OHR BiH Media Round-up, 19/3/2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK  (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Agreement on const. chang. reached

Agreement on const. chang. reached

Agreement on constitutional changes

Covic on constitutional reforms

HR regarding Agreement

HR on agreement on cons. changes

Round table on const. reform 

Milosevic’s funeral

Analysts on const. changes

HVIDRA on Bugojno crimes

Regional News

Four died in traffic accident

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Agreement on const. chang. reached

Agreement on constitutional changes

Agreement on const. chang. reached

Farewell bid to Milosevic inBelgrade

Round table on BiH Constitution

HR regarding Agreement

Milosevic’s funeral

Constitutional position of BiH Croats

Milosevic’s funeral

Protest in BN against BIH Lawsuit

Tulic to be dislodged from his home

“SPONA” organized meeting

Oslobodjenje

State deputies will elect members of BiH Presidency

Dnevni Avaz

McElhaney: This is good for everyone in BiH

Dnevni List

Two sisters and two friends killed [report on traffic accident in Prijedor]

Vecernji List

Croats will elect their Presidency member

Nezavisne Novine

Presidency will be elected in the Parliament

Agreement on Constitutional changes

BiH political leaders reached agreement on constitutional changes; President and Vice- Presidents to be nominated from directly elected MPs in BiH Parliament

BHT1– Leaders of seven major political parties [SDA, HDZ, SDS, SDP, SNSD, PDP, HNZ] reached the agreement on constitutional changes at the meeting held in the residence of US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney in Sarajevo on Saturday. They agreed on the method of election of BiH Presidency members, which was the last remaining unsolved issue regarding constitutional changes. HDZ President Dragan Covic explained that according to this agreement, all directly elected members of BiH Parliament Assembly are potential candidates for position of BiH President and two Vice Presidents. 20% of BiH House of Peoples members or 10% of BiH House of Representative members can propose one candidate each. After that, HoP makes a list of three candidates that must be approved by BiH HoR. PINK– “By this agreement, neither one party got what asked for nor whished; this is the result of a compromise… BiH and its citizens got the most,” said Sulejman Tihic, SDA leader. “We all should work on getting set of amendments that are in accordance with the Agreement to the Parliament as soon as possible” said Dragan Cavic, SDS Leader. Cavic explained that these amendments would enable implementation of agreed changes in time for upcoming election. “We all know that it is going to be hard to get votes of two thirds of Representatives in both Houses. But we expect that. We know that there are some that would oppose it such as SBiH and SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj” “, said Zlatko Lagumdzija, SDP leader. “I expect that after this agreement, messages from Brussels would be more positive on Monday”, said Mladen Ivanic, PDP Leader. “This is compromise and it represents harmonization of the Constitution regarding functioning of BiH institutions with current European practice”, said Milorad Dodik, SNSD Leader. RTRS – “I feel this (agreement) as confirmation that BiH can make decisions on its own. This is the moment when the international community as protector will reduce its role”, said Dodik. RHB, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘McElhaney: this is good for everyone in BiH’ pg 2 ‘Package of constitutional changes goes to parliamentary procedure’ by A.Malagic, Oslobodjenje cover splash and pgs 4-5 ‘State deputies will elect members of BiH Presidency’ by A.Omeragic, Dnevni List pg 2-3 ‘Constitutional changes signed’, mentioned on cover by Resad Dautefendic, – carried similar report.

NN: by now political leaders have agreed on enlargement of CoM, increase of HoR and reducing of HoP’s role

Nezavisne Novine cover splash and pg 3 ‘Presidency will be elected in the Parliament’ by M.Cubro– Daily carries the article on reached agreement on constitutional changes, reminding on changes that were agreed so far. It was stated that political leaders have agreed to increase number of deputies in both Houses of BiH Parliament and to enlarge Council of Ministers.  Laws are still to be passed by simple majority, with obligation that every decision gets votes of at least of one-third of deputies from ach entity. BiH House of Peoples would serve as protective mechanism for vital national interests and would not be passing laws. CoM would pass decisions by simple majority, where minimum one Minister from each people have to support it. Chairman of the CoM would now be a Prime Minister and would have authority to replace certain number of Ministers.

HDZ’ Covic: I see no reason for Croat MPs not to support this agreement

Vecernji List cover splash and pg 2 ‘Croats would elect their Presidency member’ by Zoran Kresic– Talking about reached agreement on constitutional changes HDZ leader Dragan Covic in statement for VL expressed his satisfaction, stressing that equality of all three peoples is now insured at the state level. Asked about announced boycott of HDZ deputies, Covic said “I see no reason for Croats MPs not to support this agreement, because they would approve ‘status quo’ which is the worst for Croats” said Covic. 

HNZ’ Brkic: Parliament could discuss const. changes on March 23; doesn’t expect that would pass the Parliament

Oslobodjenje cover splash and pgs 4-5 ‘State deputies will elect members of BiH Presidency’ by A.Omeragic – HNZ leader Milenko Brkic stated that political leaders have agreed that BiH Parliament should discuss the package of constitutional changes on its next session, on March 23. “If Parliament passes that then amendments to the Constitution would be made and if not, then there would be no amendments” stated Brkic. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Croats insured election of Presidency member’ by A.Vrebac– in a statement for DL, Brkic said that Croats gained most with such election of BiH Presidency. “Namely as of now Caucuses would elect its members of Presidency, and would not be possible for Bosniaks and Serbs to elect President for Croats, as was the case with Ivo Miro Jovic” said Brkic. “I do not believe that such agreement would pass the parliamentary procedure, since it would not be supported by SBiH and as it is expected by HDZ as well” said Brkic.

BiH political leaders inform US State Secretary Rice about reached agreement; second round foreseen for after elections

RTRS-US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney believes that BiH by this agreement fulfils commitments that took in November 2005, which were part of the declaration that BiH politicians signed during their meeting in Washington with US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, and that is being closer to the EU and NATO. ”Parties wrote a letter to the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Riceand informed Rice that fulfilled commitments that took in November last year in Washington DC”, said McElhaney. PINK– “We agreed to change the Constitution and propose Laws that would establish Presidency with one President and two Vice Presidents, strengthen power of BiH Government and BiH Council of Ministers, establish more efficient Parliament and strengthen protection of human rights”, said leaders of SDS, SDA, PDP, SDP, HDZ, SNSD and HNZ in the joint letter that sent to US State Secretary. Hayat– Austrian Ambassador to BiH Werner Almhofer and Great Britain Ambassador to BiH Mathew Rycroft have also attended the talks. It is agreed that second round of negotiations on constitutional changes should start after general elections in October.  FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘New phase after elections in October’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine cover splash and pg 3 ‘Presidency will be elected in the Parliament’ by M.Cubro, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Letter to Condoleezza Rice’ not signed, – also reported.

HR Schwarz-Schilling congratulated reached agreement; warns about urgency for parliamentary procedure

PINK– High Representative to BiH Christian Schwarz-Schilling congratulated for the reached agreement to the participants in the negotiations on constitutional changes.  Schwarz-Schilling stressed that it is the first crucial step in the long reform process toward more efficient and functional institution of BiH. Schwarz-Schilling believes that it is necessary for BiH Parliament to give necessary support to the Agreement on constitutional changes, or in contrary these changes of the Constitution would not be in effect before the elections in 2010. BHT1, FTV, RTRS – reported. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Support to BiH’ road toward EU’ by S.N., Nezavisne Novine cover splash and pg 3 ‘Presidency will be elected in the Parliament’ by M.Cubro, Inset ‘Schwarz-Schilling congratulated participants of negotiations’,

Ambassador Rycroft: reached agreement is a good step toward European future

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I congratulate parties’ leaders’ by S.N.– British Ambassador to BiH Mathew Rycroft greeted the agreement on constitutional changes and stated for DA that “this is a good step toward European future of BiH”. “State structures are strengthening, parliament is becoming more efficient and within it is decided on a simple way and the state becomes more functional” stated Rycroft.

DL op-ed: HDZ deputies should show political wisdom, since this is unique chance to ‘cut into Dayton’

Dnevni List op-ed pg 2 ‘Equal status of Croats’ by Resad Dautefendic– Commenting the agreement on constitutional changes and announced boycott of HDZ MPs in BiH Parliament, Dautefendic stresses that this agreement is not against interests of any of peoples. Further on Dautefendic comments that SBiH would certainly support HDZ, since few months before elections SBiH decided that entities should be abolished and that they are harmful for Croats and stood at their defence. Dautefendic concludes with a hope that HDZ deputies would show ‘political wisdom’ and put aside their disputes with HDZ leader Dragan Covic, because “this is a unique opportunity to cut into the Dayton Agreement”.

Hayat’s poll shows that citizens are dissatisfied with reached agreement on constitutional changes

Hayat- Citizens were asked to comment the reached the agreement on constitutional changes in BIH and possible effect on their lives and future n BiH. Most of the citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome but mainly by the statement issued by Zlatko Lagumdzija that SBIH and Radicals of Vojislav Seselj are alike. Some citizens stated that they cannot see why Lagumdzija and Sulejman Tihic are excited that much when the agreement is terrible. Citizens also expressed concern with the fact that everything was closed for the public and ‘wrapped in veil of secrecy’ believing that “arrogant politicians” deceived them. 

SBiH’ Silajdzic: Tihic and Lagumdzija are adversaries of single BiH

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Tihic and Lagumdzija are adversaries of single BiH’ by M.D.-F.B.– SBiH founder Haris Silajdzic, BOSS leader Mirnes Ajanovic have held public debates in Sanski Most and Kljuc on issue of constitutional changes.  Silajdzic stated that negotiations on constitutional changes are directed only toward “changing of Dayton clothes’ stressing that SDA leader Sulejman Tihic and SDP’s Zlatko Lagumdzija are marked as adversaries of single BiH. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘BiH’s future is being taken away’ by I.Skenderovic,

SDP’s Boric satisfied with constitutional changes; SBiH’s Hadziahmetovic believes that all this could be used for political manipulation

Hayat By Senad Hadzifejzovic – Commenting reached agreement on constitutional changes SDP’s Besima Boric and SBiH’s Azra Hadziahmetovic expressed regrets because women did not participate the negotiations. Boric expressed satisfaction with the reached agreement on the constitutional changes adding that Leaders did show that they could reach the agreement without International Community’s interference. “I agree that IC was present at the talks but they stated that the agreement should be reached by BIH politicians and that they will not impose a single decision. I would like to live in a country without IC but this is our reality” commented Boric. On the other side, Hadziahmetovic criticized the fact that agreement was reached without public debate, stressing that her party is not against constitutional changes “but were left out from last two meetings”.  She stressed that “the entire issue could be politically manipulated especially after the statements that the second phase, which is less important than the first one, will be continued after the election in order not to be politicised and used for the elections. This is absurd” added Hadziahmetovic.

Milosevic’s funeral

Milosevic buried in Pozarevac, despite harsh objections of his family

FTV– Seven days after his death in ICTY detention cell, former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic has been buried in his family tomb in the yard of his house in Pozarevac. Several thousands attended the funeral. However, there were no members of his family or SCG officials. His daughter Marija Milosevic harshly opposed the location of burial, claiming that her father shouldn’t be buried in the yard of a house that belongs to his wife’s family. She announced that she would demand excavation and new burial in Montenegro, where Milosevic family originates. The funeral was among others, attended by former US state prosecutor Ramsey Clark, President of Russian Communist Party and Ambassadors of China, Cuba and Russia. 50.000 – 100.000 of people gathered for commemoration ceremony in Belgrade, among them also a number of people from RS and Croatia. RHB, PINK, BHT1, Hayat, RTRS– carried similar reports. Dnevni Avaz pg 14-15 ‘Balkans butcher buried’, mentioned on cover ‘Funeral divided Serbia and family of Balkans butcher’ – daily brings two full pages dedicated to funeral of Milosevic. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Slobodan Milosevic buried’, mentioned on cover by B.Boskov, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Slobodan Milosevic buried’ by Agencies, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Over 100.000 people at Milosevic’s last sent-off’ by Ljiljana Vidacak, Vecernji List pgs 6-7 ‘Slobo’s funeral quarrelled Serbs’, mentioned on cover by Zdenko Jurilj and Zoran Grizelj – also reported.

RS officials did not attend the funeral

RHB– Media reported that no one of the RS High officials attended the funeral of Slobodan Milosevic. It was stated that even on Saturday citizens in Banja Luka have displayed Milosevic’s picture at the square where people placed their flowers and lit the candles while ‘Glas Srpske’ featured the obituaries.

Mothers of Srebrenica say that too much attention was given to Milosevic’s death

BHT1– BHT1- Commenting Slobodan Milosevic’s funeral, members of Association “Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves” Munira Subasic said that Milosevic was the greatest war criminal after Adolf Hitler, claiming that too much attention has been paid to his death. Another member of this Association Kada Hotic said that living in a country where Milosevic is being so honoured, she fears for the future of her grandchildren.

Protests against Milosevic and his supporters on streets of Belgrade

BHT1– At the same time when commemoration ceremony for Slobodan Milosevic was held, several thousands of his opponents gathered in Belgrade to protest against Milosevic and those honouring him. Media broadcasted that mainly young people attended this protest, while mainly old ones attended the funeral. It is interesting, as media informed, that protesters were invited to protests by SMS, which read “come to celebrate spring three days before and to wish that Milosevic never returns again”. FTV– also reported.

Political developments

EU official Lange: technical part of SAA is essence of the agreement

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We are concerned because BiH does not respects treaties’, mentioned on cover ‘Technical part of negotiations with the EU is the most important’ by Tarik Lazovic– Head of EC’s General Directorate for Enlargement and official who is leading technical EU team in negotiations on Stabilization and Association with BiH, Dirk Lange stated in interview for DA that technical part of negotiations, which considers trade relations is the essence of the agreement for which BiH authorities hope that would be signed as soon as possible.  Asked about his statement that he is irritated by customs that BiH introduced to beer from Slovenia and would that be the condition for signing of SAA, Lange stated that he wouldn’t go that far, but: “this is about the issue how prepared BiH is to honour international treaties on trade”. He stressed that Slovenia , as EU member, is not treated adequately and now the assessment is being reached on what BiH is doing regarding the trade relations. Inset ‘BiH economy is capable for free trade with the EU’- Lange stated that he believes that BiH economy is capable to fulfil conditions on free trade with the EU. He stressed that BiH has made some regulations to protect domestic protection, since it is believed that BiH is disabled to gain in free trade. NOTE: Lange never explicitly said that BiH doesn’t respect treaties.

Five BiH Ministers secretly in Zagreb ; discussed bridge toward Peljesac and borders issues

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Five Ministers secretly sojourned in Zagreb’, mentioned on cover by H.Orahovac – According to DA sources in Council of Ministers five of BiH Ministers secretly sojourned in Zagreb, where they met members of Croatian Prime Minister’s Cabinet and discussed open issues between two countries. DA learns that BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac, BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak, BiH Foreign Trade Minister Dragan Doko, BiH Communication Minister Branko Dokic and BiH Civil Affair Minister Safet Halilovic have visited Zagreb and met with Croatian Sea and Tourism Minister Bozidar Kalmeta. One of Ministers [not stated which] said for DA that they discussed building of bridge toward peninsula Peljesac and issue of borders.   

BiH Deputy Defence Minister Becirbasic: BiH would to be able to join PfP without Karadzic and Mladic

Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9 ‘No membership in Partnership for Peace without Karadzic and Mladic’, mentioned on cover by Mirza Cubro– In interview for NN, BiH Deputy Defence Minister Enes Becirbasic emphasised that NATO would not change its demand that BiH, if wants to become member of Partnership for Peace, has to arrest and extradite most wanted ICTY fugitives Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.  He added that NATO counts on BiH as serious partner, which was confirmed by recently passed Program of Cooperation of BiH and NATO for 2006. Becirbasic explained that this Program is a step forward and gathers issues that would be defined in cooperation, starting with organization of defence institution, democratic surveillance, fight against terrorism to planning of civil protection that would assist in pre-qualification of military surpluses. Asked how much demands for resignation of BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic [ SDS announced that would withdraw all its Ministers, after reshuffle in RS Government] are making their work difficult, Becirbasic said that he is not most competent to speak about that, but stressed that they are trying to keep political issues a side.

Daily: decertified police officers could ask for compensation

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Decertified police officers before the Security Council’, mentioned on cover by E.Kamenica– UN Security Council’s Expert Group should soon, come with the stance on the issue of decertified police officers in BiH, whose certificates were taken by the International Police Task Force [IPTF], BiH Human Right Minister Mirsad Kebo should meet with decertified police officers next week and inform them about activities that are taken on this issue. Author concludes that this issue would raise more tensions, wondering if this is because of the fear that police officers could ask for compensation from domestic or UN authorities. Inset “Ashdown’s forgotten luggage’- New High Representative Christian Schwarz–Schilling is using every opportunity to import this issue to his collocutors and such he did during his last visit to Brussels, stated OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic.  Author noted that New HR is trying to get rid of ‘the luggage’ of the former HR Paddy Ashdown.

BiH vs. SCG lawsuit

SCG representative before ICJ says they do not deny crimes occurred, but  claim that they can’t be labelled as genocide

Hayat By Senad Hadzifejzovic– SCG representative Sasa Obradovic in the BiH lawsuit against SCG before International Court of Justice stated that the first round of oral presentation of the arguments has finished. Asked to comment the recent decision of ICJ to close the hearing for the media during the testimonials of witnesses, Obradovic stated that the testimonials would be presented to the public after the second phase is finished because “ICJ has the rule that witnesses cannot hear what was stated previously on that issue by other witnesses”. Commenting Slobodan Milosevic’s death, Obradovic stated that it would not influence in any way the proceedings before ICJ adding that evidence presented during his trial can be used in other trials. Obradovic stated that his team was defending the dignity of SCG since it was accused of the “worst crime”. “We do not deny that horrible crimes were committed in BIH but we argue that these crimes cannot be labelled as genocide. Another thing is that we want to prove that SCG had nothing to do with those crimes” noted Obradovic.

Protests of Serb NGOs in Bijeljina; posters of Karadzic and Mladic and minute of silence for Milosevic

RTRS– Associations of Serb NGOs “SPONA” organized meeting in Bijeljina due to the BiH lawsuit against SCG for genocide. Several thousands of people were present. The meeting started with minute of silence for RS killed soldiers and late Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. “SPONA” believes that the lawsuit is not legitimate and legal and asks for suspension of this lawsuit. Branislav Dukic, “SPONA” said that SCG accepted many refugees during the war regardless their nationality and religion. Hayat– At the occasion, Deputy Head of SPONA, Slavko Jovicic reiterated that RS has to be preserved and that RS citizens should condemn the Lawsuit. BHT1– protesters were carrying pictures of ICTY indictees Slobodan Milosevic, Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. Hayat– Gathered citizens held banners with inscriptions such as: “Europe You Should Be Ashamed”, “Mladic and Karadzic Do Not Give up”, “Muslims We Do Not Want to Live with You”. RHB, BHT1, Hayat– also reported. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Insults and glorifying of Serbia and criminals’, mentioned on cover by E.Musli, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Lawsuit is illegal and illegitimate’ by V.Duric, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Lawsuit against SCG disloyal and illegal’ by Z.Kusmuk, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Protests because of BiH lawsuit against SCG’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Cavic, Paravac and Dodik did not came’ by Branka Stevandic– Daily carries that even though it was announced RS President Dragan Cavic, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and member of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac did not attend the protests. After it was stated that they are occupied with constitutional changes, protesters ‘whistled them out’ calling them ‘traitors’.