| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Debt talks with Russia | Potocari Memorial Centre | Potocari | RS Inmates in Sarajevo |
| Law on indirect taxation | Izetbegović’s health | Citrus manager arrested | Sarajevo MoI statement |
| New Brcko Supervisor | BiH delegation in Brussels | Gotovina at large | Croatia on Gotovina |
| RS Association of Inmates | Middle East in trouble |
| Plane crash in Russia |
| Oslobodjenje | Kalman Kocsis: Secret services wire-tapping at politicians’ order |
| Dnevni Avaz | Different views about the draft defence law: BiH differences between Tihic and OHR |
| Dnevni List | “Croats left District’s Assembly”; “Myers: USA reconsidering its participation in peace missions in BiH”; “Miroslav Coric transfers his incompetence on tax people’s backs” |
| Vecernji List | “Catholics stoned”; “New organization of army ‘erased’ HVO” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Anti-money laundering sector: Blockade with team work; Mujahedeen beat up on Serb: Beatings over walnut; Banjaluka: Auditors did not show up |
| Nezavisne Novine | Edhem Besic: SDA has a parallel intelligence service; Sarajevo: Health state of Alija Izetbegovic critical; Banjaluka health-workers on protest march for third day: Health-workers call on citizens to join them; BiH Election Commission: The effective verdict removes mandate from Olivera Babic |
| Blic | IMF reduces severance pay; Orao affair: continuation of trial on 9 October; Croat delegates left Assembly: the Supervisor is determined to have elections in Brcko |
| Ljiljan | Ivan Vuksic: I do not understand those making terrorists of their own people |
| Slobodna Bosna | Drugs in BiH: Drug trafficking and narco- dealers are under the protection of the state and police of RS |
| Dani | Eva Klonowski – A mother of death souls |
BiH war related developments | |
| Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Centre
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 5, Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 – A total of 107 bodies of Srebrenica victims were transported from Visoko to Potocari on Thursday. These bodies will be buried on September 20. It is expected everything will be ready till Saturday. 882 bodies have been already buried at Potocari cemetery so far. Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘For the first time in their history Bosniaks will be allowed to mark the site of their mass sufferings’ and ‘Amor Masovic: 1,000 vicitms of Srebrenica genocide buried so far’, Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5, mentioned on the front page ’20,000 fatihas (Muslim religious prayers) to Srebrenica victims’, Dnevni List page 5, “BiH again in focus of world public”, by F, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, “Clinton open memorial centre in Srebrenica tomorrow”, by H, Vjesnik, page 2, “Clinton opens Memorial centre in Srebrenica on Saturday”, FENA – On Saturday BiH will be in the centre of world public attention, Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery Executive Board Chair Paddy Ashdown told a press conference in Sarajevo Thursday. 107 identified victims of the genocide committed in Srebrenica in July 1995 will be buried in Potocari on September 20. “For the first time in history Bosniaks are in the position to mark a place of mass tragedy at a place where it happened”, FBiH Commission of Missing Persons Chair Amor Masovic said. The opening ceremony of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery will start at 11:00 on Saturday when former US President Bill Clinton, accompanied by High Representative Paddy Ashdown and US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond, will arrive in Potocari. More than 20.000 people are expected to attend the ceremony. The planned budget for the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial is 10,1 million KM. 8,1 million KM has been raised so far and donors have been urged to help the construction of this complex. Domestic officials, all ambassadors accredited in Sarajevo and representatives of international organisations have confirmed their participation in the opening of the Centre. The RS confirmed that Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic would arrive, as well as other officials from that entity. RS Police assisted by SFOR and the EU Police Mission will be responsible for security during this event. 1.000 victims from Srebrenica have been buried so far. 882 victims were buried on March 31 and July 11 in Potocari while 118 were individually buried at other locations at the request of their families. There are now 4.025 “white bags” in Tuzla and another 1.198 in Visoko with remains of people killed in Srebrenica. “We still do not know the exact number of victims and will probably not get this answer in the next year or so because most of the remains were exhumed from secondary graves where they were mixed up and it will take a lot of work to find out the real number of victims in those 5.232 “white bags”, Masovic said. He said that four graves with Srebrenica victims have been discovered but have not been opened yet and that this would probably not happen this year because of the prolonged exhumations process at the Crni Vrh mass grave site near Zvornik. He said that these four mass graves would probably be opened in spring next year. |
| RS camp inmates rally in Sarajevo | BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘Instead of plaque, they will light candles’, ONASA – Members of the Association of Camp Inmates of the Birac region will depart to Sarajevo on Friday to attend the ceremony of posting a memorial tablet in the former barracks “Viktor Bubanj”, president of the association Spasoje Kovacevic confirmed on Thursday. Kovacevic said that 10 buses with approximately 400 former camp inmates will depart to Sarajevo from Zvornik, Bijeljina, Bratunac and Vlasenica. According to Kovacevic, buses will depart together from Konjevic Polje. “If the BiH Federation authorities do not allow us to cross the inter-entity line, we will pass through Dobrinja and attend the commemoration for Sarajevo’s victims in the church Veljine,” he said. Dnevni List (page 11, “Sarajevo Police will not make any obstacles”, unsigned) – the President of Association of Republika Srpska POWs, Branislav Dukic, confirmed that the former POWs from the RS will be heading towards Sarajevo today, in 16 buses from all parts of the RS, in order to place a memorial plaque in the former “Viktor Bubanj” barracks, currently used as premises of the BiH Court. DL also carries an inspector of the Sarajevo Canton MoI, Dragan Miokovic, as saying that the Police will not be creating any obstacles to prevent the POWs from entering Sarajevo, as reported in some media in the past few days, however he says the POWs will not be allowed to enter premises of the BiH Court. Vecernji List (page 4, “7000 civilians were murdered in camp”, by B. Stevandic) – carries Marko Mikerevic, a former lay judge in the “Viktor Bubanj”, as saying that he has data that some 700 Serbs were killed in Sarajevo during the war and that some 5000 Serbs went through the “Viktor Bubanj” prison camp. He also says that some senior officials at the time, including Alija Izetbegovic, Rasim Delic, reis-ul-ulema Mustafa ef Ceric, Sulejman Tihic and Ejup Ganic were visiting the prison camp. Vecernje Novosti pg. 8 ‘Victims cannot visit the place of crime’, Blic pg. 7 ‘We will not view the barracks’ also covered the issue. |
| International organizations on announcement of RS camp inmates gathering | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 5 ‘Solnes: This is a test for the local authorities’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3, ONASA – SFOR Spokesman Dave Sullivan told reporters on Thursday that the announced rally of the Republika Srpska (RS) Association of Camp Inmates, on the occasion of putting up of a memorial plaque in the former barracks “Viktor Bubanj”, is the responsibility of local authorities and not SFOR. Spokesman for the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) Jon Oskar Solnes said that mass meetings of people are allowed if required preconditions are fulfilled. “We have discussed this with representatives of the Sarajevo Canton and, as I have understood, these preconditions are not fulfilled,” he said. According to Solnes, this is a test for local authorities, and the EUPM will monitor the situation and it hopes the meeting will pass without incidents. Spokesman for the Office of the High Representative (OHR) Vedran Persic said this is the issue for local authorities, not for the OHR. |
| Kalinic supports action by Serb camp inmates | SRNA – Dragan Kalinic, Speaker of the RS National Assembly said Thursday he was backing the action of the RS camp inmates’ association whose members on Friday intend to place a plaque on the building of the former Viktor Bubanj barracks in memory of the suffering of about 2,000 Serb civilians. “We have received an official invitation for the event, but I haven’t yet decided whether I shall attend personally because of other engagements,” Kalinic told SRNA. He confirmed that “in any case I stand behind the action of the RS camp inmates’ association”. |
| Paravac says he may not attend Sarajevo barracks ceremony | SRNA – The Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, has said that he will be in Sarajevo on Friday, but that he does not know whether he will attend the ceremonial mounting of a memorial plaque on the building which housed the former barracks Viktor Bubanj, which was a camp for Serbs during the war, because of other engagements. He told the Channel 3 TV of Prnjavor that an unnecessary negative atmosphere surrounded this event and that the authorities of the Sarajevo Canton should have assessed the situation realistically and allowed the mounting of the plaque. “This plaque will be mounted sooner or later. This is only an unnecessary delay by the municipal authorities of Novi Grad (New Town),” said Paravac and confirmed that he had received an invitation from the RS Camp Inmates Association to attend the event. |
Defence reform | |
| Different views between OHR and Tihic on defence reform
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘Big differences between Tihic and OHR’, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Tihic is the biggest opponent to the law’ – “Sulejman Tihic is on a way to position himself as the main obstacle to the BiH accession to Partnership for Peace and NATO. The international community is very concerned about such the behaviour of his,” warns Chief OHR Spokesman Julian Braithwaite. The particular reason for this assessments lies in disputes between OHR and Tihic with regard to the draft BiH defence law, which in a final phase. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Tihic: I will not sign the division of the country’ – “Eight years after Dayton Agreement signing I will not put my signature on the existence of three armies in BiH,” Tihic told the newspaper in a response to the OHR criticism. |
| VL, SD on military reforms | Vecernji List (front “New establishment on army ‘erases’ HVO” and page 5 “New establishment ‘erases’ Croat component”, by Zdenko Jurilj) – following yesterday’s article in Vecernji List regarding the ongoing military reforms and the report that the Defence Reform Commission (DRC) is to present solutions in the next few days, today’s VL notes that the DRC’s solutions are contrary to conclusions of the Main Board of HDZ and other Croat parties which want to preserve the Croat component in the future armed forces. According to VL, the proposal/solutions do not mention the Croat component and the daily unofficially learned from some HDZ officials that if the future proposal/solutions do not envisage three national components in the future army, the HDZ is ready to leave institutions of authority. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, “New JNA is not possible any more”, by Marin Erceg) – says that the defence reform envisages existence of two entity armies and two entity MoDs in the future, but with a highlighted control carried out by the BiH Presidency and State MoD. |
| Locher on defence reform | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Civilians to take over command’ – James Locher, Chairperson of the Defence Reform Commission, yesterday said that in its report, Defence Reform Commission will alter the entire appearance of the defence sector in BiH. he also stressed that he would submit report to Peace Implementation Council next Thursday. Locher further said that defence commission should provide presence of both, civilian and military officials at hearings. He also said that all defence related decisions should be announced. |
| Spiric says ignorance stands in way of army reforms | SRNA – The Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric, has said that the resistance “which, perhaps, stood in the way of reforms of the BiH Armed Forces, were caused by ignorance of the problem”. Spiric took part in a two-day seminar entitled “Parliamentary control over the security sector”, at which he said that such seminars were welcome for the resolution of dilemmas which parliamentarians have, in order for them to be good allies in the reforms which are implemented in BiH. He is confident that the conclusions reached at this seminar will be of good use to parliamentarians at all levels of parliamentary power in BiH. |
| Mikerevic confident that identity of RS army will survive
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 7, Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Army in old structure’, SRNA – Prime Minister of the RS Dragan Mikerevic is confident that the identity of the RS Army will survive and that the current insignia on its uniforms will be preserved because they are important to the awareness of the soldiers. Mikerevic told SRNA in Teslic that he was not familiar with the details of how the discussion of the Army Reform Committee was progressing, but he felt that the identity of the RS Army should be preserved, because this is something that should be taken into account during all discussions. “With regard to insignia, I think that they will also be preserved, because the negotiation team is certainly aware of the significance of insignia and how important they are to the awareness of the soldiers. We will see how the situation is going to unfold in the BiH Federation Army,” said Mikerevic. He added that, as prime minister of the RS and as a member of the Serb people, he advocates the civilian control of the army and membership of the Partnership for Peace. Certain conditions will have to be fulfilled in order to achieve this, but in a way that will not be detrimental to any people in BiH. |
Security affairs/investigations/incidents | |
| Kalman Kocsis interviews
| Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 8 ‘Secret services wire-tapping at the order of politicians’ – “I spent 25 years working in the intelligence sector and what I know from my own experience and analysis of the past is that the intelligence services are never acting in accordance to their own will. They are usually fulfilling political orders,” Kalman Kocsis, the chairman of the commission for establishment of the BiH intelligence service, said in an interview for the newspaper. |
| Incident in Catholic School Center in Sarajevo | Vecernji List (front page, “Catholics stoned”, and page 3, ”Students of Catholic School Center stoned”, by Z. Coric, I. Pjanic), Dnevni List (page 12, “Stone thrown through window of Ctaholic School Center”, by kta) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 18, “Stone thrown at students”, by kta) carry that another incident took place in Sarajevo on Wednesday afternoon when a stone was thrown into a classroom of the Catholic School Center in Sarajevo. Although, the class as underway and students were sitting in the classroom the stone did not hit anyone and thus none was injured. The students and teachers from this school claim that very often cigarettes and sometimes empty cans are being thrown in the classroom of this school. VL says that by this incident a series of humiliating attacks on Catholics and Croats who live in Sarajevo has been continued. |
| Update to Babic affair
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘The effective verdict removes mandate from Olivera Babic’ – Hilmo Pasic, President of BiH Election Commission, confirmed that if the verdict passed by Doboj Basic Court – according to which SDS delegate, Olivera Babic, was found guilty of forging her med school diploma – comes into effect, delegates’ mandate will be taken away from Babic. |
| Besic accuses SDA | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘SDA has a parallel intelligence service’ – Edhem Besic, former executive director of FOSS, who was removed from position, in an interview to NN said that Ivan Vuksic is still running FOSS and fulfilling requests of his mentors from SDA. Besic further accused SDA top of last years’ removal of Munir Alibabic from the position of FOSS Director. According to him, “Vuksic mentors did not like the idea that Alibabic could have revealed criminal activities of Hasan Cengic and other SDA top officials.” He further claims that SDA officials are eager to destroy FOSS, because they have their own parallel intelligence service. He explained this by saying the following: “The brain of this parallel intelligence agency is the SDA top leadership, the Islamic community supports it, whilst Federal Interior and Defence Ministries are executive bodies of this agency.” |
| FBiH prosecutors expected to launch a legal procedure against those responsible for wire-tapping ICTY employees | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘Reports for wiretapping of Hague investigators’ – The Federation Prosecutor’s Office is expected to launch next week a criminal procedure against FOSS officials responsible for the tapping of ICTY employees, the daily learns from the Federation Prosecutor’s office. Over the past few months, FOSS tapped Munir Alibabic, the former FOSS Director who has been employed with the ICTY Intelligence and Search Department. Zdravko Knezevic, Federal Public Prosecutor, confirmed that: “I have received a letter from the Hague Tribunal, in which I was asked to do all I can to protect the information compiled in war crime suspects, which FOSS report contains.” |
| VL: “Lagumdzija files lawsuit because of wiretapping” | Vecernji List (page 4, by G.K.) carries that the SDP announces that it will demand completing of the investigation on wiretapping of the SDP President, Zlatko Lagumdzija, and former Head of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Intelligence Service (FOSS), Munir Alibabic Munja. VL also says that Lagumdzija announced a possibility that he files a lawsuit against those who approved wiretapping of his private phone and those who were stating in public that he initiated de-stabilization of the current authority. |
| Ljiljan on FOSS affair | Ljiljan pgs. 18-22 ‘Vuksic: I do not understand those making terrorists of their own people’ – In an interview for the magazine, former acting Head of FOSS Ivan Vuksic said that, according to the valid laws and regulations, he had addressed an authorized FBiH Supreme Court judge for an approval to take certain security measures/wire-tapping and that he hag gotten all necessary consents. Ljiljan pgs. 23-24 ‘Will Carla Del Ponte fall morally in Sarajevo’ By Saban Hodzic – According to the author, the Sarajevo branch of ICTY Prosecution Office, initially a representative office of justice dealing with the authoritative co-processing of war crimes, has started getting a regretful image of a spying centre full of former communist intelligence officers. |
| Apology by GS | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Auditors did not show up’ – In a cover page story, Glas Srpske publishes an apology to OHR for having indeliberately released wrong information yesterday. GS yesterday announced OHR audit at this firm. However, SFOR, that announced the audit by phone, was to perform this audit, not OHR. |
| Anti-money laundering activities | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Blockade with team work’ – Owing to the total of BAM 36.5 million of suspicious financial dealings, Anti-money laundering sector at the Republika Srpska Finance Ministry blocked bank accounts of nine firms from Republika Srpska and three from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Those firms from Republika Srpska are: “Zoka Trend”, “Bobi Grand”, “Amigos Komerc”, “Maljotic komerc” from Lakatsi, “Baru Prom”, “Saniju” and “Kalifornija NPM” from Banjaluka, and “Fer Herc” from Trebinje”. Those firms from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are: “Maltan Prom” and “Baric mag” from Mostar and “Zahiti prom” from Tesanj. |
| Incident in Bocinja
| Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Beatings over walnut’ – Two days ago, a mujahedeen, currently residing in Bocinja in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina beat up Bosko Popovic, the Serb returnee to Bocinja. Bosko Jovanovic, Vice President of Bocinja Hall, told SRNA news agency that police patrol in Bocinja was informed of this incident, but failed to do anything, as was the case in previous cases, when mujahedeens were physically maltreating Serb returnees. Jovanovic stressed that 115 Serb returnee families in Bocinja are frightened and insecure. |
| Update to Telekom investigations | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Criminal reports against officials of Telekom being processed’ – Eight criminal reports filed against top officials of Telekom Srpske are being processed by the Banjaluka Basic Prosecutor’s Office. It is not known as yet when these cases would be completed. Marinko Kovacevic, Basic Public Prosecutor, said that the files are being examined, but no further detail is to be released at the moment. |
| Update to Orao trial | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Trial to resume on 9 October’, Blic pg. 8 ‘Continuation of trial on 9 October’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 15 – After a three-day session, Bijeljina Basic Court is to resume main hearing in Orao affair on 9 October, when the members of the Republika Srpska Defence Ministry Commission, who were compiling report on possible violation of UN embargo, will be heard. |
| SFOR inspection at Manjaca barracks | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘SFOR inspected military barracks at Manjaca’ – On Monday and Tuesday, SFOR soldiers carried an unannounced inspection at the military barracks of Republika Srpska Army at Manjaca mountain, where they searched illegal weapons. One gun, one automatic rifle, one hand grenade and 2174 pieces of ammunition were found. |
| Former Citrus director arrested | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Former general manager of “Citrus” arrested’ – Asim Jonuzi (31), former general manager of “Citrus” from Bihac, was arrested in Wednesday during the attempt to cross the border and enter BiH at the border crossing point at Izacic. He was arrested on the basis of central arrest warrant and order by Bihac Cantonal Court (for issuance of international arrest warrant). He is suspected of having misused office and issued false documents. He is also suspected of having committed several criminal acts falling within economic crime. Sarajevo media also reported on the arrest. |
Political developments | |
| Ivanic on possible secession of Kosovo and its consequences for BiH
| Vecernji List (page 2, “Secession of Kosovo would mean division of BiH”, by gk) carries that BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic stated for Austrian newspapers “Die Presse” that the change of the state status of Kosovo would have serious consequences for the integrity of BiH, that is, for the status of the Republika Srpska. Ivanic added that the change of the status of Kosovo would raise the issue of secession of Serb and Croat territories of BiH. Dnevni List (last page, “Secession of Kosovo would bring into question survival of BiH”, not signed), Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Change of the Kosovo status would have negative consequences for BiH’ also covered this statement. According to DL, Ivanic also stated that the idea on the secession from the joint state is still present among BiH Serbs and Croats. |
| Croatian parliamentary delegation’s visit to BiH | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, Dnevni List page 3, “Basis of Croatian policy is co-operation with BiH”, unsigned, Vecernji List, “Meeting of parliamentarians”, by zc,, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 4, “BiH-Croatia relations improving”, by Z. Rerig, FENA – The initiative for parliaments of BiH and Croatia to meet every three months to resolve open issues between the two countries as speedily and efficiently as possible is one of the conclusions of Thursday’s meeting between the delegations of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and parliaments of the BiH Federation and the RS, with representatives of the Republic of Croatia Parliament and a number of NGOs from both countries. Croatian MPs reiterated that firm cooperation with BiH, its two entities and all of its constitutive nations, is the corner stone of the Croatian policy, the press office of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly has said. During the talks, particular attention was attached to the issue of the return of refugees and displaced persons to BiH and Croatia. It was said that the parliaments ought to develop good cooperation with returnees’ associations to achieve results on the ground. MPs of the BiH Parliament appealed for Croatian Sabor to bring to an end the issue of the port of Ploce and Neum. It was also asked that more efforts be made to solve the issues of legal and property relations, dual citizenship, and protection of consumers. It was proposed that citizens of BiH and Croatia should be able to cross the border with identity cards alone throughout the year, instead of just during the summer months. |
| Tihic, Croatian delegation satisfied with parliamentary cooperation | Oslobodjenje pg. 4, FENA – Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, met in Sarajevo on Thursady with a joint delegation of the Republic of Croatia (Croatian MPs and representatives of civic society) visiting BiH as part of the regional project involving parliaments and civic society of southeastern Europe, called “Citizens and legislature”. The delegation is led by Croatian Deputy Speaker and chairman of the foreign policy committee Zdravko Tomac. The BiH Presidency’s press office has issued a statement saying that the interlocutors agreed that the relations between the two countries were improving and that specific solutions should be found for all open issues. On behalf of the Croatian delegation, Tomac expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation between the BiH and Croatia parliamentarians, and pointed out that they should be a bridge in resolving problems. He also said that parliaments should open up towards NGOs and support their activities. Tihic expressed his support for the work of NGOs which can be of help in the development of the legislative sphere and the implementation of civic initiatives. |
| Terzic, Ivanic and Topcagic meet European officials in Brussels | BHTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘We expect a positive response from EU’, FENA – Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and Director of the BiH Direction for European Integration Osman Topcagic met on Thursday with senior officials of the European Commission, among which the Deputy Director of the General Direction for Foreign Affairs of the EU, Michael Lio, was announced by CoM. Talks were held on activities that have been prioritised in the latest, March report of the European Commission on stabilisation and association. It was ascertained that the greatest number of these tasks have already been fulfilled. Terzic briefed the European officials on implementation of the Action Plan of urgent reform in BiH, with special accent on reforms of the military, intelligence services and the fiscal system. Representatives of the European Commission commended the progress of implementing reform in BiH. Stressing that their reports on designing the feasibility study would be maximally objective, the European officials announced encouraging remarks for all positive results, as well as a specific approach in defining of tasks for the upcoming period. In the evening the BiH delegation met with the Speaker of European Parliament, Pat Cox, and President of the European Commission Romano Prodi. |
| Werner Wnendt visited Zenica-Doboj Canton | Dnevni Avaz pg. 13, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘How to reconcile Serbs and Muslims in Bocinja’, Dnevni List page 9, “Creation of new business climate is basis for development and progress of economy”, by Zeda, FENA – An OHR delegation led by the Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt visited the Zenica-Doboj Canton on Thursday. During the visit the OHR delegation had talks with the officials of the Canton, headed by the prime minister Nedzad Polic who briefed his guests on the activities of the Cantonal Government. Ambassador Wnendt pointed out that the prime minister and the Government should be persistent in solving numerous problems. Within this tour the OHR delegation visited Zepce, Bocinja, near Maglaj and Doboj. Ambassador Wnendt said he wanted to visit Zepce because of the problems in the education. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 8, ‘Tolerance is salvation for peoples’ – The Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, yesterday visited the village of Bocinja, near Maglaj, where he met with Serb returnees, who have been going back to this village for the past two years. It is estimated that around 60% of the pre-war Serb population have returned. “I heard that the situation in Bocinja was not good and I insisted on a meeting with local residents. I saw that it is not easy to live here.” The Deputy High Representative told the representatives of both peoples living there that everyone had the right to live the way they wanted, but that this should not represent a threat to others. |
| “Myers: US reconsidering its participation in peace missions in BiH” | Dnevni List (front and page 2, unsigned) – reports that the Commander of Joint Chiefs of Staff of US Armed Forces, General Richard Myers, stated that the US were reconsidering its participation in peace operations in the Balkans. Following a visit to Kosovo, General Myers stated that Washington was considering an option according to which the leadership in the peace operation in Kosovo would be assumed by European forces. (Vecernji List, page 4, “US will reconsider its presence in BiH”, by F) |
| DL says HNC PM Coric incompetent to carry out tasks | Dnevni List (front and page 7, “Coric transfers his incompetence on tax people’s backs”, by S. Kuzman) – the article criticizes the “incompetent officials of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government” and the HNC PM Miroslav Coric in particular, after the PM Coric, at a press conference held the other day, accused the Tax Administration in Mostar of not filling the cantonal budget sufficiently when he also stated that the HNC Government requested the removal of Head of Tax Administration in Mostar, Silva Memic. According to DL, Memic assumed the office through a public vacancy, as a professional, something that does not suit the local authorities led by the HDZ and SDA. DL also criticizes PM Coric of being incompetent to form the Government in the first place, and of not carrying out the downsizing of the cantonal administration following the abolishment of special regime cantons and parallel structures in the canton. DL also notes that the car park in front of the HNC Government is still impressive. |
| Farewell Clarke’s press conference | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 “Croats want too much’ – The Brcko District Supervisor, Henry Clarke, in his last address to the journalists, draw attention to the District Government that is in transition process and still does not functioning. He criticized lack of coordination inside of the government and act of the Croat representatives in the District Assembly, which walked out from the Wednesday’s evening assembly session, dissatisfied with the provisions of the Election Law of Brcko District. Clarke mandate is expiring and at the beginning of October he will be replaced with newly appointed supervisor, Susan Johnson. |
| Brcko District Assembly fails to adopt election law | Glas Srpske, pg. 5, ‘Clarke announces imposition’; Nezavisne Novine, pg. 8, ‘Disappointment over action of Croat delegates’ – Brcko District Parliament members last night did not accept the text of the draft election law. This was the second attempt to pass the law. All 7 Croat members left the session after their amendments were not adopted. After three months of discussion, the law still has not been passed. The session will continue tomorrow when they will vote whether to accept the law or have the Decision made by District Supervisor, Henry Clarke. Ambassador Clarke expressed hope that the delegates would find a solution and adopt the election law. However, he did not reject the possibility that he might impose the law. Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Bureaucrats expand empire’ – The International Supervisor for Brcko, Henry Clarke, yesterday criticized the Government of Brcko District for squandering and of budget rebalance resources for this year. According to Clarke, budget rebalance stipulates the opening of 127 posts, while the experts of OHR think that at least 100 posts should not be opened at all. |
| DL on Mostar restructuring | Dnevni List (page 6, “Hug of authority and opposition”, by Pejo Gasparevic) – following the formation of the new Mostar Commission (signing of the Commitment on Mostar Reforms), the author wonders whether we are seeing, for the first time ever, a joint venture between the ruling national parties and the opposition. The author goes on to say that unlike the first Commission, which fell apart, the new will be chaired by a representative of the IC, namely Norbert Winterstein. In this context, Gasparevic says that the “genesis” of the new Commission and efforts of the IC exerted in the process show that the IC has this time decided to be more energetic than it was the case the first time around with the first Commission. Gasparevic backs his claims up by citing the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown’s, words that the (new) Commission is “too important to fail”, which, according to Gasparevic, signalizes that the OHR counts on the success of the new Mostar Commission, and success only. |
| Slobodna Bosna on opposition parties in BiH | Slobodna Bosna pgs. 12-13 ‘Opposition requesting adoption of a law on confiscation of illegally gained properties’ By Asim Metiljevic – The three leading opposition political parties in BiH: SDP, SNSD and NHI have been considering a working version of document entitled: “Platform for program cooperation” aimed at program and action gathering of similar parties within a single opposition block. The text of the Platform has been created inside SDP and its creation had been initiated during the latest meetings of the parties’ leaders Zlatko Lagumdzija, Milorad Dodik and Kresimir Zubak. |
| Russian Ambassador to BiH Griscenko on situation in BiH | Dnevni List (page 6, “Fictitious scandals cause damage to BiH”, by unsigned) – carries the Russian Ambassador to BiH, Alexander Griscenko, as saying that mutual accusations and fabricated scandals in BiH often create negative image about the country in the world which in turn averts potential investors. Ambassador Griscenko is quoted as saying that the recent stories about preparations of a coup in BiH caused great damages to the reputation of BiH. “It directly reflects on the volume of foreign investments to your country”, said Griscenko. |
Economic/social issues | |
| IMF, OHR once again call on BiH authorities to pass the indirect taxation law
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 “VAT introduction in a year and a half’, Blic pg. 7 ‘IMF commends merging of the customs’, FENA – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urges the BiH authorities to pass the Law on Indirect Taxation as soon as possible, stressing that its implementation is essential for the overall development of BiH economy, said at a press conference on Thursday the OHR spokesperson, Vedran Persic. The IMF views the creation of a unified and efficient system of indirect taxation in BiH as a major step towards establishing a sustainable and growth-oriented market economy. The proposed law will set in place the operational and institutional mechanisms to ensure that revenue collection is efficient and transparent, and will allow for the effective introduction of the value added tax over the next 18 months, was announced by IMF. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, who will be speaking at the roundtable on BiH economy on Monday, will once again call on BiH authorities to enact the draft Indirect Taxation System Law without further delay. As OHR announced, Ashdown will discuss the practical and substantial steps that are now being taken to put the BiH economy on a sound and sustainable footing. Other speakers of the roundtable will include Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and BiH Central Bank Governor Peter Nicholl. |
| “Eronet” wants licence
| Vecernji List (page 5, “Eronet wants licence”, by Z. Kresic), Slobodna Dalmacija, page 20, “400 thousand SMS messages per hour”, by Zoran Zekic – President of “Eronet” Management, Bozo Knezevic, requested the CRA to issue the permanent licence to the company, irrespective of decision of the BiH Council of Ministers on the amount that needs to be paid for the concession. Knezevic says all legal pre-requisites have been met adding that the CRA is the sole body in charge of issuing the licence. Knezevic also stated that the CRA informed “Eronet” that the company would “soon” get the licence. In that context, VL writes that the Head of CRA, David Betts, and the BiH Minister for Traffic and Communications, Branko Dokic, were talking about the issue on Thursday. |
| FBiH Government discusses financial issues | Dnevni List (front and page 4, “Increase of budgetary and public incomes achieved”, by M.R.) carries that the session of the Federation of BiH Government took place yesterday and it was concluded that during this year the FBiH budget achieved 553,6 million KM of income (without funds) and this is at the level of the first 7 months of the last year. Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Session of FBiH Government in full composition”, by Fena), Sarajevo media also covered this session. |
| Update to strike of health-workers in Banjaluka | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 9, ‘Health-workers call on citizens to join them’; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘To pick the salary on the street’ – For a third day, the health-workers yesterday again held a protest march in Banjaluka. They announced they would continue to hold protests until Government meets their demands. They also called on citizens to join them. |
| Op. Ed. by Don Hays
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 7, op.ed. by Donald Hays, ‘Get rid of nonsense’ – In opinion editorial in NN, PDHR Donald Hays, makes reference to meetings at Bjelasnica and Mrakovic, when certain arrangements were made aimed at economic improvement in BiH. He lists some of duties and obligations from those two meetings of BiH and IC top officials. He further states that the so far process of privatisation in BiH has not brought much good to BiH citizens and workers of BiH. As reasons for this he lists corruption, lack of political will and failure to reach an agreement related to obligations and debts of firms, outstanding allowances and benefits and salaries. According to him, the issue of debt is extremely serious issue and rather often brings into conflict social, fiscal and political obligations of the authority. He then lists all the duties and obligations BiH and entity authorities have bound to implement, including law on restructuring of electro-power system, establishment of task force for privatisation, adoption of framework agreement on accounting and audit. According to him, Bulldozer has created pre-requisites for all those firm directors to co-operate productively with politicians leading the state. In the conclusion, he asks from the BiH citizens to demand from politicians to undertake all necessary measures to achieve these changes. According to him, citizens of BiH should tell the officials they elected to “get rid of nonsense” and get down on work. |
| Strike in Autoprevoz | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Ramp from Dakic’ – The Striking Board of the Banjaluka firm “Autoprevooz” yesterday decided that the personnel of this firm would go on strike in a couple of days until Steering Board suspends its decision on removal of Borislav Vitkovic from the position of firm Director, and Jovo Manojlovic from the position of Steering Board Director. |
| IMF on severance pay for soldiers | Blic pg. 7 ‘Headache because of surplus’ – The IMF representatives do not support the idea that severance payments for demobilised soldiers amount 8,000 – 10,000 KM, asking that the amount is in line with the Labour Law. The IMF thinks that the RS and Federation do not have conditions and gross domestic product to pay such high amounts. Assistant in the RS Defense Ministry Mirko Cekic says that according to the IMF’s proposal every soldier who has four years of service would receive severance pay of 700 KM. OSCE, SFOR and the RS Defense Ministry presented on Thursday in Banja Luka the joint project “Guidebook for Demobilised Soldiers,” whose goal is to help demobilised soldiers to find the new job. Cekic says the RS Defense Ministry does not know in which way it will shelter demobilised soldiers, who will stay without the job after 1 January next year. He says that “Guidebook for Demobilised Soldiers” has the information about organisations which give credits or organise training for launching of one’s own business, but it does not answer in which way demobilised soldiers can get the credits and who will guarantee that money will be returned. |
Media | |
| OHR on ongoing PBS reform | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, RTRS, Dnevni List (page 8, “Goal of BiH PBS reform is not abolishment of RTRS”, by Fena) carry that OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic stated at a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday that the goal of the ongoing reform of the BiH Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is rescuing of the existing system, including 2 entity, public broadcasters, and not abolishment of RTRS as some politicians see it. DL says that the people from the OHR stress that in case that the BiH authorities want to persuade the EU that they are serious in taking over responsibility for organizing of their institutions in accordance to European standards, then they, and not the OHR, have to complete these reforms. However, this does not mean that the OHR will stand aside and allow authorities to ruin what has been already achieved, including the establishment of the unified PBS in BiH. Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘PBS might face collapse’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 12 ‘Aim of the reforms is not abolishment of RTRS’ also carried the OHR statement. |