| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| SFOR searched Pale | SFOR searched Pale | CoM in session | SFOR searched Pale |
| CoM in session | CoM in session | RTV subscription | Visit of German MoD |
| RTV subscription | HR visits Mostar | Issues re Defence Minister | CoM in session |
| HR visits Mostar | RTV subscription | HR visits Mostar | HR visits Mostar |
| Oslobodjenje | Sonja Karadzic’s radio station and Pale Post office searched; Paravac announced checked Stanovic?; Avaz must pay compensation to Lagumdzija for defamation; Paddy Ashdown in Mostar: If there are obstruction, I will react immediately |
| Dnevni Avaz | Fahrudin Radoncic on introduction of censorship: We are not going to be silenced by Karadjordjevic’s lobby; Dragan Covic: BiH with five levels of authorities is not sustainable; SFOR raided Sonja Karadzic’s radio statioin |
| Dnevni List | Government: Severance pay amounting to 6000 KM to dismissed soldiers; HR Paddy Ashdown: Integration of city will not happen over night |
| Vecernji List | Zagreb is dividing HDZ BiH; Action in Pale, Karadzic was seen in center of Belgrade |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Jelavic is being charged also because of his close relation with Bishop Peric; Paddy is cleaning Mostar |
| Glas Srpske | New SFOR action in Pale: “Saint John” searched; Brcko: Neither water or electricity |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH CoM: SIPA got police authorities; Nikola Spiric: Kalinic candidates are closer to prison sentence than seat; Cantonal Court Sarajeco: “Dnevni Avaz” to pay out BAM 10 thousand to Zlatko Lagumdzija; RS Elektroprivreda chose oil suppliers for thermal power plants “Gacko” and “Ugljevik”: Firm of Mandic family won at tender |
| Blic | William Montgomery: Nobody knows where Mladic and Karadzic are; Dry pipes: Even politicians are not paying the bills; Fight against drugs: Police at schools |
| Dani | Public will be shocked after unveiling motives for murdering Taib Torlakovic |
| Slobodna Bosna | Bosnian Scheveningen |
| Ljiljan | All Iraqis considered Americans occupiers |
Defence and security issues | |
| SFOR raided facilities in Pale | FTV, RHB, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 ‘Sonja Karadzic’s radio station and Pale Post office searched’, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘SFOR raided Sonja Karadzic’s radio station’, pg 3 ‘SFOR raided Sanja Karadzic’s St. John’, Vecernji List front, pg 2 ‘Action in Pale, Radovan Karadzic in center of Belgrade’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘SFOR searched post office and radio station of Sonja Karadzic’, Jutarnji List pg 10 ‘Searching for Karadzic SFOR raided Telekom and Post Office buildings in Pale’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘SFOR searched radio station ‘Sveti Jovan’ owned by Sonja Karadzic’, Glas Srpske cover pg story ‘”Saint John” searched’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘SFOR searched radio station owned by Sonja Karadzic’, Blic pg 13 ‘SFOR action in Pale’ – On Thursday morning, SFOR troops carried out unannounced inspections at two locations in the Pale area – local post office and the St. John radio station owned by Sanja Karadzic-Jovicevic, a daughter of top war crimes indictee Radovan Karadzic. SFOR stated that this action was undertaken as the part of operations aimed at cracking network of those persons supporting war crimes suspects. In searching Post Office, SFOR confiscated some documents and a couple of employees’ address books. RTRS – During this action SFOR totally blocked the Post Office by preventing people to enter or leave the Post Office premise. After completing search of Post Office, SFOR went to Radio St John. SFOR Spokesperson refused to give us a reason for searching this Radio Station for second time in a year. “This operation is independent and has nothing to do with the one previously conducted. Today’s operation is a step of actions that SFOR conducts for purpose of arresting persons indicted for war crimes and of those who support them. I can not comment if some actions are based on information received from certain persons”, said Mathew Brook, SFOR Spokesperson. BHTV 1 – There were no arrests or detentions carried out during either of the actions. Public Security Centre Pale confirmed that local police have participated in this action. |
| German Defence Minister says arrest of Karadzic, Mladic essential for PfP | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘US and German soldiers will assist BiH authorities in arrest of Karadzic and Mladic’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Impermissible behavior of BiH bureaucracy towards investors’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Bureaucracy in BiH damages German investments’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Germany will help arrest of Karadzic and Mladic’ – German Defence Minister Peter Struck said in Sarajevo on Thursday that BiH authorities need to do all in their power to bring Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic to justice, which is important for BiH membership in the Partnership for Peace. Struck visited BiH and met with BiH Presidency and the Council of Ministers, discussing the transformation of BiH Armed Forces and SFOR’s role in upcoming period and a pace of defence reforms. BHTV 1 – Following the talks with members of BiH Presidency, Minister Struck said that replacing SFOR with EU troops will not harm the security in BiH, stressing that US troops and NATO will continue to maintain their presence in BiH. RTRS – Peter Struck stressed that the appointment of the BiH Defence Minister has been a very important issue, as it would designate a person in charge of negotiating with NATO. FTV – Following the meeting with Struck, CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic said: “We are determined to full establish the BiH Ministry of Defence and to appoint the Defence Minister and his deputies. This process is underway and there is political consensus on this issue.” Asked to comment the situation with the MoD, Minister Struck said that something like this couldn’t happen in Germany where the candidate is nominated one day and rejected next day. Within CoM meetings, Struck also met with BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic and Security Minister Barisa Colak. |
| Speculations regarding new MoD delegate | BHTV 1 – New SDS candidate for BiH Defence Minister will be Dragan Kapetina, military issues advisor to Borislav Paravac, however SDS claims that they will not nominate the new candidate before Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, gives a written explanation of his decision to reject nomination of Branko Stevic. According to SDS Spokesperson, Dusan Stojicic the war past of Branko Stevic is not an issue for them, saying this is just a speculation and added that this matter was not over for the party. Oslobodjenje cover, pg 5 ‘Paravac announced checked Milovan Stankovic?’ – Daily claims it learned that BH Presidency member Borislav Paravac could nominate Milovan Stankovic, current RS Defence Minister to the position of BIH Defence Minister. According to the article, Paravac discussed this with Adnan Terzic, stressing that Stankovic already passed OHR vetting procedure. In addition, Kapetina is another possible candidate. |
| Ashdown on MoD candidate
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 6 ‘If there are obstructions, I will act immediately’, Dnevni Avaz pg 22 ‘Serb must propose new candidate’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘BiH Defence Minister either Croat or Bosniak!?’ – Asked to comment on the decision passed by Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic to refuse candidacy of Branko Stevic for the position of a BiH Defence Minister, the HR stated: “I welcome Terzic’s decision….A future Defence Minister will have contacts and he will talk with for instance US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Defence Ministers of the other countries, and for this reason the person appointed to that position has to enjoy reputation and trust.” The HR added: “If Serb people cannot find an appropriate person who will meet conditions for the position of the BiH Defence Minister then, perhaps, somebody else might try to do it.” DL says that nevertheless, the HR expressed hope that the appointment of a new Defence Minister will happen soon so that BiH does not miss a big chance to join Partnership for Peace. |
| Accusations against Stevic | BHTV 1 – Secretary of Children’s Embassy, Dusko Tomic once more presented accusations against Branko Stevic, accusing his of hiding evidences on murders of Bosniaks during his term as the wartime Chief of Bijeljina Police. Tomic said that written evidences exist and that two families would come from USA to testify on that. Serb member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac reacted: “We have to say the truth. If someone is guilty there is Court and process, so let him be prosecuted, let him answer for his acts.” Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Stevic could have prevented crimes in Bijeljina’ – Director of the institution for investigating war crimes, Smail Cekic stated for Oslobodjenje that “since Branko Stevic was a Chief of Public Security Centre Bijeljina from September 1992 to February 1994, he had to undertake some measures to prevent terrible crimes that took place in Bijeljina.” Cekic claims that Stevic had to be aware of events that took place in Bijeljina, and nearby concentration camp. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Stevic persecuted Bosniaks after the war too’ – DA claims that past of Branko Stevic is not disputable only for the war time period, but also the post-war. It alleges that IPTF, Human Rights Watch and a number of NGOs accused Stevic of covering up a case of beating a Bosniak from Bijeljina, at the time when Stevic was a chief of Bijeljina police. |
| VL editorial on MoD position | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Deserters are only suitable?!’ by Lj. Djikic – VL carries an editorial in which the author says that having in mind the problems that emerged with regard to the election of the BiH Defense Minister, for all future leading positions at the BiH level the most suitable or only suitable persons might be deserters or the persons who were hiding during the war in BiH. |
| CoM adopts set of security Laws | BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘SIPA got police authorities’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Set of laws from area of security defined’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Law on Higher education returned for finishing’ – At its session on Thursday, the Council of Ministers passed a set of security laws, BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak said.The set includes the draft Law on amendments to the Criminal Proceedings Code, draft Law on amendments to the Law on State Service, draft Law on the State Information and Protection Agency, draft Law on police officers and the draft Law on witness protection. RTRS – As per proposal to the Law on SIPA authorities of SIPA employees are extended with performing police work. ” In accordance with this Law, SIPA jurisdiction will include the prevention and investigation of crimes that are under the jurisdiction of the BiH Court and Prosecution,” explained Colak. FTV – CoM has determined changes and supplements to BiH Criminal Law and Law on SIPA and forwarded it to the Parliament. “By this, the Agency [SIPA] will become stronger at the state level, the authorities for police work will be widened and conditions will be made for this Agency, SIPA, to be able to perform the tasks defined by BiH Laws and the international agreements which BiH has took upon itself”, said Barisa Colak. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Draft security laws established’ – Colak said that the Law on preventing money laundering was sent to the Economic Board for harmonization, and that he hoped “that it would be forwarded to parliamentary procedure at the next session of CoM.” RHB, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Issue of SIPA location solved’ – FBiH Government brought decision on temporary SIPA premises, allocating it a building in Sarajevo previously held by FBiH Army. |
| VL speculates on SIPA Director | Vecernji List pg 5 ‘’Marinovic case’ against Lukac’ by Dejan Jazvic – VL learns from a source in the BiH Council of Ministers, that the Croat representative in the current leadership of SIPA, Dragan Lukac, does not have the edge in comparison to other candidates when it comes to appointment of the Head of SIPA, the office that is reserved to a Croat. According to VL, the state authorities received documents that compromise Lukac’s professional reputation. Apparently, while Lukac was an employee of the Cantonal MoI in the Posavina Canton, one Mile Martinovic went missing in the RS. According to Maretinovic’s relatives, the investigation did not give any results and Lukac took 3.000 KMs from the Martinovic family ‘to continue the investigation” in the RS. Later on, in 1998, in a court case against journalist Mika Damjanovic, Lukac admitted to the Martinovic family giving the money, stressing the money was taken to pay for “certain activities” in the RS and find out the truth about disappearance of Martinovic. |
| OHR on Intelligence Law | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Warning to Mladen Ivanic’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Ivanic should leave side political interests’ – OHR expects signatories of the statement confirming the readiness of political parties in BiH House of Representatives to reforms to be turned into the real political effort in the implementation of reforms, aimed at admissions to Partnership for Peace and EU. According to OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic said it was very brave of the Commission for defence and security to forward the draft Law on Intelligence and Security Agency to the BiH parliament. “We expect from Ministers, especially from Mladen Ivanic, to leave aside some narrow political interests in order to given BiH organizations enable of protecting citizens from mafia”, said Milisic. |
| EUPM, OHR worried with FBiH MoI situation | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Situation in FBiH MoI worries EUPM’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘EUPM expressed concern with FMoI situation’, Dnevni List pg 4 EUPM concerned about current situation in FBiH MoI’ – EUPM and OHR expressed their concerns over the current situation in FBiH Interior Ministry, stressing the urgent need for some changes. Lina Anderson, EUPM Spokesperson, stated that this has been concluded at last meeting between EUPM, OHR and Mevludin Halilovic, FBiH Minister of MoI. She could not provide details from that meeting, but added that EUPM is closely monitoring the situation in the FBiH Interior Ministry. |
| FBiH Govt discuss FBiH Army restructuring | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Medal winners will stay’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘6000 KM of severance pay for demobilized soldiers’, Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Severance pay amounting to 6000 KM to demobilized soldiers’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Regional Chambers are being organized’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Severance pay amounting to 6000 KM for dismissal’ – During yesterday’s session, the FBiH Government the program of demobilization and taking care of extra members of the FBiH Ministry of Defense and the FBiH Army that has been sent to the FBiH Parliament. According to DL, the FBiH Government will propose to the Parliament that all those members, who do not meet criteria to stay in the professional military service and whose demobilization is proposed by the Commission, receive a severance pay amounting to 6000 or if it was possible 7000 KM. |
| Veterans in FBIH agreed on basics of the Law | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘HVO wants revision before the Law’, FTV – Representatives of Veterans’ Associations of BiH Army and HVO finally agreed their attitudes on basics of the Veterans Law, with their mutual attitude that the Law should be proceeded by the revision of present veterans rights. The text of their decision should be over in seven days and it would regulate the details of this procedure. After this procedure the FBiH Government should discuss it, while the major part of the work will rely on the Ministry for Veterans Issues, and a special Commission that will be established to ensure control of the process. The negotiations will continue tomorrow in OHR. |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown praises Mostar mayor and his deputy for their work | RTRS, BHTV 1, RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘The first stage of Mostar integration completed’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Paddy Ashdown satisfied with the implementation of new statute’, Slobodna Dalmacija front pg ‘Paddy cleans Mostar up’, pg 17’“Municipalities are getting shut down on March 15’, pg 17 ‘Ashdown with youth’ – During his visit to Mostar on Thursday, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown said he has been satisfied with the work of Mayor Hamdija Jahic and the Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic, and that the implementation of the news Statute will continue regardless of the rejection of Mostar North Municipality. Ashdown also added that he was satisfied with the transition period0 that should be completed by 15 March, when municipalities would be abolished. “I would like to pay respect to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. This is a tough relationship. It is not a secret that they do not agree with the decisions I made. But I greatly respect that they put interest to people of Mostar they are seeking to protect before their personal views”, said Ashdown. In regard to Beslic’s statement that Croat side would look for legal option for imposed decision on Mostar, HR Ashdown emphasised that it is completely reasonable opinion. HR added that the best way to show disagreement with such decision is through legal institutions. Any kind of obstructions or disturbances of public system would be a wrong choice. During Paddy Ashdown’s visit to Mostar he met with representatives of Youth organizations and Student’s Associations of Mostar Faculties. Oslobodjenje cover, pg 6 ‘If there are obstructions, I will act immediately’ – HR Ashdown stressed that so far there were no obstructions, but added if there were any he would react. FTV, Dnevni List pg 16 ‘Road towards unification of Mostar is hard, but feasible’ – Mayor Jahic stressed the need for the OHR’s support in the implementation of the new Mostar Statute because “through the implementation of the decision, we will not only solve technical, but political issues too”. Mayor Jahic expects the job to be done in accordance with the HR’s principles, namely no domination of any one people and existence of power sharing. Deputy Mayor Beslic says the road to complete unification will not be problem-free. “The OHR is open to us to solve of all unclear issues, should they appear, and there is possibility to solve certain issues at the highest level in order to have an unstoppable process of unification of Mostar”, said Beslic. |
| DL interview with Ashdown | Dnevni List front, pg 7 ‘Integration of city will not happen overnight’ by Meri Musa – DL carries an interview with the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, in which he notes that he is satisfied with what has been done relating to the process of unification of Mostar, stressing that he is aware that a lot of hard and sensitive work lies ahead. Questioned to comment on the decision of the Mostar’s Municipality North to reject his decision of Mostar and the statement by Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, that the HDZ will look for a legal remedy to alter the decision on Mostar, HR Ashdown says: “As far the first issue is concerned, the municipalities have the right to reject the solution, but the implementation goes on. This is a free society and people can express the rejection against something”. Regarding Beslic’s statement, the HR’s is carried as saying that it is no secret that the HDZ and SDA are opposing the decision on Mostar noting: “The proper way to express the resistance to the decision is through the legal system, it is wrong to carry out obstructions and disturbances. Should there be obstructions are disturbances, I will have to act”. HR also noted that changes in Mostar would not happen overnight: “When will everything flourish? I do not thing it is going to happen before the new authority is elected, namely after the October elections.” |
| CoM in session: Higher Education Law not passed | BHTV 1, FTV, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘The Law on Higher Education for further harmonisation’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Set of laws from area of security defined’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Law on Higher education returned for finishing’ – BiH Council of Ministers considered on Thursday the Draft Framework Law on Higher Education. After discussion the Draft was returned to the Council’s Board for Intern Policy for further harmonization. Branko Dokic, Minister of Transport and Communications, had technical remarks regarding certain articles of the Draft Law. In addition, CoM also considered the Report on transfer of authorities from the Commission for Real Property Claims onto the relevant bodies in BiH, which was prepared by BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees. BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees informed the CoM that the RS Government accepted the Agreement on the transfer of authorities in original text, but that the FBiH Government rejected the agreement requesting that it is corrected in line with remarks and suggestions. Council of Ministers requests from the entity governments to in the period of seven days appoint their representatives that will, together with representatives of BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees and BiH Ministry of Justice, comprise the task force for harmonizing the debatable decrees. RTRS – If BiH Authorities adopt Draft Law on Higher Education the World Bank is prepared to invest 12 million KM through direct investments and 30 million to support the state budget. Dirk Reinermann, Head of WB Office in BiH, told the CoM and BiH Parliament to adopt this draft Law as soon as possible for the purpose of accrediting of Universities at BiH level and financing Higher Education at entity level. FTV – Rector of University in Sarajevo, Professor Dr. Boris Tihi said that this Law is essential, and warned that BiH has to offer qualitative education and carry out the reforms as soon as possible, as it signed Bologna Declaration which must be implemented by 2010. He also said that chances for BiH to reach European standards of Education entirely depended on this Law. |
| DA interview with Covic | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Dragan Covic: BiH with five levels of authorities is not sustainable’, pg 9 ‘We should start immediately with state restructuring’ – In an interview with DA, Chairman of the BH Presidency Dragan Covic estimated that BIH is much closer to EU than before his term. He added that while some conditions for Euro-Atlantic integrations were not fulfilled, he believed that it would fatal for BiH admission to PfP, as a lot has been done especially regarding the defence reforms. Asked to comment possible constitutional and administrative restructuring of BiH, Covic said: “I am absolutely in favour of BiH internal restructuring. Right now. The state with five levels of authorities and with this big bureaucracy is not sustainable, and it is not functional.” |
| Raguz on Dayton changes | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘To new BiH even without another Dayton’ by Z. Rerig – SD carries Vice President of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly Martin Raguz as saying that a model of functioning of the BiH authority has reached its limits and it is good that this issue has been raised in a way. Raguz also believes that it is not necessary to organize some new international conference in order to change the things and that it is enough to form within the Parliament one Board for these issues with a mandate to prepare proposal of the constitutional changes that might get majority in the Parliament. Raguz also says that he does not expect that the OHR especially engages itself in these issues. Raguz says that the OHR is a bit surprised by this process, however, Raguz believes that the OHR also has to find its answers and position itself in this process in a high-quality manner. |
| Spirici critical of Kalinic | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 4 ‘Kalinic candidates are closer to prison sentence than seat’ – Nikola Spiric, Chairperson of the BiH House of Representatives, assessed that the manner in which SDS and PDP propose candidates for the positions at BiH institutions represent a collective tragedy with isolated victims. Spiric expressed regret that Branko Stevic did not identify intention by Dragan Kalinic to compromise him before international officials. He said: “The one whom Kalinic proposes is closer to prison sentence than any seat.”He also added that by behaving so, SDS is decelerating the implementation of reforms, on which international community is insisting, for which they will have to pay dearly. |
| Slobodna Bosna: Cavic uses Sarovic’s removal to settle down accounts with Kalinic | Slobodna Bosna pgs. 16-17 ‘Dragan Cavic used Sarovic;s removal to settle accounts down with Kalinic the betrayer’ by Suzana Andjelic – After the former member of the BiH Presidency, Mirko Sarovic, had finally been banned from dealing with politics last week, all SDS’ principals resigned at a special session of the party’s Presidency. “Although they wanted to send a message to the public on unity inside SDS and their unconditional support to Mirko Sarovic, the truth is quite different. The mentioned session was a real reflection of political tensions in SDS, which have been presented from a long time. For a few months now, the party has been being shaken with political conflicts between two factions. Dragan Kalinic, the SDS President in resignation, is on one side, while his deputy Dragan Cavic and Mirko Sarovic are on the other. Cavic and Sarovic’s goal is to replace Kalinic with Sarovic on the top position in the party,” wrote Andjelic. |
| Knaus: BiH will not join EU with OHR | Dani pgs. 30-32 ‘BiH will not be able to join EU with OHR!’ – Interview with Gerald Knaus, the German analyst. “The is no way Bosnia, which the High Representative with unlimited powers exists in, and in which the foreigners hidden in their offices behind high walls are writing laws that even do not need to be approved by BiH Parliament, will be in position to request admission into EU,” said Knaus. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on statement by BiH HoR parties
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Consensus’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Referring to the statement signed by 12 parties of BiH House of Representatives which confirm their dedication to the reforms process, author writes of this as “an encouraging act in the time of a big crisis of the reformatory process… Readiness for consensus, before all, should be proved by ruling parties, especially trio SDA-HDZ-SS, whose strategic and current interests have been in daily conflict with OHR and reformatory course.” In addition to being critical of ruling parties, author notes that opposition parties recently refused HR Paddy Ashdown’s demand for consensus. He concludes that opposition is in comfortable position: “If the thing fails, the blame will be first of all with the position, and if it succeeds, than opposition will share reformatory glory with ruling team.” |
RTV subscription | |
| Telecoms and broadcasters sign RTV subscription agreement | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘As of March, collection through telephone bill’, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘As of March, we will pay RTV subscription with telephone bill’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Contract on payment of RTV subscription signed’, Vecernji List pg 5, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘RTV subscription with phone bills as of March’ – Starting from March, citizens in the Federation will pay RTV subscription as part of their telephone bills. Telekom operators, the Public Broadcast Service and the FTV signed an agreement in the FBiH Government regulating this issue. Negligent citizens who fail to pay their phone bills on time will have their phone lines cut and users without a phone line will make payments to bill collectors. FBiH Traffic and Communications Minister Nedzad Brankovic said that the FBiH Government would decide on possible changes to the agreement. The agreement will stay in effect until a final legal solution on stabile financing of the public television system and the RTV service is reached. “I can not say that I am completely satisfied with this agreement. However, I did not want HT Mostar to be a ‘brake’ for BiH related to entering PfP. HT Mostar achieved the best they could from this agreement with very low level of possible damages. As per this agreement we have right to terminate it if our income rapidly reduce”, said Stipe Prlic, General Director of HT Mostar. BHTV 1 – The contract was signed between PBS General Director Drago Maric, FTV Director Jasmin Durakovic and Director of BiH Telecom Hamdo Katica and Director of HT Mostar, Stipe Prlic, in presence of Nedzad Brankovic. FTV – Directors of BHTV and FTV have expressed their satisfaction, saying that this only obligates them to offer more qualitative and more modern programs to the citizens. |
Legal issues | |
| Court orders Avaz to pay Lagumdzija 10.000 KM; reactions
| FTV, BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘Dnevni Avaz” to pay out BAM 10 thousand to Zlatko Lagumdzija’ – Sarajevo Cantonal Court ordered “Dnevni Avaz” to pay a sum of 10.000 KM to SDP President, Zlatko Lagumdzija, because of the defamation. The decision points out that while writing about CIPS program, Dnevni Avaz suggested to its readership the existence of the affair within the project and the Lagumdzija’s involvement in it. Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘We will not be silenced by Karadjordjev’s lobbies’ by Almira Pilav – In a page long interview to DA, the newspapers owner Fahrudin Radoncic commented that the decisions of the Court regarding the case with Zlatko Lagumdzija: “Trials to shot down Avaz are the last stage in enslaving Bosniaks”. Radoncic brings a series of accusations against Zlatko Lagumdzija and judiciary. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Today protests of Dnevni Avaz journalists in front of OHR building’, ‘Unheard attack against freedom of expression’, ‘Because of Skrbic brothers, Avaz has to pay 10.000 KM’ – Avaz critically wrote about these decisions in a series of articles. Dnevni Avaz ‘With judges like this, there is no place for BiH in Europe and democratic world’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Avaz must pay compensate Lagumdzija for defamation’ – Following the decision to extend the temporary decision banning Avaz to write about Zlatko Lagumdzija, SDA accused “newly appointed judges to still live in the world of one-minded repressive system, when it was banned to write criticising and to talk about officials… We wanted whether such decision would be made for the benefit of SDA officials, who are being criticised at daily basis.” BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Unheard attack against freedom of media’ – Editorial staff of Avaz stated that they consider this to be a form of censorship and announced a strike in front of OHR building today. Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Dragan Covic: BiH with five levels of authorities is not sustainable’, pg 9 ‘We should start immediately with state restructuring’ – Asked to comment Court’s decision which bans Avaz to write about Zlatko Lagumdzija, Chairman of the BiH presidency Dragan Covic said: “I think that I am one of the politicians in BiH about who the biggest number of lies were written or said. Journalists did that. Those are people of flash and blood, and they are apt to make mistakes. In judiciary, people with political, cultural and other believes work, so they are apt to make mistakes. I was silent about all lies said and written about me. I was silent, because I believe that in that way I contributed to the freedom of expression… The most tragic thing would be to return the state backwards to 30-40 years, when you knew what you could and what was forbidden to write about… In such society, democracy is dead.” |
| Jelavic, Prce, Rupcic update | BHTV 1 – By Monday, 24 February, the BiH Court’s Council is expected to decide whether to extend detentions for Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Miroslav Rupcic, as the charged against them have not yet been brought. The investigation for misuse of authorities and positions is in progress, although charges against Ante Jelavic will be supplemented to the charges regarding the trials to establish the third entity in BiH. According to Jelavic’s Lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, the Prosecutor has asked for those charges to be transferred from Sarajevo Cantonal Court to BiH Court. He said that in his opinion, this is a real example of politicising the case and added that those charges from time when Ante Jelavic was HDZ President and a member of BiH Presidency had nothing to do with Hercegovacka Banka case. Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘Custody to Jelavic, Rupcic and Prce will be extended by two months’ by N. Dedic – Lawyer Marko Martinovic stated that Prosecutor John McNair has already demanded the extension of the custody and according to Martinovic it will be known on February 22, 2004 whether the Panel of Judges will meet McNair’s demand. Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 7 ‘Jelavic is being charged also because of his close relation with Bishop Peric’ by Zlatko Tulic – SD says that many accusations that are being ascribed to Jelavic are not correct and that Jelavic is being reproached even because of his close relation Bishop Ratko Peric. The author concludes that the process against Jelavic is getting more and more alike to the staged Leutar case. |
| OHR on candidate for state Ombudsman
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4&5 ‘State leadership responsible for Popovic’ – OHR said that it would not oppose to the decision by BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac and Dragan Covic to nominate Vitomir Popovic, former judge of BiH Constitutional Court who opposed to the constitutional changed regarding constituency of all three peoples, to the position of BiH Ombudsmen. “This is not a vetted position, and the Presidency has not asked us for our views. If the nomination goes ahead, it will be for the BiH Parliament to decide, by 2/3rds majority in both houses, whether to approve the nomination of Popovic”, said OHR Spokesperson Vedran Persic. Presidency member Sulejman Tihic opposed the nomination. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Vitomir Popovic appointed by Karadzic to the position of Banja Luka Basic Court Chairman’ – Article brings overview of accusations against Popovic, as reported by media in the past few days. |
Economy and return | |
| German Defence Minister warns over bureaucracy issues in BiH
| RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Bureaucratic obstacles for foreign investors’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Meeting with Terzic, Ivanic and Colak’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Impermissible behavior of BiH bureaucracy towards investors’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Bureaucracy in BiH damages German investments’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Germany will help arrest of Karadzic and Mladic’ – Following the meeting with BiH Presidency members, German Defence Minister Peter Struck praised the BIH authorities for creating a stable security situation and added that it was very important for the economic development that the citizens feel they have a future. “This is why it is very important to remove all bureaucratic obstacles to the foreign investments,” Struck said, welcoming the investment conference in Mostar at the end of February. Chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic told journalists: “But, I have to be honest and say that the attention was brought to economic agenda, [BiH Presidencty was especially warned] that it is unacceptable what BiH Administration does when it comes to investments that come from Germany in BiH, whether it was Volkswagen, Daimler-Chrysler or another German company.”- said Dragan Covic, Chairman of BiH Presidency. Chairman Covic said that BiH must take responsibility for this and show that such attitudes changed before the International Investment Conference in Mostar. |
| Wnendt: Mostar fulfilled obligations regarding property claims | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘City Administration fulfilled obligations’, Dnevni List pg 15 ‘Werner Wnendt: Implementation of property laws is important success of city of Mostar’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Mostar completes return of property’, FENA – Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt sent a letter to Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic, informing him that representatives of OHR, OSCE and UNHCR found that City Administration of Mostar has fulfilled all its obligations arising from property laws implementation. According to the statement issued by the Public Relations Office of the City Administration, in accordance with the guidelines of the Property Laws Implementation Plan, the Housing Issues Department has performed repossession of property to pre-war owners, so in that way the property repossession process in Central Zone is completed. Housing Department of City Administration Mostar will continue working on property laws issues related to renewal of contracts, providing of alternative accommodation and other obligations to support citizens in solving their existential needs, says the statement. |
| Ljiljan int with Hadzipasic on economy, investments | Ljiljan pgs. 18-22 ‘HDZ wanted to remove me (from the office)’ – Interview with FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. “We need more future particularly in economy. We need to stop thinking on whether one people gets more or less, whether someone is cheating on the others. This means that we need to agree easier on strategic concepts i.e. how to earn money and how to attract investors. In a better ambient, the FBiH Government would have done more and we need to abandon options politically acceptable only for one area, one political party or one people,” said Hadzipasic. |