Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 17 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) |
| CoM on extradit. of suspects to ICTY |
| ICTY Status Conf. on HB leaders |
| HSP sends open letter to Hadzipasic |
TV news broadcast on 16 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Regional news | Pandurevic’s brother house searched | Security threat in OHR building |
| HR calls ICTY indictees to surrender | Security threats against OHR | Croatian-EU negotiations |
| Security threat in OHR building | Regional News | Regional news |
| Kebo in Mostar | Cavic and Bukejlovic visitBelgrade | Paravac and Mesic debate |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Issue of possible floods in BiH | US Embassy: Covic should resign | RS delegation in |
| Security threats against OHR | Croatian-EU negotiations | Police searches P. Pandurevic house |
| HDZ Ministers to resign? | Regional news | The Guardian allegations |
| Dragan Bozanic’s nomination | RS delegation in visit to | RS police searches company Fagos |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH Intelligence Services possess information on war criminals hiding in Russia ; There is a danger of declaring Court of Justice unauthorized; Unknown persons threatened OHR with car-bomb? |
| Dnevni Avaz | OHR threatened by truck loaded with explosive?; EU and US: Dragan Covic must step down; Scandalous role of Russian secret police [in hiding PIFWCs] |
| Dnevni List | Andric: I do not want to assume Covic’s responsibility! |
| Vecernji List | Panic in OHR |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Car bomb attack planned on OHRBuilding? |
| Nezavisne Novine | Threat with car-bomb |
| Glas Srpske | They do not know for better |
| EuroBlic | Floods are possible this weekend already |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Nikolic departed for Hague | SRNA news agency – Former RS Army official, Drago Nikolic, indicted for war crimes, has left Belgrade to voluntarily surrender to the ICTY in the Hague. Nikolic is escorted by Serbian Local Self-Governance Minister, Zoran Loncar. |
| Update to ICTY trials | RHB – ICTY Status Conference on cases against former Herceg Bosna leaders Jadranko Prlic, Milivoj Petkovic, Slobodna Praljak, Bozo Rajic, Valentin Coric and Berislav Pusic takes place in the Hague today. |
| BiH CoM in session | RHB – The BiH Council of Ministers is in session today. Among the other things, the CoM should discuss a proposal of the Law on extradition of war crimes suspects at the ICTY demand. |
Security issues | |
| Media speculate car-bomb threatened OHR and UK Embassy
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘OHR threatened by a truck loaded with explosive?’ by M.K. – According to information DA obtained from well informed sources, the OHR building was evacuated on Tuesday following a tip that a truck loaded with explosive would hit the building. OHR stated on Wednesday that its officials have been returned to their jobs with an increased presence of police. SIPA is in charge of investigation, and it issued a press release explaining “police structures in Sarajevo received information on a security threat to the OHR building n Sarajevo at approximately 17:00 on Tuesday. This was a reason for immediate measures on ensuring the OHR building and diplomatic-consular offices in Sarajevo.” Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Unknown persons threatened OHR with car-bomb?, mentioned on cover, by A.O. – Daily says that OHR was evacuated under the threat of car-bomb. It also learnt that the police possess information that another car-bomb was also directed against UK Embassy. Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Panic in OHR’, pg 5 ‘Car-bomb threat against Paddy Ashdown’s office’, by Dejan Jazvic – According to unofficial information that VL obtained, an anonymous threat with a car-bomb caused the evacuation of the OHR in Sarajevo. Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 7 ‘Car bomb attack planned on OHRBuilding?’, by Zdenko Rerig – According to unconfirmed information, the reason which triggered the evacuation of the OHR building is the foreign intelligence information. |
| Security measures in Embassies
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 inset ‘Consular office closed down in the UK Embassy’ – Following the threats against OHR, the UK Embassy works normally however it has closed down the consular office, stated Embassy’s spokesperson Emir Salihovic. Office is expected to be opened today. Germany Embassy works normally, while US Embassy has refused to comment the security measures. PINK, BHT1, FTV, Hayat, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘OHR continues with work without concern about security’ by M. Zorlak, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Security measures in OHR tightened’, by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Threat with car-bomb’ and pg 3 ‘Possible attack with car-bomb’ by M. Cubro, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Police guarded Ashdown’s office for two days’, announced on cover ‘Ashdown’s office under police blockade’ by Dusanka Stanisic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Police are guarding the building’ by N. Zelenovic – also bring OHR spokesperson on security, SIPA release and speculation on car-bomb. |
War crimes | |
| RS and Serbian agree to cooperate in fulfilling obligations towards ICTY
| Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Meet all international obligations’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘More surrenders could be expected’, Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Relations between BiH and Serbia and Montenegro aggravated’ by M. Batarello, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tadic: to determine truth on sufferings of Serbs in Sarajevo as well’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg 3 ‘RS leadership in Belgrade’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Truth on Sarajevo as well’ by Srna– RS President, Dragan Cavic and RS Prime Minister, Pero Bukejlovic on Wednesday met with the Serbian President Boris Tadic in Belgrade. Later they were joined by the RS MoI Darko Matijasevic, and Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica. BHT 1, PINK, RTRS – In a meeting between Cavic, Tadic and Bukejlovic, it was stressed that it is necessary for both RS and Serbia to fulfil all obligations toward the International Community, including the cooperation with the ICTY. They expressed a support for all activities aimed at disclosing the truth about war crimes in BiH. They pointed out to the positive example of the Srebrenica Commission, stating that such approach should be applied in the case of finding truth on mass killings of Serbs in Sarajevo during the war. Officials also noted that the model of voluntary surrenders gives the results. FTV–Tadic’s office stated that the activities of the RS institutions in past three months marked a positive progress in cooperation with the ICTY. Cavic, Bukejlovic and Tadic jointly stated that determination of the truth on war crimes committed by all sides in the war would created conditions for renewing of mutual trust in the region. SRNA – Dragan Cavic said that during the talks the officials reached an agreement on further steps towards improving cooperation with the ICTY. He told SRNA news agency that in this connection, a document is being prepared and singed by the end of March that will define the relations between the RS and Serbian police ministries. |
| Bijeljina police raids house of PIFWCs brother
| FTV, Hayat, RTRS, PINK, BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Apartment of Vinko Pandurevic’s brother raided’ by E.M., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Apartment of Vinko Pandurevic’s brother was searched’ by Z. Kusmuk and D. Gavrilovic, Glas Srpske pg 12 ‘Pandurevic’s apartment was searched’ by S. R. T. – Bijeljina police searched the apartment of person with the initials P.P. related to a ICTY suspect at large. PublicSecurityCenter in Bijeljina announced that this search was carried out to gather information about the fugitive. According to unofficial information, house of a brother of ICTY indictee Vinko Pandurevic, indicted for war crimes in Srebrenica, was probed. |
| Russians to launch investigation into Guardian allegations
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Authorized Russian bodies lead investigation’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Investigation on Jankovic’s presence in Russia’, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Russian bodies do not give asylum to ICTY indictees’ by De.L., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Russia is cooperating with the Hague Tribunal’ by N. M., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Investigation commenced’ not signed – The Embassy of the Russian Federation to BiH issued press release regarding the media reports which speculate that persons indicted for war crimes were hiding in Russia. The Embassy underlined that Russian has an unambiguous stand that all war crimes suspects must be brought to justice and that authorities have never considered the matters of granting asylum or citizenship to indictees. It is also stated that the Russian side is in constant contact with the ICTY. “It is also necessary to consider the fact that the liberalized regime of travels between the citizens of Russia and the former Yugoslav countries, except for Slovenia, largely burdens the control of entries of the citizens of the said countries to Russia,” was announced, adding that Gojko Jankovic could have taken advantage of this circumstance on the occasion of traveling to Russia on basis of false travel documents. In conclusion, the Embassy of the Russian Federation stressed that the relevant bodies are conducting an investigation into this matter and that the ICTY would be informed about the results of the taken measures. RTRS – Russian Security Service refused comment allegations. |
| HR Ashdown and Grischenko met to discuss allegations?
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 inset ‘Meeting Ashdown-Grischenko’ by S.N. – DA and RTRS learnt that late Wednesday night, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown met with the Russian Ambassador, Alexander Grischenko, supposedly discussing the accusations that Russian intelligence protects war crimes suspects. |
| Terzic: BiH Intelligence has information on Russians hiding some PIFWCs
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘BiH Intelligence possess information that war criminals hide in Russia’ by Nadzida Cano – The Chair of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, in a statement to Oslobodjenje confirms that BiH intelligence services possess information which apparently prove that the Russian Federation provides protection for some war crimes suspects. “I think that the writings of the Guardian and the New York Times are true,” said Terzic adding that he and BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, decided to invite the Russian Ambassador to BiH, Alexander Grischenko, for a meeting to express the concern over these allegations. |
| DA claims another PIFWCs, Dragan Zelenovic, hides in Russia
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dragan Zelenovic, using false name, also hides in Russia’ by E. Sarac – DA learns form domestic intelligence and police that Dragan Zelenovic, indicted by ICTY for war crimes committed in Foca, hides in Russia and sometimes dwells in Belarus. He allegedly visited Foca in November last year where he obtained from police contacts false documents, and he also changed personal appearance. |
| FBiH politicians say if allegations true, that would be immense scandal
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Proving Russian involvement would be an immense political scandal’, mentioned on cover ‘Scandalous involvement of Russians’, by E. Sarac – Commenting to media speculation on allegedly Russian officials support to PIFWCs at large, SDA Vice President Seada Palavric, stated if confirmed for these claims are true that would be “catastrophic”. “That would explain a number of things that happened at the BiH political theatre following 16 December, when HR’s measures were diminished… It would be clear in that case why Anti-Dayton option won,” said Palavric. The leader of Party for BiH, Safet Halilovic, believes that PIC must clear up these allegations, adding if information was true it is scandalous. Munira Subasic and Bakira Hasecic, chairs of associations of victims from Srebrenica and Foca respectively, said they were not surprised by the allegations at all adding they have been saying for quite a time that war crimes suspects have been hiding in Russia . |
| WCC first to process Vjestica case
| PINK, Hayat – The spokesperson for the BiH War Crimes Chamber, Refik Hodzic, stated that the case of Miroslav Vjestica, accused of the war crimes committed in Bosanska Krupa, would most probably be the first case to be processed by the WCC. |
| Lawsuit BiH versus SCG: There is a danger that Court declares itself incompetent/ unauthorized
| Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘There is a danger that Court declares itself incompetent/unauthorized’ Az. Kalamujic – BiH legal representative in case BiH versus SCG before the International Court of Justice in The Hague Sakib Softic believes that the Court will re-open discussion on its competence in this matter at the SCG request. The main hearing in this case is scheduled to start on February 27, 2006. The Court is, according to Softic, due to re-examining its competence/authorization during the entire process and that will be used by the SCG legal representatives. Softic concludes that there is a danger of linking the BiH lawsuit against SCG for aggression and genocide with SCG lawsuit against NATO. The Court declared itself unauthorized for this matter on December 15 last year. |
| Radovanovic: RS Defense Ministry delivered report to OHR
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Report on RS Army staff handed to OHR’ by V. Popovic – Nikola Radovanovic, BiH Defence Minister, has confirmed that report of the RS Defence Ministry has been handed to OHR as to whether there are individuals at RS Army and RS Defence Ministry who worked at 410th Military Intelligence Centre or were personal body guards to Ratko Mladic. Radovanovic said: “We have handed the report to OHR, and it is up to OHR now to assess the report as satisfactory or not.” BiH Defence Minister assessed the report as correct and of good quality, as well as that it has covered all the issues demanded. Ljiljana Radetic, OHR Spokesperson, on Wednesday stated that “OHR will analyse report, after which it would announce its stance on information provided.” |
Indictment vs. Covic | |
| EC officials ask Covic to resign
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘European Commission demands resignation of Dragan Covic’, mentioned on cover, by S. Numanovic – The European troika will officially present a demarche to Dragan Covic, practically demanding from who to resign from the position of Croat member of BiH Presidency. DA learns from Brussels that the EC deems it is unacceptable for an official to maintain his position after BiH Court has confirmed the indictment. DA also has confirmed that the international community in BiH has no contact with Covic, apparently Peace Implementation Council has been discussing the measures to undertake if Covic doesn’t resign soon. Vecernji List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘European Unions sends demarche to Dragan Covic’, by Zoran Kresic – VL also learns from “diplomatic sources in Sarajevo” on the demarche, adding that it will be directly mentioning a possibility of use of the Bonn powers by the High Representative, in other words a removal. |
| US Embassy, OHR reiterate Covic should resign
| BHT1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Identical demand from US’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘It would be best for Covic to resign’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘USA: Covic should resign’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘US Ambassador to BiH stands for Covic’s resignation’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘US Embassy is of the view Covic should step down’– The United States Embassy to BiH believes that the resignation of Dragan Covic would be in interests of BiH Presidency and citizens. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Dragan Covic is still thinking’ by A. Sisic, V.Coric – OHR Wednesday reiterated that any official, against whom indictment has been brought, including Dragan Covic, is expected to step down from position, said Sanela Tunovic, OHR Spokesperson. |
| HDZ official Merdzo denies their officials would withdraw from authorities | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Claims on HDZ’s withdrawal from government a BHT journalist’s fiction’ F. Vele – Member of the HDZ BiH Presidency Josip Merdzo said in a statement for the daily that an information broadcasted in the BHT prime time news on Tuesday, according to which all the HDZ representatives at all level of authority in BiH would withdraw from their respective positions if Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic is forced to resign or removed, was not based on the facts. This is just about a journalist’s invention since there have been no talks on the issue inside HDZ BiH, according to Merdzo. Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Dragan Covic is still thinking’ by A. Sisic, V.Coric – HDZ Spokesperson, Pero Pavlovic rejected to either confirm or deny allegations regarding the collective resignations. Pavlovic said that HDZ would take a stance on the issue after HDZ Presidency session. |
| VL: Covic and others still being investigated into, including wiretapping
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 6 ‘Andric: I do not want to assume Covic’s responsibility!’, by Zvonimir Jukic – Carries a former Director of FBiH Customs Administration (FBIH CA), Filip Andric, who is being mentioned as one of witnesses in the “Covic and others’ case, as commenting on the case. Andric says that the FBiH CA was implementing all decisions that were coming from the FBiH Finance Ministry, as its superior authority, and the then FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Covic, the decisions that were related to levee tax on the import of meat. According to DL, this confirms that Covic was indeed responsible for issuing of decisions in question. |
| Covic case update: Andric says FBiH Customs Administration followed Covic’s orders
| Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘People involved in the ‘Lijanovic’ case are being followed and wiretapped’, by Robert Soldo – VL learns from a “senior Police official” that, at the order coming from the BiH Prosecution, the Security-intelligence service of BiH and FBiH Interior Ministry are still investigating into the ‘Lijanovic case’ even after the indictment has been confirmed. VL notes that the aim of the operations is to gather more information about business operations of the ‘Lijanovici’ Company and possible illegalities in order to back up the “shaky” evidence that were stated in the indictment against Dragan Covic, Mate Tadic, the Lijanovic brothers and Zdravko Lucic. The source reveals that the investigation includes around-the-clock surveillance and wiretapping (of phones). Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Covic’s plead not yet scheduled’ by Fena – Fena news agency learns from BiH Court that the hearing for Covic’s plead to the charges of indictment has not yet been scheduled. |
| DA op-ed says Covic should resign because of BiH reputation | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Covic’s defiance’ op-ed by Admir Malagic – Referring to the numerous warnings coming from both international and domestic community which recommend Dragan Covic to resign, the author says that “if Covic continues to defy the international community, that would not be good for this country or the reputation of the institution he current presents… Having in mind the seriousness of crimes he is accused of, these calls [on resignation by IC officials] should be taken as well-intentioned, and not as conspiracy.” Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Crucified Covic’ op-ed by Gojko Beric – Editorial reads that by appealing on Covic not to resign, his partisan colleagues are making him a victim. |
Political issues | |
| Paravac and Mesic dispute in Jerusalem
| RHB, PINK, BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Mesic told Paravac: In addition to Jasenovac, you have to mention Srebrenica’ by agencies, Oslobodjneje pg 2 ‘Who mentions victims could not have skipped mentioning Srebrenica’, Vecernji List, pg 16 ‘Paravac: Hundreds of thousands of Serbs died in Jasenovac’, by Jasmina Popovic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 5 ‘Paravac’s provocation’, ‘Mesic on Paravac’, Dnevni List, back pg ‘Mesic: Paravac should not have omitted Srebrenica’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘To learn a lesson from stance of Jewish people towards the holocaust’ by Agencies, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Past as a warning’ by Srna – The Chairman of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, who is taking part in a solemn session entitled ‘Remembering the past, shaping the future’ at the ‘Yad Vashem’ museum of holocaust at Jerusalem, reportedly unpleasantly surprised the Croatian delegation by constantly mentioning the ‘Jasenovac’ prison camp (Ustasha concentration camp during the WWII) in his speech before representatives of 40 states. Dailies say Paravac abused the occasion to say that several hundreds of thousands of Serbs were killed at Jasenovac, which triggered the Croatian President, Stipe Mesic to react: “I do not know what Paravac was adding, probably all the Serbs in Serbia that died during the WWII. When he was mentioning victims, he should not have overlooked Srebrenica”. Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Holocaust of our own’ by Edin Krehic – Daily’s editorial is highly critical of Pravac’s attendance at the ceremony, stating he is absolutely insensitive to the victims of the crimes in his own country. |
| OSCE Head Davidson meets RS officials
| PINK, RTRS,Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Accommodation is a primary worry’ by S. Mi. – The Chief to OSCE Mission to BiH, Douglas Davidson, met with RS Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons, Jasmin Samardzic, in order to discuss problems the Ministry is facing. Samardzic said that the greatest problem was 7.000 persons who were using alternative accommodation. Samardzic said these persons are not facing only housing issues but social welfare problems, as well. Davidson said that OSCE was interested in plans and tasks of this Ministry in order to find a way for cooperation in future. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Formula for compromise’ by G. D. – Davidson also held separate meeting with the RS Education Minister Milovan Pecelj. Pecelj stated that a compromise has to be reached regarding the law on high education, while Davidson stated that it is important to remember that according to Bologna process certain things have to be regulated on the state level. EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Davidson: to Europe trough Hague’ by T. V. – reports on the meeting between OSCE Head Davidson with RS Education Minister Pecelj, RS Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons, Jasmin Samardzic, RS PM Pero Bukejlovic and RS Defence Minister Milovan Stankovic. |
| Ivanic proposed Bozanic to be Ambassador at large in BiH MVP
| NTV Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Bozanic to be Ambassador in seat of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs?’ by Az. Kalamujic, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Is new scandal with Bozanic at sight’by A. M. – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic, proposed Dragan Bozanic to be an Ambassador at large in the seat of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BiH MVP) after his attempt to nominate Bozanic for a BiH Ambassador to USA and Council of Europe failed. The dailies say that the BiH MVP Press Office said that Ivanic has been in Brussels and for this reason he could not comment on the aforementioned information. Osl. also carries Secretary General of the BiH MVP Faud Sabeta who stated that he was not informed that Ivanic put forward Bozanic’s candidacy and that the Collegiums of the BiH MVP has not been informed about it as well. |
| Venice Commission’s Thomas Markert: The time has still not come to abolish entities
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘The time has still not come to abolish entities’ Sead Numanovic – Venice Commission Deputy Secretary Thomas Markert said in an interview for the daily that the Commission members considered the structure of the Federation of BiH as too complicated and too expensive. On the other side, according to Markert, not a single Serb in Banja Luka is ready to talk on the abolishment of Republika Srpska. Since such the change to the Constitution cannot be made without consensus of all the constituent peoples, the Venice Commission believes that the abolishment of the entities is not possible right now. The functioning of the state bodies should be improved instead, while accepting the existence of the entities as BiH’s reality. Regarding the powers of the High Representative, Markert says that they should be gradually reduced. It is however unrealistic that these powers/HR mandate are changed in the course of this year. |
| Cengic to be detain if he fails to handover passports
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Should he fail to realize Court decision, Cengic would go to detention’ by A. Du. – Judge Malcolm Simmons has issued a decision, in accordance with which Hasan Cengic, who was accused of abuse of office, was obliged to hand over all his valid passports to BiH Court within next 48 hours. Should he fail to comply with this decision, as Judge Simmons has said, Cengic would be held in a detention. BiH Court has confirmed Cengic must handover both civil and diplomatic passport. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Hasan Cengic waits for judicial decision on passport’ by E.S. – DA learns that Cengic will handover his travel documents. |
Other security and police issues | |
| BL Mayor confirms he received threatening letter
| BHT1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Davidovic received threatening letter’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Threats over diploma verification’ by S. Karic and Z. Stevanovic -Banja Luka Mayor Dragoljub Davidovic confirmed that he received a threatening letter. He informed PSC Banja Luka on the letter. PSC Banja Luka stated that the letter is related to activities that city administration is carrying out in order to determine the authenticity of diplomas of employees in Banja Luka city administration. The investigation in the matter is ongoing. Davidovic stated that he knows where the threats are coming from and adds that the problem is to determine who distributes these false diplomas. |
| Dismissed OSA officers establish Association | Oslobodjene pg 6 ‘Dismissed on ethnic ground’ by D.P., Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Protection of rights of former OSA employees is necessary’ by M. Cubro – Dismissed employees of OSA established their Association in Sarajevo Wednesday. The Chairman of Intelligence-Security Information Association of Former OSA employees, Predrag Ceranic, and Deputy Chairman of the Association Edhem Besic have explained that the aim of establishing of the Association was to provide with free-of-charge legal and any other help to former OSA employees. Member of the Association Steering Board Slavko Jovicic has warned that OSA officials might try to present establishing of this Association as establishing of a parallel intelligence service in BiH and he emphasized the Statute of the Association will have to clearly state that the Association is a non-political association with the task to protect rights of dismissed OSA employees. BHT 1 – Dismissed OSA officers claim that in this Service are working the separate entities’ services, which were made according to the measure of ruling national parties. They claim that Almir Djuvo and Risto Zaric brought the decision on dismissals. They also claim that all the officers who weren’t suitable for SDS, SDA and HDZ were dismissed. RTRS – Ceranic stated that OSA is now made of 3 ethnically divided services that are only joined formally. |
| 6 Croats demand investigation into Leutar case
| Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Why was Zilic directing investigation on Leutar case?’, mentioned on front ‘Six indictees asking for revision of process’, by Z. Kresic – 6 Croats who were acquitted of charges for the assassination of late Federation of BiH Deputy Minister of Interior Jozo Leutar demand from the judicial bodies to launch the investigation into “shameful, staged process” which would, in their opinion, reveal those who ordered and committed the assassination. The closest associate of Leutar, Zeljko Cosic, is certain that former FBiH Minister of Interior Mehmed Zilic was directing the investigation and court procedure in the wrong direction. The anniversary of Leutar’s assassination has been reported widely in both electronic and print media. |
| Police raids Fagus company | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Documents were confiscated at “Fagus” firm’ by G. Arbutina and P. Klincov, announced on cover – Inspectors of Banja Luka PSC, RS Tax Administration and Prosecutors searched the seat of “Fagus” firm Wednesday in Kotor Varos, co-owned by Miroslav Malijevic, a member of PDP Main Board. Business premises of the firm in Banja Luka were also raided, as well as Malijevic’s house and apartment. Inspectors confiscated documentation on business conducting of the firm. According to some information, the search was conducted in frame of an investigation of the Prosecutor’s Office on business conducting of “Srpske Sume” and its suspicious business transactions with “Fagus”. The Audit Report on Srpske Sume mentions suspicious business deals of a firm owned by a businessmen from Kotor Varos (“Fagus”) and reads that under his pressure and pressure of PDP delegate at RS NA (Velimir Sakan) and Director of Forestry Firm “Vrbanja” police officer Jovic Djuric was suspended because he had stopped truck of “Fagus” illegally transporting unmarked wooden logs. Two month later, commander of local police station was suspended too, due to “unsatisfactory cooperation” with a local businessman. |
Economic issues | |
| Report on public administration recommends improvements | RTRS by Branka Kusmuk – The Final Report on the systematic review of public administration in BiH was presented on Wednesday. The Report was designed following the ten-month systematic review of public administration in BiH. Michael Humphreys Chief of EC delegation on BIH stated that the report is not only information on present condition but an indicator of future obligations that will improve daily work of public administration. Some of recommendations from the report cite internal control and audits, precise planning of finances, establishment of better communication between all levels of authorities and making the state service more attractive for young educated people. Hayat –The review includes 237 institutions, from 14 systems of the Public Administration. The project lasted for over a year, and the EU allocated 1.5 million Euros for the project. The sector will also have to see major improvements regarding the legislation, as it was noted that there were a lot more amendments to law that the actual laws. BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Acute lateness in establishing the budget’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘To make civil service as attractive as possible for young people’ by D. Polovina Mandic– also reported. |
| TI report for 2005 notes BiH stays transit area for organized crime
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘McDonald’s does not want to come to BiH due to corruption’ by Agencies, Glas Srpske pg 7 ‘Money at wrong addresses’ by D. Vrhovac – Mihajlovic – Transparency International global corruption report for 2005 reads that despite to tremendous efforts of all elements in BiH including the international community BiH, along with Kosovo, remains a crucial transit area for organised crimes and transit of all illegal activities. The report reads corruption is undermining economic development and threatens to put in jeopardy reconstruction of countries that have came out of wars or other crisis situations. |
| Hadzipasic meets HVO veterans
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Help in employment requested’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Programs for employment offered’, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Where did money for accommodation of HVO members disappear to?, by Marko Karacic – During a meeting between representatives of the Association of demobilized soldiers of FBiH and Association of HVO volunteers with a delegation of the FBiH Government led by the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, the Association of HVO volunteers President, Marko Radic, noted that the FBiH Ministry for Defenders’ Issue was yet to provide accommodation for a single demobilized member of the HVO. However, FBiH Minister for Defenders’ Issues, Ibrahim Nadarevic, replied to Radic that the FBiH Government had been regularly paying out the money to the cantons. |
| HDZ-HNZ-HD Caucus in FBiH HoR may not support privatisation revision law | Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Checking of companies with unclear ownership structure’, by Ivica Glibusic – Carries an article dedicated to the new Draft law on revision of privatization. According to the Draft law, companies in which the ownership structure is unclear and in which different irregularities were committed during the privatization process will be subjected to additional revision. The President of the HDZ-HNZ-HD Caucus in the FBiH House of Representatives, Ivan Medic, says the Caucus will not support the Draft law if it is going to treat individual companies, “however, if the law is good and stimulates privatization and opening of new jobs, then we will support it”. |
| Hadzipasic on Aluminij: Everyone looks for acceptable solution | Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘ Solution acceptable to everyone being looked for’, by Miso Relota – Carries the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, as saying that he wants to see the ‘Aluminij’ Company of Mostar developing into an even more successful company. However, PM Hadzipasic says the progress is linked with “burdens from the past”. Hadzipasic stresses that the only solution to ‘Aluminij’ is to reach a concrete agreement i.e. to solve two issues: “These issues are the solving of (status) workers who were on Aluminij’s list in 1991 and 1992 and how to prove the ownership structure”. |