| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| SFOR soldiers – incident | SFOR gun fire | SFOR soldiers in Bjelasnica | Economic revivial |
| Strike of CRO doctors | UN inspectors in Baghdad | Iraq crisis – oil prices | Osmanovic on the lawsuit |
| Fires in Australia | Birth rate in the FBiH | Belgrade trial | Lovric on hum. org. |
| Blix to Hussein | Golden Globe Awards |
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| Oslobodjenje | A hero gives kidney for a roof over head; SFOR soldiers shot at a parked car; Ashdown, young people and ‘Slobodna Bosna’ – who is crazy and who is smart?; Looked for one brother and beat up the other |
| Dnevni Avaz | Sarovic – the consequences will bear those helping war criminals; Hadzipasic – a pre-condition for the work is to love this country; SFOR members shot at a car; Ahmic – I pretended I was unconscious |
| Dnevni List | Bishops from Croatia and BiH to talk about details of Pope’s visit – Pope’s second visit to BiH questionable; Violent behavior of American soldiers |
| Vecernji List | Exclusive: Church and political sources in BiH announce: Pope comes to Mostar too; Jago Lasic, President of the Federation Economic Chamber: BiH is a banana state |
| FRY Nacional | Zoran Stankovic – General Mladic does not come to the VMA |
| Blic | Serbs are selling property in Bugojno; OHR: the authorities must solve problem of Serb delegates |
| Vecernje Novosti | Mladen Ivanic – do not change borders |
| Nezavisne Novine | Former Serbian President goes to The Hague – Milan Milutinovic today in Scheveningen; Avdija Sabanovic for Nezavisne Novine – we were not smuggling, we were helping Kosovo; Milorad Dodik, leader of SNSD – the opposition will request extra ordinary elections; Dissatisfaction of Serbs in Brcko District – suspicious war time history of the police chief candidate |
| Glas Srpski | Gradiska – nobody lives in reconstructed houses; The United Nations declare the year 2003 a year of potable water – the thirst threatens the planet |
OHR/International Community | |
| Ashdown vs. Slobodna Bosna
| Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 3 by Se. K. – a very prominent story labelled as ‘scandalous’ about a Friday meeting between HR Ashdown and young politicians. During the meeting, HR apparently stated that those who read ‘Slobodna Bosna’ magazine were fools. The daily went on to take statements from several participants of the meeting who confirmed that HR Ashdown indeed made the statement. Danijel Senkic, a young BOSS member from Tuzla, stated that HR Ashdown said so about the magazine at the beginning of the meeting. He also added that he tried to react, but was not sure whether it was translated. Vanja Gavran, a young politician from the People’s Party for Progress from Siroki Brijeg, said he thought HR warned young politicians they should not believe everything written in the media. He also added he expected more from the entire meeting. Damir Masic, SDP, said that the two-hour meeting was useless. He also said he was shocked about HR’s statement about the magazine. Nadja Lutvikadic, SDA, was disappointed because HR arrogantly told them they should be energetic and rebellious. Just below the article, there is a reaction by Slobodna Bosna Editor-in-Chief, Sead Avdic entitled ‘Ashdown wanted to ban Slobodna Bosna’. Avdic said he heard something of HR’s statement, but was not sure about it. In any case, he stated that the content and method left no space for dilemma whether such thing was said. According to Avdic, this corresponds to a number of statements that HR made since he arrived. “The statement is yet another illustration of the colonial approach towards all segments of life in BiH.” He further said he knew that a month ago there were talks in the OHR HQ about the best way to ban the magazine. Avdic stated they would address all relevant institutions after checking Ashdown’s statement – both local and international and the Peace Implementation Council. |
| LJILJAN on Ashdown | Tarik Sadovic wrote in this week’s LJILJAN (‘Who minds Ashdown’) an affirmative article about the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and his position to carry out reforms together with the elected officials regardless of which party they belong to. At the same time, he suggested that the frequent media criticism against such Ashdown’s approach is not grounded and actually has very different background. “How much some want to ruin indisputable Ashdown’s credibility and reputation with the BiH citizens and how inadequate is the manner in which they are trying to do so. This is best portrayed through the recent fabricated accusations coming from the SDP BiH leadership, according to which, Ashdown allegedly does not want the most wanted war criminals Karadzic and Mladic to be apprehended,” Sadovic wrote. |
| SFOR soldiers shot at a car | Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 17, Avaz pg. 1 and 24, Dnevni List pg. 1 and – three US members of SFOR on Saturday night shot at a car of Mirsad Cavdara, which was parked in Bijele vode, Trnovo municipality. The news was announced by the Sarajevo canton MoI. Members of the Sarajevo Canton MoI cheked soldiers documents and informed an officer who was on duty that night – Alvarez Roberto. Currently, the soldiers are in SFOR base in Butmir and the reasons for their behaviour are still not known. |
| EU cuts help for BiH | Vecernji List pg. 1 and 5 by Dalibor Ravic – offers its view as to why the European Union (EU) is cutting its aid to BiH. The daily claims the EU is applying the ‘shock therapy’ to prevent leading corrupt politicians and police officers from giving protection to Islamic groups and prevent white slavery that goes to the EU via BiH. VL goes on to say that members of the UN, NATO and EU working in BiH claim Sarajevo authorities not only tolerate the smuggling of the white slavery and Islamic groups through BiH, but certain most senior powerful people actively participate in it. “By decreasing the financial help, the EU is pressing Sarajevo to stop the smuggling of people and activities of Islamic groups and expel them from the country”, concludes the author. |
Political Affairs | |
| The vetting process in OHR
| Avaz pg. 3 by Sead Numanovic ‘The vetting process of ministers half-way through’ – the vetting process at the OHR for ministerial positions at the entity and cantonal level still has not been completed. Julian Braithwaite, OHR Spokesperson, stated that the introduction of the vetting principle improved standards and made parties who have the ambition of participating in the government to pay more attention when nominating candidates. He further explained that the IC was not approving candidates, but qualified people. He stated that the approval was in the hands of the Parliament. Braithwaite also stated that the vetting process did not mean that those who passed it were in favour of the ‘Job and justice’ package of reforms. He gave as an example Dragan Mikerevic who still had not presented a clear statement regarding the issues of single customs and VAT. |
| Anic on Curcic | Avaz pg. 4 ‘Anic: I believe that OHR will not allow General Curcic to become a minister’ by E.S. – a reaction by current FBiH Defence Minister, Mijo Anic, regarding rumours of General Dragan Curcic becoming the new defence minister. Anic recalls that in March of 2001 Curcic was the one who appealed on HVO soldiers to leave the barracks and join the Croat self-rule, and also that Curcic was removed by SFOR. According to Anic, Curcic;s nomination is a rather immature move by the HDZ. He expressed a hope that Curcic will not pass the vetting procedure. |
| Interview with Sarovic | Avaz pg. 5 by Fadil Mandal – a one-page interview with Mirko Sarovic, Serb Presidency member. Asked about the ‘Orao’ affair, Sarovic stated that the biggest responsibility should bear those who breached the UN sanctions. According to him, 500 workers and their families will suffer the worse consequences. As for the announcements of sanctions against those supporting Karadzic, he stated that he understood that al those supporting war criminals, in both the RS and Federation, will face the consequences. Talking of the VAT and the single customs, Sarovic asked whether the fact the system was joint immediately meant that it was more efficient. “Seven years ago our leaders agreed on a complex internal state system that could also be efficient, noting that everything that was not in a strict jurisdiction of the state was in the entity jurisdiction. That means that tax collection is a matter for the entity and it is an elementary thing to talk and negotiate with Banja Luka. If we are equal it will be difficult: if someone thinks the best way is to pressure and blackmail, they can chose that too.” |
| Hadzipasic | Avaz pg. 2 ‘I do not intend to tolerate postponements, even if they come from my party’ by Adnan Dzonlic – SDA candidate for the Federation PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, gave a short interview to Avaz. He stated that if he was appointed to the FBiH PM post every idea supported by solid arguments would be supported regardless of where it was coming from. Asked about Niko Lozancic, a candidate for the Federation president, Hadzipasic stated that they would co-operate well because they are both pragmatics who want to do their job, and not just politicise. |
| Candidate for FBiH War Veterans Ministry | Avaz pg. 4 ‘For war veterans ministerial post biggest chances has Ibrahim Nadarevic’ by S. Dzanic – a statement by Ferid Kulosman, President of the SDA regional board in Una-Sana Canton (USK). He stated that at today’s session of the USK SDA Board, they should nominate the new candidate for the ministerial post at the Federation War Veterans Ministry. He said there were several candidates including Meho Causevic and Ibrahim Nadarevic. According to the daily, Nadarevic is more likely to assume the post since he has been receiving a lot of support from the war veteran and the party political top. |
| BiH Election Commission on FBiH HoP | Nezavisne Novine pg.3, ‘Solution possible even without OHR’ – The Vice president of the BiH Election Commission, Vehid Sehic, stated that there was a solution for the formation of the Caucus of the Serb delegates in the FBiH House of Peoples even without the intervention of the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown. According to Sehic, the solution is that all nine Serb delegates appointed by the Commission take an oath at the House of Peoples of FBiH Parliament. Glas Srpski pg. 1 and 2 – reports on the same issue and quotes OHR Spokesman, Mario Brkic, as saying that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will not undertake any measures related to the Serb Caucus issue and that he expects the Federation authorities to explore other options available to resolve this problem. |
| SNSD on HoP | Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘The SNSD will not enter the incomplete FBiH Parliament’ – Vlatko Zrilic, an SNSD delegate at the Federation HoP, stated delegates from this party would not participate in the work of the HoP unless it was supplemented with the requested number of Serb reps. He was dissatisfied that the OHR would not interfere with the problem. Velimir Kunic, another SNSD reps at the HoP, said the constituting session was not legitimate, and the holding of the same was against the rules and regulations and the Law. (Kunic’s statement also reported in Blic pg. 7 ‘Serbs are in jeopardy’). Under a title ‘A job for the Federation authorities’ Blic on pg. 7 also quoted OHR Spokesperson Mario Brkic. “For the time being, High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will not interfere in the completing of the FBiH HoP Serb caucus,” Brkic said. He said that HR expected from the Federation authorities, i.e. Federation Parliament, ‘to consider all legal and other possibilities in order to overcome the problem of forming the Serb caucus’. |
| Commentary in Oslobodjenje | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 commentary written by Ibrahim Prohic ‘Incomplete House’ – criticising the events surrounding the election of the Federation HoP members. According to Prohic, the nationalist parties presented their hypocrisy, while the OHR is clinging onto their comfortable positions – by making official statements and making suggestion behind the scene. “At the time when ideas of ethnic divisions is till not dead, the incomplete HoP is a very, very bad message.” |
| New RS government appointed | Nacional pg. 7 ‘Mikerevic’s government the firsts multiethnic RS government ’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Social issues priority’ – the RS National Assembly appointed on Friday Dragan Mikerevic as the RS Prime Minister and adopted his report and nominated ministers. Milan Bogicevic (SDS) was appointed as RS Economy Minister, Simeun Vilendecic (PDP) as Finance Minister, Gojko Savanovic (SDS) as Education and Culture Minister, Suad Filipovic (SDA) was appointed as Justice Minister, Milovan Stankovic (SDS) as Defence Minister, Zoran Djeric (PDP) as Interior Minister, Slaven Pekic (Croat) as Administration and Local Self-government Minister, Marin Kvaternik (PDP) was appointed as Health and Social Care Minister, Rodoljub Trkulja (PDP) as Forestry and Water Resources Minister, Dragan Solaja (PDP) as Traffic and Communications Minister, Boris Gaspar (Croat) was appointed as Trade and Tourism Minister, Mensur Sehagic (SDA) as Urban Planing, Construction and Environment Minister, Mico Micic (SDS) as Labour and Veterans’ Minister, Omer Brankovic (SDA) as Economic Relations and Co-ordination Minister, Jasmin Samardzic (Bosniak) as Refugees and DPs Minister and Dzemal Kolonic (Bosniak) as Science and Technology Minister. Forty eight representatives voted in favour of Mikerevic’s appointment, 33 against and no one abstained from voting. The SDS, PDP, SDA and SRS representatives, as well as a number of representatives for smaller parliamentary parties voted in favour of the new government. This is the first multiethnic RS government with 8 Serb, 5 Bosniak and 3 Croat ministers. The RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said that the new RS government had its credibility. “The most important thing for the RS is that it’s institutions function in the upcoming period”, said Mikerevic after being appointed as the RS Prime Minister. Vecernje Novosti pg. 3 ‘Parties divided posts among themselves’ – the new RS government has some shortages. First of all, there is no a lady among new ministers. Secondly, some ministerial posts have been allocated to people whose vocations do not have anything in common with the posts they are occupying now. It seems that Mikerevic used party-related criteria and not logical ones. Knowing all this, it should not be a surprise that Mikerevic had announced the reconstruction of his cabinet even before the ink was dry on the paper on which he and his cabinet had sworn. |
| Brankovic on RS government | Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘The necessity for a joint economic market’, Avaz pg. 4 ‘We do not want to get into the assessment of its constitution and quality’ – a statement by President of the RS Union Association, Cedo Volas. He said he was happy with the fact that the new government was established in the RS, and that he did not want to get into the assessments of its quality and structure. He stated that they would have liked if the SNSD was in the new government. Volas also announced that reps of the Federation and RS unions would meet today in Sarajevo with HR Ashdown to discuss problems that BiH workers were faced with. |
| VL on RS government | Vecernji List pg. 2 by Zoran Kresic – regarding the appointment of the new RS government and non-appointment of Serb ministers into it. It reads that although the majority of media assessed that the new RS government had a multi-ethnic composition, in reality a lot of non-Serb ministers were proposed by either Serb parties or Serb politicians. In this context, the daily cites an example of the RS Minister of Trade, Boris Gaspar, who is allegedly a son-in-law of the leader of SDS, Dragan Cavic. Allegedly, his appointment was agreed upon between Cavic and PDP’s leader Mladen Ivanic. VL also mentions four other non-Serb ministers who were allegedly appointed/got strong backing from Serb parties. The daily goes on to say that, in light of these appointments, the Serbs will always have a majority in the RS government and that similar scenario could happen in the Federation. There, the SBiH is trying to find three Serbs among its ranks to ‘flog’ them into the Federation government. “The model applied in the RS, and most probably in the Federation, completely missed the meaning of the constitutional changes and constituent status of peoples. On the contrary, it showed a need for new legal solutions, which would accept legitimate, in the elections confirmed, peoples’ representatives”, concludes VL. |
| Reactions to the new RS government in the RS press | Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 – leader of the SNSD, Milorad Dodik, confirmed that the opposition would request the extra ordinary elections in the RS. According to Dodik, the new RS government is not competent enough to take the RS out of the crisis, which was the primary request of the voters. Nezavisne Novine pg.6 – also carries comments of other party’s officials on the formation of the new government. Dodik’s colleague from the SNSD, Radovan Bjelogrlic. “The RS needs an essential change, if that does not happen, we will enter a full collapse and deeper crisis.” Marko Pavic (DNS) -“The new government will face silent sanctions of the international community, same as the previous one. Foreign investors have no trust and will not invest their money into a region where national parties are in power. The SDS, SDA and PDP coalition can bring no progress.” Mirko Blagojevic (SRS) – claims that his party will overthrow Dragan Mikerevic’s government and that the government will last for three months only. Blagojevic accused the SDS of betraying Serb national interests by incorporating the SDA into the government. Slobodan Popovic (SDP) – “The government will not be capable to control further increase of social tensions. Both, Mikerevic and Ivanic are professors and they believe that we are students and will request all of us to pass their exam and we shall all fail at that exam.” Dzevad Osmancevic (SBiH) said that the government with the SDS, PDP and SDA has no chance to succeed and provide better future for the RS. Glas Srpski pg. 3 – also carries a report on the formation of the new RS government entitled ‘Government with Serb majority’. The RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, told the daily that the hand over ceremony would take place on 22nd January and the first working session of the new RS government would take place on 23rd January. According to Mikerevic, the new government consists of five ministers from PDP, four from SDS, three from SDA while the others are not party members. The daily also reports which parties supported Mikerevic’s government. Delegates of the SDS, PDP, three delegates of the SRS (Slavko Boljanovic, Milanko Mihajlica, Radenko Ristic), delegate of RS Democratic Party (Dusko Vukotic), Democratic Patriotic Party (Darko Jotanovic), Pensioner’s Party (Stojan Bogosavac), one delegate of RS Socialist Party (Rajko Todorcevic), one delegate of Serb People’s Revival (Radivoje Trbic) and six SDA delegates. |
| CoM | Nezavisne Novine pg. 6, Glas Srpski pg. 3 – The Chairman of the BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, confirmed that the OHR approved the appointment of Slobodan Kovac to the post of Justice Minister. According to Terzic, Kovac will be appointed at the next session of the BiH CoM, which is supposed to take place by the end of the month. Blic pg. 7 ‘Ministry of Justice to Slobodan Kovac’ – a statement by OHR Spokesperson, Mario Brkic. “OHR has given its consent to appointment of Slobodan Kovac from the RS as a BiH Minister of Justice,” said Brkic. |
| Commentary in FT | Feral Tribune pg. 24 by Ivan Lovrenovic ‘The BiH CoM formed after three months of administrative and religious rituals – the government of nationalistic unity’. According to Lovrenovic, the new government is without a minimum of political cohesion, a clear plan and clearly targeted strategy. “One can conclude this from the profiles of three most influential figures in the new CoM. Adnan Terzic is SDA’s colorless cadre without major political and state policy references. Barisa Colak is a person of benign appearance and completely unknown political nature and professional ability. Mladen Ivanic is a person who has given enormous practical contribution to the classic description and definition of a Balkan politician. Intelligence in the service of cunning and unscrupulousness, chronic lack of principles covered by eloquence, Serb nationalism covered by economic reasoning and alleged liberality – and as having a good rating in the IC circles. An ideal type for the BiH foreign policy which will be co-created by Mirko Sarovic, SDS hard-liner, at the time of post-Milosevic leaders in Serbia more and more frequently speak of Bosnia and Kosovo as of stop-gaps, as of open and unresolved issues, about the need for a new Dayton.” |
| RS Union | Oslobodjenje pg. 32 ‘Cedo Volas assessed the appointment of the new RS government as positive’, Avaz pg. 4 ‘The RS government should work in the interest of all RS citizens’ by M. Vidovic – Omer Brankovic, newly appointed Minister for Economic Relations and Co-ordination int eh RS government, stated he was convinced the new government would work in the best interest of all RS citizens. Brankovic, a senior SDA official, thinks his party is relatively happy with the ministerial posts at the RS government. This despite the fact that the SDA did not get the wanted posts in the following two ministries – for refugees and DPS and agriculture. It is also evident that Brankovic will be one of the RS government vice-president. Unofficially, a Croat candidate for the RS government Vice-President is Marin Kvaternik. The hand-over ceremony should take place on Wednesday. |
| Interview with Dodik | Vecernje Novosti pg. 3 ‘Do not change the borders’ – an interview with BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic. Ivanic said that there were two priorities of his ministry. The first was to get closer to the European Union and the second priority was the regional co-operation in Western Balkans (FRY, BiH, Croatia, Albania Macedonia Speaking about the RS and announced reforms (customs and VAT), Ivanic said that the RS had its army, police, finance, education, health care, culture and media. “It has all key elements defined by the Dayton Accord. All those who fail to respect are in violation of the law and Constitution. I support reforms but only if they are harmonised and in accordance with the Dayton,” Ivanic said. Speaking about borders, Ivanic said the borders must stay unchanged. “Any opening of borders’ changing issue will cause new instability”, Ivanic said. On his work, Ivanic said that he would pledge for BiH interests. “I do not want to react on criticisms in the media. I know they would be pleased if I gave up on my people. But I will never do it. Media have right to speak whatever they want. Only the Constitution and Dayton are important. And as a representative of Serb people I have an obligation to defend Serb interests,” Ivanic said. Speaking about the BiH lawsuit against Yugoslavia, Ivanic said that was not the lawsuit of BiH institutions, which were based on the DPA. |
| Interview with Lozancic | LJILJAN magazine pg. 19 – 22 conducted an interview with Niko Lozancic entitled ‘Lozancic: I do not believe that Mr. Ashdown protects any war crimes indictee’. “We have always been drawing a clear demarcation line between the partnership and obedience. Partners in any job must be equal both in decision-making and responsibility. A partnership is unacceptable in which representatives of the IC are making key decisions and even deciding on who can and who cannot be a state minister, but in which bills for all failures and wrongdoing are being paid exclusively by the domestic authorities. The example of the Alliance for Change well pointed at such the form of partnership. The IC must help in building capacities of our institutions to take over the responsibility for functioning of this country, and it should not suffocate the initiatives and prevent those having different opinion from exercising their human rights and freedoms,” said Lozancic. |
Economic Affairs | |
| Strom Telecom
| Avaz pg. 8 ‘The protocol with Strom Telecom is a legally valid document’ – following the recent articles in Avaz about ‘Strom Telecom’, the company reacted. An announcement was signed by the Marketing Sector Head, Amra Kraljic. In the announcement it is stated that a number of serious and not founded accusations were presented in the Avaz articles. The company thinks that the daily has been for a while carrying out a campaign against the most profitable company in the Federation. They further think that it is no coincidence that the articles came out at the time when the issue of the third GSM operator was re-activated. The announcement reads that all businesses conducted by the company so far have been done by regulations. Just below the article, there is a reaction by a journalist who signed the recent articles that accused ‘Strom Telecome’ of not conducting their businesses legally – Adi Hadziarapovic. He noted that in the letter the company did not deny a single accusation from his texts. He added that they there was no point in them trying to hide a strategic agreement with the ‘BS Telecom’, a sister company of the ‘Strom Telecom’, which is registered at an address of the ‘Ars creative’ company owned by Lagumdzija’s wife. |
| Pastuovic on joint customs and VAT | The OHR Spokeswoman, Sonja Pastuovic, told Nezavisne Novine (pg.7) that OHR was concerned over an announcement by the RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, that he would not support the introduction of a single customs administration and VAT on BiH level. According to Pastuovic, the international community is united when it comes to these issues and added that financial assistance programmes for BiH might be cancelled if single customs administration and VAT on the state level were not introduced. |
| Eronet | Article by Mustafa Spahic in this week’s LJILJAN magazine (‘Eronet from the other world’). “Toby Robinson would never take an illegal action or allow that, for example, the shares of BH Telecom were bought by cantons and municipalities with the Bosniak majority. First, they do not have the right to do so, and secondly it would be a national (ethnic) exclusivity. It seems however that in cases of Serbs and Croats such things are welcome. On 24% of the BiH territory where Bosniaks live, the multi-ethnic BiH will be built at their cost. The Eronet case is an example of how the international factors are accepting everything and even pushing this country into the apartheid.” |
Civil Affairs | |
| CIPS project | Vecernji list pg. 2 by D.R. ‘10 KM for a new ID’ – the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communication and the CIPS Management are to issue the first unique IDs today at Sarajevo’s Central Post Office, which marks the beginning of creating the unified data base on citizens. It has been foreseen that the IDs issuing is conducted in two phases. The first one will cover the citizens living in 20 regional centers and the second one, due this summer, will cover issuing of personal documents to citizens living in other municipalities. Driving licenses will be changed at the same time at the price of 30 KM per a license and issuing of this document also requires having a new ID. |
Police Affairs | |
| Alibabic
| Avaz pg. 22 ‘Munir Alibabic managing the FOSS through Edhem Besic and Nazif Dzubura’ by Mugdim Hasanovic – Avaz carries excerpts from an article published in the latest issue of LJILJAN magazine. According to the magazine, approximately a month ago, a meeting was held between the removed FOSS Director Munir Alibabic, FOSS Executive Director Edhem Besic and one of the FOSS chiefs Nazif-Nasko Dzubur. The magazine claims that Alibabic kept giving instructions to the mentioned two during the entire course of the meeting. He instructed them ‘how to use FOSS information and documents for the purpose of compromising people from the political and public life in BiH, meaning SDA officials and their coalition partners and senior officials at the FOSS and MoI. |
| Incident in Ahmici | Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 5, Avaz pg. 1 and 26, Vecernji List pg. 46 by Faruk Vele ‘He came to me covered in blood asking to help him’ – two days ago returnee Elmin Ahmic was attacked in Ahmici near Vitez. According to information from the Vitez police station, several Bosniaks and Croats were detained and released after being interviewed. Avaz’s crew visited Ahmic at the Travnik cantonal hospital. He explained how several guys broke into his house, asked where his brother was and then started beating him up. Elmin’s brother Edin said he did not know why anyone would look for him. The attackers apparently threatened to beat up Edin as soon as they found him. Ahmici inhabitants, Bosniaks and most Croats condemned the incident. |
| Appointment of Brcko police chief | Glas Srpski pg. 5 ‘Milicevic under a shadow of crime’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 2 ‘Suspicious war past of the police chief’, Vecernje novosti pg. 13 ‘Waiting for word of councillors’ – the Independent Commission nominated Milenko Milicevic from Tuzla for the position of the new police chief in the Brcko District. The nomination has caused many reactions among Serb population in the District due to Milicevic’s war past. According to newspapers, in May 1992 Milicevic was one of high-ranking persons in Tuzla police, and participated in an attack against former Yugoslav Army young soldiers and reservists when over 200 people were killed. Apart from this, Milicevic was also a member of a commission managing exchange of people, and certain Stevo Milakovic claims he had to pay Milicevic 4,750 KM during the exchange process. Dejan Vranicevic and his son Darko from Banovici were imprisoned in Tuzla concentration camp for Serb people, which was under Milicevic’s command. Next Friday, the Brcko District Interim Assembly should decide on whether they would appoint Milicevic to the position of the District police chief. |