OHR BiH Media Round-up, 18/6/2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA(18,00 hrs)

HNI on situation in Ilidza

HR changes BiH Criminal Code

HR on war crime suspects

HSS on situation in Ilijas

Cadjo on police reform

Feature on Podlugovi-Visoko road

Transmission signal interrupted

RS Gov. on Special Prosecution

Humphreys on SAA conditions

Protest against violence in Mostar

Police reform deadline approaches

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

HR changes criminal law

HR changes law on crime procedure

HR changes BiH Criminal Code

Ljajic: Mladic in Serbia until 2005

Cadjo on RS MoI activities

Cadjo on police reform

Cadjo on RS MoI’s ICTY cooperation

Tadic on BIH

Dodik and Cavic at football match

Incident on river Sava

Regional news

63 years since Sutjeska battle

SDA deputies quarreled because of coalition with Milorad Dodik [SDA MB session]

Dnevni Avaz

Collision of Tihic and Cengic because of Dodik  [SDA MB session]

Dnevni List

Croatian HDZ stood behind Ljubic

Vecernji List

Sports related headlines

RS is not obstructing police reform [RSNA Speaker Radojicic]

Political developments

SDA Main Board adopted platform for upcoming elections; quarrels among members because of coalition with SNSD in RS

FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Collision of Tihic and Cengic over Dodik and SNSD’ by E.Huremovic– As daily comments, Saturday’s session of SDA Main Board in Tuzla was marked with the collision of SDA leader Sulejman Tihic and Hasan Cengic, where the main motive was related to coalition of SDA in the RS with SNSD and its leader Milorad Dodik. In a statement to DA, Cengic said that Dodik’s behaviour is “endangering basic foundation of BiH”, since he obstructs allocation of indirect taxes, police reforms and “at the end he came out in the public with the stance that referendum for RS secession should be conducted”. Cengic asked the SDA MB to take the stance and brakes ff the coalition with SNSD. On the other side, Tihic didn’t want to comment the statement of Council of Ministers Chair, Adnan Terzic, who said at the session that he is not going to open any issues, in order not to be “declared again as the one who is destroying the party’s leadership,’” adding that he can say with certainty that SDA is the best party with the best program. SDA MB has also passed the election platform and information on current political situation. It was also concluded that failure to pass amendments to BiH Constitution has obviously opened “space for acting of anti-Bosnian forces and has caused the radicalization of the political scene and slow down of reforms”. Inset ‘Dodik the least bad solution’- Answering Cengic, Tihic said that he sees Dodik as the “least bad solution”. He added that Dodik’s statements could be reduced to level of “verbal delict”.   Inset ‘To return Zilic’- Cengic has also asked for returning to the party of Mehmed Zilic, stressing: “If you think to go among people before elections, return Zilic”– said Cenigc, after which Tihic left the session. [Zilic was expulsed from SDA after he rejected to vote for amendments to the Constitution in BiH HoR]. Inset ‘We would never allow separating of any part of BiH territory’- Among other issues, SDA MB has also passed a conclusion, which reads that SDA is rejecting any possibility of relating of territorial integrity of the BiH with Kosovo status and “we most fiercely condemn all anti-Dayton activities, related to “so called referendum”. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘SDA deputies quarrelled because of coalition with Dodik’ by A.Avdic– Among other things, Cengic accused SDA to be partially responsible for failure of RS Government to establish full cooperation with ICTY, to which RS Vice- President Omer Brankovic and SDA deputy in RS National Assembly Sadik Ahmetovic reacted by saying that this is the “largest insult in my life”. Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Destabilization is coming from the RS’ not signed-

SDA MB: attacks on BiH Court and President Kreso; pleads for more sympathetic treatment of those who defended the country

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Izetbegovic invited BiH Court prosecute SDA members with more sympathy’ by A.Avdic– During the session of SDA Main Board in Tuzla, Vice President of SDA Bakir Izetbegovic has invited BiH Court to “be braver toward the criminals and more sympathetic [merhametli] toward people that defended the state”. “Maybe it should be forbidden to BiH Judges to make agreements with criminals, for them to get off the hook and to put some other people into trouble,” said Izetbegovic. This speech followed after one of SDA members, Senahid Memic, revolted by the process against him before the BiH Court, said that he is being prosecuted only because he is SDA member and that this is the main evidence for the Court, which needs no other evidences. Memic has also attacked BiH Court President Meddzida Kreso, and even played the records of her saying that “prosecutors and investigators do not need court order or checking of phone records”, which Memic interpreted as direct violation of human rights. SDA leader Sulejman Tihic said that “this is not the party’s stance” and that SDA doesn’t want, or it has a right, to influence the work of the BiH Court.

SDA MB: It is not the right time for retrieving of the International Community

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 “It is not the time for abolishment of OHR’ by E.H.– SDA Main Board, at its Saturday’s session, has also discussed carrying out of reforms and intentions of the International Community to retrieve from BiH. “Before all, here I think on intention to put the issue of OHR…ad acta, including Bonn Powers. Session of Peace Implementation Council, at which such decision should be passed, is on June 22 and 23. I think that it is not the time for passing of such decision,” said SDA leader Sulejman Tihic. He deems that in time of pre-election campaigns, right after failure to pass amendments to the Constitution and Montenegrin referendum, the political moment for this is not right.  Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘SDA deputies quarreled because of coalition with Dodik’ by A.Avdic– Inset ‘International Community must stay in BiH’- Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Destabilization is coming from the RS’ not signed–

63rd anniversary of Sutjeska Battle; RS PM Dodik; people were killed in names of RS and of BiH, thus RS cannot be solely blamed for what happened

RTRS By Radisav Masic– RS League of World War II Veterans’ Associations marked 63 years of the Sutjeska battle on Saturday in Tjentiste. FBiH League of World War II Veterans’ Associations marked 63 years of the Sutjeska battle on June 11. RS League of World War II Veterans’ Associations placed flowers at Tjentiste monument. RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said that RS would cherish anti-fascist tradition. “We want to be partners in BiH and as partners we will give our contribution to BiH way to Europe. If someone does not want partnership then people should decide about the future. This decision belongs to people and no one else. No one, no matter where comes from, can not impose the way of thinking by which someone is being permanently disputed and put on the side of crimes…”said Dodik. BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic expressed regret about RS League of World War II Veterans’ Associations and FBiH League of World War II Veterans’ Associations not marking together anniversary of the Sutjeska battle., since FBiH League celebrated it last week “I wish we had one commemoration. It is not mistake of people in RS who organized this. It is mistake of people in FBiH”, said Ivanic. Hayat– Dodik said that people in the last war fought for different ideals than in the WW II adding that not only in the name of RS but also in the name of BIH people had been killed thus RS cannot be solely blamed for what had happened. BHT1, FTV– also covered.

Mladic and Karadzic shirts on marking of 63rd Surtjeska Battle anniversary

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ninety percent of killed NOR soldiers were Serbs’ by Srna– During the ceremony of marking of 63rd anniversary of Sutjeska Battle, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said that this battle was won by partisans, composed of all peoples, but that 90% of killed ones were Serbs. BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic, said that all peoples participated the NOR [Peoples’ Liberating War], but that largest contribution was given by Serbs. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘We will stand up against anyone who tries to dispute the RS’, mentioned on cover by S.Rozajac– Ivanic added that RS authorities “would stand up to anyone who tries to dispute the RS and antifascism of its leaders”. Daily also stressed that many of “NOR soldiers” were wearing shirts with photos of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic and that pre-election paroles and signs were more then present.  Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘63rd anniversary of Battle on Sutjeska marked’, mentioned on cover by A.Dacic–

RSNA Speaker Radojicic: Sarajevo raised unnecessary fuss about referendum, though not even one official RS institution has discussed the possibility

Nezavisne Novine cover splash, pgs 8-9 ‘RS is not obstructing the police reform’ by Vesna Popovic– In interview to NN, RS National Assembly Speaker, Igor Radojicic, commented the situation which occurred after RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik’s statements about the referendum. Radojicic said that unnecessary “fuss” was raised because of this in Sarajevo, stressing that these reactions should be seen in the light of pre-election campaigns. “Not even one official body of the RS, not the RSNA nor the RS Government, have launched the initiative on referendum. It is a paradox that the only official body that discussed it is the FBiH Parliament, which passed the politicized act for penalizing of Dodik and SNSD,” said Radojicic, adding that RS is not going to respond to this act. However, Radojicic said that referendum in RS can be scheduled, by the Law from 1993, and the RSNA would have to pass such decision. He underlined that BiH Constitution and Laws aren’t familiar with the referendum issue, because of which there is a “legal loophole”, in which one could “get stuck in” if started the officials proposing of the referendum, “because of that I believe that there will be no referendum”.

SBiH’s Halilovic: IC and HR have to penalize behaviour such as Dodik’s

Dnevni Avaz pg 6 ‘Persistent insisting on referendum’ by B.Ka.– SBiH Vice President, Safet Halilovic, stated in Bosanska Dubica that latest statements of RS PM Milorad Dodik about the referendum aren’t accidental, since he has heard him, during the negotiations on constitutional changes, say that he would sign anything if he is given the right to referendum.  “This speak on continued dedication of Mr Dodik to the project of sovereign RS as the state, not the entity,” said Halilovic. He also stressed that International Community i.e. High Representative should penalize such behaviour.

Serbian President Tadic: Serbian long-tem and strategic interest is preserving of wholesome BiH

FTV, RTRS- Serbian President Boris Tadic, told Serbian daily “Danas” that preservation of wholesome BIH is a long-term strategic goal for Serbia. Tadic stated that changing of borders in South East Europe could be extremely dangerous. He added that ICTY obligations need to be fulfilled as soon as possible, in order for Serbia to continue its European way. Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Long-term and strategic interest of Serbia is preserving of wholesome BiH’ not signed– Tadic said: “In international public, after the Dayton agreement the question was asked how can BiH remain wholesome state in the long-term- with establishment of moonlit structure, or insisting on entities, or on federal units, or on any solution that would provide long-term stability with elastic approach. And because of that, all that three peoples agree upon, is absolutely acceptable for Serbia, as guarantee of Dayton,” said Tadic. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Serbia for preservation of wholesome BiH’ by Agencies–

DL: Croatian HDZ stood behind Ljubic and HDZ 1990

Dnevni List cover splash, pg 3 ‘Croatian HDZ stood behind Ljubic’ by G.Leko– HDZ 1990 and its coalition Croatian Unity organized a political advising in Neum, on Saturday, where presented proposals for their election platform. It was underlined that main goals are to protect interests of Croats in BiH, to establish new and functional Constitution, to launch economy and to conduct reforms in education and health. At the same time, this session was attended by Co- chair of Croatian Parliament Luka Bebic and by Spokesperson of Croatian Government Ratko Macek who underlined that they haven’t came to support anyone, but because they are obliged by the Constitution to provide help to BiH Croats. “Naturally it is in our interest for Croats to show their political unity in order to protect their status,” said Bebic, adding that he is glad to see five parties gathered in Coalition. Addressing the session, HDZ 1990 leader Bozo Ljubic criticized the HDZ politics in area of economy and constitutional changes, stressing that he is convinced that, with help of USA and EU, BiH can draft new, functional Constitution, which would allow politicians to reach consensus. [Please note that it was not explicitly said in the article that Croatian HDZ is supporting HDZ 1990]

RS PM Dodik asked about usage of RS Government’s plain to go to football match says: Why do you care…You have nothing to do with that…

RTRS- RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and RS President Dragan Cavic travelled with the RS Government’s plane to Germany to see the football match between SCG and Argentina. RTRS commented the price of this trip that would be paid by taxpayers. [Please see Media Round- up from June 17, where DA carried that price is about 9.9 million euros] BH journalists talked to Dodik. “It was great. I was so emotional and hoping that we would win. Unfortunately, we did not win… I do not care who criticizes me”, said Dodik. Asked by the journalist whether he travelled with the official plane, Dodik said: “Is it your plane?” Journalist said, “It is not my plane”. Dodik said: “Why do you then care? The plane belongs to the RS Government and I am authorized for this. I use it and I do not answer especially to you, from the FBiH. You have nothing to do with the RS Government”, said Dodik. BHT1- also carried. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ninety percent of killed NOR soldiers were Serbs’ by Srna– Inset “What do I care who criticized me’-

DA: Instead disabling executive power to spend budget frivolously, MPs care more about their salaries and future pensions

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘State wallet’ op-ed by Adi Hadziarapovic– Commenting on the trip of RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and RS President Dragan Cavic to Germany Mundial, with RS Government’s plain, and how this makes all Dodik’s statements on fighting the organized crimes, sound “distasteful”, Hadziarapovic argues that two of them are not alone in such behaviour, where taxpayers money is spent “frivolously”, at all levels. “Culprits for this situation sit in current parliaments, but even to the MPs it is more important how to get to their piece of financial “cake”, increase their salaries and future pensions, instead to disable executive power to do what ever it wants with the budget money,” concludes Hadziarapovic.

BiH Chief Negotiator on SAA Davidovci: we will have our hands full after signing of the SAA

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We are not negotiating by the principle take it or leave it’, mentioned on cover by Tarik Lazovic– In interview for DA, BiH Chief Negotiator for Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, Igor Davidovic, said that he is certain that BiH would achieve the length of transitional period that would suit BiH. Commenting on lists of protected merchandise in free trade, Davidovic said that both sides have set maximal demands, where something would have to be given up, in order to reach the agreement. “In this phase the talks are most intensive and I believe that we will be able to protect our key interests,” said Davidovic. Inset ‘We will have our hands full after the agreement’- Davidovic said that huge job is to follow the signing of the SAA, on the way to membership nomination and submitting of the application. “We have our hands full on establishment of system for carrying out of the SAA, which should lead us to the position to submit the application for nomination,” said Davidovic. 

Davidovic: no signing of SAA without police, PBS and ICTY cooperation

BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Clear message from the Brussels’ by Fena– Attending the interactive lecture ‘BiH and European Integrations’, in organization of Nansen Dialogue Centre- Mostar, BiH Chief Negotiator on SAA with the EU, Igor Davidovic, expressed his satisfaction with the current course of Stabilization and Association Agreement, stressing that number of issues to be negotiated on is decreasing. Davidovic added that most delicate issues have remained, referring to free trade, but he stressed that SAA will not be signed without police reform, Public Broadcasting System law and full cooperation with the ICTY.

HSS: Croats in Ilijas under pressure to emigrate

RHB- HSS from Sarajevo stated that a year ago, the nationalistic provocations in Ilijas started, which resulted in attacking a young Croat and writing insulting pamphlets such as “Ustashas, move from here”. HSS stressed that nationalist provocations did not exist during the war and the time after the war. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Frequent attacks and provoking of Croats’ by Fena– In a public statement, HSS argues that attacks on Croats in Municipality Ilijas have become more frequent and that Head of Municipal Board Petar Ilic and local Priest Anto Dominikovic can testify that. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘To prevent mass emigration of Croats from Ilijas’ by Srna– HSS warned that Croats in Ilijas are under a great pressure to emigrate from this municipality. Dnevni List pg 5 ‘HSS concerned for the status of Croats in Ilijas’ not signed–

Increased Security measures in Mostar, before the game Japan- Croatia

Dnevni List pgs 5-7 ‘Special forces on former border line’ by J.S. and ‘Come to Mostar to get beaten’ by Sanja Bjelica, both mentioned on cover- In almost two whole pages, dedicated to Mostar recent incidents, authors reminded to three major incidents [riots after football game Brazil- Croatia, attack on Australian tourist because of the Croatian national shirt, and threats to burn down the Mostar Gymnasium- please see Media Round-up from June 17]. In light of Sundays football game, between Japan and Croatia, Herzegovina- Neretva Cantonal Interior Ministry has informed that security measures are going to be increased, not just for this game, but during the whole Mundial. At the same time, Major Ljubo Beslic and officials of Mostar Tourist Office are concerned what this could do to tourist season in Mostar, because no one wants to “get to the city where can easily be beaten”.

Judiciary, war crimes, police

HR Schwarz- Schilling amends the BiH Criminal Procedure Code; main reason to disable indictees to flee the country

Hayat By Zumra Arnautovic – High Representative Christian Schwarz- Schilling has amended the provisions of BiH Criminal Procedure Code in order to extend the pot-indictment detention period from one year to three years in most serious criminal cases, including the war crimes. According to attorney Fahrija Karkin, “there is a general stand of the Commission entitled for proposing the amendments to the laws, and we have reached the agreement together with the Chair of the Court, that has been sent to the parliamentary procedure, where it asked to prolong the detention period for two years”. He added that two years of detention is too long for him. Attorney Dusko Tomic also believes that this detention period is too long. Main reason for amending of the Code I that indictees are sometimes released from detention, before end of the trial, which enables them to fell to third countries, which do not allow extradition. ICTY, NGO sector and BIH Court deem that this law should have been adopted sooner. Tomic noted that “the negative aspect of the law is that prosecutors are going to extend the processes before courts which is not good for the indictees while the positive aspect of the law is that it might prevent war crime indictees from evading the justice because of the required speed of the trials due to the lack of time with which some facts could be neglected”. The High Representative also amended the BiH Criminal Procedure Code and the Law on Transfer of cases from the ICTY in the following ways: Extending the initial period of custody when an accused is transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 24 to 48 hours, reflecting the need for sufficient time for defence and prosecution to prepare for the first custody hearing; Extending the maximum detention period during investigation from six months to one year, reflecting the need for additional time to prepare complex cases; and Providing for payment to defence counsel while the trial is ongoing, addressing the reluctance among defence attorneys to take on protracted cases and having to wait until the end of the trial for payment. RTRS– The High Representative issued this Decision following requests from the relevant BiH and international institutions including the BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac and also invited BiH Parliament to bring the law, which would enable use of the electronic copies of the ICTY documents at the trials in BiH. This Law will make analyses and distribution of documents that are being submitted by the ICTY, much easier. BHT1- Kovac stated that it is regrettable that HR had to make these changes instead of local authorities. PINK, FTV- carried reports. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Maximal detention for war crimes indictees, three years’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Detention period extended to three years’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Maximal detention three years’ by D.B.– Dnevni List pg 2 ‘There is no escape for war criminals’, mentioned on vcover by Zeda–

RS Interior Minister Cadjo: obstacles in PRD are result of ignorance toward stances of RS authorities

RTRS By Sinisa Mihajlovic– At the press conference, held in Banja Luka on Saturday, RS Interior Minister Stanislav Cadjo stated that RS MoI is conducting activities on search of the war crimes indictees and added that there are certain limitations, since part of the authorities is transferred to the security agencies at the BiH level. Cadjo said that the obstacles in the police reform are result of the Police Reform Directorate’s ignorance toward the stances of the RS institutions. “If they [PRD] continue with such practice, this could take us to some unwanted dimension. However, I believe that we have time to fix these weaknesses in present work and continue with the reform”, said Cadjo. Referring to the goals that RS MoI has achieved in firs 100 days, Cadjo stated that they have: established unit for special investigations on organized crime, explaining that this unit has already showed results in cases ‘Geodetska uprava’, ’Hidrogradnja’ etc.; submitted 24 reports against 45 persons to the RS Prosecution on the basis of audit reports, crimes is being reduced; personnel is strengthened etc. However, there are still unsolved murders of Srdjan Knezevic, Risto Jugovic and others. Zoran Mandic, newly appointed Chief of East Sarajevo Public Security Centre took over duty on Friday and Cadjo said that changes of the personnel in East Sarajevo Public Security Centre present additional step toward solution of the unsolved cases. Cadjo also said that there are improvements in this regard. One of the priorities will be fight against drugs. The establishment of the national strategy on fight against drugs in ongoing.  BHT1- Cadjo claims that Police Reform Directorate cannot offer expected results with the current capacities. “It is impossible for a working body that is defined in one area to change the constitutional order of one country”, says Cadjo. PINK- Commenting the cooperation with the ICTY, Cadjo said that the most complicated cases remained and added “If RS was ready to transfer certain competences to certain agencies within BiH, which deal with this issue, then no one should say that is ready to accept competences but not ready to bear responsibility for realization and fulfilment of competences”, said Cadjo. Cadjo believes that responsibility for failure to arrest war crimes indictees, Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, should be carried not only by RS and BiH, but by the whole Region. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Constitutional system of the country cannot be changed by any body’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Ignoring relation toward RS representatives’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Fight against organized crime a priority’ by S.Karic– Dnevni List pg 4 “Decreased crime’ not signed–

RSNA Speaker Radojicic: I don’t expect any progress in police reform before elections

Nezavisne Novine cover splash, pgs 8-9 ‘RS is not obstructing the police reform’ by Vesna Popovic– In interview to NN, RS National Assembly Speaker, Igor Radojicic, said that RS is not the one who obstructs the police reform, but the obstruction comes from those who are refusing to acknowledge the stances and recommendations of the RSNA. Radojicic stressed that this is why the issue has reached “the dead end” and he doesn’t expect that this would be solved before elections, adding that it is certain that deadline of September 30 would b breached and that solutions would be reached after the new authorities are established. “RSNA Recommendations were taken under serious consideration in the Police Reform Directorate Steering Board. RS has reduced the status of its representative, of the only one to observer’s status and I wouldn’t be surprised if this observer is withdrawn in the following period. That would only formalize the situation within the PRD SB and that is that only the FBiH side and representatives are working on drafting of proposals,” said Radojicic.

BiH Chief Negotiator Davidovic: police reform would not endanger negotiation, but is condition for signing of SAA

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We are not negotiating by the principle take it or leave it’, mentioned on cover by Tarik Lazovic– In interview for DA, BiH Chief Negotiator for Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, Igor Davidovic, has said that police reform will endanger the course of SAA talks, but it will be set as a condition for signing of the SAA. “Police reform is condition for signing, not for negotiating. I have asked earlier for negotiations to be set on technical level, and not on political, and that is showing as positive now, because we can continue the talks, despite the current situation,” said Davidovic. Commenting on his “close relation” with RS PM Milorad Dodik and his recent stances, Davidovic said that Dodik is dedicated to EU integrations. “I wouldn’t say that he is endangering our relations with the EU, which are still full of understanding, especially in the part which refers to the talks. When it comes to hi s stances about the police or referendum in the RS, he should be asked about that. I believe that Dodik precisely explain his stances in the talks, not only with local structures, but with the EC representatives from Brussels. I am certain that such talks could bring explanation of the stances, which are maybe such that could be discussed,” said Davidovic.              

Serbian Council for ICTY cooperation Ljajic: Mladic was hiding in Serbia by 2005

Hayat- Chair of Serbian National Council for cooperation with ICTY, Rasim Ljajic, stated that the war crime indictee Ratko Mladic was hiding in Serbia until 2005 adding that the Serbian authorities have no information on his current movements. He said that Serbian Authorities determined Mladic’s movement in past few years adding that all his hiding places have been discovered. FTV, RTRS– also covered. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Facts say that Mladic mostly resided in Serbia from 1997 to 2005’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Mladic mostly resigned in Serbia’ by Beta–

ICTY Spokesperson Nikiforov for DA: Derl Ponte wanted to provoke reaction with demand for wider authorities of ICTY

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘We knew that searching of larger authorities for The Tribunal is unrealistic’, mentioned on cover ‘Annan’s statement is not correct’ by E.Sarac– After it last addressing in the UN Security Council, ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte has asked UN SC for wider authorities, in order to be able to locate and keep the fugitives in Former Yugoslavia. Commenting this statement, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that it is not realistic to expect that ICTY would be able to apprehend Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, when governments in the region, along with NATO, have spent many years searching them, but weren’t able to extradite neither one of them. Commenting this last statement, ICTYU Spokesperson Anton Nikiforov told DA that they see Annan’s statement as incorrect act, since ICTY knows that this is not realistic. “Our statement was more provocative- to see the reactions- and to underline, once again, that no one is doing anything on apprehending of Karadzic and Mladic,” said Nikiforov.

RS Government preparing amendments, in order to remove obstacles for appointment of RS Special prosecutor

PINK By Dragica Tojagic– RS Government prepares amendments to RS Law on fight against organized and the most severe cases of economy crimes in order to remove the obstacles for the establishment of the RS Special Prosecution and the appointment of the RS Chief Special Prosecutor. These changes should be in accordance with the stance of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council by which the appointment of the RS Chief Special Prosecutor Milan Tegeltija was not in accordance with the Article 17, Paragraph 2 of the Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council. “These changes and amendments should be in accordance with the stance of the HJPC. The main change will be that HJPC will appoint the RS Chief Special Prosecutor and Deputy RS Chief Special Prosecutor on the basis of the public vacancy while RS Prosecution will appoint other Special Prosecutors. The another change is that the RS Special Prosecution will be most probably organized within the Banja Luka District Prosecution”, said Omer Visic, RS Justice Minister. Chair of the HJPC, Branko Peric, did not want to comment foreseen amendments to the Law and added that the HJPC will present its official stance after the adoption of the changes and amendments to the Law.

RSNA Deputy Speaker Hafizovic: RS is not doing anything to change insignia

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Nothing is being done on carrying out of the Constitutional Court’s decision’ by N.Diklic– As it was confirmed for DA by Deputy Speaker of RS National Assembly, Sefket Hafizovic, RS Government and RSNA aren’t doing anything to carry out the decision of BiH Constitutional Court, which decided that RS insignia is in contradiction with BiH Constitution and that RS authorities have six months to harmonize them. Hafizovic said that he till hasn’t received any of decisions related to changing of the insignia and he is surprised with the “lack of activity” in solving this issue. “In the contrary, the deadline of six months, given by the BiH CC, would expire…Then the RS would remain without any insignia,” said Hafizovic.