Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on March 17
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Unhealthy sardine tins at BiH market | ICJ: witnesses’ depositions started | RS NA adopted RS budget for 2006 |
| Venice Com. on BiH Presid. election | Ljajic: no more talk on Mladic | Sacirbej to withdraw DA’ signature |
| NATO on BiH’s admit. in PfP | ‘Spedicija Bugojno’ protests | |
TV news broadcast on March 16
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| 7th anniversary of Leutar’s murder | HR on OHR-OSCE cooperation | BiH flag burned down in Brcko |
| ICTY convicts two BiH Army officers | | 7th anniversary of Leutar murder |
| HVIDRA criticizes Kubura sentence | BiH Parliament on higher education | Milosevic’s casket displayed |
| Reactions on ICTY judgement | BiH CoM in session | B 92 to sue the attackers |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BiH flag burned in Brcko | FBiH Govt on raped women | HR addresses OSCE Council |
| Gojko Jankovic pleaded not guilty | Jankovic pleads not guilty | RS NA session |
| Stanisic, Simatovic plea not guilty | Exhumation in Snagovo | Live report from RS NA session |
| 30 bodies exhumed in Snagovo | Boyle on BiH vs. | Milosevic’s case displayed |
| Oslobodjenje | |
| Dnevni Avaz | [BiH Chief Prosecutor Jurcevic] I have perfect cooperation with Novic and SIPA |
| Dnevni List | Thieves destroyed Orthodox cemetary (Orthodox cemetary in Mostar vandalized) |
| Vecernji List | Security system is being taken over by UDBA people (on issuing ranks to police forces in BiH) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | They got 7,5 years for murder of 4000 Croats (sentence to Kubura and Hadzihasanovic by ICTY) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Lange: Your must respect contracts |
| Glas Srpske | They came, murdered and went |
| EuroBlic | Nobody wanted dead man (Milosevic) |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| RS NA adopted 2006 draft budget in the amount of 1,098 billion KM | Srna, RTRS Radio News – Sometime after |
| NATO spokesperson: BiH in PfP upon Karadzic, Mladic’s arrest | |
| Muhamed Sacirbej to withdraw DA’ signature
| RTRS news – Muhamed Sacirbej, former BH foreign minister, has announced he would withdraw his signature from the Dayton Peace Accords, demanding its review. He is of the view that this Document has obtained a new legal context. |
Crimes | |
| Jankovic pleads not guilty before
| Hayat, PINK, BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Jankovic pleaded not guilty’ not signed Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Gojko Jankovic pleaded that indictment is shameful’ by Aj.D., Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Jankovic pleaded not guilty’ by A.Dzozo, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘I am not guilty’ by N.B., Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Jankovic: I am not guilty’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Jankovic pleaded not guilty’ by h– Gojko Jankovic on Thursday pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment charging him with war crimes committed in Foca. Jankovic surrendered on |
| Seventh anniversary since murder of FBiH Deputy Interior Minister Leutar; case not even close to solution
| BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Seventh anniversary of Jozo Leutar’s murder marked’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Years of futile investigations and trials’, mentioned on cover by A.T., Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Why perpetrators have not been found yet?!’, mentioned on cover ‘Assassins are still at large’ by R. Dautefendic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Innocent ones without compensation, Leutar did not get his street’ by V. Begic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14 ‘Wreaths on place where Leutar got killed’ not signed – Sarajevo marked 7th anniversary of FBiH Deputy Minister of Interior Jozo Leutar’s murder. Still, no one has been charged for the crime. [Leutar was killed in 1999, an investigation was carried out and several Croats were indicted and acquitted of charges, an investigation that was subsequently launched is still ongoing]. |
| GS says crimes mujahedeens committed in BiH will go unpunished
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘They came, murdered and went’ – In regard to ICTY verdicts pronounced against two former senior BiH Army commanders, Amir Kubura and Enver Hadzihasanovic (sentenced to 2,5 and 5 years respectively), daily raises the issue of whether the crimes mujahedeens, who were under command of Hadzihasanovic, committed in BiH would ever be punished, adding that judging by the verdict, those crimes against Serbs and Croats would go unpunished. Darko Trifunovic, MA holder in international law, reminds mujahedeens came to BiH before spring 1992, noting that “if HR Christian Schwarz Schilling says there was nothing disputable in arrival of mujahedeens in BiH, what can be expect then from anybody else.”Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pgs 10-11 ‘They got 7,5 years for murder of 4000 Croats’, by Zvonimir Cilic, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Hadzihasanovic and Kubura awarded for killing and persecution’, by Ivica Glibusic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘He recommended medal for mujahiddin via Alija’, by Zoran Kresic, Ana Drmac, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Both Bosniaks and Croats disappointed by the verdict’ not signed – also report on discontent over verdicts against the two. |
| Barac, Dukic, Zurovac: sentences to Hadzihasanovic and Kubura are too mild; Svrakic: the two defended their country, shouldn’t have been sentenced at all | Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Insult for Serb and Croat victims’ by S.Karic – The article carries several reactions on ICTY verdict against Enver Hadzihasanovic and Amir Kubura (President of the Association of families of missing and killed persons from Central Bosnia region, Fabijan Barac, Branislav Dukic, President of the SPONA and Dusan Zurovac, President of East Sarajevo seated Association investigating crimes against Serbs) expressing disappointment over verdicts saying the verdicts are too mild. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Nobody trusts court’ – also carries Barac’s statement, as well as statement of Emin Svrakic, President of the Association of “Green Berets”, who says that verdicts are ridiculous, since the two were defending their own country, i.e. they should not been sentenced at all. |
| NN op-ed: culprits for mild sentences against F BiH Army officers are ICTY Prosecution and B. Luka and Mostar judicial bodies; DL criticizes mild sentences to fmr BiH Army commanders passed by ICTY
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Slap for justice’ by Dragan Risojevic – With regard to ICTY verdicts pronounced against Enver Hadzihasanovic and Amir Kubura, the author concludes ICTY concluded there was no crimes organised in the territory under control of Alija Izetbegovic. As main culprit for the fact that no responsibility of R BiH Army for crimes has been determined, the author refers to ICTY Chief Prosecutor’s Office (that has devoted all its capacities to the crimes committed against Bosniaks), but also against judicial bodies in Banja Luka and Mostar, that have not engaged in transferring evidence to the ICTY in the past, but instead devoted to hiding of “their own” crime. Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Crime without punishment’, by Ivica Glibusic – the author slams the verdicts saying the sentences are showing the ICTY is not judging evidences, it is rather passing political verdicts the aim of which is to bend the real into false truth that would serve the international powers that be. In the other part of the op-ed, the author complains that war crimes against Bosniaks are much more widely covered by public media than crimes committed against the Croats. |
| CoM Chair Terzic: Karadzic and Mladic are not in BiH, their supporting nets have to be destroyed
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| BiH Chief Prosecutor Jurcevic: There is no ‘Andan case’, there is only large investigation on organized crime
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘We cooperate perfectly with Novic and SIPA’ by Husein Orahovac – Commenting possible establishment of agency for forceful expropriation, in an interview for DA, BiH Chief Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic said that he is against that idea, noting that there are already institutions that are authorised for such job, stressing that the essence problem would be handling with the property once it has been taken away. Asked to comment ‘Andan case’, Jurcevic explicitly stated: “There is no such thing as ‘Andan case’ in BiH Prosecution. There is a large investigation on organized crime. Investigation is heading, if one may say so, in three directions: drugs dealing, fictive firms and tax evasion and financial support for ICTY fugitives.” He said that Prosecution perfectly cooperates with SIPA and its Director Sredoje Novic, adding that SIPA provided information for the mentioned large-scales investigation. |
| NN op-ed supportive of RS Govt. announcements regarding fight against organised crime / appeal to citizens to aid in this
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Each side wins’ by Goran Petrovic – In regard to the latest reports published in NN regarding investigation being launched against senior officials of |
| Weekly from
| Feral Tribune, pgs 11-12 ‘Fugitive in café’, mentioned on front ‘Feral’s reporters photographed Ante Jelavic in Split’, by Vladimir Matijanic – reporters of the Split-based weekly unexpectedly came across a former member of BiH Presidency and HDZ BiH President, Ante Jelavic, at a café ‘Corazon Espinada’ in Split. Jelavic has been found guilty by the |
| RS President says Mirko Sarovic should defend himself while free
| Glas Srpske pg 2 inset ‘Sarovic’ – During his visit to Bijeljina Thursday, Dragan Cavic, RS President, stated that beyond all laws and regulations, Mirko Sarovic, former |
Milosevic death/update | |
| Milosevic to be buried on Saturday in Pozarevac
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| International press notes fewer people than expected paid tribute to Milosevic in
| Guardian, |
| ICTY stripped confidentiality mark from documents on his illness and medical treatment
| BHT1– The ICTY decided to have confidentiality mark stripped of several documents on Slobodan Milosevic’s illness and medical treatment due to investigation, which has been conducted on his death. Media in |
BiH lawsuit vs. SiCG | |
| SiCG team before ICJ claims that current regime can’t be blamed because of Milosevic; among
| BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘No genocide was proved’ by Agencies, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Suit without a cover’, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 ‘ |
| Head of BiH team Softic: | Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Softic: |
| RS NA to hold special session on 23rd March regarding BH suit against SiCG
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Specially about Declaration’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘AT special session about suit’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Lawsuit BiH against |
| RS PM reiterates BH suit against SiCH is illegitimate
| Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Suit is untenable’ – Milorad Dodik, RS Premier, Thursday reiterated that the BH suit against SiCG before ICJ was “illegitimate and illegal”, adding: “We are of the view the suit introduces additional political disagreement in the BiH itself and that it would have long-lasting consequences upon political perception of relations in BiH.”Dnevni List pg 5 ‘BiH’s lawsuit against SCiG influences weakening of confidence’ not signed – also reported. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: With whom and how to annul RS PM Dodik’s strategy of favouring RS over BiH | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘BiH by Dodik’ by Zija Dizdarevic – Commenting statements of RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik who said that war in BiH was a civil war, that situation in BiH and in Kosovo are similar and constantly favouring RS over BiH etc, editorial reads that we would have to wait some time before we get an answer “with whom and how to annul this strategy [of favouring RS over BiH]?” |
Political developments | |
| Schwarz-Schilling addresses OSCE Council; cooperation between OHR and OSCE
| PINK– Prior to HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling’s address before OSCE Council in Vienna, OHR Spokesperson Ljlljana Radetic stressed that HR will speak on ways in which cooperation between OHR and OSCE will be optimised. Radetic reminded that OHR’s operational capacity has changed significantly whilst OSCE will have a permanent and important engagement in BIH. She added that HR would propose forming of joint group Chaired by Senior Deputy Peter Bas-Backer that will coordinate OHR and OSCE activities in the area of election, education, human rights and judicial reform. RTRS– The HR addressed OSCE Council in |
| EU dissatisfied with conduct of BH authorities in the field of trade
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 2 ‘Lange: Your must respect contracts’ by M.Cubro,– Dirk Lange, Trustee for BiH and Albania at the European Commission’ Enlargement Commission, Thursday stated in Sarajevo that the European Union is not satisfied with the conduct of BiH authorities in the field of trade with the neighbouring states and EU states. He provided two examples for this, first referring to beer import from |
| Head of EU Delegation to BiH Humphreys: Cooperation with ICTY is condition for continuation of integrations | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Cooperation with ICTY – a condition for continuation of integrations’ by S.Numanovic – Head of EU Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys said for DA that cooperation with ICTY is key condition for progress in talks between EU and Western Balkan countries, adding that no one questions that future of BiH is in Europe. Inset ‘FBiH Law on PBS is not good’ – Humphreys said that FBiH Law on Public Broadcasting Service [PBS] is not in accordance with the State Law and that it has to be changed in FBiH House of Peoples. |
| SDA denied speculations that their deputies will not support initiative for removal of FBiH President Lozancic; SDA’s Tihic: I will not support the initiative if there are no strong reasons for removal
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Initiative on removal of Lozancic to be discussed in extraordinary session’ by Ad.H. – SDA Caucus President in FBiH House of Representatives Semsudin Mehmedovic denied speculations that SDA deputies will not support initiative for removal of FBiH President Niko Lozancic, adding that it is up to each deputy to decide. Mehmedovic said that there are reasonable reasons for President’s removal, since he is responsible for crisis that hit FBiH. Mehmedovic noted that there could be one extraordinary session for discussion of the issue, in which Lozancic would also present his arguments on his work. Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘SDA neither against nor in favour of Niko Lozancic’ by S.Sehercehajic – Article carries that SDA leader Sulejman Tihic stated for daily that he does not support initiative for removal of FBiH President Niko Lozancic if there are not strong and necessary reasons for this. Inset ‘Disobedient deputies’ – HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota said this party supports Lozancic, adding that some HDZ deputies are being disobedient by breaching the Party Statute and not accepting decisions of party leaders. |
| DA op-ed: Initiative for removal of FBiH President is cheap political game | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Petitions and signatures for pre-elections points’ op-ed by Admir Malagic – Commenting initiative for removal of FBiH President Niko Lozancic, editorial reads that it may be understood seriously if only elections are not just couple months away, stressing that these cheap political games would only further block work of FBiH institutions. |
| Jahic (MP, SDA): BiH Council of Ministers will not be removed
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘No removal of Council of Ministers’, not signed – An MP in BiH Parliament, Elmir Jahic (SDA), stated that the recently started initiative the aim of which is to remove the BiH Council of Ministers (started by MPs Gligoric, Kunic and Blagojevic) will not be supported by the parliamentary majority. Jahic says the initiative is a part of pre-election campaign. Jahic’s statement was originally aired by Bijeljina-based ‘BN TV’. |
| SB: Cavic uses all means to defeat Dodik, even showing him as paranoid politician
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 14-15 ‘In Last days RS President Cavic with his police-intelligence machinery intimidates Dodik with threats that he would be liquidated’ by S.S.– Weekly reads that RS President Dragan Cavic is preparing election campaign, intended for destruction of new RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. Allegedly, Cavic hiredintelligence officials ‘once close to Radovan Karadzic’ which along with ‘his media’ should be spreading ‘false information’. According to weekly, they recruited SIPA Director Sredoje Novic, trough whom they informed Dodik that ‘berets from |
| | Dani pgs 44-45 ‘Dokic’s fight for tens of million Euro’ by Vildana Selimbegovic – Commenting recent SIPA raids on Communication Regulatory Agency [ |
Constitutional changes | |
| Constitutional talks to continue on Saturday; HDZ says it would not sign anything that strengthens entities
| BHT1– According to announcements, talks on constitutional changes should continue on Saturday and it is expected that issue of BiH President and Vice- Presidents election would be solved until then. The |
| VL: US Ambassador McElhaney wants to wrap up 1st phase of constitutional talks this weekend
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Order by |
| HSS President Tadic against proposed constitutional changes
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pgs 10-11, mentioned on front ‘Constitution as rope around neck’, by Miroslav Landeka – President of HSS (Croat Peasants Party), Marko Tadic, says the situation in which representatives of the IC and Bosniak and Serb parties are holding talks on constitutional changes without Croat representatives sends a strong message to the Croats that they are not perceived as an equal political partner any more i.e. that decision can be made without them. Regarding the proposed constitutional changes, Tadic notes they will deprive the Croats of way to defend their national interests. |
| SDA: Resolution is good guarantee for continuation of talks;
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘American Senators did not scare HDZ’ by Az.Kalamujic – Commenting on UN Congress’ Resolution on constitutional changes, which reads US supports Euro-Atlantic aspirations of BiH, SDA leader Sulejman Tihic expresses conviction Resolution is a good guarantee that talks would continue. Tihic claims that resolution can be differently interpreted, saying it supports parties in search for consensus. |
| DL:
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Changes to BiH Constitution conditioned with constitutional status of Serbs in Croatia’, by M. Batarello – DL learns from sources close to ‘ruling institutions’ in Croatia that the Russian diplomacy has been in past months pressuring the Croatian PM, Ivo Sanader, with an aim to undermine constitutional negotiations in BiH in order to save the RS and maintain its influence in the Balkans. Namely, |
Economy | |
| RS Budget for 2006 in amount of KM1, 098 billion budget foresees increase of salaries for budget users
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Dodik: Budget will be adopted’ by V.Popovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Bag full of amendments’ by Z.Markovic – RS National Assembly discussed RS budget proposal for 2006. Budget in the amount of KM 1,098 billion is for 16% higher than in 2005 and the biggest income is expected from indirect taxes. RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic announced increase of salaries for budget users. He added that the increases would go towards RS Ministry of Interior, RS Education Ministry, elementary education, high school education, culture institutions, RS secretariat for sport and youth, court police, RS public attorney and other users. Chair of RS Trade Union Ranka Misic stated that the Unions are pleased with proposed budget. Rade Rakulj from RS Pensioners Association didn’t have many objections as well since budget provides increase of resources for Pension Disability and Invalid Fund. RS NA deputies adopted a report on audit of consolidated reports of budget and budget users for 2004. RS Chief auditor Bosko Ceko stated that members of international community support the independence of RS audit service. RTRS late news– RS National Assembly deputies still haven’t adopted 2006 budget proposal. Reporter comments that RS Prime minister Milorad Dodik and RS Ministers are discussing amendments submitted by RS NA deputies so voting on the budget could take place on Thursday night. |
| RS NA adopted Report on work of RS Chief Audit Office
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Passing grade to auditors’ by G.D.-Z.M. – At Thursday’s resumption of RS NA session, the RS MP’s have adopted Report of the Parliamentary Board for economy and Finances regarding discussion on Report of RS Chief Audit Office for 2004. Short discussion on Report pointed at need for a better coordination and cooperation between the Audit Office, Prosecution and police in cases when Audit Office suspects cases involves severe elements of criminal act. |
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| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Kalinic was Commission member until yesterday’ – Igor Radojicic, RS NA Speaker, was elected member of the Joint Commission of the RS NA and RS |
| CoM asks for exemption of old foreign currency savings from meeting on succession
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Miscellaneous | |
| VL: SIPA Director Novic wants that years in service in fmr Yugoslav intelligence be one of criteria for awarding of police ranks
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Security system is being taken over by UDBA people’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL unofficially learns that the Director of SIPA, Sredoje Novic, has made the issue of awarding of ranks to police officials at state and entity level even more complicated when he recently recommended that years of service in UDBA (former infamous Yugoslav security agency) be acknowledged i.e. taken into consideration during the process of awarding of ranks. Allegedly, Novic made the proposal at a recent meeting of principals of BiH police and other security agencies that was also attended by representatives of the IC. VL notes it is disgraceful that Novic’s proposal will be taken into consideration, adding that he (Novic) spent many years in UDBA. |
| BiH Parliament’s Constitutionally-legal commission finished draft of Law on High Education
| PINK– Representatives of constitution-legal commissions of both House of BIH Parliament stressed that law on high education is a priority for reform in this area. They announced conclusions of public discussions held on this issue in 8 University centres in BIH. Chair of constitutional-legal commission Mirsad Ceman stated that it was stressed that BIH needs a law on science-research work, law on student standard and law on student organisations. Member of the commission from BIH House of Representatives Beriz Belkic stated that the working group for making of text of law on high education has nearly completed its work. Belkic stressed that this law foresees establishment of 2 agencies at the state level – one to deal with development of high education and second to serve as state information centre. Belkic also stressed that according to law proposal financing of Universities would not be changed. Hayat– Belkic claims the Draft Law on High Education in BiH could enter the parliamentary procedure in a few-days time. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Law asap’ by Z.D., Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Politics blocks high education reform’ by D.P.Mandic– also reported. |
| Chairman of BiH Commission for Return Marinovic insists Croat and Bosniak unreconstructed houses in Derventa must stay
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Only Schilling can prevent destruction of houses’, by Eldina Medunjanin – According to VL, municipal authorities of Derventa are planning to go ahead with the destruction of unreconstructed housing facilities owned by expelled Bosniaks and Croats despite the letter by the Chairman of BiH Commission for Return, Ivica Marinovic, who insisted that the decision be annulled. Marinovic told VL that he would not give up his position, therefore he will ask in writing from the Head of Municipality, Milorad Simic, to annul the decision, otherwise he (Marinovic) will ask for an intervention from the High Representative. |