| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| HDZ Initiative | Sarajevo bomb attack | Sarajevo bomb attack | HDZ initiative |
| SNSD on early elections | CoM session on Monday | HDZ initiative | Mostar restructuring |
| Brcko District Supervisor | BiH companies in Serbia | New Supervisor in Brcko | New Supervisor for Brcko |
| Sarajevo bomb attack | Bomb attack in Baghdad | Bomb attack in Baghdad | Privatisation BL Brewery |
| Oslobodjenje | Taib Torlakovic killed in planted bomb explosion; Slavko Marin, military advisor in BiH Presidency: With new army we become a partner, not a problem; BiH Parliamentary Commission: Hearing warrants sent to Vuksic, Djapo and Brdar |
| Dnevni Avaz | Taib Torlakovic killed; Barisa Colak, HDZ president: Change in FBiH Government to follow |
| Dnevni List | Sarajevo: One of heads of organized crime killed; HDZ wants transfer of authority of Federation of BiH onto State and cantons: Decision based on Constitution of BiH |
| Vecernji List | SDA decided to remove PM Hadzipasic: Is Federation Government falling tomorrow; BiH wants Croatia not to endanger entrance of larger ships to Neum: Bridge has to he higher |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Nezavisne Novine | Car Explosion in Sarajevo: One of leaders of Sarajevo Mafia killed; HDZ of BiH: Tokic, Luzanski and Batinic to face exclusion from party |
| Blic | Banja Luka pupils face freezing; Threats to the Government without real support |
NOTE: There is no Glas Srpske today, due to Epiphany holiday.
Bomb attack in Sarajevo | |
| Organized crime suspect killed in Sarajevo
| RTRS, RHB, Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 26 ‘Taib Torlakovic killed’, Dnevni List front. pg 35 ‘One of heads of organized crime killed’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 4 ‘Mafia boss Torlakovic killed’, Vecernji List front ‘Mafia showdown at Stup’, pg 2 ‘Taib Torlakovic dies in planted explosion’ – Taib Torlakovic, a military police commander in Sarajevo during the war, was killed on Sunday by an explosive device planted in his car. It is believed that Torlakovic was one of the main organized crime bosses in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Four years ago, the UN Mission in BiH named him as one of the 14 organized crime bosses in BiH. Torlakovic was an owner of a café bar in the Sarajevo down town. Since 10 December, ten bomb attacks have been registered against organized crime bosses and their property. Police investigations into these attacks have all proved fruitless. Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Taib Tolakovic killed by planted bomb explosion’, pg 19 ‘Bomb under Taib Torlakovic’s seat activated by remote control?’ – Daily claims that according to the unofficial police information, Torlakovic was killed in a classic assassination as a result of tensions inside Sarajevo underground, started recently by the series of attacks against [ethnic Albanian] family Gasi. Torlakovic was killed in a car he recently purchased from Ali Muhamed Gasi, with whom he was a friend. FTV, BHTV 1 – The Spokeswoman for the Sarajevo Cantonal Interior Ministry Ljiljana Sakic said that the investigation was under the way and that the suspect has been unknown. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘One of leaders of Sarajevo Mafia killed’ – Dragan Stupar, Federal prosecutor, who is in charge of investigation, said that: “This explosion is treated as the criminal act of terrorism. We still do not have much information.” A police officer, who wanted to remain anonymous, told NN that: “It is all Mafia related. I think it is also about extortion of debts, because it is well known that Torlakovic was one of the best money exhorters working for brothers Gashi from Kosovo.” |
| VL: Sarajevo dangerous place to live in | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Bombs again’ by Dejan Jazvic – VL notes that Sarajevo is becoming a dangerous place to live in, despite the Police reports on crime rates being lower than in other European capitols. Claiming the state is simply not ready to confront the people who solve issues by murders and bombs, VL sees the way out in strengthening of fight against crime, better co-operation between Police and citizenry and rigorous sanctions against the perpetrators. |
HDZ Main Board session | |
| HDZ proposes abolishment of FBiH
| RTRS, RHB, Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘Decision based on Constitution of BiH’– The HDZ Main Board completed its session held in Neum on Saturday concluding that the party would request the reduction of Federation of BiH’s authorities. The party concluded it would ask for the adoption of a constitutional law on the transfer of powers within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federation onto the state, and for said law to regulate the transfer of powers which until now have been shared by the federal and cantonal authorities onto the latter, said a statement issued after the meeting. Board also assigned Party Presidency to build strategy for protection of national interest of Croats in BiH. HDZ Main Board had also assigned Party Presidency to create Code of Conduct for party members and officials. This conclusion is followed by request to remove those officials from HDZ BiH who, at the recent elections in Croatia, supported other parties instead of HDZ candidate Ivo Sanader. It is decided to reject proposal by Norbert Winterstein, Chairman of Mostar Commission. FTV – President of HDZ Barisa Colak said that the initiative to reduce FBiH authorities meant that it was finally time to work instead of just talking about it. The HDZ representatives in FBiH Parliament have received instructions to go with this draft as soon as possible. Colak added that this would show who was the real protector of modern and democratic BiH. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘We can abolish the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in next three years’ – Barisa Colak presented his view that in the next three years, meaning by the end of this election mandate, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina could be abolished. |
| Reactions to HDZ initiative
| RTRS – Regarding HDZ’s conclusion on transferring Federation authorities on Cantons and State, SNSD believes that this was one of the stories launched in order to distract attention of citizens from real problems in this country. “It does not mean that there is no need to talk about internal organization of BiH and it does not mean that we don’t need to find those solutions that are functional for BiH, for better development and better life in this region”- said Nebojsa Radmanovic, President of SNSD Executive Board. SNSD Leader, Milorad Dodik, is of opinion that HDZ initiative encroaches into BiH constitutional system and that any kind of single action could have counterproductive reactions, adding that such an issue could be solved only through consensus of all political parties. SDS Spokesperson, Dusan Stojicic said that it confirms that entity of Federation of BiH, created by Washington Agreement, has an error in structure. “It is a fact that in this moment Federation did not adopt the Budget, Federation is at the start of implementation process of the Constitutional Amendments, Federation is not able to adopt certain laws which are necessary for process of implementation of defence reforms and many others things which show that Federation, as entity, function badly but it does not mean that entities in BiH need to be abolished and to abolish RS and create some kind of new internal structure of BiH,”- said Stojicic. PDP Secretary General Nevenka Trifkovic sees HDZ initiative as an invitation for violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. She emphasized that all three peoples in BiH need to agree about possible transfer of authorities from entities to Cantons and the State. FTV – Spokesperson for SDA Sefik Dzaferovic said that SDA was ready to participate the activities that would organize BiH as modern and functional state, however added that the important mistake HDZ made in its initiative was to refer to only one entity and not to the entire state. Dzaferovic added that the party welcomed the initiative but added that if the idea of the third entity was behind it, than SDA was opposing. Croatian Party of Right said that the BiH should be organized as federal state with a number of regions, whereas Bosnia would be one and Herzegovina other Federal unit. Sarajevo and surrounding Municipalities would be District and the Capital City of the state. |
| DA int with Barisa Colak | Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 5 ‘Changes in Federal Government will follow’ by Faruk Vele – In an interview to DA, HDZ President Barisa Colak said that the party’s Main Board concluded that the work of individual ministries at the state, federal and cantonal level was not satisfying. Along those lines, he announced upcoming restructure of FBiH Government, where HDZ can influence such change. “I cannot talk about which ministries will be in that process of restructuring…. At the [session of Main] Board with did not want to talk about the name of those we are not satisfied with,” said Colak. Commenting the relations inside the Government and between authorities, Colak said: “We really have to improve the relations of the partners in authorities. That is a priority, as we cannot make significant progress in improving our work, that is in implementation of reforms, without them. We have to improve consensus and honestly commence with talks on all important issues. When we agree on something, we have to implemented it too.” Colak added that his party was very much interested in the position of BH Defence Minister, but added that Bosniak arguments were valid too, announcing that HDZ will not be strict in their requests. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘HDZ and SDA replacing personnel’ – According to NN, Josip Merdzo, member of HDZ Presidency, said that Marko Tokic, Ivo Andric Luzanski and Zdravko Batinic would be excluded from party membership, because their names appeared at voting lists of other political parties during elections in Croatia. |
| JL: HDZ already prepared proposal | Jutarnji List pg 6 ‘Entities in BiH need to be abolished’ by Snjezana Pavic – JL reports that the HDZ has already prepared a draft proposal of the constitutional law, which will be presented to the FBiH Parliament on Tuesday, as confirmed by the President of HDZ Caucus in FBiH Parliament, Ivan Madunic. Saying that the interest of the HDZ is very clear, JL carries the President of HDZ BiH, Barisa Colak, as saying: “All three peoples are equally represented at the State level and have equal rights in the decision making (…) It is a different situation at the entity levels. Croats are the third people in the RS, and second in the Federation, formally we have guaranteed rights, but in the end it all comes down to outvoting The one with more hands decides”. |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown appoints Susan Johnson as new Brcko Supervisor
| FTV, BHTV 1, RTRS, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Susan Johnson new supervisor’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Susan Johnson new Brcko supervisor and Ashdown’s Deputy’, Dnevni list pg 2 ‘Supervisor for Brcko District appointed’, Vjesnik pg 11 ‘Paddy Ashdown appointed Susan Johnson to position of Brcko District Supervisor’, Vecernji list pg 2 ‘Susan Johnson new High Representative’s Supervisor in Brcko’ – On Friday the High Representative Paddy Ashdown appointed Susan Johnson as the Brcko District supervisor and deputy high representative, reads OHR press release. Johnson is an experienced US diplomat, with an extensive experience of the governmental activities and the issues of transition. In her time with the US State Department, Johnson performed high-ranking duties at the US Embassies in Romania, Russia, Pakistan, Mauritius, as well as in the US Mission to the UN in New York. Apart from that, Susan Johnson was also a foreign affairs counsellor for the US Senate. Before assumed the post of the Brcko District supervisor, Johnson was a senior adviser with the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and director of the Civil Affairs Office of the interim administration in Baghdad. The High Representative thanked Gerhard Sontheim, who played a successful role as the Brcko District acting supervisor over the past three and a half months. |
| SNSD demands early elections
| RTRS, FTV, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Early elections are the only way out’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SNSD against reforms of BiH Constitution’, Dnevni List pg 10 ‘Changes to Constitution of BiH divert focus from bad situation’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Instead of reforms, they talk about the change of Constitution’- Nebojsa Radmanovic, Vice president of SNSD, said that the whenever there was a need to draw attention of BiH citizens from a bad economic and overall situation in the country, someone starts to advocate changes to the BiH Constitution and Dayton Peace Agreement. He pointed out that all representatives of the authorities supporting constitutional changes represent anti-reform power as they draw BiH from necessary changes in order to access the European Union. He invited authorities to accept proposal for early elections, claiming it was the only way out of current situation. |
| Carl Bildt on BiH/Iraq
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Fourth High Representatives has nothing less work than the first one’, Dnevni List back pg ‘Carl Bildt, first HR in BiH: BiH and Iraq can easily be compared’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘The 5th HiRep does not have less work to do than the 1st HiRep had’ – In an analysis for the British TV BBC regarding Iraq developments, Carl Bildt, the first High Representative to BiH, said that it takes much more time and resources to establish a state than initially stipulated and presumed. He noted that: “As the first HiRep to BiH, I was told that everything needs to be completed within a year time. When this nonsense was acknowledged, new deadline of two years was set.” He stressed that following the completion of a 5th year of HiRep’s mandate, the fourth High Representative does not have less duties than first HiRep had. On this, he added that: “Bosnia and Kosovo can easily be compared with Afghanistan and Iraq. The establishment of peace takes a lot of patience.” |
| VL: Hadzipasic could be dismissed on Tuesday | Vecernji List front ‘Is Federation Government falling tomorrow’, pg 3 ‘Government of FBiH is falling tomorrow’ by Zoran Kresic – The daily got a confirmation from an anonymous official of SDA that the said party will on Tuesday most probably request the removal of the FBiH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, or postpone the decision for the session of the Main Board of SDA, which is due to take place soon. VL explains that the Presidency of SDA will be discussing a report on the work of the FBiH Government on Tuesday, adding that the request for the removal of Hadzipasic is a result of pressure that the SDA “hawks” applied on Sulejman Tihic. Apparently, in the meantime, Tihic asked Hadzipasic to end the issue with style i.e. by resigning, to which Hadzipasic responded that he would not personally resign. VL also learns that sometimes last week, the SDA asked from the OHR consent to remove PM Hadzipasic, who allegedly enjoys OHR’s trust. It is unknown what the OHR suggested to the SDA. Allegedly, Hadzipasic’s sins are that he is “flirting too much” with the IC and his “lack of co-operation” with the Parliament. |
| VN int with Cavic on Constitution and DPA changes
| Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Anxiety called ‘Dayton 2’ – In an interview to VN, RS President Dragan Cavic comments on the initiatives to change the DPA and Constitution: “At the moment, there is not a single parliamentary political party that would be ready for changes to the Dayton Agreement. Changing the Constitution would mean changing the Dayton Agreement, which is possible only in the case all three constitutive peoples wish so. However, if such wish does not exist, then 2/3 majority does not exist either. The 2/3 majority cannot exist without Serbs, hence the conditions for changing the Constitution do not exist’, Dragan Cavic said. He pointed out that “Bosniaks and all of their parties – SDA, SDP and Party for BiH – wish something different. They think BiH should be centralized on principles promoted by some intellectual circles in Sarajevo…The third concept is the one promoted by Croat parties, primarily HDZ, and this would mean a complete centralization of BiH, without the entities, divided in cantons or three entities – one for Serbs, one for Bosniaks and one for Croats.” Cavic concluded that ‘it is clear the separation of RS from BiH would be painful and hard way…This is not really possible and RS would not get a support from USA, EU or Russia. Hence, RS must go to Europe through BiH’. |
| DA editorial on announced staff changes by the parties | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Ministers before dismissals’ by Faruk Cardzic – Editorial deals with the recent dissatisfaction expressed by the ruling parties with the work of individual officials in the executive authorities and announcements of the potential personnel changes. “Things till yesterday unimaginable in this state have finally started to happen. Somebody pulled up the strength to say that ‘one of their own’ is not perhaps the best or the luckiest solution and the he is ready to offer alternative.” – reads the article reminding of the statement in this regard by HDZ President Barisa Colak, SDA and by founder of the Party for BiH Haris Silajdzic. “True, almost 9 years of the experience of war and peace in BiH, heated the tensions of BH public almost to the maximum. Protests, strikes and warning of the army of unemployed are dangerous additional weights on the scales towards possible culmination of the dissatisfaction, which is harder and harder to control every each day”, reads editorial concluding that such situation makes it even more important to have changes of the individuals in authorities. |
Mostar issue | |
| OHR on HDZ refusal to endorse Winterstein’s proposal
| RTRS – Commenting decision of the HDZ Main Board to reject the proposal of Norbert Winterstein, OHR Spokesperson Mario Brkic stated that there will be neither parallel authority nor domination of one people over others in Mostar and these are two crucial principles that OHR will not give up on. Brkic stated that OHR hopes for solution to be found in compromise and dialog between local politicians. However, Brkic reminded that the High Representative would Paddy Ashdown not wait for a long time for the compromise to be reached, reminding the HR clearly stated that this issue has to solved by the end of January. |
| DA int with Barisa Colak; on Mostar
| Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 5 ‘Changes in Federal Government will follow’ by Faruk Vele – In an interview to DA, HDZ President Barisa Colak was asked to comment possibility for the High Representative Paddy Ashdown to impose the decision on the Mostar structure: “The difficult issue of Mostar makes me sad, and it weakens the results of implementation of city’s integration. It is better for representatives of the parties to reach any know of solution, than the best imposed by the Paddy Ashdown. I justify that with the fact that imposed solution temporary and that it demands new talks, new time…. There should be an agreement between parties reached, because if we cannot agree on this issue, it is questionable how will be agree on the state problems?” Asked whether HDZ proposal on Mostar was enabling Croats to dominate in the city, Colak answered: “This issue… is repeated all the time. What does mean domination?! In democratic elections there is only an issue of elections and later of participation in the authorities… Those principles should be respected. If some solutions for some people are not good in Mostar, then they are not good for other peoples in other multi-ethnic environments, where there is also a need to question domination. We just want solution to be brought which will also be implemented in other places.” |
| Omerovic on City Council’s extraordinary session
| Dnevni List pg 6 ‘I do not see point of having extraordinary session of City Council’ by V. Kljajic – President of cantonal board of SBiH in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and member of the Mostar Commission, Safet Omerovic, sent the City Council of Mostar a letter stressing that he does not see the point of having an extraordinary session of the said Council that is scheduled for today and which is to discuss the Proposal of statute for Mostar, which was prepared by the Chairman of the Mostar Commission, Norbert Winterstein. Saying that he will not be able to attend the session because of previous engagements, Omerovic says the first Mostar Commission failed to come up with a proposal of new organizational set-up of Mostar, noting that the City Council never discussed the issue in the past nor has it asked from members of the second Commission to give any explanations. Omerovic believes the aim of the extraordinary session is to oppose the solution to future set-up of Mostar, which was proposed by Mr. Winterstein on basis of the work of the Commission. He also notes that the SBiH supports Mr. Winterstein’s proposal on Mostar organized as one unit of local self-rule, with six city areas that are in the same time six constituencies, as well as the electoral system which rules out any possibility of domination. SBiH believes that Winterstein’s proposal needs amending in the sense to add a provision which would stipulate that the Mayor of Mostar is elected among the elected councilors, and that all the issues of vital national interests and issues that need the two-third majority in the City Council be defined. |
| SNSD supports single Mostar | RHB – SNSD Vice President Nebojsa Radmanovic said that his party was supporting the initiative for Mostar to become a unified city, adding that the representatives of all three constituent people should make decision regarding its development and future. |
Security and military issues | |
| SDS, PDP and SNSD on draft Law on BiH Intelligence Service
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDS: OHR proposal creates a chaos in security field’ – The SDS and PDP from Republika Srpska are not satisfied with the Draft law in intelligence and security agency of BiH (OBS), which the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, forwarded to Parliament procedure. Mirko Sarovic from SDS is of the view that such a law would have created chaos within the field of security and intelligence in BiH. Namely, he said that it is still too early to think of this reform in such a manner. He stressed that Serb officials would forward alternative proposals, which are to comply with demands and standards of European Commission. Goran Milojevic from PDP said that it was an illegal act from OHR to propose the law, noting that this does not comply with the Rule Book on the work of BiH Parliamentary Assembly. He said that: “HiRep can impose the Law, but cannot act as proponent.” PDP is of the view that OBS should act as a roof agency, whose parts would be entity intelligence agencies. SDS and PDP are to take final stances on this soon. Igor Radojicic from SNSD expressed support of SNSD to general concept for the establishment of a new intelligence and security agency, noting that SNSD delegates would have amendments concerning internal structure and information paths from the agency towards structures controlling them. |
| Oslobodjenje on FOSS hearings | Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Hearing warrants sent to Vuksic, Djapo and Brdar’ – The special Commission of the BiH House of Representatives, chaired by Tihomir Gligoric, will on Tuesday continue with the hearings in the case of coup d’état. Daily claims that the invitations for hearings were sent to former director of the FBiH Intelligence Service [FOSS] Ivan Vcuksic, who was also the author of the report on conspiratorial intentions of opposition leaders, journalists, former intelligence officers and others. Editor-in-Chief of Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz, Fahrudin Djapo, has also been invited, as well as the director of Ljiljan magazine Mensur Brdar. Commission also requested Helsinki Committee members Srdjan Dizdarevic, Senka Nozica and Branko Todorovic to appear in the hearings, as well as the former Sarajevo cantonal Prosecutor Mustafa Bisic. |
| Daily int with Slavko Marin, military advisor in BH Presidency | Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘With new army, we become a partner, not a problem’ by Antonio Prlenda – Inter-departmental groups, consisting of leading people in entities armies and defence ministers, and military advisors to the members of BH Presidency draft the analysis which would present the way for BiH to establish bilateral relations with US, and for US troops to stay in BiH. Military advisor to Croat member of the Presidency, Slavko Marin stated for Oslobodjenje the analysis should result with the estimate of future engagement of the international troops in BiH, and possible deployment of BiH troops in international peacekeeping missions. Asked to comment on the position of BH Defence Minister and the ethnicity issue, Marin said: “I think that is important, but having in mind the entire improvement in the field of defence reforms, I believe that this is easier issue… I don’t they there will be difficulties there, even though we are witnesses to media reports that reads that the representatives of all three peoples would like to have their own BiH Defence Minister. That, however, should not be seen as something negative.” Military advisor concluded: “I believe that now it is important to make a step towards building a trust and cooperation, … to sent a message that BiH can organize itself in defence system and that it can be a part of global security system, as the partner-state, not as the problem.” |
| US troops to stay in BiH until December | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘US troops to stay in BiH until December’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Mission of American soldiers in BiH extended ‘til December’ – The American media reported that the American peace troops, led by the National Guard of Indiana, would remain on their duties three months longer than expected. Namely, they would stay in BiH until December 2004. This was confirmed by Lisa Kopszinski, Spokesperson of National Guard of Indiana. |
Economic issues | |
| Farmers demand postponement of FTA by 2007 | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘To postpone free trade regime by 2007’ – The Association of BiH Agriculture manufacturers sent and request to the BiH Council of Ministers to abolish the Free Trade Agreements with Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro, but instead to sing a new one which would extend a single-direction free trade regime by 2007. According to the President of Association, Ranko Bakic, such agreement, according to which only BiH productions would be free of taxes while gods from Croatia and SCG would pay at least 40% of taxes, is the only way for BiH manufacturers to be competitive to those from neighbou ring countries. “It is already visible that within three months, which is a time CoM postponed the agreements on free trade regimes, nothing can be done to increase the level of competitiveness of local production.” – added Bakic. BH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Dragan Doko did not want to comment the Association’s demands. |