Cavic on changes to DPA | Vecernje novosti pg 4 ‘They are bringing down RS through Brcko’ – The President of RS, Dragan Cavic, warned that efforts to change Dayton Peace Agreement and the BiH Constitution stipulate the idea of proclaiming Brcko District as 11th canton, which would devide RS into two parts. “In that way, BiH would have 13 cantons – ten individual ones inside FBiH, one would be Brcko, and two would be parts of divided RS”, stated Cavic in an interview to VN, stressing that RS will never accept anything alike and that FBIH status change is not possible without agreement with Serb people. Asked to comment High Representative’s position that change to the BiH constitution could not be imposed, but that people could voice their opinion on that, Cavic said that last such initiative was referendum in 1992 boycotted by Serbs and that trial to impose something like that upon them ended with war. “I don’t believe that somebody would dare to repeat something similar”, said Cavic, “The only real path is to make a right balance – RS to keep its institutional substance and, at the same time, BiH to have vital state functions by which it could meet requirements of integration processes”. He also denied that he or any other SDS leader had contacts with Radovan Karadzic. |
| Humphreys meets RS leadership; urges actions regarding SIPA and HJPC | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Positive moves towards European integrations’, Dnevni List pg 10 ‘Cavic: We shall not hinder reform processes’ – The Head of EC delegation in BiH, Michael Humphreys on Monday visited Banja Luka and talked to RS officials on 16 conditions laid down in the Feasibility Study that BiH must fulfil on its road towards EU, requesting better efficiency in their fulfilment. Humphreys particularly stressed the need for establishment of state High Judiciary and Prosecutor Council and State Information and Protection Agency. Dragan Cavic, RS President stated that atmosphere, more difficult than last year, was a reason for such a slow process of reforms. “I am sure that it is very important for RS to creatively participate at all levels of authorities on the fulfilment of conditions for NATO program of PfP”- said by Covic. Blic front pg, pg 13 ‘RS must not be a collateral damage’ – ‘I am not feeling optimistic about reforms we have to implement as a preconditions for admission to Euro-Atlantic integrations, because the political atmosphere in BiH is difficult’, RS President Dragan Cavic stated. Michael Humphreys assessed as positive the authority of the entities and state institutions that are working on fulfilling preconditions for European integrations. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS institutions to not have enough of Bosniaks and Croats’ – Head of EC delegation also met separately with the RS Vice Presidents Adil Osmanovic and Ivan Tomljenovic. He didn’t want to speculate on a possible date for BiH’s admission to EU, adding that it could discourage the public. Vice President Adil Osmanovic pointed the necessity for the adoption of the Law on Public Administration, adding that Ministries in RS were multiethnic while the Administration still is mono-ethnic. Vice- President Ivan Tomljenovic said, talking about the insufficient representation of Croats and Bosniaks in RS Administrations, that the situation is almost alarming. BHTV 1 – Michael Humphreys also talked to RS Minister of Interior Zoran Djeric and RS President about the police reforms. Cavic evaluated that the situation in RS in this regard was the worse than it was last year, as personal interests are prevailing. Humphreys said that most important now was to establish SIPA and Agency for fight against crime, along with HJPC. “We have agreed that reform of police is necessary in BiH, we agreed that it doesn’t present negation of Interior Ministry in any case”, said Zoran Djeric. |
| NATO and EU top officials discuss EUFOR mission to BiH | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Europe ready to succeed NATO’ – NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and NATO Ambassadors on Monday met with EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana in order to discuss transfer of SFOR mandate in BiH to future EU forces, EUFOR. “EU troops that will eventually succeed SFOR in BIH will be equally equipped, efficient and dedicated to fulfilling their task. They should function based on Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which will also allow use of force, and defines maintenance of security situation in BiH as the main task”, said Solana’s spokesperson Christina Galjak. She added that the Ambassadors were also addressed by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown and SFOR Commander Virgil Packet. It was also announced that the EU led military mission, EUFOR, would be much smaller than SFOR and that it would be most probably reduced from the current 12.000 to 6.500 troops. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘New umbrella for BiH’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Referring to the EU’s efforts to take over NATO’s mandate to BiH, author writes: “Balanced presence of USA, EU and NATO is optimal solution for the state ‘without its ego’… The headline in yesterday’s Oslobodjenje, carried from Onasa, and based upon the talk with Chief of OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Beecroft, says it all about the real situation: ‘BiH is the country without a vision or a leadership.’” |
| IFIMES poll: BiH citizens want early elections | Nezavisne novine, page 5: “BiH citizens want new elections” – International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies Director, Baktijar Aljaf, based in Ljubljana, said that BiH citizens want early elections because authorities are not able to make change. Bahtijar denied that poll was ordered by opposition parties. He stated “After eight years of protectorate High Representative is not needed anymore. Politicians, not OHR, should make decisions on future of the country”. Furthermore “by supporting nationalist parties in power OHR is extending it’s mandate in BiH. If reformists come in power there will be no need for High Representative”. On all this OHR briefly commented that law regulates elections and that High Representative does not support parties and persons but reforms. SDS and PDP consider that poll was ordered by opposition parties. “Early elections are only chance for Milorad Dodik to come back in power”, stated Sinisa Djordjevic, member of PDP Main Board. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on early elections | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Reality’ op-ed by Mirko Sagolj – Referring to different initiatives which call on early elections in BiH, author writes: “Even if the early elections would be held in fall, the big question is whether they would change anything. There is no doubt that the national parties would win again… On the other hand, opposition parties, each in its own way, go through crisis and still cannot offer to voters guarantees that they would be any more successful from nationalist parties… As long as anti-nationalistic forces and parties stay speared around and divided, mainly because of career’s reasons of their leaders, this country will be lead by the forces of destruction – nationalists. That is our reality.” |
| Spiric invites parties to agree on EU conditions | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Spiric asks for agreement on EU conditions’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Consensus for Euro-Atlantic integrations necessary’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Invitation on talks for faster BiH membership to Partnership for Peace’ – Speaker of BiH House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric invited the presidents of political parties participating in the work of this House to talk about fulfilling conditions for BiH Euro-Atlantic integrations at the meeting on Wednesday. Spiric sent the letters, in which he stressed that there should be conversation about negotiations on the Stabilisation and Admission Agreement, members to Partnership fro Peace, and worrying delays in these processes. |
| SDS Nikic on Ashdown | Nezavisne novine pg 5 ‘Paddy Ashdown violates human rights’ – SDS Vice-President caretaker, Cvijetin Nikic, said that HR’s decisions which are not supported by evidence, such as decision on forbidding Mirko Sarovic to be in politics, are hardly damaging free expression of political will in BiH. “We believed that it is history”, stated Nikic. He hopes that Sarovic will prove that he’s not guilty before European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. |
| Covic, Vrankic and Nikolic visit Siroki Brijeg | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Infrastructure an obstacle to regional development’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Undeveloped infrastructure’, Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Siroki threatened with ecological disaster’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Priority to development of structure’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Siroki got only 0,6% of funds’ – The Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, visited Siroki Brijeg on Monday where he held a working meeting with Western Herzegovina officials. “During the meeting we discussed several topics, got familiar with many problems, and concluded that the infrastructure in the whole region is in a poor condition” – said Covic adding that most projects in this Canton had remained unrealised due to lack of stimulation from higher government levels. In his visit, Covic was joined by the Deputy Prime Minister and FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, and FBiH Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic. |
Defence and security | |
| SFOR raids Serb and Bosniak homes in Bocinja
| BHTV 1, RHB, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4&5 ‘SFOR probes Bocinja’, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘SFOR probes Bocinje’, pg 4 ‘SFOR raided houses in Donja Bocinja’, Nezavisne novine cover, pg 4 ‘SFOR raided Bocinja’, Vecernji List front, pg 3 ‘SFOR searched mujahiddin houses in Bocinja’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Search of houses’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘SFOR searched houses in Gornja Bocinja’, Blic pg 15 ‘SFOR raided houses in Bocinja’ – Members of the SFOR carried out an operation in the settlement of Gornja Bocinja, municipality Zavidovici, on Monday morning. SFOR’s Public Relations Office also stressed that this was a “normal, and routine patrol”. Members of SFOR carried out a search in several households in this settlement, and the spokesperson of Canton Zenica-Doboj Interior Ministry, Admir Katica, said that the Turkish Battalion of SFOR stationed in Zenica requested support from the Cantonal MoI, after which the Special Support Unit was deployed to Gornja Bocinja, populated mainly by Serbs who recently returned after 100 mujaheedins were evicted. FTV – SFOR said that the search was not with ill-intentioned and that it was preformed strictly to look for the unlicensed weapons. Houses of both Bosniaks and Serbs were searched, without a difference. During the search they have found two hunting shotguns, two bullets and an explosive device. Residents of this village have been accusing each other for the usage of weaponry during the holidays for a long times. SFOR Battalion Commander Turkish Battalion Mehmed Karaday said that reason for the action was to improve security. Residents consider this action of SFOR as necessary in this area and said that soldiers were correct and polite. RTRS – The action was conducted without incidents. SFOR announced that this action has been regular activity within Harvest Operation, whose goal is to collect illegal weaponry. Dragan Tesanovic, President of Bocinje Community stated that both representatives of Serbs and Mujahedins have monitored whole action and that there were no problems any incidents. |
| DA claims Stevic will not be appointed as state Defence Ministry; update to accusations against Stevic | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Stevic will not be Defence Minister’, pg 2 ‘Stevic will not pass OHR’s vetting procedure’ by D.A. – DA claims to learned from reliable diplomatic sources that the international community was terrified with the proposals they received regarding the leading positions with the BiH Defence Ministry, especially Branko Stevic, SDS member. Journalist notes that therefore it was expected that Stevic would not pass OHR’s vetting procedure. DA source stated: “It is simply unbelievable that for such important position, as Defence Minister is, to have a man which was a chief of Bijeljina Police from 1992 to 1994 appointed. In that period, some of the warst crimes during the BiH war happened, and in the Bijeljina region. It is worrying that SDA and HDZ without a word accepted SDS’s nomination. These two parties should explain their behaviour to their voters.” The source also said that this action also showed lack of seriousness to the international community. RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Tomic has no right to say lies’, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘I shall sue Tomic for slander’ – Continuation of CoM Session, where BiH Minister of Defence has to be appointed, was cancelled due to lack of quorum. Deadline for appointing BiH MoD expired on Monday. Branko Stevic, candidate for position of MoD, discharged accusations by Dusko Tomic, Secretary General of the Children’s Embassy, who accused Stevic for killing Bosniaks in Bijeljina in 1992. Blic pg 13 ‘Semberija has personnel for the highest positions’ – “Semberija has proven it has personnel for the highest positions in RS and BiH by nominating Branko Stevic for the position of the BiH Defense Minister. We hope our candidate for this position would be accepted”, the President of the Bijeljina Municipal Board of the SDS party, Cvijetin Nikic, stated at a press conference held in Bijeljina. Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘Branko Stevic’s place is in the Hague’ – Tomic repeated his allegations against Stevic. In addition, it brings reaction by the OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic: “While the OHR never comments on the details of the international community’s vetting procedures, I can confirm that the position of Minister and Deputy Ministers of Defence will be vetted given the importance of their the positions.” Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘We shall check war past of Branko Stevic” – “While deciding on appointment of BiH Minster of Defence we shall consider his role in war”, said BiH Council of Minster Chair, Adnan Terzic. He stressed that parallel to OHR vetting process Council of Ministers will double check candidates because he wants to be sure that they are qualified. Source of Nezavisne novine in ICTY told that they do not have information on Stevic’s role in Bijeljina during the war and that ICTY do not investigate it. |
| Murder of ZH linked to failed heroin shipment | BHTV 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Hasanovic killed over heroin?’ pg 29 ‘Zihad Hasanovic killed because of failed shipment of 15 kilos of heroin from Istanbul’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 35 ‘Killed for failed smuggling with heroin from Turkey’, Nezavisne novine cover, pg 3 ‘Murdered because heroin didn’t arrive in Sarajevo’ – Sarajevo Cantonal Interior Ministry issued a statement on Monday saying that the murder of Zihad Hasanovic was directly linked to an illegal shipment of heroin from Istanbul to Sarajevo and that the most likely motive for his murder was a desire to prevent it. According to MoI, there was information that a large quantity of heroin from Istanbul to Sarajevo was in the pipeline. The Turkish police was informed about claims that victim was directly involved in this action. |
| DA claims Ashdown will replace FBiH Interior Minister | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Ashdown replaces Police Minister?’, pg 2 ‘Paddy Ashdown replaces Mevludin Halilovic?’ by S.N. – DA claims that its source informed them on Monday that the High Representative Paddy Ashdown could replace soon the FBiH Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic because of constantly deteriorating security situation and bad relations inside the ministry. Halilovic was already sent a warning that the situation has to be changed as soon as possible. Journalist claims that this is a last warning, as EUPM already warned Halilovic on the number of occasions on the problems in FBiH MoI, while Minister is now requested to express more seriousness in his work. Parallel to this, international community carries out efforts to also solve situation in RS, where “Minister Zoran Djeric is trying to make Police Director his personal spokesperson.” |
| GS on SIPA law | Glas Srpske cover, pg 5 ‘Police above police’ – According to new draft Law on SIPA the agency should change its name in State Investigation and Protection Agency. Change in name (from Information to Investigation) is changing essence of SIPA. Authorities of RS Ministry of Interior would decrease and Agency would become police above police. Draft Law created in OHR is in parliamentary procedure. RS remarks aren’t accepted. |
| Serb Radicals claim presence of Islamic radical groups in BiH | RTRS, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Islamic radical groups are still acting’ – Mihailo Mihailica, President of Serb Radical Party, stated that he has reliable information about presence of a large number of organised Islamic groups in BiH, especially in Federation. At press conference, he stated that those groups have tried to get into international organisations, Islamic community and different humanitarian organisation. He added that their final goal was a total Islamisation of BiH with fundamental principles. He also invited RS Interior Ministry and International Community to monitor dangerous presence of Islamic fundamentalists in this region. Vecernje Novosti pg 6 ‘Military training for kids as well’ – Such ‘radical Islamic groups’, according to Mihajlica, are functioning in BiH through various seminars and even military trainings, and these include even children into their groups. He invited the police structures in BiH to deal with this problem seriously. |
| Reactions to Mikerevic’s statement on Islamic terrorists in BiH | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Nonsense coming from Karadzic’s propaganda’ – Following the statement by RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic two days ago on alleged Islamic terrorism in BiH, SDU leader Miro Lazovic commented that this was “the trial of blur the real essence of the problem using cheap political demagogy. Scaring people with alleged Islamic radicalism, while at the same time his government doesn’t do anything to arrest most wanted Hague’s indictees is certain political hypocrisy.” President of Party for BiH Safet Halilovic estimated that the story of several thousands of Islamic fighters in BiH was “absolute nonsense… from Karadzic’s propaganda.” Mikerevic’s statement was also criticised by BOSS leader Mirnes Ajanovic and Chief of SDA Caucus in FBIH Parliament Semsudin Mehmedovic. |
Criminal affairs and legal issues | |
| The first witness in Jelavic, Prce, Rupcic case took stand | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Friar Ivan Sevo witnessed’, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘Friar Sevo on hearing’, Dnevni List front pg splash, pg 3 ‘Sarajevo: Suspect Friar Ivan Sevo questioned’, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Prosecutor McNair attended too’, Slobodna Dalmacija back pg ‘Friar Ivan Sevo testifies about Hercegovacka bank’- Friar Ivan Sevo, former member of Hercegovacka Bank management board, was the first witness at BiH Court’s investigation process against Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Miroslav Rupcic. Josip Muselimovic, the lawyer for Jelavic confirmed that he and the lawyers of other two defendants submitted request for their release from detention. “We submitted arguments and their place is not in custody. It depends on BiH Court now”, said by Muselimovic. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Friar Ivan Sevo interrogated ’ – Friar Ivan Sevo has also been accused of embezzlement in the case of Herzegovacka bank, which he denied adding that he spent money for building of a monastery. Muselimovic added that six more witnesses would be interrogated in the investigation process – former HB director Ivica Karlovic, Mond company director Vilim Primorac, and perhaps HB board members Ivan Medic and Ljubo Cesic Rojs, currently in Croatia. FTV – Special unit within BiH Prosecution for Crime, Organized crime and Corruption, said that investigation is still in progress and they didn’t want to comment cases in procedure. BHTV 1 – Investigation procedure in those cases is supervised by BiH Court’s Judge, Bernard Boland. |
| BiH Prosecutor says to investigate some of the most powerful people in the country | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Investigations into some of the most powerful ones are on going’, pg 3 ‘The investigations against some of the most powerful and influential people in BiH are on going’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘BiH prosecution needs robust SIPA’, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Investigation against power-wielders as well’ – BiH Chief Prosecutor Marinko Jursevic believes that Prosecutor’s ability to fight crime in BIH was limited without a single, strong police agency at the state level. According to the press release issued by the BiH Prosecutor, “amendments of the current SIPA legislation are soon to be considered by the BiH Council of Ministers and will provide the Office of the Prosecutor with the tools needed to robustly tackle crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the State… These legislative proposals make SIPA the key administrative body for fighting organised crime, money laundering and terrorism”, announced the Office. Jurcevic also said that the BiH Prosecutor’s Office currently investigates some of the most powerful and influential people in the country. The Office currently investigates 30 cases related to organized crime, while BiH Court leads 12. |
War crimes | |
| Scheffer, Galjak on war crime suspects
| RHB, BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘I don’t know is Karadzic in Belgrade’, Vecernje Novosti pg 6 ‘I do not know whether he is in Belgrade’ – NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer rejected on Monday to comment on the recent statement by ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic were hiding in Belgrade. However, he expressed hope that Karadzic and Mladic would be in the Hague by the time the EU takes over the NATO mission in BiH, planned to happen by the end of the year. Scheffer addressed the journalists after the meeting of the EU Political-Security Committee and the NATO Council in Brussels, which focused on the issue of handing over the SFOR mission to the EU. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Europe ready to succeed NATO’ – Spokesperson for EU High Commissioner, Christina Galjak said: “We want to have all war crimes indicitess arrested before the NATO announces the end of its mission in BiH. Sooner that happens, better. If that problem is not solve, we will deal with it on our own and will examine how EUFOR could solve with, with NATO’s assistance.” |
| Humphreys on action against Sarovic | RTRS – Michael Humphreys, Head of EC Delegation to BiH stated that the Delegation did not participate in making decision on removal of Mirko Sarovic. “This decision by the High Representative he based on information sources. Those information.. gave enough evidence to make such a decision. And he made it. It does not directly implicate EU or our current activities. I do not criticising it but I say that we did not directly participate in …it.” – said by Humphries. |
Other issues | |
| Contract on reconstruction of Lucki Bridge signed | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 7 ‘Mostar regains main artery’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 21 ‘3,27 million KM for reconstruction of bridge’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Contract on reconstruction of Lucki Bridge’, Dnevni List pg 15 ‘New Lucki Bridge in 15 months’ – Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic, his Deputy Ljubo Beslic, Federation of BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Nedzad Brankovic, and a representative of “Hidrogradnja” Company, Semin Masic, signed a contract on the reconstruction of Lucki Bridge in Mostar on Monday. At the press conference, which was organized after the contract was signed, it was stated that the value of this project is 3,27 million KM. 1,5 million KM will be allocated from the FBiH budget, while the rest of the amount will be a part of a Kuwaiti Fund loan. |
| OHR special auditor urges appointment of HT Mostar Steering Board | Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Experts, not party’s favorites, in HT Mostar’ – Special OHR auditor Dale Ellen Ralph at the end of last week asked from the FBiH Minister of Transport and Communications Nedzad Brankovic to appoint the members of HT Mostar’s Steering Board as soon as possible. Ralph’s letter to Brankovic also reads: “We recommend the members of Steering Board to be appointed based on their knowledge of the industry, skills, experience and success, and not based on their political affiliations.” Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Appointment of Supervisory Board of HT Mostar this week’ by Z. J. – The FBiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Nedzad Brankovic, confirmed to DL that the appointment of member of the Supervisory Board of HT Mostar would be completed this week. |
| Halilovic, Beecroft on University Education Law to be adopted | Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Proposed Law on Higher Education is a result of all possible compromises in BiH’ – Following the statement by BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak that draft Law on Higher Education was contrary to the FBiH Constitution and therefore unacceptable to Croats, and a warning by Chief of OSCE Mission Ambassador Robert Beecroft that BiH could loose significant assistance if the law was not adopted by end of March, BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic commented that the current draft was agreed with all parties. This includes the representatives of all Education Ministries in BiH, International Community and Mostar University, and Halilovic added that the draft Law, calling it reformatory, accommodates needs of all parties. Beecroft also said that the draft was the result of “all possible compromises in the past six months of the work in this Law.” |