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| Serbian PM Zoran Zivkovic’s statement on RS’s association with Serbia attracted strong reactions in BiH | Serbian Prime Minister’s statements attracted numerous reactions | ICTY Prosecutor is ready to transfer some cases to Serbian judiciary | Serbian PM denies aspirations to redraw BiH borders |
| ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte announced transfer of some cases to Croatian and Serbian judiciary | Chairman of the Presidency warns that RS has not been created by Serbia or Montenegro but it was formed in civil war | BiH Court is still negotiating creation of the war crimes department
| RS delegation meets with Serbian government officials
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| Defence ministers promoted European Quick-impact Forces consisting of 60,000 soldiers | BiH will find itself in the very difficult situation between Brussels and Washington says Ambassador Michael Humphreys | Sarajevo: 7th regional conference on missing persons finished today | Carla del Ponte insists on arrest of Mladic and others |
| World news | Carla del Ponte welcomed by Karadzic’s posters in Belgrade | Issuance of customs exemption licences for import of humanitarian aid has been postponed | General Manager of Elektroprivreda stops construction of Fatnicko Polje tunnel |
| Oslobodjenje | Paravac: RS was created in civil war |
| Dnevni Avaz | Bond: We need BiH’s help |
| Dnevni List | Territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH brought into question |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Green rug for Holy Father |
| Glas Srpske | Consequences of drought: Herbs withering – damage growing rapidly; Following the death of Aleksandar Markovic: Investigation and dismissal |
| Nezavisne Novine | Agreement between Cantonal Government and Association “Sarajevo Taksi” reached: Illegal taxi drivers would be banned to continue working; Zoran Zivkovic promised Carla del Ponte: Ratko Mladic will be arrested; Zarko Korac, Serbian Vice Premier: There was no reference made to abolishment of Republika Srpska; Sultanovici settlement near Bugojno: A returnee murdered |
| Blic | Fight in park near school ended with batons; Zoran Djeric: It will be an honour to arrest Legija; Branko Todorovic: Mafia protected by corrupted politicians |
Political developments/statements | |
| Serb entity “unchangeable constant” – Serb member of BiH presidency
| Oslobodjenje front page, pg 3 ‘Paravac: RS created in civil war’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 – Republika Srpska is an unchangeable constant, guaranteed by the Dayton Agreement, which cannot give as a present to anyone, a statement issued by the office of the chairman of the BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, says. “The RS was not created by Serbia-Montenegro, but it was created in a civil war and represents an expression of the will of the Serb people in BiH, so we cannot give it away to anyone regardless of his wishes,” the statement issued in connection with a report in Dnevni Avaz saying that “Belgrade is offering that the RS be abolished in return for BiH withdrawing its lawsuit against the FRY (current Serbia and Montenegro)”. The statement stresses that the RS is one of the two equal entities in BiH, recognized by the Dayton Agreement and that this is the only relevant fact and unchangeable constant. It warns that the alleged deal according to which Serbia-Montenegro would sacrifice the RS for the withdrawal of BiH’s lawsuit against the FRY was malicious and dangerous. “The renewed politicization of BiH’s lawsuit against the FRY, that is Serbia-Montenegro, for aggression and genocide and various acts of manipulation in connection with a possible resolution of this dispute are attempts to destabilize the internal relations in BiH and to revise the Dayton Agreement,” the statement says. The office of the BiH Presidency chairman stresses that linking the fate and survival of the RS with BiH’s lawsuit is an easily recognizable manner of behaviour of politicians in BiH advocating unitarization. “Only as a complex state with two entities and three constituent nations is BiH democratic and functional and not unitary, and only such a BiH is acceptable to Europe and the world and for all its citizens and nations,” the statement says. The office of chairman Paravac stresses that the lawsuit is, not nor can it be, a lawsuit by BiH nor was it filed by state bodies, so it cannot be and should not be supported nor criticized by the current state officials. The statement repeats the stance of all relevant factors in the RS and its representatives in the joint bodies of BiH that the lawsuit does not contribute to good bilateral relations nor stabilization of internal relations in BiH and the region. Dnevni List (page 4, “Republika Srpska was not created by Serbia and Montenegro”) also carried Paravac’s reaction. Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 14, by Zlatko Tulic) wonders whether the official Belgrade is offering an abolishment of the Republika Srpska (RS) in exchange for BiH dropping the charges against the Serbia and Montenegro (nee Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). According to the daily, available information say S&M want to settle with BiH at the expense of the smaller BiH entity i.e. abolishment of the RS. SD notes that one thing is certain and that is that the Bosniak political pinnacle is not ready to negotiate about the lawsuit. Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘Abolishment of Republika Srpska is out of question’ – The most senior officials of both, Serbia and BiH, yesterday denied Sarajevo media reports that Belgrade allegedly negotiated with BiH authorities on abolishment of Republika Srpska, in an exchange for withdrawal of BiH lawsuit against former Yugoslavia. Zarko Korac, Serbian Vice Premier, stated that: “I am not aware of such information. I seriously doubt that any official of Serbia and Montenegro would offer something like that to BiH authorities.” NN also received a confirmation from Cabinet of the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, claiming that Belgrade authorities have never made such an offer to BiH authorities. The newspaper as well as Glas Srpske on page 3, ‘New revision of Dayton’ carried Paravac’s statement on the issue. Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘There will be no settlement re BiH’s lawsuit against FRY’ – The newspaper carries statements by Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic and BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, who both denied there will be a settlement out of the court in case BiH versus FRY (Serbia and Montenegro) before the International Court of Justice. |
| Open letter by the US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘We need BiH’s help’, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘US does not request immunity for crimes’ – On Friday, May 16, the BiH Minister of Justice and I signed an important agreement between our two countries. As U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, I want to explain the significance of this action, said Bond at the beginning of the open letter. “First of all, the United States remains fully committed to a peaceful, democratic future for Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are fully engaged in implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord, and are working to support the candidacy of Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership in the Partnership for Peace, and eventually NATO. These points were also made by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz who, by coincidence was visiting BiH last Friday, and witnessed the signing ceremony. These policy objectives are not in question. However, we need help from BiH. Ratification of the Article 98 Agreement signed between the U.S. and BiH last week will remove a major roadblock to our cooperation. The debate about the International Criminal Court is not about the ICTY, and is not about Americans avoiding justice. The United States has long been and will continue to be among the most forceful advocates for the principle of accountability for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. There should be no misunderstanding about this. The United States is not seeking any immunity for its people if they commit war crimes. War crimes must be prosecuted and if this does not happen in the jurisdiction where they took place, then the U.S. government has and will prosecute any Americans that we believe have committed war crimes. The US has a well-established criminal justice system and a long tradition of prosecuting war criminals. We accept the responsibility to investigate and prosecute our own citizens – military or civilian – for such offences should they occur, and we will not tolerate such acts,” read the letter. Dnevni List (front and page 5, by M.R. “USA against ICC because of risk of political manipulation”) Also reported on the issue. |
| Serbian Prime Minister denies he spoke about possible BiH borders change | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Zivkovic: It is dangerous scenario’ – Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic denied on Monday that he said in an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel that merging of “the Serb part of BiH, namely the Republika Srpska (RS), with its homeland” could happen in the case of Kosovo secession. “What I said is that Kosovo’s secession and the RS’ accession would be dangerous precedents. So, I think that my statement was wrongly interpreted deliberately or not. And I think that it is completely clear, and this has been repeated several times that Serbia and Serbia-Montenegro want to have good relations with their neighbours,” said Zivkovic. Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘I did not speak about divisioon of BiH’; Glas Stpske, page 3, ‘No bargain on Kosovo’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘Bad interpretation of Zivkovic’ also carried the denial. |
| OHR condemns Serbian premier’s comments on borders
| Oslobodjenje pg. 5, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Serbian attempt to annex the RS would fail’ -Any Serbian attempt to annex the RS would fail and Serbia’s path to Europe would be blocked, the Office of the High Representative (OHR) said in response to Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic’s comments on Balkan borders, according to FENA. The OHR agreed with the reaction of the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Adnan Terzic, who had said that such statements by Serbian statesmen caused more harm to themselves than to BiH. |
| SDS says Serbian premier’s statement “anti-Dayton” | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘SDS: Belgrade transfers its problems to RS’, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘An anti-Dayton statement’ – The spokesman of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), Dusan Stojicic, has described Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic’s statement that “Kosovo’s secession could lead to the RS joining Serbia” as anti-Dayton in nature. Stojicic told a news conference that this was yet another statement aimed at burdening the RS with some of the internal problems of Serbia. He added that the SDS supported consistent implementation of the Dayton Agreement and was against its revision. He described as untrue reports on alleged secret negotiations between representatives of Serbia-Montenegro and BiH on the lawsuit for aggression and genocide, filed by BiH against the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – reports linking a decision to drop the lawsuit with dissolution of the RS. |
| BiH Foreign Ministry protests against Serbian PM’s remarks on RS | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Statement that is in contradiction to good neighbouring relations’ – Regarding a statement for the weekly Der Spiegel by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic – according to which “such a scenario (Kosovo’s secession) would create a dangerous precedent. Then the borders in the Balkans would be brought into question and not just those of the RS in BiH” – the BiH Foreign Ministry voices a strong protest against linking the issue of Kosovo’s status to the issue of the status of BiH, an internationally recognized state. The constant priorities of BiH’s foreign policy are preservation and protection of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH within its internationally recognized borders, as well as raising contacts and cooperation with neighbouring states to a higher level, while basing these activities on the principles of equality, mutual respect and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, statement issued by the office of the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry says. “The Foreign Ministry believes that the issue of the status of Kosovo should not be linked to BiH, an independent state which has internationally recognized borders. This statement is contrary to the policy of good-neighbourly relations and cooperation which BiH and Serbia-Montenegro are trying to improve on the basis of equality in all areas which would be of mutual benefit,” the statement concludes. Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Disputable statement” also carried the statement. |
| Tihic slams Serbian premier’s comments on borders | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Zivkovic repeats mistakes of his predecessors’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Zivkovic should know that BiH has never been a part of Serbia’ – By saying that Kosovo’s seccession could lead to the Serb part of BiH joining its homeland, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic has again brought the territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH into question and repeated the mistakes of his predecessors, Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic has said. Tihic added that the Serbian prime minister should know that there is no such thing as a Serb part of BiH. The entity today called Republika Srpska is a community of equal and constituent peoples – Serbs, Bosniaks, Croats and others. “Such statements are not only contrary to the signed documents but they also certainly do not contribute to development of good-neighbourly relations and entrance of the whole region into European integration processes,” Tihic said. He recalled that no area of BiH had ever been part of Serbia. “This was not achieved during the 1992-1995 aggression and that is the way it will remain,” Tihic said. |
| Reactions to Zivkovic statement in CRO Press
| Dnevni List (front “Territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH brought into question” and page 4 “Zivkovic brought territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH into question”, by M. R.) carries reactions to the Zivkovic’s statements by Forum of BiH parliamentarians, BiH Foreign Ministry, Sulejman Tihic, and SDS Spokesman Dusan Stojicic as Slobodna Dalmacija (back page, by FENA, “Serbia again brings integrity of BiH into question?!”) carries OHR statement on the issue. An editorial in Dnevni List, signed by Ivica Glibusic, on page 2, entitled “Role of the Balkans’ policeman”. The author says Belgrade is tolerated with many things as shown by the Zivkovic’s statement. “Why is the IC keeping quiet today? The answer is clear. IC kept quiet and when Serbia with a help of JNA made an aggression on Croatian and BiH. Cities were systematically destroyed and their citizens killed and persecuted”. Vecernji List front and page 19, by H, “Zivkovic also threatens with annexation of RS” also covers the issue. |
| International conference: BiH on the path towards European integration
| Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘BiH and not Ashdown can lead BiH towards Europe’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Domestic politicians are deciding on path towards EU’ – BiH is the only country in the Council of Europe with a specific kind of protectorate and the time has come to define when it will become an independent and self-sustaining country, said today in Sarajevo the Chief of BiH Parliamentary Assembly Delegation to the Council of Europe, Hasan Muratovic, opening the Colloquial on subject “BiH on the path towards European integration” taking place in Sarajevo. The mentioned gathering was jointly organised by the Political Committee of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly and BiH Parliamentary Assembly with the aim of exchanging information between the representatives of BiH and the Council of Europe on the mentioned subject, including the maters of current state structure and institutions in BiH, the future functioning of these institutions and development of democracy and economic perspective of BiH. Muratovic said that the ultimate goal of everybody in BiH regardless of political options, nationality or any other markings is the full integration in European structures. He ascertained that the goals of local authorities and the international community on the path of BiH integration towards Europe are equal, but that these goals lack deadlines and resources. BiH Parliament adopted year 2009 as the year of meeting the conditions for admission into the EU, while the international community has not determined how long will the international protectorate last. “The time has come to define when BiH will become actually and fully independent self-sustaining state and to determine what each of us must do and how will the transformation of international community develop”, said Muratovic. Chairman of the CoE Political Committee Roman Jakic said that great progress has been accomplished in BiH since the Dayton Accords signing, but that a great deal of work must be done on the path of BiH towards European integration. He stressed that it is necessary to insure strengthening of State institutions, with revision of BiH Constitution if necessary and added that the CoE is prepared to help BiH in adopting of necessary democratic standards. Stating that BiH is a natural candidate for the EU, the Senior Deputy High Representative, Gerhard Schroembgens, stressed that BiH has made progress towards European integration, but that greater progress is necessary in key sectors. He mentioned the process of reform in the fields of economy, judiciary, defence, education and the public sector and stressed that BiH authorities should intensify their efforts in order to insure that by the end of this year the country runs for the Feasibility study on joining the EU. “The more the High Representative has to work, the EU will declare that the BiH authorities do not have sufficient capacities and the will to carry out reform”, stressed Ambassador Schroembgens, asking the authorities to take the future of the country into their own hands. BiH Presidency Chairman Borislav Paravac said that in meeting of all CoE post-accession criteria, the BiH authorities indicated that reforms can be implemented with further implementation of the Dayton Accords. Dnevni List (page 3, not signed, “It is necessary to strengthen BiH state institutions”) also reported on the issue. |
| SDP’s Slobodan Popovic on issue of early elections in BiH | Dnevni List (page 5, by FENA, “Request for early elections in BiH legal”) carries a Vice President of SDP BiH, Slobodan Popovic, as saying that the SDP-SNSD-NHI request for early elections in BiH is completely legal. Speaking to the Banja Luka based “NES” radio, Popovic says that with arrival of three national parties – SDS, SDA and HDZ, helped by PDP and S BiH, it was clear the political, economic and social situation in BiH would get complicated and reform process would stop. Popovic also stressed that more than 66% of young people, regardless of nationality, want to leave the country, which is in Popovic’s opinion “the most alarming showing that nothing is normal in this State and that people who officiate authority must ponder over this fact” |
| Republika Srpska delegation in Belgrade | Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Together to European market’ – Yesterday’s meeting between the Republika Srpska delegation, led by Republika Srpska PM, Dragan Mikerevic, and businessmen of Serbia concluded that the businessmen from Serbia are geratly interested in placing investments in Republika Srpska and accordingly participating in strategic privatisation. (Blic pg. 3, Vecernje Novosti pg. 9) |
| Savanovic: Republika Srpska commended | Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Praises to Republika Srpska’ – The representatives of the Council of Europe commended the so far activities by the Republika Srpska Ministry of Education in the reform of education in BiH. This praise was worded during the meeting between the representatives of the Council of Europe and entity Ministers of Education, Gojko Savanovic and Zijad Pasic, in Strasbourg. |
| SDS and PDP to review partnership
| Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘SDS and PDP at negotiating table again’; Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘No early elections’ – “Parties that make Serb parliamentary majority in the Republika Srpska National Assembly – SDS, PDP and SRP – will sign a document that confirms coalition cooperation of three parties in the Republika Srpska interest,” spokesman of SDS Dusan Stojicic told a press conference. He said that it was high time to bring the Serb parliamentary majority to a higher level, which was not only the interest of these parties, but of the Republika Srpska citizens as well. Commenting on some reports in papers that Belgrade offers abolishment of Republika Srpska in exchange to withdrawing the BiH lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro, and that the Republika Srpska authority is nervous about that, Stojicic said that those reports are pure nonsense. “Such statements are absurd and they do not have anything to do with the DPA implementation,” Stojicic said. (Blic pg. 3 ‘Stronger cooperation of Serb majority’) |
| SD: “Stjepan Kljujic – Covic’s advisor” | Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 14, by Z. Tulic) carries that it was confirmed from the Cabinet of Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic that President of the Republican Party Stjepan Kljujic has become Covic’s advisor for relations with the International Community. |
War crimes | |
| Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Del Ponte to visit BiH capital on May 20
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Carla Del Ponte also interested in FOSS director appointment’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Carla Del Ponte today in Sarajevo’ – The Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte will visit Sarajevo on Tuersday, where she will have talks with domestic and international officials. It is scheduled that the chief prosecutor will have a meeting with First Deputy High Representative Donald Hays, members of the BiH Presidency and the BiH Cuncil of Ministers, state prosecutor Marinko Juricevic, SFOR Commander William Ward, and EU ambassadors. It was announced that Del Ponte would have a meeting with representatives of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves association. She will be paying a working visit during which talks will focus on efforts to set up a council for processing war criminals with the BiH State Court and to arrest war crimes suspects and have access to documents and witnesses, a representative of the Hague tribunal office in Sarajevo, Refik Hodzic, has told Fena. |
| Serbian premier, ICTY’s Del Ponte achieve good results in talks | Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Premier Zivkovic does not know Mladic’s whereabouts’ – Hague Tribunal (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte stated in Belgrade today that the ICTY prosecution is prepared to transfer some war crimes trials to the Serbian judiciary. After her meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic and other Serbian officials, Del Ponte said that during the talks they exchanged information and achieved good results. Zivkovic said that the ICTY chief prosecutor had brought eight boxes of documents about Ovcara (a farm in Croatia where the former Yugoslav Army members are believed to have executed 200 Croatian prisoners of war), expressing the hope that the ICTY would continue to provide other documents. He stressed that there were no political obstacles for cooperation, adding that the Serbian government was absolutely committed to cooperation with the tribunal, as this was its international obligation. He expressed the hope that the cooperation would successfully be completed by the end of the year. Del Ponte and Zivkovic confirmed that they had discussed former RS military leader Ratko Mladic “and other fugitives” indicted by the ICTY. Zivkovic said that nothing new had been said about Mladic and that he had repeated what had been said during the previous talks. “If he (Mladic) is in Serbia, he will be arrested, there is no doubt about it,” the Serbian prime minister said. The meeting in the Serbian government building lasted slightly less than two hours and was also attended by Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic, Assembly Speaker Natasa Micic and Serbian Public Prosecutor Djordje Ostojic. Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘Ratko Mladic will be arrested’ also reported on the issue. |
| The Hague is reconsidering possibility to transfer some cases to Croatian judiciary
| Slobodna Dalmacija (page 3, by Hina, “Among new bills of indictment are also those issued against Croatians”), Dnevni List (page 17, by H, I. Glibusic, “Among the rest of 30 bills of indictment are also the ones issued against Croatians”), Vjesnik (page 1, “Hartmann: The Hague is reconsidering possibility to transfer ‘Ademi case’ to Croatia”), Vecernji List (page 10, by N. Nedeljkov, Hina, “Among new bills of indictment are also those issued against Croatians”) and Jutarnji List (page 5, by H, B.V, “ICTY: Possibility that General Ademi stands trial in Croatia is questionable”) carry that The Hague Spokesperson Florence Hartmann stated: “The Hague is reconsidering the possibility to transfer some cases, that it deals with, to the Croatian judiciary including the trial against Croatian General Rahim Ademi. However, the decision on this issue has not been passed yet. It is necessary to see whether Croatia meets prerequisites for it.” With regard to the statement of Chief The Hague Prosecutor Carla del Ponte saying that there are another 30 suspects, who are Serbs, Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians, Hartmann stated: “Announced 30 bills of indictment refer to the whole former Yugoslavia including Croatians.” |
OHR-related developments | |
| SDHR Schroembgens appeals on FBiH Parliament not to interfere into FTV editorial policy | Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Unacceptable interference into FTV editorial policy’ – The Senior Deputy High Representative, Gerhard Enver Schroembgens, sent a letter to the speaker of the both houses of the Federation of BiH Parliament requesting that the amendments to the draft law on the FTV are not adopted at a parliamentary session on Tuesday. He express his concern about an amendment obliging the media house to live broadcast of the parliamentary sessions at one of its channels. |
| FBiH Government to propose changes of the law on privatisation of the apartments as suggested by OHR | Dnevni Avaz pg. 11 ‘FBiH Government to propose changes of the law on privatisation of the apartments’ – Ramiz Mehmedagic, the Federation of BiH Urban Planning Minister, told the newspaper that the Federation Government would propose changes to the Law on Priivatisation of Apartments as suggested by OHR. The changes will allow privatisation of the nationalised apartments |
Fight against organised crime | |
| Djeric on arrest of Legija
| Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Arrest of Legija would be an honour for Republika Srpska’ – Zoran Djeric, Interior Minister of Republika Srpska, yesterday stated that it would be a great pleasure and satisfaction for Republika Srpska to arrest Milorad Lukovic Legija, in case he showed up in Republika Srpska. Djeric made this statement following yesterday’s meeting in Belgrade with his Serbian counterpart, Dusan Mihajlovic. Interior Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro and Republika Srpska yesterday announced that the mixed teams would be formed, which will be in charge of investigating some criminal acts, presumed to be performed on both sides of Drina river. Blic pg. 2 also carries the statement. |
| RS Helsinki Committee on organised crime in Republika Srpska and BiH | Blic pg. 2&3 ‘Criminals protected by corrupted politicians’ – “Rule of law should be established in the Republika Srpska, but unfortunately, we in BiH, are still far away from it and currently we have the worst possible combination of authority. That is one criminalised political quasi-elite which has been creating tragic reality of this country for more then ten years and it still controls all social flows”, president of Republika Srpska Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Branko Todorovic says. He says that this quasi-elite is connected with organised crime and one powerful lobby from the war that is now in underground because the Hague is searching after it, but it has strong influence on all important political moves. Todorovic also crticises OHR. “OHR has anti-corruption team. At the same time it has strong mechanisms which could influence political and social situation in BiH, but also bears a great responsibility. If in BiH reality is created by criminals, if BiH represents a dark hole in the region and Europe where criminals control authority then everything is clear. High Representative promised a year ago, when arrived to BiH, that his priorities would be fight against corruption, organised crime and judiciary reform. During this year we have not seen anything of that,” Todorovic says. He points out that in the Presidency, Council of Ministers and entities’ assemblies there are individuals with the war past, politicians accused of corruption. “Therefore, we ask where does this country go and who OHR accepts as a partner”, Todorovic says. According to him OHR and other international organisations driven by political pragmatism accept corrupted politicians as partners because it is easier to pressure and blackmail them. “We are afraid that Mafia has taken over state institutions under its control and due to that we appeal on the High Representative to use his power and mandate and with help of domestic institutions launches fight against crime and corruption which are the biggest threat to BiH society.” |
Other news | |
| “Aluminij” of Mostar press release
| Dnevni List (page 3, by De. L., “OHR’s audit showed Aluminij worked in accordance with current laws”) carries a press release by the “Aluminij” Company of Mostar which reads that the company’s management supports the international arbitration whose aim is to determine the ownership percentages in the company. In that context, the management says pervious audits have showed the company was abiding by the laws which is evident, according to the press release, in the last audit conducted by international experts, the audit that was carried out at a request of the OHR. The PR goes on to say that all proposals of the management are aimed at the workers who are “on hold”, regardless of their national or religious background, to get the same number of the company’s stocks, and according to some rough calculations, the value of the stocks that would be given to the workers is around 18.000 KMs. The management explains that such a model, in which former and current employees of the company are majority owners, is a better solution, wondering how come the workers are not fighting for it, because the state, according to the “Aluminij” management, would sell its share in order to fix some of its problems. |
| Serb returnee murdered in Bugojno area | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 5, ‘Returnee Grozdana Djukic murdered’ – The lifeless body of Grozdana Djukic (69) was found at 16:00 hrs on Sunday at her family house in the settlement of Sultanovici near Bugojno. It is presumed that unidentified perpetrator barged into the house of Serb returnee, disarranged her property and murdered her. The investigative judge, Zuhdija Cosic, did not want to make any comment on death of Serb returnee, Grozdana Djukic. Police has engaged in identifying the perpetrator of this criminal act. |
| Taxi drivers in Sarajevo protested | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘Illegal taxi drivers will be banned for further work’ – As of today, traffic inspectors at Sarajevo Canton will be excluding all those taxis from traffic, which do not have proper licence and taxi sign. This was concluded at yesterday’s meeting between Cantonal authorities and the Association of Sarajevo Taxi. The meeting took place after a two-hours long protest of taxi drivers. |
| Drought consequences rise | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Herbs withering – damage growing rapidly’ – Owing to months- long drought, this years harvest of wheat will be reduced for around 50 thousand tones. Milan Nincic, Assistant to Minister of Agriculture of Republika Srpska, stated that the losses caused by high temperatures and long drought increase and augment on a daily basis. |
| Bijeljina tragedy | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Investigation and dismissal’ – Bijeljina Public Security Center is engaged in an extensive investigation, which should give an answer to the following question: who is in charge of utilities in the Street of Pero Stanic, where last Friday a 5-year old Aleksandar Markovic died after falling into an open manhole of septic tank. Bijeljina Mayor, Dragomir Ljubojevic, stated that he removed Milomir Cvjetinovic from the position of the Head of Municipal Utility Department. |
| Preparations for Pope’s visit to Banjaluka | Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘Encounter of believers with Pope only with Church passes’ – Only those believers, who will have special passes issued at Offices of Catholic Church, will be able to attend the Holy Mass, which Pope John Paul II will serve at Petricevac on 22 June. The Church Board officials confirmed that the issuance of these passes will commence sometime this week at all Catholic Church Offices. And this is the standard procedure applied to any Pope’s visit. |
| UN donation to SIPA | Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Nine vehicles donated’; Nezavisne Novine, page 9, ‘SIPA got nine Scoda’s’ – Both dailies report on yesterday’s handing of UN donation to SIPA. Through UN Trust Fund, the Dutch Government yesterday donated none vehicles of “Scoda” type to SIPA of BiH. The total worth of the donation of EURO 103 thousand. Expressing thanks to the donated vehicles, Sredoja Novic, SIPA Head, stated that this Agency should make its steps in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. Blic pg. 2 ‘SIPA works as of 1 July’ also reports on the issue. |
| Fatnicko Field – Bilecko Lake tunnel | Blic pg. 7 ‘Dark emerged out of tunnel’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 19 ‘Hope put out’ – Republika Srpska Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic thinks that OHR’s decision to stop the works on Fatnicko Field – Bilecko Lake tunnel is of a temporary nature and that soon it will be decide when the works will be continued. According to him it is absurd to leave the project unfinished because a lot of money has been invested in it so far. Coordinator for power projects and Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda within the Ministry of Energy Zdravko Milovanovic says that the Government will take a final stand on whether it supports or not the decision on the Elektroprivreda’s acting director to stop the works on the tunnel and on further destiny of the project at session on Thursday. Milovanovic thinks that destiny of the project is not disputable because 75 % of works has been completed. Acting general director of the Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda Pantelija Dakic says he had to suspend works on the construction of Fatnicko field – Bilecko lake tunnel according to a letter by Principle Deputy High Representative in BiH Donald Hays. “The reason for suspending the works is due to ‘higher force’ that has been defined by a decision of state bodies because they have essential impact on performing the agreed duties,” Dokic said. He said he had informed the Republika Srpska Government on the suspension, adding the Government needs to pass a corresponding decision. Director of Hidrogradnja from Serb Sarajevo, constructor, Radojica Mandic says that this interruption of works will cause a lot of damages to the region and firm. Trade Union of that firm is shocked with such a decision, requesting a meeting with the Republika Srpska Government. Asked what is the OHR’s stand on interruption on works on Fatnicko Field Tunnel and the fact that 500 Hidrogradnja employees was left without their jobs and who will reimburse this damage to Herzegovina, OHR spokesman Vedran Persic said that was a matter for Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda. “It is important for Elektroprivreda to review the suspect projects identified in the Audit report”, Persic said. |