| BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BiH HoR session | HNC ministers approved | RS Govt. on war crimes |
| RS Govt. on war crimes | Annex 7 implementation | Protests in RS |
| Interests rates in BiH | World news | 5c corridor |
| World news |
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| Oslobodjenje | Nationalism and lies again in the Parliament |
| Dnevni Avaz | FBiH Premier Hadzipasic: We are going into revision of the privatisation |
| Dnevni List | Explosive device planted under vehicle of Helena Marijanovic; EU Ambassadors visiting Mostar on Monday: Last warning to ruling parties in HNC |
| Vecernji List | Barracks without electricity and food; Barisa Colak: We are unhappy with performance within authority; Mostar: Explosive under off-road vehicle |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | British jeep “casualty” of explosion; Elektroprivreda “squeezes” Aluminij |
| Glas Srpske | A group of removed officials from intends to write a letter to Doris Pack: Humiliated and without any right ; House of Peoples of BH Federation Parliament: Serbs below the limit |
| Nezavisne Novine | On the eve of today’s visit to Banjaluka by Carla del Ponte: RS authorities called on war criminals to surrender; Banjaluka: Families of the killed soldiers will block roads in RS today |
| Blic | Del Ponte closes circle around Izetbegovic; Gojko Savanovic: teachers learn English and information technology |
| Ljiljan | Emir Hadzihafizbegovic: I am a Bosnian nationalist |
| Slobodna Bosna | Izetbegovic-Halilovic polemics on Srebrenica |
| B-H Dani | Ivica Racan on 5c corridor: If you can make it without Croatia, please do it! |
Political developments | |
| BiH HoR discusses Annex 7 implementation
| BHTV 1 – BiH House of Representatives at the session held on Thursday discussed BiH strategy for the implementation of Annex 7 of DPA. However, it decided to task authorised commission to sum up discussion and present conclusions at the next session, which would be incorporated in the strategy document. Strategy prepared by BH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees is the first strategic document at the level of BiH on implementation of Annex 7. Despite making objections to this strategy, representatives did endorse its importance. Sefik Dzaferovic, Chairman of BH House of Representatives said that the ‘importance of this strategy is that, even though it was draft 8 years after the Dayton Peace Agreement, prevented trials of certain circles to declare implementation of Annex 7 finished already even though at least half of million of people still want to return to their homes without possibility to do so.’ BH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo said: ‘This strategy or the action plan consisted of all those activities we need to do, not only this ministry, but also institutions of the state, entities and municipalities in next 4 years.’ Osloboodjenje front page, pg. 7 ‘Nationalism and lies again in the Parliament’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Fierce polemics between Durakovic and SDA, HDZ deputies’ – BiH is entering a final phase of its ethnic division and Sarajevo is not as multiethnic as some claim, said Nikola Spiric, an SNSD deputy, starting a fierce discussion on the wartime developments during the House session. The strategy of return was just a cause for a new nationalistic debate, warned Nijaz Durakovic. Representatives of national political parties and the opposition repeated their well-known stands related to who had played what role in the BiH war. |
| SDS delegates to RSNA | BHTV 1, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘Nikolic and Djukanovic new SDS MP’s’, Oslobodjenje pg. 6, Dnevni List page 6, by D.L. – Following the decision by High Representative to dismiss two SDS representatives in the RS National Assembly, BiH Election Commission verified these mandates for two SDS delegates from their list of candidates for RS NA. Public Affairs Office for BH EC confirmed that mandates were given to Cvjetin Nikolic and Rodoljub Djukanovic. |
| OHR approved appointment of HNC Ministers | FTV – OHR has approved the candidacy of all the three candidates for minister positions in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government after they completed the vetting procedure. SDA appointed Mumin Isic for Administration of Justice Minister position; HDZ appointed Tomislav Martinovic and Jago Musa for Ministers of Interior and Education. After the HNK Assembly confirms their appointment, Isic, Martinovic and Musa will assume their duties in the mentioned ministries. Vecernji List page 3, by T.K., “Candidates for ministers approved”, Dnevni List page 12, by Vesna Leto, “Martinovic, Musa and Isic new Ministers in HNC Government and Slobodna Dalmacija last page, by M. Landeka, “Isic, Musa and Martinovic are becoming Ministers” also reported that the Office of the High Representative approved the nominated candidates for vacant ministerial positions in the Government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. SD says that the spokesperson of OHR South, Avis Benes, confirmed this information. VL says that High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated this decision in the letter sent to the Prime Minister of the HNC, Miroslav Coric. |
| FBiH HoP: Serb seats still vacant | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Serbs beyond the limit’ – Nine months after the general elections the number of Serb delegates at the House of Peoples of the BH Federation Parliament remains beyond the limit: only 10 out of 17 seats intended for Serb delegates have been filled. |
| RS Socialist Party on governing coalition | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘RS Government to fall in Septemebr’ – Socialists’ Party believes that opposition parties would vote for proclaiming current RS authorities as untrustworthy by September. Party also estimates certain PDP and SDS delegates disappointed with the work of RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and his cabinet would join this initiative. Vice President of Socialist Party Miroslav Mikes claims that RS falls apart from inside with silent approval of Coalition at power. |
| Removed BH officials critical of HiRep decisions | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Humiliated and without rights’ – The content of the draft letter, which all the officials from BiH, who were removed from the position by HiRep, intend to send to Doris Pack, President of the Board for SouthEast Europe, will contain the following bits and pieces: “We are tried in secrecy and we have no right to defend ourselves. The verdicts – that are humiliating and deprive us of basic human rights – are announced in public. The justice we have encountered resulted from “an absolute authority, who does not suit anybody.” They will seek from Pack to persist in her requests and to inform Council of Europe of their cases. |
| DL says joining of two Mostar Grammar Schools is test of HDZ sincerity | Dnevni List (front and page 8, by Zvonimir Jukic, “Mostar Grammar School – test of sincerity for HDZ BiH”) – says that its source within the IC told the daily a few days ago that the plan of integration of two grammar schools in Mostar (one on the “Croat” and one of the “Bosniak” side) will be a sort of a test for the HDZ i.e. a test that will show the HDZ’s sincerity in the whole process of integration of Mostar. Saying that in preparatory talks about the merging of the two schools, representatives of the HDZ BiH were reluctant about the solution to the issue, the author says if the HDZ BiH accepts to merge the two schools, that would be an additional argument for the IC to exert pressure on the SDA so the party finally accepts the unification of Mostar. Otherwise, if the HDZ BiH does not accept the merger and after the SDA left the Mostar Commission, that would turn the process backwards and strengthen the SDA position i.e. opposition to full integration of Mostar through creation of one municipality. Finally, the author says the whole issue of unification of Mostar and merging of the schools are evidence that many things in the SDA-HDZ rapport do not work properly, which will make the OHR’s claims on reformed national parties look silly and naïve. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 16, by Darko Juka, “Surplus of cadre will not be immediately sent on street”) carries the President of HDZ Cantonal Board in Canton 7 and member of Mostar Commission, Josip Merdzo, as saying that details pertaining to joining of the two schools will be made public by the new Minister of Education in Canton 7, Jago Musa. “It is clear that certain integrative processes are imminent, and the Grammar School can be looked at in the context of unification of Mostar. Therefore, when a new City Council has been formed, then it will define a composition of the school board, thus the Grammar School should be a part of schooling institutions in our canton, which fits into legal provisions that other schools fit into”, says Merdzo. |
| CRO press on Mostar restructuring | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by I. Glibusic, “Last warning to ruling parties in HNC”) – reports that withdrawal of SDA and its close associates from the Mostar Commission has brought the whole process of reorganization of Mostar into question adding that due to the critical situation, Ambassadors of EU countries and candidates for full EU membership will be visiting Mostar on Monday to meet the Commission, Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mostar and representatives of cantonal authorities. According to DL’s source, additional pressure will be exerted on political parties that participate in the authority and which obstruct the normalization of situation in Mostar. Furthermore, DL says despite the boycott of the work of the Mostar Commission, there will be no sanctions i.e. removals of officials at the cantonal level adding that the only thing that could happen is that parties that are still interested in the work of the Commission remain working, whilst the opponents stay aside. Dnevni List (page 7, by Zvonimir Jukic, “Will Radmilo Andric remain in Commission?”) – reports that the Chair of the 15th session of the Mostar Commission, Radmilo Braca Andric, adjourned the session after Bakir Krpo, a member of the Commission, stated he was freezing his status in the Commission. In a letter that Andric sent to principals of Mostar and international institutions, dated on July 16, Andric said the 15th session was not attended by a single representative of the Bosniak people so he “did not have a choice but to adjourn the session”. In this context, DL says Krpo stated at the session that he, being a Bosniak, did not want participate in the work of the Commission without other two members from the line of the Bosniak people and that he was going to freeze his status until there was an appropriate filling of the Commission. Andric further stated in the letter that because of those, as well as other reasons he adjourned the session and that he found his presence unnecessary. The author interprets Andric’s final words as an announcement of him leaving the Commission too. In that context, the author says information coming from part of SDA that opposes the current division of Mostar into six municipalities, Andric could in the next few days state that he is leaving the Commission. The author’s final thought says the fact the Commission has been left by the Bosniak members (Music, Sadovic and Krpo) clearly shows that “the Ashdown’s proposal suffered a fiasco” stressing that each member of the Commission received 4.500 KMs of the taxpayers’ money for nothing. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 16, by Darko Juka, “Surplus of cadre will not be immediately sent on street”) – an interview with the President of HDZ Cantonal Board in Canton 7 and member of Mostar Commission, Josip Merdzo, in which he address the problem of possible surplus of workers in case of a new organizational set-up of Mostar taking place. “The municipal offices currently existing on the ground will not be shut down, but will be transferred to the competence of the city administration. So the people should not be afraid. It is certain that a plan of taking care of employees of municipalities will be made because nobody will be sent on the street that easy. But certain steps will be taken at the higher level, meaning in offices of Heads of Municipalities, Presidents of Municipal Councils, bunch of Councilors and similar, because in that case there will not be six but one and there will be reductions there”, says Merdzo. |
| Barisa Colak on relations between HDZ and SDA | Vecernji List (front page, ”We are dissatisfied with results in authority” and page 2, “HDZ is not satisfied with relations in authority with SDA”, by Zoran Kresic) carries that Minister of Security in the BiH Council of Ministers Barisa Colak judged as successful talks that the HDZ delegation had with high-ranked SDA officials, led by SDA President Sulejman Tihic, on the reform of dense and fiscal system. Colak concluded that they reached a considerable degree of consent with SDA when the defense reform is in question and added: “However, there are differences. We go from supposition on the reform of the defense at the state and not the entity level. Also, our stand is that the national components of the Army have to preserve some characteristics to a certain degree.” Colak also said that SDA and HDZ delegations expressed dissatisfaction over mutual relations that the two sides have had at all levels so far. Colak also said that they are not satisfied with total results in the authority. |
| Vjesnik: “France and Germany do not want new mandate for Ashdown” | Vjesnik (page 14) carries an article from the Austrian “APA” which reads “it is obvious France and Germany want to prevent extension to mandate of the British Paddy Ashdown. Nine months before expiration of deadline of the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, there are more and more criticism on account of his style of administration”, reads the article. Vjesnik reads that in an interview with “APA”, a German diplomat made a critical remark that Ashdown, apart from members of the US Embassy in BiH, did not include members of the Embassies of EU countries into the decision-making. Vjesnik adds that the criticism also comes from local politicians. Secretary General of PDP, Nevenka Trifkovic, asked the BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, to review the justification of Ashdown’s decisions because it often occurred that “the OHR forces the Republika Srpska Parliament to adopt certain laws, without leaving the MPs a possibility to change a single comma”. |
| ESI report on HR powers | Slobodna Bosna pgs. 22-23 ‘Bosnian politicians congratulated me saying they are afraid to do it publicly’ and BH Dani pg. 12 ‘Gerald Knaus: The time has come for reducing Ashdown’s power’ – Both papers interviewed Gerald Knaus, a co-author of recently published European Stability Initiative institute’s report on the powers of the Office of the High Representatives in BiH. Knaus claims that there are no mechanisms of control that should force current HR Paddy Ashdown to be more cautious or present more evidence when he makes important decisions. “How can we have a partnership relations, or at least equality between OHR and elected BiH officials if OHR is allowed to dismiss any elected politician, any judge, any police officer, any municipal head whenever it wants and – just like that,” said Knaus referring to a lack of possibility for the removed officials to lodge complaint on their removal. On pages 24-25 ‘Doris Pack: Bosnians in fear of Ashdown must not say a word’, Slobodna Bosna reprints an article on the HR powers published in the latest issue of the Austrian magazine Profil. |
Crime | |
| Fight against human trafficking
| BHTV 1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, Vecernji List page 2, by D. Ja. Dnevni List page 5, by De. L., “Establishment of unified system of traveling documents at state level” – BiH Council of Ministers appointed Almir Djuvo as state coordinator for fight against human trafficking and illegal immigration in BiH. At the session held on Thursday, CoM adopted action plan for establishment of central system of travelling documents for BiH and decision on coordination and procedures in prevention of human trafficking and illegal immigration. Orhan Pasalic, advisor to Chairman of CoM, said that this action showed CoM was strongly determined to act to prevent in human trafficking and illegal immigration. State coordinator will be responsible for coordinating preventive actions with relevant international and local institutions. |
| Trial of Milosevic | Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte announced presentation of evidences proving Slobodan Milosevic’s guilt for crimes in Srebrenica and siege of Sarajevo. ‘So far, I am optimist’ said Del Ponte commenting on difficulties Prosecution encounters in convincing witnesses and suspects to take witness stand for Prosecution and she stressed that this frequently was result of threats and political situation. As time for presentation of evidences against Slobodan Milosevic runs at the end of this year, Prosecution announced it would focus on proving Milosevic’s involvement in BiH conflict. In an interview to Associated Press, Del Ponte said she was sure that key evidences would result in ruling guilty for genocide. She added that Prosecution still did not succeeded to prove Milosevic’s guilt in regard to genocide, adding that key moments in the trial would take place in October and November. Chief Prosecutor also expressed hope that Biljana Plavsic would accept witnessing against former Yugoslav President. |
| Del Ponte to visit Banja Luka today
| BHTV 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 – Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte will visit Banja Luka on Friday, where she will meet with RS authorities and representatives of RS Association of Camp inmates. She will have a very busy schedule. The main subject of the discussions with the RS authorities will be the non-cooperation of this entity concerning the ICTY war crime suspects. It is already a well-known fact that del Ponte holds the RS authority responsible for many war crime suspects still not being arrested. Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Carla del Ponte will not manipulate with us’ – RS Association of former inmates will not be manipulated with before the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, because the Association will be representing interest of the former inmates, whom neither local authorities of RS or international community recognise. Slavko Jovicic, Vice President of the Association of former inmates, said that they would seek from ICTY Chief Prosecutor to send an investigative team, that is to compile evidence on the field that the crimes were also committed against Serbs during the war in BiH. Blic pg. 7 ‘New evidences against Alija Izetbegovic’ also reported on the issue. |
| Special session of RS Government on war crimes | BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, cover and page 3, ‘RS authorities called on war criminals to surrender’; Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Surrender and then guarantees’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 “Appeal on war crime indictees to surrender’, The New York Times, Blic pg. 7 ‘Appeal supported by Cavic and Kalinic’ – One day before Carla del Ponte’s arrival to Banja Luka, the RS Government, supported by RS President Dragan Cavic and National Assembly Speaker Dragan Kalinic invited all indicted for war crimes by ICTY to surrender voluntarily to the Tribunal through RS institutions. In that way, government could offer them certain guaranties envisaged by the Law, reads the press release issued by Public Affairs Office of RS Government. All persons that voluntarily surrender through mediation of RS authorities will be provided with permanent financial assistance of 400 KM per month. Members of the suspects’ families will have right for reimbursement of return ticket Belgrade – Amsterdam three times a year, as well as 500 KM per family each two months for other costs – reads the press release. RS government also decided to established office for the coordination with ICTY consisting of officials from RS Ministry of Interior, intelligence and security services and Secretariat for relations with ICTY. The task of the office is to immediately start gathering documents that would provide evidences in regard to assistance networks to war crime suspects in accordance with EU and USA blacklists. Government also dedicated 50.000 KM from its present budget for expenses of persons from RS who are currently detained upon ICTY request. |
| Protests announced to take place in Banja Luka on the day of Del Ponte’s visit | FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne novine, cover and page 3, ‘Families of the killed soldiers will block the roads today’; Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Street protest is a warning’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Veterans’ families announce blockade of roads’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 20 ‘Blockade in three towns’ – Representatives of the RS Association of families of former prisoners and killed soldiers and missing civilians announced the protest for Friday without regard to Carla Del Ponte’s arrival in Banja Luka. The chairman of the Association Jadranka Boric confirmed the announcement. According to Boric, the protests will be held in Bijeljina region at the road Belgrade-Brcko-Bijeljina, on the main road in Mrkonjic Grad and bridge Plasnice in Banja Luka. RS Minister of Interior Zoran Djeric stressed that RS police forces have to provide undisturbed traffic on highway Gradiska-Klasnice-Banja Luka due to visit by Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte. ‘I want to say that this was something illegal. Such decision of families of killed, missing and imprisoned has no its basis in the law. However, I am aware of the seriousness of this situation, I am aware what category of population this was about and at the time we started certain activities together with them. According to latest information, I believe that we will find common solution’ stated Djeric. RTRS – Public Security Center Banja Luka [PSC] confirmed that the RS Association of families missing, killed and imprisoned soldiers and civilians informed PSC on 14 July that it would block road in Klasnice in period between 9.00 and 12.00h. However, Head of PSC Banja Luka Milorad Jacimovic reminds of decision to ban these protests in order to avoid problems with traffic and security of ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte who will visit Banja Luka on Friday. |
| Explosion in Mostar | BHTV 1, FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija front “British jeep ‘casualty’ of explosion” and page 19 “British jeep blown up”, by D. Juka, F. Vele, Vecernji List front and page 3, by Robert Soldo, “Mostar: Explosive under road off car” – An explosive device was activated in Mostar in early morning around 02.45 on Thursday. Bomb was planted under a Land Rover with British registration plates owned by Elena Marijanovic. Explosion caused large material damage on this vehicle, and smaller on cars parked nearby. Perpetrators are still unknown and investigation has been on-going. |
Economic, financial issues | |
| 5c corridor construction
| BHTV 1, RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘BOSMAL given a 30-day deadline to secure 300 million euros’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘BiH CoM accepted preliminary BOSMAL’s offer’, Dnevni List page 4, signed by De.L., “BiH Parliament informed on preparations for Corridor Vc construction”- Information prepared by Council of Ministers on 5C corridor, which was presented at the Thursday’s session of the BiH House of Representatives, says that the CoM responded to Bosmal’s self-initiated offer by outlining precise conditions, which must be met to start negotiating on awarding concession. Branko Dokic, BH Minister for Transport and Communications said this was one of the strategic issues in the BiH development. Council of Ministers in principal adopted initiative of Bosmal company, with whom it expects to sign the concession contract if Bosmal accepts all obligations. ‘[Bosmal] offered to build motorway in its full profile, all 330 km within 5 years, asked for 4 months of deadline for checking their financial credibility and feasibility. During that time, they would secure 300 million Euros needed to draft projects and studies on that motorway’ said Dokic. The House adopted CoM’s information on activities conducted so far in regard to 5C corridor. FTV – The sources claim that allowing the Croatia to participate the construction of the 5C corridor is actually a diplomatic trade for using the Ploce Port. Bosmal representatives have responded to the Croatian Government’s request on announcing the international tender, saying that they are prepared to fulfil all the obligations that were stated in the contract, and that there’s no need for Croatian companies involvement in the project. Executive Director of Bosmal stated that ‘we will do this, we will provide the necessary funds maybe even before the date we have determined: 5 billion KM, 10 billion KM or even more.’ Dragan Covic has welcomed the Croatian Government’s proposal. According to BiH Minister for Transport and Communications Branko Dokic, nothing has changed: the CoM is willing to put all the efforts for conducting all the procedurals requests that would lead to 5C corridor construction. CoM will not announce the tender if Bosmal fulfils all the obligations in the contract. FTV – Croatian media are very interested in the construction of the 5C corridor and possible involvement of the Croatian companies in the project. According to the Croatian officials, Croatia has to offer many companies that would be able to participate the construction. Croatian media cite that BiH will never be able to build a corridor on their own, since they have no money to do anything. It has also been mentioned that BiH politicians are alleviating the strong negative attitude of the BiH media on the issue. In an interview with Dnevni Avaz pg. 5, mentioned on the front page, BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic assessed the BOSMAL offer as correct saying the company should therefore be given a chance to complete the job. Ljiljan pg. 7 Editorial by Editor-in-Chief Sejo Omeragic ‘Future or garbage depot’ – “The 5c corridor is the question of all questions for this state. This job simply must be done by the domestic companies, from Sarajevo over Banja Luka to Mostar. This job is finally a matter for BiH and its Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs,” says Omeragic. Ljiljan pgs 18-22 ‘Sulong: Malaysia will be investor in your project’ – Interview with Zakaria Sulong, the Malaysian Ambassador to BiH. Sulong emphasized that on the basis of a number of contacts with the representatives of BiH authorities he had been having before Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan’s visit to BiH he made a conclusion that BiH politicians were friendly looking at Malaysia’s will to participate in the project. Slobodna Bosna pgs. 5-7 by Asim Metiljevic ‘Arrogant Racan’s request rejected, BOSMAL ready to immediately pay 300 million dollars’ – The magazine presents contents of a letter by which the BiH CoM officially accepted BOSMAL’s offer on Thursday. BH Dani pgs. 8-11 (continued on pg. 61) – Interview with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan. “We came to Sarajevo with a message and an offer – Gentlemen, there is no country in the world that is more interested in corridor construction than Croatia. We are interested that the highway is constructed as soon as possible and in a quality manner. If you can do it alone, Croatia will not participate,” said Racan. In another article on the issue on pgs. 18-19 ‘BOSMAL or Croatia, that is a question’, Dani Editor-in-Chief Senad Pecanin presents strengths and weaknesses of the BOSMAL’s and Croatian offers for 5c corridor construction. |
| RS Government approves Elektroprivreda business plan | BHTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘Elektroprivreda ordered to cut expenditures’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Difference in Geodetic Administration’s expenditure 4 million’ – At the regular session in Banja Luka on Thursday, the RS Government gave its approval to RS Elektroprivreda business plan for 2003. Government plans to increase income for approximately 18.5 million KM with this plan and corrections of expenditures in state companies for 10%. It also approved changes and amendments of RS Elektroprivreda statute. Spokesperson for RS Prime Minister, Goran Radivojac, confirmed that the government also discussed the 2002 report of Entity Administration for Geodetic and Real Property business and concluded there were significant misuses. |
| PDHR Hays meets with Presidents of Caucuses in RS NA on economy | Dnevni List (page 9, by Fena, “Increase export from BiH”) carries that the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, talked in Banja Luka with Presidents of Caucuses and Speaker of the Republika Srpska National Assembly (RS NA) Dragan Kalinic about legal solutions with regard to the introduction of value added tax, reform of customs and defense system. The RS NA issued a press release saying that the highest representatives of the Caucuses in the RS NA again expressed their belief that numerous proposals of the laws, which should be passed at the level of BiH, will be first discussed in entity Parliaments. |
| FBiH Government on financial, privatisation issues | BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘An initiative for the revision of the privatisation’, Vecernji List page 4, by Zoran Kresic, “270 000 KM to University”, Dnevni List front and page 4, by Miso Relota, “Initiative for audit of privatization, which has been carried out so far, adopted” – FBiH government held its session in Mostar on Thursday. It established amendments to the draft Law on changes and amendments to the Law on Tax on influx of products and services, which is already in parliamentary procedure. It also accepted the initiative of BiH Association of Independent Unions to review conducted privatisation, but also suggested the name change of the Law on control of contracts based on privatisation in BiH. Izet Zigic, Federal Minister for Energy, Industry and Mining said that ‘there are additional question that this Law did not solve, for instance who would conduct this audit or control of privatisation process. We believe that control of privatisation process or contracts based on privatisation process could not be done by the Agencies that conducted privatisation.’ Law on changes and amendments to the Law on Tax on influx of products and services will be on force as of 1 August, meaning that in importing goods taxes would be paid on the border. Government also brought the decision for Herceg-Bosna Elektroprivreda financially assist Mostar University. |
| Dnevni Avaz: Interview with FBiH Prime Minister Hadzipasic
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘We are going into revision of the privatisation’ – Interview with the Federation of BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. Hadzipasic commented on the Thursday’s session of the FBiH Government confirming that an initial draft of the law on the revision of the privatisation had been adopted at the session. It will now be worked our, completed in 15 days and then send into the parliamentary procedure. |
| DL: Interview with FBiH Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Zigic | Dnevni List (front and page 5, by Miso Relota, “Aluminij has to find its way out from this problem”) carries an interview with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry, Izet Zigic. Asked to comment on the information that Elektroprivreda of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced that it would increase the price of electricity for the “Aluminij” Company of Mostar by 30% and whether this situation can be viewed as a sort of pressure against “Aluminij”, Zigic says: “Aluminij used to have a favorable price, and this is one advantage that Aluminij used to have in this period. I do not believe that this is a pressure against ‘Aluminij’. All three combines in the chain are equal to me: the colliery, Elektroprivreda BiH and ‘Aluminij’. I want to make this clear.” Asked whether there is a wish to resolve the social problems, which appear in collieries and thermo-electric power plants in Bosnia, Zigic says that there is no wish to resolve the social problems in this way. Asked whether he expects that the solution which will satisfy all sides will be found, Zigic says: “Absolutely yes. I will be willing to spend as much time as necessary with representatives of Debis and Elektroprivreda BiH in order that they find the solution which will make possible the delivery of electricity, that is, purchase of electricity, so that the production of Aluminij, which is a big exporter and which considerably improves budgets of the Federation of BiH, is not brought into question” |
| OHR on Budget | FTV, RTRS, Slobodna Dalmacija last page, by Fena, “More money for BiH citizens and less for politicians”, Dnevni List page 2, by Fena, “BiH needs reform of public administration”, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘More money for the people, less for politicians’, Blic pg. 7 ‘BiH authorities spend money unsparingly’ – OHR expects the beginning of serious debate on the expenditures and efficiencies of BiH authorities, due to fact that the budget of state institutions was exceeded for over 20%. Spokesperson for OHR Oleg Milisic stressed at a oress conference in Sarajevo on Thursday that reforms of public administration had to be implemented without further postponements. As an example, Milisic mentioned ‘parliamentarians who request pay raises, while defence ministries struggle with debts and place cadets in barracks without electricity and water.’ |
| VL: “Barracks without electricity and food” | Vecernji List (front and page 5, by Zdenko Jurilj) carries that due to the debt to BH-Telekom the official mobile phone of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) Minister of Defense, Miroslav Nikolic, has been cut off as well as mobile phones of other high-ranked commanders of the FBiH Army. VL says that the financial and material situation of the FBiH Army is disastrous. Spokesperson of the FBiH Army Headquarters, Zoran Duspara, announced that it was possible that two thirds of the military facilities in the Federation of BiH will be without electricity, water and phone soon because of debts. The article says that due to this disastrous situation a meeting of representatives of the Joint Headquarters of the FBiH Army and FBiH Ministry of Defense with representatives of the FBiH Government has been scheduled for the next week. |
| Elektroprivreda of HZ-HB to get new general manager today | Vecernji List (page 3, by Z.K. “Appointment of Director of Elektroprivreda of HZ HB today”) carries that the Steering Board of Elektroprivreda of the Croat Community of Herceg Bosna (EP HZ HB) will appoint a new general manager of this company today. VL says that after the audit of this company, whose results were published by the OHR, EP HZ HB managed to increase payment of debts. The acting general manager, Vlado Maric, who has been at the helm for a few months, is one of four candidates. Other three are Slobodan Bakula, Niko Lasic and Zdravko Rozic. |
Media | |
| Mikerevic meets with CRA representatives
| BHTV 1, RTRS – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic met with representatives of the Communications Regulatory Agency in Banja Luka on Thursday. During the talks, Mikerevic said that the latest decisions by international broadcasting agent on BiH PBS would deter financial development in this industry and unify information in BiH. ‘That decision puts in danger the position of RTRS, and therefore RS government would ask protection from authorised international judiciary institutions’ reads the press released issued by Mikerevic. However, CRA representatives estimated that the decision did not endanger independence of RTRS and stressed they had authority to implement decision by international broadcasting agent. |
| CRA forbids transfer of licences | BHTV 1 – The Communications Regulatory Agency brought decision to halt process of changing ownership of electronic media in BiH till September. This decision was brought as prevention measure against creation of monopolies and purchasing of number of media and frequencies. Adnan Osmanagic, chairman of assembly of Association of Electronic Media [AEM] said that more important issue was to estimate why the media got into the situation to sell their assets at the first place. Dunja Mijatovic, director of CRA’s Broadcasting Sector denied allegations that this decision was placed TV Pink BiH in advantageous position over other media. |
Other issues | |
| Cegar case | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Cegar is being supported by OHR’ – An SDA deputy to the Federation of BiH Parliament, Seada Palavric, told the newspaper that the Commander of the Federation Police Special Unit, Zoran Cegar, “would not behave in the way he is behaving if the international community does not stand behind him.” Spokesman for the OHR Oleg Milisic said the accusations against Cegar were matter for the domestic institutions and not OHR. Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Federation Government and EUPM should protect Interior Minister. In their respective statements for the newspaper with regard to the Cegar’s threats against Federation Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic, Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic, Federation President Niko Lozancic and CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic expressed their astonishment requesting that all necessary measures are taken to fully protect Halilovic. Ljiljan pg. 5 op-ed by Mirsad Sinanovic – According to Sinanovic, it is not secret that Zoran Cegar was a friend with the Federation Police Director Zlatko Miletic. Miletic appointed him, while Cegar was in a commission for Miletic’s appointment. That is why Interior Minister Halilovic can do nothing (take any measures) without Miletic. |