Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 21 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Croat flag removed in Stolac again | Bad reception | Cavic mtg RSNA Bosniak, Croat reps |
| FBiH HoR in session | FBiH HoR session | Vitomir Popovic on HR’s decisions |
| VL on members of Parliament | EUFOR on usage of military facilities | Branko Peric with Mikerevic |
TV news broadcast on 20 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Sanader,Kosor in Mostar | Cavic met with RS officials | Asim Fazlic released | Meeting of RS parties |
| Crisis in BiH and RS | Crisis in BiH institutions | Cavic met with RS officials | Resignations in CoM |
| Rehn in | Marovic on HR’s decisions | Statement of Olli Rehn | Interview with Cavic |
| Austrian President in BIH | EU analysers on BiH crisis | Heinz Fischer in BiH | Rehn in |
| Oslobodjenje | RS doesn’t want crisis in the state institutions; EUPM Commissioner: Police regions must be multiethnic; [Sanader in Mostar]: Soon, negotiations on dual citizenship |
| Dnevni Avaz | Crisis in BiH is not in our interests; Fischer: BiH has clear European perspective; Asim Fazlic released from detention yesterday |
| Dnevni List | Mostar: Votes of Croat defenders crucial |
| Vecernji List | To resolve crisis by Christmas |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Reveal murderers and those who staged Leutar case! |
| Nezavisne Novine | Meeting of Dragan Cavic and leaders of political parties in RS: RS will not cause crisis; Indictment against Dodik and Kondic: Ivanic: It is pure politics; Serbian MoI handed Pandurevic to SiCG Army; Oli Rehn: Police in BiH must be organised in regions; |
| Glas Srpske | RS President with Heads of parliamentary parties: Pressures must end; Svetozar Marovic: Both sides should be respected |
| EuroBlic | Former premier and minister charged: Dodik and Kondic suspected of having damaged the budget for BAM 6 million; Meeting of political leaders without results: Republika Srpska to face with temptation |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Nacional | Croats invite Serbs to destroy |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Cavic meets Bosniak, Croat reps at RSNA
| RTRS at 12.00 – Dragan Cavic, RS President, holds a meeting with the representatives of Bosniak and Croat peoples at RS NA.The meeting has commenced at |
| FBiH HoR in session
| RHB, BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – At a session in |
| Judicial reforms
| RTRS at 12.00 – RS is in lead before F BiH in the judiciary reform. The Laws have been been passed on time and RS Government has had good cooperation with the HJPC, said Branko Peric, President of HJPC’s after the meeting he had with Dragan Mikerevic, RS Premier in resignation. |
| EUFOR raids into military facilities
| BH Radio 1, RTRS at 12.00 – In the RS and the FBiH, EUFOR has conducted unannounced raids into military facilities at some 20 locations many of which will be sealed, the EUFOR said in a press release issued today. A few of the facilities really needed for the country defense purposes will remain opened. This EUFOR program is based on the strong evidence according to which some of these facilities are being used for illegal activities and/or they represent part of the war crime indictees support network. |
| RS to continue with Buk Bijela dam project
| RTRS at 12.00 – The RS plans to build the hydro-power plant Buk Bijela even if |
Political crisis following HR/US Govt measures | |
| RS parties agree: ‘Crisis in BiH institutions is not in our interests’; Mikerevic’s resignation accepted
| RHB, FTV – At the meeting with the RS President Dragan Cavic, representatives of the political parties in RS agreed that it was not in their interests to cause crisis in BiH. The meeting, organized by Cavic to take common stance on measures announced by HR and US Government on 16 December, was attended by the RSNA Speaker Dusan Stojicic, RS PM in resignation Dragan Mikerevic, BiH HoR Deputy Speaker Nikola Spiric, BiH HoP Speaker Goran Milojevic, Milorad Dodik from SNSD, Mladen Ivanic of PDP, Marko Pavic of DNS, Petar Djokic of RS SP, and Milanko Mihajlica from SRS. Mikerevic’s resignation was accepted and participants all reached census to resolve the crisis as soon as possible. The mandatory for the new Government was not proposed, and Mikerevic will continue performing this duty “technically” for the time being. Cavic also announced that talks would also be continued with the other political parties in the RS. Unofficially, RHB carries that Milorad Dodik will be the new PM. BHT 1 by Boris Gagic – Cavic said: “[Mikerevic] resignation has been submitted to RSNA; from the moment RS NA adopts… it, deadline, as regulated by the Constitution, under which new PM should be nominated, is 10 days…The existing crisis should not be spread on extremely difficult and serious issue – issue of cooperation with ICTY, and we all supported the fact that Interior Ministry and other institutions should continue their work no matter how the situation is gong to develop…RS officials want to participate in the processes; they want to participate in the reforms, but in the way which is the result of compromise… suiting all.” BHT 1 journalist comments that Cavic denied the meeting was a ‘confidential, Serb conspiracy’. Cavic invited representatives of other parties to meet him today, including SDA, SPD and SBiH. RTRS by Sinisa Mihailovic– Cavic said RS parties’ stance on HR measures will be constructive, not destructive. “We want to fight anyone who wants to impose or push solutions upon us that are opposing Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘RS doesn’t want crisis in the state institutions’ by Orijana Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Crisis in BiH is not in our interests’, pg 2 ‘Crisis in BiH institutions is not in our interests’ by J. Stojanovic, Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on front ‘RS will not block joint institutions’ by N. Bise, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘RS will not be causing crisis in joint institutions’, mentioned on front, ’Resignation of RS Government is final’ by B. Stevandic, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘We did not cause the crisis but Ashdown did it’ by A. Macanovic, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘RS will not cause crisis’ by D. Risojevic; Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Pressures must end’ by G.D.; EuroBlic cover and pg 4 ‘Republika Srpska to face with temptation’; Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Ashdown is uniting Serbs’ – also covered. |
| RTRS int with Dragan Cavic: ‘The crisis has to be overcome’ | RTRS by Drasko Milinovic– In an interview to RTRS, RS President Dragan Cavic reiterates the messages adopted at the meeting of strongest RS parties on Monday. In addition, Cavic repeats that it was agreed that nobody will act destructively. When it comes to crisis in the Council of Ministers following the reports on resignations by several ministers and/or deputies, Cavic said that the functioning of the CoM at the moment is impossible but emphasized that this crisis has to be overcome. Cavic states that all political parties will define a joint approach towards CoM. Asked about the meeting that RS Vice Presidents Adil Osmanovic and Ivan Tomljenovic are expected to hold today [Tuesday], Cavic says they have a right to do so and added that everyone’s opinion must be taken into account. He adding he hopes they will also invite representatives of Serb people, adding that the only reason he invited those parties at the meeting is because they are the strongest and not because he makes any difference between peoples. Cavic says: “We want to solve certain matters together with others but we cannot accept to only nod our heads and accept solutions that were created somewhere else.” He concludes that certain goals of some parties from FBIH correspond to work of some parts of IC and adds that RS asks for its position to be acknowledged. |
| Terzic welcomes conclusions of RS parties’ meeting
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘RS will not cause crisis’ by D. Risojevic, inset ‘Terzic received two resignations’ – Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, on Monday welcomed the conclusions of the meeting between Dragan Cavic and leaders of political parties from RS describing conclusions as being reasonable and adding: “The current crisis can solely be overcome with the clear head.” |
| Osmanovic: ‘Gathering of Serb politicians only means going back to the time of Karadzic’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Osmanovic: Gathering of Serb politicians only means going back to the time of Karadzic’ by E. Sarac – In a statement for the daily, RS Vice-president Adil Osmanovic said that the political positions presented in the past days by RS President Dragan Cavic did not reflect opinions of the Bosniak and Croat political representatives. “This Entity (RS) cannot be the entity of one people only. The responsibility for its future lies with all of its three constituent peoples,” said Osmanovic adding that the Bosniak and Croat political representatives should have therefore been invited to attend the Monday’s meeting at Cavic’s office. “I believe that such a gathering of Serb politicians only represents a step back and an attempt to isolate RS in a way in which it was being done during the time of Karadzic,” emphasized Osmanovic. |
| Updates to resignations in Council of Ministers and Presidency
| BHT 1 by Suzana Stambol – The Chair of the BiH Council of Minister Adnan Terzic admits that the CoM is currently in the crisis. He said that he was going to accept all resignations offered, but stressed he believes that the solution should be reached by simple political agreement. Terzic said so far he received resignations by BiH Deputy Civil Affairs Minister Zoran Tesanovic and Mladen Ivanic. Terzic said: “They are handing in resignations for reasons which I find irrational, and I have to accept them. If Serb representatives withdraw from BiH CoM, CoM will be illegitimate, but according to the Law on the Council of Ministers when there is no minister there is the deputy.” HDZ Chairman Barisa Colak said: “I think that this is not in the interests of either ruling or opposition parties. I think that we all have to be aware of the fact that reforms in BiH must not be stopped.” HR Paddy Ashdown commented: “I understand that the latest development made an impact on reforms, but I am serious and I am meant to be taken seriously. Persons responsible for the ongoing situation are those who have not cooperated with ICTY for 9 years now, and they make BiH’s way to European Union impossible.” RHB – BiH Presidency President Borislav Paravac stated that he will perform this function until SDS decides otherwise. FTV by Jakov Avram– Terzic said: “No one can deny that the crisis is going on in BiH CoM As well as in FBiH, especially due to the fact that we are faced with issue of adoption of next year’s budget. I think that it is not wise to stop BiH’s admission to European integrations after we had stopped BiH’s admission into Partnership for Peace.” On his resignation, Paravac commented: “SDS has not asked me to resign. We have our resignations in sealed envelops in SDS.” RTRS – According to RTRS, in addition to Tesanovic, the resignations were already submitted by both Branko Dokic and Slobodan Kovac. As for BIH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic, RTRS was informed from his Cabinet stated that he will act in accordance with his political and functional responsibility. HR stated that all those who feel that his decisions are not in accordance with BIH Constitution can appeal to Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SDS and PDP ministers have not resigned after all’ by F. Cardzic – According to DA, nobody but BiH Deputy Civil Affairs Minister Zoran Tesanovic, resigned to the position in CoM. Kovac stated for DA that SDS gave him ultimatum to resign on Monday and he said he would do it by the end of day. DA writes that following the meeting in BL, Kovac commented that he is to joint collective resignation. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Irrational causing of crisis’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘If Serb Ministers go, CoM is not legitimate’ – brings Terzic’s statement that the resignations are irrational. EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘Two resignations for now’ by Tijana Veselinovic-Nedeljka Breberina – reports on Ivanic, Tesanovic resignations. |
| SCG President: “Nobody has right to destroy RS”
| BHT1, FTV, Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Both sides should be respected’; EuroBlic pg 4 ‘Nobody has a right to destroy RS’; Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Return to the past’ – In the statement he addressed to SRNA following latest HR’s measures, SiCG President Svetozar Marovic, has said that all regulations, given in the Dayton Peace Agreement, had to be taken into account and all individual attempts and steps which could endanger BiH’s way to Europe should be prevented. |
| Serbian PM: HR destabilized RS and BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Kostunica: entities are a foundation of Dayton BiH’, Glas Srpske cover page report ‘Anti-legal measures’; Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Ashdown is causing crosos in RS” by Agencies – Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian Premier, on Monday assessed that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, had destabilised the entity of RS and the BiH as well through his latest measures. He regarded the latest decision as unacceptable, undemocratic and unfitting. Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Nobody is above |
| Oslobodjenje: ‘Citizens would like Ashdown in
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘ Citizens would like Ashdown in |
| Sanader supports preservation of Dayton BiH
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Sanders supports preservation of Dayton BiH’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 3 ‘BiH violates principles of free market’ by Z. Zekic, Vecernji List pg 13 ‘Negotiations with EU are also good for BiH and SCiG’ by H – Commenting on the current RS crisis, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader stated that the Croatian Government follows latest developments in the RS carefully. Sander also denied the DL article, which said that he came to Mostar in order to discuss latest changes in BiH emerged due to the HR’s decisions. Sander added: ‘The stand of the Croatian Government is non-interfering in BiH’s internal politics.’ |
| EU supports Ashdown
| Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on front ‘RS will not block joint institutions’ by N. Bise, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘No Europeans’ – Daily report on article by the Financial Times which reads that the EU supports the HR Paddy Ashdown in the current crisis. FT carries that EU officials showed no sign of backing down, and that Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief, yesterday gave his support to Ashdown. EU also stressed that when Ashdown agreed this package of decisions, he did so on behalf of the European Union. |
| RS Defence Minister: HR cannot abolish RS MoD
| EuroBlic RSpg3 ‘Ashdown cannot abolish RS Defense Ministry’ by Srna; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Punishment instead of reward’ by M. Dzepina – RS Defense Minister Milovan Stankovic stated HR Paddy Ashdown could not abolish RS Defense Ministry since only entity parliaments and BiH Parliamentary Assembly can bring such a decision. He added that the participation of RS in defense reform had been assessed as positive adding: “Defense Ministry and RS Army have done nothing that would give the High Representative, or any other person from the international community, the right to reach such a decision.” |
| BiH Human Rights Ombudsman on HR measures
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Second end of stick’ by N. Diklic – Vitomir Popovic, BiH Ombudsman for Human Rights, commented on the HR’s statement when he called on all those, who think he had violated BiH Constitution to file a complaint with the BiH Constitutional Court. Popovicnotes that decisions of HR’s can only be questioned by PIC, not BiH Constitutional Court or any other court in BiH, which does not give him the right to violate the Constitution. |
| European Stability Initiative criticizes HR measures
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH is less and less normal European state’ by BBC – Gerald Knaus from NGO Initiative for European Stability has stated that the latest measures taken by HR Ashdown are causing a great concern, noting: “We all plead for doing everything possible in order to arrest Karadzic and Mladic. However, imposing of constitutional changes by an order is a Draconian measure. The same is goes for removing officials without a right to complain and without presenting evidence they are helping war crimes indictees.” |
| Ivanic not banned from entering US
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘There were no instructions from Department of State’ by P.K. – NN has learnt at the BiH Embassy in Washington that the Embassy of BiH in USA has not received any notification from the US Department of State saying that Mladen Ivanic is not on the list of people banned to enter this state. RTRS – also has the same information. |
| NN op-ed on current political situation
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Crime has its patrons’ by Momir Dejanovic – The author is writing about the latest political developments in RS and resignation of Dragan Mikerevic, raising the question as to who would now take over the promise Mikerevic recently gave regarding “Srpske Sume” and putting that company on its feet again? The author concludes that the process of institutional reforms and short-term measures has been launched in BiH under organisation of High Representative, but this still do not bear any fruit. Owing to the high level of crime recorded, BiH citizens must wait longer for the promised jobs and justice, author stresses. |
| Oslobodjenje op-eds on current political crisis | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Crisis’ op-ed by Mirko Sagolj – Editorial refers to the crisis which followed the measures announced by the HR and US Govt. It reads that Paddy Ashdown has not caused, but the ruling of three nationalists parties. It concludes: “If the IC and Ashdown, as its representative, get scared by the pressures from RS and fall under blackmails, the road to new political adventure – division of BiH – would be entirely open again.” Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Referendum for war’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – “Homogenization on ‘Great |
Other political issues | |
| Olli Rehn meets BiH Presidency, Terzic: current crisis must be overcome
| RTRS, RHB – EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in BHT 1 by Lejla Redzovic– He also noted partial and slow progress with regard to meeting conditions set in the Feasibility study. Terzic added:“We have made great progresses in numerous issues, and we hope that we will manage to do the rest by March 2005.” BiH has the aim to enter EU by 2009, which is in 5 years. Analysers believe that BiH is far from that; they hope that it will take at last 15-20 years for that to happen. FTV by Zeljko Tica– Rehn stated:“The crucial criteria refer to locating war criminals and their transfers to Den Hag. Efforts have to be made on state level, but on entities’ levels as well. This refers to Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.” Talking about meeting with Rehn, the chairman of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac said: “We have discussed current BiH circumstances and we stated our opinion that this was just a small internal political crisis, which we are going to solve successfully.” Rehn also met with now former BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic. Reha said: “We in EU have normal working relations with Ivanic.” He did not want to comment whether EU was going to undertake similar measures as US Government and ban SDS and PDP leaderships to enter its countries. Terzic pointed out that International Community had to have harmonized policy. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Implementation of reforms must be continued’ by A.M., Oslobodjenje g 8 ‘BiH achieved significant progress’, Vecernji List front pg splash ‘To resolve crisis by Christmas’ and pg 20 ‘Europe demands solution for crisis by Christmas’ by D. Jazvic, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘BiH is getting status of negotiator slowly’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘EU has ‘normal relations’ with Ivanic’ by D. Pasic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Brussels has opened the door’; Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘The most important requirements are cooperation with The Hague and police reform’ by M.C.; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Rehn in favour of stability on BiH’ by S.D.– also covered. |
| DA, NN ints with Olli Rehn
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘There will be no admission to EU without full cooperation with ICTY’ – Interview with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Rehn emphasized that BiH had made a significant progress in the past years including the results achieved in the sectors of public administrations reform, preparations for VAT introduction, reform of defense and intelligence service, Mostar reorganization. “On the other side, there are major failures when it comes to the full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. It is a necessary pre-condition to enter the new phase of talks on stabilization and association. The same applies for the reform of police,” said Rehn. Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Police in BiH must be organised in regions’ and pg 5 ‘Crisis will not resolve problems in BiH’ by M. Cubro – In an interview to NN, Olli Rehn expresses EU expectation that police in BiH would be organised on regional principles and under the exclusive authority of the state, adding that BiH will not be able to make a single step towards EU integration without the cooperation with the ICTY and police former. |
| Sanader, Kosor visit Mostar
| Dnevni List front pg splash ‘Mostar: Votes of Croat defenders crucial’ and pg 3 ‘Votes of Croat defenders crucial for Jadranka Kosor’ by I. Glibusic, Vecernji List pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Politics of Croats in BiH is not being conducted from Zagreb’ by M. Relota and pg 13 ‘Negotiations with EU are also good for BiH and SCiG’ by H, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 3 ‘BiH violates principles of free market’ by Z. Zekic and pg 6 ‘Kosor: Mostar Hospital will get 30 million Kunas’ by Z. Zekic, S. Soldo – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and HDZ Croatia candidate for the position of the Croatian President Jadranka Kosor met with the HDZ BiH leadership in Mostar on Monday. After the meeting HDZ BiH President Barisa Colak stated that HDZ BiH fully supports Kosor’s candidacy. Colak also stressed that their cooperation with HDZ Croatia is very good and that it has additionally approved lately. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Talk with Terzic about Croat defenders’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 3 ‘BiH violates principles of free market’ by Z. Zekic, Vecernji List pg 13 ‘Negotiations with EU are also good for BiH and SCiG’ by H – Sander stated that Croatia prepares the official visit of CoM Chair Adnan Terzic at the beginning of the next year. Officials are expected to discuss the inter-state agreement on defenders’ issues. Sander also said that he talked with Terzic recently about the decision passed by the FBiH Govt according to which it is not possible to the companies whose majority owners are foreign countries to participate in the privatisation process in BiH. He added that the FBiH Government has a right to pass such decision, however, that such decision is not good. Dnevni List front pg splash ‘Mostar: Votes of Croat defenders crucial’ and pg 3 ‘Votes of Croat defenders crucial for Jadranka Kosor’ by I. Glibusic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 3 ‘BiH violates principles of free market’ by Z. Zekic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Any kinds of political games are not permissible’ by mr – Within his visit to Mostar Sander also visited Aluminij company and stated that this company is important for the Croatian economy as well because of its cooperation with the factory which produces light metals in Sibenik, Croatia. VL carries Sanader as saying that any kinds of political games regarding Aluminij are not permissible. RHB, BHT 1, FTV – broadly covered. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Politics of BiH is not being lead in Zagreb but in BiH’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Soon, negotiations on dual citizenship’, mentioned on cover, by L. Babaja, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Kosor: Mostar Hospital will get 30 million Kunas’ by Z. Zekic, S. Soldo, Dnevni List pg 12 ‘Croatian assistance for next year amounts to 87 million Kunas’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Politics of Croats in BiH is not being conducted from Zagreb’ by M. Relota, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘We will not interfere’; Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Croatia does not want to interfere into internal affairs of BiH’ by V. Coric – reports on visit. |
| Terzic meets Austrian President Fischer
| FTV, RHB, BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Austria will be support for BiH on a path to EU’, mentioned on cover, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Support to BiH’s European future’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Suport to BiH on the path towards EU’ by N. Krsman – Austrian President Heinz Fischer visited BiH. He met with members of BiH Presidency and BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic. They discussed the crisis in BiH, as well as, the possibilities to change the Dayton Peace Agreement. Chairman of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac said “We said that the ongoing crisis in BiH should be solved by BiH bodies, and the main BiH policy stream must not be brought into question and that is BiH’s way to European integrations.” Austrian President stressed that EU perspective for BIH is quite possible and that BiH could count on |
| BiH signs agreement on dual citizenship with
| BHT 1, FTV, Dnevni List pg 4 BiH preserved 70 000 citizens’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘First important agreement with EU member’ by E. Medunjanin – BiH Civil Affairs Minister Safet Halilovic and Swedish Ambassadorto BiH Aders Mollander signed the agreement on dual citizenship between BiH and Sweden on Monday. |
| Cardinal Puljic on position of Croats in BiH
| RHB – RHB broadcast lengthy interview Cardinal Vinko Puljic gave to Croatian radio |
| Herceg Bosna flag in Stolac removed again
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Herceg Bosna flag removed again’ by F. Vele, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Youth Forum removed Croat flag again’ by N. Dedic – The Croat flag erected in the Old Town in Stolac was removed again. The Youth Forum stated that they did it because it is an illegal symbol. President of this Association Nerin Dizdar stated: ‘Since the authorities do not do their job we have decided to remove the flag again.’ |
| VL says that people from EU and
| Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Persons who cannot enter either EU or USA are members of Parliament’ by Z. Jurilj – VL says that in spite of the fact that their names are on the lists of persons whose entrance to the USA or EU countries was forbidden due to obstructions in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord or because of non-cooperation with the ICTY, the persons from these lists are Heads of 3 permanent Commissions in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament. They are Hasan Cengic who is the President of the Commission for Foreign and Trade Policy in the BiH HoP (he is on the USA black list), Nade Radovic who is Deputy President of the Constitutional-Legal Commission (he was relieved of duty by the HR due to non-coopertaion with the ICTY in June last year) and Goran Milojevic who is a member of the Commission for Financial and Administrative Issues (he is a member of PDP which was sanctioned by the OHR last week). |
| HDZ’s letter to HR
| Dnevni List pg 5 ‘To make possible pre-trail release for Jelavic’ by NINA – The Sarajevo Canton HDZ Board sent an open letter to High Representative Paddy Ashdown in which they stressed that the political position of the Croat people in Sarajevo is getting more and more difficult. The letter also mentions the Jelavic case and the HDZ Board wonders as to why the pre-trial release is not made possible for Jelavic. They call on the HR to intervene and prevent such situations on the ground his authority. Also reported in Dnevni Avaz. |
Trials and judicial issues | |
| Banja Luka Prosecutor files charges against Dodik, Kondic
| BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Indictment against Milorad Dodik confirmed’ by O.V., Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Criminals charges against Dodik and Kondic’ by A. Macanovic, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Bill of indictment against Dodik and Kondic confirmed’ by NINA, EuroBlic cover ‘Dodik and Kondic suspected of having damaged the budget for BAM 6 million’ and RSpg 2 ‘Charged for damage of state budget’ by M. Soja; Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Indictment against Dodik and Kondic’ by S. Karic; Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Assault against Dodik’- The district prosecutor’s office in Banja Luka has charged former RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and his Finance Minister Novak Kondic with abuse of power and causing 6,039,000 convertible marks of damage to the budget of the RS. The indictment was initially issued on 10 December and it was confirmed by the District Court in FTV – Milorad Dodik said he is surprised by the charges against him. Dodik told journalists in RTRS – He added that all those who waited for 4 years to destroy him are wrong since his participation in solving the current crisis will not fail. |
| Ivanic says charges against Dodik is purely political | Nezavisne Novine cover ‘It is pure politics’ and pg 2 ‘Ivanic: Indictment against Dodik is purely political’ – Mladen Ivanic, PDP President, on Monday assessed that the bill of indictment against Dodikis purely political, aimed at attempted disqualification of some personnel. The following officials from the RS share his view: Marko Pavic DNS, Milanko Mihajlica SRS, Tihomir Gligoric SPRS and Ognjen Tadic SRS Vojislav Seselj. |
| Fazlic released from detention
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Alibabic stated he knew nothing about Fazlic’ by A. Durmo – The trial against Deputy Director of the BiH Interpol Asim Fazlic and Senad Kobilic on Monday resumed before BiH Court with the testimony of Munir Alibabic, former FOSS Director. Alibabic testified that he ahd no information about this trial, adding that everything he knew about the trial was from the newspapers. The prosecutor summoned Alibabic to testify on his links with Izet Mustafic, prosecution prime witness (who died few months ago). FTV –The BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Fazlic released’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Asim Fazlic released yesterday’, mentioned on cover, by M. Kukan – also reported. |
| Srpske sume update
| Nezavisne Novine pg. 9 ‘Indictments are announced in |
War crimes and police issues | |
| First trial for war crimes before | BHT 1 by Boris Grubesic – Trial to BiH citizen Abdulahim Maktouf has started before the FTV, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 37 ‘Trial against Maktouf for war crimes commenced’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Defence claims Maktouf did not participate taking hostages’ by M.K. – Maktouf was accused of kidnapping 5 citizens in October 1993 and for murdering Dragoljub Popovic. |
| NN claims Pandurevic handed over to SCG Army
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Serbian MoI handed Pandurevic to SiCG Army’ by Sn. K. – NN source close to the Cabinet of Serbian Premier, has stated that Serbian MoI Anti-crime and corruption Administration had handed the former RS Army General, Vinko Pandurevic, to SiCG Army. The source notes that Pandurevic is currently at the military facility in Sabac, where negotiations on his transfer are ongoing. |
| Dragan Covic demands update on Leutar case
| Slobodna Dalmacija front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Reveal murderers and those who staged Leutar case!’ by Z. Tulic – Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic sent a letter to FBiH Minister of Interior Mevludin Halilovic in which he demands from Halilovic to file criminal charges against the persons from the FBiH MoI who staged the court process in the Leutar case. |
| Carty: ‘Police regions must be multiethnic’ | Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Police regions must be multiethnic’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview with the daily, EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty said that the future police regions had to be multiethnic regardless of their number. Asked would the current political situation in RS influence the final Police Restructuring Commission’s proposal on the future organization of police in BiH, Carty said he hoped it would not since the police was something that had to be out of politics. |