OHR BiH Media Round-up, 18/5/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

BiH HoP to discuss law on VAT

BiH HoP to discuss VAT, SIPA

US McElhaney’s interview to DA

BiH Presidency session today

Spanish FA Minister visit to BiH

Spanish Foreign Minister with Ivanic

PBS Law adopted by BiH HoR

World news

Russia on return to KosMet

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

HR on police reform negotiations

HR on police reform talks

Public RTV System law adopted

BIH HoR session

Colak, Halilovic on police reform

Reactions on the adopted PBS law

EUPM on police reform negotiations

RSNA to hold session on police

HR on police reform talks

Protests in Banja Luka

Humphreys on police reform

Rally in Banja Luka

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Reactions on police reform talks

Public RTV System law adopted

Protests in Banja Luka

BiH HoR rep. on police reform talks

SIPA officials not appointed yet

HR on police reform negotiations

NGOs’ protest in Banjaluka

HR on police reform talks

Police reform negotiations reactions

HR to appoint SIPA, SBS Directors

Humphreys, Terzic on police reform

Investigation vs. Matijasevic

Oslobodjenje

5^th October might happen to RS (protest rally in Banja Luka)

Dnevni Avaz

US Ambassador McElhaney: I am disappointed with RS officials

Dnevni List

Trial has started (Jelavic in Croat self-rule case)

Vecernji List

Serb rebellion because of police reform

Slobodna Dalmacija

Dramatic extraordinary session of Municipal Council because of blockade of municipal account: Lijanovics again sue Siroki

Glas Srpske

Do not betray hope of people!

Nezavisne Novine

Cavic and Ivanic are leading RS to isolation

Blic

RS is our house!

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbia related titles

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbia related titles

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

BiH HoP in session

BH Radio 1, RHB – At its session in Sarajevo today, the BiH House of Peoples is expected to discuss and adopt amendments to VAT Law in urgent procedure as well as the amendments to the Law on SIPA. The PBS Law is not on the agenda but it is possible that it will be put on the agenda later on. 

Croat journalists protest against law on public RTV system adoption

RHB – The Association of Croat Journalists in BiH issued a press release today protesting most sharply against the decision of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly to adopt the law on public RTV system in BiH.

Spanish Foreign Minister visiting BiH

BH Radio 1, RS Radio – Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos is visiting BiH. Moratinos and BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak signed an agreement on a project valued at 600,000 euros to support further SIPA development. The Spanish Foreign Minister also met his BiH counterpart Mladen Ivanic to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries. The two officials signed an agreement on mutual visa-free regime for diplomatic passport holders. Commenting on the RS Police Director Dragomir Andan’s claims, Moratinos said that there were no indications the Madrid terrorist attacks had been prepared in BiH.  

RHB also reported on the visit adding that the Spanish Foreign Minister was also scheduled to meet with HR Paddy Ashdown.  

SDPBiH says OHR should be held co-responsible for failure of police reform talks

FENA – SDP BiH General Secretary Svetozar Pudaric stated at the press conference in Sarajevo today that this party believes that the OHR is directly co-responsible for the situation in BiH and failure of the police reform. An attempt to shift the responsibility on domestic political forces is an indicator of political dilettantism, according to Pudaric.

Police Reform

Ashdown: Ball is now in RS court

RHB, BHT, Hayat, Pink, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘RS risking to be like a Turkish part of Cyprus’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘RS might disappear’, Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Ashdown: Chance for negotiations with EU wasted’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 25 ‘Serb rebellion because of police reform’, by B. Stevandic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 “RS is now endangered’, by Z. Rerig, F, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pgs 2-3 ‘Cavic and Ivanic and leading RS to isolation’ by M. Cubro and A. Sekulic, Vecernje Novosti pg 2, announced on cover ‘He threatens Serbs with Turkish Cyprus’ by D. Stojakovic, Glas srpske pg 5 ‘It is again fault of Serbs’ by N. Z. – After Monday night’s failure of the negotiations on police restructuring, BiH missed another historic opportunity to start the negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, stated High Representative Paddy Ashdown at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Ashdown added that the sole culprits for this failure are the politicians from the RS, who did not want to accept the three basic principles of the European Commission. “Now, instead of joining Serbia-Montenegro and Albania on their way to Europe, BiH will be left behind, until the politicians in this country decide whether they are ready to fulfil the European standards”, said Ashdown. HR added that he would not organize another negotiations. “What will happen next? The answer is: ask the RS. Because the ball is now firmly in the RS court. They can change the situation if they want to”, said Ashdown. The RS National Assembly will discuss the police reform issue on its session scheduled for Monday.

Dnevni Avaz ‘A clear message of Commissioner Rehn’ – “I talked to EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn this morning, and I can tell that it is almost sure that it is not going to happen (giving green light for start of negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement). What does this mean? This means no possibility for visas-free regime, no opportunities for new investments, no end of a column of young talented forces leaving this country, no change in strong presence of International Community in this country and simply, no sure future for BiH”, said Ashdown.

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘ France was not against (EU principles)’ – Ashdown denied claims that some countries including France and its Ambassador Henry Zipper de Fabiani had a different opinion regarding the police areas saying that EU had a common position on the issue.

EC’s Humhreys says police reform a definitive condition

Pink, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Police Reform a definitive condition’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘Humphreys: Reform necessary’, by A. M., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Politicians are responsible’ by Srna, FENA – It is disappointing that the negotiations on Police reform have broken down. Negotiations on Vlasic produced encouraging results and it is unfortunate that the same political party leaders were not able to reach further agreement and move the process forward based on three basic principles: State level competency for budget and legislation, local police regions based on technical policing requirements and the removal of political influence from operational policing. It is clear that Police reform must be agreed if the Feasibility Study recommendations are to be met, said the Head of Delegation of the European Commission to BiH, Ambassador Michael Humphreys, commenting the failure of police reform talks on Tuesday.

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 Inset ‘Galjak: European Union is very disappointed’ (carries statements of Kristina Gallach, the Spokesperson of EU Special Representative, and Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys

EUPM Commissioner Carty says collapse of police reform talks “very sad day” for BiH

RHB, Pink, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Sad day for BiH and RS’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘Carty: Sad day for BiH and RS’, by A. M., Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pgs 2-3 ‘Cavic and Ivanic and leading RS to isolation’ by M. Cubro and A. Sekulic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Progress was blocked’ by O. M., ONASA – EU Police Mission to BiH Commissioner Kevin Carty said in Banja Luka on Tuesday that the termination of negotiations on police reforms is a “very sad day for BiH and Republika Srpska”. Carty said the failure to reach an agreement on police reforms will prevent the police to fight organized crime and seal the way to Europe for BiH. “I sincerely hope that politicians will contemplate the matter and find a way to reach a consensus,” Carty said after the meeting with RS Police Director Dragomir Andan. Carty said he is aware of the public meeting in Banja Luka on preservation of RS institutions, adding that the people must think about the necessity of police reforms. Asked whether the EU will honour the will of RS citizens expressed at the meeting, Carty said it will be “a political decision for the EU”, which he does not want to comment.

Terzic: Some Ambassadors in BiH are also responsible for failure of talks on police reform

FTV, Oslobodjenje pgs 4 and 5 ‘Some Ambassadors in BiH also responsible for failure’ by Az. K. – Commenting on the interruption of the talks on the police reform Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that the interruption of these talks is, perhaps, a result of the fact that some circles within the International Community have different opinions on this issue. Terzic explained that it is hard to reach a political solution every time when the IC circles do not agree with regard to some problem. Osl. also says that Terzic had the information that some Ambassadors support the concept according to which police regions should not cross an inter-entity line and the article reminds that they published on Tuesday that French Ambassador to BiH Hanry Zipper De Fabiani proposed High Representative Paddy Ashdown the aforementioned concept. Osl. says that the OHR denied that France changed its stand on the EC principles regarding the police reform, however, the OHR did not want to comment on the talks between the HR and Fabiani held on Monday.

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Now it is clear to everyone who hinders approaching EU’ by A. Dzonlic – Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that he regrets the fact that the talks on the police reform failed, however, he is at the same time glad since it is now clear that the political subjects from the RS are responsible for failure of the talks.

Tihic: HR should impose decisions on defense and police reforms

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Europe does not want police with Balkan standards’ by E. Sarac – Commenting on failure of the talks on the police reform SDA President Sulejman Tihic stated that RS politicians continue with obstructions, which have been on scene since December last year when High Representative Paddy Ashdown announced the beginning of the police and defense reforms. Tihic added that for this reason the HR should pass the decisions these reforms. Commenting on the HR’s stand according to which he (the HR) would not impose the final solutions, Tihic said: ‘It is well known that the High Representatives used to change the entity Constitutions before, and this means that Ashdown can do it as well when it is about transferring of competence to the state level. DA inset under headline ‘3 parties form RS agreed to abolish inter-entity line’ carries Tihic as saying that representatives of at least 3 political parties from the RS stated on Vlasic that they agree on organization of the police without the inter-entity line, while the other ones did not oppose it, but they kept silent and this was interpreted as their consent. Tihic added that they, obviously, came to Sarajevo to interrupt the talks.

Halilovic: False thesis of RS statehood being affirmed in Banja Luka

Pink, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Halilovic: Karadzic false thesis on statehood is being affirmed in Banja Luka’ by E.S. – Following failed police reform talks, Safet Halilovic, Party for BiH President, points out that there has been a new trend in Banja Luka relying on Belgrade as of beginning this year, noting: “It is a political trend of forces, who do not want European integration, fulfillment of RS duties towards the Hague and reforms, but instead they want re-affirmation of the so called statehood of RS and keep insisting on Karadzic’s false thesis on RS statehood.” On HR, he says: “I do not know what HR will do. Sometimes it seems to me that he is a part of it, and sometimes he makes good moves. What worries me mostly is the behavior of PIC member, which practically give illegal support to such examples of behavior from RS side.”

Komsic: Terzic’ and Ashdown’s optimism proved to be naïve

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Komsic: Ashdown’s and Terzic’s optimism showed to be naive’ – Ivo Komsic, SDU BIH Vice President, told the press Tuesday that illusion that nationalists can ensure a BiH path towards Europe was burnt at “Konak”, noting: “Months-long optimism Paddy Ashdown and Adnan Terzic were breeding showed to be naïve. It is obvious that politicians from RS – by rejecting the police reform and organizing “people’s events” in Banja Luka – want to prevent launchment of SAA talks at any cost.”

DA op-ed: Police reform should have been done the other way around

Dnevni Avaz pg 3’Cavic’s escape to Banja Luka’ by Edina Sarac – On Konak talks, the author notes that Dragan Cavic is facing with the worst times of all in his career, adding that he should not have come to Banja Luka if he had accepted police reform proposal at Vlasic. She notes that by refusing any compromise at “Konak”, Cavic has entered started a desperate defence of RS and project of Radovan Karadzic. She stresses that the entire processof police reform should have been done in other way around, i.e. politicians should reached agreement and then PRC should have make it operational. Hence, talks failed, mainly owing to SDS stance, according to author. 

Former PRC Chair Martens says there is still a chance to agree on police reform

Hayat, FENA – Former BiH Police Restructuring Commission Chair Wilfred Martens said on Tuesday that he does not think that talks on police restructuring have failed entirely, and stressed that if this were the case there would be no hope for the future of BiH in the EU. Martens thinks that representatives of RS political parties are responsible for the failure/interruption of talks and added that they should have lived up with promises made at Vlasic. “I think that those present at the talks on Monday should have shown a minimum of responsibility and they need to be fully aware of the consequences”, Martens told journalists. He reminded that EU requirements are clear and that they would not change, and what is necessary now is that those European principles be accepted in BiH.

Colak: BiH’s Europen future in danger

TV Pink – BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak said that by suspending talks on police reform BiH’s European future had been endangered. “I really do not know who should make a move at the moment. I think that it should be done by RS political parties. I think that they will have to decide on their readiness to start the negotiations. Unfortunately, this date has definitely been gone. My opinion is that the talks should be continued as soon as possible, in order for the damage to be smaller”, said Colak.

Reactions to police reform talks failure by UK Ambassador, BiH politicians (Ivanic, SDS’ Bojic, Sead Avdic, SDP Lagumdzija, SDS’ Novakovic, SNSD’s Spiric, DNS Kalabic, SDA’s Dzaferovic, NHI’s Jonjic, others)

BHT – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs and PDP President Mladen Ivanic did not want to comment the failure of the negotiations, while the SDS representatives are trying to minimize the consequences of last night’s fiasco. “Nobody refused those proposals. We will continue the discussion, but first the parties in RS must reach political consensus”, stated Borislav Bojic from the SDS.

TV Hayat – “The one thing clear to me is that it will not be possible for the EC to say that all the preconditions have been met. That must be disappointing, not only for the International Community but above all, for the people of BiH”, said U.K Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft.

TV Hayat Semsudin Skejic – BiH House of Representatives held session on Tuesday, during which it has not been discussed on talks on police reform, which took place in Konak on Monday. BiH Democrats representative, Sead Avdic asked for this issue to be put on the agenda, and for the Chair of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, being at the same time Co-Chair of the Commission which split on Monday, to present it. SDP representative, Zlatko Lagumdzija supported this proposal. “I thing that the HR and his false reformers are unable to reach some serious solution, and BiH citizens should be aware of this”, said Lagumdzija. “Police reform issue cannot be a personal matter of political leaders or chairs of 11 political parties invited by OHR. I think that the Parliament should be in the focus of such issue”, said Avdic. Lagumdzija also added that Europe was not interested in imposing something which BiH did not find a normal thing to do, since foreigners were the one who were telling us that we had to establish police which would fight organized crime. SDS representative, Momcilo Novakovic said that SDS Caucus at the HoP had not received any information from SDS on the way in which talks had ended.

RTRS by Branka Kusmuk – RTRS brings reactions of politicians regarding the failed negotiations on police reform. Borislav Bojic from SDS stated that functional regions can be made within the entity borders. Nikola Spiric from SNSD stated that FBIH parties couldn’t make an agreement and are now trying to find a guilty party. Drago Kalabic from DNS feels that enormous energy has been put into police reform and if it boils down to cross over of entity lines then in his opinion the issue is about something else. Sefik Dzaferovic from SDA stated that hopefully adequate reactions from international community will follow. Zlatko LAgumdzija stated that HR Paddy Ashdown and his “false reformers” gave a big present to organised crime. Dobrica Jonic from NHI feels that the guilt for the failure of the negotiations lies with parties from RS. Reporter comments that RS National Assembly will give an epilogue to these events. Mladen Ivanic from PDP stated that RS National Assembly will perform a discussion and it will be seen whether it will change its position and allow negotiating team to continue the negotiations on police reform.

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Cavic and Ivanic are responsible’ by V. P. and R. S. – SNSD Secretary General Igor Radojicic thinks ruling parties in BiH should take the responsibility for police reform and he says the discontinuation of talks on police reform is an indicator of inability of local authorities and ruling parties to agree on anything. SPRS President Petar Djokic also blames authority structures and leaders of SDS and PDP, Dragan Cavic and Mladen Ivanic respectively. SDS Spokesperson Stanko Pivasevic announced Dragan Cavic would hold a press conference today (Wednesday). The article also carries reactions of DNS Deputy President Drago Kalabic and Head of SDS Caucus at RSNA Borislav Bojic.

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Nationalistic parties brought BiH back’ by M. C. – carries reactions of NHI’s Dobrica Jonjic, SDP’s Zlatko Lagumdzija, Party for BiH’s Safet Halilovic and SDA Deputy President and CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic.

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Tihic overfilled the glass’ by D. Trisic – carries statements of DNS’s Drago Kalabic who says Tihic had amended a statement RS politicians should have read at RS NA, which was interpreted as severe insult. SDS’s Mladen Bosic too blames politicians from F BiH and pressures they exerted during the talks in “Konak” for failure of police negotiations.

Some 10,000 people gather in support of preservation of RS

RHB, BHT, Hayat, Pink, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 3 ‘5^th October might happen to RS (referring to the mass protest in Serbia on the date leading to removal of Slobodan Milosevic from power)’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘5^th October might happen in RS as well’, Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 25 ‘Serb rebellion because of police reform’, by B. Stevandic, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘More than 20 thousand citizens threaten politicians’, by NINA, I. R., Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14, mentioned on front ‘We are not allowing across our border!’, by Aleksandar Macanovic, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Do not betray hope of people!’ by Snj. Milankovic, EuroBlic cover pg splash and pgs RS2-RS3 ‘RS is our house’ by Nedeljka Breberina, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘To Europe, but with RS’ by D. Risojevic, Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Srpska must not disappear!’ by S. Pesevic and M. Labus, SRNA – A large protest rally organized by non-governmental organizations was held in Banja Luka on Tuesday at which government representatives were called on to preserve the RS as a guarantee for the survival of the Serb people in Bosnia and Hercegovina. “The constitutional reorganization and reform processes towards Euro-Atlantic integration are possible only in the scope and manner in which the three constituent nations in BiH agree in a consensus,” said Slavko Jovicic, spokesman of the Headquarters for the Protection of the Constitutional Position of the RS within the BH Constitution, which organized the rally. Representatives of 11 non-governmental organizations, including war veterans, families of fallen soldiers, former camp inmates and refugees, called for the preservation of the RS as a minimum of national interests of the Serb people in BiH, and insisted that citizens should vote in a referendum on all important issues. A repeat call was made that the Dayton peace agreement which determined the RS’ jurisdiction and competencies should guarantee equality of the two entities and the three constituent nations in BH and that all reforms, including the latest police reform must take into account the constitutional and legal order in the RS and BiH. “A reformed police force must be efficient, professional and depoliticized and the police structure must be preserved, the ministry should keep its original jurisdiction and the organization of public security centres which takes into account the boundaries of the entities should remain in place,” it was said at the protest rally in Banja Luka. According to unofficial estimates, more than 10,000 citizens from all over the RS gathered in the central Krajina Square in Banja Luka.

NN op-ed says the BL protest rally was fiasco

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Fiasco’ by Aleksandar Sekulic – The author says the protest in Banja Luka was a fiasco since it was actually a rally of support to Dragan Cavic and Main Board of SDS. He says this was the reason why only 7-8 thousand people attended the protest, instead of 50,000 as it was announced. He is worried over the statement of HR, who has stated RS would be in the same position as the Turkish part of Cyprus. The author says the responsibility for someone else’s fault cannot be transferred on to the entire RS and suggests to HR Ashdown to ask from Cavic and Ivanic to confess their guilt for failure of police negotiations and then reach a decision on their move to the Turkish part of Cyprus – in this way the reforms would be accelerated, culprits would be known and RS and its citizens would no longer be held responsible for everything bad that happens in BiH.

DL op-ed on police reform, protests by RS NGOs

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Fight for Republika Srpska’, by Ivana Rozic – Carries an op-ed dedicated to the failure of police reform talks and protests that were organized in Banja Luka yesterday. The author says that the gathered citizens are continuing to fight for survival of the smaller entity in BiH at which they clearly let politicians know that the RS must be preserved within the current borders, with the DPA as their ultimate guarantee. On the other hand, says the author, the High Representative’s ambitions, whose mandate is expiring and who should be protecting the DPA, seem to be too big because he is trying to implement something that is opposed by a big number of citizens of this country, even if it means unrests. The author continues by saying that one can often hear that the RS is an obstacle, wondering how can an entity be an obstacle when the majority of citizens of that entity are satisfied. As for the reason why the citizenry in the RS are protesting, the author argues the reasons are the reforms whose goal is to create a unitary state of BiH, which will lead to a centralized state and rule of majority.

Interview with D. McElhaney (on police and defense reforms, arrest of war crime indictees etc.)

Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘I am disappointed with RS officials’ and pg 5 ‘The biggest punishment is that BiH does not start approaching EU’ by S. Numanovic carries an interview with US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney who mostly talks about the police reform not hiding his disappointment over the fact the talks on the police reform failed. McElhaney also clearly says that RS officials are responsible for the failure. Asked as to what the USA would do with regard to this situation, McElhaney says that the fact that there is no readiness to move towards the EU is the punishment itself. DA insert under headline ‘International Community is unified when reforms are in question’ carries McElhaney denying that there is disagreement within the IC when reforms are in question. Another DA inset under headline ‘I do not agree with Carla del Ponte’ carries McElhaney as saying that he does not agree with Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte when she says that NATO is also responsible for the fact that Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic have not been arrested yet. McElhaney reminds that NATO arrested 28 war crime indictees.  McElhaney also talks about the defense reform, medal for Draza Mihailovic etc.

Banja Luka Reporter magazine on Vlasic talks, police reform in BiH

Reporter pgs 12-13 ‘Climbing “Vlasic-gate” by Igor Gajic – writing about Vlasic talks, the author says that even politicians, who took part at Vlasic talks, did not know much about agreement reached – OHR solely was the only one that knew the entire truth. On HR Paddy Ashdown, the author says: “Following the brightest tradition of the British Empire, Ashdown proposed that Croats should have a status resembling the one the Welsch in Britain have. The Welch in Britain have their Parliament and territory. However, this sort of Ashdown’ steam let-off over BiH gave no solution to dilemma – what kind of status would other two “constitutive” peoples have.  Judging by existing status, Bosniaks would be assigned “a grave and responsible” ttask to have a status of the Englishmen, parliamentary rulers in tight relations with the Crown, while Serbs could only dream of having the status of the Scotsmen, because the role that suits them the best, in Ashdown’s view, wold be the status of Catholics from Northern Ireland, i.e. the status of gang that should be cleansed, but it is inappropriate to to since the “world is watching”.

Political Developments/PBS Law, SIPA Director Appointment

BiH HoR adopts law on public radio-TV system

RHB, BHT, Hayat, Pink, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Draft law on PBS adopted’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH will have RTV system with three centers’, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Croats did not get their TV channel’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Three regional RTV centres’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 20 ‘Proposal of Croat TV channel rejected’, by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Draft BiH PBS Law was adopted’ by M. C., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Croats without their channel’ by Srna, FENA – The House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly held a session in Sarajevo on Tuesday at which it adopted the draft law on BiH public RTV (Radio-TV) system/ Public Broadcasting System – PBS accompanied by a report of the respective commission. Twenty-six deputies voted for the law, nine were against and three abstained. The Commission for Transport and Communications of the House of Representatives had earlier adopted a draft of this law with several amendments. The essence of the amendments is that the Corporation of Public RTV Broadcasters shall have units in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar and programmes will be produced, edited and broadcast equally from the three centers and in three equal languages. BiH Minister of Transport and Communications Branko Dokic said that the law guaranteed all rights of constituent peoples, which included the use of their own language and script. According to him, some articles show that every year the BH Parliament will be able to inspect the implementation of the law in financial and editorial terms. “An important step that we have made in relation to previous drafts which were not adopted was the establishment of a studio in Mostar which will have an equal editorial policy thus guaranteeing that one third of the programmes will be produced in Mostar, one third in Sarajevo and one third in Banja Luka,” Dokic said. Deputies of the HDZ voted against the law because the house rejected all their amendments. HDZ deputy Ruza Sopta said that her party had two sorts of amendments with which it tried to improve the law. “Our amendments were not taken into account and therefore we were forced to vote against the draft law,” Sopta said. According to her, the club of HDZ deputies had first put forward amendments, which would have resolved the issue of the RTV system at the BiH level. “We demanded one RTV service at the BiH level, with three channels, each in one of the three official languages. When we were told that this did not comply with the Dayton agreement, we wanted – in line with the Dayton agreement – to have three broadcasters at the entity level – one broadcaster in the RS and two broadcasters in the Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina,” Sopta said. After being adopted in the House of Representatives the draft law on BH public RTV system should be examined by the House of Peoples at a session scheduled for Wednesday.

TV Pink – HDZ Chair, Barisa Colak said that he hoped that a compromise was to be reached. “There is possibility for the law to be adopted with different texts, issued by two Houses, and afterwards to have the text coordinated”, said Colak.

BHT – Those who were against the law were representatives of Croat Democratic Union (HDZ), Social-Democratic Party (SDP) and a few independent representatives. “This could be the transitional phase to the constitution of a public RTV system with three national channels, which would be very bad message to the BiH citizens”, said independent representative Sead Avdic. HDZ is not satisfied because all their amendments were rejected, so they announced that they will call for the protection of vital national interest at the Constitutional Court. “We are simply forced to fight for the rights of our people at the higher level”, said HDZ representative Ruza Sopta. BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications Branko Dokic said that the program would be equally produced in three centres. “It does not mean that those centres will produce program just for them – on the contrary, they will produce program for the whole country”, added Dokic.

Club of Croats at FBiH HoP filed appellation with BiH CC over PBS

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Situation in the field of public broadcasters is untenable for the Croat people’ by ONASA – Mate Franjicevic, President of the Club of Croats at the F BiH Parliament HoP has confirmed that the Club has filed an appellation with the BiH Constitutional Court over its dissatisfaction with the situation in the field of public broadcasters, which they find untenable for the Croat people.

Reactions to PBS law adoption by current and former PBS managers, EC

BHT Tomislav Djuric – First reactions on the adopted law on the BiH public RTV system vary from support for strengthening regional centres to fear of the possible introduction of three national channels. “It seems to me that this law represents the base for three national channels. That solution is simply not rational”, stated Plamenko Custovic, Public RTV Service Steering Board President. European Commission (EC) welcomes the adoption of this law, which is one of the main conditions for start of the negotiations about the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. “We believe that adopted amendments about regional centres are normal in the country in which there are three constitutional peoples”, said Frane Maroevic, EC at BiH Spokesperson. According to the BHT reporter, the idea of dividing RTV system is not new in BiH. “Nationalist parties wanted to divide former RTV Sarajevo 15 years ago”, said Nenad Pejic, former RTV Sarajevo editor in chief in his telephone statement for BHT. “They wanted separate channels for every peoples. When they realized that it is not possible, they wanted one news show for every nationalist party”, added Pejic. 

CoM again failed to appoint SIPA Director

BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘SIPA still without Director’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Terzic: If Colak and Ivanic do not agree, they will have to resign or I will dismiss them’, mentioned on cover ‘I expect Ivanic and Colak to resign if they fail to agree’ – The BiH Council of Ministers did not appoint the Director, Deputy director and Assistant Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) at the session on Tuesday. BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak nominated Dragan Lukac for a post of SIPA Director, but BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic insists that Sredoje Novic remains as a SIPA director. Ivanic said that, if Colak does not give up his candidate, the only solution would be to make a new proposal, or a new concourse. 

BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic said he expected Colak and Ivanic to resign if they were not able to agree on the issue.

HR on appointment of SIPA Director

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 inset ‘Appointment of SIPA Director’ – HR has also warned the state authorities he cannot allow SIPA Director seat remains vacant, adding: “A lot of time has passed and it is unacceptable that institution of such an importance is headless for a long time frame. I expect from authority to acknowledge this and react. The time is running out and I hope I will not have to react.”

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Ashdown announced he would appoint SIPA Director’ by Az.K., Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘OHR will react over blockade of SIPA’ by M. Cubro also carried the statement.

DL: HDZ realizes it cannot decide about constitutional changes on its own

Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘HDZ realized that it could not decide by itself’, by Z. Jukic – Commenting on recent meetings of Croat political parties, who are discussing possible constitutional changes in BiH, the meeting organized by the HDZ two days ago in particular, the author argues that the fact that no significant Croat opposition party attended the said meeting, has forced the HDZ to realize that it cannot not behave the way it has behaved so far i.e. that other parties can also have initiatives of their own.

DL: Colak asks for Zoric’s support

Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Zoric convinces Jelavic to help Colak’, by Zvonimir Jukic – Carries an article dedicated to the issue of election of new HDZ President. DL learns from sources in the HDZ of Canton 8 that the current HDZ President, Barisa Colak, has openly asked for support from Vinko Zoric, an MP in the BiH HoR, in his efforts to get re-elected, despite the two being at odds when it came to the election of the new Croat member of BiH Presidency. The author reckons that Zoric could be the decisive factor, especially in case he manages to persuade Ante Jelavic to lobby for Colak.

Paravac addresses CoE

Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘BiH supports three conventions’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘BiH on good route towards European standards’, by ra, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Paravac: will and determination for democratic values exist in BiH’ by Agencies – Chairman of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac stated Tuesday in Warsaw that there is a strong political will and determination of all political subjects in BiH for acceptance of the highest democratic standards. He stressed BiH needs help in fight against organized crime and corruption and he said BiH supports three conventions on prevention of terrorism.

Reporter op-ed comments on Tihic’s Victory Day anniversary speech before BiH Parliament

Reporter op-ed pg 11 ‘Sulejman “the Magnificant” by Tihomir Gligoric – The author is referring to Sulejman Tihic’s address to BiH Parliamentary Assembly during diucsssion on Resolution on Anti-fascism. The author notes Tihic made a speech for pre-election purposes, stressing all of his activities lately are aimed at this direction. Gligoric underlines Tihic and Borislav Paravac shares the same terms, in spite of Paravac’s historic background. The author reminds of the motto that BiH “is not Serb, Croat nor Muslim, but the state of all, Serbs, Croats and Muslim”.

Crime/Security/Legal Proceedings

HR on Andan’s terrorism-related claims

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 inset “Andan’s destiny’ – Referring to recent statement Dragomir Andan gave (re. Participation of BiH citizens in Madrid terrorist attacks), Ashdown said those were serious accusations, stressing that it is unprofessional to distribute such information to the media at the press conference, instead of forwarding them to state bodies in charge. He added that if claims prove to be ungrounded, it would show the politics still has influence over police in RS. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Ashdown threatened with punishments to RS Police Director’ by M. C. also carried the statement.

RS MoI: Claim of Bosnian links with Madrid terrorist attack founded

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Andan’s claims based on arguments’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Firm evidence’ by G. D., FENA: Zoran Glusac, head of office of the RS minister of interior, said on Tuesday that a claim presented by RS Police Director Dragomir Andan on connections between some individuals in BiH and the terrorist attack in Madrid was based on certain arguments. In his address to the deputies at the RS National Assembly in Banja Luka, Glusac said that the RS would send information on this issue to other security agencies in BiH and the EU Police Mission. He declined to give further details in connection with this information saying that these were intelligence details. The fight against terrorism is one of the main objectives of the RS Ministry of Interior, Glusac added.

Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister concerned over statements on existence of terrorists in BiH

Pink, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘For concern and condemnation’ by Srna – Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos stated Tuesday in Belgrade that the information on terrorism published in RS is causing concern and condemnation. ‘Any acts of terrorism deserve condemnation and we should fight against anyone who prepares for such activities’, the Minister stated.

Colak on Andan’s claims: still no confirmation

Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Still no confirmation’ by Srna – BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak has stated that the Ministry still has not received a confirmation on claims of RS Police Director Dragomir Andan with regard to terrorists in BiH and their participation in terrorist acts in Madrid.

Trials in ‘Croat self-rule’ case starts before BiH Court

BHT, FTV, Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Trial has started’ and pg 3 ‘Religious dignitaries in defence of self-rule’, by Erna Mackic, Vecernji List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Cardinal Puljic will be witness too’, by Zoran Kresic, Ana Drmac – Trials to Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Dragan Curcic in the ‘Croat self-rule’ case started before the BiH Court yesterday (Tuesday). The troika are charged with undermining of military and defence capabilities of the FBiH and abuse of office. Jelavic’s lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, reiterated that the case has political background, announcing that the defence would have to question some 200 witnesses, including members of the HDZ Presidency and religious dignitaries such as cardinal Vinko Puljic, as well as former High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, if necessary. According to Muselimovic, the defence will have to explain the court the circumstances from 2000 and 2001 when Jelavic was in the BiH Presidency.

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 7 ‘Cardinals and bishops invited to be witnesses’, by Zlatko Tulic – notes that the most interesting bit from yesterday’s trials happened when Muselimovic showed a letter which the High Representative sent to the BiH Constitutional Court after the Constitutional Court had already accepted the appeal that had been lodged by Muselimovic (SD does not state the contents of the appeal). The letter allegedly reads that the OHR is interested in the ‘Croat self-rule case’, appealing to the Court to ignore Muselimovic’s already accepted appeal. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Jelavic’s defense announced 200 witnesses’ not signed,Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue.

RS Elektroprivreda announces filing of a complaint on court verdict

Nezavisne Novine pg 8, announced on cover ‘Legal battle with “SB Soft” continues even after the verdict was reached’ by R. Segrt, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Strange scissors of Dragan Puzic’ by M. Bestic – “RS Elektroprivreda” announced it would file a complaint upon the verdict reached in the case against “SB Soft”, according to which “RS Elektroprivreda” would have to pay approximately 54 million KM to the mentioned firm.

Tihic demands for removal of Stankovic and Djukic

Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Tihic asks for removals of Stankovic and Djukic’ by A. Sisic – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic has stated he would demand his proposal for a discussion on removal of RS Defense Minister Milovan Stankovic and Head of RS Army Headquarters Novak Djukic to be included to the agenda of BiH Presidency session.

Economic/Social Issues

BiH HoR adopts amendments to VAT Law

RHB, Pink, BHT, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Application of VAT at beginning of 2006’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Proposal on changes to Law on VAT adopted’, by ra, Pink – At a session in Sarajevo on Tuesday, BiH House of Representatives adopted in urgent the draft amendments to the law on VAT, by which it will not start being implemented on July 1 but January 1, 2006. Sarajevo dailies also reported on the issue.

INA and MOL accept all demands of FBiH Government

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘INA and MOL accept all demands of Government’ by M. Kukan, Oslobodjenje pg 7 – After a 3-hour meeting between INA-MOL and the Federation of BiH Government representatives, INA-MOL promised FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, his Deputy Dragan Vrankic and the Commission in charge of co-capitalization of Energopetrol (EP) that this company would meet all pre-requisites for co-capitalization of EP set by the FBiH Government. According to DA source, all this is just a pre-requisite that should be met in order to continue the process for election of the partner for co-capitalization of EP and only after all the promises were met the FBiH Government would decide on possible beginning of negotiations.

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘INA and MOL ready to buy Energopetrol!’, by Zoran Kresic also reported on talks on the issue.

RSNA:Forestry Law was adopted

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Forestry Law was adopted’ by V. P., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Wood filling the cash register’ by G. Dakic – RS NA Tuesday adopted the Law on Changes and Addenda to the Forestry Law, by which legal grounds were provided for the Government of RS to reach a decision on organization of “Srpske Sume” company within 15 days.