| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| HVO blockades on borders | Negotiations with IMF | Sentence for Nikolic | IMF asks finance discipline |
| Tax law harmonisation | Human trafficking | Clark testimony in ICTY | HoR session in Sarajevo |
| BiH’s EBRD membership | ICTY sentence for Nikolic | Army staff retirement | Human trafficking |
| Jahic meeting Winterstain | World news | Law on indirect taxation | Kalinic-Kostunica mtg |
| Oslobodjenje | Milosevic knew in advance that Srebrenica will be attacked |
| Dnevni Avaz | Petar Kunic: HJPCs should be abolished |
| Dnevni List | Pre-requisites for military pensions made less strict; Without contract on electricity there is no new 300 million Euros on investment; Urgently convoke session of Main Board of HDZ BiH |
| Vecernji List | Estrangement between Germany and BiH; HVO pensioners block Vinjani |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Protesters send message: We will cut country off the world |
| Glas Srpske | New organisation of the families of the missing persons to be founded: The last drop in filled bucket |
| Nezavisne Novine | Meeting between IMF and Republika Srpska officials in Banjaluka: Money from succession to pay our severance pays to workers and soldiers; Banjaluka: PIO Fund will not accept further claims for pension payment earned in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; The Hague Tribunal: Dragan Nikolic sentenced to 23 years imprisonment |
| Blic | Unprepared for market game; Donald Hays: There are too many holidays in RS, economy suffers |
| Slobodna Bosna | While citizens strike, block borders, starve: Wild authorities spend millions buying luxurious vehicles |
| Dani | Senad Hadzifejzovic, following censored Central News: I admit that Lagumdzija won over Radoncic; Scandalous: names and biographies of the appointed prosecutors and judges: Bosnians will be judged by tradesmen, designers, sellers, Karadzic’s chief of police… |
| Ljiljan | Instead of independent, imposed judiciary; Jan Eric Oja: All members of HJPC in RS are Serbs; Gerhard Sontheim: I removed Kisic because there was a charge filed against him |
Economic/social issues | |
| IMF, BiH representatives discuss macroeconomic policy
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘IMF admits a big progress has been made in BiH’, Dnevni List page 6 “Privatization process a main challenge for BiH”, by Fena – IMF mission and BiH, entities’ authorities continued discussion on macroeconomic policies and problem of increased wages and pensions in RS. IMF mission chief Peter Doyle said: “Without agreement on wages for next year we can not continue with Stand-by arrangement…we want to see more fiscal discipline in BiH”. According to IMF GDP tripled in the past years, but huge trade de-balance and a lack of jobs are key problems. RS Finance minister Krsmanovic reported: “Money earned from process of succession (to former socialist Yugoslavia properties) will be used for compensation packages for dismissed soldiers during reforms of defence”. Next instalment of IMF arrangement will be available only when RS authorities find solution with IMF on wages in 2004. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Money from succession to pay our severance pays to workers and soldiers’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Not even close to bankruptcy’, Blic p 13 ‘150 million KM on ice’ – The conclusion of yesterday’s meeting between the representatives of the IMF and Republika Srpska institutions is that the money obtained from succession of former Yugoslavia property should be used for payment of severance pays to workers and soldiers. Branko Krsmanovic, Republika Srpska Finance Minister, reminded that the total of such resources amounted to BAM 38 million. The meeting was attended by following officials: the Head of the IMF, Peter Doyle, the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, RS Prime Minister and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier respectively, Dragan Mikerevic and Ahmet Hadzipasic, Ljerka Maric, BiH Finance Minister, entity Finance Ministers and Governor and Vice Governor of BiH Central Bank. Regarding conditions set for the payment of stand-by arrangement, Dole said that he is leaving BiH with optimism. He said that negotiations regarding the last instalment of stand-by arrangement were still ongoing. He also expressed optimism regarding eventual agreement with the Republika Srpska Government regarding increase of payments and pensions, noting that fiscal discipline must be maintained. |
| Former HVO members’ protest continues | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Former HVO members announcing they will wait for Christmas, New Year on border crossings’ – Former HVO members are continuing the blockades of the border crossings. Doljani, Vinjani Donji and Kamensko were blocked on Thursday for six hours. According to Pero Blazevic, the president of the Central Headquarters for protection of rights of the HVO pensioners, the blockades will continue as there is no information that the Federation Government is on the way of making the decision which would solve the issues of this part of population. Dnevni List p 3, “Retired HVO members wait for written guarantees”, by I. Glibusic reports that, while waiting for someone from the FBiH Government to visit them or receive them, retired HVO members will continue protesting. Speculation has it that not everyone will be included in the Government’s decree. Slobodna Dalmacija (front p & p 15, “We will cut country off the world”, by Antonio Karamatic, p 15 “We do not move until final solution is found”, by Darko Juka and p 15, “Difficult in Kamensko”, by Frano Mioc), Vecernji List (front and pages 4 and 5 “HVO pensioners block Vinjani”) also carry reports on the protests. |
| FBiH Government on early retirement on soldiers | Dnevni List (front and page 3 “Pre-requisites for military pensions made less strict”, by Miso Relota) – amid protests of former members of HVO, whose retirement status has not been solved yet, the Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina enacted a temporary decision which determines less strict pre-requisites for army employees to go into old age pension. Apparently, because of downsizing of military, army employees who turned 45 and who have 20 years of service covered by pension insurance and who were military employees for the period of three years and more during the war, can be sent to old age retirement. Since it is about a temporary decision, the issue will be handled by enactment of a relevant law, which should be in the parliamentary procedure by January 20, 2004. The FBiH Government has tasked the FBiH Ministry of Defence to make full lists of military insurants. (Slobodna Dalmacija, back page “Military insurants to pensions easier”, by D. Pasic) |
| BiH HoR discusses state debts, taxation law | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, RTRS – The House of Representatives (HoR) of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly at the session on Thursday appointed three members to the Joint Commission of both Houses that is to harmonise the text of the Law on Indirect taxation system. The members are Tihomir Gligoric, Filip Andric and Azem Selic. The HoR has also passed a conclusion regarding Agreements on Free Trade and resolution on position of domestic producers. On December 29 a special session of HoR will be held on the issue of domestic production. Conclusion to demand full information from the BiH Presidency on disputable visits of domestic officials to foreign countries has also been adopted. Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘Discussion on the alleged state coup next year’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘State temporary postponed payment of its old debts’ – The House postponed consideration of the ways for payment of the backlog state debts (pre-war foreign currency savings, war damage compensations etc.) at a proposal by CoM). Dnevni List (front and page 5 “Decision on suspension of Agreement with Croatia on December 29 2003”, by Ivica Glibusic) – the House of Representatives of BiH Parliament, at initiative of an SDS MP Momcilo Novakovic, discussed the Agreement on free trade between BiH and Croatia that is to be applied as of January 1, 2004, or precisely the House of Representatives discussed Novakovic’s initiative to place the Agreement under moratorium amid numerous protests by farmers. The chamber decided to discuss the issue at a session scheduled for December 29. |
| OHR calls on BiH parliament to adopt taxation law without disputed amendments | Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘Adopt Law on Indirect Taxation without disputed amendments’, Dnevni List page 2, “Harmonize law on taxation without debatable amendments”, by Fena – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, calls on the parliamentary harmonisation commission, considering amendments on Thursday, to take sensible administrative steps to ensure that a harmonised Law on Indirect Taxation System in BiH is enacted without amendments that would undermine the law’s ultimate effectiveness, OHR spokesperson Kevin Sullivan told a press conference in Sarajevo. |
| BiH became CoE Development Bank member | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘BiH became full member of CoE Development Bank’ – BiH on Thursday became a full member of the Council of Europe Development Bank after the Council of Ministers presented the Declaration on accession to this European institution, BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic signed the Declaration and BiH Ambassador to the Council of Europe Ivan Gaon submitted it. By joining the Bank BiH has made a significant step in integrating into European structures. The membership will allow BiH to receive favourable loans that can be used for financing the return of refugees and displaced persons, development of small business and reconstruction. |
| Aluminij issue
| Dnevni List (front and page 15 “Without contract on electricity there is no new 300 million Euros on investment”, by V. Soldo) – a presentation of Feasibility Study on construction of new Electrolysis was made in the “Aluminij” Company of Mostar yesterday. According to the Aluminij CEO, Mijo Brajkovic, the project is worth 300 million Euros and the new Electrolysis would increase the export potential of “Aluminij” up to 300 million US$ and open many jobs, both directly and indirectly. Director of “Debis International”, Volker C, Schmidt, was positive about the project, however he was concerned with the fact that the “Aluminij” has not the contract on electricity supply for 2004. In that context, Schmidt says if there is no contract by end of the month, a new Electrolysis will be impossible, in the same time appealing to the BiH Government to support the “Aluminij”. The presentation was also attended by Patrice Dreiski, Head of Economic Department of OHR, who made a positive assessment about the Feasibility Study, also announcing a solution to the problem of electricity supply. “This is a priority on solution of which the BiH Government is working and I believe we will have positive results within few days”, says Dreiski. (Slobodna Dalmacija, page 16 “There are conditions for double production and export”, by Zoran Zekic) Vecernji List (front page & p 3, “Estrangement between Germany and BiH”, by Zoran Kresic) carries that German Minister of Economy, Wolfgang Clement, has sent a harsh letter of protest to FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic announcing the possibility of suspension of cooperation if the dispute on supplying Aluminij with electricity is not resolved by the end of the year. Clement expressed his dissatisfaction with termination of 4-year international contract with Debis. VL says an unnamed officials confirmed Hadzipasic has received the letter. Sarajevo media also covered the Aluminij issue. |
| Republika Srpska PIO Fund threatens | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 9, ‘PIO Fund will not accept further claims for pension payment earned in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’ – Jovo Kosmajac, Acting Director of Republika Srpska PIO Fund, yesterday said that the PIO Fund would seek Government approval for its intention not to accept any motion for pension payment, even partially earned in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as of New Year. The pension would be paid only for the time period (employment period) earned in Republika Srpska. According to him, this is a logical solution to a problem, bearing in mind the fact that entity PIO Funds have failed to reach any agreement on this issue. Blic p 13 ‘Squandering pensions’ also covered the issue. |
| Eronet issue | Vecernji List (page 3, “Eronet troubles other telekoms”, by Milan Sutalo) – reports the BiH Ministry of Traffic and Communications expressed concern with “intensive, illegal expansion” of Eronet’s network “although it does not have the GSM licence”, stressing that the issuance of the 3rd GSM licence is ongoing. The Ministry draws attention of all companies, Eronet’s business partners, noting that in case that “Eronet” does not get the licence, the companies would have to resolve consequences with “Eronet”. |
War crimes | |
| Clarke’s testimony in trial of Milosevic
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 7 ‘Milosevic knew in advance that Srebrenica will be attacked’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 20, mentioned on the front page ‘Transcripts of Clarke’s testimony made public’ – Former Serbian and FRY President Slobodan Milosevic admitted in summer 1995 to then NATO Commander Wesley Clarke he had known in advance that the Bosnian Serb Army would attack Srebrenica and commit a mass killing of Bosniaks there, according to Clarke’s testimony in trial of Milosevic before ICTY. |
| Nikolic sentenced to 23 years in prison
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 9, mentioned on the front page ’23 years to Nikolic’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘Dragan Nikolic sentenced to 23 years imprisonment ‘; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ’23 years passed on Nikolic’, Dnevni List page 2 “Dragan Nikolic sentenced to 23 years in jail” – Dragan Nikolic was sentenced to 23 years in prison by ICTY judge council on Thursday. Nikolic pleaded guilty for crimes against humanity when he was commander of concentration camp Susica in Vlasenica in 1992. The judges refused a proposal from prosecutors of 15 years since they found these crimes deserve much higher sentence. Nikolic admitted killing of 9 Bosniaks and rape as well brutal torture. Judge Schomburgh said: “The worst side of his acts was that he enjoyed in humiliation and mistreatment of prisoners.” |
| Hartmann on leak of information from FOSS | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘Hague Tribunal information leak from FOSS’ – Florence Hartmann, Spokesperson of ICTY Prosecutor’ yesterday warned that the Hague Tribunal information forwarded to FOSS is being used as evidence material in a lawsuit which one media house has before the Sarajevo Cantonal Court. She further said that all information and documents, which the Hague Tribunal and FOSS exchange, should be treated as confidential and should not be used outside these two institutions. According to NN, Munir Alibabic, former Head of FOSS, accuses Zdravko Jukic, Acting Deputy Head of FOSS, for this leak of information. |
| SD: Ramiz Dugalic – key ICTY witness for crimes against Croats | Slobodna Dalmacija (p 17, “Brigadier’s war-time prey – a Fiat confiscated from a Croat”, by Zlatko Tulic) carries that Brigadier Ramiz Dugalic is the person who is in Bosniak political circles mentioned as the key witness in the ICTY process against Bosniak military officers Amir Kubura and Enver Hadzihasanovic, indicted for war-crimes against central Bosnia Croats. SD says that, on the grounds of responsibility of the job he performed during the war, he must have been aware of crimes committed against Croats. The daily alleges that Dugalic, currently the Head of Operations Department for Security and Intelligence Issues of the FBiH Ministry of Defense, has already been mentioned in the context of several recent SFOR raids of state institutions controlled by Bosniaks. |
Political developments | |
| SDA, HDZ, Party for BiH prepared to start talks on change of Dayton immediately
| Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5, mentioned on the front page ‘The High Representative might stay in BiH forever’ By Aldijana Omeragic – The leaders of the ruling political parties from the FBiH agreed on Thursday that the Dayton Constitution was a key obstacle to the further development of the country and they therefore supported the initiative for change of the Dayton Peace Agreement made by a group of prominent European politicians. Barisa Colak (HDZ), Sulejman Tihic (SDA) and Safet Halilovic (Party for BiH) are prepared to start talks on the issue immediately. Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Covic and Halilovic scared politicians from RS’ – The representatives of the ruling political parties from RS were initially prepared to take part at a meeting that was supposed to take place last week on the mountain of Vlasic but they changed their opinion following public announcement by senior HDZ, Party for BiH officials, Dragan Covic and Safet Halilovic, that possible change of the BiH Constitution might be on the agenda. |
| EC/OHR on European parliamentarians initiative for change of Dayton | In light of the Declaration titled “Ensure peace in BiH by further annexing Dayton Accord”, which was signed by 24 distinguished European politicians and published on December 16, Dnevni list (front & p 9, by Arijana Beus) features Frano Maroevic, spokesperson of the European Commission in BiH, who says that, as legitimate representatives of European Union’s citizens, a group of parliamentarians can request changes to the Dayton Accord adding that BiH politicians can also do so through a democratic procedure. In a separate article, DL (p 9, “Dayton as basic and not final solution for BiH”, by Fena) carries OHR reaction to the Declaration which says that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, has many times said that the Dayton Accord is basis and not final solution for BiH and that the changes to it must come from within BiH adding the process can be seen through initiated key reforms adopted by the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘European Parliament has no right to initiative’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘European Parliament cannot initiate change of Dayton’ – According to Sarajevo dailies, Maroevic said that the European Parliament cannot independently make such the initiatives but only together EU Council of Ministers. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Dayton Agreement is a temporary solution’ – The OHR Spokesperson, Oleg Milisic, yesterday confirmed to Fena and Beta news agencies that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, said that Dayton Peace Accords is the floor, not the ceiling. He added that changes of Dayton must come from BiH. |
| Mikerevic opposes initiative for change of Dayton | Blic p 13 ‘Revision of the Dayton would stop reforms’, Vecernje Novosti p 7, ‘They are asking for new Dayton’, Vecernje Novosti p 7 ‘Time for us to say – enough’ – The RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, opposed the initiative for revision of the Dayton Agreement, assessing that attempts to centralize BiH would stop reforms and lead to ‘differences’ among the peoples and entities of this country. An influential group of representatives of the European Parliament has proposed a revision of the Dayton Agreement. The group has asked for the establishing of ‘a strong centralized authority in BiH, which is necessary for economic and political development of the state’. The RS Prime Minister thinks that BiH could function only as ‘a highly de-centralized country’ and he points out that BiH citizens and entities would decide on the level of its centralization or de-centralization. |
| Mostar restructuring | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Dnevni Avaz pg. 13 ‘Report to be handed to political parties as well’, Slobodna Dalmacija page 16 “Commission’s report in City’s hands”, by M. Landeka, Dnevni List, page 18 “Report on work of Mostar Commission handed over”, by De. L. – Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic had a meeting on Thursday with the President of the Commission on the Mostar Statute Norbert Winterstein who on the occasion handed over report on the work of the Commission – stated the Press Office of the Mostar City Administration. Report was also submitted to the Council of Ministers, Federation Government and the Government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, “HDZ: Incorrect pressures by Bosniaks”, by D. Juka) – carries a press release of the City Board of HDZ of Mostar, signed by the Board’s President, Miroslav Coric, which sends a message that single city, single budget and Mostar as one constituency, without pre-determined national quotas in the City Council, is the way forward for all the citizens of Mostar. Coric further says that the current Election Law clearly stipulates one constituency and that the law, should there be changes to the Constitution of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be applied in Sarajevo, Travnik, Bugojno and other places too. Coric also notes pressures coming from the Bosniak lobbies on international representatives, which is in his opinion inappropriate. |
| VL: “Claims on ‘criticism’ of Ashdown’s policy denied” | Vecernji List (page 2, by dja) – the OHR denies claims that appeared in some media, according to which the Peace Implementation Council had serious objections to the work of the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown. The media reports said that HR Ashdown had been criticized for failure to resolve the status of Mostar, neglecting the opposition and NGOs and that he had been given strict directions about his future work in BiH. “Only truth about the allegation is that the Peace Implementation Council did meet in Brussels”, says an OHR spokesperson, Mario Brkic. |
| DL editorial on functioning of BiH | Dnevni List (p 2, “Disunited state”, by Jurislav Petrovic) lists recent examples of disagreements within the BiH Presidency and the Council of Ministers (Ivanic’s visit to Israel, 3rd GSM licence issue etc.) saying that the state having 13 Governments cannot move on. “The best thing would be for the High Representative to take over the main role and dissolve all bodies of authority so that everyone starts dealing with economy instead of political games. Dissolving of authorities would result in saving money, but we are aware this is not going to happen since the IC representatives in BiH must justify the money that is being spent on them”, the author concludes. |
| Heads of 31 municipality meeting in Tuzla | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 10 ‘Municipalities under pressure of entities, cantons’, Dnevni List p 10, “Public administration reform on local level”, Fena – Under the auspices of Council of Europe in Tuzla the regional meeting of heads of 31 municipalities of Northern Eastern Bosnia from both entities was held on Thursday. Ms. Sonia Mosser, special representative of CoE stated that this meeting was continuation of the training in strengthening of local self rule and democracy. Other speakers were Adnan Terzic, Chair of the CoM, and Donald Hays, PDHR. The meeting was dedicated to the reform of public sector in the country in light of local self-rule initiatives. |
| HNC HDZ on topical issues
| Dnevni List (front and page 4 “Urgently convoke session of Main Board of HDZ BiH”, by Miso Relota) – Cantonal Board of HDZ of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, at a session held last night, discussed issued pertaining to functioning of executive authority in the canton, position of certain institutions of common interest, results of elections for Croatian Parliament and the decision of the Communication Regulatory Agency (CRA) on abolishment of national prefixes in names of (public) media. The cantonal Board took an unanimous decision which requests the Presidency of HDZ BiH to convoke a session of HDZ Main Board to discuss issues pertaining to the situation within the HDZ, position of the Croat people and institutions in BiH and companies for which Croats have a certain interest. The Board also pointed out to problems the companies such as “Aluminij”, “Eronet” and retired members of HVO face. The Board also passed a conclusion which requests Croat members of the BiH Council of Ministers to do everything to preserve the right of the media to national prefix. When it comes to functioning of executive authority in Canton 7, HNC Prime Minister, Miroslav Coric, “reiterated the problem of obstructions in the work of cantonal government coming from the Bosniak Ministers”. |
| Kalinic meets with Kostunica
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘Kalinic: Serbs from Republika Srpska request from Serbia to protect their interests’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Dayton is the sacred thing’ – Yesterday in Bijeljina, the RS Parliament Speaker, Dragan Kalinic, stated that the SDS expects from Serbia to protect the interests of Serbs in BiH, owing to the fact that it is one of signatories of the Dayton Peace Accords. He met with Vojislav Kostunica, leader of Serbian Democratic Party and former Yugoslav President. Kalinic confirmed that the meeting mainly discussed the political affairs and preparations for the coming local elections in Republika Srpska and BiH. no issue related to Great Serbia was discussed at all, Kalinic stressed. Kostunica stressed after the meeting that the elections in Serbia would change the composition of the Serbian Parliament. |
| Reactions to an international agency’s poll re early elections | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘SDS supports postponement of local elections’ – Regarding the results of the poll (conducted by an international agency and presented yesterday and according to which over a half of electorate would like to see extraordinary parliamentary elections held along with local elections), here are some reactions of political parties from Republika Srpska. Mirko Sarovic of SDS expressed the view of his party that even local elections should be postponed and held along with parliamentary elections in three years time. Milorad Dodik of SNSD said that the results of the poll had stimulated the party to pledge even stronger now for holding of extraordinary elections for all authority levels. Nevenka Trifkovic of PDP is of the view that extraordinary elections are not necessary at all. |
| DL editorial on municipal elections | Dnevni List (p 6, “Wars are not invincible”, by Pejo Gasparevic) editorial reads that as long as refugees return to their pre-war homes – albeit for weekends, wars are not invincible. In this context, the author underlines the importance of the next municipal elections, primarily for returnees, as it is exactly municipalities that will engage in resolving human, civic and national destinies as they are these processes’ generators and implementers. |
| Dodik critical of HiRep | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘Ashdown amnestied the current authority of responsibility’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Irresponsibility awarded’ – Milorad Dodik, President of SNSD, is of the view that by having imposed the Law on Intelligence and Security Agency, the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, has amnestied the current authority from any responsibility, and also amnestied them for “incapability and un-readiness to find a political solution”. |
| Serb delegates support Ivanic | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Support to Ivanic’ – The press release was yesterday issued by the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, in which the Club of Serb delegates at BiH House of Peoples expressed full support to BIH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, in his policy running. |
| Ivanic in Israel | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Israel supporting stabilisation of BIH’ – Yesterday in Jerusalem, Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, met with his Israeli counterpart, Silvano Shalamm. According to press release issued by BiH Foreign Ministry, Shalomm expressed readiness of Israel to provide assistance to economic and political stabilisation in BiH. he also said he would encourage investors from Israel to invest in BiH. Ivanic commended the idea for dialogue initiation, noting that it is actually the hardest part of the work. Sarajevo media also covered the visit. |
Judiciary, police affairs | |
| Kunic says HJPCs should be abolished
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 5 ‘HJPCs should be abolished’ – The deputy to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly from the list of PDP and the legal expert, Petar Kunic, claimed in an interview for the newspaper that the legislative authorities had to participate in the process of the judges and prosecutors appointment. |
| HJPC appoint judges in Doboj | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Judges and prosecutors in Doboj appointed’ – According to press release yesterday issued by the HJPC, this body has appointed eight judges at Doboj District Court, established District Prosecutor’s Office in Doboj and appointed 10 prosecutors. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
| Sarajevo magazines on judiciary and HJPC | Dani cover page ‘Scandalous: names and biographies of the appointed prosecutors and judges: Bosnians will be judged by tradesmen, designers, sellers, Karadzic’s chief of police… ‘, pgs 32-39 by Dzenana Karup-Drusko – Following appointment of the 114 judges and a prosecutor in Cantonal and Municipal Courts, and Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office in Sarajevo, Dani published parts of the explanations by the commission which proposed appointees to the High Judicial and Prosecution Council [HJPC] on 8 pages, with obvious intention to ridicule those explanations. Ljiljan cover splash ‘Instead of independent, imposed judiciary’, pgs 23-24 by Saban Hodzic – Author writes: ‘Data on level of discrimination against Bosniaks in police, prosecutorial offices, courts, are… traumatic.’ Highly critical of OHR, especially HR Paddy Ashdown who appointed HJPC members, article reads that banning Avaz to write about Zlatko Lagumdzija proven discriminatory attitudes: ‘If powerful and respectable Avaz can be brutally discriminated in judiciary, what an ordinary Bosniak can than expect.’ It further gives that in Sarajevo, out of all Bosniaks appointed as cantonal judges, only one is not a child from mixed marriage or in such marriage, calling this policy ‘Slobodan Milosevic-like.’ ‘Accidentally or not, HJPC in this way carried out personnel concept of former JNA in which only … successful Bosniaks were those coming from or in mixed marriage… The entire action of demanding Bosniak equality is not carried out with an aim to disqualify or remove them, … but a legitimate demand of one people… Current situation threats to escalate Bosniak dissatisfaction.’ Author also warns that ‘OHR’s efforts’ for boards alike HJPC to decide on the faith of police and judiciary ‘additionally increases very reasonable fear among Bosniaks.’ Article concludes that one of the 16 EU conditions laid down before BiH was to have equal ethnic presentation in judiciary and police, while ‘Ashdown and Oja… install judiciary which is directly opposite to [those] conditions.’ Slobodna Bosna pgs 9, 16-18 ‘The worst remarks on ‘Izetbegovic’s Islamic militants’ were written by Avaz Editor-In-Chief Djapo and columnist of the daily Alispahic!’ by SB investigative team – Following the Bosniak’s harsh criticisms over judiciary and police ethnic structure in BiH, article writes: ‘One should simply feel pity over unnatural hysteria and total loss of political compass through which SDA and Dnevni Avaz went in past seven days due to appointments of judges and prosecutors by HJPC.’ Article further claims that Fahrudin Djapo, Avaz’s Editor-In-Chief, as ordered by its owner Fahrudin Radoncic to start with ruthless media chase against HJPC, while in past few years the worst remarks on Bosniaks and its leadership were coming from Djapo himself, and Avaz’s columnist Fatmir Alispahic. |
| Dani, Ljiljan interview with Oja | Dani ‘A chaos is in judiciary!’- Dani also published an interview with the HJPC President Jan Eric Oja. Series of questions were referring to alleged breaches of standards by individual judges, however Oja refused to comment individual cases adding: ‘I believe we appointed the best candidates we had.’ As for the accusations that Bosniaks are being discriminated in the process of appointments in RS judiciary structures, Oja explained: ‘Strictly speaking, we are not obliged to follow the criteria of constituency. Appointments were carried out only in republic Prosecutor’s Office. That situation will not be the same at the end of process. If someone has some objections, they should say when and how people were discriminated, and who should be appointed instead of current candidates.’ Ljiljan cover pg ‘Jan Eric Oja: All members of HJPC in RS are Serbs’, pgs 36&37 ‘We did not have complaints against Jurcevic and Miskovic’ by Mirsad Sinanovic – In an interview to Ljiljan, HJPC President Jan Eric Oja stressed repeatedly that he would not discuss individual cases. Regarding the SDA accusations for a lack of Bosniaks in HJPC in RS, Oja reinstated that only few appointments were carried in RS, and that future appointments will probably change the structure, while he explained that HJPC members in RS are all Serbs, while in FBiH they are only Croats and Bosniaks. When a decision was to be made in either, two members from other Council are have a write to vote, meaning that RS Council cannot make a decision without two members from FBiH. At the end, Oja stressed: ‘We are not political organization and we do not do our job in order to please politicians, but citizens of BiH. I think that some political parties should be very careful when they attach the work of particular courts and appointments of individuals in courts, as that could easily be seen as the trial to influence court’s actions.’ |
| NN editorial on importance of appointment of RS Public Attorney | Nezavisne Novine editorial by Miroslav Mikes, pg. 7, ‘Right or justice’ – In opinion editorial, Mikes stresses the importance for seeing the Public Defender of FRRS appointed. Namely, he is critical of Republika Srpska MP’s who have so far constantly failed to appoint any of candidates for this position. According to him, Public Defender is protecting the interests of the state and accordingly it is of extreme importance that Republika Srpska gets its defender. |
| Dani, Slobodna Bosna on Lagumdzija and Avaz conflict | Dani cover splash ‘Senad Hadzifejzovic, following censored Central News: I admit that Lagumdzija won over Radoncic’, pgs 22-24 ‘Lagumdzija won Avaz!’ by Emir Imamovic – Article refers to the failure of NTV Hayat’s Central News with Senad Hadzifejzovic to broadcast results of the voting, which invited audience to support Zlatko Lagumdzija, SDP leader or Fahrudin Radoncic, Avaz owner, in the widely-media reported tensions between two after Sarajevo Cantonal Judge banned Dnevni Avaz to write about Lagumdzija. Author writes that the results of the vote ‘by phones brought a real miracle: Zlatko Lagumdzija was supported by 1299, and Avaz by 1281 viewers!’, where Lagumdzija won over Avaz by 18 votes. Author further concludes: ‘The theories of conspiracy [on the reason why the result of voting was no broadcast] are no importance in comparison what really happened: Bosniaks, as the largest audience of Hadzifejzovic’s news and at the same time Avaz’s target group,… in democratic process supported ‘Bosniak enemy no.1’ – Zlatko Lagumdzija.’ Elvir Svrakic, director of Hayat, stated that the reason for results not being broadcast following ‘technical difficulties’ which questioned regularity of the voting, which was conducted through BH Telecom. |
Other issues | |
| New Association of missing persons
| Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘The last drop in the filled backet’ – Milijana Bojic, President of the Association of the families of the missing persons from Visegrad, has announced that five former members of the Republika Srpska Association of families of missing persons will found the new Association, because the current Association exists only for the sake of few individuals. She announced that the new Association would be established on 27 December in Doboj at inauguration session. Boro Peulic, President of Republika Srpska Association, denies all remarks and complaints filed against the membership and its work. |
| Children abuse in BiH | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Children in BiH increasingly sexually abused’ – Madelaine Reese, the Head of UNHRC, yesterday stated that the trafficking in children in BiH has been increasing, while Bosnians and Herzegovinians prefer children for sexual abuse. |