| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| 14th anniversary- Vukovar sufferings | Barbaso on | |
| Memory to victims of Skabrnja | Colona meets Terzic | Higher Education work group formed |
| 14th anniversary of HB establishment | BiH politicians left for | Terrorist attacks in |
| Editorial comment | Terzic meets IMF representatives | Holbrook receives Peace prize |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| World News | | Mourning day in B. Gradiska |
| Barbaso on | | |
| Holbrooke given Dayton Peace Prize | | Conference in |
| Hayat on the 10th DPA anniversary | NGO Conference on DPA | Passing of Law on High Education |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH negotiations with EU start on Friday |
| Dnevni Avaz | One should not fear state with Muslim majority |
| Dnevni List | International officials will force changes to the Constitution?! |
| Vecernji List | Feature |
| Nezavisne Novine | Prosecution launches investigation into spending donations in BiH |
| Glas Srpske | New Kalaj’s student [on Bisera Turkovic’s statement] |
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| Barboso: BiH negotiations with EU start on Friday; first technical mtg in January;
| PINK by Aida Hasanbegovic – BiH will start negotiations with the EU on Stabilization and Association Agreement ( |
| DA/NN int with Barbaso: reforms must be implemented not only adopted
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH administration must be more efficient and cheaper’ by Sead Numanovic – In and interview to DA, EU official Fabrizio Barbaso, notes that the focus of the |
| Terzic meets French Minister Colonna: reforms must be continued
| BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Support to European integrations’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘EU can negotiation only with one person’, Nezavisne novine pg 5 ‘Reform speed up negotiations with EU’, Dnevni list pg 2 ‘France advocates for BiH’s quick accession to EU’- French Minister for European Affairs Catherine Colonna met with Adnan Terzicconfirming that EU Ministers Council will give approval for opening of negotiation with BiH during their session on November 21st. She added that all adopted reforms helped BIH the EU officials to agree on the start off |
DPA anniversary / constituional changes | |
| Media speculate on outcome of Washington talks
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| Holbrooke awarded Dayton Peace Price
| Hayat by Slobodan Svrzo – Founder of the Dayton Peace Agreement Richard Holbrooke was awarded with the Dayton Peace Prize. Receiving the prize, Holbrooke said that the goal was to end the war and they managed to do that. Holbrooke also said that the DPA was not perfect nor was its implementation completely successful. “And then about five months ago, new State Department’s administration made a very important change in politics towards BiH that I found very encouraging. New USA State Secretary Condoleezza Rice has practically abandoned politics which has been led in past 4 years”, said Holbrooke. Holbrooke added that peace agreement had once more been opened and that on Monday and Tuesday, in Washington, USA State Secretary was going to spend more time to the issue. BHT 1, RTRS Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Richard Holbrooke awarded with Dayton Peace Price’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Richard Holbrooke awarded with Dayton Peace Price’ -also reported. |
| BiH delegation today departs for Washington
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| Int conference in Dayton: Ashdown stresses agreement was not engraved in stone, flexibility needed
| RTRS by Marina Marjanovic– The international conference on BiH and the constitutional changes has continued in Dayton, Ohio with the goal to discuss modern and functional state enabling association with the EU and NATO. Conclusions of this Conference will be presented to the participants of the Washington talks. HR Paddy Ashdown said that BiH has been able to move from the political and economic collapse of a decade ago to the beginning of EU accession talks in coming days because the Dayton Agreement combined “enough firmness to maintain peace, with enough flexibility to enable reform.” “A key lesson has been that political settlements are not – cannot be – written in stone,” the HR said. NATO General Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated that it is time to make a step forward in BiH, adding that NATO will remain to be a significant support in that process. |
| Four NGOs discuss constitutional changes: BiH can join EU only as state of all its citizens
| Hayat by Alem Karamesic – Four NGOs – the Serbs Citizens Council (SGV), the Council of the Bosniak Intellectuals Congress (VKBI), the Croat National Council ( |
| Ivanic: Const. changes are not condition for
| RTS by Natasa Lekic – Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, was the guest in central news program broadcast by the Serbian state TV. Asked whether expects new pressure during the Washington talks, Ivanic said he doesn’t as the IC has clearly said that the constitutional changes would not be a result of their but local engagement: “Commissionaire [Olli] Rhen was clear enough when he said that the EC thinks there should be no intruding or pressures and that constitutional changes are not the condition for the beginning of negotiations with EU. I think it would be useful the Constitution to be adjusted to the present needs. Political parties from RS have offered a numerous solutions.” Asked how it is possible to set up functional BiH without endangering RS, Ivanic answered: “That is possible to do that by certain adjustments to the existing Constitution. Politicians from RS have offered few solutions. One of the main problems is how the Presidency is elected … That is why we offered the solution one member of Presidency to be elected by RS, and two by FBiH…Opening the story about major, fundamental changes of Dayton agreement is not realistic in these conditions; there is no political consensus on that. Therefore, I think certain adjustments are needed. We are ready to make the Council of Ministers even stronger, but we don’t think it should grow into classical government”, Ivanic concluded. |
| Hays explains process of const changes talks: BiH leaders deciding
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Leaders of BiH are deciding’, mentioned on cover, by |
| EU’s Barbaso: Politicians must find a model of constitution for BiH
| Nezavisne novine pg 5 ‘Political must find the best model for BiH constitution’, mentioned on cover ‘Barbaso: BiH needs constitution for EU’ by M. Cubro – In an interview to NN, Director General of the EU Enlargement Directorate Fabrizio Barbasowas asked to comment the Washington talks on the constitutional changes. “I expect BiH to finally adopt the constitution which will allow it to be ready for the next steps leading to EU… There should be amendments made to the Constitution.” |
| Op-eds on Washington talks: Moderate optimism as US is a patronage of talks
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Washington Constitution’ op-ed by Daniel Omeragic – Commenting the Washington talks on the constitutional changes, the author says that the only thing all sides agree is that current BiH is not good for anybody. He notes that while it is possible for Washington to result with some kind of agreement, the real problem will be to implement it. “BiH cannot expect must from imposed solutions, but currently it is really not in the position to choose,” concludes the op-ed. Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘It is important to take out filling’ op-ed by Mirko Sagolj – On the same issue, author deems Washington talks could bring some results having in mind that US is having control. Europe, says Sagolj, has never been either decisive or united enough on BiH issue. He also stresses that expectations should be realistic adding this most probably will be the strengthening of the state institutions Presidency, Government and Parliament. Secondly, author commends Zlatko Lagumdzija for consulting small opposition parties and academics on constitutional changes prior to his departure for Washington. Noting that Lagumdzija may decide to create the patriotic block, author believes that such approach could bring significant changes in the next elections. Vecernji list pg 6 ‘Celebrating unjust peace’ op-ed by Ivica Pjanic – Author notes that the celebration of DPA means celebrating unjust peace. Dnevni list pg 2 ‘Amateurs in Washington’ op-ed by Tanja Dragic – Author notes that it is possible that some kind of agreement is reached, however she doubts it will be in the benefit of all three peoples deeming as the parties’ leaders clearly showed that they are amateurs. |
| Regional reactions: Mesic says DPA must be changes
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| Regional reactions:
| RTRS ‘Oci u oci’ current affairs programm by Zeljka Dragicevic – The guest of the magazine was Bogoljub Karic, Serbian businessman and the leader of the movement The Strength of Serbia ( |
| BK TV comments on DPA talks: Everyone forgot
| BK TV [Serbian] by Tanja Veselinovic – BK TV brings extensive feature on Dayton Peace Agreement. It comments that in the last 10 years entities won a great power, while the central government was weak. In last few weeks, when European integrations issue became more important, the opinion that Dayton was good for ending the war but not to have successful state with EU aspirations is being heard more and more often. The European MPs group has asked for the Dayton revision last year. The statement that says Dayton agreement changes are necessary has been adopted at that time. Therefore, the State department lawyers have made the draft document called “Dayton plus”. By that draft, BiH should become parliamentary democracy, with central government and national parliament, and it would become integrated state. Entities would loose almost half of competences they used to have so far. BK TV concludes that the new BiH Constitution is obviously inevitable. Reporter Ivan Andjelkovic comments that the creators of “Dayton plus” seemed to forgot that both Serbia and Croatia also signed the agreement. Report from Zagreb by Slavisa Veselinovic focused at the Croatian perspective on the issue concluding politicians are divided over situation in BiH as some think the centralization will help to integrate the country more quickly in EU, while others think entities should have broader competences. According to report, both sides however agree that centralization would bring unifying of Serbs and Croats. |
| British media: West turned BiH into big lab | |
Other political issues | |
| BiH authorities commit to coming up with new draft law on higher education by 9 December
| BHT 1 by Damir Simic – BiH Council of Ministers has established the Work Group on the Higher Education Law tasking it to come up with the draft law on higher education by 9th December. Presenter stated that International Community pressed the BIH Authorities to solve this issue as soon as possible. Chairman of BIH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that students, parents, teachers and ministers are for implementation of Bologna process into BIH system. “The only problem is that in BIH we have 10 different interpretations of that system” added Terzic. UK Ambassador to BIH Mathew Rycroft stated that new regulation should be adopted by consensus adding that the maximum potential in BIH can be realized by adopting the EU standards. Dean of Mostar University Frano Ljubic stated that BIH can adopt the higher education law in short period of time only if its politicians really want EU standards. OHR also welcomed the CoM’s decision to establish the work group. The adopted draft law will be sent to BIH Parliament for discussion. PINK – “And now for the first time we have agreement on the way to do that; to turn the paper commitment into reality, so I am very glad that there is now agreement to set up this working group that will prepare by consensus a law on higher education”, said Rycroft. BHT 1 late news– PhD Lamija Tanovic, BIH representative in Bologna Group, said that BIH hasn’t adopted the law due to political reasons adding that it has well trained experts that would be able to carry out the implementation of the Bologna process. PhD Zeljko Mirjanic agreed the law should have been passed long time ago adding BIH can expect the strong resistance towards the new system brining a big change. RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘New draft law by 9 December’, Nezavisne novine pg 13 ‘New draft law by 9 December’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘No more waiting’, Dnevni list pg 5 ‘CoM exits the labyrinth’ – also carried. |
| CoM to encompass the office on Brcko District
| RTRS, BHT 1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘District’s office in the state government’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘District Brcko office being established in the CoM’, Nezavosine novine pg 13 ‘To completely ensure coordination with the state’ – Chairman of CoM Adnan Terzic and Major of Brcko District Mirsad Djapo have signed agreement on establishment of Office of Brcko District Coordinator within the Council of Ministers. The office will allow the District to participate in decision making process in the institution at the state level. RTRS late news edition reports that the Coordinator for the Brcko District will attend all sessions, but will not participate in passing of decisions. Coordinator and the five-member team would be appointed by Djapo and Terzic would provide premises for them. This agreement was signed in accordance with final arbitrage decision on BD and should provide better cooperation between Brcko District and CoM. |
| Reis Ceric: Europe should not fear Muslims
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘One should not fear state with Muslim majority’, pg 4 – The Islamic religious leader [Reis-ul-Ulema] in BiH, Mustafa Ceric, said on Friday on assuming his new seven-year mandate that Europe is BiH’s aim and Europe should not be afraid of a “strong and organized state in which Muslims are the majority“. “It is absurd to be afraid of a strong and organized state in which Muslims are the majority and after they have survived the genocide in Srebrenica. So who should trust whom? We are expected to trust Europe, which allowed genocide to occur, while Europe is unable to trust us, only because we are Muslims,” Ceric said in his address in Sarajevo. BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover, ‘BiH Muslims are still fighting for their homeland’, Nezavisne novine pg 9 ‘New mandate of reis Ceric began’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Do not be afraid of Muslims’, Dnevni list pg 5 ‘Europe should not fear Muslims’ – also reported on the Friday’s ceremony. |
| Grude to celebrate 14th anniversary of Herceg Bosna
| BHT1 By Martina Kristo-Antelj – Croats in Herzegovina marked the anniversary of former political and military organisation Herceg-Bosna. This organisation ceased to exist when Dayton Peace Agreement was signed, and today it is regarded as cultural organisation with important historical background for Croats. Reporter noted that most of its founders are processed before ICTY for war crimes. Polled citizens stated that Herceg-Bosna was their instrument to fight for equality of Croats in BIH. |
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| Hayat on RSNA’s request regarding the budget for population census
| Hayatby Lejla Gutlic – The RS National Assembly obliged the RS representatives in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly to vote against adoption of joint institutions budget if it fails to include the finances for carrying out population census. FBiH representatives in the BiH Parliament fiercely judge such decision. “The RS NA’s decision is obligatory in terms of the RS representatives since we have been chosen on the RS NA’s proposal”, BiH parliamentarian Bosko Siljegovic. “Conditioning adoption of the budget for 2006 presents a kind of blackmail and I hope that no reasonable man would consider this idea normal”, said SDA member of the Parliament Mirsad Ceman. RS representatives say that avoiding census presents typical political manipulation in order to stick to the 1991 census, while, on the other hand, SDA asks for Annex 7 to be implemented and then to have the census carried out. “We often use to say that the Annex 7 has been implemented… those who wanted have returned to their homes… I think that other political issues are at stake here”, said Siljegovic. “Those supporting the idea of census carried out in… 2006 are aiming towards having the results of ethnical cleansing legitimated”, said Ceman. The whole situation brought BiH’s budget into question. |
| Ivanic, RS professors harshly criticise Turkovic’s statement: Ivanic to report her to Presidency
| Vecernji list pg 4 ‘I will report Ambassador Turkovic to Presidency’ by Zoran Kresic – VL interview with BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic focuses at the statement given last week by the BiH Ambassador to US, Bisera Turkovic, in which she said that peoples in Bosnia will stop feeling like Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks and would instead all become Bosnians. Ivanic most harshly criticised this statement calling it highly inappropriate and adding he will report Turkovic and some other Ambassadors [without specifying on their names] to the BiH presidency requesting the action. He notes he understands that all should feel like BiH citizens, but strongly underlined citizens will never stop feeling Serb/Croat/Bosniak. Glas Srpske cover splash story ‘Kalaj’s new student’ by Z.M. – GS also most harshly criticises Turkovic’s statement, adding that SDA has put a lot of effort to create entirely new nation/people in BiH – Bosnians [GS notes that in BiH, there is not difference between two]. It also brings statements by Sociology professor from Banja Luka Ivan Sijakovic, professor from Eastern Sarajevo Ljubo Potpara, and military analyst Gostimir Popovic all judging the statement. |
| Cavic says | Nezavisne novine pg 9 ‘At next elections, |
Economic issues / Broadcasting | |
| Terzic says IMF has no understanding for BiH, it will slow down implementation of defence reform
| PINKby Aida Doric – BiH Council of Ministers and Fiscal Council Chair Adnan Terzic said on Friday that all the prerequisites should be fulfilled within the next 20 days for the Fiscal Council to sign a stand by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for next year. Addressing the press conference, Terzic complained about the lack of understanding on the part of the IMF. “We are faced with a problem and I have to admit that the IMF does not understand us since it asks for surplus in our budgets… we are faced with problem in terms of financing defence reform”, said the Chair of BiH CoM Adnan Terzic. On defence reform, Terzic says that it requires additional 30 million KM. Doyl reminded that talks between the IMF and the Fiscal Council have been going on since the middle of this year and that more work needs to be done on finalising the BiH budget for 2006. At its previous session the Fiscal Council succeeded in satisfying some of IMF’s basic demands, i.e. making a schedule based on which the state, entity and the Brcko District budgets would have a surplus of 1,5 percent in 2006. The IMF also opposes the idea of having new loan taken, since BiH’s debt is estimated to be the 30 % of gross national product. “Our concern is that the level of country’s debt is too high and I need to say that if there is to be an interest to have project such as a Vc corridor then it needs to be carried out within the framework of the budgets”, said the Chief of IMF mission to BiH Peter Doyle. FTV, BHT1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Primer Minister Terzic excepts increase of revenue in 2006’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘IMF has no understanding for BiH institutions’ budget in 2006’, Dnevni list pg 2 ‘New stand-by arrangement’, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘IMF’s decision will slow down defence reform’, mentioned on cover, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Every KM important’ – also reported. |
| New contracts for collection of RTV taxes signed
| BHT 1 by Mirela Cosic – Representatives of Public Broadcasting Services and all three telecommunications operators signed a new contract on collecting RTV taxes. The new contract stipulates that citizens will pay the entire amount of phone bill including obligatory payment of RTV taxes. Contract will be effective as of January 1st. It is expected that the implementation of this contract would increase a level of taxes collection by approximately 25%, ensuring higher level of stability for the public broadcasters. BiH Minister of Transport and Communications Branko Dokic said it is certain that the telecom operators will have more work to carry this out, however added it is in the state interest. Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘New contract on RTV taxes signed’, Nezavisne novine pg 9 ‘No avoidance of paying RTV taxes as of 1 January’ also carry. RTRS late news – Dokic, who was the guest of the late news edition, explained that the contract should contribute to revitalize public broadcasters. |
| Prosecution to launch investigation into spending of donations
| Nezavisne novine cover splash, pg 3 ‘BiH prosecution launches investigation into spending donations’ by M. Cubro, A. Sisic – BiH Prosecution will launch the investigation into the spending of donations BiH was given since 1996. NN’s source from the BiH Court stated that “after the assessments from the international audit company that many donations were not registered and evaluation of the Chair of the Investigative Commission, Tihomir Gligoric, that there is 10 billion KM between received and registered means, the prosecution decided this is a very serious issue for investigation.” |
War crimes / security | |
| Andan denies media report on RS MoI report regarding ICTY fugitives’ whereabouts
| RTRS by Natasa Miljanovic Zubac– RS Police Director Dragomir Andan said that the issue of the ICTY suspects still at large must be solved till the end of year, and added that the media reports according to which Radovan Karadzic was hiding in Trebinje were unfounded. Andan said that the RS Ministry of Interior never received information on whereabouts of the ICTY fugitives, adding that these unconfirmed information are obstructing the work of the Ministry. “If we are in some operative phase when I can’t share [information] with you…I don’t believe that any serious service could say ‘we have located him on such and such location, but haven’t contacted him yet’, I think that that would be unserious,” said Andan. He explained his statement of hope for Ratko Mladic to be in the ICTY till end of the year is based on RS MoI information and exchange of data with Serbian agencies. Nezavisne novine pg 4 ‘Speculations on places where ICTY fugitives are hiding’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘End of Hague’s story’ – Andan reiterated once against that the case of ICTY fugitives will be solved by the end of year. |
| Police arrests two terrorism suspects | Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover, ‘Another two persons arrested for planning terrorist attacks’ by I. Catic – Two persons were arrested in Sarajevo on Friday under suspicion of planning the terrorist attack in BiH. DA learns that they are both Bosniaks cooperating with recently arrested Mirsad Bektasevic and Dzesur Abdulaikar, a Swedish and Turk. The arrests followed after the investigation carried out by BiH Intelligence Agency [OSA]. DA’s source, highly position official, says two suspects planned to carry out terrorist attach. OSA has continued the investigation. BiH COM Chair, Adnan Terzic, congratulated OSA for this action. Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘Two associates of terrorism suspects arrested’, mentioned on cover, by D. Raduski, M. Cubro – In addition to the arrest, NN also carries Times report claiming Bektasevic is follower of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al’Qaeda in Iraq. |