Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 19 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Kristo: Lozancic’s decision is legal | Srpske Poste new General Manager |
| Ljajic on Mandic’s arrest | Protest in Cajnice continues |
| World news | Mandic’s attorney announces suit |
TV news broadcast on 18 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Momcilo Mandic case | Mandic extradited to BiH authorities | Killed SBS officer buried |
| OHR, Bukejlovic on police reform | OHR on Mandic’s arrestment | Interrogation of Mandic started |
| EC Delegation on police reform | Investigation of Prodanovic’s murder | Reactions to Mrakovica meeting |
| The FBiH Govt. session | FBiH Government in session | Negotiations with farmers postponed |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Mandic extradited to BiH authorities | FBiH Government in session | Murder of SBS member near Cajnice |
| Madic charged with criminal acts | Reactions to murder of SBS officer | Reactions on SBS member’s murder |
| Protest in Cajnice | Interrogation of Mandic started | Momcilo Mandic case |
| OHR on Prodanovic’s murder | Reactions to Mrakovica meeting | Three drug-dealers arrested |
| Oslobodjenje | Going to pension in the age of 63 |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic on Police reform: Mostar meeting will be of key importance |
| Dnevni List | Tents in front of HDZ soon |
| Vecernji List | Croats from BiH also welcomed Pope |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Cardinal as common-people tribune |
| Glas Srpske | People demands the truth |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ashdown exerting pressure against SDS |
| Blic | Al Qaida walking around |
| Vecernje Novosti | Arrests and alerts (about arrestment of |
| Srpski Nacional | Features |
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| LATEST NEWS OF TODAY |
| Kristo: Lozancic’s decision on Prce’s pardon is legal
| RHB – FBiH Justice Minister Borjana Kristo stated that the decision passed byFBiH President Niko Loznacic on reduction of the prison sentence to Miroslav Prce is absolutely in accordance with the Constitution and the FBiH Law on Pardon and Lozancic would inform High Representative Paddy Ashdown about it in a written form today. Kristo also said that she is surprised that such dust was raised because of the Lozancic’s decision. According to Kristo, pardon is exclusively under competence of the executive and not judicial authority. Asked whether the decision on the Prce’s pardon would be changed Kristo said that she could not answer this question since only the FBiH President can change the decision. |
| Ljajic: My Ministry did not sign demand for arrest and extradition of Mandic
| RHB – SCiG Minister for Human Rights Rasim Ljajic stated that this Ministry did not sign the demand for the arrest and extradition of Momcilo Mandic. Ljajic stressed that according to the SCiG laws this Ministry only can sign the consent for extradition. Ljajic also said that this Ministry did not even know that the arrest warrant after Mandic was issued. |
| SCG Minister Stojkovic on Mandic’s extradition: Legal procedure was not respected
| RS Radio – Zoran Stojkovic, SiCG Justice Minister, has stated that legally stipulated procedure was not respected during the extradition proceeding of Momcilo Mandic to BiH. In a statement to |
| Mandic’s attorney announces suit
| RS Radio – Milovan Orovic, legal representative of the Mandic family, has announced a suit will be filed regarding the manner in which his client Momcilo Mandic was extradited to BiH authority. He expresses disbelief that Mandic was detained by Montenegrin police, since Mandic is the citizen of SiCG. |
| Protest in Cajnice continues
| RS Radio – RTRS reports on continuation of protest Cajnice inhabitans organsied upon the killing of Bojan Prodanovic. Citizens reiterate their demands, including request that top officials of RS address them. |
| Rendic new General Manager of Srpske Poste
| RS Radio – Milanka Rendic has today been appointed Acting Director of “Srpske Poste”. Rendic was on the position of Director of “Srpske Poste” in 2000. She has been appointed to this position by the Supervisory Board of the firm. |
| HR to visit | RS Radio – It was confirmed by OHR that Paddy Ashdown last night at Jahorina held a meeting with SDS as a part of a series of regular HR’s meetings with political parties. The meeting discussed police reform. The press release announces next HR’s meeting of such kind for Monday in |
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| Political Developments/Reforms |
| Terzic: Mostar meeting is of crucial importance; Other reactions to Mrakovica meeting
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Mostar meeting will; be crucial’, pg 5 ‘Mostar meeting will be crucial for police reform’ by E.Sarac – Noting it remains unknown what was agreed at Mrakovica meeting regarding police reform (owing to agreement amongst participants not to reveal details to the public), daily carries statement Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, gave to this daily, stressing: “The Tuesday, 23 August, when we meet in Mostar, will be a crucial day since it would show whether talks on police reform we are currently running within institutions represent a mechanism to truly reach an agreement, that would bring us closer to European integrations. Or if this mechanism was just buying of time in order to distribute responsibility for police reform failure amongst all institutions of BiH.” He also said it is still to early to talk about final outcome, stressing Tuesday will reveal more on this issue. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Continuation of negotiations on police reform in Mostar’ by M. B. also carried Terzic’s statement on police reform. EuroBlic RS pg 2 ‘Mostar to follow Mrakovica’ by Nedeljka Breberina – Reminding that police reform talks should resume in Mostar on 23 August, daily refers to its source saying that Mostar talks should give a clearer picture of what and how to proceed on police reform. It also refers to Adnan Terzic statement, who stated that obstruction to police reform – in his view – is the agreement political subjects in RS signed in December 2004. BHTZoran Sarenac – Wednesday’s meeting of BiH politicians on police reform ended without results, which caused bold reactions. European Commission’s Delegation in BiH stated that the police reform is the only Feasibility Study requirement without any visible progress. Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that it is going to be difficult to explain to RTRS Momcilo Ostojic – After several months of slowdown in negotiations on the police reform process, the discussions on Mrakovica should have provided new solutions, so the reform process could be restarted. But, what – if anything – was decided, BiH public does not know. “We decided that we won’t go public with the details of our negotiations”, said BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) Chair Adnan Terzic. RS Ministry of Interior and SDS also did not want to comment on the restart of the negotiations. SNSD claims that police reform process depends on entity governments and CoM, and it’s obvious that authorities in BiH are ineffective and incapable, said SNSD’s Igor Radojicic. “If the agreement is not reached by the mid-September, it would be very difficult situation for the whole BiH”, added Radojicic. Although they don’t have the official information about the discussions on Mrakovica, PDP supports the idea of discussions through system institutions, because those discussions should eventually bring to some sort of a solution, said PDP’s Gavrilo Antonic. “We support the police reform, but only if the BiH Constitution, and the constitutional position of the RS, are obeyed”, added Antonic. “Why would we even need RS if we transfer all authorities to the common institutions? If that happens, RS would only be an empty shell”, said member of the SRS “Vojislav Seselj” party Djoko Pajic. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘USA supports police reform’ by V.P. – Apart from carrying support to police reform expressed by the US Government and EC (Frane Maroevic’s statement), daily brings comments of Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, Drago Kalabic, DNS senior official and Momcilo Novakovic, SDS Main Board member. Dodik said that Mrakovica meeting was another failed meeting, adding that agreement on such a key issue between authority officials is not possible. Novakovic stresses that SDS delegates will support any agreement reached by authority on this issue. Kalabic notes that police reform has already been agreed, adding that key issues have already been accepted. |
| VL: Bukejlovic on police reform
| Vecernji List pg 7 ‘Agreement on police reform to be reached’ by M. Ivesa – VL says that asked how it could happen that a proposed concept ‘9 + 1 regions’ passed the talks on this issue held on Vlasic and in Sarajevo, RS Prime Minister Pero Bukjelovic said that in that case Bosniaks would have majority in 7 regions, Croats in 2 regions and Serbs in one. Bukejlovic stressed that this issue has to be harmonized with the census from 1991. He added that that BiH laws and Constitution say so as well. Bukejlovic also believes that this is not the time for abolishment of the entities and Cantons since in his opinion this would create unnecessary tensions. |
| OHR: Without police reform there will be no talks with EU
| RHB, Pink, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Without police reform there will be no talks with EU’ – Office of the High Representative warned that the conditions for membership in the European Union are not negotiable, and that – until BiH politicians are ready to work on the reforms that satisfy these conditions – BiH’s path to Europe will remain blocked. Commenting on recent talks on police reform at Mrakovica, OHR spokesperson |
| EC disappointed with Mrakovica meeting
| RHB, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘No concrete results in talks’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Continuation of negotiations on police reform in Mostar’ by M. B., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To accelerate negotiations’ by N.Z. – The Delegation of the European Commission expressed its disappointment because meeting on Mrakovica did not produce any concrete solutions for unsolved issues, in order to finally complete police reform process. EC Delegation believes that the work of the Police Restructuring Commission and the negotiations held on |
| British Ambassador to BiH on police reform
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘There should not be politics in police reform’ by ONASA – In an interview to ONASA news agency, Matthew Rycroft, British Ambassador to BiH, said that if agreement on police reform were reached by 15 September, it would be possibleto get a green light for launchment of talks on SAA, adding: “The stakes are high and all those involved in police reform are aware of this.” He reminded that participants of the meeting on police reform accepted principle that there should be no political interference in this process. |
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| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Support to police reform in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 – |
| NN claims Ashdown met SDS top leadership at Jahorina Thursday night to exert pressure
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Ashdown exerting pressure against SDS’ by M.C. – The HR to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, Thursday night at Hotel “Termag” at Jahorina, met with the SDS leadership, namely with Dragan Cavic, Pero Bukejlovic, Dusan Stojicic and Borislav Paravac. None of the participants of the meetingwanted to speak about topic of the meeting. However, NN learns that main topics are reforms of police and defence. NN source from SDS confirms that: “Ashdown will exert additional pressure against SDS leadership to accept police reform and to see package on defence reform adopted without delays and obstructions at RS Parliament.” Meeting at Jahorina ended late in the night. |
| NN: RS to get more police seats in an exchange for IEBL crossing
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘RS to get more police centres’ by M.Cubro – NN collocutor, who took part at Mrakovica meeting, confirmed that the seat of several police regions might be transferred from F BiH in RS, in order to reach a compromise on police reform in BiH acceptable for RS representatives. NN collocutor notes that “in an exchange, RS representatives would accept IEBL crossings.” Daily notes this agreement might be reached in Mostar Tuesday. NN source notes that: “Pero Bukejlovic will most likely propose an agreement in line with which entities would transfer their authorities into the state.” Daily notes that Barisa Colak, Bojan Zec Filipovic and Mevludin Halilovic Thursday did not want to make any comment on police reform talks. |
| RS analyst on police reform: Final goal is abolishment of RS
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘World did not see it’ by S.Milakovic – Daily carries comment of analyst Momir Sevarika from RS, regarding goals of police reform. He stresses that the final goal of police reform is abolishment of RS, adding that if the international representatives really wanted to have efficient police, they would target abolishment of cantonal interior ministries |
| RSNA to discuss defence reform on August 30
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘New discussion on defense reform on August 30’ – Members of the RS National Assembly will discuss the final report of the Defence Reform Commission on August 30. Among other things, the defence reform foresees complete abolishing of entity armies and entity Ministries of Defence. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Gregorian and Schook to speak about defence reform’ – The RSNA deputies will be addressed by Co-chairman of the Defence Reform Commission Rafi Gregorian and NATO Commander in RTRS – RTRS also announc4es the RSNA session and brings feature story about defence reform: RTRS journalist speculates that the members of the RS NA, for the first time, could actually support the defence reform, when they meet on August 30. It is still not clear which political parties will support the final report on the Defence Reform Commission, because not a single party wants to go public with their official position. “We will take part in the RS NA session, and present our position – which is completely in keeping with RS citizens’ well-being”, said SNSD’s Krstan Simic. On the other hand, “SRS cannot support the defence reform, because it foresees that entities would almost completely lose control over defence issues”, said SRS’s Milanko Mihajlica. SDP will fully support the defence reform, stated SDP’s Zekerijah Osmic. |
| FBiH Government discusses Defence Reform, Energopetrol issue
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Debt settlement between Government and Energopetrol’, Dnevni List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘4 million KM for demobilized soldiers’ by N. Bise, Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Pension at age of 63 and with 20 years of service’ by E. Medunjanin, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Voting on Energopetrol postponed again’ by H, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘FBiH Developing Bank established’ by Z. Ceric, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘F BiH Government supports defence reform’ by M.R./V.P.– On Thursday’s session, FBiH Government discussed and adopted the information on defence reform, along with the proposal of conclusions; in order for defence reform to be implemented, it is crucial to adopt entire set of laws, as well as certain constitutional changes, until the end of the year. FBiH Government also discussed the situation in Energopetrol company; the decision on compensating the obligations between Federation and this company Government will adopt on its next session. On Thursday, FBiH Government defined the proposal of the law on FBiH Development Bank. This bank would be based in |
| SD op-ed welcoming cardinal Puljic’s criticism of domestic politicians and IC
| Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 15 ‘Cardinal as common people tribune’ by Z. Tulic welcomes Cardinal Vinko Puljic’s criticism of the political situation in BiH and his standing for an equal position of Croats in BiH. The author also says: ‘However, no matter how bravely and high Cardinal Puljic was raising his voce and telling the truth, without new names and new politics Croats cannot expect anything better for themselves.’ |
| VL on possible leader of BiH Croats
| Vecernji List pgs 4 and 5 ‘BiH Croats need leader’ by M. Vasilj comments on Croat politicians in terms of the possibility that one of them becomes a leader of Croats. VL inset ‘Cardinal Puljic true leader’ says that due to the lack of strategy and superficiality of the Croat politicians Cardinal Vinko Puljic was put into the limelight. VL says that since BiH is a secular state Cardinal Puljic does not have any political ambitions, however, the fact is that the Catholic Church has remained the last guard of the Croat people. VL also says that as far as HDZ is concerned apart from HDZ President Dragan Covic, there is a possibility thateither Bozo Ljubic, Martin Raguz or Josip Merdzo becomes the leader of Croats. |
| DL: B. Ljubic to put forward his candidacy for Croat member of BiH Presidency
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Bozo Ljubic to put forward his candidacy for Croat member of BiH Presidency’ by Z. Jukic – One of the members of the Bozo Ljubic’s fraction within HDZ stated that Ljubic is going to put forward his candidacy for the position of a Croat member of BiH Presidency at the general elections in 2006. The DL source added that about 70 % of HDZ members, HDZ Croatia and Catholic religious leaders see Ljubic as the only person who could make possible an equal position of the Croat people in BiH under current circumstances. DL inset under headline ‘Is there going to be settlement again’ carries that in case that Covic accepts Ljubic’s candidacy, Ljubic’s supporters would give up the announced establishment of HDZ 1990. |
| Reactions on Cavic’s statement regarding transformation of BiH COM into BiH Govt.
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Cavic acknowledges changes are necessary’ by V.P. – Daily notes that the statement Dragan Cavic, RS President, gave saying that BiH COM should be transformed into BiH Government has faced complaints in RS, while politicians from F BiH find that statement as good and encouraging. Mladen Ivanic, PDP President, is of the view that the BiH CoM should remain, since it is the only option in line with the constitutional order, adding that it should not be transformed into Government of BiH. Sefket Hafizovic, SDA Main Board member, stated: “It is a good news, encouraging for all of us. Cavic should have advocated for BiH Government before, since there is no alternative for this.” Nikola Spiric, SNSD senior official, assessed that during his mandate, Cavic has managed to settle accounts with RS, and he should not be prevented from supporting transfer of RS authorities onto BiH level. Petar Djokic, SP RS President, is of the view that “Cavic and SDS politicians suffer from a syndrome of additional intellect and that they are starting to acknowledge what the reality of BiH is and in what direction they should go”. |
| Dodik says RS authorities are still linked with criminal structures
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Authorities are still linked with crime’ by V.Popovic – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, Thursday stated that the RS Authorities are still linked with the criminal structures from the war and that they are still carrying out filthy jobs for their orderers. He made this statement reminding of events which took place on |
| Dodik reacts on OHR statement
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They misreported’ by Z.Ma. – Commenting on OHR reaction regarding the statement he made to “Vikom” TV (which was carried by Dnevni Avaz), Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, denied allegations saying that DA misinterpreted the statement he gave on police reform and difficulties it is facing. He noted: “It is irritating that OHR reacts on everything that comes out in Dnevni Avaz. I think their greatest problem is that they read that paper at all.” He says police reform is indeed faced with crisis,. Because F BiH does nto accept compromise. |
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| Crimes/Judiciary/legal proceedings |
| Prosecutor McNair: Mandic indicted for organised crime
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Haqyat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Mandic suspected of crime in Privredna Banka’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Mandic would not stand trial for war crimes’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Momcilo Mandic in prison in Sarajevo’ by vr, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Mandic’s underhand dealings in Privredna Banka’ by B. Kristo, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Prosecution has started with interrogation of Mandic’ by A.Sisic – Former RS Minister of Justice Momcilo Mandic, who was arrested in his apartment in Budva on Wednesday, will remain in custody in Sarajevo for at least 30 days. Head of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office Special Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption John McNair rejected the speculation, made by |
| OHR welcomes apprehension of Mandic
| Pink, BHT – OHR welcomes arrestment of Momcilo Mandic. Mandic is being charged with several criminal actions in terms of ‘Privredna Bank’ business, due to what in 2003, |
| Killed SBS member buried, Cajnice residents request for official information
| RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Cajnice residents request for official information’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9, Dnevni List pg 41 ‘Local people blocked road because of neighbour’s murder’ by N. Dedic, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘People from Cajnice closed border crossing Metaljka’ by B. Stevandic – The State Border Service officer Bojan Prodanovic, who was shot on Wednesday by his colleague Anis Bandic, has been buried in his hometown Trebinje on Thursday. Residents of Cajnice, a small town near the Metiljka border crossing where the murder happened, protested in the streets, demanding a fast investigation on this case. They blocked the Metiljka border crossing. RS Police Chief Dragomir Andan visited protesters. He addressed them stating that they have the right to protest and express their concerns, but he asked them not to violate laws and continue with peaceful protests. According to Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Bandic has not been medically checked for five years now’, Anis Bandic, who killed his SBS colleague on Wednesday, has not gone through medical checks for five years now. Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘SBS patrol was late to prevent tragedy’ by D.Muminovic, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘People demands the truth’ by R.Obrenovic, EuroBlic RS pg 5 ‘Citizens protested over murder of border officer’, announced on cover ‘Protest over the murder of Serb border officer’ by Tijana Veselinovic also covered the issue. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Condolences to family of Bojan Prodanovic’ – reports on letters of condolences addressed to the family of Bojan Prodanovic by Dragan Cavic, Dusan Stojicic, EUPM Commissioner, Kevin Carty, and HR to BiH, Paddy Ashdown. Glas Srpske pg 2 carries separate reports on letters addressed by all four mentioned above, as well as by Borislav Paravac. |
| RS President Cavic appeals for calm over murder of border policeman
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Cavic calls for calm’, SRNA – RS President Dragan Cavic has condemned in the strongest possible terms the murder of BiH State Border Service (SBS) member Bojan Prodanovic from Cajnice, the RS president’s office has said. In the statement, President Cavic appealed to Cajnice citizens to remain calm and collected. He endorsed the involvement of the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) and the arrival of the RS police director in Cajnice in order to shed light on the circumstances leading up to the crime and to punish severely the perpetrator. Cavic sent a telegram of condolence to the Prodanovic family and a letter to the head of Cajnice municipality in which he calls for consolidation and the calming down of the situation in the municipality. Bojan Prodanovic [Serb] was killed yesterday by his [Bosniak] colleague Anis Bandic, from |
| OHR: One should not speculate about the SBS incident
| Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘One should not speculate about the SBS incident’ – Commenting on the murder of BiH State Border Service member Bojan Prodanovic, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown said that OHR opposed any kind of speculations till all the relevant facts are not to be investigated. |
| DL op-ed on murder at border crossing near Cajnice
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Deranged state’ by N. Bise comments on the murder committed at the border crossing near Cajnice and the author says that someone from the State Border Service (SBS) top should be held accountable for this tragedy. According to DL, this tragedy might cause escalation of the conflicts on other grounds since there have already been reactions that view this tragedy as a result of an inter-ethnic conflict. The author also expects that politicisation of this act follows. The author concludes: ‘Mentally sick authority, that BiH currently has, should have reacted as early as yesterday and remove the SBS leaders, however, they failed to do this.’ |
| BiH Presidency member Paravac condemns murder of SBS member
| RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Situation in SBS is bad’ – BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac strongly condemned on Thursday the murder of State Border Service (SBS) member Bojan Prodanovic. Paravac said that the situation in SBS is very bad, not only because of this tragic event, but also because of the fact that this important state institution has no leader for a long time. He believes that such confused situation, which is the consequence of political manipulations, is unacceptable. Paravac is especially concerned with, as he said, deliberate attempts to compromise Serb representatives in all common institutions, especially SBS. |
| EUPM Carty: This is serious incident
| RHB, Pink, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Carty: This is serious incident’ – The European Union Police Mission (EUPM) Commissioner Kevin Carty expressed his condolences regarding the tragic incident that happened at the border crossing Metaljka on Wednesday. Carty added that it is inappropriate to speculate about the background of this serious incident until the investigation is concluded. Commissioner Carty also said that EUPM will closely monitor the investigation, conducted by the Prosecutor’s office. |
| DA: Pressure is being exerted against witnesses in case ‘Prlic and others’/F. Hartmann: We do not have information about that, however, it does not mean that such things do not happen
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Who is threatening witnesses against Prlic and others’ by F. Vele – DA learns that during the last few weeks many witnesses in the case against former president of former Croat Republic of Herceg Bosna Jadranko Prlic and other former Herceg Bosna leaders have been under big pressure. Few of these witnesses stated for DA that they and members of their families were threatened and money was also offered to some of them. A Secretary of the Association of Prison Camp Inmates Mostar Hilmo Abaz says that he informed ICTY investigators about this situation during their recent visit to this Association. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Hartmann: We do not have information, however this does not mean that such things do not happen’ by F.V. -ICTY spokesperson Florence Hartmann stated that the ICTY Prosecution does not have official information about the pressure exerted against the witnesses, however, they are very much interested in any information on this issue which appears in public. She added: ‘It does not mean that such things do not happen, however, we do not have information about it at the moment.’ |
| Lozancic to send response on Prce’s pardoning to Ashdown today
| Oslobodjenje pg 2, announced on cover ‘Lozancic today to explain Prce’s pardoning’ by Az.K. – Daily reports that Niko Lzoancic, F BiH President, will on Friday send a response to HR to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, who on Monday demanded Lozancic to provide explanation what he pardoned Miroslav Prce. Daily learns from Lozancic’s Cabinet that he will on Friday send a letter to Ashdown, and that its content would be published the same day. |
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| Economic/Social Affairs |
| FBiH Govt adopts amendments to the Law on Pension Insurance
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 6 ‘Going to pension in the age of 63’, Dnevni List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘4 million KM for demobilized soldiers’ by N. Bise, Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Pension at age of 63 and with 20 years of service’ by E. Medunjanin, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Voting on Energopetrol postponed again’ by H, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘FBiH Developing Bank established’ by Z. Ceric – FBiH Government adopted the draft amendments to the Law on Pension Insurance. According to the draft, the workers fulfilling other legal conditions will be allowed to retire in the age of 63 instead of 65 as so far. |
| BiH Presidency: Budget execution in accordance with regulations
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Budget execution in accordance with regulations’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘There was no exceeding of state budget’ by E.M., Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Borislav Paravac: Budget was not exceeded’ by N.K., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Presidency did not exceed the budget’ by SRNA – BiH Presidency discussed on Thursday the report on execution of the BiH institutions’ budget and international obligations during first three months of this year. Presidency concluded that there were no any major violations of budget spending. |
| Farmers to place tents in front of HDZ Headquarters building on August 22
| Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Tents in front of HDZ soon’ and pg 3 ‘Negotiations cancelled, tents in front of HDZ Headquarters soon’ by M. Zorlak – The BiH farmers, who have been protesting in front of the joint institutions’ building for 56 days, are embittered over the fact BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Dragan Doko postponed again the talks with the BiH farmers which were supposed to take place on Thursday. DL says that Doko did it since entity Ministers of Agriculture had not been able to attend this meeting. Doko postponed the meeting for August 24. The farmers announced that they would place their tents in front of the HDZ Headquarters in Mostar on August 22 and they will demand from HDZ President Dragan Covic to remove Doko. Also, they are going to place tents in front of the RS Government building in |