| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Furundzija released | Furundzija released today | Data on pirate CD | Cavic accused oil lobbies |
| Croat officials on ICTY | Help to indictees children | BiH troops in | Stolen cars found |
| BiH de-miners in | Exhumation in Kevljani | | Director of Petrol indicted |
| SFOR searches for ill. arms | Exhumation in Sekovici | Tax- Sector operations | Trial of Samir Bejtic |
| Oslobodjenje | POLL: 90 percent of citizens for accession to EU |
| Dnevni Avaz | BiH Presidency Chairman Sulejman Tihic: We will send troops to |
| Dnevni List | FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic: Pensions will be reduced if there was no enough money |
| Vecernji List | Furundzija at large |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Croatian language defeated without battle |
| Glas Srpske | Come, see and sell; “Landing” on coffee |
| Nezavisne Novine | Deputy Head of EC Delegation in BiH Renzo Davidi: crime and corruption are the biggest obstacles for admission of BiH to EU; Many in BiH do not want the Refinery to become functional because it is seated in RS; Public employees in BiH are spending up to 70% of the budget; Furundzija was released |
| Blic | Djurdjica came home; Bocac lake became waste dump |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
Political developments/reforms | |
| POLL: Almost 90 percent of citizens supports BiH’s accession to EU
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page ‘90 percent of citizens supports BiH’s accession to EU’, pg 5 ‘Through EU to better life’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Crime and war criminals obstacle to accession to EU’, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3 ‘Deputy Head of EC Delegation in BiH Renzo Davidi: crime and corruption are the biggest obstacles for admission of BiH to EU’ by M. Cubro, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Criminals are spoiling business’ by V. Stakic, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Joining EU brings personal benefit’ by I. Tabucic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘BiH citizens better informed about EU than other Europeans’ by D. Jazvic,ONASA – The deputy head of the European Commission (EC) delegation to BiH, Renzo Daviddi, presented in Sarajevo on Tuesday the results of the second round of a public opinion poll on the European Union in BiH, which showed that BiH citizens have a positive perception of the EU. The results are based on the public opinion polls carried out in July this year. Compared with the results of the first poll conducted six months ago, slightly more people believe that the EU membership could bring them personal advantages, while the majority of respondents still believe that the membership will create a better future for the young people in BiH. Daviddi told a press conference that a bulk of people, some 87.5 per cent, would vote for the EU membership in a referendum. Comparing the respondents’ answers as to what they think how good they were informed of the EU structures and institutions, the majority of them believes that they are not informed enough. On the other hand, that is contradictory to answers to some other questions, which indicate that BiH citizens know a lot about basic institutions and features of the EU. Most of the interviewed persons believe that the EU membership is something that can be achieved through the reform of the state, but a third of them deem the membership of the EU is a question of political will of the EU member-countries. “I can say that that is a very correct conception of situation, but the political will has already been expressed by most of the EU member-countries. The pattern how to move towards the EU stabilization and association process has been clearly shown,” said Daviddi. He added that the outcome of the EU association depended to a great extend on how fast the reforms were being implemented in BiH. According to the poll, it is obvious that the majority of citizens still believe that crime and corruption are the biggest obstacles to BiH’s integration into the EU, and only important change in the public opinion is that more and more people believe that the international community is one of the obstacles to the European future of BiH. Daviddi said that certain political structures in BiH had communication problems that must be resolved, adding he deemed BiH had made important progress in implementation of 16 requirements set by the EC’s Feasibility Study. According to the poll, most of respondents backed setting up of a single public RTV service and single economic zone in BiH. |
| BiH Presidency sticks to its decision on sending of troops to
| Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘BiH has an obligation to help Iraqi people’, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘With clear conscience to Iraq’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Decision in accordance with BiH Constitution’ by M. R.,Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Pyrotechnics go to Iraq’ by H,FENA – Reacting to the request for reviewing/reconsidering the BiH Presidency’s decision on sending a BiH de-mining unit to Iraq as well as a large number of media reports on this issue, the BiH Presidency stated on Tuesday that there were no compelling new reasons for a reassessment of the decision to send a mine-clearing unit to Iraq, especially as relevant UN resolutions had been passed in the meantime which place this decision within a legal framework. The statement said that the Presidency had reached the decision to send a mine-clearing unit to Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘We will send troops to Iraq’, pg 2 ‘BiH Presidency sticks to its decision to send BiH troops to Iraq’ – In a statement for the daily, BiH Presidency Chairman Sulejman Tihic said that it was normal there were different positions on such the political issues. |
| Alternative High Representative calls on citizens to address him with their requests
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Pejakovic invites citizens to cooperate with him’, FENA – The Alternative High Representative, Josip Pejakovic, calls on all peoples and citizens of BiH to address his office if they have certain requests or suggestions, being aware that he could help them resolve their problems, the Office of the Alternative High Representative said. The Office of the Alternative High Representative is open, according to the statement, for all suggestions concerning the work of the local authorities, as well as the international community and OHR, headed by the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown. The Alternative High Representative stands at disposal to all citizens of BiH, and thus all suggestions for his efficient conduct are welcome. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘BiH does not need High Representative’ – In an interview for the daily, Alternative High Representative Pejakovic said that BiH could go nowhere with the institution of the international High Representative. Pejakovic wonders why then we would not convince ourselves that we could make it without OHR. “I am afraid that we are still living in the country in which the majority of its citizens still negates BiH by their actions and marginalizing of the country’s position in all aspects,” said Pejakovic. |
| OHR: Transparency ensured in financing political parties in Brcko District
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Amendments on financing political parties annulled’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Amendment on financing political parties suspended’, FENA – Brcko Supervisor Susan R. Johnson on Tuesday issued a supervisory order annulling amendments to Articles 5 and 6 of the Law on Financing of Political Parties from the Budget of Brcko District of BiH. The Supervisor ordered that the Law, with the exception of the annulled amendments, is to be published in the Official Gazette of the Brcko District of BiH and implemented. The annulled amendments to the law contained financial implications that were not foreseen in the rebalance of Brcko District budget adopted at the same Assembly session and therefore would have been impossible to implement. Secondly, these amendments would have made funding available to political parties in advance, thereby failing to provide for effective controlling and monitoring of expenditures to ensure that they were in accordance with the provisions of the Law. The District Law on Financing Political Parties now establishes a financially sustainable and transparent legal basis that enables political parties to finance their legitimate expenditures in accordance with the respective BiH laws, according to the OHR Brcko press release. |
| RS Vice-president Osmanovic: Ivanic will be responsible for eventual radicalisation in RS
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ivanic will be responsible for eventual radicalisation in RS’ – “In case of removal of SDA Ministers (from the RS Government), the radicals and SDS would be the main political force standing behind Mikerevic and Cavic like was the situation in RS six years ago (PM was SDS’ Gojko Klickovic and RS President was SRS’ Nikola Poplasen, later removed by the then HR). Such the already seen situation with such the distribution of political power would lead to a radicalization of the current political environment,” said RS Vice President Adil Osmanovic in a statement for the daily. Osmanovic added that the PDP leader Mladen Ivanic, who launched the initiative for SDA Ministers removal, would bear responsibility for possible developments of such kind. |
| Mikerevic to meet Tihic over possible removal of SDA Ministers from RS Government | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Mikerevic and Tihic to negotiate in seven days’ by D. R. – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic yesterday stated that he has agreed with SDA President Sulejman Tihic that they will meet in seven days to negotiate on demands of PDP regarding the removal of SDA Ministers from RS Government. |
| Commissions for allocation of HDZ funds were established
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Cantonal Commissions for allocation of HDZ funds were established’ by M. R. – The Governments of Central – Bosnian and Livno Canton, as in accordance with OHR instructions, have established commissions that will define the way of allocation of approximately 140,000 KM taken away from HDZ because of non-harmonization of Cantonal Laws on Primary and Secondary Education with the State Law. The Government of Western-Herzegovina Canton still has not fulfilled this obligation. Tomislav Cuzic, the Head of the Office of the President of Western-Herzegovina Canton Government, yesterday stated it was not possible to establish the Commission due to vacations, but he also said a session of the Government, at which this obligations should be fulfilled, was scheduled for Monday. |
| SD on Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education
| Slobodna Dalmacija front and pg 13 ‘Croatian language defeated without battle’ by D. Juka – SD carries an editorial harshly criticizing Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education. Among the other things, the author says: “We can hope that Croat Trade Unions of Teachers, Education Ministers in three Cantons who opposed this Law and authority representatives at the Cantonal, FBiH and state level who have consciousness will truly recognize a threat and oppose creation of ‘the Bosnian’ language that is the utter goal of all illegal activities and pressures exerted by the International Community, Bosniak lobbies and HDZ fraction of servants.” |
| On re-structuring of Mostar City Administration
| Vecernji list, pg 7, ‘There will be surplus employees’, mentioned on cover, by Meri Musa, and Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 7, ‘Clerks fear wave of dismissals?’, mentioned on cover, by Darko Juka – the dailies carry that all the employees of the Mostar City Administration and of the offices of Mostar city areas yesterday received letters calling them to urgently return to work from holiday. The content of the letter, signed by Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic and Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic, is justified by Article 43 of the Mostar Statute and Article 37 of the Decision on implementation of Mostar reorganisation, is neither dated nor stamped by official seal. Civil servants fear that the letter means consideration of surplus employees. Miralem Gluhovic, Spokesperson of Mostar city area North, says for VL that employees are getting ready for the announced systematisation: they are planning certain activities and the Trade Union is already is already active in preparing solutions for surplus employees. “If our suggestions are not taken into consideration, we are ready for more decisive steps“, Gluhovic says. Ana Blazevic, Spokesperson of Mostar city area South-West, confirms for VL that civil servants in that area have also been asked to return to work. VL comments that it is not clear why the city leaders have decided to start the systematisation process in this way, but rumours say it that it is because of the pressure by the international community whose representatives have already warned of delays in the process of the administration reduction. Unofficially, the HDZ and SDA have already reached agreements on the distribution of the most relevant functions in the city. SD report notes that the October elections are approaching and the leading parties keep silent despite earlier promises that all surplus civil servants in Mostar will be taken care of. Both articles express doubt that this will be the case. |
| Update to Stolac incident
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 12, ‘Stop to street agitators’, by Ivo Raguz, carries the press release issued by HDZ Stolac Municipal Board, signed by its President Mladen Boskovic, which reads: “Over the last years, a group of Bosniaks that has labelled itself as “representatives of Bosniak people of Stolac” has committed a number of acts that have had negative impact on restoration of confidence between the peoples in Stolac. Through a number of Associations, the group aims at causing destabilisation in Stolac and is trying to grab the power using various plots. All the disagreements in Stolac could have been settled to all citizens’ satisfaction if we showed respect to each other. Removal of Croat flags and other insults represent premeditated moves the goal of which is to provoke uncontrolled and emotional reaction of Croats on the eve of the elections“, the PR reads. The Board finds it positive that no political party having Bosniak prefix has supported or sided with the groups that were involved in removing of Croat flags in Stolac. Dnevni list, pg 4, ‘After flags, Dizdar is bothered by Dnevni list’, mentioned on cover, by Nermin Bise, carries thatthrough his mate from Stolac Youth Forum, Nerin Dizdar, the Forum President who organised removal of Croat flags in Stolac last Friday, sent a message to Dnevni list’s journalist that he “did not want to give statements to nationalistic and fascist newspaper“. DL inset carries the following reactions to the incident: Barisa Colak, HDZBiH President: “It surely does not contribute to stabilisation of the situation in Stolac and in general. Institutions of the system must do their job and must consistently punish individuals who are involved in such things. I will try to speak to representatives of certain political parties who I believe can influence on calming the situation in Stolac down”. Omer Cevra, SDA Herzegovina-Neretva Cantonal Board and HNC Assembly Speaker: “I find it strange that removal of illegal flag is considered to be illegal act. The current authority in Stolac should have ensured legality and order there. Such flags are not defined by law and the police should not be protecting them. It is worrying that SFOR also protected the flags that are not stipulated by law.” Nermin Niksic, SDP Herzegovina Neretva Cantonal Board President, says he is not surprised with developments as pre-election euphoria has started. “Nationalist are left with nothing else but initiating the story on being threatened. In BiH, BiH symbols should be displayed. SDP does not mind any other symbols, but there are places where they can be displayed. |
| SD on launching of BHT 1
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘TV at Ashdown’s wish’ by N. Dimitirjevic – SD carries an editorial on beginning of work of BHT1 and the author says that it seems that international officials care the most about the beginning of work of BHT1 since they see it as their personal success. The author says that High Representative Paddy Ashdown did not attend the ceremony which marked launching of BHT1 program, however, in his recorded statement the HR reminded that launching of BHT1 is an important prerequisite fro joining the EU. The author also says that viewers expect from BHT1 to respect professional standards which were also stressed by representatives of the International Community. |
| Movement for establishment of independent
| Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Movement for independent Herzegovina is being established’, mentioned on cover, by Z. Jukic and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘For Herzegovina’, mentioned on cover, by D. Juka – The dailies carry that web pages on which establishment of the movement for independence of Herzegovina is being announced at the web address www.republika-hercegovina.tk. The authors of the web site stress that the movement for independence of |
Economic/social issues | |
| Expert group launches activities on VAT system development
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ’18 experts started working on VAT project’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘A group of 18 experts preparing VAT introduction’, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Step by step’ by D. V. M., Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Tax sector started working on the program of development of VAT’ by Agencies, FENA – The Tax Sector of the BiH Indirect Taxation Administration has started working Monday, when the 18 newly appointed civil servants assumed their duties. The ITA announced that these 18 experts represent the core of the group that is responsible for developing a new state-level tax system – Value Added Tax (VAT), which will replace the current Entity system of sale tax. “This is a demanding task. We are not only developing a new tax system, we are also building a new organization. Our team comprises some of the best experts in this field”, said the Tax Sector Chief Executive Officer, Dinko Corluka. The most important tasks of the VAT project are designing a detailed development and implementation plan for introducing VAT as well as drafting the following legislation, as the Law on VAT is already in parliamentary procedure. The ITA Tax Sector is cooperating with EU-CAFAO on developing a VAT system that will be compatible with the EU standards. |
| OHR: Convertible mark still enjoys investors’ trust
| Oslobodjenje pg 16 ‘Reserves increased for 370 million KM’, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘KM enjoys trust of investors’ by E. Mackic, FENA – The OHR on Tuesday issued the new Economic Newsletter, which indicates that the BiH currency still enjoys the trust of investors. Since January to June this year, the BiH Central Bank (CBBH) has sold the total net amount of 371, 6 million KM. This means that the owners of euro and other foreign currencies in balance have exchanged more money to KM, than the owners of KM have changed to other currencies. This is an encouraging sign, which indicates that 371, 6 KM have entered BiH economy in the first half of this year, according to the OHR Economic Newsletter. It is estimated that the reserves of funds in BiH have continued to grow on a stable rate during the past month, and at the same time the banking deposits in KM have grown at a faster rate than before. These trends indicate the sustaining and growing trust in the chances for the economic recovery and stability of BiH economy, stated the OHR Economic Newsletter. It is also stated that the interest rates are being reduced every month, but it is also warned that the trade exchange continues to produce a deficit. Imports in BiH are greater three to four times than the exports, despite the slight rise in exports. Regarding the unemployment rate, it is still great in the Federation BiH, while the RS is not reporting the monthly unemployment figures. |
| FBiH Government needs help to resolve the problem of Aluminum
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Government needs help to resolve the problem of Aluminum’ – “Aluminum is one of the most difficult political and national issues that has to be resolved. One should help me and the Government in political terms to offer a solution that would be based on future. All that should have no (negative) influence on the current arbitration and its obligatory conclusions,” said Federation Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic in a statement for the daily. |
| Dnevni Avaz interview with LNM Holdings’ owner Mittal | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘We will invest in BH Steel more funds than it was agreed’ – An interview with the owner of the London-based LNM Company, Lakshmi Mittal, who presented his company as well as the plans related to the BH Steel in Zenica, which is as of Monday owned by LNM. |
| RS Prime Minister and RS President visited Oil Refinery in Serb Brod
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Many in BiH do not want the Refinery to become functional because it is seated in RS’ pg. 2 ‘Many in BiH do not want the Refinery to work’ by D. Risojevic, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘The Federation is putting barrier’ by B. Teofilovic – RS President Dragan Cavic, Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic, Minister Djordje Lajsic and Minister Boris Gaspar yesterday visited the Oil Refinery in Serb Brod. On this occasion, Dragan Cavic stated that many in BiH do not want the Brod Refinery to become functional just because it is seated in the The article carries two insets: ‘“Vitol” interested in the Refinery’ – Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said the Refinery cannot be fully functional as long as it is in the ownership of the state. He said it would not be good if the firm was privatised, but there were three options – strategic merging, lease and concession on managing of the firm. Should these options fail, the Government plans to bring a management from abroad. British “Vitol” firm, according to Mikerevic, expressed its interest in the Refinery. ‘Investigation’ – RS President Dragan Cavic commented on investigation against former Minister of Finances Milenko Vracar by saying that the Prosecutor’s Office and Police must investigate any possible cases of abuse of office or violation of laws. |
| GS on economic/social problems of refugees, returnees | Glas Srpske, cover page story ‘Come, see and sell’ by Sl. S. – The article writes about problems of returnees both to the Federation of BiH and to RS. The author emphasises several problems returnees have to face (lack of jobs and poor infrastructure) and concludes by saying that these problems cause many returnees to sell their houses instead to return and live in them. |
| DL: ‘Further cooperation between IMF and FBiH Government questionable’
| Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Further cooperation between IMF and FBiH Government questionable’ by T. Dragic – DL says that the International Monetary Fund expressed concern about the decision of the Federation of BiH Pension-Insurance Bureau (MIO/PIO) and the FBiH Government on increase of a tax base for pensions and payment of one overdue pension. According to spokesperson of the FBiH MIO/PIO Zarif Safic, the public misinterpreted the aforementioned decision because this was not about a classical increase of pensions since the reduction of pensions can take place due to the lack of funds. According to him, the High Representative passed the Law on MIO/PIO and this Law makes possible increase or reduction of pensions’ coefficient depending on income of funds. The article also carries FBiH Minister of Labour Radovan Vignjevic as saying that most probably non-adopting of the IMF proposals can make difficult negotiations on a new arrangement with representatives of the International Community. |
| Hadzipasic on increase of pensions
| Dnevni List front and pgs 6 and 7 ‘Pensions will be reduced if there was no enough money’ by D. Polovina-Mandic – In an interview given to DL Federation of BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic says that he believes that the International Monetary Fund is involving in the internal policy of our country since it does not trust the work of the executive authority and it especially does not trust solutions that this authority comes up with although it is not capable to realize them in financial terms. Asked whether it is possible that the reduction of the pension’s coefficient takes place, Hadzipasic says: “It is possible since it might happen that there was no enough money. The IMF will not exert pressure in order to annul these decisions, however, we can come in the position that we shall not be able to cope with that coefficient.” |
| Hadzipasic on internal debt
| Dnevni List front and pgs 6 and 7 ‘Pensions will be reduced if there was no enough money’ by D. Polovina-Mandic –DL carries an interview with Federation of BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. Asked as to when we can expect a new solution for the issue of the internal debt, that is, the old foreign currency savings, Hadzipasic says: “A new proposal of the Government might be completed as early as in September…We shall try to make possible for some owners of the accounts who have to pay medical expenses to use the funds for this purpose and also for returnees to use the funds for reconstruction of their homes.” |
| RS Association of Pensioners on PDS party (Democratic Union of Pensioners)
| Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Buying of votes’ by G. D. – RS Association of Pensioners yesterday stated that PDS has been bringing many groundless accusations against the Association in order to manipulate with pensioners and get their votes. The Association of Pensioners has stated that bodies of the Association are deciding upon spending of funds of the Association in accordance with its Program of Work and in accordance with laws. PDS has recently asked from the Association to look into its financial transactions due to suspicion in correctness of the work, spending of funds and capability of the Association’s bodies. |
Crime/investigations/legal proceedings/security | |
| Top BiH Croat officials discuss cooperation with ICTY
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘A letter to Carla Del Ponte’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘In the minutes from the Herceg-Bosna session there are nothing that can make damage to Jadranko Prlic’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Search after documents for The Hague’ by D. Jazvic – Top BiH Croat officials held a working meeting on Tuesday in Sarajevo to discuss ICTY request sent to Croat officials/parties in BiH to deliver documentation from period of April 1992 to December 1993 related to the wartime operations of HVO, Republic of Herceg Bosna and HDZ. These documents include minutes from the HDZ sessions, Herceg-Bosna Assembly sessions, Herceg-Bosna House of Representatives sessions and from the sessions of the Herceg-Bosna Government at that time. “During the meeting, Croat officials decided on measures and activities in order for the requested documentation to be found and provided. These activities are to include talks on these issues with all relevant wartime BiH Croat officials,” BiH’s officer for cooperation with ICTY from Croat people, Goran Mihaljevic, told FENA. According to his words, there is nothing in these documents that could harm Jadranko Prlic and other Croats indicted for war crimes. “We want to show full cooperation with ICTY without any obstruction or ignorant position regarding this request,” stated Mihaljevic. BiH’s Presidency member Dragan Covic, FBiH President Niko Lozancic, BiH HDZ President Barisa Colak, FBiH Justice Minister Borjana Kristo and Mihaljevic attended this meeting. |
| Former “Energopetrol” Director accused of abuse of office
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 ‘Indictment travelled for seven months’ by P. Klincov, Glas Srpske, pg. 10 ‘She was selling off money, apartments, fuel…’ by M. Dizdar, EuroBlic, pg. RS1 ‘Indictment over apartments’ by Nedeljka Breberina – Banja Luka Basic Court handed over an indictment, brought seven months ago over abuse of office, to Branislava Ostojic – Ponjarac, former Director of “Energopetrol” firm. Ponjarac was indicted over illegal allocation of apartments to “Energopetrol” employees, giving of scrip certificates in the total amount of 125,000 KM to political parties (DSP and SNSD). The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed there is another indictment against Ostojic -Ponjarac, indicting her over forging of a diploma of Law Faculty. Branislava Ostojic – Ponjarac rejected claims and said the indictment was delivered to her only now because this is ‘a political game in the period of pre-election campaign, in which it is attempted to link her with certain period of time, persons and certain authority’. |
| Dragan Cavic on Sijekovac mass grave
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Discovery of Sijekovac mass grave is controversial’ by D. R. – RS President Dragan Cavic yesterday stated that he is convinced that there is a systematic obstruction in the Federation of BiH of giving information on locations at which Serb victims have been buried. He said that the discovery of Sijekovac mass grave was quite controversial in his opinion, primarily because the Federation of BiH Commission for Missing Persons has discovered it. |
| BiH Deputy Security Minister Dragan Mektic on safety situation in BiH
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Ministry for Safety does not know whether there are terrorists in BiH’ by M. Cubro – The Deputy BiH Minister for Safety, Dragan Mektic, yesterday confirmed that the State Ministry for Safety still has not completed the report on terrorism in BiH, which is the obligation of BiH towards UN. ‘We are gathering information from all security agencies in BiH and I believe everything will be completed in time’, Mektic stated. He refused to comment on data collected so far until the report is completed. |
| Colak on security situation in BiH and cooperation with foreign Intelligence Agencies
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Terrorists’ threats in region do not influence security in BiH’ mentioned on cover, by M. Relota – Talking about the security situation in BiH after Islamic terrorist group Al-Qa’id announced attacks on Italy and Netherlands, BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak stated that this Ministry does not have any evidence or indications that something like that might happen in BiH. Asked about the cooperation with foreign Intelligence Services, Colak says that this cooperation was not that good since BiH did not have the Intelligence-Security Agency at the state level, however, after its establishment perspectives for much better cooperation in this area are being created. |
| Anto Furundzija released
| Vecernji List front and pg 3 ‘Furundzija at large’ by D. Besedic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 4 ‘Anto Furundzija released’ by H, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Family and friends met Anto Furundzija in Zagreb’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5 ‘Anto Furundzija was released’ by Hina – After he served two thirds of sentence, Anto Furundzija (a Croat who was sentenced by the ICTY to 10 years imprisonment because of war crimes committed over Bosniaks) was released on Tuesday. |