| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Pope’s visit | Human Trafficking | Ero Hotel Case | Papamobil in Banja Luka |
| Blaskic’s case | Ivan Bender found guilty | Drugs found in Ljubuski | Ban for US lawyers in ICTY |
| Education | Tax Administration | Human Trafficking | EU summit in Greece |
| Thessalonica summit | Election commission |
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| Oslobodjenje | Following US President’s decision: Work of the Hague Tribunal blocked |
| Dnevni Avaz | First case of SARS in BiH? |
| Dnevni List | Biggest quantity of marijuana seizure over last 10 years; Bender gets four and half, Boras three and half years in prison |
| Vecernji List | 123 kilos of marijuana seized; Dragan Covic: I will invite Pope to visit Mostar |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Bosniak king with “seal” of Holy Chair; RTV stations lose national prefix |
| Glas Srpske | Following the disclosure of the arms smuggling chain: “Igasa” aimed at Pope?! Following Gorge Bush orders: Trial discontinued |
| Nezavisne Novine | Trial over the privatisation of the Hotel “Ero” from Mostar completed: Bender sentenced to 4.5 years, while Boras was sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment; Republika Srpska Health Care Fund performed an illegal compensation of the payment: Illegal compensation of KM 13 million; the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Interior Ministry knows nothing about the smuggling in arms for “Young Muslims Brotherhood”: Police did not arrest Sead Kahrimanij; Christopher Paten: Balkans is a part of Europe; Siroki Brijeg: 123 kg of marijuana seized |
| Blic | Easter egg present for the Pope; Six-year old in school |
| Ljiljan | Jansen’s CAFAO spends millions of Euro on officials; Arifovic – the current government not supporting the Tax Administration action; Mostar – to the last entity |
| BH Dani | Exclusive – DANI in possession of a secret document that proves that the Serbian police was killing in Srebrenica |
| Slobodna Bosna | Pope of Justice |
Thessaloniki Summit | |
| EU Summit in Thessaloniki started
| BHTV 1, RTRS – Presidents and ministers of 15 European countries started late on Thursday a three-day summit in Thessaloniki. One of the topics will be the relationship for the countries of west Balkans. This will be discussed on 21 June, when adoption of Thessalonica declaration to promote European stand on west Balkans is expected to take place. In preparation for the summit, it was obviously showed what those countries could be expected from this event. It was stressed that those countries, if wanted to join EU, have to fulfill Copenhagen criteria. In this regard, some of the project previously available only to candidate countries for EU would be expand to Balkans region. The main topic of the summit will be adoption of draft of EU Constitution with new rules for enlarged EU. Over 15.000 solider and police officers are providing security for this event, which would also look upon the issues such as Iraq and upcoming EU – USA meeting. |
| EU Humphreys: Uniting of Europe is not completed without the western Balkans countries | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘EU to emphasize its commitment to the region’, FENA – The upcoming summit of the EU member-states, candidates for membership and the Western Balkans countries, which will take place in Thessaloniki, will emphasise the commitment of EU towards the possible accession and full membership of the Balkan countries in the EU, the Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH, Ambassador Michael Humphreys told FENA. He expressed hope that the Western Balkans countries would take advantage of the Summit to stress their willingness for taking necessary steps towards European integration and the possible membership in the EU. “The Western Balkans has always been a part of Europe, geographically and politically, and this means, as President of the European Commission Romano Prodi said, that we can not complete the uniting of Europe without membership of the Western Balkans countries in the EU”, said Humphries. “However, BiH still faces a long path. BiH must prove that it is a country that can function in a normal Western European way, that its economy is functioning, that human rights are respected throughout the country and that its institutions are efficient. Currently, the situation in BiH is such that the High Representative issues the main political decisions, and such situation cannot be maintained if the country wishes to access the EU”, said Humphries. He added it is also necessary to develop the civic society, the press, academic world, and the public in taking of a single path. When asked if year 2009 is a realistic date for the admission of BiH into the EU, which is the deadline set by the BiH Council of Ministers, Humphreys said that he does not believe the Summit in Thessaloniki to give a precise date for the admission of BiH, but that it will focus on the steps that must be taken on this path. |
| OHR: Ashdown to lobby for BiH in Thessaloniki | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Ashdown to lobby for BiH’, Dnevni List page 5, unsigned, “Ashdown at Thessaloniki summit”, FENA – On Saturday the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will attend the EU Summit on Western Balkans in Thessalonica, where he will lobby for BiH, the OHR spokesman, Mario Brkic, announced at a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday “The Thessaloniki Summit is an important opportunity for BiH to demonstrate to the European Union that it is determined to implement necessary reform”, said Brkic. The OHR spokesman stressed that membership in the EU offers the best chances for long-term peace and stability in BiH, but the period for admission of BiH into the EU depends on the tempo of reform. “It is now up to BiH, as well as up to all potential candidates for membership in the EU, to fulfill the necessary standards and prove that it shares the values on which the EU was established. The faster it does so, the faster it will move ahead towards Europe, which was proved by some of its neighbouring countries already”, said Brkic. |
| Covic says Thessaloniki draft declaration is affirmation of BiH
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, SRNA – BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic said in Banja Luka on Thursday that he was very encouraged by the draft text of the declaration of the EU]summit in Thessaloniki, the contents of which confirm full affirmation of BiH on its road to Euro-Atlantic integrations. “I am very pleased that important parts of the declaration treat BiH very affirmatively, giving us the responsibility to do whatever we have to do in order to become part of the large European family,” Covic told journalists. He said that BiH expects a great deal from the summit in Thessaloniki, but added that the summit would not be the same as announced several months ago. Covic explained that the participants in the summit would have a maximum of two minutes to state what they think of their countries and the region as a whole. “Bosnia and Hercegovina will have special treatment because Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic will most probably represent the region, so he will have that opportunity to speak more,” Covic said. According to him, BiH Presidency chairman Borislav Paravac “will send several well-known messages on the importance and role of BiH”. |
| BiH delegation headed by Paravac to attend Thessaloniki Summit | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Reforms are opening road to Europe’ – A BiH delegation headed by Chairman of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac will participate in the Saturday’s EU/Western Balkans counties Summit in Thessaloniki. According to Lidija Topic, the BiH Deputy Foreign Minister who is, together with Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and acting Director of the BiH Directorate for European Integration Osman Topcagic, a member of the BiH delegation, the Summit is very important for bringing the countries of the region closer to EU. |
| Ivanic on BiH’s Europen prospects | DANI pgs. 9 – 11 ‘Europe is interested also in the ingredients of ceramics that coffee cups are made of’ by Ermin Cengic – an interview with BiH FM Mladen Ivanic. As for the BiH strategy plan in Solun, Ivanic said it was strong declaration on our part that we want to become a member of the EU and our readiness to improve the situation in the region since they can not be taken to the EU. On the issue of organized crime, Ivanic stated that combating crime was indeed the key that would change the image of the entire region and bring BiH closer to the European integration. On HR Paddy Ashdown, said he realized the difficult situation the HR was in, but thought he should be making less decisions as it made BiH look as its politicians are not capable of making decisions and compromising. |
| Patten in Nezavisne Novine on Thessaloniki Summit | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘EU and the Balkan’ – In the opinion editorial, Christopher Patten of EU speaks of the Thessaloniki Summit, at which the leaders of the regional states will meet the leading officials of the European Union and a lot more than that. According to him, Saturday will be a day, when the regional states will not be pushed aside – EU will solemnly declare that all regional; states are welcome to join this European family. And there is no catch at all, Patten stresses. Certain reforms needs to be implemented, in order to ensure the admission into EU, which has been providing financial assistance to the regional states since 1991. He concludes the op.ed. by saying that: “My personal determination as the European Envoy will not complete until SouthEast Europe joins the European family as its equal partner.” |
| Prodi: Progress in the Balkans has to be supported in every way | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Prodi: Progress in the Balkans has to be supported in every way’ – Rasim Kadic, the President of the BiH Liberal Democratic Party (LDS), participated on Thursday at a meeting of European liberal parties leaders in Thessaloniki. The meeting g was also attended by Romano Prodi, the President of the European Commission. “Prodi emphasized that the progress reached in the western Balkans countries had to be supported in every possible way,” Kadic told the newspaper. |
| UK’s Cliff: UK will continue supporting BiH in its integration into Europe | Dnevni list (p 6, by Fena) quotes the UK Ambassador to BiH, Ian Cliff, as saying that the UK will continue to help BiH take a step forward to European integration and become self-sustainable. He has underlined that the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB) pays huge attention to the issue of tax collection and fight against corruption: “Donors will give assistance, but they are not interested in correcting failures caused by the mistakes of the BiH administration. They are even less interested in giving in when it comes to corruption and organised crime”, Clifford said. |
| Slobodna Bosna: It is a lie that in BiH pro-European parties are in power | SB pg. 8 & 9 ‘It is a lie that in BiH pro-European parties are in power’ by Danka Savic – on the latest ICG report entitled ‘Brussels as a destiny: BiH’s goal joining the EU by 2009’. The report examines the activities related to BiH joining the EU. According tot eh report, not all political forces in BiH are pro-European and therefore the key tasks they think the EC should undertake is develop mechanisms of de-masking those forces and sanctioning them. They recommend to HR Ashdown to start thinking about re-defining his authorities and in the process of imposing a decision ensure the 2/3 majority in the BiH Presidency or the CoM. Finally, the ICG also suggests the EC to develop reward and support mechanisms for BiH authorities to motivate them for reforms that had to be implemented in the period. |
BiH-US relations | |
| Terzic meets with US Congressmen
| Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘BiH police in Iraq?’, Dnevni List page 3, by M. R., “BiH Police units soon in Iraq?”, FENA – During his visit to the United States, Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic met separately in Washington with congressmen Tom Lantos and Christopher Smith. The talks with Congressman Lantos, the top positioned democrat in the Committee for International Relations to the House of Representatives, focused on ways and modalities for BiH participation in the reconstruction of Iraq, said a press relerase issued by BiH CoM . Terzic said that one possible way of BiH participation in Iraqi reconstruction was the deployment of BiH police forces within the international stabilisation troops. Congressman Lantos welcomed this idea. In talks with Congressman Smith, Chairman of the Committee for International Relations to the House of Representatives and the Commission for Security and Co-operation in Europe (Helsinki Committee), opinions were exchanged on human rights, refugee return, minorities’ rights and apprehending of war criminals. |
| British ambassador comments on Bosnia’s agreement with USA on ICC | BHTV 1 – When BiH recently found itself in a position where it had to decide between the USA and the EU, it decided to support Washington because of the future of its relations with the world power. Just after the state parliament ratified the agreement on immunity of US citizens before the ICC, quickly and unexpectedly Washington announced sanctions against Sarajevo unless it curbs human trafficking. Does British Ambassador to BiH Ian Cliff agree with this? “Well I don’t really want to comment on this, because the point of what the USA wants has not been reported correctly. The problem of human trafficking is a big problem. We are willing to help the Bosnia-Hercegovina authorities to solve it,” said Cliff. BHTV 1 wanted to hear how the biggest European ally of the USA sees the ratification of the agreement on immunity of US soldiers before the ICC, signed between BiH and the USA. The view of Ambassador Cliff is especially interesting in light of the EU’s strong opposition to the agreement. “Well, as you know, the EU has given guidelines in connection with the agreement and recommended that the countries offered the agreement follow the guidelines. The agreement BiH signed with the USA does not follow the guidelines fully, but this is a problem your country should resolve itself. It is your decision and we shall not bring any pressure to bear to force you to act one way or another,” Cliff emphasized. Ian Cliff really speaks as a European, and the impression is that he is part of the old Europe which is growing ever more distant from the USA. But diplomacy speaks otherwise. Things would be far easier if Tony Blair were at the helm of the EU. As the world press reports, he would happily trade his current post for that of the first man in Brussels (EU president). |
| Covic believes BiH-US agreement will not pose a problem | SRNS – Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic said at a press conference in Banja Luka on Thursday that he believed that the fact BiH was the first state to ratify the agreement with the USA on the exemption of US citizens from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in The Hague would not pose a problem because this is a document which is in the interest of the citizens of BiH and which has been endorsed by all institutions in BiH. He emphasized that the draft Thessaloniki declaration contains no remarks by the EU representatives on the agreement between BiH and the USA. “So, even here the right words were found and BiH was encouraged to accept European standards,” Covic said, adding that the named document “contains no harsh words” against BiH. According to him, this shows that BiH had found the right framework for the agreement with the USA. “Out of the nine EU principles, we abided by eight, so there was no real reason for criticism or opposition to the agreement,” Covic said. |
Political developments | |
| Ashdown gives speech at the IRC annual lecture
| Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘We will finish in BiH what we have started’, Blic pg. 6 ‘There has been mistakes’, Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Principles of peace process on the example of BiH’; Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Balkans is the concern of Europe’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, was in London on Thursday to give a keynote speech at the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) annual lecture. On the eve of world refugee day, the High Representative used this opportunity to highlight the progress that had been made in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the seven and a half years since the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) was signed. In his speech the High Representative outlined the ‘seven pillars of peacekeeping’, lessons that can be learned from BiH. Noting that the world’s attention has moved on from BiH to Kosovo, East Timor, Afghanistan and now Iraq, in his speech the High Representative warns the International Community of the dangers of not showing the “political will, the unity of purpose and the sheer stamina…to see the job through to lasting success”. This need for long term commitment was the last of ‘seven pillars of peace keeping’, which sum up the lessons learned from the BiH experience. |
| Pope’s visit | Croat Radio Herceg-Bosna, BHTV 1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8, Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘SFOR searched Petricevac’; Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Five million – proper measure’ – Press Center for Pope’s visit has been opened on Thursday in Banja Luka hotel Bosna. Over 750 journalist registered for this even, including about 350 foreign. BH Presidency member and the president of organizing board, Dragan Covic stated that all organizational preparations, including security, have been finalized. Vecernji List (front “Dragan Covic: I will invite Pope to visit Mostar” and pages 4 and 5 “Pope will call for return of all refugees and strengthen BiH’s road to Europe”, by Zoran Kresic) – an interview with the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, in which he mostly talks about the forthcoming visit by the Pope, John Paul II, to Banja Luka. Q: How much the threats against the Holy Father and pilgrims are in fact indirect message to refugees not to return to the Republika Srpska? A: “Exactly like that. We want to show the opposite because we know the directions of the Pope’s messages. There will be words of encouragement to create an ambiance in BiH in which everyone, who wishes, returns home (…) According to announcement from the Church from BiH, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro, we will have more than 50.000 pilgrims at Petricevac” When questioned as to what he would say to the Pope because, according to the journalist, the Croats in Herzegovina and Mostar feel neglected because the Pope is not visiting them, Covic says that “such an idea will be presented to the Holy Father in Banja Luka” Dnevni List (page 2, by Ivica Glibusic, “Why to Banja Luka without national insignia?”) – the author criticizes warnings coming from the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska and senior State officials that pilgrims to Banja Luka “must not wear” national insignia during their stay in Banja Luka. In that context Glibusic says: “To make the absurd even bigger, there is a monument to Draza Mihajlovic in centre of Brcko, a war criminal whose units caused suffering of thousands of people. That’s the real picture that the ‘democratic’ authorities in the Republika Srpska, Brcko District and OHR do not mind those insignias, but mind a national flag of a people. That’s why the Croats should take their national symbols to Banja Luka, the Bosniaks theirs, the Serbs theirs, the Hungarian theirs etc. Blic pg. 7 ‘Easter egg present for the Pope’ – Republika Srpska President Dragan Cavic told the Republika Srpska citizens on Thursday that they should welcome the visit of Pope John Paul II to Banja Luka on 22 June. “This is an opportunity to show that time of frustration is behind us and that we are ready to welcome everyone who visits the Republika Srpska,” Cavic said. At a press conference held after the fourth session of the Organizational Committee for Welcoming the Pope, Cavic appealed on the citizens to accept the Pope’s coming as a reality, because it is a global event which attracts great attention in the world. “I will give the Pope an appropriate present, and express our welcome, in order to demonstrate a welcoming climate in the name of all RS citizens”, Cavic said. He added that general rehearsal of the complete protocol would take place tomorrow. Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Igasa aimed at Pope?’ – The report of the American experts for terrorism, Mathew Ipstein and Ivan Colman, which was delivered to the US Congress, has opened one dilemma: did the members of “Igasa” organisation, which has been functioning in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1993, attempted to assassin Pope during his visit to Banjaluka with the arms bought from Vlasenica and Sekovici smugglers, since the same organisation failed to assassin Pope during his visit to Philippines in 1995? According to Ipstein and Colman, the brain of “Igasa” is Mohamed Hamal Kalif, who is the brother-in-law of the Saudi milliners and leaders of Al’Qaida. Glas Srpske, page 10, ‘Probation over T-shirts’ – The owner of the coffee bar “Ras” in Banjaluka, Stojan Banjac, has been penalised by Banjaluka Magistrates Court with 15 days imprisonment and one year probation. The sentence has been passed over “his violation of public peace and order and his inconsiderate conduct resulted in disturbing the local population”. The arrest was carried out in connection with the upcoming visit of John Paul II to Banjaluka on 22 June 2003. Banjac purchased T-shirts from Serbia with the sign “Petricevac, 7 February 1942”, with the picture of Pope in the back. |
| Election Commission on conflict of interest | BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Proceeding against Durakovic stopped’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Amira Djajic fined with 10,000 KM’ – An Election Commission official, Hilmo Paric, confirmed that as off today this BH commission would not accept any further inquiries from public officials on whether or not their functions present conflict of interests. In this regard, the Commission decided to sanction Amira Dzajic, representative in the FBIH Parliament and halt the process against Nijaz Durakovic. The Commission ordered FBiH House of Representatives to dismiss Deputy Amira Djajic and it also fined her with 10,000 KM and banned her from nomination for official duty in next four years. Commission stopped proceeding against Durakovic since he resigned from position in the Sarajevo Tobacco Factory. |
| Terzic meets with Annan | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘UN decisive to continue its engagement in BiH’ – Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic met in New York on Thursday with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. They discussed the role played by UN in BiH, operations of the UNDP in the country and the World Organisation’s plans related to BiH. Annan emphasized UN’s commitment to remain engaged in BiH. |
| BiH Presidency on appointment on new BiH ambassadors | Dnevni List (page 3, “Appointment of new ambassadors only after national rotation is agreed upon”) – carries that FENA news agency learned from a source within the BiH Presidency that the Presidency would appoint new ambassadors to Israel, Switzerland, Serbia & Montenegro and Jordan once the national rotation within the BiH diplomatic network has been agreed upon. The source adds the appointment could take place only at end of August or early September due to the Presidency’s engagements in the Pope’s visit and forthcoming summer holidays. |
| SIPA still without premises/ Paravac statement | Vecernji List (page 2, by E. Medunjanin, “SIPA still ‘homeless’”) – the daily notes that the BiH Agency for Information and Protection (SIPA) is still “on the street” i.e. that is yet to get its premises. Furthermore, VL notes that the SIPA sent many appeals including to the BiH Presidency but in vain. “The attitude towards SIPA worries us, especially the fact they are yet to get premises for their work. It is about a relation towards a very important State institution that lacks seriousness”, said the Chair of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac. VL also reports that the BiH Presidency requested the BiH Council of Ministers to solve the accommodation problem so the SIPA could hire more people and start working. |
| Ljiljan: Interview with Hadzipasic | Ljiljan pgs. 19 – 21 ‘Hadzipasic: no one from the current government is on Miletic’s list’ by Sejo Omeragic – an interview with federation PM Ahmet Hadzipasic. Asked whether the government was protecting crime, Hadzipasic stated that neither the government nor PM Hadzipasic were protecting individual and organized crime. As for Miletic’s list, the Fed PM said there is no one from his government on the list. He however added there were two persons from the legislative and two from executive authority, but added those were names that media had been writing about for the past seven years and was nothing new. As for the growing social unrest in the country, said the current government must not be treated as the only cause of workers’ dissatisfaction. He also said they were solving problems that piled up from the past. On Ashdown’s request for cutting down the administration, Hadzipasic thinks that that Ashdown’s statement that politicians were using on themselves 63% of the budgets was unfair. He said the calculation includes all budget users – police, army, education, health and all other institutions. He however added that the overall 63% is too much for the country with an 3economy such as the one in BiH. |
| Dani on Ashdown’s statement re nationalism and economy
| DANI pg. 6 ‘Bosnaski Barometar’ column – rated one of HR Ashdown’s recent statements on nationalism and economy in BiH with two black dots, meaning a terrible move. The statement was made during the HR’s meeting with US Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld. “If I had the opportunity to give everyone in BiH a job, there would be no nationalism.” The magazine thinks it would be pointless to analyze such stupid and dangerous political naivety of such manner of simplifying things, as one might thinks he (Ashdown) is a true intellectual whose positions are worth while opposing with arguments. In Ashdown’s case, claims the magazine, it’s just an attempt to be ‘at hand’ to colleague Rumsfeld who is just about to deal with ‘child diseases’ of the ‘imposed administration in Iraq’. |
| Dani: Happy New Herzeg-Bosna | DANI pgs. 20 – 23 ‘Happy New Herzeg-Bosna’ by Vildana Selimbegovic – according to the magazine, the general interpretation of the SDA – HDZ agreement on the distribution of power in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNK) government is that the government of the third entity has been installed. Last Monday, according to Mostar people, all masks of reforms nationalists were off. “Maybe the news of the government being established would be a good one if from Mate Boban’s grave we could not hear a laughter of satisfaction – everything will be done by a Serb, elected according to HDZ criteria.” The article carries a number of statements by local officials, as well as by OHR Mostar Spokesperson Benes. |
Crime | |
| Two sentenced for illegal Ero hotel ownership transfer in Mostar
| Croat Radio Herceg-Bosna, BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Ivan Bender sentenced to 4.5 years in prison’ – The court council of the cantonal court in Mostar has declared Ivan Bender and Mario Boras guilty of the abuse of office and embezzlement in the course of the transfer of ownership of the Ero Hotel in Mostar. Bender was sentenced to four and a half years and Boras to three and a half years in prison. The cantonal court council, chaired by judge Mladen Jurisic, on Thursday sentenced Bender and Boras in connection with the privatization of the Ero Hotel in Mostar. Ivan Bender is the former director of MIO (Mostar Pension Fund) Mostar, and Mario Boras director of TUH Invest private company, through which the transaction was carried out. Ivan Bender made it possible for three companies based in Zagreb to buy the Ero Hotel and the accompanying land at a much lower price than its worth. This caused damage amounting to 2.5million KM. The second defendant Mario Boras abused his office and, aware of the way in which Bender was making illegal profit on behalf of Zagreb-based companies, took several legal actions to help the first defendant in his criminal activities. The court council annulled the loan agreement between TUH Invest and MIO Mostar, as well as the annex to the agreement. Judge Jurisic said that there were no mitigating circumstances for the first defendant, so the court council saw no reason to pass a lesser sentence; it believes that the sentence which was passed is appropriate in view of all the circumstances. Judge Jurisic said that this was an attempted criminal act, since the ownership of the Ero Hotel was not registered in the land registry. The defendants’ lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, has said he will appeal against the verdict. Vecernji List (front and page 3, “Ivan Bender sentenced to four and half years in jail”, by Robert Soldo), Dnevni List, front and page 41, by N. Dedic, “Bender gets four and half, Boras three and half years in prison”, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, by Antonela Vlaho, “Bender 4,5, Boras 3,5 years in prison”), Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘Bender sentenced to 4.5, and Boras to 3.5 years of prison sentence’ also reported on the issue. |
| Western Herzegovina Canton police smash human trafficking chain, confiscate drugs | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV 1, FTV – In the past few months the Interior Ministry of Western Hercegovina Canton has been conducting an operation aimed at curbing human trafficking and drugs smuggling. More than 80 kg of marijuana was found on three individuals who were detained, and a total of almost 124 kg of this drug was confiscated. The human trafficking chain was smashed and criminal reports have been filed against six individuals. One of them is on the run. On 14 June the Interior Ministry of Western Hercegovina Canton arrested three Albanians who were to be taken across the border near Gradac, near Posusje, illegally. At a news conference by the Interior Ministry in Ljubuski, it was said that a lengthy operation on the ground revealed possible perpetrators of this crime. On the same day, N.H. born in 1964, from Ljubuski, and G.K. born in 1960, from Mostar, were arrested. Criminal reports were filed with the BiH state prosecutor’s office against G.A., Z.A. and S.A. on founded suspicion of committing the criminal offence of illegal drugs dealing. This is the biggest drugs haul in BiH after the war – 123.6 kg. The street value of confiscated drugs on the Croatian market is around 250,000 KM. Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “123 kilos of marijuana seized”, by Drago Vukojevic), Vecernji list (front page “123 kilos of marijuana seized” & p 19, “123 kilos of grass seized”, by Ivan Kaleb), Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 6, ‘123 kg of marihuana seized’ and Dnevni List (front page & p 40, “Biggest quantity of marijuana seizure over last 10 years”, by V. Soldo) also reported on the issue. |
| BiH fight against human trafficking | Croat Radio Herceg-Bosna, BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Human trafficker are legalizing their income through buying hotels, gas stations’ – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international organizations that participated in creation of report of human trafficking in BiH do not agree on placing BiH in third group of countries. They believe that significant effort has been made in this regard in comparison with other countries from this group. This report consists of analysis of actions implemented in fight against human trafficking and recommendations, which would help further improvement of the situation. Chief UNHCHR, Madeleine Reese, said that there was a real progress in terms of protection and assistance to the victims, and mentioned good legal framework for further changes. According to the data of this organization, in last three years in BiH over 2000 people were trafficked while real number is probably 3 or 4 times higher. Finances were identified as one of the key problems in this issue. In order to implement national plan of fight against human trafficking, BiH needs over 3.5 million KM, while it realistically can give only 50.000 – 100.000 KM per annum. DANI pgs. 36 – 38 ‘Sanctions for BiH due to ‘lack of’ work by international experts’ by Dzenana Karup Drusko – the regular US annual report by the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs on human trafficking included BiH amongst the countries of the worst category, due to which BiH is threatened with sanctions. The article carries statements by Sevima Sali-Terzic, director of the International Legal Group for human Rights in BiH who disagrees with the conclusions in the report. Same feelings expressed in a short interview by Chief of the UN OHCHR in BiH Madeleine Rees. Both women, rees especially, openly blame the UNMIBH former STOP Team for all the failures that took place in the sphere of human trafficking. Rees even believes that recommendations for the US report actually came for the STOP Team, as, according to Rees, the language is recognizable. Rees criticizes the way things were conducted during the STOP Team time, mainly because they kept threatening the local police if something went wrong. Also, Sali-Terzic says that the fact that internationals, who were involved in human trafficking, were never punished, also sent a wrong signal. |
| ICTY
| BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘US lawyers seeks for stoppage of the appeal procedure’, Blic pg. 19 ‘Bush stops Brdjanin’s trial’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 16 ‘They cannot defend the Hague indictees’, Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Trial discontinued’; Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘Americans cannot defend Hague defendants’, Dnevni List front and page 3, unsigned, “Abolition of Blaskic case requested”, Vecernji List, page 13, by Zorana Bajt, “Bush forbids Misetic to defend Ante Gotovina”) – Due to George Bush’s decision to forbid US lawyers to defend of those indicted by ICTY, trials against Tihomir Blaskic and Radoslav Brdjanin were not held on Thursday. This initiative is a part of Bush’s earlier decision to freeze property of over 200 organizations and individuals from FRY. Former FRY President Zoran Lilic continued his witnessing today before the ICTY in the case of Milosevic. In cross-examination conducted by Milosevic, Lilic said that nobody from FRY or Serbian leadership planned or ordered war crimes committed in Kosovo. Lilic also said that Milosevic did not accept proposal made by German Chancellor Helmut Koll’s to end NATO bombing in 1999, which was opposite from earlier Milosevic’s statement. Lilic also denied Milosevic’s statement that Chief of FRY Army HQ, Momcilo Perisic was a spy at the beginning of conflict in Kosovo. Lilic confirmed that Belgrade leadership was basically against training volunteers for RS army on their training grounds, but also stated that Perisic informed him that those centers were established with Milosevic’s approval. Lilic will take witness stand again, and Milosevic’s case will continue on Tuesday. Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 6 ‘Work of the Hague Tribunal for War Crimes blocked’ – A recent US President George Bush’s decree banning all US citizens to provide legal assistance to the ICTY indictees, has caused concern and shock in the Tribunal. IF something is not changes in the next day, there is a danger that the ICTY’s work is blocked since there is almost not a single case without participation of US lawyers. |
| Karadzic posters in Bijeljina | Blic pg. 8, Vecernje Novosti pg. 16, Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Karadzic “dawns” in Bijeljina’; Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Posters of Radovan Karadzic’ – Posters with Radovan Karadzic with title “Is defense of own people a crime?” appeared in center of Bijeljina on Thursday morning. |
| Dani on Serbian police participation in Srebrenica genocide | DANI pg. 18 and 19 ‘The Serbian police conducted genocide in Srebrenica’ by Emir Suljagic – the magazine published a document the IWPR in London obtained from the war time RS MoI Head Tomislav Kovac, which proves that Serbian police was involved in the Srebrenica massacre. The author thinks that many things are clearer now – for example why the new democratic Serbian forces have been reluctant to hand over to The Hague relevant archives, and why they and Montenegro keep wailing for a ‘gentlemen-like’ settlement out of the court in the case of BiH lawsuit against them. |
Economic/social affairs | |
| FBiH Tax Administration campaign
| BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Tax collection increased for 7 million KM’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 – In about 2 weeks of campaign ‘Take the bill – ask for the bill’ implemented by FBIH Tax Administration, 1018 facilities were closed down. Administrations estimated that FBIH looses over 108 million KM annually because of non-issuance of the bills, which is a base for calculating taxes. Director of this administration, Midhat Arifovic confirmed that large number of companies did not have even a license to work. The campaign resulted in increase in collection of taxes for 20 percent in all the cantons except in Ze-Do and Central Bosnia Canton. It is yet to be determined why. Director of the Federation Tax Administration Midhad Arifovic: “Still, in the Federation BiH, more than 50 percent of tax payers do not obey the law, even they were warned in the media through campaign” Ljiljan pg. 9 ‘Those not respecting the law are angry’ by Fuad Kovac – an interview with Director of the FBiH Customs Tax Administration, Midhat Arifovic. Asked about the results of the ‘Request a receipt – take a receipt’ action, Arifovic said they were thrilled with the results so far. He said there has been a significant increase in revenues in cantons, somewhere around 10 million KM has been collected so far. He however pointed out it was sad they had not yet received a serious support from the local government. Added that after this first phase of controls, the second, even wider one would follow. |
| RS Government discusses situation in the Banja Luka Clinical Center | RTRS – RS Government started a session scheduled to discuss current situation in health sector. Representatives of the Trade unions and Clinical Center in Banja Luka also attend the meeting. Strike in Clinical Center started on May 29 and employees are requesting late salaries from January. |
| Session of FBiH Government/Aluminij arbitration | Dnevni List (front and page 5, by Miso Relota, “Arbitration for Aluminij unlocked”) – a report from 16th session of the Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that was held in Mostar yesterday. Among many issues, DL reports that when it comes to preparation of documentation and arbitration contract for the “Aluminij” Company of Mostar, the job has been awarded to a Canadian company “Martneau Du Moulin”, as stated by the FBiH Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry, Izet Zigic. |
| Republika Srpska Health Care Fund illegal action | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘Illegal compensation of KM 13 million’ – Republika Srpska Health Care Fund last year performed a compensation with the PIO Fund and health services in Republika Srpska. The transaction amounted to KM 13 million. However, the Republika Srpska Ministry of Finance claims that such compensation is not legally allowed. A document of the Republika Srpska Health Care Fund dated 20 December 2002 reads that this Fund performed a compensation payment on the basis of anticipated but unpaid allowances in the last year with 103 juristic persons. |
| Millions for Jansen’s officials | Ljiljan pgs. 28 – 30 ‘Millions for Jansen’s officials’ by Mirsad Sinanovic – Teufik Kec, Senior Expert Associate in the Sector for Customs policy at the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade, has been accusing for years CAFAO Chief, Allan Jensen, for spending the EU donation, worth 5 million Euro, with his associate on the implementation of the ASYCUDA project. The project includes installment of programs of computer database for customs declarations, so that all customs administrations at all times would have info related to import and export. The magazine thinks the project could have been realized in a matter of months, yet Jensen has been working on it with his associates for the past seven years. According to the magazine Jensen never offered any proof of this not being true, except verbally denying it, even though Kec requested it on numerous occasions. The magazine goes on to say how the mentioned EU donation has been mainly spent on the enormous salaries for Jensen (30,000 KM monthly) and his 35 associates (15,000KM monthly) each, seminars where top day rates were paid to experts, which leads to the conclusion, reads the magazine, that the only goal Jensen has is to earn as much as possible from this. |
Other issues | |
| Suspected SARS case reported in BiH capital
| Dnevni Avaz front page, Oslobodjenje – A 59-year old Canadian woman has been admitted to the infectious disease clinic in Sarajevo. She is suspected of having SARS. The patient was sent to Sarajevo from the clinical centre in Mostar, where she had reported after developing a high fever. She is being tested at the moment and it will take two to three days to establish whether or not she has SARS. If it is confirmed that she has SARS, this will be the first case of the illness in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The Canadian woman had planned to visit Medjugorje (place of worship for Catholic pilgrims). She arrived in Mostar via Split airport. |
| HJPC presser in Livno | Vecernji List (p 2, “1600 applications for judicial positions”, by A.M.) and Dnevni List (p 7, “1600 applications for judicial positions processed so far”, by Fena) report that, at the press conference held in Livno, Sanela Tunovic, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council spokesperson, stated that until that moment 1600 applications for judicial positions had been processed. Taking of solemn oath by the newly-appointed judges of Canton 10 Cantonal Court is scheduled for June 14. |
| Schwartz Schilling in Prijedor | Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Employment is another problem’; Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘The implementation of property legislation is the priority’ – Christian Schwartz Schilling, International Mediator for BiH, during yesterday’s visit to Prijedor, expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the implementation of property legislation in the municipalities of Prijedor and Sanski Most, as well as over a good co-operation between these two cities. Namely, 75% of the property claims have been resolved in Prijedor so far and the total of around 23 thousand persons of non-Serb nationality have returned to Prijedor so far. |