| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Ashdown in Zagreb | FBiH Govt restructuring | FBiH Govt restructuring | Ashdown in Zagreb |
| Rob Bosscher in Mostar | RTV subscription in FBiH | Ashdown in Zagreb | Mostar Conference |
| Conference in Mostar | Mostar Statute | Saravanja criticizes HR | Reactions on HDZ initiative |
| Appointment of Joly Dixon | Ashdown in Zagreb | Mostar campaign | RTV subscription in FBiH |
| Oslobodjenje | Ahmet Hadzipasic will, after all, be removed; ‘Coup d’état’ is set up process; SDA and HDZ on Mostar: its turn on Paddy Ashdown’s move! |
| Dnevni Avaz | SDA wants more successful Prime Minister; Paddy Ashdown in Zagreb: BiH and Croat tied up with joint way towards EU |
| Dnevni List | HR Ashdown visits official Zagreb: Croatia interested in re-organization of Mostar; EU ambassadors with representatives of political parties: SDA again boycotted talks with ambassadors |
| Vecernji List | American company interested in Hercegovacka bank; Werner Wnendt: Division prevents development of Mostar; Ashdown’s office admitted that Vecernji List was not lying |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Galijatovic an alibi for Klein’s lies? Sarajevo: Suspect for murder of mobster arrested |
| Glas Srpske | The list published in “Kurir” list of war crime suspects in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: They will arrest whom they come across; London: The French are suspicious |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH Prosecutor’s Office suspects that heroin is produced at RBS Company in Bijeljina; Hearing on coup affair continues: FOSS officials must be criminally persecuted; Republika Srpska Finance Ministry: Money from succession still at Nova Banjalucka Banka; Children’s Home “Kiseljak” near Zvornik: A large family with a large heart |
| Blic | Dragan Kalinic: RS will not be a Canton |
Mostar issue | |
| Ashdown discusses Mostar with Croatian PM Sanader
| RTRS, FTV, RHB, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘BiH and Croatia connected by joined way to Europe’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Europe is joint aim’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Croatia wants stable BiH’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Dayton sets co-operation’, Vjesnik front pg ‘Sanader: Croatia wants that re-organization of Mostar be carried out through consensus of all citizens’, Vecernji List pg 13 ‘Ashdown satisfied with Sanader’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 2 ‘Zagreb and Sarajevo must co-operate’, Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Croatia interested in re-organization of Mostar’, Jutarnji List pg 5 ‘Sanader and Mesic talked to Paddy Ashdown’ – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown on Tuesday visited Croatia, where he held separate meetings with the new Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Croatian President Stipe Mesic. Upon the meeting, Sanader stated that Croatia wants a stable BiH, and is interested in reordering the City of Mostar in line with consensus of all peoples and citizens of this city. Sanader stressed that Zagreb did not not wish a European perspective for Croatia only, but also for all countries of the region. Paddy Ashdown said that the “relations between Croatia and BiH are defined by two factors, the Dayton Accords and the mutual goal of joining the European Union.” He added: “These two factors govern these relations and I am very thankful to Prime Minister Sanader and his Government on a very constructive relation towards BiH, which helps us establish BiH as a stable European country. This is out common goal, as well as the goal of all countries in the Balkans… I am certain that these constructive relations between the two countries would be continued, which will benefit both BiH and Croatia, as well as the entire region.” BHTV 1 – “Off course that we are interested in because in BiH live Croat people as constitutive people, and we want full equality,” said Sanader. FTV – Counsellor in the Mostar’s City Council and the official of “Radom za boljitak” party, Pavo Saravanja said he was concerned that the Paddy Ashdown’s visit to Zagreb had an aim to “get an opinion on Mostar restructuring” as nobody supports Statute proposal by the Mostar Reform Commission headed by Norbert Winterstein. “I support talks regarding improvement of relations between neighbouring countries, however the international community forgot this in the past and accused Croats and Croatia of largely interfering with the internal BiH issues, accused Croats of going for an opinion to Zagreb,” said Saravanja. |
| DA interview with SDHR Wnendt | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘ In Mostar one cannot take care of only one people’s interest’ by Sead Numanovic – Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt stated in an interview to DA that the solution for Mostar will be known few days before the end of this month, saying that there will be an agreement between political parties or the High Representative will impose the solution. He also stressed that all political factors in Mostar agree on one thing: the situation is not bearable anymore: “The entire international community looks at Mostar, also when it comes to efforts of this country to join the European Union and when it comes to the basic need to attract foreign investors.” Asked whether HR Paddy Ashdown will penalize those politicians that obstructed the agreement on Mostar, Wnendt answered: “We still did not see all the cases of the obstructions by politicians. They showed high level of agreement, perhaps 90% of solutions for future single city has been adopted through consensus of political parties and included in the report by chair of Mostar Commission… At this moment, I cannot blame anybody and if the things get complicated by the end of this process, it would be clear who is responsible.” |
| VL int with SDHR Wnendt
| Vecernji List front ‘Division prevents development of Mostar’, pg 5 ‘After all Mostar is not city like Sarajevo or Banja Luka’ by Dejan Jazvic – SDHR Werner Wnendt notes: “It is obvious that there are issues we need to talk about, and we are doing it. The final solution must be as such that there are no parallelisms in the city and that there is no side-lining of any people”. Questioned whether it means that there could be corrections to Winterstein’s Proposal, under condition that there is no side-lining and parallelisms, SDHR Wnendt says those are the key conditions adding: “There are a lot of initiatives for an agreement, and it is possible that Mister Winterstein gives new explanations or additional amendments to what has been achieved so far in the work of the Commission”. Asked to comment on numerous parties’ objections that a solution to Mostar should not be taken if it were not to be applied in other cities, Wnendt notes Mostar is a specific case, and as such, it is mentioned in the Dayton Peace Accord, and the High Representative has the mandate for it: “Therefore, there has to be a solution to Mostar which will not be viewed, for example in the context of electoral rules, as a model for other cities in BiH. Still, one should not make connection between solution to Mostar and other cities in BiH.” |
| JL int with Ashdown | Jutarnji List pg 5 ‘It is high time for change of Dayton’ – Asked as to “why the Bosniaks are against unification of Mostar”, HR Paddy Ashdown says in the interview to JL: “It is not down to me to interpret it, they believe it is their interest. Solution to Mostar cannot be based on trust, because the fact is that there is no trust. It is a natural human consequence of all that’s happened. We will talk to everyone and use the time we have to reach a consensus. If it does not happen, I will have to solve it on my own”, says HR Ashdown. |
| SDA refused to meet EU troika | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘SDA representatives refused to meet with Cliff, Busscher and Daviddi’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDA ignored talks on Mostar’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘SDA leaders rejected to meet with European delegation!’, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘SDA boycotted EU troika again’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘SDA against constructive dialogue on future Statute of Mostar!?’ – EU representatives, Dutch Ambassadors to BiH Rob Bosscher, UK Ambassador Ian Cliff and Deputy Head of the EC Delegation to BiH Renzo Daviddi, visited Mostar, in order to support the parties to get over problems that still exist. “If BiH is really eager to make progress on the path to EU, problems related to the city of Mostar should be permanently solved, declared the ambassador of the Netherlands to BiH,” stated Rob Bosscher at the press conference. He pointed out that political leaders in the city of Mostar bear great responsibility for future of BiH. SDA did not attend the meeting with EU ‘troika’. FTV – “That raised doubts about sincerity of the mentioned party when it comes to a constructive dialog on drafting the Statute of the City of Mostar,” said Rob Bosscher, and added that with this SDA proved to be non-cooperative. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Mostar is a road towards Europe’ – “No constituent people should dominate another. Only in that case all citizens of Mostar can feel well, and gradually make their own sense of union.” – added Bosscher. Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Hamdija Jahic froze status in SDA?”, by De.L – DL carries that as far as SDA is concerened only Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic attended the meeting with the Ambassadors, however, according to a DL source he attended it in the capacity of a Mostar Mayor and not an SDA member. The source added that Jahic froze his status in SDA. |
| Oslobodjenje: Mtg btw SDA and HDZ on Tuesday on Mostar failed | Oslobodjenje cover, pg 4 ‘It is turn on Paddy Ashdown’s move!’ by Az. Kalamujic – According to daily, SDA and HDZ leadership held meeting in Sarajevo late on Tuesday night on Mostar issue, however failed to reach any agreement. Both parties stuck to their previous positions, where HDZ wants Mostar to be organized as one municipalities and one electoral unit, while SDA strongly lobbied for Mostar to be divided into 6 municipalities. Following the failure of the talks, HDZ informed SDA that referendum will be held on Thursday in Croat majority municipalities of Mostar, and that citizens will vote on HDZ’s proposal on the city structure. A SDA official, who attended the meeting but wanted to stay anonymous, stated for daily that there no space left for two parties to further discuss this issue, and added: “Now, it is turn for Paddy Ashdown’s move.” |
| PIC Ambassadors: Mostar issue must be solved by the end of month | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Issue of Mostar must be solved this month’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Mostar should have unified city administration’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘City should be finally united’, Vjesnik pg 10 ‘Mostar should have unified city administartion’ – The Ambassadors of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council expressed their full support for the ongoing dialogue between the High Representative and the local stakeholders in Mostar on the future of the city. They also urged parties to adopt the Statue in time for it to be implemented before October local elections. Ambassadors also endorsed the draft Mostar Statue as proposed by the Commission. |
| OHR launches ‘Mostar – one city’ campaign | FTV, BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Today launching of ‘Mostar – one city’ campaign’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDA ignored talks on Mostar’ – The High Representative’s Director of Communications and Chief Spokesperson, Julian Braithwaite, will on Wednesday hold a press conference to mark the launch of the “Mostar – One City” Public Information Campaign. OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic said that this Campaign’s objective is to support the process of the reunification of the city of Mostar, explaining this process to the citizens of Mostar. |
Political issues | |
| SDA demands restructure of the Government, Hazdipasic asked to resign | FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SDA demands re-shuffle of Federal Government’ – SDA Presidency obligated its President and administration to initiate talks with the coalition partners with the purpose of reconstructing the FBiH Government, was announced after the session of SDA Presidency. This came after Presidency adopted the report of the party’s commission appointed with the aim to analyse performance of the executive authorities in BiH. “That includes everyone and does not exclude anyone,” said SDA president Sulejman Tihic. “The results so far are not the reflection of what we wanted when we appointed the Government. We are not satisfied with the entire work of the FBiH Government. It is likely that the whole Government will be changed, but it depends on talks with coalition partners”, said Palavric. BHTV 1 – “I already said before the Main Board that the Government got the ‘pass’ grade, however with several individual defects,” said SDA President Sulejman Tihic. Asked whether he would resign if he was asked, FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said he still did not know: “[SDA] Presidency will do what they think is the best and act as they think they should”. According to sources close to SDA, BHTV 1 claims that possible replacement for Hadzipasic could be current FBiH Traffic and Communications Nedzad Brankovic or SDA’s veteran Hasan Muratovic. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘Ahmet Hadzipasic, after all, will be replaced’ – Daily claims that SDA is determined to being with the reconstruction of the FBiH Government, including the replacement of the FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic. Oslobodjenje also carries that while SDA Presidency did not want to publicly comment on this particular replacement, it learned that Hadzipasic was already offered to resign at the informal talks with the party leadership. Regarding the entire initiative to examine the work of the executive authorities, Sulejman Tihic commented: “All SDA candidates came intot heir function based on the proposal by the party, and not through direct elections. Therefore, I think there is a moral obligation by each of tour candidates to resign if the party is not satisfied with its work.” Tihic denied that Hadzipasic offered resignation or that SDA had a new candidate for the position. At the end, article reads that reliable sources also said that Bakir Izetbegovic, SDA Vice President, and Hasan Muratovic were in favour of giving second chance to Hadzpasic. Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘SDA wants more successful prime ministers!’, ‘Tihic: Restructuring of the government includes the prime minister’, Dnevni List back pg ‘HDZ BiH decides on Hadzipasic removal’ – Daily also claims that Ahmet Hadzipasic was unofficially asked to resign. Hadzipasic himself confirmed for the journalists that SDA leadership recently asked him to resign, but added that he refused to do so: “I asked for the discussion with arguments on my work and the work of the FBiH Government. All this looks like trade to me. SDA is dissatisfied with the work of Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic, and HDZ in turn for his removal asks for my departure.” |
| DL editorial critical of SDA intention to remove Hadzipasic | Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Who does mind Hadzipasic’s moderateness?’ by M. Relota – DL carries an editorial in which the author harshly criticizes the SDA members who want to remove FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. The editorial says: “According to ‘smart’ heads who criticize FBiH Prime Minister Hadzipasic saying that he is too moderate, good with Croats and Serbs, that he defends Aluminij, hates miners and drink beer, Hadzipasic himself gave a moral lecture by saying that he cannot and does not want to implement SDA policy in the FBiH Government made of many parties. Congratulations Prime Minister! They can do to you whatever they want, however if wise people from SDA remove you it will be an indicator of their vanity, restraints, and in the time ahead of us it will return as a boomerang to them.” |
| Ashdown meets Croatian officials | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘BiH and Croatia connected by joined way to Europe’ – In addition to Mostar, HR Paddy Ashdown and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader also discussed regional cooperation, Dayton Peace Agreement and process of European integration. OHR Communications Director, Julian Braithwaite, stated: “There were no talks about issues such as Vc corridor or Ploce port. These are issues to be addressed between governments in Sarajevo and Zagreb.” Braithwaite also confirmed that Ashdown’s main reason for the visit to Zagreb was to meet with the new Croatian government. Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Croatia interested in re-organization of Mostar’ – HR Ashdown also met with the Croatian President, Stipe Mesic, and the Chief OHR spokesperson, Julian Braithwaite, in a statement to DL, said that President Mesic and HR Ashdown talked about how to improve good relations between BiH and Croatia, return of refugees and the Ivanjica border crossing near Trebinje. “The High Representative explained the situation regarding the city of Mostar restructuring. His intention is to reach an agreement through consensus, but if that’s not possible, he will have to take an appropriate decision to unite the city”, said Braithwaite. RTRS, FTV and BHTV 1 briefly mentioned HR’s meeting with President Mesic. |
| Reactions in RS on HDZ initiative to abolish FBiH | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Either Dayton or three entities’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘New matrimony out of interest’, pg 5 ‘Over other people’s back’,Blic pg 13 ‘RS will not be a Canton’, Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘There is no BiH without the RS’ – SDS President Dragan Kalinic issued a press statement in which he said that HDZ initiative regarding transfer of FBiH authorities to the BiH and cantonal levels is a problem between Croats and Bosniaks, and that they showed solved it and not at the damage of RS. He added that such initiative would not ensure either more functional or more economically prosperous BiH. Kalinic also said the BiH’s Dayton structure offers enough capacity to respond to needs of integrating into the EU. Mihailo Mihailica, President of Serb Radical Party, has also agreed that HDZ initiative on BiH restructuring is unacceptable for RS, stressing that his party respects Dayton Peace Agreement and that any initiative towards changes could be dangerous and a subject of instability in this area. Velimir Kunic, SNSD Vice President, also does not agree with changes to Dayton Agreement and BiH Constitution, adding that Serbs in Federation are a minority and not constituent people. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Cantons did not implement decision of the BIH Constitutional Court’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Serbs without rights’, Blic pg 12 ‘Kunic: Serbs as minority’ – Articles bring statement by Velimir Kunic. |
Economic issues | |
| Covic on Mostar Investment Conference
| BHTV 1, RHB, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Three investment contracts’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Accommodation the biggest problem’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘Hydro-electric power plant in Blato’ – The chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated that representatives of about 50 countries and 400 BiH companies are expected to attend the International Investment Conference scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 February in Mostar. He added that initial prediction of 2000 guests was proved to be insufficient. RTRS – Dragan Covic, who is also the chair of the organisational board, said that concrete projects for potential investments would be presented to businessmen: “The conference has investment’s character and we want to present BiH with aim to obtain contacts with businessmen from all over the world.” Covic stressed that the conference has no political context. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Covic announces signing of three contracts’ – According to Covic, three contracts to be signed at the conference have already been prepared, and so far the expectations are to have in total 10 contracts signed. Asked to comment upon the worries expressed by the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council over Mostar restructuring, Covic said: “I don’t see the reason to bring in connection the international investments conference for BiH with Mostar restructuring. It would be great if that restructuring is defined by the end of this month and that it is acceptable for all citizens.” Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Businessmen and statesmen to arrive’ – Stressing that there is no reason to connect conference to Mostar political issues, Covic said: “I would like to ask [Paddy] Ashdown not to make those comparisons.” |
| Ashdown appoints Dixon as Chair of ITA Governing Board
| RHB, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Joly Dixon a chairman of the Governing Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority’, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Dixon in Steering Board of Tax Administartion’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Joly Dixon is the first Chairperson of Steering Board’, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Joly Dixon Chairman of Indirect Taxation Administration’, Blic pg 13 ‘Joly Dixon at the head’ – OHR Spokesperson Vedran Persic stated that the High Representative has appointed Joly Dixon – the former chairman of the Indirect Tax Policy Commission – as the first Chairman of the Governing Board of the Indirect Tax Authority. The ITA is responsible for Customs and for the introduction and operation of Value Added Tax (VAT). Its Governing Board comprises the three Ministers of Finance and three experts on Indirect Taxation, plus the Chairman. In a letter sent on Tuesday to the Prime Minister Adnan Terzic, the High Representative noted that the European Commission has made the ITA reform process and the subsequent timely introduction of VAT a precondition for BiH entering Stability and Association Agreement negotiations for European Union (EU) accession. “Mr. Dixon’s vast experience within the EC and the EU makes him especially qualified to help steer BiH on the road to Europe in this key reform area,” the High Representative wrote. BHTV 1 – ITA Director Kemal Causevic announced that at the end of this week he would meet with RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic in order to find solution for adequate premises for ITA headquarters facilities in Banja Luka, which will employ about 300 people. Temporarily, ITA is currently based in Sarajevo. |
| VL claims Hays and Kreso met over Aluminij | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Kreso left OHR building angry’ by dja – VL carries that the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, on Tuesday invited General Manager of the Elektroprivreda BiH, Enver Kreso, for an urgent meeting in order to “explain” him once again the OHR stands with regard to continuation of electricity supply to Aluminij. VL learns that the talks between Hays and Kreso were not pleasant at all and the fact that Kreso left the OHR building in bad mood proves it. VL also says that obviously the OHR did not want that public is familiar with this meeting and thus they were surprised when a VL journalist asked them about it. VL says that OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic gave a short comment: “We do not comment on routine meetings that we have on a daily basis.” |
| Vrankic on Aluminij | Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘Sanctions for failure to respect government decisions to follow’ by Miso Relota) – After the FBiH Government supported the High Representative’s Decision on Industrial Electricity Tariffs, the FBiH Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, notes that the FBiH Government will be in the next few days completing an analysis of the implementation of the Decision and possibly pass sanctions against the ones that do not abide by it. “Whether the Elektroprivreda of BiH directly supplies electricity to Mostar’s Aluminij or the Elektroprivreda of Herceg Bosna does it, it is down to them. The price will be in accordance with the tariff system, and the average price is 29,7 Euros per MW/h. That has been agreed and that’s the tariff, everything else is avoiding”, says Deputy PM Vrankic. |
RTV subscription | |
| EC demands FBiH Govt to decide on RTV subscription
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘FBiH Government is obliged to solve the issue of subscription’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Maric: We expect the government to reconsider its decision’, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Problem of RTV subscription hinders BiH progress towards EU’, Blic pg 13 ‘Critics to the Federation of BiH’ – The European Commission reminded BiH authorities in a press release issued on Tuesday that they have an obligation to resolve the issue of the collection of the RTV subscription, in order to ensure independent public broadcasting system and its long-term financial sustainability. EC added that this one of the priorities BiH has undertook four years ago and that it has to implement on the path towards EU. FTV, RTRS – By repeatedly postponing the solution for collection of the subscription, FBiH Government clearly shows that it was unprepared to provide its citizens a financially independent public broadcasting service and that is hinders the progress of BiH on its path towards the EU. Stressing that RS has already resolved the issue European Commission added that the important financial support by EU intended for the establishment of public broadcasting system has been conditioned with the sustainable system and reform development within public broadcasters, reads press release. |
| BHTV 1 feature on subscription | BHTV 1 by Gvozden Sarac – Report refers to the session of the FBiH Government, in which ministers for the second time refused to adopt the decision on collection of RTV subscription in the entity through telephone bills. Commenting that obviously five ministers that voted against this decision and three that were sustained from voting obviously did not need financially and politically independent public broadcaster, reporter also notes that immature attitude of some politicians bring broadcaster in the position to possibly loose financial assistance by the European Commission worth approximately 3 millions Euros. “Those funds are now under question because we expect from public broadcasters to be financially strong and independent, to have independent editorial policies and, of course, the management of public broadcasters to implement necessary reforms,” stated spokesperson for the European Commission Frane Maroevic. |
| Drago Maric’s comment on FBiH Govt re subscription | Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Maric: We expect the government to reconsider its decision’ – Commenting repeated refusal of the FBiH Government to adopt the decision on collection of RTV subscription through telephone bills, PBS General Director Drago Maric said: “We are of course disappointed with such decisions of the FBiH Government, but we expect it to be reconsidered. Even though the situation in broadcasters is far from being great, I would say that we are more worried with the failure to fulfil obligations from Brussels document, especially since one part of the state already went through necessary procedure and it already prepares necessary documents.” Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Extension of contract with Elektroprivredas is possible’ – DL carries that Drago Maric said that most probably the PBS will ask Elektroprivredas to extend the current contract. Commenting on the present situation Maric, said: “If you want to resolve something you find the way and if you do not want you demand additional explanations.” According to him, this latter example is the case when payment of RTV subscription is in question. |
Update to ‘coup d’état’ affair | |
| Gligoric: FOSS breached human rights and Law
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘FOSS officials must be criminally prosecuted’ – Tihomir Gligoric, President of BiH Parliamentary Commission in charge of investigating into coup d’état affair, said that the Commission would demand criminal prosecution of officials of FOSS and other political officials responsible for the tapping of Munir Alibabic. Gligoric added: “I think that all those proved to have had information and probably ensured “leak” of confidential information must file resignations.” He also said that the Commission is expected to finish its report by the end of this month and submitted to the BiH Parliament. FTV – Indicating that FOSS did breach human rights and the relevant Law, Tihomir Gligoric explained that the entire case included violation of the right on freedom and security, right on privacy, right on freedom of thought and speech. Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘Coup d’état was set up process’ – Gligoric also confirmed that the entire coup d’état affair was a set up story, and that those “who worked against honest people should be criminally prosecuted.” Gligoric said that it was clear even now that former Director of FOSS Ivan Vuksic breached the Law by wire tapping citizens, journalists and politicians without agreement by his FOSS Executive Director Edhem Besic. However, Vuksic denied this. In separate inset titled ‘Cooperation with OHR?!’, Oslobodjenje claims that the Commission still did not established in which way information leaked on this cases, but Ivan Vuksic said that they did not come from FOSS. Explaining how the documents marked ‘state secret’ reached the Office of the High Representative, intelligence officers explained that they were only fulfilling demands for the cooperation with the international community. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Vuksic confirmed that everything went by Law’ – article brings Vuksic’s statement mentioned above. |
| Editors of Avaz and Ljiljan refused to testify before the Commission | Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘I cannot allow Lagumdzija to interrogate me’ – Editor-in-Chiefs of Ljiljan magazine and Dnevni Avaz daily, Mensur Brdar and Fahrudin Djapo respectively, on Tuesday did not testify before the community. Avaz published the explanation by its editor-in-chief Fahrudin Djapo as to why he refused to testify: “I must note with regret that the parliament has not ensured a neutral and independent investigation for the simple reason that Mr Zlatko Lagumdzija is on the commission. It is not necessary to waste time saying whether or not he is an interested party and whether or not he should conduct a parliamentary investigation into the story in which, after Munir Alibabic, he is the hero… Hence I regard it as my professional obligation, not to be allow myself to be questioned by Zlatko Lagumdzija, who as a politician should have been a subject of several investigations” Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Brdar: I do not want to testify before the commission which is not independent’ – The editor in chief of Ljiljan, Mensur Brdar, has also informed the commission that he does not want to testify to the commission. “While expressing my deep respect for the Bosnia-Hercegovina parliament and its bodies, I am informing you that I do not want to testify before the aforementioned commission,” reads the letter Brdar sent. It adds that the commission, which has questioned many other people, is not, in Brdar’s opinion, independent “because Zlatko Lagumdzija, who is an interested party, sits on it”. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Avaz editor-in-chief refused to testify’ – Chair of the Commission, Tihomir Gligoric commented: “It would be good that they came, to hear the other side of the story. And whether we overstepped out authorities, only House of Representatives can stay that as they gave us authorities.” |
War crimes | |
| Times: “Karadzic and Mladic may never be arrested” | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Karadzic could evade justice’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic may never be arrested’ – Top war crimes suspect, Radovan Karadzic could evade justice if he is not arrested before the NATO mandate in BiH expires late this year, the London Times wrote on Tuesday. British officials in NATO fear that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic will never face justice unless a new effort is made to arrest them, the Times reported. Even before SFOR completes its mission its numbers will be reduced to seven thousand and US troops will withdraw entirely. Article also carries that in the meantime the time for the Hague process is running out and after two years it achieved only meager results in proving direct responsibility of Slobodan Milosevic. Glas Srpske cover pg story ‘The French are suspicious’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Karadzic and Mladic may evade justice’ – According to the British daily, only American and British troops are involved in the search for Karadzic and Mladic, while other units within SFOR are not involved in these activities to such an extent. The London diplomats even claim that the French officials disclose NATO plans on this issue to Serbs in BiH. |