| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| MoU US-BiH | SFOR’s activities | Talks in Washington | Pope’s visit |
| Border procedures | Talks on corridor 5C | US list | Lilic vs. Milosevic |
| SFOR’s operation | Social reforms campaign | French police’s raid | Hearing of Berlusconni |
| Pope’s visit | Milosevic’s trial | PBS and Parliament | Cultural event “Kocic” |
| Oslobodjenje | Montenegrin Police legalized steal of 40 cars from BiH? |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown: BiH came back to US through a big door |
| Dnevni List | Dayton set foundations, but it must not be our roof; Implementation of agreement on use of Ploce Port necessary; Reduction of competence of High Representative necessary |
| Vecernji List | Hooligans three years without stadium; Mostar: Redundancies for 124 workers |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Map with Pope’s itinerary; End of agony of “Duvanjsko polje” |
| Glas Srpske | Severe splits between delegates in Brcko: Their measure –somebody else’s suit; London: A mighty threat to the world |
| Nezavisne Novine | Indictment for illegal distribution of arms to citizens of Tesanj brought in Zenica: Four police and military officials of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina charged; The Hague investigators met with the SDS senior official: Nedeljko Djekanovic before the ICTY investigative team; BiH Central Bank: Less than KM 2 million blocked at Privredna Banka Sarajevo |
| Nedeljni Telegraf | Radomir Njegus: assassins wait for the Pope in Banja Luka; Legija in Singapore |
| Blic | Cubic metre of water to 30 KM; Cavic: BiH Constitution is frame for entering PfP; Dragan Mikerevic to health workers: you can strike as long as you wish, but there is no money; Gojko Savanovic: Disputable diplomas forced Government to submit complaint; Rehearsal for service on Saturday in Petricevac |
BiH-International community relations | |
| High Representative Meets US Secretary of Defence
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘In 2 and a half years new mandate of the international community’, Dnevni List front and page 7, by Miso Relota, “Dayton set foundations, but it must not be our roof”, Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘There are resemblance’s between BiH and Iraq’; Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Ashdown shaking down’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Three enemies of the peace process’, Slobodna Dalmacija p 15, by Zlatko Tulic, “Americans vs. Ashdown” – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, was in Washington on Tuesday for a number of high level meetings. In separate meetings the High Representative met with the US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, Mark Grossman, the National Security Council’s Senior Director for European Affairs, Daniel Fried, and the Treasury Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Eurasia, Nancy Lee. During these meetings the High Representative briefed on the progress that BiH had made in the past year, OHR Spokesman Vedran Persic told journalists in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The High Representative briefed Rumsfeld on the new approach to undermining the networks that support war criminals. The High Representative said “we are now actively shaking the tree, going after the people and the money that had allowed indicted war criminals to evade arrest for all these years.” The High Representative described the enemies of BiH’s future as three fold; indicted war criminals, organised crime, and terrorism. He explained that there are five allies deployed in the field – the US and the work they are doing to freeze assets and target supporters; the EU and its visa bans against those who support indicted war criminals; SFOR in its operations; the BiH authorities; and the OHR itself. The High Representative said that each has their own contribution to make and, for the first time, all these activities were being co-ordinated. The High Representative told Rumsfeld that in 2½ years, the war in BiH will have been over for a decade and it might be possible to make the transition to a different type of international mission in BiH, but we should only do that once it has become clear that the process of stabilisation and progress to Europe is irreversible. |
| HR’s interview for Dnevni Avaz | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 5 ‘BiH came back to US through a large door’ – BiH is now on the road of integration and reforms and the BiH authorities should show courage in that, as the international community has a task to help them in these processes, said High Representative Paddy Ashdown at the beginning of the interview for the newspaper given in Washington. “This vist to US was an opportunity to present to the US Administration certain progress made so far,” Ashdown emphasized. |
| Ashdown for BBC: Iraq and BiH similar, yet different | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘If there are jobs, there would be no nationalism’, ONASA – High Representative to BiH Paddy Ashdown said that there are some similarities, but also some differences between the situation in Iraq and in BiH. In an interview with BBC Radio, Ashdown said that the situation in BiH and in Iraq “significantly differs”, but that there are “three basic similarities.” First – one must be harsh in the beginning so that one can relax later. The second similarity is that immediately after the establishment of peace one has to impose rile of all. The third similarity is that what is necessary for both countries is quick “fight for peace” that require determination, political will and material means same as the war. Asked about progress in overcoming inter-ethnic hatred in BiH, Ashdown said that time is needed for overcoming the hatred from the war, and the other thing is that the weapon in the fight against nationalism are safe environment, employment, rule of law and economic prosperity. |
| Terzic, Ivanic meet with Armitage | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Support to military reforms, fight against women trafficking’, Slobodna Dalmacija back page, by Blazica Kristo, “Memorandum on control of export of sensitive military technology signed”, Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘Military and economic reforms should be accelerated’ – Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic met on Tuesday in Washington with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage and discussed the implementation of military reforms in BiH. According to a press release from the BiH Council of Ministers, the officials agreed it is necessary to accelerate economic reforms in BiH. Armitage stressed that the United States support the military reform in BiH and its admission into NATO programme Partnership for Peace. He said BiH should undertake concrete steps in the next 90 days in the fight against women trafficking, in order to avoid the abolishment of American assistance. Ivanic and Armitage signed the memorandum of understanding on the automatic equipment of the system of approval of licences, which will enable the development of the system for control of export of military technology at the state level. |
| Ivanic on talks in Washington | BHTV 1 – BH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic stated that BiH could not rely on long-term and suitable arrangements with IMF. Ivanic is a member of BH Senior Delegation in official visit to Washington. For BHTV1, Ivanic confirmed that USA would not impose sanctions against BH for lack of efficient efforts to fight human trafficking. He added that USA did welcome news on several arrests of those who took part in trafficking and explained that yesterday BH delegation hold very positive talks with US officials. Finally, he stated that he was sure that in October it would be announced that BH would rise to second from third group of countries who did nothing to fight trafficking. |
| Terzic and Ivanic attend investment forum | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Ambassador Bond called on Americans to invest in BiH’, FENA – BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic, BiH Central Bank Governor Peter Nicholl and US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond took part in an Investment Forum, during the second day of their visit to Washington, organised to inform US investors about investment opportunities in BiH, but also to promote high quality BiH products in order to ensure their export to the USA, the BiH Council of Ministers stated. The Investment Forum was organised by the BiH Embassy in Washington together with the BiH Government, the US Ministry of Trade, the Foreign Investments Promotion Agency and the OPIC Co-corporation. It was dedicated to the issue “BiH-Road of US Business towards SE Europe”. Talking to representatives of some 50 US companies and governmental organisations Terzic urged them to invest in BiH and stressed that new BiH authorities are reform orientated and determined to create an environment favourable for business. “More Europe does not mean less America in BiH, on the contrary more Europe also means more America”, Terzic said. He praised results achieved by new state and entity authorities in BiH so far and reminded that the second draft of the PRSP and the Action Plan with 120 reform measures have been developed in only several months. US Ambassador Bond said in his address that “BiH is a good place to visit, but also for the investment of the American capital, and that it is becoming more and more attractive not only for the investors from USA.” Participants in the Investment Forum were presented BiH healthy food products and were able to try domestic drinks. |
| BiH, Croatia and Hungary officials say their countries ready to construct 5 C corridor | BHTV 1, Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Full agreement about Vc corridor’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 – Deputies of Foreign Affairs Ministers of BiH, Lidija Topic, Croatia, Ivan Simonovci and Hungary, Arsan Barsoni, in Sarajevo confirmed political readiness of their countries to build corridor 5 C. Expert groups have tasked to confirm connection points for the corridor and prepare all the necessary documents as soon as possible. The corridor is supposed to connect Budapest with Luka. Unlike Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina still has not produced project and necessary studies, which would show is this project possible to implement and does it pay off. Production of all necessary documents would cost between 50 and 60 million KM, while the whole project is estimated to cost between 2.5 and 4 billion Euros. BH Minister for Traffic and Communication Branko Dokic said that nobody prepared a detailed study on highway. BiH can provide means for this project in 3 ways: through loan of foreign banks and other international institutions, where the country already has large debts; to be paid by citizens by taking certain procentage of every sold liter of oil; or by awarding consession to interested privated local and foreign companies. Spokesperson for World Bank in BiH, Srecko Latal stated that it is essential for BiH produce feasibility study which would offer some of the answers needed in this issue. Assumption is that the highway in BiH would start near Samac and exit around Ploce port. |
| Meeting of BiH and Croatian Deputy Foreign Ministers | Dnevni List (front page & p 5, “Implementation of Agreement on Use of Ploce Port necessary”, unsigned) reports that regular consultations of BiH and Croatian Foreign Ministries were held in Sarajevo yesterday. Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister, Ivan Simonovic, said the meeting was kind of inventory of commitments and open issues. The trilateral meeting of BiH, Croatia and Hungary on Vc corridor was welcomed and the need for harmonization and signing of Agreements on Execution of Court Rulings, Protocol on Veterinary Cooperation, Protocol on Implementation of Agreement on return of DPs from BiH and Croatia, as well as on the Agreement on Protection from Natural Disasters was underlined. It was concluded that it was necessary to find a solution to the hold-up in negotiations on the implementation of the Agreement on the Use of Ploce Port, and BiH expressed readiness to finalize harmonization of Contract on Property and Legal Issues as well as to appear at third countries’ markets jointly with Croatia. |
| OHR on EU visa ban list | Blic pg. 7 ‘List of unwanted soon’ – “OHR does not have any information about exact date of announcing the EU visa ban list,” OHR spokesman Vedran Persic told Blic. He said that was the matter of the EU and that only EU could decide about the date. Persic did not want to comment the previous announcements that would happen at the Thessaloniki summit, saying that OHR did not have such information. “The list will be announced soon and when – we will see,” Persic said, adding that 25 persons from BiH, including Momcilo Mandic and Milovan Bjelica, would be on the list. |
| Oslobodjenje’s Kebo on John Shearer | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘John, do not turn around’ Editorial by Amra Kebo – Kebo reminds that on June 30 HR’s Broadcasting Agent John Shearer is ending his mandate in BiH. She says that a man is leaving BiH, who has been poorly performing his job and who has ruined the television. “Shearer cannot say that he has had any authority in Banja Luka. He cannot also say that he has done good job in BiH. It is quite opposite,” Kebo concludes. |
| Dnevni List on RTVBiH’s liquidation | Dnevni List (page 6, by Marko Tadic, “Who needed Federation Television”) – criticizes the Broadcasting Agent/Liquidator’s Decision on the Liquidation of RTV BiH that allocated 98% of the former RTV BiH’s property to the PBS BiH. “From the point of informing the public, the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina ‘resides’ only at the Federation Television. As a reward for that, there’s the decision of the High Representative’s agent for liquidation. Federation Television stays without property. On its foundations (God forbid ruins), achievements, subscribers and property, the RTV BiH1 is being built. Radio Television of RS does not participate in it. It’s left with its property, subscribers, programming. It does not want a joint news summary at 1930 hrs, it does not participate in enormous costs of RTV BiH1, it won’t…it won’t nothing. And the High Representative’s agent says that entity’s Television is not covered with the transformation”, says Tadic. |
Crime | |
| Increased SFOR presence at border with Montenegro
| BHTV 1, Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘SFOR looks for the Hague indictees’ – SFOR soldiers increased its presence in the Southeastern region of RS, near the border with Monte Negro. News agency Hina reported that this was confirmed by SFOR Multinational Division Commander for South-East sector Marco Cerini. He stressed that SFOR was very active in that region. Italian General said that due to security of this operation, he could not comment whether this was a part of an effort to apprehend war crimes indictees. According to earlier newspapers writings, the most wanted war crime indictee Radovan Karadzic often seeks haven in this region. |
| Del Ponte again calls for arrest of Karadzic and Mladic
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘There will be no reconciliation without apprehension of war criminals’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Del Ponte calls on arrest of Karadzic and Mladic’, ONASA – ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte once again called for the arrest of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and army commander Ratko Mladic, indicted for war crimes. Because of the permanent danger of new violence, it is necessary to extradite all war criminals to the justice, because genuine reconciliation is impossible without these proceedings, Del Ponte wrote in Italian Corriere della Serra. Facing the EU Summit in Thessaloniki on June 19 and 20 which should “give hope to Balkans”, Del Ponte feels compulsion to remind that Karadzic, Mladic and the rest of the most responsible persons are still at large. “We are not surprised by the feeling of resistance towards the ICTY. From Zagreb to Pristina, over Belgrade and Sarajevo, there are still many nationalists who live in the past and who think that only the others are the true war criminals and that suspects from their people are national heroes,” Del Ponte wrote. Del Ponte wrote that the international community must maintain its support without doubt, because it will not be possible to complete the rest of the work in short period of time without the support of the EU and the U.S. It will be impossible to finish before the end of 2004 when the investigation will be concluded. “The arrest of war crime indictees, beginning with Karadzic and Mladic, accusation of the rest of the highly positioned criminals, and creation of national courts for prosecution of war crimes will enable justice to come, it will give dignity to the victims and their families, and it will also instigate genuine reconciliation in the process of integration into the EU”, Del Ponte concluded. |
| Trial of Milosevic | BHTV 1, RTRS – Former FRY President Zoran Lilic witnessed before the ICTY on Tuesday describing Milosevic’s influence on FRY army, police and authorities in 90s. He also talked about Milosevic’s interferece with Serb leadership in Croatia and BiH and the help Yugoslavia was offering to RS Army. At the beginning of the trail, Lilic said that Milosevic and his wife had full control over state structures and media in Serbia through their parties JUL and SPS. When Prosecutor asked the witness to comment on Milosevic’s thesis of ‘all Serbs in one state’, Lilic said it FRY was the only country where all Serbs were in one country, adding that every effort was made to keep it that way. Lilic, the president of FRY from 1993 to 1997, also talked about financial means Yugoslavia spent for assisting soldiers of RS Army. A 1 600 000 DEM were given each month for members of 30th recruit center, and around 4000 people used that help. Eight million Euros were spend in this regard annually. Lilic also stated that Milosevic had strong influence over Serb leadership in Bosnia and Croatia, but added that this could not be called ‘a complete control’. He expressed his belief that Milosevic did not have influence over crimes committed in Srebrenica in July 1995. Serbian government approved Lilic to witness only in regard to certain subjects. He will witness again tomorrow. |
| ICTY investigators in Banjaluka | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 5, ‘Nedeljko Djekanovic before the ICTY investigators’ – Dejan Miletic, the Head of the Republika Srpska Government Bureau for relations with the ICTY, stated that the ICTY investigators are holding interviews with a group of people from Republika Srpska, including the senior official of the SDS, Nedeljko Djekanovic from Kotor Varos. However, Miletic did not want to clarify with how many people ICTY investigators completed interviews. Djekanovic yesterday did not want to give any comment to NN on this issue, neither to clarify whether he was summoned for interview as potential suspect or a witness. |
| Oslobodjenje: Montenegrin police legalized steal of 40 vehicle from BiH? | Oslobodjenje front page pgs. 4-5 ‘Montenegrin police legalized steal of 40 vehicle from BiH?’ – At least 40 expensive vehicles stolen in BiH have been legally registered in Mo9ntenegro, learns the newspaper. |
| Tesanj case against four police and military officials | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘Four police and military officials of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina charged’ – Crime Council at the Zenica Cantonal Court yesterday accepted the objections placed by the former police and military officials of the Interior Ministry and Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Tesanj, whom Zenica Cantonal Court charged with misuse of authority and inadmissible possession of arms, which was later on “distributed to the citizens of Tesanj at the end of 1996”. The Council decided that the Zenica Basic Court should be in charge of this case against four persons: Semsudin Mehmedovic (former Head of Zenica PSC and the President of the SDA Caucus at the the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament at present); Nedzad Korjalic (Head of Police Administration in Zenica); Benjamin Mehmedovic (police clerk from Tesanj) and Muharem Ahmic (former Commander of the 337 Brigade in Tesanj). |
| British intelligence on terrorist threat | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘A mighty threat to the world’ – Elisa Maningam, the Head of the British Intelligence Service, yesterday stated that Al Q’aida is still capable of performing a fatal attack. She added that it is just a matter of time when the terrorists would attack the West with the unconventional arms. |
| Human traffickers arrested in Mostar | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by S. Kuzman, “Alleged organizer or human trafficking arrested in Mostar”) – a statement by an EUPM spokesperson, Jan Oskar Solnes, who said at a press conference in Sarajevo yesterday that alleged human traffickers robbed three Albanian nationals at Ljubuski on Sunday. The traffickers allegedly promised the Albanians to get them across the border to Croatia only to rob them at a gunpoint. The alleged leader of the traffickers has been arrested in Mostar thanks to good cooperation between Canton 7 and Canton 8 Police and transferred to Ljubuski. The Office of Canton 8 Police Commissioner did not want to reveal any details whilst according to a spokesperson of HNC MoI, Srecko Bosnjak, the Police are still on the ground looking for other suspects and clues. |
Political developments | |
| OHR: HNC Government must start its operation immediately
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Dnevni Avaz pg. 10. ‘HNC Government must start working immediately’ – Establishment of the HN Canton Government is important but only the first step, since it is time for action. That is the only way elected representatives of the cantonal assembly can regain people’s confidence. OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic said at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday that HN Canton Government was expected to begin with work. Checking of ministers of interior, education and justice will continue and will be rigorous, but government can begin to work as Council of Ministers did in the preliminary period. |
| HNC SDP on formation of HNC Government | Dnevni List (page 16, unsigned, “We saw how strong, unbreakable tie between HDZ and SDA is”) – a press release of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton SDP on formation of the HNC Government. The Press release says: “(…) We saw a demonstration of force by principals of the ruling coalition and the Office of High Representative, we saw how strong, unbreakable tie between HDZ and SDA is. We saw what we experienced from the SBiH in 18 months of rule of the Alliance. They always find a way to be ‘opposition’ within the position. If it’s not hypocritical, how then to explain a fact that their representatives will participate in the work of the Government but do not vote for the confirmation. Did we really get a new HNC Government? The answer is simple. We did not. (…) May God help us all. If you are angry over their incompetence, remember they are here only owing it to your votes” |
| CCI NGO on work of HNC Assembly | Dnevni List (page 16, by D. Kozina, “Work of HNMC Assembly inefficient”) – a report from press conference of an NGO “Centre of Civic Initiatives” (CCI) held in Mostar yesterday. CCI presented results of an opinion poll the organization conducted in all municipalities of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton which covered citizens, representatives of media, NGOs and HNC MPs. According to the interviewees, the work of the HNC Assembly is inefficient and there is not good communication between the citizens and the authority. The CCI see a remedy in establishment of a public relations office with the HNC Assembly and live broadcast of sessions of the HNC Assembly. CCI also said that the MPs in the HNC Assembly are not happy with the communication saying that the citizenry should contact them directly. MPs also support an idea of creation of a web page that should cover the work of the Assembly and organization of round tables. |
| Tihic visits Brcko | BHTV 1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘For Tihic, Brcko is an example of coexistence’ FENA, Dnevni List pg 4“Brcko should be example for BiH” – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic visited Brcko on Tuesday and met with authority officials in the District. After talks with Brcko mayor Sinisa Kisic, Chairman of the Provisional Assembly Mirsad Djapo and representatives of political parties that have representatives in the District Assembly, Tihic commended the current situation in Brcko District. He said that a great deal has been done on the plan of national consensus, co-existence and functioning of authority institutions. He emphasised that Brcko can be an example of successful refugee return and of successful financial system and discipline. In the afternoon Tihic met with the Supervisor for Brcko District, Henry L. Clarke. |
| Brcko disputes | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Their measure – somebody else’s suit’; Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘Work of Ravnogorski cetnicki pokret be banned’ – The Serb delegates at the Brcko District Interim Parliament agreed in the assessment that their colleagues Bosniaks and Croats intend to impose their own recipe, according to which the Serb national holidays would be celebrated in the manner they define. All 12 Serb delegates at the Brcko Parliament yesterday signed an announcement, whoich “responded” to yesterday’s press release of a group of Bosniak and Croat delegates. The Bosniak and Croat MP’s and Government members yesterday demanded from the Brcko Mayor, Sinisa Kisic, to undertake measures and prevent the work of Ravnogorski cetnicki pokret (Ravna Gora Chetnik Movement), which, in their view, is the most responsible for the chauvinist disorder and disturbances in the Brcko District since District was established. Serb delegates says that Bosniak and Croat delegates have taken advantage over the celebration of the Serb fans in Brcko (over Serbia and Montenegro Water Polo victory in Kranj) to launch an assault at Serb national holidays and festivities. |
| PBS Funding Board on amendment to the Law on FTV | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Illegal strike on media independence’ – Executive Commission o the PBS Funding Board discussed amendments of the Law on FTV in regard to proposed obligation of live reporting from the parliament’s sessions. Commission claims they are not in accordance with basic principals of the public broadcasting– editorial independence and institutional autonomy. Therefore amendments are not acceptable (full text of release – legal grounds) |
| Dodik repeats call for early elections | Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Dodik requests elections’, ONASA – President of the Alliance of Independent Social-Democrats (SNSD) Milorad Dodik repeated on Tuesday that it was of essential importance that early parliamentary elections in the Republika Srpska take place together with the local elections in October 2003. He pointed out that people in the RS are extremely dissatisfied with the present situation and that the present RS authorities cannot accomplish anything, hence the early elections are the only solution. Dodik made this statement after his meeting with French Ambassador to BiH Bernard Bajolet, and added that he had exchanged opinions with Bajolet about the present political and economic situation in BiH. Dodik assessed that the present RS authorities proved to be completely incapable of reforms, which the OHR implements instead of them and that they did nothing to revive economy in the RS. |
| BiH HoP to discuss BiH-US agreement on ICC | Dnevni List (page 2, unsigned, “Today about Agreement between BiH and USA”) – BiH Parliament’s House of Peoples is going to discuss and declare itself about the issue of ratification of the Agreement between BiH and US on non-extradition of US citizens to the International Criminal Court. BiH House of Representatives earlier gave consent for ratification of the Agreement. (Vecernji List, page 2, “House of Peoples on agreement with US”, Oslobodjenje) |
| Mikerevic meets Schwartz-Schilling | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by FENA, “Reduction of competence of High Representative necessary”), Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘Politicians must take over responsibility for the future of BiH’ – the Republika Srpska Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, yesterday met with the International Mediator for BiH, Christian Schwartz-Schilling, when the two talked about the need that the domestic officials take destiny of BiH “in their own hands”. According to Schwartz-Schilling, local politicians have to assume more responsibility for the future of the country whilst the competence of the High Representative for BiH must gradually decrease. Schwartz-Schilling is of an opinion if that were not to be the case, BiH could end up being the only enclave that does not belong in Europe. |
| Cavic and Kalinic met Bajolet | Blic pg. 7 ‘Constitution is frame’ – Republika Srpska President Dragan Cavic met on Tuesday with French Ambassador to BiH Bernard Bajolet and discussed the upcoming reforms in BiH and its entities. The two officials emphasised the reforms of defense structures in BiH with the goal of entrance into NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme. Cavic said that the RS supports entrance to this programme and that it wants to take active part in creation of defence system of BiH, but that BiH constitution represents frame within which is possible to meet requests for joining the PfP. Bajolet met yesterday with Speaker of the Republika Srpska National Assembly Dragan Kalinic. They talked about the economic and political reforms in BiH and the role of RS Parliament in these processes. Kalinic emphasised that it is necessary to insure political and social stability in the Republika Srpska and BiH. |
Economic/social affairs | |
| 40 Days of Dialogue on Social Reforms campaign
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘The government spent 100,000 KM to get 700 suggestions from citizens’ – Government is satisfied with results of the 40 Days of Dialogue on Social Reforms campaign. In 14 cities of BiH, 700 people and 100 representatives of the authorities have participated in the campaign. Next step is determination of priorities. Priorities are known, but government must answer the question why is our country allocating 0,3 percent of GDP for the social care. Results showed that citizens are well informed on problems in this regard. Therefore, they set a list of priorities: employment, termination of the “black market”, pension, social and health care. Results are going to be included into the BiH Development Strategy Document. |
| Update to blockade of Privredna Banka Serb Sarajevo | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 5, ‘Less than KM 2 million blocked at Privredna Banka Sarajevo’ – NN yesterday learnt at the BiH Central Bank that: “The basis for the calculation of the mandatory reserve of Serb Sarajevo Privredna Banka amounts to KM 19 million, whilst the anticipated mandatory reserve amounts KM 1.9 million. Since this Bank failed to meet this condition and the amount of the mandatory reserve is less than expected, the bank account has been blocked until further notice.” NN learnt at OHR that Toby Robinson is still reviewing the documentation and material collected during the audit at Privredna Banka Serb Sarajevo. |
| Update to Republika Srpska EP | Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda invoiced KM 21 million to EFT for delivered electricity’ – the Republika Srpska Government Commission, that performed control into dealings at Mine and Thermal Power Plant “Gacko” at the beginning of this month, established that out of the court decisions of this firm, the firm was a defendant in 96 cases, and a plaintiff in only seven cases. As for EFT, the Commission established that the EFT from London signed four contracts with the Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda, including two concerning Gacko Plant. |
| Update to Gligoric affair | Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘Tihomir Gligoric announces his return’ – Tiohomir Gligoric, who was removed from the position of the Director of the Republika Srpska Administration for Geodetic and Real Property Affairs, claims that he will today officially give over duties only under condition that the minutes of authority transfer includes information related to some criminal activities at Geodetic Administration, which he forwarded to the bodies in charge. On 29 May, the Republika Srpska Government appointed Milenko Cvijan as the Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Geodetic Administration. |
| Banja Luka Clinical Centre employees’ demands | Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Health service suffers from lack of funds’ – AT the Thursday session, the Republika Srpska Government will discuss the situation at the Banjaluka Clinical Centre and the entire health service system in BiH. The session will also be attended by the President of the Banjaluka Clinical Centre Syndicate and the Directors of the Banjaluka Clinical Centre and the Republika Srpska Health Care Fund. According to Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, the Republika Srpska Government will fulfil its duties towards the Fund, stressing that the resources to be paid cannot exceed the anticipated sum. Blic pg. 9 ‘No money for salaries’ – Representatives of Banja Luka’s Clinical Centre Striking Board and the Medical Union said that Tuesday’s negotiations with representatives of the Republika Srpska Government, Republika Srpska Health Insurance Fund and the Center management were a complete failure. Chairman of the Strike Board Zdravko Stupar said that medical employees would not give up on their demands, which relate to the payment of January salaries by the end of the week, and creation of a dynamic plan for payment of all overdue salaries. The Union Chairman Milenko Granulic said the Center’s employees are willing to continue with the strike. Granulic said that the RS Chief Auditor would inspect the Centre and other medical institutions, adding that the Union will demand an international revision if the RS audit report does not come to reflect the true situation in the institution. Director of the Republika Srpska Health Insurance Fund Dragutin Ilic said on Tuesday it is not possible to give money to workers of the Banja Luka Clinic Center. Ilic explained that the Health Insurance Fund met obligations towards all health institutions in the first five months of this year with 80.05 percent and that it realised the income of 87.9 percent. |
| Elektroprivreda of Herceg-Bosna fires 124 employees | Vecernji List (front “Redundancies for 124 workers” and page 2 “Elektroprivreda of HZ HB fires”) – the daily learns that within the Action plan on restructuring and privatization of the power sector in BiH, the Elektroprivreda of Herceg-Bosna (EP HZ HB) will sack 124 its employees which is 7% of the total number of the employees. According to the acting manager of the EP HZ HB, Drago Maric, it is a public secret that only between 20 and 30% of the employees are fully working whilst some 20-30% are working effectively only half an hour a day. According to Maric, the biggest problem for the rest is to make it to the work. |
Other issues | |
| Bishop Komarica on preparations for Pope’s visit
| RTRS, Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘BiH and Banja Luka on test of maturity’, Blic pg. 5 – Bishop Franjo Komarica elaborated preparations for the coming visit of Pope on June 22. Komarica acknowledged very good support of citizens and expressed a hope everything would be done smoothly since it is test of humanity. More then 30 thousands pilgrims announced arrival, but it is not final number. Health care for visitors are secured and numerous volunteers to help in organizing the event. Nedeljni Telegraf (pg. 9, 10 & 11 ‘We know assassination on the Pope is being prepared’) carries an article that reads that the First Annual Assembly of the Association of the South-eastern European countries’ Police Chiefs was held last weekend in Belgrade. Police Chiefs of Serbia, Montenegro, Republika Srpska, Croatia, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Federation of BiH and Macedonia participated in the Assembly’s session hosted by General Milorad Simic, president of the Association and head of the Police Administration of Serbian Interior Ministry. Radomir Njegus, Chief of the Republika Srpska Police, said that all police forces of Republika Srpska, Federation of BiH, Vatican Security Service as well as SFOR forces would be engaged in securing the Pope’s visit to Banja Luka on 22 June. “We have been preparing for this visit for three months. In the meantime I held talks with the Vatican Security Service and colleagues from Croatian Ministry of Interior. They have warned me there are plans of certain terrorist groups to organise attack on the Pope during his visit to Banja Luka. At least three Islamic organisations plan to assassin the Pope: Wahhabies, Mujahedeens and Al-Q’aida. Our colleagues from Zagreb warned us that certain Ustasha groups could endanger the Pope’s life during the visit. We also have information about Serb extremists who plan similar action,” Njegus said. He added that during the Pope’s visit 4,080 policemen would be deployed on the field. |
| Amnesty International on dissolving BiH Chamber of Human Rights | Vecernji List (p 2, “Dissolving of BiH Human Rights Chamber a blow to human rights”, by Z.K.) reports that the Amnesty International opposed the proposal on dissolving the BiH Human Rights Chamber saying “this could be too early for such a decision, bearing in mind the situation of judiciary that is currently in the process of comprehensive reform”. Amnesty International is reported to wonder if the Constitutional Court, which had not functioned for nearly a year due to problems concerning appointment of judges, would be able to offer the same level of protection of rights. |