OHR BiH Media Round-up, 19/2/2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Bird flu in BIH

Barroso and Rehn visited Sarajevo

BIH movie Grbavica receiv. UN Prize

Barroso and Rehn in BIH

Bird flue protection mechanism in BH

Precaution measures in Jajce

Regional news

World News

World News

Audit of BIH citizenships

Regional News

Barroso and Rehn on SAA

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Barroso and Rehn in BIH

“Grbavica” received 2 awards

Bird flue protection in BiH

Bird flu in BIH

Live report from Berlin Film Festival

World News

Dodik to annul salary increases

World News

Barroso and Rehn visited Sarajevo

DA on Vrankic and Hadzipasic

First avian flue cases in BiH

Cadjo new RS Minister of Interior

Oslobodjenje

Dangerous flock of birds was removed from the lake [precaution activities carried out in the area of Jajce to prevent spreading of avian flu virus, should it be determined birds were infected]

Dnevni Avaz

“Golden Bear” for movie “Grbavica” by Jasmila Zbanic! [report on success of BiH movie]

Vecernji List

Gold – she is the greatest in history [report on success of Croatian Olympian]

Nezavisne Novine

There is no hazard for health of people [precaution activities carried out in the area of Jajce to prevent spreading of avian flu virus, should it be determined birds were infected]

Constitutional changes/ SAA talks

Barroso and Rehn meet HR and BIH officials;

Barroso: I hope BiH will meet conditions for signing SAA;

Rehn: SAA must be approved by all EU members

BHT1 – During their official visit to BIH, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and EC President Jose Manuel Barroso stated that SAA could be signed by the end of the year if the process of implementation of reforms is finished successfully. Regarding the common issue of liberalization of the visa regime, Barroso stated that EU is aware of the situation but “BIH Authorities must ensure the improvement of the judicial system in BIH, fight against the corruption and organized crime”. During the meeting, the EU representatives expressed disappointed with the implementation of PBS law asking the BIH Authorities to finish it as soon as possible. It was emphasized that BIH could sign the SAA only if, during the Constitutional reforms, it ensures the set of regulations improving the efficiency of BIH authorities and guaranteeing the protection of human rights. “In that case it means that BIH is ready to pass the joint decisions, to make progress regarding the reforms and to establish the good ICTY cooperation”, Barroso stated. BIH politicians stated that EU has fulfilled all its given promises to BIH and BIH in return has adopted all necessary reforms. Chairman of BIH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that he is convinced that if BIH Authorities dedicate themselves to fulfilling all the EU requests, the SAA could be signed by the end of the year.

RHB, TV Pink, TV Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH deserves a place in Europe’ announced on cover ‘Door to Europe are open’ by T. Lazovic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘There is no entrance to EU without an efficient state and protection of human rights’ by A. Omeragic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘European officials in BIH’ by dja, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘BiH politicians should ensure more efficient state’ by M. Cubro – also reported on the visit.

EC President Barroso: constitutional reform is not a direct condition for signing SAA, but there is a link between these two processes

RTRS – EC President Jose Manuel Barroso said during his visit to Sarajevo on Saturday that EC supports BiH politicians’ efforts in negotiations on constitutional changes and is ready to help in that process but constitutional changes are not condition for the way to EU. “Constitutional reform is not direct condition for signing Stabilization and Association Agreement. However, there is link between these two processes. As I earlier said, EC and EU have to be convinced that have partner in BiH, which will be capable to respect its promises and implement Agreement that we negotiate on now”, said Barroso.     

BHT1 – carries an interview with EC Chairman Barroso along the same line as above-reported statement on link between constitutional reform and signing of SAA . EC Chairman Barroso was also asked to comment the issue of liberalization of visa regime, and he stated that he is not informed if the complete liberalization of visa regime will take place but some kind of liberalization will be achieved.

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH deserves a place in Europe’ announced on cover ‘Door to Europe are open’ by T. Lazovic – also carries a statement on link between constitutional reform and signing of SAA.

Barroso and Rehn met BiH Presidency Chairman Jovic

RHB – Chair of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn met with BIH Presidency Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic during his visit to Sarajevo on Saturday. Jovic stated he informed Barroso and Rehn that, when it comes to constitutional changes in BIH, citizen’s right should not be put in the front plan. He added that he suggested to them that it would be good if collective national rights would be protected as well as ethnic citizen’s rights.

CoM Chairman Terzic: CoM determined to sign SAA by end of year

TV Pink – “After talks in Presidency and CoM, I confirm, on behalf of CoM, our determination to use positive stance of Brussels and to sign Stabilization and Association Agreement by the of the year”, said Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair.

BHT1 – also carries the statement.

EC Delegation Spokesperson Maroevic: EC will monitor talks on const. changes and help accelerate process

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘European Commission will help’ by A. M. – Spokesperson of EC Delegation to BiH Frane Maroevic has stated that the European Commission will closely monitor the process of constitutional changes in BiH and see in which way it might help the process to be accelerated. EC Delegation has no information on when the next round of talks on constitutional changes would be held.

DA: SNSD, SDA, SDP and SDS to meet in Sarajevo today to discuss constitutional changes?

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Continuation of talks on constitutional changes today?’ by A. M. and N. D. – According to DA, talks on constitutional changes should continue in Sarajevo today (Sunday). Reportedly, Presidents of SNSD, SDA, SDP and SDS were invited to the talks. SNSD’s Milorad Dodik confirmed he expects to be invited to the talks, SDA’s Sulejman Tihic and SDP’s Zlatko Lagumdzija confirmed ‘some parties will hold talks’, but refused to give any details, while Party for BiH’s Beriz Belkic said he has no information and the party for BiH received no invitation. Inset ‘Presenting stances on suggested solution’ – according to some information, the four party leaders will present their stances on a suggestion IC representatives have developed, which represents a summary of talks held so far at the BiH central Banks and subsequent bi-lateral talks.

Council of Croat Coalition for Changes to present a document on constitutional changes in forthcoming period of time

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘A complete document on changes to BiH Constitution’ by Fena – Petar Milic, the founder of Croat Demo-Christians, took over the mandate, in duration of one month, of the Chairman of the Council of Croat Coalition for Changes. The Coalition announced a complete political document on constitutional changes in BiH would be presented in the forthcoming period of time.

RS Government issue/other political developments

Face to Face SDP deputy Svetozar Pudaric and HDZ deputy Mato Franjicevic

TV Hayat Report by Senad Hadzifejzovic – Guests in Face to Face were deputies in FBIH Parliament Svetozar Pudaric from SDP and Mato Franjicevic from HDZ. Reason for their duel is the law on allocation of public funds since Croat deputies in FBIH House of Peoples voted against this law and asked for protection of vital national interests. Franjicevic feels that funds should be allocated in accordance with FBIH Constitution, which means the funds should be allocated in accordance with FBIH structure. Pudaric says that according to the Constitution fiscal policy comes under the competence of FBIH Parliament thus meaning that this law is in accordance with the Constitution. He adds that according to the proposed law local self-governance and BIH as a state are being strengthened through determining direct allocation of part of public funds.

Dodik said that Cadjo is new RS Minister of Interior

RTRS – RS Prime Minister Designate Milorad Dodik confirmed that Stanislav Cadjo would be new RS Minister of Interior. Cadjo did not want to talk about his new position since has to wait for OHR approval. Dodik said that does not want a revenge but he want a functional system adding that he is certainly against those that bought companies in criminal way. Dodik said that his goal would be to convince international community that RS authorities want to solve issue of cooperation with ICTY. Dodik promised to propose changes of Law on police, establishment of special department and would ask from world security structures to appoint their people at the head of these police structures. 

BiH Minister of Finances Maric: 2006 BiH budget will not be forwarded for re-balance over IMF warning

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘The budget will not be forwarded for a re-balance over a warning of IMF’ by T. L. – BiH Minister of Treasury and Finances Ljerka Maric has stated she was satisfied with the fact BiH House of Representatives had adopted BiH budget for 2006 and she stated she expects House of Peoples will give its support to the budget as well. She believes there is no need for the BiH budget to be forwarded for a re-balance over the warning of IMF that the public expenditures at entity and state level must be reduced for 450 million KM in order for BiH to sign a new stand-by arrangement. She explained entity budgets have not been adopted as yet and, only after these were adopted, it would be considered to reach a position through a re-balance to negotiate with IMF.

Paravac: lawsuit vs. SiCG Bosniaks attempt to avoid their war responsibility

BHT1 – Member of BIH Presidency Borislav Paravac commented the BIH lawsuit against SiCG for aggression and genocide is an attempt of Bosniaks to avoid their part of the responsibility for the war. Paravac stressed that it was the civil war and that following the logic of Bosniaks all three peoples have the right to file charges for aggression.

Lawyer and SNSD member Simic accepted Paravac’s offer to demand for annulment of BiH lawsuit against SiCG

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Krstan Simic represents Paravac’ by N. Diklic – Krstan Simic, a lawyer from Banja Luka and Deputy President of SNSD, on Saturday accepted the offer of BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac to be a member of a team that will, on Paravac’s behalf, demand for an annulment of BiH lawsuit against SiCG for genocide committed during the war.

Six parties oppose changing the threshold

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Jointly against national divisions’ by A. T. – Representatives of six political parties (SDUBiH, SDU, Liberal Party, HSS, BOSS and Movement for Changes) on Friday in Sarajevo assessed as unacceptable the new draft changes and addenda to BiH Election Law, especially in the part foreseeing the threshold should be increased from 3% to 4%. They believe this was aimed to eliminate smaller parties and organise BiH on entity and national keys.

Economy/Education/Social issues

RS Ministry of Education and Culture signed changes on Agreement to adopt joint directive

TV Pink – RS Ministry of Education and Culture is the last that signed changes on Joint Directives Agreement regarding production of history, geography and English language textbooks. Authors of textbooks will have to respect these directives in both entities. The main problems to sign the earlier agreement were orthography and linguistic mistakes. Snjezana Bozic, RS Minister of Education and Culture, mentioned that “national geography or national history” were terms that had to be explained. Bozic added that RS curriculum would have to be taken into consideration in regard to history textbooks writing. OSCE supported signing of agreement since postponing would have negative influence on children and youth in BiH.

BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Halilovic: Healthcare system in BiH is inefficient

TV Pink – Safet Halilovic, BiH Minister of Civil Affairs, said that health system in BiH is uncoordinated, inefficient, non-functional and expensive. Halilovic added that due to unequal system in BiH and limited movement of patient, basic human rights are violated. Halilovic promised that BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs would get engaged in the process of modernization of BiH health system.

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘It is an absurd not all citizens have healthcare protection’ not signed – carries a similar report and carries Halilovic as saying up to 30% of BiH citizens have no right to healthcare protection. 

EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn: free trades zone would attract investments to the region

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Free trades zone will attract investments to the region’ by T. L. – EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has stated that the establishing of a free trades zone among western Balkans countries would attract investors, help to establish an integrated production and support trades and economies of the countries in the region.

Volas expects Economic-Social Council of BiH would be established in March

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Volas expects Economic-Social Council of BiH would be established in March’ by E. P. – The Chairman of BiH Confederation of Syndicates, Cedo Volas, has stated he expects from BiH CoM to create conditions for establishing of BiH Economic-Social Council at the beginning of March.

Chairwoman of BiH Association for Protection of Old Foreign Currency Savers Omersoftic sent a letter to HR Schwarz-Schilling

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Where did old foreign currency go?’ by Dk. Omeragic – The Chairperson of BiH Association for Protection of Old Foreign Currency Savers, Amila Omersoftic, stated that the obligation of paying the old foreign currency savings was groundlessly transferred onto BiH. Omersoftic sent a letter to HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling on Friday, in which she informed him the Association filed a denunciation to the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg several years ago against IMF, OHR and its former officials Paddy Ashdown and Donald Hays because the Association believes organised crime and abuse of office were the reason savers still have not been received payments of their savings.

War crimes

Oslobodjenje: Mladic was arrested, “price” for extradition is being negotiated on

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Mladic is behind bars and is waiting for a settlement on his extradition’ by B. Boskov – The article reads rumour in Belgrade has it that the Hague indictee Ratko Mladic has already been arrested and will be extradited to the Hague Tribunal as soon as the authorities negotiate “the price”. Reportedly, Kosovo is often mentioned as the price that should be negotiated on.

ICTY Chief Prosecutor to demand from EU to suspend SAA talks with SiCG unless Mladic is arrested;

Del Ponte: Cavic and Serb Orthodox Church are protecting Karadzic

Oslobodjenje pg 3, announced on cover ‘I must have Mladic by the end of February’ not signed – Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte has stated she would demand from EU to suspend SAA negotiations with SiCG unless they arrest and extradite Hague indictee Ratko Mladic. Inset ‘Cavic and Serb Orthodox Church are protecting Karadzic’ – Del Ponte stated there are certain indications Hague indictee Radovan Karadzic is in the region, but she does not know exactly where he is. ‘RS represents the greatest problem here. Certain persons from institutions, President and others, still support Karadzic…Information we have also say Serb Orthodox Church protects him as well and he is most probably hiding in a monastery’, Del Ponte stated. 

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Karadzic is hiding in one of Orthodox monasteries’ by Beta – also reported.

Miscellaneous

Official Gazette of BiH Islamic Community Preporod publishes caricatures of prophet Mohammed

TV Hayat – The latest number of magazine Preporod (official gazette of Islamic Community in BIH) features the caricature of prophet Mohammed published in Danish newspapers. Presenter wondered what does this should mean since Preporod published the caricatures while Islamic Community in BIH condoned the protests in front of Embassies in Sarajevo . He further asks who should protest in front of Islamic Community now and whose flags should be burned?