OHR BiH Media Round-up, 17/6/2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA(18,00 hrs)

RHB on strike on June 26

CoE declaration

2nd round of SAA negotiations

Increased security in Mo Gymnasium

Second round of SAA negotiations

EU leaders meet in Brussels

Beslic on incident in Mo Gymnasium

Assembly of EU regions in Sarajevo

HR on boycott of BiH Parliament

Protest in Mo on Monday

HR on BIH Parliament

New incidents in Mostar

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

HR on boycott of the BiH Parliament

Miners’ salaries stolen

Brod refinery problems

Another round of SAA talks ends

New incidents in Mostar

HR on BIH Parliament

Another incident in Mostar

HR on boycott of BiH Parliament

Sarajevo Commission

NATO to support BiH Army’s surplus

2nd round of SAA negotiations

CoE declaration

Those that block the work of the Parliament must face consequences [HR]

Dnevni Avaz

Schwarz-Schilling for detention longer the a year

Dnevni List

Anonymous threats: We will burn down Gymnasium [Mostar]

Vecernji List

Croatian related headline

BiH must continue with reforms [CoE Declaration]

Glas Srpske

GS wasn’t delivered to Sarajevo Office

Political Developments, elections

RS Associations object to appointments in Sarajevo Commission; objections directed toward FBiH’ Masovic

RTRS by Marina Marjanovic – Members of families of missing Serbs from Sarajevo disagree with the appointments in the Commission for Suffering of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and Others in Sarajevo. Chair of Eastern Sarajevo missing persons organisation Mirjana Simanic stated that they are disappointed with the fact that Council of Ministers choose to disregard their recommendations since they wanted Slobodan Skrba in the commission. Simanic also stated that the families of missing persons would not trust Amor Masovic who is appointed as commission member. SNSD member Nikola Spiric feels that the establishment of the commission is a success in itself without disputing the commission members. PDP member Perica Bundalo says that in his opinion the commission findings will contribute to reconciliation process. DEPOS member Dusko Vukotic is of similar opinion.  Spiric claims that whoever has objections towards members of the commission should take it up with CoM since they appointed the members. [CoM established the Commission on Thursdays session and appointed members: Smail Cekic, Enes Pelidija, Amor Masovic, Ivica Marinovic, Anto Zelic, Mirko Prskalo, Zeljko Rasevic, Miroslav Jankovic, Dobrislav Planojevic and Danilo Nikolic. The main task of the Commission, which has a one-year mandate, is to establish the exact number of people killed in Sarajevo, in order to avoid any kind of manipulation with numbers and its mandate is one year]. Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Families embittered because of Masovic’s appointment’ by D.P.Mandic,

Chair of Sarajevo Commission Marinovic: I will fight against political influence to our work 

nevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Marinovic: I will fight or us to work without influence of politics’ by H.O.– Chairman of the Commission for Sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and Others in Sarajevo from 1992-1995, Ivica Marinovic, told daily that this Commission has to work it job, without any influence of politics. “I will fight, I will put in maximal efforts to absolutely isolate the politics and not to give it access in creating of our work. We can solve that with quality documents, based on which the Commission would work,” said Marinovic. Stressing that he fears that pre-election time could endanger their work, Marinovic said: “But, I hope that there would be no abuses of the Commission’s work. I trust that we would finish our job successfully, in the given deadline” said Marinovic. Inset ‘Financing from the state budget’- Marinovic revealed that the Commission would be financed from the BiH Budget, while all technical support would be provided by BiH Human Rights Ministry. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Object of investigation, all wartime victims’ by S.Rozajac– Marinovic explained that object of investigation of the Commission would be all forms of crime, which were the consequence of the war and violation of Geneva Convention. He explained that this refers to all mass and individual murders, mass and individual imprisoning, deportations, persecutions, sexual harassments and rapes, as well as the destiny of missing persons. 

RS Missing Persons Office member Skrba: I couldn’t bare to be around those who have nothing to do with Sarajevo

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘People are elected who have nothing to do with Sarajevo’ by E.S.– Member of RS Office for Missing Persons, Slobodan Skrba, said that he is grateful to the Council of Minister’s Chair Adnan Terzic for not appointing him into the Commission for Sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and Others in Sarajevo from 1992-1995, because he couldn’t bare to be around people who have nothing to do with Sarajevo [referring to other members of the Commission Zeljko Rasevic and Miroslav Jankovic]. He said he is proud that he was nominated by the Associations for Missing Persons.

RS parties returning to the BiH HoR, after Sarajevo Commission was established

BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Serb Parties returning to the Parliament’ by H.O.- ON Friday, Representatives of RS in BiH House of Representatives have announced that they are returning to the BiH HoR. SDS Caucus Chair in BiH HoR Momcilo Novakovic, told DA: “SDS would continue to work in BiH Parliament, because all conditions for normal work have been fulfilled”. Novakovic explained that RS representatives weren’t those who boycotted the work of BiH HoR, but that those were Council of Ministers and Chair Adnan Terzic who refused to oblige to BiH HoR decision on establishment of the Commission for Sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and Others in Sarajevo from 1992-1995. Similar stances were presented to journalists, in Banja Luka, by SNSD’s Nikola Spiric and PDP’s Perica Bubalo. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Important step to the truth’ by O.V.– Spiric welcomed the establishment of the Commission and emphasized that this is an important step in process of democratization of society, revealing of the truth on tragic events and true reconciliation among peoples. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Deputies from the RS are returning to the Palrimanet’, mentioned on cover by V.Popovic,

HDZ: fabrications against HDZ with a goal to elect Croat members of Presidency from SDP lines

RHB– HDZ BiH has issued a press statement on Friday, which refers to recent media writings about “alleged” disputes between HDZ and Catholic Church. HDZ stressed that these “foolish statements” have only one intention and that is to “constantly exploit and deceive the public with constant, unfounded fabrications”.  HDZ press statement reads that such statements are made by certain “intellectuals and political structures”, which are only trying to fight for their own, selfish interest and positions “all under the mask of concern for the welfare of the Croat people”. Further on statement reads “relation of the HDZ leadership with representatives of the Catholic Church in BiH can be best seen on the field…and that is the fact that bothered someone. Such statements go toward destruction of the strongest Croat party in BiH, HDZ, before upcoming election and all with a goal to elect the Croat member of BiH Presidency from the lines of SDP, with votes of Bosniaks.”  Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Petty souls are fabricating dispute with the Ctholic Church’ not signed,

Oslob: SDA leader Tihic won most nominations for BiH Presidency

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Sulejman Tihic number one for the Presidency’, mentioned on cover by A.Becirovic– As daily comments, SDA leadership was under a great pressure on Friday. Considering that proposals with names of candidates for upcoming elections were arriving from municipal boards of SDA, to the SDA HQ in Sarajevo. Daily claims that SDA leader Sulejman Tihic has won the most nominations for the Bosniak member of BiH presidency and that he was nominated by SDA Boards in Stari Grad- Sarajevo, Centar- Sarajevo, Ilidza- Sarajevo. Inset ‘Osmanovic for RS President’- Regional SDA Board has supported Tihic’s nomination for BiH Presidency, Adil Osmanovic is nominated for the RS President, while Tarik Sadovic is nominated for BiH and RS Parliaments.

NN: SDA Board Travnik didn’t nominated CoM Chair Terzic for any of positions 

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Terzic is not going to the list’ by R.Cengic– As it was confirmed to NN in SDA municipal board Travnik, current Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic was not nominated for any of positions at upcoming elections. List holder from this Canton for BiH Parliament would be Halid Genjac. Genjac said that list would be completed  by June 20, but according to unofficial information SDA would opffer almost the same lists, as in last elections. For four places that belong to Sarajevo Region in BiH Parliament, according to NN, nominated are SDP’s Zlatko Lagumdzija, SBiH’s Beriz Belkic, SDU’s Sejfudin Tokic and allegedly, SDA’s Bakir Izetbegovic. SDP stated that they still aren’t certain about the lsits, as well as the HDZ, which stated that only known fact is that HDZ leader Dragan Covic will not run.  

22 SDA members in Novi Grad crosses to SBiH

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Former SDA members supporting Silajdzic’ by E.S.– Twenty-two SDA officials in Municipality Novi Grade Sarajevo, have unanimously decided to leave SDA and join SBiH, about which they informed SBiH officials Beriz Belkic, Samir Silajdzic and Munib Jusufovic. Former SDA members have stressed that they want to be part of the party, which fights for BiH and in which citizens are holders of sovereignty and not ethnical “camps”. It was explained that they are dissatisfied with the SDA policy, during the negotiations on constitutional changes, because of which they are giving their full support to SBiH leader Haris Silajdzic.

HDZ’s Jukic: DL article is a pure fabrication

Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Jukic: I haven’t spoke against the Cardinal’ not signed– Reacting to the DL article from June 14, under the name “New attack of HDZ members to Church dignitaries’, where it was written that Member of HDZ Presidency Zvonimir Jukic has Church behaviour should be taken into consideration, since it is incompetent [please see Media Round-uo from June 14]; Jukic stated that all these statements are fabrications of the author and that he was most of all hurt by the fabricated statement, which claims that he has said that “Cardinal is embarrassing Croats all over the World”.

DEPOS’ Bukejlovic: talks in SDS are conducted in ‘back corridors’

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Decisions in SDS are passed in back corridors as well’ by S.Gojkovic– After leaving SDS and joining DEPOS, former RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic said in interview to NN, that he was forced to such decision because of inconsistency in following the SDS Main Board’s decisions, avoiding of the leadership to talk openly about certain problems and attempts of SDS members to put him on political margins. He stressed that all his attempts to talk to leadership have failed and that all conversations in SDS are conducted in “back corridors” instead at party’s sessions. Bukejlovic said that he, as member of DEPOS, believes that new political options are needed and he believes that people would recognize honesty and professionalism. Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Bukejlovic is being erased from SDS’ not signed,

BiH politicians believe that RS PM Dodik is using “referendum issue” for gaining points in pre-election campaign

BHT1 By Boris Gagic – In an interview for Belgrade bases daily “Vecernje novosti”, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said that he “stands behind all his statements that made since the beginning of his political career, including the statements on referendum.” The issue of referendum on status of RS is still a hot topic in RS. Supporters of the idea on referendum claim that they have gathered 50.000 signatures of citizens who support the referendum. They even went out in the streets demanding referendum on secession of RS from BiH. Serb National Movement “Choice is ours” (Izbor je nas) prepared a declaration on referendum. The association demands from RS NA to adopt this declaration, which stated that in case of decision on independence of Kosovo, RS NA should organise a referendum. Nedjo Djuric from DEPOS criticized Dodik for raising the tensions, although he knows that referendum is not possible at the moment. SDA President Sulejman Tihic believes that Dodik’s statement have only purpose of gaining points within the pre-electoral campaign. SDP’s Alija Behmen doesn’t exclude the possibility of SDP’s coalition with SNSD after the elections, despite of Dodik’s statements. “I hope that these foolish ideas will leave his head”, said Behmen.  Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Glorifying of Serbia and ICTY indictees’ not signed,

CIPS to correct street names on central voters’ register for Srebrenica

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘CIPS soon to erase offensive street names in Srebrenica’ by A.M.– As DA writes, Directorate for Implementing of CIPS project has announced that “in most recent time” would correct mistakes in data base, regarding the “offensive” names of streets in Srebrenica. This reaction came only after Head of Srebrenica Municipality Abdurahman Malkic, sent a public protest because of the voters’ register, which contained names of the streets, given after the genocide. As Malkic said, register contains names such as Karadzic’s Street, Street of Greek Friendship, of Serb Liberators and so on. Director of CIPS, Sinisa Macan said that Directorate is doing its best to “remove this mistake and the central voters’ register would contain streets names in accordance with the new decision of Municipal Assembly, which returned old names”.

RS President and PM use Government’s plain to attend the football match

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Cavic and Dodik travelled to Mundial with RS Government’s plain’, mentioned on cover by N.Diklic– As daily carries, RS President Dragan Cavic and RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik have used the plain of the RS Government to travel to Germany and attend the football match between Argentina and SCG. However, Director of RS Air-traffic Institute, Streten Ilic didn’t want to confirm this, saying that ”This shouldn’t concern Dnevni Avaz”. After all, DA got the information on how much the flight cost, since the Slovenian ‘Linkasar’ company told them that such flight could cost about 9.9 thousand euros. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘To the game Argentina- SCG travelled with RS Government’s plain’, mentioned on cover by R.I.,

‘Vitol’ asking $115 million from the Refinery in Bosanski Brod, due to violation of contracts

RTRS By Sinisa Mihailovic – Contract between Oil Refinery Bosanski Brod and company ‘Vitol’ has once again proven to be damaging for RS. British company ‘Vitol’ is asking $115 million from the refinery due to violation of contract. Reporter comments that the contract was closed by a former advisor to RS President Dragan Cavic, Jovan Cizmovic in 2003 and adds that the refinery has sunk even deeper since the contract was signed. RS Minister of Economy, Energy and Development Milan Jelic stated that the whole issue is a confirmation of stories of selected highly positioned society that is achieved when the refinery is not working. He also stated that he hasn’t looked into any other contracts that the refinery closed with other companies. “The issue of contract is really the matter of those who signed it in the first place”, says Jelic. Chair of Brod refinery Union Danko Brocic expects that RS MoI will carry out an investigation regarding the contract.  Reporter comments that the refinery employs 1400 people out of which 50 come to work on a daily basis. He concludes that even those 50 haven’t been paid since May and hopes that the RS Government will finally do something about it. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS Government asks for investigating of the contract with Vitol’, mentioned on cover by R.Segrt, D.Risojevic– RS Government, as it was confirmed by RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, would ask the authorized institutions in the RS to conduct investigation on the contract with ‘Vitol’ and Dodik believes that investigation would determine responsibility for this unfavourable contract. “Fact is that confusion bout the contract with Vitol have now led to the problem and because of that I would ask authorised institutions to conduct investigation, as soon as possible,” said Dodik. As NN write, British ‘Vitol’ has submitted a demand for compensation about 20 days ago, but everyone in the RS Government claim that never heard about it. Because of that, Dodik announced to raise this issue at the following session of the RS National Assembly.

HR CSS warnings, SAA talks

HR Schwarz- Schilling criticises the boycott of BiH Parliament; asking for BiH Parliament to adopt penalties in case the boycott would repeat

FTV- High Representative Christian Schwarz Schilling told the press conference held on Friday in front of the BiH Parliament’s building in Sarajevo, that the boycott of BiH Parliament is not acceptable. [Work of BiH Parliament has been stopped for three weeks, since RS representatives have boycotted the sessions until the establishment of Commission for Sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and Others]. Schwarz- Schilling stressed that the Parliament must function in order to further develop the democracy and to have a future for the country. He said that he is not going to use the Bonn powers, because he doesn’t want to do the job of the local institutions. Schwarz-Schilling emphasized that the Parliament needs to adopt a series of laws, which are crucial for the benefit of BiH citizens. He met with the representatives of BiH House of Representatives. They agreed to continue the cancelled session of BiH HoR on Monday, while the new session would be held on Tuesday. Schwarz-Schilling believes that this decision represents a step forwards, but deems that it doesn’t solve the issue of parliament deputies who block the work of Parliament. “In normal European countries, there are consequences for parliamentarians who boycott and block the work of their Parliaments. I have asked the Speaker and his two Deputies to recommend sanctions that would be imposed in the event of a repetition of the boycott. They have promised to present their recommendations in one month’s time”, said Schwarz-Schilling. He added that the International Community is going to monitor the work of Parliament before the session of PIC scheduled for next week. RHB, PINK, BHT1, RTRS- carried similar reports. Oslobodjenje cover splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Deputies that are blocking the work of the Parliament have to bare consequences’ by A.Terzic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Sanctions for the blockade’, mentioned on cover by N.Krsman– Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Schilling asking sanctions for disobedient’, mentioned on cover by D.P.Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘I will punish anyone who blocks the Parliament1”- please not that article doesn’t carry such statement by the HR, but all in line with the above listed.

DA: HR hasn’t punished those responsible for the boycott

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘High Representative hasn’t punished the deputies’ by S.Numanovic– Boyott of the BiH Parliament has ended, but, as DA stressed, High Representative Christian Schwarz- Schilling hasn’t punished the MP, who are responsible for the boycott. “Parliament has to work in interest of all citizens and constituent peoples in BiH. It is unacceptable to me as the HR, but also as the former MP with 20 years of experience, that Parliament’s work is blocked” said Schwarz- Schilling. HR welcomed the end of blockade, but stressed that this doesn’t solve the issue of MPs who are blocking the work, since this parliament has to pass series of important laws, such as on higher education, on obligations, on supervision of banks, on medicines and so on. After asking for adopting of sanctions for future, possible blockades, Schwarz- Schilling explained that in Germany the MP is being penalized with 100 euros per day, if he misses the session.

Hayat, BHT1 criticize the HR f0r using “collective responsibility system” and for waiting so long to react to boycott

Hayat By Snjezana Mulic – Commenting the Serb representatives, who boycotted the BiH Parliament’s work, the High Representative to BiH, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, showed that the easiest thing for him was to apply the so called ‘collective responsibility system’, neglecting the fact that it had been done by only one people, says Mulic. “Veto can be used only on the bases of the argument in every individual case; veto cannot be used so to prevent BiH Parliament’s sessions, obstruct democracy and block dialogue”, said Schwarz-Schilling. Mulic furthermore adds that the HR managed to order the BiH Parliament to continue working, but that he cannot guarantee that it would really work, in order to suit those who have elected it. “Some people believe that I should use my Bonn powers in order to impose these laws and punish or dismiss individuals who keep on blocking Parliament’s work. But, while taking over the duty of the HR, several times I have emphasized that I am not going to the work BiH institutions and their leaders should do. I am here to help, advise and advocate solutions and in that sense help BiH in becoming a normal, European state”, said Schwarz-Schilling. “If the HR does not dismiss and punish, but advise those who boycott the Parliament, the question is where is it going to take us,” asks Mulic. Even though aware of their privileged position, the HR tasked ‘disobedient’ parliamentarians to, within a month, propose sanctions in case the boycott is to be repeated, without even mentioning sanctions for those who have already done that, concludes Mulic. BHT1- BHT1 criticized HR for waiting three weeks before reacting to boycott of BiH HoR. Deputy Chief Editor of newspaper “Nezavisne novine” Almedin Sisic said that BiH obviously has problems with the High Representatives. He commented that former HR Paddy Ashdown has been criticized for not doing his job well enough, while the new HR Schwarz Schilling doesn’t to anything at all. The session of HoR will continue on Monday. Reporter noted that RS deputies didn’t work for three weeks, and they are still going to receive the full salary.

2nd round of SAA end on Friday; emphasis on need to complete police reform

Hayat By Nebojsa Radulovic –. The second, official round of Stablisation and Association Agreement talks between BiH and EU has ended on Friday. Some of the most important issues were migrating of employees, justice, freedom and security. But, European negotiators paid the most attention to reforms, which are being poorly implemented, such as police one. Before having the SAA signed, the EU is going to ask for certain guarantees from BiH, especially in terms of police reform, public broadcasting system, public administration and a specific economic reform. “In order to have the SAA signed till the end of this year progress has to be achieved in terms of reforms. The EU, together with its 25 member states, wants to be sure that BiH is able to implement all SAA regulations before having the agreement signed”, said Director of the EC’s General Directorate for Enlargement Reinhard Priebe. Another technical round of SAA talks is going to be held on July 28, while the next official round will be held by the beginning of November. BHT1- BiH Chief Negotiator with the EU, Igor Davidovic, said that the technical negotiations with the EU might be completed by the end of 2006. Priebe stated that the third negotiations round won’t be postponed, but he stressed that the EU is going to insist on implementation of police reform, which is a pre-condition for signing of the SAA. However, the work of Police Reform Directorate has come to a halt, due to the rejection of RS representatives to accept the abolishing of entity Interior Ministries. RS Interior Minister Stanislav Cadjo said earlier that RS MoI is not going to be abolished through imposing, stressing that a change of constitutional issues cannot be achieved without political consensus. BHT1 commented that this stance has returned the police reform to its beginning, after over a year and a half of negotiations which spent a lot of tax payers’ money. PINK, FTV, RTRS- carried reports.

Last round of SAA in November; EC to decide whether to recommend signing

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Negotiations are going by the course, warning because of reforms remain’ by T.L.– Following the second, official round of SAA negotiations, both, Director of the EC’s General Directorate for Enlargement Reinhard Priebe and BiH Chief Negotiator Igor Davidovic concluded that negotiations are going according the plan and they expressed satisfaction because of that. “I can say that these negotiations were more a routine and matter of technical nature…We have said, at the beginning, that we are planning to finish the job by end of the year, and for now, we are following that plan,” said Priebe. Inset “Last round in November’- As DA writes, the last official round of SAA talks would be held in November. After that the EC would decide whether to recommend the EU members to sign the SAA with BiH.  Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BiH on the half way to firs contract with the EU’, mentioned on cover by M.K.S.U, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Progress burdened by police reform’ by M.Cubro, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Talks on technical grounds’ by E.Mackic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘EU asks for firm guarantees from BiH’ by Eldina Medunjanin–

EC’s Priebe warned RS Interior Minister Cadjo that SAA could be negatively evaluated because of police reform

Dnevni Avaz pg 8  ‘Priebe: If you are not able to give me answers send someone who is!” by E.Sarac– As DA carries, Director of the EC’s General Directorate for Enlargement Reinhard Priebe has warned BiH officials, at Thursday’s meeting of Reform Process Monitoring Team, that they shouldn’t be surprised is the EC gives a negative evaluation on Autumn, due to the fact that BiH has not made progress in police reform. As DA learns, Priebe has addressed RS Interior Minister Stanislav Cadjo and warned him that police is a main pre-condition for signing of the SAA and that RS has to return to Police Reform Directorate. “That agreement is now under threat…The key thing is to show the political will and it is not important whether it would be over by September 30, but it is important for us to see that political will,” underlined Priebe. Priebe was frustrated by the fact that all his questions addressed to Cadjo remained without answers, stressing: “If you are not able to give me answers, then you should send someone who can”. DA comments that Cadjo wasn’t answering because, as he explained, he has no political mandate to answer Priebe’s questions. Beside Cadjo, member of PRD Steering Board Sead Lisak and EUPM Commissioner Vincenzo Coppola attended this meeting. Inset ‘No imposing of solutions’- Priebe said that three principles, set by the EC [state budget, state legislation and functional police regions] are “wide”, because they wanted BiH authorities to take responsibility for finding of functional solution, which wouldn’t be imposed by the EC.

CoE urges BiH authorities to make further progress in SAA talks; emphasis on constitutional changes and police reform

Hayat– At the meeting held in Brussels, The Council of Europe has passed a Declaration on the West Balkans, which especially urges BiH authorities to provide a real improvement in terms of police reform implementation, in order to make further progress in the Stabilization and Association Agreement negotiations. FTV– The Declaration announced further financial support to the potential new member and candidate countries.  EU leaders emphasized their willingness to help BiH continue with the important reforms and ensure the security. They also stressed the importance of progress in constitutional changes. PINK, BHT1, RTRS- carried. Nezavisne Novine cover splash ‘BiH must continue with reforms’, pg 4 ‘Financial support to Western Balkans’ by Agencies,

Mostar Incidents

Another incident in Mostar; the only secondary school where both Croat and Bosniak go threatened to be set on fire

Hayat– Report brings feature on another incident which happened in the central zone of Mostar. [First incident happened on Tuesday night after the football game between Brazil and Croatia, when many people were injured during the riots] The only Mostar secondary school, attended by both Croat and Bosniak pupils, has been faced with threats. Namely, the incident began with anonymous call, threatening that the school was going to be burned down, while soon afterwards, hooligans started gathering in front of the school, threatening professors and pupils, trying to get in school, due to what the school had to be locked up. “Attempts on interfering politics and education are obviously faced with failure…” said Mostar Gymnasium Deputy Director Bakir Krpo. School Principal, Ankica Covic, says that it is in no one’s interest to have something like this going on. “There have been no tensions, whatsoever, in this school, from the day we have launched this project together, our pupils go on well together and it is hard to understand why some ‘outsiders’ are trying to do something like that”, says Covic. “Local authorities and the Ministry of Interior have not done all they were tasked to. They have to asses the situation and do all it takes”, said Anatoly Viktorov, Head of OHR Regional Office Mostar.  BHT1 By Seid Masnica –On that day, only Bosniak students were in school, and the Croat students had a day off due to a religious holiday. The call was reporter to police, but the police don’t consider this phone call to be a serious threat. Spokesman of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Srecko Bosnjak claims that the police are always ready to protect the citizens. School administration criticized police for slow reaction. RHB- After anonymous threats that Mostar Gymnasium would be burned down, Interior Ministry of Hercegovina- Neretva Canton has confirmed that police in Mostar has increased security of the Gymnasium’s building. PINK, FTV, RTRS– also carried. Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Police in Mostar protects Gymnasium from hooligans’ by F.Vele, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Hooligans threatened children, while were at classes’, mentioned on cover by M.Krilic, Vecernji List Prso beaten in Fejica Street’ by Robert Soldo,  Dnevni List cover splash, pg 3 ‘Anonymous threats: we will burn down Gymnasium’ by N.Dedic,

Mostar Major Beslic; invitation to parents to put additional efforts in educating of children

RHB– After the classes in Mostar Gymnasium were suspended on Thursday, after the threats that school would be burned down, Mostar Major Ljubo Beslic has invited parents to put in increased efforts to educate children, in a manner suitable for civilised society. “Such behaviour leads nowhere. I believe that there is enough strength and understanding among parents, who have to put in additional efforts to educate those children in a manner suitable for civilised society. I am sending a message and I beg them, because in the contrary the state would certainly have to react and take repressive measures. And that is not good for them,” said Beslic. BHT1, FTV– also covered. Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Invitation to parents to educate children in civilized world’ by Fena–

FBiH Minister Music: these event concern us

Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Concerning events’ by Fena– FBiH refugee and Displaced Persons Minister, Edin Music, condemned the riots, which occurred in Mostar, after the football match between Brazil and Croatia, as well as events in Mostar Gymnasium which followed. “That is something that Mostar doesn’t deserve and these events concern us and I am not sure that they don’t have some more meaningful connotation” said Music.

VL: Australian citizen attacked because wearing Croatian football representation’s shirt

Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Prso beaten in Fejica Street’, mentioned don cover ‘Beaten because of the shirt and the Cross’ by Robert Soldo– Australian citizens, of BiH origin, Rober Jozic was beaten in East part of Mostar, by about ten young man, only because, as VL carries, he was wearing the official shirt of Croatian football representation. According to VL, in the same street, few hours before, Franciak Suton was verbally attacked, only because she had a cross abound her neck. VL comments that both cases were filed to the police, but police doesn’t speak about them, while at the same time has warned journalists about threats in Mostar Gymnasium. Dnevni List pg 19 ‘Australian tourist beaten’, mentioned on cover by N.Dedic–

Youth Cultural Centre organizes peaceful protests against xenophobia in Mostar

RHB- Members of Youth Cultural Centre “Abrasevic” are organizing a peaceful protest on Monday June 19, against xenophobia and hatred. Gathering of sympathisers of Mostar City would start in the yard of the Centre, after which they would continue the peaceful walk trough, the city. ”Unpleasant events in last days have shaken every honest citizen, who desires peace, because of which, we in the YCC “Abrasevic”, have decided to go out on the streets again and peacefully protest against xenophobia, violence and hatred,” reads the press statement, issued on Friday. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘March against violence, xenophobia and hatred’ not signed,

RHB: Problems in society can be solved only by politicians and righteous Constitution

RHB Wrote by Ivica Simunovic– In a weekly comment, Simunovic refers to recent incidents in Mostar, which followed the football game between Brazil and Croatia, stressing that many have “jumped to blame the education system” for this. Simunovic underlines that “two schools under one roof” have never prevented children to socialise, while in Sarajevo, where all schools are  “under one roof” Croat children are “forced to say how Islam is their religion” and where people openly say that “wouldn’t vote for Croatian representative at Eurovision, because Severina is Croat”. Stressing that all these issues are up to the politics to solve, Simunovic adds that these disputes are “centurial continuity of misunderstandings, which today’s politics or today’s Constitution aren’t able to solve. It is easy to Europe to calm down fans passions, because they are mainly coloured by clubs fans. Ours, can’t be solved by the police. That can be done only by political representatives of three peoples and righteous Constitution, which would make unnecessary all antagonising of all segments of life, from politics to sports.”

DA: police has to be forced to do its job

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Can Police do anything to hooligans’ op-ed by Faruk Vele– Commenting on recent incidents in Mostar, which happened in last 24 hours [riots after the football game Brazil- Croatia and threats to Mostar Gymnasium], Vele argues that it is now clear that police had to act more energetically, since they now have to put 24 hour security in Gymnasium. Arguing how hooliganism is something that is only talked about, while nothing is being done, Vele stresses that cantonal, federal and especially state structures haven’t even reacted to last incidents in Mostar. “What has to happen in order for Mostar night, from Tuesday to Wednesday, to be names with a right name? Politics shouldn’t be involved in this, but just make the police to do its job,” Vele concludes.

DL: Different stances in life cannot be the reason for hatred

Dnevni List pg 2 “Extinguish the Hatred’ op-ed by Zvonimir Jukic– Commenting on latest events in Mostar and stressing that everything is being used, in BiH, for provoking of tensions, Jukic writes: “Different political stances, belonging to some other race or sexual orientation cannot be a reason for hate and desire to extinguish those, who are different….Because of that, all segments of society have to teach young people tolerance and respecting of others, first of all, because as we saw, on June 13 in Mostar, hatred can escalate very quickly into its most primitive forms”.  

Security, defence issues

Human Rights’ Organizations’ warning to BiH authorities re. citizenship audit

RHB- BiH Helsinki Board for Human Rights, Amnesty International and International Human Rights’ Commission have asked for carrying out of the measures, which would prevent violations of human rights of the persons, who in the process of citizenship audit, which started in March, could lose BiH citizenship. Three Organizations have warned that process of the citizenship audit should contain the right to appeal, which is not the case now. BiH authorities have been asked not to extradite persons to origin countries, in case of citizenship abolishment, in cases if they could be exposed to life threat, torture or inhuman treatment. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Not to allow deportation into countries, where human rights are violated’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Abolishmne tof citizenships must not result in violation of human rights’ not signed, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘To prevent extraction to unsecure countries’ by HINA,

BH Foreign Minister Ivanic for Standard: progress of region depends on ICTY cooperation

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘No excuse for not extraditing Karadzic and Mladic’ by Fena– In interview for Austrian daily ‘Standard’, BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic said that future of the region depends on extradition of war crimes indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. He said that it is difficult to say when would they be extradited to the ICTY. “I can only say that we have huge international responsibility and if someone is searching for excuses, that won’t work,” said Ivanic. Ivanic underlined that it shouldn’t be forgotten that some success was made on this field, reminding that 16 persons were extradited to the ICTY in last year and that five or six have remained.

DA: HR to change BiH Criminal Law in order to prolong detention for war crimes indictees

Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Schwarz-Schilling for detention longer then a year’ pg 2 ‘Schwarz-Schilling changing the BiH Criminal Law’ by S.N– As DA learns in BiH Court, High Representative Christian Schwarz- Schilling could soon impose amendments to the BiH Criminal Law, which would prolong the detention period for war crimes’ indictees.  As it was told to DA, Schwarz- Schilling talked about this with representatives of BiH Court, ICTY and BiH Justice Ministry, which according to DA once again points out the dedication of the HR to provide full cooperation with the ICTY. DA anonymous source explaines that current law enabes the Court to determine the detention only up to the year, which is the problem especially in cases that are transferred from the ICTY to BiH Court. “Those cases are often very complex, demand presence of numerous witnesses…In such situations, trials, simply, cannot finish in a year, so it is necessary to prolong the detention,” said DA source.  Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Indicted for war crimes would not be able to run away from BiH’ by Mr.K.,  

EUFOR Commander Chiarini: there is space for decrease of number of foreign soldiers in BiH

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We do not intend to leave BiH in problems’, mentioned on cover ‘There is space for decrease of number of soldiers’ by Lana Sinanovic– In interview to DA, EUFOR Commander Gian Marco Chiarini said that he couldn’t say for sure, when would their operation be finished, but that he can say, “even now, there is space for decrease of number of soldiers stationed in BiH”. Stressing that problems in BiH aren’t specific only for BiH and that BiH has made a progress, Chiarini said: “…I can say that presence of foreign troops is not necessary. At least not in this amount. But, the Europe is still dedicated to this region and wants to be sure that it would remain stabile, so that we can only consider the decrease of number of soldiers”. Commenting the Monday’s signing of the Protocol with BiH authorities, regarding the transfer o authorities over the space area, Chiarini said that that this refers to higher sky, but added that control over the lower sky is only the matter of equipment, which should soon be solved, trough donations. “I really think that it is time, ten years after Dayton, for BiH to take over control over its total air space,” said Chiarini.

BiH Armed Forces’ Podzic: investigation on crashed helicopter to end soon

BHT1- Chief of BiH Armed Forces Joint Headquarter, Sifet Podzic, told the press conference that expects that the investigation on site of helicopter crash in Cvrsnica will be over soon. He stressed that the helicopter was in good condition before take off, adding that the incident was probably caused by bad weather conditions. The helicopter crashed on Thursday in Jablanica municipality. RTRS– carried. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Thanks to the calmness of pilot Becirevic no one was killed’ by L.S.– Podzic stated that “only thanks to the calmness of pilot Dzemal Becirevic no one was killed”. However, Podzic refused to speculate on possible reasons of the crash. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Pilot prevented the tragedy’ by A.P., Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘cause of the accident is not aged aircraft’ by D.Muminovic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Snow soften the crash of the aircraft’ by Dejan Jazvic,