19.10.2004

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 19/10/2004

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS (19,30)

Croatian delegation in BIH

Elections results presented

Mine killed two children

EC on population census

Elections results

Croatian delegation in BIH

Elections results

Elections results

EC on population census

Hercegovacka banka case

EC on population census

RS officials in EUPM

RS officials in EUPM

HNC MoI under investigat.

Croatian delegation in BIH

No increase of pensions

 

Oslobodjenje

New agreement between BiH and Croatia on Port of Ploce to be reached soon

Dnevni Avaz

Grand scandal at the Stock Exchange

Dnevni List

First witness in Jelavic and Karlovic trials testifies: New names are Lovric, Soljic and Covic

Vecernji List

Life to be more expensive by 17 % in 2006

Slobodna Dalmacija

Finnish inspector ‘topples’ the bank with project ‘Athens

Glas Srpske

Following increase of oil prices at the market: Prices fly high

Nezavisne Novine

Final unofficial election results announced: Second round for Mayors of 49 municipalities in F BiH; Update to import of acetic acid anhydride case: Heroin raw material smuggled to Serbia ; Update to Hercegovacka Banka case: Jelavic, Covic and associates embezzled millions of marks

Blic

Murderer from Novi Sad arrested in Mostar

Vecernje Novosti

Mother told police: Arrest my son!

Belgrade’s Nacional

Features Serbian related topics

 

Political developments

Croatian Speaker visits BiH, discusses bilateral ties with BiH Parliament, CoM leaders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 3 ‘New agreement between BiH and Croatia on Port of Ploce to be reached soon’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Terzic: My agreement with Racan remains in force (valid)’, HINA – The Croatian parliament and the parliament of BiH will strengthen bilateral cooperation, notably parliamentary diplomacy so as to assist the two countries’ governments in solving the remaining outstanding issues as soon as possible, Croatian parliament president Vladimir Seks and the Speaker of the Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives, Martin Raguz, said in Sarajevo on Monday. Seks is at the helm of Croatia‘s parliamentary delegation on a two-day official visit to BiH. On the first day of the visit the Croatia delegation held talks with Bosnian deputies and the chairman of the Bosnian Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic. The two countries’ officials told reporters they were more than satisfied with the level of cooperation and stressed that Croatia and BiH were on a stable path of strengthening the good neighboring relations. The issues such as the status of the port of Ploce, property-right relations, the ratification of the border agreement and refugee return are awaiting a permanent solution and representatives of the two countries’ parliaments hope that a solution would be found as soon as possible. “Parliamentary diplomacy is an excellent path to diagnosing such problems and solving them,” Seks said in Sarajevo and stressed that it was in Croatia ‘s interest to as EU candidate country solve the issue of the port of Ploce , property rights and border issues with BiH, respecting European standards.

Such an approach is equally useful for BiH and Croatia because it will define them as democratic countries, which are capable of solving the most sensitive issues on their own, Seks said. The Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives, Martin Raguz, stressed it was necessary to ratify the border agreement with Croatia as soon as possible and added that the two countries’ parliament must help their government to find a solution to the port of Ploce.

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Prime ministers and governments are solving problem of PlocePort’, mentioned on front, by Danka Polovina-Mandic also covered the issue. According to the daily after meeting with the Croatian parliamentary delegation BiH CoM Chairman Terzic stated that he had no intention to make a new agreement on PlocePort because he had already made one agreement. “Now I am waiting for the people who know better than me to make a new agreement. I think the Croatian Parliament is obliged to ratify the agreement that was ratified in BiH unless the Inter-state council offers new solutions”, says Terzic.

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Agreement on border to be confirmed’, mentioned on front ‘Solution on borders soon’, by Dejan Jazvic – BiH and Croatia should soon regulate issues pertaining to property-legal and border issues, announced Seks and Raguz, however they did not reveal any timeframes. When it comes to borders between BiH and Croatia, Seks is carried as saying that expert commissions are finalizing negotiations and that there are only “few debatable spots”. (both PlocePort and border related issues was covered by Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 5 ‘Seks in Sarajevo’, by B. Kristo)

Croatia ’s Zuzul calls for admission of BiH and SCG to PfP

 

Dnevni List pg 7 ‘BiH’s admission to Partnership for Peace demanded’ not signed – At the lecture in the NATO HQ in Brussels, Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul stressed that BiH ad Serbia and Montenegro should be invited to join Partnership for Peace as soon as possible since in a long run BiH, Macedonia, Albania and SCiG should be members of the EU and NATO.  Zuzul also added that without perspective of the European integration, there would be no permanent stability in the region.

BiH Election Commission presents final preliminary results of 2004 local elections

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ’29 mayors in FBiH and 59 in RS elected’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ’49 mayors in FBiH to be known after the second round’ – The BiH Election Commission has stated that 46.8 per cent of voters voted at the latest local elections. The highest turnout was reported in the Brcko District – 60.9 per cent of registered voters. Voter turnout in the RS was 48.6 and in the Federation of BiH 45 per cent. According to the final but as yet unconfirmed results, the SDS has won the most posts of municipality heads, while the SNSD was supported by the largest number of voters in RS. SDA, HDZ, SDP and Party for BiH achieved the best election results in FBiH. The results for the municipal assemblies of Zvornik and Teslic have not been announced today. “You will not get the information for the Teslic municipal assembly, because you know that the elections on two absentee polling stations have been repeated, nor for the Zvornik municipal assembly, because the elections for the polling station number 038 in Kozluk have been repeated there as well. In light of the complaints we received from certain political factors, the Election Commission is discussing the situation and establishing the facts,” said Vehid Sehic, chairman of the BiH Election Commission. Preferential counting of votes for heads of municipalities will continue in 49 municipalities in the Federation. The candidate who wins at least 50 per cent of votes plus one vote will win the elections. According to the Election Commission, the final results of the latest elections will be announced within 30 days from the day of voting. The one-month deadline was also given to the political factors to submit financial reports on the progress of the election campaign.

Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Counting of preferential votes for 49 heads of municipalities’ by M. Karacic, Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Second round for 49 Municipalities’ by D. Pasic and Z. Rerig and Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Heads of Municipalities in 49 Municipalities still unknown’, mentioned on cover ’It is uncertain as to who will be Heads of municipalities’, by E. Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine cover and pgs 4-5 ‘Second round for Mayors of 49 municipalities in F BiH’ by Rubina Cengic; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Second round of counting’ by N. Zelenovic also covered the issue.

EC says census not a condition from the Feasibility Study

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Job that requires time and money’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Census is not a condition from Feasibility Study’, Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘EC: Census in BiH, in neighbourhood too’, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 12 ‘Census in all countries from the region’, by D. Pasic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘It is still too early’; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Census impossible in 2005’ by SRNA; Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘No census in 2005’ by V. Popovic, FENA – A statement by the EC delegation in BiH notes that due to lack of precise data, which is a product of no census in BiH, the whole issue has a negative effect on accuracy of economic parameters and making of a strong social and economic policy. Still, the EC notes that the census is not one of conditions from the Feasibility Study, noting that “there has to be a political consensus in whole country if we want to get the job done successfully”. EC believes that the census cannot be held in 2005 because of technical requirements and funding, noting that the whole issue has to be viewed upon in the regional context, considering problems related to the return of refugees.  Although the UN recommend that the census be carried out in 2010, the EC believes it is the issue which will be decided on by BiH authorities and authorities of the countries from the region.

Paravac does not want to talks about changes to BiH Constitution

 

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Paravac does not want to talks about changes to BiH Constitution’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Paravac against discussion on changes to BiH Constitution’ – Borislav Paravac, Serb member of the BiH Presidency, on Monday sent a letter to Chairman of the body Sulejman Tihic saying he was against the proposed agenda for the next session that included discussion on the amendments to the BiH Constitution. The discussion and the amendments were proposed by the Bosniak and Croat members of the BiH Parliament’s Legal-Constitutional Commission. The session of the Presidency has been scheduled for Wednesday and it is uncertain if Tihic will withdraw the disputed item from the agenda.   

Oslobodjenje editorial on removals of politicians by HR

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Wasting of time’ In Focus column by Mirko Sagolj – Sagolj commented on possible new removals of the BiH politicians by the High Representative. He concludes that all the individual removals represent just wasting of time as long as the nationalistic political parties are in power.

DL on internal relations in HDZ BiH

 

Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Boards that are influenced by ‘mole’ to become targets’, mentioned on front, by Zvonimir Jukic – The daily reminds of a recent statement by the President of HDZ BiH, Barisa Colak, who announced changes to local branches of the party in areas where HDZ BiH had poor showings in the local elections. Colak stated that the changes would happen through inter-party elections. However, the author stresses that analysts predict that the HDZ leadership, influenced by Dragan Covic and people around him, will dissolve some local leaderships of the party. The article also reminds that the HDZ City Board in Mostar could also be dissolved, and the issue of poor election results could be used as an excuse to dissolve the board and appoint Miroslav Coric as the person in charge of the party in Mostar until new leadership is elected. In this context, the author argues that poor results in the elections in Mostar could be used to get rid of people who are not close to Coric and his mentors in HDZ BiH.

Radom za Boljitak not to form coalition with HDZ in Mostar

 

Dnevni List pg 15 ‘Vucina: We shall not form coalition with HDZ’ by NINA – Commenting on media speculations that President of the City Board of People’s Party Working for Prosperity (NSRZB) Adisa Vucina will become a new Mostar Mayor, Vucina stated that there were no concrete indications or offers of the opposition according to which she would be proposed for the position of the Mostar Mayor. She added: “We did not even discuss this issue at the session of the NSRZBCity Board, since we agreed to wait for the official results of the BiH Election Commission and only then we shall agree whether we shall have a candidate for the Mostar Mayor or we shall support someone from the other party.” Vucina also rejected possibility of forming coalition with HDZ in case NSRZB gets such offers.

VL on political aspirations of Bakir Izetbegovic

 

Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Izetbegovic after Izetbegovic’, mentioned on cover, by Z. Jurilj carries an article about the situation within SDA. The author says that in spite of good results that SDA achieved in the last elections, some SDA leaders could not hide their dissatisfaction with poor election results in some towns and SDA President Sulejman Tihic is among them. VL also says that according to those who are better familiar with the SDA inter-party relations, Tihic will be the first person over whose mistakes his opponents within the party will triumph. VL says it is well known that a son of late SDA President Alija Izetbegovic, Bakir Izetbegovic, is waiting for the right moment to remove Tihic from the leading position in SDA and it is being speculated that at the general elections, which are to take place in 2 years, Bakir Izetbegovic will be the SDA candidate for a member of the BiH Presidency.  According to a VL source, who is about to leave SDA dissatisfied with the situation within the party, for the time being Bakir Izetbegovic keeps silent and acts from shadow, however, a leading position in politics will be his final choice.  

European Union on constitutional changes

 

Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Assent of all three peoples’ by SRNA; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Constitutional changes at long term’ by SRNA – Dailies refer to well-informed diplomatic source at the European Council in Brussels, saying that the constitutional changes in BiH represent a long-term priority of European Union, for whose implementation the assent of all three peoples would be necessary. The source notes that European Union is aware of the fact that Dayton Agreement would be exhausted in long term and reforms would be necessary.

 

Economic/social issues

Dnevni Avaz on a scandal at Sarajevo Stock Exchange

 

 

Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Big scandal at the Stock Exchange’, pg 3 ‘Out of five Supervisory Board members only one is of the Bosniak nationality’ – Monday’s voting on the dismissal of the current and the election of a new Sarajevo Stock Exchange Supervisory Board completely divided its shareholders. As nine broker’s houses voted for the removal of former Chairman of the Board Muris Cicic, eight houses were against. In this way, the Sarajevo Stock Exchange has entered into a crisis since there are announcements on possible formation of a new stock exchange.

Prlic says HT Mostar ready to offer GSM services

 

Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Meeting between Prime Minister Hadzipasic and HT Management’, mentioned on front, by Jurislav Petrovic – Carries the General Manager of HT Mostar, Stipe Prlic, as commenting on some media reports that claim that the FBiH Government is doing everything to destroy ‘Eronet’ and ‘HT Mostar’. Prlic says he does not believe it is in the interest of the FBiH Government to destroy the two companies, and Prlic hopes to meet the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, in order to discuss future moves of HT Mostar. Prlic notes that HT Mostar is ready to provide GSM services independently.

VL on VAT

 

Vecernji List front pg splash ad pg 5 ‘Life to be more expensive by 17 % in 2006’ by Z. Jurilj says that in case that BiH authorities with the assistance of ‘mentors’ from the International Community introduce the value added tax, experts from the area of economy envisage that living standard of 95 % socially endangered BiH population will keep falling, while 5 % of rich BiH population will be able to keep living in luxury. VL also carries the removed Federation of BiH Minister of Finances, Nikola Grabovac,as saying that he expects that BiH politicians will accept the VAT since they do not want to confront (with the IC), however, in case that they do introduce the VAT, the Law on Social Protection should be passed and minimal incomes of pensioners, disabled persons etc. should be defined.

Interview with BiH Chief Auditor Sego

 

Nezavisne Novine, pg. 9 ‘Prosecutors should be working on audit reports’ by N. KrsmanMilenko Sego, the Chief Auditor of financial transactions of BiH institutions, in an extensive interview to NN stated he thinks prosecutors, inspectors and parliamentary delegates should act with more determination after audit reports are published. He pointed out that his appointment was made in accordance with laws, as well as that the Parliament had no right to limit his mandate because that would not be in accordance with laws. He claims he is not a member of any political party, denying he is “Covic’s man” as some media claim.

 

Police/crime/legal proceedings

Bosniak and Croat leaders in RS meet with EUPM’s Carty

 

 

 

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘EUPM cannot influence police ethnic structure’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Police Director should be Bosniak or Croat’ by V.P., FENA – RS Vice Presidents Adil Osmanovic and Ivan Tomljenovic and RS National Assembly Deputy Speakers Sefket Hafizovic and Tomislav Tomljanovic discussed appointment of Bosniak and Croat representatives to the posts within the RS Ministry of Interior and police structures with EUMP Commissioner Kevin Carty in Sarajevo on Monday. Ivan Tomljenovic said that they informed Carty about the inappropriate Bosniak and Croat representation in the RS police structures at all levels. The EUPM Commissioner said that the EUPM has a specific mandate in BiH and that it cannot influence such issues. According to Carty, EUPM can only “warmly recommend” that this issue be reviewed, Ivan Tomljenovic told FENA after the meeting.

Personnel changes at RS MOI

 

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Glusac as Head of Cabinet’ by V.J; Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Zoran Glusac as new Head of RS MoI Cabinet’ by SRNA – NN learnt at the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs that Zoran Glusac, Head of Ministry Press Bureau,has been appointed as new Head of RS Interior Minister’s Cabinet. RS MoI notes that new Head of Press Bureau should be appointed in the near future.

RSNA’s Sakan on police reform document

 

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘New document is not acceptable’ by V.J. – Velimir Sakan, President of the RS NA Board for control over the work of defence and internal affairs bodies, confirmed to GS that this Board has been familiarised with the content of the new concept of police reform, offered by Wilfred Martens. Sakan noted: “This concept clearly sets police structure in order. It does not show the existence of RS Interior Ministry, which is completely unacceptable for us.”

Sakan added: “Minister Darko Matijasevic left the session of Police Restructuring Commission, because he did not have enough time to take a stance and harmonise it with RS authorities.”

He announced Board would discuss this Document and propose to RS NA to take a stance on this matter, adding: “The document deeply encroaches the authority of RS bodies and I am of the view that not a single person has the mandate to accept it as such.”

RS radicals leader Mihalica on political affairs/police reform

 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Prepared in their statements’ by G.D.Milenko Mihajlica, the President of the RS SRS, Monday said that Serb Radical Party is concerned with the level of political disunity and non-readiness of Serb political parties to agree on issues of key importance for the future of RS and the Serb people in BiH.

Referring to the work of the Commission in charge of the reform of police forces in BiH, Mihajlica Monday said that it was not good that this “is being done secretly”. He appealed to representatives from the RS in this Commission to inform the National Assembly and the public about their work so far, noting: “On the basis of information that we have, the work of the Commission is not in the interest of the RS. The proposals that will lead to the abolition of the RS MoI and the transfer of competences in the field of internal affairs and security from the RS onto the state level are not acceptable for the SRS.” Sarajevo media also carried the statement.

Hercegovacka Bank case

 

BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg ‘Police inspector from Finland testified’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Kristensen: Financial assistance from Croatia used for commercial purposes’, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 7 ‘New names are Lovric, Soljic and Covic’, by Erna Mackic, Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 6 ‘Finnish inspector ‘topples’ the bank with project ‘Athens’’, by Z. Tulic, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Witness a leader of investigators’, by Dejan Jazvic, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Jelavic, Covic and associates embezzled millions of BAM’ by A.D. – Trials of Ante Jelavic and Ivica Karlovic in the Hercegovacka bank case continued before the BiH Court yesterday (Monday) with questioning of the first witness, Jaakko Christensen, a former OHR employee who used to work for anti crime and corruption department. To be more exact, he worked on the ‘Athens’ project, the aim of which was to investigate into illegalities that occurred in and around the Hercegovacka bank. Christensen noted that the investigation had established that big amounts of money, which were being donated by the Croatian Government and which were supposed to be used to pay salaries to HVO troops and their social welfare, were in fact used for commercial purposes. Prosecutor of the BiH Prosecution special department for organized crime and corruption, John McNair, asked the witness who were the people who had used the money for commercial purposes, and in his reply Christensen stated that those persons were Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce, Ivan Medic, Ivan Azinovic, Miroslav Rupcic, Velimir Soljic, Ivica Karlovic, Dragan Covic and others. SD notes that Christensen was in fact talking about issues that have already been published in the newly published book entitled ‘Roman Defence’, which is signed by a young Mostar-based journalist, Leo Plockinic, which carries details how the then High Representative for BiH destroyed the Hercegovacka bank. SD also reports that Karlovic’s lawyer, Marko Martinovic, announced that he would summon Zlatko Bars and Mustafa Brkic, director and assistant director in the FBiH Banking Agency, and former lawyers in the bank, namely Tomislav Bevanda and Zora Santic.

VL says Hercegovacka bank was not insolvent as IC claimed

 

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Bank that violated regulations like other banks’, by Zoran Kresic – The author argues that Prosecutor John McNair, in process against Ante Jelavic, revealed something that has been evident for the past three and half years, namely that the Hercegovacka bank was not closed down because it was not solvent, as former High Representative for BiH Wolfgang Petritsch claimed, it was in fact closed down in order to stop the economic and political project the so-called Croat self-rule from 2001. The author also argues that other banks in BiH, owned by Italian and Austrian investors, are also violating banking regulations by carrying out laundry of more than 500 million KMs in last two years.

Croat self-rule: Milic to enter plea today

 

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Milic will not declare himself about indictment’, mentioned on front ‘Legal representation advises P. Milic to plea guilty’, by Miroslav Vasilj – The daily announces that Petar Milic, the only indictee in the Croat self-rule case that is yet to enter plea, will be entering plea before the BiH Court today. VL learns that Milic’s lawyer, who has been appointed to him by the Court, Nino Gvozdic, advised Milic to plea guilty, because he believes that Milic’s role during the establishment of the Croat self-rule was insignificant, which in turn should not result in conviction against his client. Milic himself says he will not be entering plea today because of shortcomings in the indictment (the indictment says he is an HDZ member, which is incorrect; that he was removed by the HR, VL says he was removed by the OSCE, etc) and Milic notes that he will ask the Court to either cancel the proceedings against him or revise the indictment against him. Milic however insists that the whole court, BiH Court that is, “is obviously under the control of the OHR, in other words of the international administration”.

Update to Krsmanovic and Vasic case

 

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Heroin raw material smuggled to Serbia’ by A> Sisic – NN learnt at BiH Prosecutor’s Office that the BiH Prosecutor’s Office is in possession of evidence that around 9 tones of acetic acid anhydride (out of the total of 20 tones that Rajo Krsmanovic from Bijeljina imported) ended at Macva’s Mitrovica in Serbia. The same source noted that owing to this reason, the judicial bodies of Republic of Serbia have been included in this investigation. The transfer of drugs from BiH to Serbia was settled by Bogdan Vasic, also charged with import of acetic acid anhydride and participation in production of synthetic drugs.

NN op-ed on war crime suspects arrest

 

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘The time at Ashdown’s clock stopped’ by Almedin Sisic – The author is writing about arrest of war crime suspects, noting ironically it is not likely to happen within the deadline Paddy Ashdown gave to RS authorities. He starts the article by saying that RS political establishment would for certain win world competition in rhetoric, if there were such, since they only keep promising they would arrest war crime suspects, but not a single one has been arrested so far.

On HR Ashdown, Sisic notes HR constantly uses one sentence “The clock is ticking and there is no more time left”, concluding Ashdown’s watch must have stopped, “since the door o The Hague are still closed”.

Belgrade ’s Nacional: Ashdown has fabricated Srebrenica

 

NacionalBelgrade daily, pg. 7 ‘Ashdown has fabricated Srebrenica’ by Gregory Copley (US Geo-strategic Institute) – The article says that a well-informed source from OHR claims that PDHR Donald Hays has actively participated in an attempt to publish a fabricated report on Srebrenica. According to the article Hays has, most probably upon insisting of HR Paddy Ashdown, demanded that RS publishes so called final report on alleged mass murder of Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995. ‘Basically, Ashdown and Hays have attempted to force RS Government to admit Serbs were responsible of murdering several thousands of Muslims’, the article reads.

The article claims any RS official can be removed from its post should he or she refuse to obey to HR Ashdown’s orders. This threat, according to the article, was included in an ultimatum presented by Ambassador Hays in a number of meetings with RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic held in Banja Luka at the end of August 2003. Hays has presented a document including three items, which should have been accepted by RS as they were and present it as a final report on Srebrenica. Ending the Srebrenica case should have helped in stopping accusations against Bill Clinton’s administration on illegal help to radical Islamist activists during the war in BiH.

The article carries the inset ‘A biography of associate Donald Hays’ – it carries a part of PDHR’s biography from OHR web-page.

Collegium of BiH HoP on set of laws on war crimes

 

Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Law to be additionally harmonized due to amendments’, by Ivica Glibusic – Collegium of the BiH Parliament’s House of Peoples held a session in Sarajevo yesterday (Monday) in order to discuss the information presented by the chamber’s Constitutional-Legal Commission about the Proposal of law on changes and amendments to Law on BiH Court; Proposal of law on taking over of ICTY’s cases by the BiH Prosecution and use of evidence gathered by the ICTY in proceedings before courts in BiH and Proposal of law on changes and amendments to Law on BiH Prosecution. According to the Speaker of BiH HoP, Goran Milojevic, the chamber’s Constitutional-Legal Commission will meet in next few days in order to discuss amendments that have been submitted by all three caucuses (Serb, Bosniak and Croat caucuses), and only after that the HoP can discuss the said laws. DL also reads that representatives of proponents of the law and the OHR had objections to the submitted amendments, and Milojevic says it is now down to the caucuses to decide whether to acknowledge the amendments and modify them to the objections.

Mostar citizen charged with murder of three men in Novi Sad

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Mostar citizen charged with murder of three men’ by SRNA; Vecernje Novosti cover and pgs 14-15 “Mother told police” Arrest my son!’ by Ljiljana Preradovic; EuroBlic cover and pg 10 ‘Murderer from Novi Sad found in Mostar’ by H.D.– Dailies report on triple murder in Novi Sad when Milan Matkovic, originally from Mostar, murderer three young men with a shotgun and then ran away to BiH. According to Vecernje Novosti, his mother informed BiH police her son crossed the border and is hiding in Mostar, where police found him and placed in custody.

Patriot on Beara’s call on other war crime indictees to surrender

 

Patriot pgs 6-7 and cover ‘Transformation of murderer’ by Slobodan Vaskovic – The author is writing about the statement of Ljubisa Beara before the ICTY (when he called on other war crime indictees to surrender). The author refers to Beara as hypocrite and cynic, noting Beara should have voluntarily surrendered a year ago (when bill of indictment against him was unsealed) to RS, not Serbian authorities, since he has been charged with crimes committed in BiH. The author notes Beara is now just trying to save anything he can and getting the sympathy of public.

 

Media

BiH Islamic leaders blast lack of state TV Ramadan coverage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘We will review continuation of our cooperation with BHT, FTV’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BHT, FTV should accept Muslims live in this country as well’, Vecernji List, pg 9 ‘Without Ramadan programming on TV’, by Ivica Pjanic,FENA – The leadership of the BiH Islamic Community is appalled with the attitude of BHT and FTV towards Muslims and citizens of BiH and announced that it would review the continuation of any form of the cooperation with these two public broadcasters, including the transmission of Bayram festivities. The leadership of the Islamic Community believes that the refusal of BHT and FTV to broadcast programmes at the time of Iftar (sunset meals) this year amounts to the “culmination of discrimination against Muslims and the Islamic Community in BiH”, and noted that “such discrimination has been evident for some time now.” Citing many complaints raised by a large number of Muslims, citizens and subscribers of BHT and FTV over the failure to broadcast the Iftar programme this year and the “explanation” of the executive committee of the Public Broadcasting Service that “not only Muslims live in this country”, the leadership of the Islamic Community reiterated that it was true that “not only Muslims live in BiH”, but that “Muslims also lived in the country despite the predictions by some that they would disappear from BiH and despite the fact that BHT and FTV were not taking them into account, and especially in the month of Ramadan, which is the most important period of spirituality for Muslims”. The Islamic Community further noted that, according to confirmed data, Muslims in BiH comprised the highest percentage of those who subscribed to BHT and FTV.

SDA slams TV stations over lack of Ramadan programmes

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Tradition cannot be ignored’, FENA – The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) protests against the decision by BHT, FTV and RTRS not to broadcast programmes at the time of Iftar (sunset meal) during the month of Ramadan. “We warn the editorial boards of BHT, FTV and RTRS that Bosniaks are a constituent people in BiH. The month of Ramadan is a part of the Bosniak-Muslim tradition and culture and the times when their tradition could be ignored and discriminated against are behind us,” an SDA statement says. The party reminds public broadcasters that they are financed through licence fee collected from Bosniaks, hence “they are under obligation to urgently include daily programmes about Ramadan”.

BiH journalists criticize Islamic Community over attack on Dani weekly

 

BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Public call for destruction of a magazine’, ONASA – The Coordination of Journalists’ Associations in BiH thinks that recommendations of the Islamic community in BiH to domestic companies not to advertise in the magazine BH Dani, and not to assist publishing of the weekly are rough attack on freedom of expression, a magazine and its journalists. The Coordination said the Islamic community has crossed its framework of performance and is trying to use its reputation and influence to deal with “misbehaving” journalists and media. The Coordination also thinks the Islamic community should have protested directly to the editorial of BH Dani, if having complaints on the weekly and the head-lines in one of the latest issues, or contact the Press Council. “Calling for a boycott of a paper is fully unacceptable reaction and reflection of complete change of roles and duties of some institutions in B-H,” the coordination said in a statement.