| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Hercegovacka Bank | BiH/EU | Negotiations SDA, HDZ | Criticism against RS Govt. |
| Gvero’s car set on fire | Crisis in FBiH Government | OHR – conflict of interests | EC feasibility study |
| Feasibility study | Bush in London | EU/BiH |
|
|
| Hercegovacka Bank | Bush in London |
|
| Oslobodjenje | New scandal in BiH parliament: parliamentarians want higher salaries, possibility to have private firms |
| Dnevni Avaz | More than hundred requests for revisions of the privatisation |
| Dnevni List | “Municipalities deceived and robbed companies for millions KM”; “Another Mostar Municipality organizes referendum” |
| Vecernji List | “Bush: BiH goes towards NATO”; “ ‘Merkur’ seized land of Elektroprivreda HZ HB” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “Herzegovinians went to Belgrade to ask for help”; “International organizations: Invalid referendum” |
| Glas Srpske | Low blows over high education: High education under the table; Buk Bijela: Fifth extension |
| Nezavisne Novine | Court proceedings against Zeljko Manojlovic at BiH Court: He laundered KM 18 million in eleven days; Football match in Banjaluka: Police calmed down Borac supporters with night-sticks; Banjaluka: Association of inmates placed “moratorium” on protests; Negotiations between IMF/RSG on salary and pension increase: IMF handed new questions; Michael Leigh visiting BiH: BiH does not have much time, but still many tasks to fulfil to be admitted into EU |
| Blic | Returnees’ destiny: Refugees gave back houses, they will get through the winter in sheds; Cedo Volas: We will overthrow Ashdown |
Political developments | |
| Feasibility Study presented to BiH authorities
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 7, mentioned on the front page ’16 tasks before BiH’, FENA – The Deputy General Director of the Direction for Foreign Affairs in the European Commission (EC), Michael Leigh, presented on Wednesday the BiH Feasibility Study, which estimates the readiness of BiH for launching of negotiations for conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. After meeting with the Co-ordination Board for Economic Development and European Integration, Leigh said that the agreement includes obligations and rights of a country, and that it represents a key step towards membership in the EU. The Feasibility study states that BiH is marking significant progress in launching of significant economic and political reforms, but also fortified 16 key areas that require additional progress. The priorities include matters of state administration and reform of public administration, reduction of poverty and unemployment, introduction of single taxes and VAT, strengthening of concurrency and progress in creating of a single market, strengthening of judiciary, battle against organised crime and corruption, and co-operation with the Hague Tribunal. Leigh emphasised that the EU is convinced that this ambitious plan can be realised in the next year if BiH authorities make the necessary efforts. The EC, he said, is prepared to support BiH in these endeavours. Leigh was unable to specify weather BiH would be admitted into the EU by 2009, stating that this is the goal of BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic. “The speed of accessing the EU is based on the pace of adopting and implementing of necessary measures”, emphasised Michael Leigh, adding that he is encouraged by the determination of BiH authorities to proceed with launched reform. Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic declared that results of the Feasibility study are a great encouragement and motivation for all segments of society to actively engage and support the reformatory courses and adopting of European standards in order to achieve the goal of BiH’s membership in the EU in 2009. Vecernji List page 2, “We believe that BiH entering by 2009 is ambitious”, by E. Medunjanin, Dnevni List page 4, “Unbridgeable obstacles for joining EU?, by E. Mackic, Slobodna Dalmacija page 17, “Realize everything by May”, by Z. Rerig also reported on the issue. Vecernji List (page 2, “Colonel or deceased”, by D. Jazvic) carries an editorial on this issue saying: “In spite of all shortcomings in the work of the current authority, that the EC is well aware of, the BiH authorities have got a big chance…If they miss this chance and if they place their selfish interests above the interests of millions citizens of this long-suffering country, they should leave. In that case BiH will wait for a new train for Europe.” |
| Leigh: BiH obligations are serious, but progress is possible | FTV, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘BiH does not have much time, but still many tasks to fulfil to be admitted into EU‘, FENA – The Deputy General Director of the Direction for Foreign Affairs of the European Commission, Michael Leigh, said on Wednesday at a press conference in Sarajevo that the obligations BiH must fulfil in order to launch the negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union by the end of 2004 are serious and set with short deadlines, but, according to him, can be realised if BiH authorities take them seriously and are supported by the people in this process. When asked when BiH could expect a free visa regime with EU countries, Leigh responded that this depends on safety of borders, judiciary and interior affairs. BHTV, Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 3 ‘BiH made a great progress’ interviewed Leigh on these issues. |
| Covic meets Leigh, says BiH “could” fulfil 16 EU obligations next year | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Accelerate fulfilment of obligations’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Covic: Fulfil all obligations in next eight months’, SRNA – BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic believes that in the coming eight months BiH could fulfil 16 priority obligations from the Feasibility Study. Following a meeting with the deputy director of the EU’s DG External Relations, Michael Leigh, Covic said that the positive assessment of the Feasibility Study was a great encouragement for BiH but also an obligation to continue with the implementation of reforms and adoption of European standards. |
| Ivanic meets with Leigh | Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘A year for rest of the conditions’, FENA – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic met on Wednesday with the Deputy General Director of the Direction for Foreign Relations at the European Commission, Michael Leigh. Talks focused on presentation of the EC Report on the Feasibility study, of which the EU submitted a detailed report in Brussels, it was announced by the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP). Ivanic and Leigh ascertained that positive signal from the Feasibility study reflects the great progress achieved in BiH in fulfilling of obligations that refer to functioning of authorities, economic reform, implementing the principles of democracy and respecting of human rights. |
| BiH/EC: 4.6 million euros for reforms of public administration in BiH | RTRS, FENA – The Prime Ministers of BiH and its entities signed on Wednesday with representatives of the European Commission the Memorandum of Understanding on reform of public administration in BiH in the amount of 4.6 million Euros. Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic said that signing of the Memorandum actually launches reform of public administration in BiH. “We wish to have a functional state administration that will exclusively be a service to the citizens of BiH”, emphasised Terzic. The Memorandum of Understanding ensures support of EC experts who will work together with domestic experts on designing of a functional revision in this domain, and it also envisages founding of a co-ordination board to monitor the work on reform of public administration. |
| NN editorial on feasibility study
| Nezavisne Novine editorial by Mirza Cubro, pg. 7, ‘Where is Europe?” – The author writes about Feasibility Study on BiH admission to EU and pre-requisites BiH needs to meet in order to achieve this. He is rather sceptical in his view that BiH would be able to achieve this and meet requests placed before it. According to him, public service reform is the priority task, which would raise problems like rise of unemployment rate, because many people would have to be fired from service. He is sceptical of statement by the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, who said that BiH will have implemented all the remaining 16 reforms by May next year. |
| OHR against changes of Law on conflict of interest | FTV – OHR sent a letter to BiH House of Representatives with warning on changes of Law on conflict of interest. OHR warned representative not to pass proposed amendments on the Law on conflict of interest since it would change substance of the law. These amendments are supposed to relax some of key stipulations and family members of officials would be able to exploit it. OHR urged the representatives to make necessary legislation changes to attract foreign investors and not to seek opportunity for giving incentives for corruption. OHR was explicit they would not tolerate passing of these amendments. Oslobodjenje front page pg. 3 ‘Parliamentarians want higher salaries, private firms’ By Senka Kurtovic – The newspaper says that if the proposed amendments to the law on conflict of interest are adopted in the BiH parliament, BiH will be a country of corruption, nepotism and family connections/relations. |
| OHR on the law on indirect taxation, feasibility study | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, FENA – Spokeswoman of the OHR South, Avis Benes, called upon representatives in the House of Representatives of the BiH Assembly to adopt the Law on Indirect Taxation Administration at its Thursday’s session. “That is a key law if we are eager to put an end to the inefficiency and prodigality which resulted in that millions of marks ended in the hands of criminals. The law is crucial as well for the beginning of the next phase of the BiH’s access to the European integrations”, said Benes at a press conference of international organisations in Mostar on Wednesday. (The same OHR position was presented by OHR spokesperson Sonja Pastuovic at the press conference in Banja Luka) OHR also announced that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, would explain as to what adoption of the Feasibility Study means for BiH, at a press conference scheduled to be held in Sarajevo on Thursday. Dnevni List (page 21 “Adoption of Indirect Taxation Authority Law – test for BiH authorities”, by D. Kozina) and Slobodna Dalmacija (front and pg 16, “Invalid referendum”, by Zoran Zekic) also carry reports from the press conference of internationals organizations in Mostar. DL carries OHR Spokesperson Avis Benes urging adoption of ITA Law as well as conveying Paddy Ashdown’s pleasure with the fact that the contract has been signed between representatives of Youth Cultural Center Abrasevic and the City Administration of Mostar. This contract was also welcomed by the OSCE office who also supported the conclusions of the Feasibility study of the European Commission. Answering the journalist query on the issue of boycott of Bosniak ministers in the Cantonal Gvt, Benes repeated the OHR stand that the responsibility for solution of this problem lies on the members of Government. On the question of referendum in Mostar municipality North, she repeated that “this referendum will not influence the work of the Mostar Commission which is the forum (and this was agreed by all political parties who participate in its work) that decides and works on a comprehensive solution for the unification of Mostar.” |
| SDP on indirect taxation, defence reform | Dnevni List page 9, “Uncertainty of adoption of crucial laws”, FENA – The SDP Caucus in the BiH House of Representatives praised the fact that draft laws on the BiH indirect taxation system and defence are finally before the parliament, but thinks that they should have been discussed much earlier, SDP Caucus Chair Jozo Krizanovic told a press conference in Sarajevo Wednesday. He said that despite the fact that the ruling coalition was involved in the development of these laws numerous amendments are now being put forward indicating that their adoption could be uncertain. SDP has also put forward a number of amendments to the draft law on the indirect taxation system. About the draft defence law Krizanovic said that despite its good features, such as joint command, training and doctrine, many authorities have remained at the level of entity ministries. “Even though we view this draft law as a food start in the process of defence reform we fear that its implementation will be difficult,” he added. The BiH House of Representatives will discuss draft laws on the BiH indirect taxation system and defence at its session scheduled for November 20. |
| Covic discussed defence reform with SFOR Commander Packet | Dnevni List page 2, “Find funds for demobilized soldiers”, FENA – BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic held talks on Wednesday with the Commander of SFOR in BiH, Colonel General Virgil L. Packett, on defence reform and restructuring of the Armed Forces in BiH in line with the legal regulative, and the future progress that should be achieved in this domain. Covic said that the upcoming activities in restructuring of the army also include the social aspect, adding that the authorities need to find the necessary funds for compensations of demobilised soldiers. He also reiterated the position of BiH Presidency on maintaining the presence of SFOR in BiH. Talks also focused on the upcoming visit of NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson to BiH, the BiH Presidency said in a press release. |
| British ambassador says RS’ survival “guaranteed” | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, SRNA – The British ambassador to BiH, Ian Cliff, has said that the survival of the Republika Srpska is guaranteed under the Dayton peace agreement and that it will exist as long as its people want to have their own entity. “It is a different matter if one day an agreement is reached in BiH on a different regional structure of the state,” Cliff told the Banja Luka-based Novi Reporter. Commenting on centralization trends in BiH, he said that, after the war, power in BiH was concentrated at entity level and, in essence, the role of the state did not exist at that stage. “Such a situation is not viable, as far as BiH’s integration into the EU and NATO in Europe is concerned. Even though some in Britain do not share this view, at European level, institutions do deal with states,” he said. |
| President Bush and Ambassador Bond congratulated BiH National Day to the BiH citizens | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘US stays in BiH’, Vecernji List front and page 3, “Bush: BiH is moving towards NATO”, FENA – BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic received on Wednesday a message of congratulations from the President of the United States, George W. Bush, on the occasion of November 25 – The BiH National Day. In his message, President Bush declared that BiH has achieved exceptional progress towards stabilisation and reconciliation eight years after the Dayton Accords signing. “Although there is still a great deal of work to be done in building of BiH institutions, your continuous progress on the path of reform will take your country towards integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions, including the Partnership for Peace”, said Bush. The U.S. Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, also addressed a message to Covic and the people in BiH. “I fully share the position of by president that BiH has made great progress since Dayton and I look forward to working with You and other officials of state institutions in realising of numerous tasks set before BiH in its endeavours to build efficient state institutions and create conditions necessary for integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions”, stated the message of Ambassador Bond. |
| HNC Government session | Dnevni List (front and page 18, “Decision on construction of Velez’s stadium was passed”, by Fena) carries that during yesterday’s session of the Herzegovina-Neretva Government it was decided to support the demand of Football Club Velez from Mostar for the construction of a football stadium in Mostar. DL says that 3 items were removed from the agenda due to the fact that Bosniak Ministers did not attend the session. HNC Prime Minister Miroslav Coric stated that the Bill on Fire-fighting was adopted. Talking about the absence of the Bosniak Ministers, Coric says that the problem emerged between the Minister of Finances Semin Boric and the Prime Minister. Coric added: “I have resolved the problem with the competent Minister and the Ministry of Finances is functioning now. I do not understand as to why the Ministers in the HNC Government froze their work.” He added that during the talks with the Ministers he was told that politics froze their work and that politics should unfreeze it. Asked as to how the budget will be adopted if the situation in the HNC Government remains as such, Coric said that the budget must be finished by the end of the year. Vecernji List (front and page 3, “Stadium will be constructed for Velez”, by RS) also covered this session. |
| Mostar restructuring
| FTV, FENA, Dnevni List (front page, “Another Mostar Municipality organizes referendum”, and page 20, “Mostar Municipality Southeast organizes referendum”, by Z. Hu.), Oslobodjenje pg. 6 carry that yesterday the councillors of the Municipal Council of Mostar Municipality Southeast have unanimously passed the decision to organize a referendum on the future status of this Municipality in the new administrative organization of unified Mostar. DL says that Head of this Municipality Zijo Isic confirmed this information for this daily. He said that the referendum question, the date on which the referendum will be held, as well as all the other activities regarding holding of the referendum stipulated by Law and the Statute, will be determined within 60 days’ time. Vecernji List (page 2, “Southeast organizes referendum as well”, by zk) also covered this issue. DL (page 20, “Referendums with political background”, by M. Relota) carries that commenting on the announced referendum in the Mostar Municipality Southeast, President of the HDZ Mostar Southeast Municipal Board and member of the HDZ Mostar City Board Jadranko Lovric stated: “This is exclusively politically motivated in order to create pressure against the International Community and the Mostar Commission. We condemn such moves, however, we shall wait for the result on December 15. After this date we shall know what our further moves will be.” Dnevni List (page 4, “Jovicic: Mostar should be unified city with unified budget”, by R. Radic) carries that during yesterday’s promotion of collected papers “Position and organization of cities in the Federation of BiH with a special stress on development of local self-government in the City of Mostar”, Vice President of the Mostar City Council Milan Jovicic stated that Mostar should be organized according to the principle of a unified city with one Mayor and a unified budget. The collection of papers is a result of the round table discussion on the aforementioned topic, which was held in Mostar mid this year. Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘Divided city of Mostar means existence of Palestine in Europe’ – Safet Omerovic, a member of the Commission for Mostar Statute on behalf of the Party for BiH, assessed in a statement for the newspaper as unbelievable behaviour of his ‘colleague’ from the Commission SDA’s Fatima Leho, who was using every opportunity to attack the Party for BiH. |
| SDA/ HDZ relations | FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “On crises in HNC Government”, by D.P.) carries that Chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic confirmed after yesterday’s session of the BiH Presidency the announcements of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Prime Minister Miroslav Coric about holding of the meeting between the coalition partners, that is, HDZ and SDA, that is to take place in Sarajevo. During this meeting they will discuss all important issues in the relations of the two parties. SD says that apart from the crises in the relations of HDZ and SDA in the HNC Government the relations were disturbed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government as well. SD also says that Covic stated that this is about a regular meeting of the parties that are being coordinated by HDZ President Barisa Colak and SDA President Sulejman Tihic. Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘There is no crisis in FBiH Government’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘FBiH Government to continue working in full composition’ also reported on the issue/meeting of top SDA/HDZ representatives. |
| RS camp inmates roundtable | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘Moratorium on protests’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Protests postponed’, Blic, p 13, ‘Camp inmates: prevent disappearance of Srpska’, Vecernje Novosti, p 21 ‘The authority lets the state fall into ruin’ – One of conclusions of yesterday’s Round Table in Banjaluka (organised by Republika Srpska Association of former inmates and Association of families of fallen and missing persons) was that former inmates and families of fallen and missing persons would once again try to gather the representatives of position, opposition, NGO’s, branch syndicates. At such a meeting, the attendees should define the minimum of national interests. Slavko Jovicic, Vice President of Republika Srpska Association of former inmates, confirmed that moratorium on any protest of these categories of people will be placed. He also said that the key goal of yesterday’s session was to appeal to stress that Serb people should not be again placed in the camp called unitary BiH. He also criticised Republika Srpska authorities of being unwilling and weak to fight against crime and corruption. The Round table was attended by the following political officials: Milorad Dodik of SNSD, Petar Djokic of SPRS and Marko Pavic of DNS. |
| Brcko developments | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Elections instead of vacancy’ – In an open letter to the Acting Supervisor for Brcko District, Gerhard Sontheim, SDS proposed that election should be immediately convened in Brcko District, at which the new Mayor would be elected. Namely, SDS expressed its view that election is the only democratic means, by which democratic authority can be established. |
| Mesic to visit BiH | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Stjepan Mesic in Sarajevo on 5 December’, Oslobodjenje pg. 5, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 – Croatian President, Stjepan Mesic, has accepted the invitation of the BiH Presidency to attend the 8th session of the Inter-state Council for Co-operation between BiH and Croatia, which will take place on 5 December in Sarajevo. |
| Implementation of constitutional changes in RS | Nez avisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Croats dissatisfied with slow implementation of constitutional changes’ – The Club of Croat delegates at Republika Srpska House of Peoples yesterday demanded from Republika Srpska Prime Minister to update them on the implementation of constitutional changes in Republika Srpska, since they are dissatisfied with the so far progress achieved in this field. Namely, the Club is dissatisfied with employment proceedings at public service and firms, assistance to refugees and establishment of sustainable returns. NN received a confirmation at Republika Srpska PM’s Cabinet that PM would respond to this demand on Thursday. |
| SNSD debate in Gradiska
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘Politics of pure interest is the only solution for Republika Srpska’ – SNSD organised a public debate in Gradiska on the topic “What to do now and how to proceed?”. The session was attended by the SNSD most senior officials. Milorad Dodik said that the politics of pure interest is the only way-out for the Republika Srpska. He claims that authorities are deceiving the public (pensioners mainly) by saying that this year’s budget was exceeded for 20%. On defence reform, he said that BiH needs a true defence reform, which would include demilitarisation of the entire BIH, abolishment of recruitment and establishment of a professional army. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Revision of the privatisation
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 11 ‘More than 100 requests for revision of the privatisation’ – It was said at a Wednesday’s session of a BiH Trade Unions Association commission on review of the privatisation contracts that in only five days of a campaign more than 100 requests for the revision of the privatisation process had been addressed to the body. |
| Herecegovacka Bank | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV – Provisional Administrator of Hercegovacka Bank Toby Robinson announced that a decision about fate of that Bank will be determined in next two months. She said that they have spoken with a large number of European Banks’ managers encouraging them to invest in Hercegovacka Bank so in two months it will be known will Bank be opened again or it will be liquidated. |
| IMF/RS Government talks | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘IMF placed new questions before RS Government’; Glas Srpske, pg. 5, ‘Negotiations resume’ – GS describes the current development on pension and salary increase as calm before the storm. GS carries statement by Goran Radivojac, Spokesperson of Republika Srpska Premier, who announced that IMF has sought additional clarification from the Republika Srpska Government regarding the increase of minimal labour wage from KM 68 to KM 82. He also said that details on this will be available after today’s talks. He expressed hope talks proceed in positive direction. The Republika Srpska Government officials yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the statements by some international officials, who said that no progress was achieved in talks. |
| RS Trade Union leader: If minimal wage is not increased the RS Government will fall | BHTV, RTRS, Dnevni List page 13, “Trade Union demands lowest price of work amounting as of 90 KM”, Nezaviisne Novine pg. 4, Blic, p 13, ‘Volas: we will overthrow Ashdown too’, FENA – “If the RS Government’s decision on increasing the minimal wage from 68 to 82 KM is not respected that will represent the fall of the RS Government, but also of the OHR and IMF”, RS Trade Union President Cedo Volas said. He said after the Union Main Biard session that the minimal wage should remain at 82 KM in the RS until the start of next year and that it should be increased to 90 KM in January. “We believe that there are reserves in the budget for increasing the minimal wage and that the IMF is defying workers by interfering in our already low wages”, Volas told journalists. He said that the Union has had it with IMF limitations and asked why have Union representatives not been included in the latest negotiations between the RS Government and the IMF on the minimal wage. |
| BiH Presidency proposes financing highway feasibility study from budget
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Dozens interested in construction of highway’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘BiH to finance feasibility study’ – The BiH Presidency on Wednesday adopted a report about activities concerning the construction of the 5C Corridor highway, along with a proposal that BiH should finance the feasibility study, which should cost seven to nine million convertible marks. Presidency chairman Dragan Covic said at a news conference after the Presidency session that there had been an initiative suggesting that the feasibility study is financed next year from the state budget, “while taking into account the partial construction of the 5C Corridor”. “It was concluded that it would be necessary to form a commission for concessions,” Covic said, and added that there have been around 10 requests for the drafting of the feasibility study. Dnevni List (page 3, “BiH will finance Feasibility Study for Corridor Vc”, by R. Radic), Vecernji List (page 2, “BiH alone will finance Feasibility Study”, by D. Jazvic) and Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Final decision up to BiH Council of Ministers”, by D. Pasic) also covered this session. In a separate article on the Vc corridor construction, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘BOSMAL most likely not to submit its bid to public invitation’ quotes BOSMAL spokesperson Amra Kebo as saying that the company was most likely not to respond to a public invitation for submitting bids related to the corridor project documentation. |
| Ashdown visits BiH Tourist Association | Dnevni Avaz pg. 8, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 10, ‘Paddy Ashdown supports the project’, FENA, ONASA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, welcomes establishment of a tourist association at state level, and expresses readiness to support its activities and projects. On the occasion of visiting the BiH Tourist Association, Ashdown emphasised that tourism is one of the priority sectors for development of BiH, and indicated the significance of a single tourist presentation of BiH throughout the world, it was announced by the Association. |
| Money laundering affair | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘He laundered BAM 18 million in eleven days’ – Jasmina Gafic, BiH State Prosecutor, yesterday confirmed that the BiH Court Council has extended detention against Zeljko Manojlovic for 90 days. Manojlovic has been charged with money laundering through fictitious firms in Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by which he damaged the budget of both entities for almost BAM 18 million. |
| Buk Bijela Plant construction | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Fifth extension’ – For the fifth time, the deadline for submission of public offers for the construction of hydro power plant Buk Bijela has been prolonged until 31 April next year. |
Education | |
| Law on High Education – talks ongoing
| Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Law under the table’ – Zlatko Bundalo, member of the Task Force for creation of the Framework agreement and assistant to Republika Srpska Minister of Education, confirmed that Republika Srpska has received the proposed Framework Law on high education in BiH, which, in some provisions, greatly differs from the version previously agreed on. He said that: “Serb representatives will no longer be reviewing any changes to the proposed Framework Law. We did not take any part in creation of the new version of the document, which international officials showed to us, nor can we accept it as such.” Owing to the fact that BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications self-initially changed the text of the Law on High Education,. It was agreed that the new Task Force would be established, which would later on work on the creation of federal and Republika Srpska law on high education. He claims that Republika Srpska will never accept provision, which stipulates the establishment of Ministry at state level. Republika Srpska officials pledge that BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications is the institution at state level, which will be co-ordinating entity activities. |
| “Vrbas” facility under review | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Commission estimating barracks’ – The Banjaluka University yesterday established a Commission (consisted of Deans of Banjaluka Faculties) which is to estimate the current situation at military barracks “Vrbas”, which has been allocated to this institution. The Commission is to assess as to whether there is a need for technical adaptations of the facility. Note: Republika Srpska Minister of Education, Gojko Savanovic, claims he did not promise students that Ministry would provide KM 3 million for the adaptation. Instead, he assessed that this amount of money will be necessary to do this. |
Incidents | |
| Glamoc Mayor’s car set on fire
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Car of Glamoc Mayor set afire’, VL pg. 23 – The car by Rade Gvero, Glamoc Mayor, was set on fire on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. Gvero told police that somebody called him several times and threatened he would murder him. Gvero expressed conviction that the explosion and threats are related to the fact he is Serb. Police investigation is ongoing. |