20.09.2005

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 20/9/2005

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 20 September

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Raca border crossing opens today

RS Govt on war crimes indictees

Kotorsko update

Del Ponte to address EU CoM

Sredoje Lukic case

Robinson on SDS [DA interview]

HDZ delegation to visit Uskoplje

Del Ponte on Gotovina

Simon Wiesenthal died

TV news broadcast on 19 September

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Explosion in Zagreb British Embassy

OHR on war crimes

Explosion in Zagreb British Embassy

Paravac on Mesic’s statements

Paravac’s letter to HR

Report of Srebrenica work-group

Projection of BIH defence budget

A memorandum signed in SA

Muminovic on Vasiljkovic

FBIH pensioners on law amendment

Issue of BiH customs

Sacirbegovic update

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Explosion in Zagreb British Embassy

Explosion in Zagreb British Embassy

Paravac on Mesic’s statements

Situation in British Embassy in SA

Round-table on pensioners in SA

Explosion in Zagreb British Embassy

Lukic to appear before the ICTY

Zepa road construction

OHR on Srebrenica working group

14 bodies exhumed from Lipnje

re-opening of waste-areas incident

OHR on war crimes processing

 

Oslobodjenje

Sehid families and soldiers are not priority

Dnevni Avaz

Toby Robinson: criminal in SDS weighing at tens of million of KMs

Dnevni List

Mesic responds to Paravac’s attacks: BiH Constitution will be changed by its citizens

Vecernji List

Croatia : Bomb against embassy

Slobodna Dalmacija

New scandal with issuing of passports to foreigners: Moroccan stripped off BiH citizenship, after that he gets – travel document

Nezavisne Novine

[VAT] Claims overburdened the Court

Glas Srpske

You can remain silent!

EuroBlic

Terzic offered deceit

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbian related topics

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

RS Govt extends deadline for giving assistance to families of war crime indictees

BH Radio 1 – RS Government has decided to extend deadline for awarding families of war crime indictees who surrender voluntary by the end of the year. Family of each of indictee who turns himself in to RS authorities by the date will receive a payment of 50,000 KM.

 

War crimes

OHR: War crimes must be efficiently processed

 

 

 

RTRS, PINK, FTV, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘War crimes must be efficiently processed’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘War crimes convictions are not secured through press conferences’ by Fena – OHR statement issued on Monday [after RS PM Pero Bukejlovic commented to OHR’s criticism of the press conferences held by RS MoI presenting cases committed against Serbs by saying nobody can stop them from talking about war crimes committed against Serbs] underlined that the issue at hand is not about whether crimes were committed against the Serbs or not. The OHR wants to see war crimes committed against all nationalities, including Serbs, prosecuted effectively. “The issue at hand is about professionalism and about how best to secure a conviction against alleged perpetrators. This is not done by holding a press conference. This is done by handing any evidence out to the BiH prosecutor’s office”, OHR said.

SDHR Ney meets RS officials reminding Srebrenica Working Group must completed its work in 10 days

 

BHT1, Hayat, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Martin Ney condemns slow work of working group for Srebrenica’, by D. P., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Bukejlovic is responsible for Srebrenica Task Force’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Bill – to Bukejlovic’ by N.Z.  – Senior Deputy High Representative Martin Ney held a meeting in Sarajevo on Monday with RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic, RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic, RS Defence Minister Milovan Stankovic and the Chair of the RS Government’s Srebrenica Working Group Jovan Spajic. Ambassador Ney reminded those present that the Srebrenica Working Group must conclude its work satisfactorily by the end of this month. He also expressed concern about the lack of progress being made by the Working Group, which in April this year was tasked by the High Representative to ensure that   RS MoI and MoD provide full information on the units that were active in the wider Srebrenica area during in July 1995. “Progress has been made by the Srebrenica Working Group, but time is short – the Working Group is due to finish its task by the end of September. We have identified outstanding tasks and the RS Government must do everything possible to ensure  that  the Working Group successfully completes its work,” Ney underlined. RTRSreports that the OHR announced Bukejlovic would be held responsible if Srebrenica Working Group fails.

BHT1: OHR got list with names of 100 Srebrenica crimes perpetrators

 

BHT1 by Vanja Filipovic – BHT 1 has learnt that the RS PM Pero Bukejlovic, RS MoI Darko Matijasevic and RS MoD Milovan Stankovic submitted to the OHR the report of Srebrenica Working Group which contains only 100 names of persons suspected of committing war crimes in Srebrenica in 1995. The names presented at the list include: former Commander of Jahorina Special Police Unit, Commander of First RS MoI Zvornik Brigade and Head of Zvornik Public Security Centre. RS Police Director Dragomir Andan has asked from the State Prosecution to file charges against them. The information on their activities have been gathered in the archives of the authorities in Banja Luka. OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic said the list will be subject to additionally checked by OHR. He added that names will also have to be confirmed by the institutions and than investigated by BIH judicial agencies. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘List of persons responsible for massacre in Srebrenica submitted’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Ashdown got list of 100 names of war criminals in Srbrenica’ – also carried BHT1 report.

Reactions following Butler ’s letter to Matijasevic

 

Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘You can remain silent!’ by G.K. – GS carries comments of Gostimir Popovic, analyst, Milijana Bojic, President of RS Association of families of the imprisoned and missing persons, and Savo Cvijetinovic, President of the RS Veterans’ Association, all criticizing the letter Larry Butler recently addressed to Darko Matijasevic. GS inset “Announcement’ carries OHR press statement regarding war crimes.

 

Political issues

RS delegation boycott opening of Raca border crossing; DA: EU demanded for RS reps not to be invited?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RHB, BHT1, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Cenic and Kudic are not coming to Raca’ by SRNA, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Cenic and Kudic will not attend the opening of Raca border crossing’, announced on cover ‘Cenic and Kudic do not want to open Raca crossing’ by M.S., Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Serbs boycotting opening of Raca border crossing’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Third border crossing getting open’, by vr, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Boycott announced from Republika Srpska’, by D. Pasi, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Cenic and Kudin refused to attend the ceremony’ – RS Minister of Finance Svetlana Cenic and member of the ITA Governing Board Miodrag Kudic on Monday addressed a letter to the ITA Director, Kemal Causevic, informing him they would not attend the ceremony of opening the newly built border crossing Raca on Tuesday, because they do not agree with the official protocol, which does not envisage participation of representatives of the RS Government. Cenci and Kudic underlined that leaving the RS officials out of the official protocol neglects not only the fact that the RS Government had participated in building this border crossing, but also neglects the previous practice that was applied on the occasion of opening other border crossings in BiH. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS representatives erased from protocol of Raca opening’ by S. Turcalo – DA claims that RS representatives were not invited upon influence of the European Union which donated the financial means for the border crossing and took part in creating the protocol. The DA source claims that RS PM Pero Bukejlovic was originally meant to open the crossing, however after rejection of police reform his name was taken of the protocol.

DA: EU representatives refused to meet with BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘EU rejected meeting with Mladen Ivanic’ – Representatives of so-called EU troika comprising former, current and next EU Presiding countries (Luxembourg, Great Britain and Austria) rejected to meet with BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic in New York. They explained the move by saying they had nothing to discuss with Ivanic, well-informed sources told the daily.

Paravac responds HR’s letter: ‘I did pay money, but I am not guilty’ 

 

RTRS, PINK, FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Your decision is law to me’, by A. Macanovic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Paravac: I did pay money, but I am not guilty’ by SRNA, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘A mistake of clerks’ – Member of the BiH Presidency Borisav Paravac has sent a letter to HR Paddy Ashdown in which he says that he does not know why money donations paid by himself and other donors were not paid by the SDS administration into the party’s account, but were still kept in the office pending processing. SRNA has learnt from sources close to the BiH Presidency that Paravac said in the letter that it was not contentious that in September he had initiated the process of paying 2,100 convertible marks as his personal contribution to the SDS and added that he had left the donation in the party’s administration office. “I was given a receipt for this; I requested that the money donation on my behalf be paid into the SDS account and I also asked for a copy of the pay-in slip stamped by the business bank through which the payment was to be effected, which is in line with the daily practice of payment of money donations,” Paravac said, adding that he is neither responsible nor authorized to organize SDS affairs in Doboj and therefore cannot be held responsible for omissions by the local party administration. Ashdown had sent a letter to Paravac on 5 September asking him to explain an illegal financial transaction in the Dodoj SDS.

NN: SDS Officials expect OHR to sanctions Paravac

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SDS expects OHR sanctions against Borislav Paravac’, announced on cover ‘SDS fears from sanctions against Paravac’ by V.Popovic – Apart from carrying a letter Borislav Paravac addressed to HR Paddy Ashdown (regarding contribution he made towards SDS), daily also reports that Paravac’s Cabinet is of the view there is no reason for launch of any responsibility procedure against Paravac. It also says that SDS fears that bearing in mind previously announced sanctions against SDS, HR may sanction Paravac, even remove him and accordingly indirectly penalize the party over rejection of police reform.

Robinson on illegalities in PBIS: Evidence against Sarovic, Kalinici and others

 

Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash ‘criminal in SDS weighing at tens of million of KMs’ and pg 5 ‘Indictments expected against Sarovic, Kalinic, Bjelica’, by Sead Numenovic – Carries an interview with the Provisional Administrator for ‘Privredna Banka Istocno Sarajevo’, Toby Robinson, in which she notes she will be submitting the BiH Prosecution additional evidence about illegalities in the said bank, which include likes of Mirko Sarovic, Dragan Kalinic, Milovan Cicko Bjelica, Gojko Klickovic, Radomir Kojic and others. Robinson explains that illegalities started as early as in 1995 and 1996, which escalated in 2001 when the bank was privatized by Momcilo Mandic. She notes that the bank was abused to support the SDS and that the bank was involved in money laundry. Inset ‘Helping of war criminals’ carries Robinson a saying that she heard stories that the bank was used to fund hiding of war crimes suspects. She reveals there is a series of transactions involving people that are accused of helping the war criminals, mentioning a case in which Radomir Kojic, who was labelled by the High Representative and US President as war criminals’ aide, was given 948.000 Euros. Another inset ‘I am selling Hercegovacka bank by end of year’ carries Robinson as saying that she has set an optimistic deadline regarding the sale of ‘Hercegovacka bank’. The deadline is set for the period between 60 and 90 days, the buyer is Croatian ‘FEMA’ and Robinson hopes to get at least 100 million KMs.

Oslobodjenje op-ed: War between OHR and RS

 

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘War between OHR and RS’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – According to the author, a verbal war between OHR and RS is becoming more and more intensive particularly following the latest OHR warning to RS PM Pero Bukejlovic not to poison atmosphere in the state through trying to ruin reputation of certain participants in political talks (on police reform). In this way, Dizdarevic claims, HR Paddy Ashdown stood by BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic, who was by Bukejlovic accused of police reform talks failure. Bukejlovic also promptly reacted to PDHR Larry Butler’s letter to RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic rejecting Butler’s criticism that Matijasevic is mixing policing and politics. All these statements/political actions followed the RSNA rejection of proposed police reform solutions. Dizdarevic concludes that it is equally important for final acceptance of police reform principles will RS President and SDS leader Dragan Cavic succeed to get support by majority within the party and will he be supported by SNSD and its leader Milorad Dodik in his effort.    

NN op-ed criticizing HR Ashdown over behaviour towards SDS

 

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Ashdown’s strategy’ by Natasa Krsman – Raising the issue as to what Paddy Ashdown has against SDS, the author notes that SDS is actually the most powerful means “in his war”, in which he is trying to accomplish his own ambitions. She notes that Paddy Ashdown views BiH as project he is currently working on and on which his biography is consolidated, while SDS is only means he uses to lobby new status within international community. She also claims that during the appointment of RS premier, HR was the one who chose Pero Bukejlovic over Milorad Dodik. She adds that Ashdown pulled up indictment against Dodik to a surface, thinking it will not be so hard to implement reform processes with divided SDS. She concludes by saying that the tested strategy of pressures failed in police reform.

Paravac accuses Mesic of interfering with BiH internal affairs

 

RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Interference with internal affairs of independent country’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Paravac accuses Mesic of ‘bringing down’ BiH’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Non-exemplary interference of Mesic’, EuroBlic RSpg 2, announced on cover ‘Undermining of Dayton Bosnia’ by Dusanka Stanisic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘It is not the first time’ by Z.Ma.– Croatian President Stjepan Mesic‘s lobbying for the abolishment of BiH entities is an utterly inappropriate and surprising act, the office of BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac said on Monday. “Mesic’s stance at the UN General Assembly session in New York has to be condemned by the authorities and all IC representatives in BiH because it was in no doubt interference in interior affairs of a sovereign state, especially in its constitutional organization,” the statement reads. Paravac added that he was expecting Mesic to back the Dayton agreement and not to endeavour intensively for changes to BiH’s constitutional structure. “It is totally unclear why and following whose directions Mesic did that,” the statement adds.

Mesic’s office to Paravac: Citizens of BiH will decide on BiH Constitution

 

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘BiH Constitution will be changed by its citizens’, by Ivica Glibusic – Carries a reaction of Croatian President’s office to a statement by the Serb member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, in which Paravac noted that “it is a surprise that a head of state works on change of constitutional structure of another state”. President Stipe Mesic’s chief spokesperson, Danijela Barisic, stated: “Positions of President Stipe Mesic about organization of BiH have long been known, which also includes that only citizens of BiH can decide about changes to the Constitution”. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Croatian president did not lobby for abolishment of entities’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Not a word about Dayton’ by SRNA – also brings Mesic reaction. 

Hadzipasic to approve two new ministers in FBiH Govt

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Hadzipasic gave green light for appointing Crnkic and Mandic’ by M. Kukan – Extraordinary session of the FBiH Government could be held on 28 September a day after the session of the FBiH House of Representatives, learns DA from FBIH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. The Government has been reportedly in the crisis after the disputes between the FBiH President and Vice President over the appointments of replacements for Veterans and Health Ministers. Hadzipasic confirms that the Government is still blocked, however that he gathered all necessary files and based on them decided to approve the appointments of Zahid Crnkic and Vjekoslav Mandic respectively. DA carries that Sahbaz Dzihanovic, FBiH Vice President who opposed appointments due to procedural issues, said he would review papers today and approve appointments if all regulations respected. 

RTRS comments on the BiH CoM crisis, stressing uncertainty about positions held by Ivanic, Dokic

 

RTRS current affairs program ‘Pecat’ by Dragana Knezevic – RTRS comments that a number of talks on the police reform have drawn the public attention away from the crisis in BiH the BiH Council of Ministers which is on-going since the Chair of the BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, has accepted the resignation filed last year by the BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic after he refused proposal for SIPA Director. RTRS reminds that at the same time BiH Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic was indicted for abuse of position at the time he was RS Transport Minister and was supposed to leave his position in CoM. RTRS comments that CoM has despite this continued to work and hold sessions, but it is still unclear how these two Ministers work. Similar situation occurred at the time of approving new SBS Director which again resulted in Paddy Ashdown imposing decision, but both Ivanic and Dokic says that CoM Chair should take responsibility for this and resign to his post. RTRS further comments that meanwhile Terzic is searching for the culprit stressing that no one needs this crisis or the dysfunctional CoM, adding he announced dealing with this CoM crisis after the end of police negotiations, but has avoided press since and no concrete actions were taken. Taking note of a number of speculations on possible solutions, reporter concludes that despite all of them there is still a fact that CoM is now in dead end position, in which even HR Ashdown cannot help them since his recent appointments were “slap in the face” to stories on responsibility of BiH institutions and their capability to build BiH’s future.

BiH Parliament: BiH CoM is neglecting us

 

Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Council of Ministers ‘does not hear’ MPs’ questions’, by Dejan Jazvic – The article notes that MPs in the BiH Parliament are complaining that the BiH Council of Ministers is ignoring the State Parliament since the BiH CoM is not answering to the Parliament’s inquiries for months. “That is a permanent problem and a lot of MPs are complaining. However, we do not have a way to force the BiH Council of Ministers answer our questions, which are raised in the parliament”, says the BiH HoR Speaker, Nikola Spiric.

DL op-ed: BiH Presidency in disarray

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Disunity in trinity’, by Ivica Glibusic – Carries an op-ed commenting on reactions regarding the Chairman of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic’s, address in the UN General Assembly. Glibusic says that Borislav Paravac’s reaction shows the big differences within the BiH Presidency when it comes to foreign policy, internal organization of BiH and crisis within the authorities caused by the failure of the police reform. “Although everyone is clear that BiH organized as it is has no future, it would be better for the Serb member of BiH Presidency to realize that too”, argues the author.

 

Police and defence issues/ Security

BiH MoD presents projected costs for 2006 which amount to approx. 300 million KM

 

 

 

 

 

RHB, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Bigger allocations for lesser number of soldiers’, by Erna Mackic, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘SNSD resolutions prevents BiH entrance to Partnership for Peace and NATO’ – BiH Deputy Defense Minister Marina Pendes presented to the BiH Joint Commission for Defense and Security police the projection of the defense budget for 2006 in amount of 300,5 million KM. Pendes underlined this was just the first projection which will undergo a number of changes, especially having in mind that BiH defence law has not yet been adopted and without it the number of people to be surplus in course of defence reform cannot be precisely determined. At the same time Deputy Minister said that the Commission has also discussed recently proposed resolution by the SNSD which proposes full demilitarization of the BiH, which would prevent BiH entrance to Partnership for Peace and NATO. BHT1, PINK – Joint Commission apparently feels that the amount presented by BiH MoD is unrealistic and unfeasible. Under this projects, every member of BiH military forces to be redundant in the course of defence reform would be given 10,000 KM.  FTV – About 2070 members of the military forces will lose their jobs on January 1, 2006 .

Political officials comment on release of transcripts from Bjelasnica police reform talks

 

EuroBlic cover pg splash, RSpg 1 ‘Terzic offered deceit’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Daily notes that if proved that Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, proposed deception of citizens of RS and BiH at official meeting on police reform, the majority of RS MP’s shares the view that Terzic should withdraw from political scene. Krstan Simic from SNSD said party is embittered over the absence of reaction from the international community and media. Drago Kalabic from DNS says that the future of BiH is obviously built on the “criminal foundations”. Stanko Pivasevic from SDS is of the view that the Dayton has been severely violated and every time altered in the manner “proposed by Terzic”. Tarik Sadovic from SDA comments: “The sessions of the negotiating teams were closed for public and publication of transcripts from those sessions, aimed at discrediting Adnan Terzic, represents an act of revenge of RS Government, over his advocating of police force in line with European standards.” Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘When raven is getting washed’ by Z.Markovic – Daily carries comments of Ostoja Barasin, politician and military analyst, and Marko Arsovic, Banja Luka attorney. Arsovic says that “if transcript proves to be true, the Terzic may justly be suspected of criminal act of inducing to deception.” Barasin commented on OHR statement, saying it may be a result of anger over the fact that the entire process of police reform did not proceed as OHR wanted.

DL: IC to initiate another round of police talks, OHR to take lead

 

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Leaders of parties will talk about police reform?’, by N. B. – DL’s sources in the IC believe not all is lost when it comes to talks about the police reform. Apparently, the IC could initiate a new round of talks during next one month that would include party leaders. DL’s sources believe that the OHR, in case the talks indeed take place, will be having the lead role. The starting point of the talks would be the 3 principles of the EC.

Dodik: To give at least 5 centimeters to police in RS

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Dodik: To give at least 5 centimeters to police in RS’ – SNSD leader Milorad Dodik has said that the police reform proposal had not been balanced since it had totally ignored RS negotiators. “The fact it was proposed that seven police areas be in the FBiH and only three in RS says itself someone deliberately wanted the reform to fail,” said Dodik. According to Dodik, the police reform talks failed because of inappropriate pressures on RS, as well as inappropriate behavior of people such as BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic. SNSD leader believes there are no reasons/grounds for new sanctions against RS/SDS. Dodik says that eventual banning of SDS would only rehabilitate already defeated destroyed political force. Dodik emphasized that the police reform might succeed only if a realistic concept is found jointly by EC, ruling and opposition parties in BiH. That concept should, according to Dodik, foresee five police areas in RS that would be integrated into the BiH security system.

DL: BiH security-intelligence apparatus to up measures following Zagreb attack?

 

Dnevni List, pgs 12-13, mentioned on front ‘Sarajevo too in fear of terrorist attacks’, by Marko Karacic – Following the bomb explosion at the UK Embassy in Zagreb, DL reports that the attack has caused a reaction by the security-intelligence structures in BiH. DL announces that a meeting between the SIPA, Interpol, State Border Service and BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, will take place today (Tuesday) in order to discuss the situation. “For the time being there is no information on terrorist threats against our country”, says Minister Colak, adding that possible introduction of additional security measures would be discussed at the meeting.

UK Embassy in BiH comments explosion in Zagreb

 

Hayat by Zumra Arnautovic – British Embassy in Sarajevo has taken precautions following the events which took place in Zagreb. “It is still too early to speculate on possible causes or perpetrators. In terms of the Embassy in Sarajevo, we have continued our work normally”, said Emir Salihovic, from British Embassy in Sarajevo.

SD: Moroccan gets BiH travel documents after he lost BiH citizenship

Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 19 ‘Moroccan stripped off BiH citizenship, after that he gets – travel document’, by Z. Tulic – The article talks about the background of a case in which a BiH citizen of Moroccan origin, one Said Atmani, was stripped off the BiH citizenship in 2001 after he got extradited to France, only to be issued a certificate on BiH citizenship and BiH travel documents by the BiH embassy to France late last year.

 

Economic and social issues

FBiH Pensioners strongly oppose amendments to FBiH PIO Law

 

 

BHT 1 Report by Marina Boskovic – At the Round-table organised in Sarajevo, FBiH Association of Pensioners strongly opposed the changes to the Law on Pension-Disability Insurance Fund. Reporter noted that this would directly affect 250.000 already financially poor pensioners, as the amendments to the PDIF law suggested by the FBIH Government prevent any possible increase of the pensions and the number of registered pensioner will increase for 11 000 pensioner per year. President of FBIH Association of Pensioners Sefkija Elezovic stated that this will bring PDIF down to collapse. Pensioners are additionally concerned about the VAT introduction. Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘We will not allow Government to sovle its issues at our damage’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Hadzipasic and Vignjevic are calling for social unrests’, by Mensud Zorlak – also reported.

Japanese interested in corridor Vc; Terzic departs for US to meet WB, IMF and discuss Vc construction 

 

Hayat, Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Japanese taking part in Corridor Vc’, by Dejan Jazvic – Representatives of the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) confirmed their readiness to take part in construction of the Corridor Vc through BiH. A JBIC delegation, lead by Ryosuke Nakata, met with the Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, on Monday, and according to Terzic’s office statement, the JBIC is ready to continue and intensify the cooperation with BiH. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Japanese offer 30 years loan to BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Japanese offer credit of 200 million Euros for Vc corridor’ by L. Sinanovic – Japanese Bank has offered BiH a loan of 200 million Euros for construction of Vc corridor, with a payment period of 30 years at 1.5% interest rate. BiH authorities have apparently expressed big interest for this offer. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘State wants to finance the corridor on its own’ by Az. Kalamujic – Daily carries that BiH CoM Chair Terzic will ask the International Monetary Fund [IMF] at the end of this week to revoke the unwritten veto on BiH taking loan for construction of Vc corridor. He will travel to Washington to attend the annual Assembly of the World Bank and IMF.

Twenty two companies sign UN Global Agreement

 

Hayat, FTV, PINK, Oslobodjenje pg 11, Dnevni Avaz pg 15 – Representatives of 22 BiH companies signed in Sarajevo on Monday accession letters to the UN Global Agreement, which is aimed at integrating companies with UN agencies in order to face all challenges of globalization as ready as possible. Before that UNDP and the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, as a partner in the promotion of this agreement, signed a Memorandum of Understanding. These two organizations stated at a joint press conference that several other companies have also expressed interest in joining the Global Agreement and they will probably sign accession letters later on. Since it was first presented five years ago the Global Agreement has been accepted by more than 2.000 companies from 80 countries. “By joining, businesspersons will have an opportunity to show their social engagement to clients, investors and employees”, UNDP Resident Representative in BiH Jens Toyberg-Frandzen said. Trade Unions are also going to take part in the agreement.

Registration of VAT payers ongoing in RS; VAT registration not going as good as expected

 

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Claims overburdened the Court’, pg 5 ‘VAT clogged Banja Luka Court’ by D.Risojevic – Daily reports that Banja Luka Basic Court has been clogged over the last few days with claims of firms for registration, which is one of conditions enabling entrepreneurs to register as tax payers and hence avoid the possibility of facing financial fines next month, since deadline for registration expires on 30th September. Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Unregistered VAT payers will be fined’, by Rusmir Karat – According to ITA spokesman, Ratko Kovacevic, all companies and persons, who are obliged to register themselves as future VAT taxpayers, but fail do so by the deadline, will be fined up to 5.000 KMs and on top of it the ITA will register them. Kovacevic says the registration is not going as good as ITA has expected given that it’s started in July and August.

Vakuf Directorate disappointed with stances of F BiH Minister Mehmedagic

Oslobodjenje cover pg splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Sehid families and soldiers are not priority’ by S.Se. Esad Hrvacic, legal representative of Vakuf Directorate, is disappointed with stances of F BiH Minister of Urbanism and Environment, Ramiz Mehmedagic. According to Hrvacic, it is unclear why Mehmedagic wants to allocate 6800 non-purchased apartments in F BiH to soldiers and the sehid families, although Law clearly stipulates who and under what conditions can purchase those apartments. According to inset ‘Children’s play of Minister Mahemdagic’, the BiH Association for protection of private property has released a press statement, signed by its President Nasih Rasidagic, criticizing Mehmedagic’ intention, saying it is nothing else but deliberate and conscious causing of unrest and chaos in the state.