| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Dissatisfied HVO pensioner | Djeric answers to Ashdown | BiH Ombudsmen | New mass grave |
| EU, NATO official visit | Trial of Milosevic | FBiH Govt in session | Srebrenica evidence |
| BiH delegation in | Trial of Legija | Prijedor mass grave site | Vetting of BiH generals |
| Summit of EU members | Police action in Posusje | Trial of Legija | EU, NATO official visit |
| Oslobodjenje | Every 389th citizen of BiH is a war crimes suspect; It is still not late to capture Karadzic; 22 candidates received approval from SFOR |
| Dnevni Avaz | Waiting in a way to |
| Dnevni List | NATO |
| Vecernji List | Attack on |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Despite announcements, revival of Air |
| Glas Srpske | Brcko: Commission for crimes |
| Nezavisne Novine | Zoran Djeric responds to Paddy Ashdown: Documents of RS MoI handed upon request of the Hague Tribunal; Representatives of NATO and EU visited |
| Blic | Kalinic invited Karadzic to surrender; Only deadlines are changing: Soldiers are at “Vrbas” barracks”, students are without new rooms |
| Slobodna Bosna | Travnik connection (refers to investigation into organized crime) |
| Dani | Three-member money wasting |
| Ljiljan | (Senior BiH SDU official, wartime |
BiH admission to PfP | |
| EU, NATO officials in
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘It is still not late to arrest Karadzic’, mentioned on cover, by A. Prlenda, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘BiH in Istanbul as an observer’, Dnevni List, front and pg 3 ‘NATO Istanbul Summit: BiH in capacity of observer’, by Renata Radic, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘No admission into PfP’ – “BiH will one of these days get an invitation to take part in the NATO Istanbul Summit in capacity of an observer”, stated a representative of the NATO Secretary General, Robert Serry, who is in official visit to BiH together with representative of the EU High Commissioner for foreign policy and security, Pieter Feith Cornelius. “We cannot say there will be a positive decision, but there will be an invitation. By doing so, NATO has shown good will to give BiH an opportunity, however, BiH too has to show good intentions in cooperation with The Hague Tribunal”, said Serry. The High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, who met with Serry and Feith stated that BiH was going from “the time of Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Deadline for Karadzic ten days’, by Dejan Jazvic – notes that Serry and Feith confirmed that BiH would be invited to the Istanbul Summit, but not to join the PfP. VL also notes that HR Ashdown was very clear when it comes to BiH’s chance to join the PfP. HR Ashdown stated that there was only one obstacle to that goal, the obstacle being a full cooperation with the ICTY. RTRS – Ashdown commented: “Only one condition remains to be fulfilled. We have to show full cooperation with the ICTY. The clock is ticking. We have ten days.” FTV, RHB – It was stated that SFOR’s replacement will be carried out in the end of the year, if this decision is reached in |
| Serry, Feith meet Terzic
| FTV, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘NATO stays in BiH’ by fena– Robert Serry and Pieter Feith Cornelis also met with Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic. “Even if BiH does not get to be invited to Partnership for Peace I assure you that the doors will remain wide open for BiH” said Robert Serry. “It is obvious that if BiH is not admitted to Partnership for Peace during the FENA – “We concluded that the preparations were in their final stage and that it was almost certain that the NATO summit in Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Covic with delegation of EU and NATO’, by vr – notes that the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, met with Feith and Serry at BiH Presidency yesterday. |
| DA int with Terzic on PfP
| Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Waiting at the European road is dangerous’, pg 5 ‘I expect resignations from RS ministers’ by Sead Numanovic – Following the visit of BiH delegation to Washington, Chair CoM Adnan Terzic said that he is generally satisfied with the outcomes of the meeting held separately with senior US Administration, IMF and WB officials. However, he says that while politicians praised BiH progress, he was worried when it comes to BiH admission to PfP and the beginning of the negotiations on Stabilization and Accession Agreement. Terzic adds that while nobody told him directly that BIH would not be invited to PfP, it was obvious that US officials thought that miracles would not happen by the end of this month. Commenting arrest of Radovan Karadzic as the main condition for PfP admission, Terzic says that he believes there are some other reasons for being rejected too. Asked what he expects to happen if BiH fails to be admitted, Terzic says: “I expect destabilization. The High Representative will react and bring decision, which is important and good, and those decision will destabilize RS, but also Council of Ministers. I expect the crisis in the work of state government, which is not good… I expect [ministers from RS would] resign.” Asked what kind of actions he expects from HR, Terzic said: “Firstly, reform of he police structure in order for state to gain, and entities to lose a part of authorities in that field.” |
| German Foreign Minister Fischer says no PfP for BiH without arrest of Karadzic
| RHB, BHTV 1, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘No EU without arrest of Karadzic’, mentioned on cover, by Z. K. – German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, warned senior BiH officials and leaders of HDZ, SDA and PDP Barisa Colak, Sulejman Tihic and Mladen Ivanic respectively that BiH would not join the Partnership for Peace at the NATO Istanbul Summit without arresting the most wanted ICTY indictee Radovan Karadzic. “Mister Fischer sent us a clear message that we would not be taking the road of Euro-Atlantic integration without arresting Radovan Karadzic”, said Colak. |
| RTRS says PIC approved sanctions against RS
| RTRS – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, received consent from the member state of the Peace Implementation Council for measures he would impose against RS for non-cooperation with the ICTY following the summit in |
| RS MoI on arrest of Karadzic and Mladic, authorities of RS MoI
| RHB, Dnevni List, pg 15 ‘Police structures of RS will not be abolished’, by NINA – in a statement for NINA agency, spokesperson of RS Ministry of Interior, Zoran Glusac, denied reports in the media that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, would abolish authorities of the RS MoI. “We do not want to comment announcements coming from unofficial sources, whoever they might be. It is not unknown that a reorganization of Police structures had been announced in BiH, but there were no talks about abolishing and decreasing of authorities of the RS MoI”, stated Glusac. Stressing that cooperation between the RS and FBiH MoIs, Brcko District Police, State Border Service and SIPA has progressed lately, Glusac says the RS MoI is doing everything within its capabilities and authorities to arrest Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. “We have stressed on several occasions, speaking about that issue, we need a cooperation of both the IC and SFOR, and other Police structures to expect concrete results from us”, stated Glusac. |
| Kalinic calls on Karadzic to surrender
| RTRS, RHB – RS National Assembly Speaker and SDS President Dragan Kalinic publicly invited Radovan Karadzic to surrender himself in order to spare RS and its officials from isolation and sanctions. Dnevni List, pg 2, carries in its ‘Statement of Day’, the President of SDS, Dragan Kalinic, as saying: “Karadzic, turn yourself in or the RS will be exposed to the worst sanctions and isolation”. [The statement was given to DA in an interview; please see Media Round-up for June 17] |
| Blic: Reactions to Kalinic statement
| Blic, pg. RS5 ‘RS citizens should not suffer consequences’ by T. Veselinovic mentioned on cover ‘Kalinic invited Karadzic to surrender’ – The Spokesperson of RS Prime Minister, Goran Radivojac, did not want to make a comment on Kalinic’s appeal to Karadzic to surrender but he said that ‘positions of RS Government in relation to arresting war crimes indictees are known – there is a political will to practically cooperate with the Hague Tribunal’. PDP member Velimir Sakan did not want to comment on Kalinic’s statement because he was ‘not sure has Kalinic said it exactly in this way’. The Head of SDA caucus at RS NA, Tarik Sadovic, says that one should not doubt in correctness of Kalinic’s statement because ‘he is a politician who is experienced enough and he knows what he is saying’. SNSD leader Milorad Dodik thinks that RS should not suffer consequences because of lack of cooperation with |
| NN: Reactions to Kalinic statement
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Dragan Kalinic is saving his skin’ – NN carries several comments on the most recent statement by Dragan Kalinic, SDS President and RS NA Speaker (when he called on Radovan Karadzic to voluntarily surrender). Elmir Jahic, SDA Vice President, is of the view that this statement was a logical move, since RS authorities have failed to fulfil their duties towards the Hague Tribunal. Jahic also said that sanctions against RS and responsible officials of RS “are inevitable, if Karadzic were not handed to the Hague Tribunal” and BiH were not admitted into PfP because of this. Igor Radojicic, SNSD Secretary General, assessed that by making such a statement, Dragan Kalinic“is just saving his skin”. He said that any sanctions against RS and its people would be counter-productive. Slobodan Popovic, delegate of SDP of BiH at RS NA, is of the view that the statement of Kalinic represents “a shriek of a desperate man”. Tihomir Gligoric, SP RS Vice President, is of the opinion that Kalinic’s call to Karadzic to surrender is a hypocritical act, since “SDS expelled its President from party membership in order to preserve it would remain in power”. Marko Pavic, DNS President, stressed that RS has faced assault by the international community over “quasi promises”, noting that “SDS is trying to avoid sanctions against the party”. Nevenka Trifkovic, member of the PDP Chair Board, stated that “everybody has a right to his/her opinion”. She noted that “RS authorities have a desire to fulfil obligations towards the Hague Tribunal”. |
Srebrenica Commission, other war crimes issues | |
| Djeric answers to Ashdown on new Srebrenica evidence | RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Documents found after the report was published’ by S. Rozajac, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Confidential documents hidden in an archive of Banja Luka police’ by M.V., Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Archival materials on massacre in Srebrenica’ by F , Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ‘Documents of RS MoI handed upon request of the Hague Tribunal’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Commission was faster’ – RS police yesterday announced that “it is not possible to claim that the wartime documentation of RS police, which was handed to the Hague Tribunal in 16 boxes recently, contains any information relevant for the work of Srebrenica Commission”. Cabinet of Zoran Djeric, RS Minister of Internal Affairs, also responded to questions raised by High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, regarding recently discovered documentation. RS MoI claims that the material was discovered at the PSC Banja Luka on 10 June this year, four days after Srebrenica Commission prepared its report. According to RS MoI press release, ICTY Prosecutor’s Office asked for the archive of President in September last year for the period between 1992 to 1995. The release stressed: “It was established that one part of the archive was in 1998 transferred from Pale to PSC BHTV 1 – OHR Spokeswoman Ljiljana Radetic, confirmed OHR received the letter and said it is currently being discussed. |
| Hartmann, Bacon on new evidences on Srebrenica events
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ‘Documents of RS MoI handed upon request of the Hague Tribunal’ – Florence Hartmann, Spokesperson of the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, stated on Thursday that the documentation discovered contains information about the role of police forces of RS in the past war, but without specific reference to Srebrenica developments. She also said that ICTY is not obligated to hand requested documents to Srebrenica Commission, stressing that RS police should hand them documentation, under condition that documentation concerns the time period Commission is investigating. According to NN inset, Gordon Bacon, member of Srebrenica Commission, expressed expectation that if documents in question concerned Srebrenica events (and were kept somewhere), Dragan Mikerevic, RS PM, and Dragan Cavic, RS President, would undertake appropriate activities. BHTV 1 – “I am speaking on behalf of the Commission, we did not know that these boxes existed, what they [contained] or who submitted them” said Gordon Bacon. |
| Bogdanic on new evidences on Srebrenica
| Blic, pg. RS2 ‘Commission surprised with documents of Ministry of Interior’ by M. Jandric – The President of Srebrenica Commission, Milan Bogdanic, is surprised with the information that the RS Ministry of Interior has forwarded 16 boxes of documentation containing information that were not available to the Commission until now. Bogdanic stated that he had learned about this information from media, after which he has sent a letter to the Ministry asking to be allowed to have an insight to the information and also asking for a confirmation that the boxes contained information important for the work of the Commission. ‘I still do not know what this is all about and I do not know where these 16 boxes are. I cannot interfere to someone else’s work until I receive data. This information seems strange to me, especially if one knows that the Commission completed the final report seven days ago’, Bogdanic stated. The Spokesperson of RS Government, Goran Radivojac, said during a press conference that the Government did not discuss the move of the Ministry of Interior in relation to sending 16 boxes containing information on Srebrenica. ‘I do not know where these boxes are. You can get all information from the Ministry of Interior only’, Radivojac said. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘RS Army ‘landed’ NATO planes’, mentioned on cover, by Daniel Omeragic – On entire page 7, Oslobodjenje publishes findings and report of the Srebrenica Commission into several parts. |
| Sandici exhumation update
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Not a single body found’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Mines threat’ – The representatives of the FBiH Commission for search after missing persons have resumed exhumation of mass grave at the grave site of Sandici. However, they have not found a single body during the course of yesterday, which makes the total of bodies exhumed 14, the number of remains recovered during the first two days of activities. Both dailies carry statement of Amor Masovic, President of the F BiH Commission for search for missing persons, who said that the works proceed too slowly, since the teams observed many mines and explosive devices on the site. Dnevni Avaz reports that the exhumation had to be ceased due to the large number of unexploded mines and other devices. |
| New mass grave found near Prijedor
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Mass grave with about 200 victims’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Even 200 camp inmates from Keraterm to be found?’ Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Four bodies found’ mentioned on cover ‘Exhumation from mass grave at Tomasica’ – The representatives of the F BiH Commission for search after missing persons yesterday recovered from the mass grave at Tomasica near Prijedor four bodies and several tens of human remains, presumed to be victims from several Prijedor camps. Jasmin Odobasic, Chief of F BiH Commission, stated that the bodies had been re-located. He said: “We presume the grave contains bodies of around 200 Bosniaks and Croats. However, this is still too hard to assess, since some bodies have been re-located.” Odobasic assessed that everything what happened in this region could not have been done by individuals, but instead the-then authority must have been informed of that. |
| Oslobodjenje: Every 389th BiH citizens is a war crimes suspect | Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 5 ‘Every 389th citizen among suspects’ by A. Omeragic – Oslobodjenje writes that every 389th citizen of |
Other defence and security issues | |
| BiH MoD says 22 candidates in total confirmed
| FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘SFOR approved 22 candidates’, mentioned on cover, by Fena – BiH Defence Ministry confirmed that SFOR approved 22 out of 33 candidates for general’s positions with the BiH Armed Forces. During the vetting procedure, four candidates were removed from their current positions in the entities armies, and additional checking of colonel Cvetko Savic is in progress. |
| On possible terrorist attacks during opening of
| FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 22 ‘Control at Old Bridge tightened’, by E. Karamatic, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Federation MoI claims, cantonal MoI denies possibility of terrorist attacks on Old Bridge’, by N. Dedic – a meeting of HQ for security of opening ceremony of the Old Bridge was held at the Canton 7 Ministry of Interior yesterday. According to spokesman of Canton 7 Police Commissioner, Srecko Bosnjak, the meeting resulted in adoption of general plans and conclusions related to security of the event. He also explains that more detailed plans should be made ready by July 15. Questioned whether there were any concrete knowledge about possible terrorist attacks during the Vecernji List, front and pgs 2-3, ‘Attack on Old Bridge planned’, by Alen Maric – the daily learns from ‘well informed sources in BiH authorities’ that German intelligence services informed the intelligence and Police authorities of the FBiH some ten days ago that certain terrorist groups were planning to sabotage the opening ceremony of the Old Bridge in Mostar. Several sources confirmed for VL that the German intelligence have information that the terrorist attacks were being prepared in Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘About 800 police officers to be engaged in security’ by F. Vele – DA writes that about 800 police officers will be in charge of security at the occasion. |
| FBIH Govt in session: discussion on FBiH Army
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Payments to surplus of soldiers for another nine months’ by Ad. H., Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Government approved soldiers salary to be paid for April’ – FBiH Government at the session held on Thursday discussed the issue of food supplies to FBiH Army and FBiH Defence Ministry, and the activities carried out to date in the course of demobilisation. Regarding the difficult financial situation in the FBiH Army, Ministry said that the issue must be solved as soon as possible. “Instead of concept to dismiss surplus of 500 soldiers with redundancy payout of 6000 KM, Defence Ministry has decided to make these persons available. In that way surplus of soldiers will have a salary for another nine months, and than they would become unemployed. In order to ensure means, we made re-distribution of the budget, so the money intended for redundancy payments will be directed as salaries. At the same time we continue to analyse the situation,” said Dragan Vrankic, FBiH Minister of Finance. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Hajrudin Grabovica commander of VF Joint Command’ – DA writes that FBIH Defence Ministry has nominated brigadier Hajrudin Grabovica to the position of the Commander of FBiH Army Joint Command, and colonel Jugoslav Brdar to the position of his Deputy. |
| Update to InterPol warrants from
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Government making a breach, police making arrests!’ – GS writes about the decision of RS Government in September 2001, when it was decided that RS police will not be arresting people, after whom Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Over 350 warrants after Serbs from Croatia active since 2001’ – Adi Biser, Acting Deputy Director of BiH InterPol, commented on the most recent statement by Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director (who said that 400 arrest warrants after Serbs from Croatia have been activated) by saying that those warrants have been activated in 2001. He said: “In September 2001, we have issued 350 proposals for issuance of arrest warrants, which we then forwarded to entity ministries of internal affairs. Hence, those warrants exist for three years now.” He said that some of these warrants have been halted, while some are still valid. |
| Ashdown appoints Kocsis as Supervisor of intelligence reforms | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Kalman Kocsis as Supervisor for Intelligence Reform’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Kalman Kocsis supervisor of intelligence sector reforms’, Oslobodjenje back page ‘Kalma Kocsis supervisor of intelligence sector reforms’ –The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, yesterday appointed Kalman Kocsis as Supervisor for Intelligence Reform, to assist with the implementation of reforms that have been agreed in this sector. According to press release yesterday issued by OHR, the Supervisor for Intelligence Reform is tasked with monitoring, advising and assisting the BiH authorities in all aspects of the implementation of the recently passed Law. The Supervisor will regularly report to the High Representative on progress in implementing the law. |
Economic issues and audits | |
| FBIH Govt in session
| RHB, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘260 million KMs in total for developing projects’ by M. Relota, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Lottery incomes brings 7 million KM to FBiH budget’ – The Federation of BiH Government gave support to the project of the Foundation for Sustainable Development ‘Odraz’ and recommended closer cooperation with local communities an synchronization of project activities with program activities of competent Ministries of the FBiH Government. Also, on the ground of the FBiH Government’s decision BiH Lottery should direct 23 % of net turnover to the FBiH budget during this year. The FBiH Government also tasked the FBiH Ministry of Finances to submit as soon as possible analyses of complete financial operations of BiH Lottery, as well as, analyses of incomes of other companies that organize games of chance. |
| DA on BiH delegation meeting with WB, IMF
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘By the end of July, additional hundred million of US dollars of assistance’ by S. Numanovic – DA writes about the meeting BiH delegation, headed by Adnan Terzic, held with IMF and WB in Washington. The journalist says that it seems that the meetings were successful for BiH, and that in the next month the World Bank would realize the assistance credit worth more than 100 million KM [please see Media Round-up for 17 June.] DA also learns that WB officials agreed to assist the privatisation process in BiH, especially by promoting positive examples of the process. |
| Eronet update
| Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Toby Robinson is lobbying for Mobilkom Austria’, mentioned on cover, by Jurislav Petrovic – carries an interview with Sinisa Djuranovic, Director of corporative sector of HT Zagreb and member of Eronet Supervisory Board, who talks about the decision of Eronet’s management to deny access to Provisional Administration for Hercegovacka bank to Eronet’s documents. “Ever since I became a member of the Supervisory Board (end 2002), I have not come across an information that there were problems that any of owners of Eronet get an insight into a requested document. As for the concrete case, it is known to us that Robinson (Toby, Provisional Administrator for HB) asked for access to Eronet’s premises and documentation in order to provide confidential documents of Eronet to Mobilkom |
| OHR on railways | Dnevni List pg 6 ‘BiH cannot afford division of railways along entities’ lines’ by E.M., Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Hays travels from Zenica to Tuzla’ –The Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays meet today on the train BiH and entity railway officials as well as directors of strategic companies. Brkic also stated: “The separation of infrastructure management and investment functions along entity lines for the network that is only 1030 km long is a critical constraint that prevents the economic viability of railways in BiH and their ability to offer optimal services in a niche that can be best served by railways. This division creates inefficiencies that BiH cannot afford.” |
| Magazines on audit into BiH Presidency’s financial operations
| Ljiljan pgs 23-24 ‘Hunt on three presidential witches’ by Enes Jakupovic – Jakupovic criticizes HR Paddy Ashdown because he had asked for criminal investigation against the BiH Presidency members over the financial performance in 2003 although he knew very well that there was no crime committed. According to Jakupovic, all the BiH Presidency costs are well covered by appropriate orders/decisions and following documentation. Slobodna Bosna pgs 5-7 ‘Tihic, Covic and Paravac spent half of a million marks on vehicles; Belkic, Krizanovic and Radisic spent not a single phoenig on this in the previous year’ by Danka Savic – Savic claims that “nothing has in the past years unified public in BiH in bitterness such as the audit report on the criminal spending of budgetary funds by the three members of the Presidency in 2003.” Dani pgs 22-23, mentioned on cover ‘Three-member money wasting’ by Saida Mustajbegovic. Mustajbegovic a bit ironically wrote that the fact the three Presidency members had spent a million more than initially foreseen in their budget for 2003 “was even enough for Paddy Ashdown to warmly recommend his reformers to resign.” |
| Update to audit report on RS Banking Agency | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Profit was recorded beyond the Law’ – The Audit on the RS Banking Agency shows that at the end of 2002, Agency recorded and showed the profit of BAM 437 thousand, although the Law defines it as non-profitable institution. |
| NN op-ed on audits in RS
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Audits’ by Predrag Klincov – The author is referring to the latest audits performed at the RS institutions, including RS Banking Agency and RS Government Secretariat. The author commends the work of Bosko Ceko, RS Chief Auditor, saying that police and Prosecutors should follow their example and to their job to bring those responsible for these financial transactions before justice. |
| Dani on appointment of Toby Robinson | Dani pg. 3 ‘Ashdown’s chocolate’ op-ed by Senad Pecanin. According to the author, the magazine has presented a large number of evidences on involvement of Hercegovacka Bank Provisional Administrator Toby Robinson into the most serious crime and robbery of BiH. However, he appointed her as the Provisional Administrator of the Privredna Bank Srpsko Sarajevo. Pecanin ironically concludes that BiH will sooner become European football champion than it will become a normal democratic state that is integrated into Dani pg 16 Bosnian Barometer – The magazine gave three black dots (disastrous move) to Ashdown for the appointment of Robinson as the Privredna Bank administrator. |
Political issues and human rights | |
| Ombudsmen visit Glamoc, Livno, Grahovo and Drvar
| RHB, FTV, FENA – BiH Ombudsmen Safet Pasic, Mariofil Ljubic and Vitomir Popovic visited Glamoc, Livno, Bosansko Grahovo and Drvar, where they held talks with citizens and representatives of the local authorities. Safet Pasic told FENA that during talks with citizens they received information about numerous human rights violations, especially of those of returnees. “Efforts to create conditions for sustainable return to these towns are hindered by numerous problems, including unemployment of the local population, unresolved issues concerning labour legislation, irregularities in the privatisation process and delay in the reconstruction of houses”, Pasic said. BiH Ombudsmen will put together a general report and recommendations, which they will send to all levels of authority in BiH in order to make the current situation at least bearable and to protect the basic human rights of BiH citizens. |
| Hays meets with Ombudsmen
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Often violations of the Appointments law’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Authorities show no readiness to cooperate with ombudsmen’ – The Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, on Thursday visited the FBiH Ombudsmen with whom he discussed the implementation of the Law on Ministerial, Governmental and Other Appointments. Ombudsmen Vera Jovanovic, Esad Muhibic and Branka Raguz said to Hays that the authorities have not expressed preparedness to obey the decrees of the Law on ministerial and other appointments, which refers to their transparent and public conduct, especially in regard to the obligation to cooperate with Ombudsmen. Resistance in implementing the Law were particularly evident on the occasion of applying the principles and procedures in procedures of dismissing the members of steering boards in public companies, which were conducted by certain ministries, i.e. governments, at the level of Federation BiH and cantons. |
| Reactions on initiatives to change constitution
| Blic, pg. RS4 ‘There is no consensus’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – The Constitutional Commission of HoR has organized a discussion on constitutional changes upon the initiative of HDZ-Demo-Christians delegates. According to the Chairman of RS Council of Peoples, Remzija Kadric, the refusal of Serb side to participate to the discussion did not go in favour of a legally organized tribune, because RS authority and experts were expected to provide with arguments for and against this initiative. The article carries the inset ‘Spiric: they do not want it, and then they accept it’ – SNSD delegate at BiH HoR, Nikola Spiric, has stated that the discussion was organized in a legal manner, yet he thinks that more serious, mass and wider discussions are needed in case of constitutional changes. He says he personally does not believe in such changes. Nevertheless, he thinks that the refusal of RS authority to participate in the discussion was a mistake because ‘everything they refuse, they easily accept at the end’. |
| Blic int with Beecroft
| Blic, pg. RS5 ‘There will be no Dayton 2’ by SRNA – Head of OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Beecroft has assessed that BiH will go through a true test of self-sustainability as of now until 2006 elections and he expressed his opinion that functioning of authority in BiH can be improved even without constitutional changes. Robert Beecroft emphasizes that there will be no |
| Ljiljan op-ed on BiH’s European integration | Ljiljan pg 7 ‘International bandits’ opening editorial by Mensur Brdar – “As BiH public is looking forward to the Istanbul Summit at which BiH might be invited to join Partnership for Peace, a genuine diplomatic war is taking place behind the scene. Some influential foreign diplomats are exerting tremendous pressure on the Bosniak leadership to withdraw the lawsuit (for aggression and genocide) against the |