| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Terzic in Slovenia | Terzic in Slovenia | Invalids protests | Law on Public Acquisitions |
| SDA/HDZ talks continue | Johnson meets Tihic | HDZ-SDA crisis | Abolishment of 2x taxation |
| EUPM on arrest | EC’s statement | IFIMES poll results | Protests in RS |
| ICTY update | OHR appeal on CoM | BH Delegation in Slovenia | Hays meets RS Youth |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH wil get Institute for missing persons; Relja Kovac being checked: he was Radovan Karadzic’s bodyguard?; Grahovac: ‘Vrankic would continue with ethnic cleansing in BiH’; BiH Delegation in Slovenia: Expert team for debt |
| Dnevni Avaz | Grahovac accused Vrankic of chauvinism; Rop: We will find solutions for three big problems; We can fulfil all conditions before Istanbul [summit] |
| Dnevni List | Mostar: Meeting of members of Bishops’ Conference of BiH and Croatian Bishops’ Conference |
| Vecernji List | Grahovac requests removal of Vrankic; Five years of murder of Jozo Leutar: Anniversary of assassination |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | The Hague: BiH Army was first to attack HVO |
| Glas Srpske | Audit at “Srpske Poste”: Postmen with empty bags!?; UK: Assistance to Hilandar |
| Nezavisne Novine | Donald Hays: Privatisation in RS and F BiH is a theft; Bosko Ceko delivered audit reports to Amor Bukic: RS Prosecutor’s Office analysing sale of Kristal Banka; A quarrel about “Metal” enterprise: BAM six million “vanished” |
Political developments | |
| HDZ/SDA crisis update
| FENA – SDA Vice President Mirsad Kebo stated Tuesday evening for FENA news agency that the meeting between SDA and HDZ on the current crisis between the two parties was not held as announced. However, FENA and FTV claim they learned that parties’ pleaders Sulejman Tihic and Barisa Colak held meetings. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Unsolved problems Hadzipasic will share with Lozancic?’ – Tihic stated for Oslobodjenje that at the meeting it was agreed that most of the FBiH Govt problems would be solved between PM Ahmet Hadzipasic and his deputies Dragan Vrankic and Gavrilo Grahovac. In case these talks would faily, Hadzipasic is instructed to seek the assistance by FBiH President Niko Lozancic and FBiH Vice Presidents. “In order to avoid outvoting, prime minister and deputies will agree on the session agenda. The decision that Govt doesn’t reach consensus on will be sent back to three [of them.] If the problem was not to be solved even in that case, that FBiH President would solve it with his deputies-,” explained Tihic. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Without ethnic outvoting, larger powers for PM and deputies’ – DA brings same statement as Oslobodjenje. FTV by Sanja Beciragic– Reporter says that the current crisis between SDA and HDZ was the most difficult one in executive authorities in BiH to date. According tot he journalist, outvoting of HDZ ministers, their boycott of government’s work and public attention given to resignation demands directed against FBiH Prime Minister Ahmed Hadzipasic, is just a story for the public to draw attention from the issue who negotiates on behalf of the parties. The real problem is reported to be control over finances and authorities on lower levels, especially in Central Bosnia and Herzegovina-Neretva Cantons, but also control over the Pension and Invalid Fund and Roads Directorate. “I still haven’t meet negotiation team, it was planned for today to hold a meeting but it still hasn’t been held”, said Mirsad Kebo. And while negotiation team waited for HDZ to schedule a meeting, leader of the parties, Tihic and Colak met in the building of BiH Presidency. FBiH President Niko Lozancic claims HDZ will not change its demands and Mirsad Kebo that SDA has reasons for dissatisfaction as well. “I said there are two issues we will not give up on: personnel parallelisms and personnel solutions”, said Kebo. “Colak, from the beginning, has been asking to sign the contract regarding our agreement”, said Lozancic. HDZ sources say it has been that outvoting voting will not be a practice anymore and HDZ promised not to go back to the issues of decisions made in the absence of HDZ Ministers. HDZ and SDA will have to find a compromise regarding positions with the Pension and Invalid Fund and Roads Directorate. RHB, BHTV 1 – Media reported that parties’ negotiation teams were supposed to meet in the evening. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘HDZ still awaiting for reply from SDA’ – Following Tuesday evening meeting between Colak and Tihic, VL carries Colak as announcing “readiness of his party to overcome the latest crisis”. “I think an agreement is possible, but it takes to reach the agreement”, said Colak, alluding to the situation in which the SDA does not want to fully accept his proposals. Questioned as to what would satisfy the Croat negotiators, Colak says he expects introduction of mechanisms that would offer protection from outvoting. In that context, VL notes that Tihic is trying to persuade his party colleagues to give in to the HDZ, whilst the SDA Vice President, Suada Palavric, believes that in that case, there need to be constitutional changes. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Federation Government in full composition next week!?’ – Daily learns from Colak that the negotiations would continue. DL also reports that Tihic stated that his party would not agree to changes to the Book of Rules of the FBiH Government, promising that he would do everything that decisions within the FBiH Government are not taken through outvoting. Daily claims that the two sides will most likely be trying to reach a compromise regarding the functioning of authority in the Herzegovina-Neretva and Central Bosnia Cantons. |
| Palavric on early elections in FBiH Govt | Vecernji List front, pg 5 ‘Early elections would be step backward to BiH’ – Questioned whether there’s a possibility of early elections, amid crisis in the FBiH Government, Vice President of SDA, Suada Palavric, says: “I think everyone who endangers functioning of authority wants early elections. But, the same parties would win in case of early elections. According to that, you have to be fair towards the citizens who vote and note that the early elections would mean a step backward for BiH””, says Palavric. Commenting on the behaviour of the SBiH in the whole story, Palavric notes that SBiH is not playing a fair game since it’s represented in the Government, however one can never tell whether the SBiH will support the SDA in the Parliament. |
| VL editorial on SDA/HDZ crisis
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Hostages of “partner’s” relations’ by D. Jazvic – VL carries an editorial on the current crises of the FBiH Government saying that although HDZ and SDA leaders have been fighting and accusing each other quite often they have never brought in question legitimacy of ‘national representatives’ of each others and they will be together on an instable political stage in BiH for a long time. The author says that exactly because of all these things there is a huge responsibility of both parties for the current crises. The author also believes that in case that SDA and HDZ had precisely defined their relations immediately after the last elections, we would not have been in the situation in which the whole country is a hostage of unresolved partner’s relations between SDA and HDZ. |
| Terzic, Rop agree to establish expert group on old savings issue | BHTV 1, RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 6 ‘Expert team for old savings debt’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Experts to investigate the Ljubljanska bank case soon’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Experts to resolve issue of old foreign currency’ – The Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, and Slovene Prime Minister Anton Rop said that the relations between two countries were satisfactory, however burdened with the issue of old foreign currency savings of BiH citizens in Ljubljanska bank. Prime Ministers reached an agreement to establish the expert group that would investigate the issue an offer possible solution. Terzic also said that BiH expects from Slovenia to start intensive negotiations on all outstanding questions and commerce deficit after 1 May. Rop said he agreed that the issue of deposits must be solved. Terzic described as unacceptable the report presented by Erik Jurgens to the Council of Europe Board for Human Rights at a session in Paris on Monday. On the other hand Prime Minister Rop described the report as positive for Slovenia, but that an effort needs to be made to compromise on all issues. As positive, Terzic pointed to the fact that Council of Europe acknowledged that this issue was not political but legal question. “This is legal question and not a political one and that is position BiH always took“, said Adnan Terzic. RHB, FENA – Terzic said in that the visit to Slovenia posed a risk because the public in BiH has a negative view of up to date relations between Slovenia and BiH, FENA’s correspondent reported. “We decided to make the visit because we think that only through open dialogue can we resolve problems. We think that the accession of Slovenia to the EU represents a major advantage for BiH”, Terzic said. BiH needs to find a way to motivate the Slovenian Government to resolve the BiH deficit towards Slovenia, which has been growing for years and has reached 10 billion USD. He thinks that businessmen from Slovenia could move the production capacities to BiH, as was done in Croatia, and that this would allow BiH to cover other West Balkan markets. He said that his Government inherited numerous unresolved issues, such as the issue of Ljubljanska Bank Sarajevo old foreign currency savings. Dnevni Avaz cover Rop: We will find solutions for three big problems’ by Faruk Cardzic – In an interview to DA, Slovene PM Anton Rop praised Jurgens’ report on Ljubljanska bank issue, stressing that BiH and Slovenia must work on it together. |
| Grahovac demands from Ashdown to dismiss Vrankic
| Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Vrankic would continue with ethnic cleansing in BiH’, Vecernji List front pg splash ‘Grahovac requests removal of Vrankic’, pg 3 ‘Grahovac: Remove Vrankic!’, Dnevni List, front and page 9 “Vrankic would gladly continue with ethnic cleansing in BiH’ – Deputy FBiH Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Sport Gavrilo Grahovac on Tuesday recommended the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, to remove from duty the officials who express national bigotry, hatred, and call on continuation of ethnic cleansing. Grahovac reacts to the public statements given by FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic in regard to the reaction of Minister Grahovac on issuing decisions at the last session of the FBiH Government: “Vrankic’s claim that I do not work for the interests of the Serb, but the Bosniak people, shows that Vrankic understands nothing or intentionally excludes facts. My job in the Government is not and never will be to protect the interests of the Serb people, but exclusively the interests of BiH citizens, and within this the interests of all three peoples, all national minorities and all others who live in BiH, love and want to live in their fatherland. But, this exactly is the misunderstanding between me and Vrankic. He does not want what I support. He would like to live in an ethnically clean Croat environment, without Bosniaks, and Serbs especially.” The essence of Vrankic’s position is viewed in the fact that he would very much like to proceed with ethnic cleansing in BiH, stressed Grahovac. Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Grahovac accused Vrankic of chauvinism’, pg 2 ‘Vrankic’s statements are the most dangerous chauvinism’ – Grahovac also accused that HDZ’s refusal to return to the FBiH Govt was “continuation of the dangerous concept of most probably establishing the third entity in FBiH.” |
| RS political parties on SNSD organized mass protests | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Authority cannot implement reforms’ – SNSD President, Milorad Dodik said that protests in Banja Luka are organized for 28 March not only because of the international community’s interest in the reforms, but also because of accumulated crime, distrust, apathy and the authorities’ disability to offer any solution. The RS Socialists Party has invited all citizens to come to protests, whose goals are early elections and change to the current situation. The Serb Radical Alliance supports the announced rally, but will not participate in it. FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘A large percentage of population pro protests’ – Ljubljana seated IFIMES (International Institute for Middle East and Balkans studies) performed a research, which established that 80% of Republika Srpska population supports the opposition protests announced for 23 March. This Institute further assesses that the announced protests of opposition cause fear amongst ruling authorities, because they are aware they have failed to do anything in the past two years. |
| Bishop Komarica on position of Catholics in RS; meets Covic | Dnevni List front pg splash ‘Mostar: Meeting of members of Bishops’ Conference of BiH and Croatian Bishops’ Conference’, pg 16 ‘Komarica: We are concerned with position of Catholics in BiH, especially in RS’, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Croat(ian) bishops in Mostar about position of Church in BiH’ – At the joint meeting of Bishops’ Conferences of BiH and Croatia in Mostar, the Banja Luka Bishop, Dr. Franjo Komarica, warned of the situation in the Republika Srpska, saying that of 200.000 pre-war Catholics in the RS, only 12.000 of them live in the RS now. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘To return at least a part of taken property’, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Enable construction of church in Drvar’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘RS authorities should return expropriated property to Church’ – Bishop Komarica on Tuesday talked with the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, when he also submitted to all 3 members of the BiH Presidency a written appeal, which contained a list of urgent issues relating to the Catholics of the Banja Luka Diocese. Among several issues, the appeal reminds of the lack of readiness of the RS authorities to return a part of property to the Catholic Church the way it was returned to other religious communities, and asks the BiH Presidency to take necessary steps in order to have municipal authorities in Drvar issue a construction permit for construction of a catholic church in Drvar. |
| FBiH Parliament to soon vote on Law on direct elections for municipal heads | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Each voter in a run for head of municipalities’ – The Constitutional Commission of the FBiH Parliament on Tuesday adopted the final draft of the amendments to the FBiH Constitution which is to enable direct election of the municipal heads at upcoming municipal elections. According to the amendment, every registered voter can be candidate for head of municipality. “Over 80% of citizens we surveyed voted in a favor of [direct election of municipal head] and we got support from representatives of all 18 political parties in FBIH Parliament,” stated chairman of the Commission, Slavisa Sucur. He added that parallel to this amendment, the Laws on election of heads of municipalities and mayors will also be sent to the parliamentary procedure. The adoption of these proposals is expected to take place at the session of FBiH Parliament on 23 March. |
| Cropress on surplus administration in Mostar | Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Unqualified staff to be made redundant soon’ by Zvonimir Jukic – DL claims that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, after a ceremonial abolishment of Mostar municipalities on March 15, issued new instructions to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic and Ljubo Beslic, respectively, requesting them to adopt a new city budget and prepare a systematization of jobs in the Mostar City administration. According to DL, the real problem will be to devise a systematization of jobs because a lot of current employees in former municipal administrations were hired through connections, since many of them are not qualified for the jobs. In that context, DL claims the redundancies of such employees could cause conflicts between Jahic and Beslic on one, and their party colleagues, who hired those employees, on the other side. According to DL, Deputy Mayor Beslic has managed to push his initiative according to which the aim of the restructuring of the city should not mean redundancies at all costs, since many employees deserve to stay in their positions. Apparently, HR Ashdown supported Beslic’s initiative saying that he would see, if Jahic and Beslic successfully implement the decision of Mostar, that five FBiH Ministries move to Mostar, adding that a part of the current administration could find jobs in the Ministries. Vecernji List pg 9 ‘Administration if forming union’ -According to IC research, Mostar needs a 250-strong administration. VL also learns that several Croat and Bosniak employees of the current administration are planning to found a union to monitor the downsizing process. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘No queues at counters’ – SD notes that estimates says that out of current 692 employees, some 350 will be made redundant. |
Defence and security issues | |
| Tihic meets Johnson | BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Support to peacekeeping and stability’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH’s admission to PfP not connected to SCG’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Replacement of NATO’s forces after BiH’s joining Partnership for Peace’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘BiH in Partnership for Peace in Istanbul?’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘NATO in BiH opens its HQ’ – The chairman of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, met with the NATO Chief in Command for Southern Europe, Admiral Gregory Johnson, in Sarajevo on Tuesday. They discussed army reforms, BiH’s membership of the Partnership for Peace and the replacement of SFOR with EU military forces. Tihic said that the BiH authorities should be a full participant in all discussions between NATO and the EU on the new mandate of military forces in BiH and that the handover of forces should be done once BiH became a member of the PfP. Admiral Johnson underlined the US government’s support for preservation of peace and stability in BiH, stressing that he hoped that BiH would be invited to join the Partnership for Peace at the Istanbul summit on 28 June. He confirmed that BiH accession of the PfP was not made conditional on Serbia-Montenegro’s membership of this NATO program. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Appointment of Head of General Staff next week’ – Sulejman Tihic, Chairperson of BiH Presidency, confirmed on Tuesday that the appointment of the Head of BiH Army General Staff and Commander of the Operational Command of the BiH armed forces should be performed at the session of the BiH Presidency next week. |
| Ashdown meets Radovanovic today | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘The first step towards PfP’ – The High Representative in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, will today hold its first meeting with the newly appointed, the first, BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic. OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic stated that this appointment was the first step towards establishing function and efficient state defence ministry. Dnevni Avaz cover ‘We can fulfill all conditions before Istanbul’, pg 4 ‘We can fulfill all conditions before June summit in Istanbul’ – Newly appointed BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic says that on the meeting: “From the very beginning I expect form the HR to bring up his vision on the further progress of reforms and to say what he expects from the Minister and BIH Defence Ministry. My intention is to stress that these tasks are joint project of BiH institutions at all levels, including the HR, and other institutions of the IC.” Radovanovic reiterated that he believed that BiH can fulfill obligations necessary for admission to PfP before the NATO June summit in Istanbul. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on BiH’s admission to PfP | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘The time has come to action’ op-ed by Antonio Prlenda – Referring to the visits by NATO senior officials and often warnings from OHR on BiH’s slow implementation reforms, author writes that “obviously, foreigners understood that any further delays in the implementation of the defence reforms in BiH could be fatal for BiH’s accession to PfP… ‘If this thing is let up to the domestic officials, it would easily fail’ is certainly what they though in Brussels and [again] interfered… And, now finally, after many problems and only after the interference of the international community, BiH finally got the first post-war defence minister… The first step towards PfP, in this way, has been finally made, but there are many more to follow, for what many countries would need years.” Author further says that he was sure that majority of BiH citizens do not understand what accession to PfP means, stressing that more than anything it would signify a security. “Claustrophobics from SDS would not really benefit from this. This would crack their financial channels in their closed, narrow circles. They would lose power and authority. Their entire idea would fail. But, their problem is that this is the only possibility for their people in RS too… Brussels wants to see BiH ready in Istanbul, and will do everything to make sure this happens,” concludes the editorial. |
| Oslobodjenje speculates on war past of new SBS Director | Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Radovan Karadzic’s bodyguard?’, pg 6 ‘Former Karadzic’s chief of security to head SBS?’ – On Monday, EUPM officials warned against Relja Kovac and his appointed to the position of State Border Service Director, and according to the daily EUPM stressed his carrier could be put into the question if he continues to persist to occupy the position. Apparently, on Monday Kovac met with EUPM officials in Lukavica. Previously, HR Paddy Ashdown warned against his appointment, as done by the BiH presidency, noting that he did not fulfill criteria for the position. Oslobodjenje writes that this was unlikely the reasons for harsh IC’s reaction, but probably rumors that appeared that Kovac in 1994 performed the duty of the Chief of the VIP Protection Office within RS Intelligence Service. According to the source close to RS Police, this office‘s main assignment was to protect war crimes suspects Radovan Karadzic and Momcilo Krajisnik. EUPM spokesperson said they were checking these information. |
| SFOR, entities’ armies discuss future BiH armed forces
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Waiting for reactions from Defence Minister and Presidency’, Dnevni List pg 17 ‘Future BiH armed forces will be compatible with NATO’, Slobodna Dalmacija back pg ‘BiH must downsize armed forces’ – SFOR deputy commander, Brig-Gen Simon Young, and the commanders of the two entities’ armies in BiH, Atif Dudakovic and Cvjetko Savic, held a meeting in Mostar on Tuesday. After the meeting, Young said that they mostly discussed the details of the future structure of the BiH armed force, its weaponry and equipment. He said that the process of army restructuring was under way, and that it was carried out so that the state army could become compatible with the NATO standards. The commander of FBiH joint command, general Atif Dudakovic, said that the restructuring had been discussed and worked out for some time now, and that a lot of effort was put into it. “We are creating armed forces which will be capable of providing full security to the citizens of Bosnia-Hercegovina,” Dudakovic said, adding that the operational and administrative chain of command at the level of Bosnia-Hercegovina would be created after the appointment of the defence minister. |
| SFOR found 16 kilos of explosive in Nemila
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘SFOR found 16 kilos of explosive in Nemila’ – Daily claims that SFOR troops on Monday, based on anonymous tip, found 16 kilos of explosive, two guns and about thousand of bullets in Nemila, near Zenica. On Monday, SFOR carried out searches in both city of Zenica and surrounding area, which SFOR Spokesperson Dave Sullivan explained were activities within Operation Harvest. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on coup d’état report | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘And ‘coup d’état’ happened’ by Senka Kurtovic – Editorial refers to the report by the Commission appointed by the BiH House of Representatives which concluded that there was no coup d’état case and accused FOSS of breaching human rights through illegal wiretapping. Author comments to the objections raised by SDA Vice President Seada Palavric, who voted against the report saying that it was not well argumented: “Isn’t her party’s colleague Izet Hadzic the biggest argument to say that the Commission did its job well. He sustained from voting in the Parliament. He could not vote in a favour of the report, in whose writing he participated, as the party would never forgive him that. He could not either vote against it, because in the course of four months he listened to and saw such terrible things that he could not believe. The only option was to be sustained.” |
Economic and social issues | |
| Entities PMs meet IC reps on economic issues
| FTV – RS and FBiH Prime Ministers, Dragan Mikerevic and Ahmet Hadzipasic respectively, met on Tuesday with the representatives of the International Monetary Fund in BiH, headed by Peter Doyle, the Principle Deputy High Rep Donald Hays and the World Bank officials, in order to discuss the proposal for more comprehensive approach towards restructuring cooperation and privatization of the strategy companies, as well as the issue of outstanding debts. Following the meeting, Mikerevic stated that concluded that legislation must be changes in order to achieve faster restructuring of the companies. Prime Minister Hadzupascis said that they also discussed the issue of internal debt, to which he said that the part of the debt should be written off, and other parts directed to long-term solutions or buy out. BHTV 1 – Two Prime Ministers promised to remove all obstacles towards entities trade and to stimulate export oriented companies. Entities’ Ministers of Finance and Trade were given a 7 days deadline to reach an agreement of the new way for oil and oil derivates trade. Solutions have to decrease grey economy and increase budgetary means. The first July is a deadline until which issue of pension’s pay outs must be solved and Prime Ministers announce also joined declaration in from of MMF. Prime Ministers claim higher loans from World Bank will be used for infrastructure improvement. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Import of oil through railways as of 1 July’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Disposal of oil from Refinery will be resolved in seven days’ – Dragan Mikerevic and Ahmet Hadzipasic, have reached a framework agreement regarding settlement of the problem related to disposal of oil from Serb Brod Oil Refinery at the FBiH market. RTRS – Mikerevic and Hadzipasic agreed to solve mutual problems in finances, trade, energy and ecology. They have also agreed to hold similar meetings every two months. Ministers have agreed to abolish double taxation on excise goods, which should contribute to establishment of a single economic space in BiH. In the next few days they will develop the contract on this matter. Both PMs agreed that companies with capacities for export should be stimulated. “We want to stimulate and ensure subventions to those strategic branches, among which the most important is agricultural production,” said Ahmet Hadzipasic. |
| EC may reconsider public procurement assistance program, urges RS to adopt the Law | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS will submit objections on the draft Public Acquisitions Law’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Mikerevic to send his remarks today’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Letter writes suspension’ – At yesterday’s meeting in Banjaluka, officials of the Republika Srpska Government and European Commission agreed that RS Government will today officially send remarks it has on the proposed draft BiH Law on public procurement. Accordingly, EC would consider the possibility of incorporating them into the draft law. Renzo Daviddi, Head of Economic and Political Department of European Commission, said that: “If we fail to reach agreement, we will terminate the project.” BHTV 1 – Renzo David stated that EU was ready to reconsider the objections posed by the RS Government to the Law on Public Acquisitions and bring decision if EC’s reforms oriented project in this field should be resumed. The Project on reform of public acquisitions in BiH and technical assistance of an additional 2 million Euro, planned in the Cards program, for that project has been halted previously halted due to rejection of the RS Government to adopt the Law on Public Procurement, which would put an end to corruption within this field and which is one of the priorities stated in the Feasibility Study. Daviddi announced that he hoped the RS Government was assured that the Law is not attack on Constitution and that misunderstanding appeared after Government’s claims. On the other side, Government claims it is trying to find solution that will be in accordance with the BiH Constitution and entity, adding that they have proper arguments to refuse draft Law. RTRS – Renzo Daviddi stated he was surprised with the objections of the RS Government, as they representatives worked on the draft Law and added that main principles can’t be changed. RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic said that RS remarks do not refer to procedure but to the institutionalism and said that current solutions for are unacceptable. “We ask that appeal board is at the RS level and eventually if the bidder is not satisfied that he can launch to administrative procedure, meaning to go before Supreme Court,” said Dragan Mikerevic. |
| Hays int in NN | Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 4, ‘Privatisation in RS and F BiH is a theft’ – Donald Hays, PDHR, gave interview to Nezavisne Novine, when he said that another name for privatisation in BiH is a theft. He is of the view that Governments are responsible for negative trend in firm management. On RS Elektroprivreda, he says the investigations are still ongoing. He noted that managers of this enterprise told him at the recent meeting he had with them in Trebinje that first audit report has greatly helped them to improve the management over the enterprise. On most recent action by European Commission (when it suspended assistance because the Republika Srpska Government refused to adopt the proposed Law on public procurement) Hays said that somebody from Government should say whether they support the stance taken by Finance Minister (who said Yes to the proposed draft) or most recent stance taken by RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic (when he said No to the draft Law and filed remarks). |
| Kristal Bank update | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘RS Prosecutor’s Office analysing sale of Kristal Banka’ – RS Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Tuesday that the Banjaluka District Prosecutor’s Office will analyse the report on pre-privatisation of situation at Kristal Banka. PO will also assess whether irregularities, referred to by RS Chief Auditor in the report, contain any grounds for criminal prosecution. Bosko Ceko, RS Chief Auditor, who delivered report on Kristal Banka to Amor Bukic, RS Chief Prosecutor, stated after the meeting that: “Many audit reports have been brought up lately. We have delivered them all to Prosecutor’s Office.” According to NN inset 1, Prosecutor’s Office yesterday confirmed that Bosko Ceko gave them audit reports on Srpske Poste, “Petrol” firm, Banjaluka Clinical Centre and Banjaluka stock exchange. Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘One EURO or story about Ivanic’ by Dragan Jerinic – The author is writing about second audit report on sale of Kristal Banka, compiled by RS Chief Auditor, Bosko Ceko. The author claims that the story about Kristal Banka is actually a story about Mladen Ivanic, as politician and expert, about his Government, their promises and results. The author calls on Amor Bukic, RS Chief Prosecutor, to launch investigation and end this case where it should end – at court. Anything beyond this would be a mockery to justice and laws. |
| Hays meets youth in Banja Luka | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Without youth there is no progress’, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Young people should be more activated’, Nezavisne Novine pg 21 ‘The youth will lead BiH to Europe’ – Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays in Banja Luka on Tuesday met with the youth representatives active in economic and political sectors of society. On the occasion, PDHR said youth was not adequately represented in everyday life, warned they are increasingly passive and that the situation has to improve: “Somehow we have to break through if we’re going to make some significant change.” Hays added that if young people do not join social life than the potential BiH has will not be fully put to use, Hays said after the meeting. This is the first out of a series of similar meetings to take place in order to give young people a chance for their voice to be heard. Sasa Cudic, a delegate in the Council of Peoples and one of the youth that took part in the talks, said that they concluded that greater participation of young people in politics and authorities is needed in the upcoming period in order to ensure a quality and expert way for improving the future of BiH. SNSD Youth representative Ozren Trisic said that young people wished to learn more about opportunities for employment, participation in politics and other structures of life as a way for encouraging young people not to leave BiH. He described as devastating the fact that 70 percent of young peoples are not voting, that 77 percent wish to leave BiH and stressed that it is high time to deal with this situation. |
Public Broadcasting | |
| OHR urges CoM to adopt adequate PBS Law | BHTV 1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Dokic not under pressure and blackmails’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Parliament is a right address’ – OHR calls on the Council of Ministers to meet their own deadline for implementing the requirement of the EC’s Feasibility Study, and adopt adequate state-level public broadcasting legislation at their session on Thursday. Draft Law was developed by the working group of the BiH Transport and Communications Ministry, but OHR said it was unacceptable as it did not establish a framework for unified public broadcasting system and did not incorporate elements agreed between the Prime Ministers and signed on 6 November. “Future of BiH and European ambitions of this country depend on what will CoM decide about the Law. Choice is very clear: way to Europe or they pass this Law which Minister Dokic suggested”, said Vedran Perisic, spokesman for OHR. |
War crimes | |
| Int with Ljiljana Karadzic
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘I don’t know where is Radovan’ – IN an interview to BBC’s correspondent in Sarajevo Ljiljana, the wife of notorious war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic, LJiljana Zelen Karadzic repeated once again that Richard Holbrooke offered agreement to her husband in 1996 guaranteeing he will not be prosecuted if he abandoned all political positions. Holbrooke denied these accusations several times. “Karadzic’s political carrier was over during negotiations in Belgrade… One man brought a decision – Alija Izetbegovic,” said Dayton creator. Ljiljana Zelen Karadzic still claims she was not aware of her husband’s whereabouts. |
| Oslobodjenje on the Law on Missing Persons | Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4&5 ‘BiH will get the state institute for missing persons’ – Daily brings that in a month, after the framework Law on Missing Persons is forwarded to the parliamentary procedure, BiH will become the only country in the world with such law. It will foresees the missing persons families to receive monthly assistance, as well as the establishment of the state missing persons institute, joint fund, single database on missing persons, etc. |
| War crimes suspect Rodic arrested | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Milorad Rodic detained for a month’ – Milorad Rodic, indicted for war crimes committed against civilians by the Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution, was arrested at the Karakaj border crossing on Tuesday, Oleg Cavka, the spokesman of the Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution, confirmed to SRNA today. He said that Rodic was arrested based on a warrant and that he was ordered a one-month detention. Rodic’s lawyer Refik Serdarevic said that his client is suspected of committing crimes in the Sarajevo settlement of Grbavica. More details will be known after prosecutor’s questioning. |
| EUPM welcomes arrest of war crime suspect by SBS | RHB, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘War crime suspect arrested’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘War crime suspect arrested’- EUPM welcomed successful arrest of a suspected war criminal carried out by the State Border Service Police officers at the boarder crossing at Sepak, in Zvornik area of responsibility. According to the EUPM spokersperson, Lena Anderson, during a regular routine check, the SBS police officers on duty found the suspect in his vehicle when trying to pass the border. It was confirmed that a warrant of arrest had been circulated for this person on suspected war crimes against civilians, issued by the Cantonal Court of Sarajevo as of September 2000. Anderson did not disclose the identity of suspect. |
| Prosper on top war crimes suspects | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Mladic, Karadzic and Gotovina will surrender if they are patriots’, Oslobodjene pg 7 ‘If you care about your people, surrender!’ – Pierre Richard Prosper, US Envoy for war crimes, was reported to address to the top war crimes suspects Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Ante Gotovina. at the round table discussion on ICTY held in Washington, with words: “If you care about your people, your country, if you are really patriots, than you will make a patriot move and surrender to the ICTY to open doors of prospect to your countries.” Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘If you care for people, you should surrender to The Hague’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Triplet closes the circle’ – Pierre Richard Prosper said that Saddam Hussein was caught thanks to assistance of Iraqi citizens. He stresses there is no such co-operation in Serbia or Republika Srpska. He says that: “There are certain circles protecting Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. Those persons have been placed on US black list – their assets have recently been frozen and they have been banned from travelling into Western states.” |