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| Iraq rejects US ultimatum | War against Iraq | US ultimatum to Saddam | Cavic on ‘Orao’ affair |
| Kuwait – Iraq | ‘Orao’ affair | Cavic on ‘Orao’ affair | Dodik on arms trade |
| No virus in Federation | New Serbian PM – Zivkovic | Anic and Buljubasic | Ivanic with US officials |
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| BOSMAL – best investor | Zivkovic new Serbian PM | Cavic and Kalinic on return |
| Oslobodjenje | Scandalous – Serbia requested that Tihic denies being in a prison camp; Orao report – Cavic defending Sarovic; Carla Del Ponte – Djindjic told me he would be killed; Oslobodjenje reporter on a US plane carrier – on your feet army, the war is starting |
| Dnevni Avaz | Iraq will not disturb our relationship with BiH; Sarovic – my role in Orao is crystal clear; Edhem Bicakcic damaged the state for 23 million-KM; Orucevic – I requested control of the electricity sale |
| Dnevni List | HR called on BiH authorities to take decisive economic measures – events in the next 48 hours will create additional insecurity; Reply to HT request for a license next week; While companies do not pay tax, workers are hungry |
| Vecernji List | Baghdad is waiting for bombs; ‘Orao’ affair – the removal of Mirko Sarovic is also possible |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Holy Mary’s message to crying visionary Mirjana – you can choose between life and death; Sarajevo in fear of Belgrade Mafia; Washington only wants Saddam Hussein’s head |
| Glas Srpski | Belgrade ‘Nacional’ banned; Croatian judiciary does not want Serbs as judges; Serbian Interior Ministry – identikit of assassin |
| Nezavisne Novine | Saddam Hussein rejected ultimatum by George Bush – count-down before the US attacks against Iraq; Dragan Cavic – no need for removals following the Orao affair; Herzegovina Neretva Canton – protest of workers in Mostar; Belgrade – Zoran Zivkovic is the new Serbian PM |
| Nedeljni Telegraf | Arms in Ceca’s bunker |
| Blic News | Prime Minister’s assassination – the biggest police pursuit in the Serbian history |
| Vecernje Novosti | PM Zivkovic announces new constitution; 750 people arrested |
| Blic | Cavic – we will not sacrifice anyone because of Orao; Why is Ceca arrested; Dodik – Banja Luka should be the capital of BiH; Kalinic – instability in BiH might jeopardise the region |
Orao Affair | |
| Sarovic
| Avaz pg. 1 and 9 – “If someone thinks it’s normal to remove he first man of a country in this way, whoever he is, chosen by people, then it is not a problem for HR, but us,” said Sarovic at the beginning of his interview for Avaz. Asked about Dodik’s requests for his removal, Sarovic said that Dodik still has not come to terms with the fact that he lost at the last elections. “My relationship and my role in relation to the ‘Orao’ are crystal clear. As RS President and Vice-President I was never in the factory or had any contact. No one had to report to m, nor was I authorized to issue orders. I performed my job then as I do now, legally and with responsibility.” Asked who should be held responsible, Sarovic recalled all removals and charges that had been brought against guilty parties as a result of the illegal sale in the affair. “I am convinced that further destabilizing of the situation via ‘Orao’ affair is not what BiH needs.” On the establishment of the joint army, Sarovic said the conditions were not so strict, meaning the defence and army HQ did not have to be at the BiH, but had to have the same address. Whether Karadzic has an influence on the SDS politics, Sarovic categorically denied. Asked whether Risto Zaric, Head of the RS Intelligence, was his close associate and whether he appointed him, Sarovic denied saying it was another in a line of false accusations that probably origins from the Federation media. An insert ‘Djindjic’s murder is a bad news for all of us’ – hopes the event won’t destabilize relationship between Serbia and BiH. |
| Cavic | Avaz pg. 2 ‘Punishing Sarovic, Dodik or Ivanic would be a new blow for the RS’ – yesterday’s press conf by RS President Dragan Cavic following the issuing of the final report on the ‘Orao’ affair. He said that sanctioning Mirko Sarovic, Mladen Ivanic and Milorad Dodik would represent a political blow and create a new wave of distrust in the justness of decision made by the IC. He further explained that the sanctioning of the above named without conducting a parallel investigation in the Federation and the BiH CoM would represent ad acta. “The introduction of sanctions against Sarovic only would represent a precedent, and would have a totally different kind of qualification and political assessment,” said Cavic. Added he was convinced that people in leading positions in the civil authority knew nothing of the affair or had any information of the UN embargo violations. An insert ‘measures after March28’ – a statement by OHR Spokesperson, Vedran Persic, that certain steps, in regards to the affair, could be taken after a session of the Peace Implementation Council on March 28. Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 7 – failed to give details of the final report, but said it represented a possible answer by |RS institutions to the issue. “We gave an answer and I think this is the end of this story as far as the RS institutions are concerned.” Nezavisne Novine pg. 5 ‘No need for replacements’, Glas Srpski pg. 3 ‘No political lawbreakers’ – Cavic also said that he possessed information proving that firms from the Federation were also violating the UN sanctions against Iraq. “Via Serbian firm, ‘Bratstvo’ from Travnik they exported barrels for multi-barrel rocket launchers of 40 KM range. ‘Vitezit’ firm from Vitez exported explosives and special powder charge for big range rockets to Iraqi Ministry of Defence.” Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘Full stop on Orao’, Blic pg. 7 ‘We will not sacrifice anyone’ – “We have given our response and this is end of this story as far as the RS institutions are concerned,” said RS President and emphasised that the report confirms the violation of UN sanctions on export of weapons and military equipment to Iraq. Vecernji List pg.3 ‘Sanctions against Sarovic, Ivanic and Dodik’, Dnevni List pg. 10 ‘Amended report on Orao affair submitted’ and Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 17 ‘Punish principals in the Federation too’ – “I am convinced that people on leading positions in civil authority did not know what was going on and did not have the information nor they had been informed about the violation of the UN sanctions,” says Cavic. |
| Dodik | Nezavisne Novine pg. 5 ‘No need for replacements’ – Milorad Dodik, SNSD leader, expressed his view that neutral institutions of the system should establish political responsibility and disclose names of the persons involved in the ‘Orao’ affair. He further stressed it was necessary to establish the political responsibility on same issue in the Federation and the region. |
| VL on the affair | Vecernji List pg. 1 and 3 – says it is possible the RS authorities will face sanctions pending the context of the amended report. “There are realistic chances the High Representative, despite the risks the move carries, will remove the current Chair of BiH Presidency Mirko Sarovic (…) The issue is how much damage Sarovic’s removal would cause to several year long international efforts to implement reforms in BiH and build a stable country,” says the author. |
Political Affairs | |
| US Amb. Bond
| Avaz pg. 1 and 5 – an interview with US Ambassador in BiH Clifford Bond. Said the Iraqi crisis would have no negative impact on the US-BiH relations. Asked whether he had any information about the action against Bjelica and Mandic, Bond could not give any details of the action. Whether he warned SDS officials of measures that would be taken against them if established they were in connection with Karadzic, Bond replied that it was not him who had that talk with SDS officials, but another US State Department official. The behaviour of the RS authority in the ‘Orao’ affair, Bond stated that so far they failed to submit credible information about the affair. Asked whether he considered Sarovic, Ivanic and Cavic responsible for the affair, the US Ambassador stated he could not speculate on such issue. |
| Ivanic – Boug | Avaz pg. 2 ‘Help won’t be reduced’ – yesterday’s meeting between BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and Deputy Assistant of the US State Secretary for Europe, Janet Boug, where it was concluded that despite the Iraqi crisis the US continue to be actively engaged in BiH. The two talked about the situation in BiH, as well as about issues in the region and worldwide. |
| Orucevic on EP BiH | Avaz pg. 1 and 8 – the daily claims that the publishing of an audit report on the BiH EP brought to the surface dispute between a member of the EP Steering Board, Safet Orucevic, and the company general Director Enver Kreso. Orucevic claims that there is nothing personal in their disagreements, and that he even helped Kreso assume the post. Orucevic thinks the whole campaign (against him) is only because he and a few more members of the Steering Board were open in their opinions. He said that nothing was done to change already poor conditions in the BiH EP before the OHR audit. “I also want to ask General Dierctor Kreso and the management why they failed to conduct a revision of the BiH EP business activities while Meho Obradovic and Edhem Bicakcic were heading the company. The line was never drawn between the former and current leadership, which would clear up who is responsible for what,” said Orucevic. As for the business relationship between ‘Aluminijum’ and the BiH EP, Orucevic stated it was a ‘burning issue’ that previous two governments were afraid to tackle, and so is the OHR. |
| Terzic – Busek | Avaz pg. 2 ‘BiH so far has not been active enough in the Stability Pact’ – Adnan Terzic, CoM Chair, met yesterday with Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for south-eastern Europe, Erhard Busek. Terzic presented the views of the BiH CoM that BiH had not been so active in the work of the Stability Pact so far. Erhard said BiH was only to begin a rich cooperation with the Stability Pact. Dnevni List pg. 8 ‘BiH does not participate enough in the work of the Stability Pact’ -“BiH did not participate actively enough in the work of the Stability Pact and it would do everything in order to start with stronger and more aggressive work of round tables and initiatives related to the Stability Pact.” |
| Scandalous request by Serbia to Tihic | Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 3 – the biggest front-page story revealing that in November last year FRY Ambassador in BiH, Stanimir Vukicevic, requested from the newly appointed BiH Presidency member, Sulejman Tihic, to remove and deny information from his biography about his time in the prison camps of Batajnica and Sremska Mitrovica. Behind this request was apparently FRY Secretary for Foreign Affairs who thought this information in Tihic’s biography was causing a great international damage to FRY. In a protest letter that Vukicevic submitted to the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is stated that the existence of camps in FRY was never internationally proved. Tihic apparently did not react at the time since he only took over the duty and wanted to avoid a scandal. He however met with Vukicevic, but details of the same are not known. |
| Oslobodjenje commentary | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘Waiting for reformists’ by Amra Kebo – an article praising the work of the late Serbian PM Zoran Djindjic, or as Kebo refers to him – the only true reformist amongst the politicians in the region. She poses a question of whether there are any such reformists in the rest of the region. Starts of course with BiH listing the names such as Haris Silajdizc, Alija Izetbegovic, Zlatko Lagumdzija and the entire Alliance, concluding that none of them ever stepped within the boundaries of the reform. They all talked about it, but failed to implement it. She then moves on to politicians in the RS stating that Dodik was stretched between his personal interests and currying favour with nationalists. Ivanic was, according to Kebo, always closer to the SDS than any reform. Kebo describes Croatian PM Racan as scared and Terzic as indecisive and lacking ambition. That leads to the conclusion of her commentary that politicians have given up on the state, people from politicians and everyone from reforms. “We, therefore, might never have a reformist such as Djindjic.” |
| Ashdown – Aleksejev | Avaz pg. 6 ‘Jobs and Justice’ – HR Ashdown is to meet on Wednesday political Director of the third European department of the Russian Federation Foreign Ministry, Aleksandar Nikolajevic Aleksej. According to OHR Spokesperson, Vedran Persic, the two would discuss the current political situation and the implementation of reforms. |
| DL on Jovicic | Dnevni List pg. 9 ‘BiH Election Commission not competent in Jovicic case’ – notes that a statement by Deputy President of the City Council of Mostar (CCM), Milan Jovicic, who called the HDZ BiH ‘a nationalistic-Ustasha-fascist creation’ and other bad names, and which is addressed more or less to all BiH Croats, was heavily condemned by political parties and the OHR. The daily contacted President of the BiH Election Commission, Hilmo Pasic, who stated that the Commission had no competence over Jovicic and that the Commission could undertake no measures. “It is down to the discipline of political parties and their relations as well as the code of conduct by Jovicic himself (…) There is a possibility the conduct has been regulated by the Book of Rules of the City Council of Mostar. The decision is down to the City Council and possibly the OHR. Now, I cannot go into the competence of the OHR, but the decision is certainly down to the City Council of Mostar,” says Pasic. The daily also carries a statement by President of the CCM, Ante Vidacak (HDZ), who believes the BiH Election Commission is the only competent body to launch activities related to the removal of Jovicic. Vidacak says he has already informed Head of the OHR South, Jean-Pierre Bercot and the BiH Election Commission that the HDZ would see the issue through, adding there was also an initiative by the citizenry to remove Jovicic. “Neither the Interim Statute (of Mostar) or the Book of Rules of the City Council define these such issues. The BiH Election Commission is the one that should undertake further activities. The other way is a lawsuit,” says Vidacak |
| Tadic about Veterinary Institute | Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 19 ‘OHR obstructed work of Veterinary Institute’ – an interview with Director of the BiH Veterinary Institute, Dr. Marko Tadic, who says that his response to an article published in Dnevni Avaz was heavily censored by the papers because the papers does not want to be at odds with ‘its certified and awarded friend, the current High Representative for BiH’. Tadic says he supports the OHR request aimed at the appointment of heads of the Institute and goes on to say that he is not happy with the last sentence in Avaz in which the OHR said that nothing was done with regards to the implementation of the Law on Veterinary ever since it has been enacted. In that context, Tadic lists a set of Book of Rules and other documents the Veterinary Institute has adopted asking the OHR and the EC Commission Office in Sarajevo what they did to help the establishment of the Institute. “What have you done against those who have been obstructing the integration of the veterinary in BiH and disabled and/or obstructed the establishment of the BiH Veterinary Institute? Haven’t you too often encouraged those activities with your acts,” asks Tadic. |
| NHI on Ashdown | Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 20 ‘Ashdown flirting with nationalistic parties’ – a press release by the NHI, which says the ruling structures, unable to solve the growing problems, are resorting to proven methods, national homogenizations and threaten with leaving the authority. “The ultimatum by which the SDA addresses the public is a threat against the High Representative aimed at frightening and preventing him from efforts to regulate the set-up of public services, both state and entity ones. Also, tp prevent him in the appointment of public servants who would execute their duties professionally and in the interest of citizens, and not in the interest of the parties. It is an example of a mistake by the High Representative in assessing that a democratic society based on standards of the free democratic world can be built with those parties,” reads the PR. The NHI also deems that HR Paddy Ashdown ‘ is flirting with nationalistic parties has already been proven as a mistake’. It was also reported in Dnevni List pg. 6 ‘The new authority incapable of solving social and economic problems’. |
| OHR replies to SDA | Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘The OHR is not obligated to interpret its decisions’ – OHR again denied accusations by the SDA that they conduct non-transparent vetting of candidates proposed for authority positions. According to Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, ‘the process of reforms and the vetting of candidates are crucial issues for BiH. “Let me just remind you that all political parties were claiming for themselves to be reformist.” According to SDA Vice President, Elmir Jahic that they would persist in getting explanations why certain candidates fail the vetting procedure. |
| Kalinic with Humphreys | Glas Srpski pg. 3 ‘Accelerated implementation of reforms’ – Dragan Kalinic, RS Parliament Speaker, and Michael Humphries, Head of EC Mission to BiH, yesterday held a meeting. “Following tragic developments in Serbia, the creation of political and other kinds of instability in the RS and BiH may jeopardise the entire region. Therefore, it is of extreme importance that the current authorities and other political forces implement reforms in an accelerated manner, so that the piled economic and social problems could be resolved,” was concluded during the meeting. Blic pg. 3 ‘Unstable BiH would jeopardise the region’ – also discussed the customs reform, the introduction of VAT, activities on restructuring major companies, obstacles in the privatisation process and reform of the armed forces. “All political forces in the RS, especially those in power, need to go the extra mile to implement faster reform, and by doing so to resolve the accumulated economic and social problems,” they concluded. |
| Dodik | Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘Coalition in service of preservation of criminal framework in the RS’ – Milorad Dodik, SNSD leader, yesterday stated that tri-partite alliance amongst the SDS, PDP and SDA served the maintenance of the criminal framework in the RS. At a press conference in Banja Luka yesterday, he said that the RS institutions are not doing anything to rout the criminal groups that are active in Banja Luka and the RS. He further called on the RS MoI to perform actions aimed at arresting all criminal groups dealing with drug trafficking in the RS. “If it’s established that Hussein possessed chemical weapons for mass destruction, then the action of disarmament of Iraq is just,” said Dodik. Blic pg. 3 – “Keeping in mind that the RS government neither has the capacity nor will to make any changes in this society of crime. The SNSD has made a proposal for 2003 budget rebalance and sent it to the Parliament,” SNSD leader Dodik said. He said that the state bodies were teeming with irregularities, crime was ruling and the police was in direct connection with Mafia. |
| Merging f RS parties | Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘Dragan Kostic and Mirko Banjac join parties’ – the Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DNS) led by Dragan Kostic and the Alliance of National Rebirth led by Mirko Banjac have decided to continue their political activities through one political party. Both political parties will be functioning through the DNS until the Party Congress is held. Banjac added that it was necessary to reduce the number of small political parties at the political scene. “The DNS and SNP have a clear orientation of people’s and democratic party,” said Banjac. Blic pg. 2 – the DNS led by Kostic and the Alliance of National Revival (SNP) led by Banjac had decided to continue their political activities through one political party. |
| SD on Belgrade Mafia | Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1 and 17 by Zlatko Tulic ‘Sarajevo in fear of Belgrade Mafia’ – whether we like to admit it or not, Sarajevo is afraid of Mafia from Serbia and Monte Negro following the Djindjic assassination, claims the author. SD notes that although the BiH authorities are trying to deny the presence of the Mafia from the neighboring country in BiH, people of BiH and Sarajevo are disturbed because not many people believe the BiH eastern borders are tightly sealed. In this context, SD says Serbian borders to Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania are better secured. Furthermore, SD says local criminals from Sarajevo had good ties with Belgrade Mafia before and after the war adding the fact that many criminals from Pale, who have good connections with Belgrade, are coming to Sarajevo on a daily basis to strike deals, which is enough of a reason to be worried. |
Economic Affairs | |
| Ashdown with businessmen
| Avaz pg. 3 ‘The next audit report contains scandalous information’ – yesterday’s gathering of the American Chamber of Commerce where HR Ashdown announcing publishing of a new report by the special audit commission, which will indicate bad management in public BiH companies. He said the audit would be announced next week. He however added that the special audit would improve standards of management in BiH companies, which was one of pre-conditions for continuing integration in the European economic structures. As for the Bulldozer Commission (BC), Ashdown stated it offered an efficient strategy for improving the business environment, and that the implementation of he BC recommendations would be of great help for all BiH companies. Vecernji List pg. 2 ‘Audit of telephone companies follows’ – following the audit reports of three Elektroprivreda companies, HR announced the audit of other public companies, but he refused to specify which companies. VL says that they revealed that an audit of the BiH Telecom business operations had started and the audits in other telecommunication companies and post offices would be carried out as well. President of BiH Trade Union, Edhem Biber, believes that these audits have to be carried out. “The public is being confused all the time with information about business operations of these companies. The audit is the only way for BiH citizens and the IC finally find out what they have at their disposal and if there are some problems.” VL says that better results of the audit than the ones revealed in the three Elektroprivredas cannot be expected and Principle Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, confirmed this in his statement. Blic pg. 6 ‘No time for delaying reforms’ – “In order to have a competitive business environment in BiH a lot of things need to be done. However, BiH does not have any time left for delaying economic reforms necessary for creating new jobs, the establishment of the rule of law and business environment,” said HR Ashdown. |
| Third GSM licence | Dnevni List pg. 1 and 5 – the daily has information that Provisional Administrator of Hercegovacka Bank, Toby Robinson, is going to sell the Eronet shares, currently owned by the ‘Hercegovacka Bank’, since necessary funds to pay compensation for the issuing of the third GSM license cannot be secured. DL says that it is strange that ‘Hercegovina Osiguranje’, ‘Hercegovacka Bank’ and ‘Eronet’ itself cannot secure about 300 million KM to pay the license when they will get back these funds from ‘Eronet’ incomes in a very short period of time. The article says that they tried to contact ‘Hercegovacka Bank’ in order to check this information, however, after many calls they failed to get in touch with anyone there. DL says that they learnt from the CRA that it has been expected that the price of the third GSM license would be known on March 21. The CRA also informed that ‘Hrvatske Telekomunikacije’ Mostar renewed their request for the third GSM operator on March 10. DL concludes that we shall soon know which one of these two companies will get the license. |
| HR’s message to BiH authorities | Vecernji List pg. 2 ‘World economy does not favor BiH at the moment’ and Dnevni List pg. 1 and 3 – HR Paddy Ashdown called on BiH authorities to take certain economic measures. “The world economy is not strong at the moment and events in the next 48 hours can create additional insecurity. This is not the right time to demand the investments that BiH needs. Also, the murder that took place in Belgrade last week would not help Balkans’ reputation.” Ashdown expressed a doubt that a new national conflict might take place in BiH. “I would not however like to predict an outcome if, due to the lack of will and courage, we stand aside faced with challenges of strong and fast economic reforms.” |
Media Affairs | |
| Poor news rating for BHTV | Vecernji List pg. 9 by G. K. ‘News summary of BHTV1 figures is below 5 percent’ – says a survey conducted by organizations that follows the work of the media. It confirms that citizens get informed by watching information programs of the entity television outlets. VL goes on to say that the ratings of BHTV1’s news summary are below 5% and that BiH is divided country information wise. In this context, the daily says the RS citizens seldom see and hear stories from the Federation and vice versa, and the viewers from west Herzegovina exclusively watch Croatian TV. |