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| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| EU requests Covic to resign | Floods in BiH | HR visiting |
| HR Ashdown in US | Humphreys calls on Covic to resign | Tihic on Covic (Dnevni Avaz) |
| FBiH Govt delegation in | World news | HR on Pandurevic |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Palm Sunday in Mostar | Vinko Pandurevic surrender to ICTY | Pandurevic surrender |
| Pope John | Vujanovic on war crime indictees | Ashdown in |
| Floods in Brcko | SCG to suspend indictees’ assets | Covic’s indictment |
| Covic’s attorneys in protest | USA Embassy on Covic indictment | Terzic on Ashdown’s ban |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Vinko Pandurevic surrender to ICTY | Floods in | Covic called to resign |
| Reactions to Pandurevic’s surrender | Privatisation in | Pandurevic indictment |
| The ICTY cases update | Privatisation in Una-Sana | No ICTY indictees in |
| Vujanovic on war crime indictees | BiH economic experts’ meeting | SCG on suspending indictees’ assets |
| Oslobodjenje | Ashdown gives away what BiH Army saved |
| Dnevni Avaz | Having Covic stay would make our job more difficult |
| Dnevni List | Visit: Mostar getting closer to UNESCO |
| Vecernji List | In interview to our newspapers Dragan Covic indirectly says he will not resign: I am in the way of those who want BiH without Croats |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia-related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | The name of the hell is Lora |
| Nezavisne Novine | Another Hague indictee handed to surrendered to RS and SiCG authorities: Vinko Pandurevic to go to |
| Blic | New surrender, Tribunal overbooked |
| Vecernje Novosti | (Pandurevic) I do not want people to be a hostage |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| HINA, Patriot: Ashdown to remove Croat member of Bosnian Presidency Covic if he does not resign
| HINA – The European Union on Sunday officially requested Dragan Covic to resign from his post as member of BiH Presidency after he was indicted for abuse of office and corruption. The EU’s request was backed by the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and the Patriot, BL magazine of today, pgs 14-15 ‘Ashdown will remove Covic’ – Patriot has learnt from a senior diplomatic source that if Dragan Covic fails to tender resignation to the position of Croat member to BiH Presidency until 23 March, Paddy Ashdown, HR to BiH, will remove him from the Office. According to the same source, Ashdown enjoys a full support of the EU and Washington to make this move. The source further notes that Ashdown may also remove Hasan Cengic and Mato Tadic. |
| Humphreys again calls on Covic to resign
| BH Radio 1 – The Chief of EC delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, today once again called on Dragan Covic to resign from his position of the BiH Presidency member, and repeated the stance of the EU that this would be the best option for both BiH and Covic. He underlined that while Covic is expected to resign, this would not mean that he is guilty, but would given him more time to prepare himself for defence. |
| HR welcomes Pandurevic’s decision to surrender to ICTY
| RS Radio – HR Paddy Ashdown assessed it was extremely good news that General Vinko Pandurevic decided to voluntarily go to |
Covic case | |
| HDZ Presidency today discusses Covic’s status
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Presidency HDZ before the difficult decision’ by F.Vele – HDZ Presidency today holds the session in Mostar discussing the current political situation following the raising of indictment against Dragan Covic, said HDZ spokesperson Pero Pavlovic. Covic has not yet disclosed whether he would resign or not, adding that the final decision will be brought at the Presidency session. “This is crucial, difficult moment for both me and the party. Today we will bring difficult, but I hope correct decisions,” said Covic. HDZ will also appoint the HDZ Mostar City Board. RHB, BHT, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Session of HDZ Presidency today’, by NINA also announces the session. |
| VL interview with Dragan Covic: I am in the way of those who want BiH without Croats
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘In interview to our newspapers Dragan Covic indirectly says he will not resign: I am in the way of those who want BiH without Croats’, and pgs 4-5 ‘They cannot remove us all’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries a big interview with the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, in which he did not want to explicitly say whether he will resign or not, however one can conclude from his claims and answers to the journalist’s questions that he will not be resigning (hence the front pg splash headline). Covic says he has had many contacts in last few days, including at |
| US Embassy reiterates its call on Covic to step down
| Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Dragan Covic should resign’, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Repeated call on Covic to step down’, Dnevni List, back pg ‘Dragan Covic should resign’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘American Embassy in BiH again calls on Covic to resign’, by H – The US Embassy in BiH on Sunday once again called on the Croat member of the state presidency, Dragan Covic, to resign because he was indicted for abuse of office and power and for corruption in connection with the operations of the Lijanovici company. In a press release, the embassy recalled that US diplomats in |
| EU: Covic should resign
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘EU recommends Covic to resign’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Bosscher delivered a message to Covic’, FENA– The Ambassador of the Netherlands, Rob Bosscher, acting as the local representative of the Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union held on Sunday a meeting with the member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic. During this meeting the Ambassador conveyed the message to Covic that in the unanimous opinion of the EU the indictment brought against him and confirmed by the court should be reason to step down as member of the Presidency, said a press release issued by the Royal Netherlands Embassy Sarajevo. “The dignity of this high Institution of State should at all times prevail above political or personal interests of its members. Stepping down in cases like this can only be considered as showing sense of political responsibility and statesmanship”, read the release. |
| PIC Steering Board calls on Covic to resign
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘PIC requests immediate resignation of Croat member of BiH Presidency’, Oslobodjenje back page ‘Covic must step down’, FENA – At a meeting in Sarajevo on Sunday evening, the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board noted the criminal indictment confirmed by the BiH Court against BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic. Whilst Covic, like any other citizen, is entitled to the presumption of innocence, he also has to consider his official position and the reputation of the country he represents, the Steering Board concludes. The PIC Steering Board therefore believes that Covic should step down immediately in order to protect the good name and integrity of the office he holds, and to enable him to defend himself in court free from his official obligations. The smooth functioning of the Presidency must be preserved. The Steering Board urges Covic to resign without delay. |
| Canadian Embassy calls on Covic to resign
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Covic should tender resignation’ by S.C. – The Canadian Embassy to BiH ahs asked Dragan Covic, Croat member to BiH Presidency, to tender resignation to the position, saying “only in this manner, Covic can preserve credibility of BiH Presidency, which is of such an importance for the international reputation of this state and trust of its citizens.” |
| Tihic says Covic’s stay in the Presidency would make the body’s work more difficult
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Having Covic stay would make our job difficult’ by Elvir Huremovic – In an interview to DA, the member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, comments to the indictment against his colleague Dragan Covic saying that the law should be applied in all cases. “Having Covic stay in Presidency would certainly make work difficult, especially for him as it us very hard to work under the burden of an indictment and it would have negative consequence for the institution,” comments Tihic. Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘Covic should on his own take decision on his future work’, by Erna Mackic also carries an interview with the Bosniak member of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, in which he, whilst commenting on the indictment against the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, says: “In a formal sense, no person that is holding an office is obliged to leave the office because an indictment has been raised against him or her. In case the indictment is causing difficulties in the work, he or she has to decide. Reports that were submitted against Covic so far have not made the work of the BiH Presidency difficult. However, the current indictment is his matter and he alone should take decision about his future work”. |
| Reactions to Saturday’s HDZ, SDA, PDP, SDS meeting: Dodik says four parties decided to defend Covic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘The authority has formed a coalition for crisis and lootings’ by M. Cubro and V. Popovic – OHR Spokesperson |
| SDS’ Novakovic says ruling parties did not support Covic, they are waiting for HDZ stance on the issue
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Stance of HDZ on Dragan Covic is awaited for’ by M. Cubro – A member of SDS Main Board, Momcilo Novakovic, claims the parties of the ruling four did not support HDZ and Dragan Covic on Saturday because HDZ still has not presented its stance. Novakovic went on to explain: “We have supported nobody. This was impossible because neither HDZ nor Dragan Covic still have formed a stance. We have said we would recognize the stance of HDZ and what they intend to do and we did not say we would support it’.” |
| NN op-ed referring to Covic case: The beauty of bribery and corruption
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘The beauty of bribery and corruption’ by Mirza Cubro – The author is ironical in saying that it is nice to be a politician at the present time in BiH, since Prosecutor’s Office and BiH Court cannot achieve major cause by bringing charges against politicians, since they do not leave position (referring to the case of Dragan Covic). He notes that the citizens of BiH are putting up with this, since politicians scare them with authority crisis. He concludes that citizens would not get any harm from the authority crisis, since the situation itself is bad. |
| Covic lawyers protest against publication of the indictment
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Criminal report againt protected witness S1’ – Defence attorneys of BIH member of the Presidency Dragan Covic on Sunday supported a protest of lawyers of other indictees in the Lijanovic case. They are protesting because the BIH Prosecutor’s office sent an indictment to the press before sending it to the indictees. In this way the prosecutor started the public lynch neglecting the indictee’s possible innocence. The attorneys are considering the possibility of pressing charges against protected witness S1 for the false testimony against Covic. Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Possible criminal report against witness S1’, by zk, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Prosecution submits indictments to media before it did to indictees’, by H also reported on the issue. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Hadzipasic, Terzic criticise HR decision banning sale of ex JNA property
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Ashdown gives away what BiH Army saved’ by Azhar Kalamujic – Commenting to the HR Paddy Ashdown’s decision to impose the law which further bans sale of former JNA property, the FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic stated for daily that he would not allow for property of former JNA saved by BiH Army to become everyone’s property. OHR spokesperson Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Delays in privatisation of Jajce barracks is terrible message for investors’ by J.S. – Terzic explain to DA that he suggested to HR establishing the CoM’s Commission for State Property which would deal with the issue. While this was not done, Terzic gives an example of delays in privatisation of Jajce barracks for past two years. Pink, BHT, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Prevention of property sale was bad Ashdown’s decision’ by SRNA, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Bad for Federation’ also carry Terzic’s statement on the issue. |
| DA: Ashdown’s decision messed up plans for both FMO and FBiH Army
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ashdown’s decision messed up plans for both FMO and FBiH Army’ by E. Sarac – DA brings details of the non-useful premises that both FBiH Defence Ministry and the FBiH Army were planning to sell, which however is not possible now following the decision of the HR. DA says that this list of former JNA objects includes 127 military barracks and 149 business premises, which would earn dozens of millions KM of profit. The list would be expanded with non-useful premises built by the FBiH Army during the war, while those used by Army but in possession of municipality would be returned to their owners. Article further lists the premises in question. |
| SNSD’s Dodik: HR’s decision on prevention of state property sale is good
| Pink, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Decision on prevention of state property sale is good’ by N.N., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘The end to sale?’– Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, in Derventa commented of HR’s decision (on sale of state property), saying that he supports this HR’s decision if “it has been reached with an aim to prevent sale of state property until an order is introduced in this field.” Dodik added: “If this HR’s decision includes prevention of sale of the entire state property, including “Telekom” and “BH Elektroprivreda”, it is good then.” |
| DL: HR Ashdown the true boss in BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Who is the boss in BiH?’, by Marko Karacic – Carries an op-ed in which the author comments on the recent decision of the High Representative for BiH by which the HR ordered a temporary ban with the property of BiH. The author argues that the decision shows who is the true boss of BiH, noting that it is perhaps time to admit that BiH is a colony, not a proper state. “To make the irony even worse, the public is being sold a story that everything is being done for the good of the people, but we are not getting better”, notes the author. |
| There are differences in living standards in RS/F BiH/Brcko District
| EuroBlic pg RS1 ‘Wallet is shallow while basket is deep’ by Tijana Veselinovic – In spite of economic reforms, adoption of reform laws and insisting of international representatives on establishment of a single economic space in BiH, differences in standards between entities and Brcko District are still noticeable. According to official data of Agencies for statistics, average salary in January amounted 431 KM in RS, 545 KM in Federation of BiH and 710 KM in Brcko District. The cost of a consumer basket in December 2004 amounted 457 KM in RS and 451 KM in Federation of BiH. Inset ‘Suspicious calculation in Brcko District’ reads the cost of a consumer basket in Brcko District in January amounted 391 KM and quotes Brcko District Trade Union President Ilija Kalajdzic as saying: ‘I guarantee that the real average salary is not higher than 400 KM…’. He also claims the data presented for the consumer basket were false. ‘I took the list of basic groceries from the Revenue Agency and went to all shops in the town. I have not found a single product in price they (the Revenue Agency) have presented’. |
| BiH old foreign currency savers offer out-of-court settlements to governments
| Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Out-of-court settlement or compensation claim of 10.000 Euros’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – The Association of citizens for return of old foreign currency savings held a meeting in Sarajevo yesterday (Sunday) in order to make an overview of the activities that have been made so far and an overview of the future activities. According to the President of the Association Assembly, Ale Lizalovic, the European Human Rights Court in |
War crimes | |
| Former RS general Pandurevic to surrender to The Hague Tribunal
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Vinko Pandurevic to go to The Hague on Wednesday, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, mentioned on cover’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Vinko Pandurevic to go to The Hague’ by S. Karic, Glas Srpske pg 2, announced on cover ‘Pandurevic to surrender as well’, Vecernje Novosti pg 15, announced on cover ‘I do not want people to be a hostage’, EuroBlic RSpgs 4-5 ‘New surrender, Tribunal overbooked’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Pandurevic voluntarily goes to The Hague’, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘The Hague indictee Vinko Pandurevic surrenders’, by H, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘V. Pandurevic goes to The Hague’, by bs, SRNA – Former commander of the Zvornik Brigade of the RS Army Gen Vinko Pandurevic decided in Belgrade on Sunday to surrender to The Hague Tribunal, SRNA has learnt from the Serb Republic Ministry of Internal Affairs. Gen Pandurevic’s decision came as a result of several days of talks with representatives of the |
| BiH MP Djurkovic says Terzic obstructs investigation into crimes against Sarajevo Serbs
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Terzic obstructs investigation of crimes against Serbs’, by NINA – An MP in the BiH Parliament’s House of Representatives, Jelina Djurkovic, again accused the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, that he is obstructing the establishment of a state commission that would investigate into the crimes that had been committed against the Sarajevo Serbs during the war. Djurkovic reminds that both houses of the BiH Parliament adopted a proposal on establishment of such a commission a year ago, arguing that the BiH CoM is not doing its part of the job. |
Political developments/reforms | |
| Tihic comments on constitutional changes, defence reform
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Having Covic stay would make our job difficult’ by Elvir Huremovic – Asked to comment the idea for abolishment of the BiH Presidency, Bosniak member the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic explains that he was always in favour of an initiative of one President with somewhat lesser authorities than current presidency. He underlines that current constitutional structure in BiH is an obstacle toward establishing the modern state. He finally comments to the RSNA session on Friday and conclusions on the defence reform, saying “the next RSNA session with such scenario would jeopardize survival of the RS.” |
| SDP tells OHR,
| BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentio9ned on cover ‘Sarajevo must serve as an example to the others’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘To prevent “Sarajevo assassination” against BiH Constitution’ by M. Rener, Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Disgraceful behaviour of BiH Election Commission’, by De. L., FENA – Chairman of the BiH SDP (Social Democratic Party) Zlatko Lagumdzija on Sunday called on the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, to voice his opinion together with ambassadors of the country members of the Peace Implementation Council in connection with the “brutal violation of the principle of equality of nations and citizens, of the constitution and the election law in Sarajevo”. “Unfortunately, our appeal to this effect to the current ruling coalition has not produced any effect. The shameful behaviour of the Election Commission, which also includes your representatives, is viewed by the general public as the international community being a tacit accomplice to unconstitutional moves being made by nationalist forces in the country,” says the letter which SDP of BiH chairman Zlatko Lagumdzija sent to the High Representative in connection with the “unlawful and illegitimate setting up of the city authorities in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, without members of all constituent nations”. “I am not calling on you to replace those who took part in the latest unlawful setting up of the Sarajevo City Council without members of all constituent nations, as you generously used to do in less significant cases, but I expect you at least to voice your opinion through your expert legal reports or through members of the Election Commission. Nobody expects you not to work with the lawful authorities in this country, but neither does the general public expect you to remain silent and thus become an accomplice to the shameful destruction of the multiethnic nature of this country in Sarajevo as its capital which should set an example for other areas by embracing high democratic standards,” Lagumdzija said in the letter. “We view the setting up of |
| Kukic says
| Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Sarajevo recipe for divisions’, by Dr. Slavo Kukic – Carries an op-ed about the formation of the Sarajevo City Council (SCC) in which the author says that the key to the BiH puzzle is not in Brcko or Mostar, but in the BiH capitol, Sarajevo. Kukic says that the appointment of the SCC showed that the Bosniak nationalists are accepting nothing but a Muslim Sarajevo, which did not trigger many reactions from representatives of other two peoples in BiH because they could use the same recipe, sooner or later, in |
| VL: Ashdown guilty for double standards in BiH
| Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Caucuses of peoples in Mostar, no Croats in Banja Luka’, by Miroslav Vasilj – The author comments on a recent statement by the RS Vice President, Ivan Tomljenovic, who noted that there was not a single Croat in the Banja Luka City Council. The author says that the situation in |
| Outgoing British Ambassador Cliff says stability most important for BiH
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Stability most important for BiH’, FENA – The most important thing for BiH ten years after the war is stability, outgoing British Ambassador to BiH Ian Cliff told FENA. Cliff thinks that the political situation in BiH is “always very complicated”, but that despite this the most important thing is that the state government works on overcoming the political problems. Ambassador Cliff took the position of the British Ambassador to BiH on |
| Interview with Swedish official at European Parliament: EU visa-free regime with BiH realistic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8, announced on cover ‘No-visa regime with EU is realistic’ by Z. Cekic – This is an interview with Amna Ibrisagic, the member of the Commission for membership candidatures to EU. She is the first person coming from former |
| HR visiting US
| BHT Erol Avdovic – In the next few days, the High Representative (HR) Paddy Ashdown will hold talks with the representatives of the US Government about BiH cooperation with the ICTY. On Wednesday, March 23rd, Ashdown will present the report on situation in BiH before the UN Security Council in Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ashdown to address Security Council tomorrow’ by N.N., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Covic on agenda’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Ashdown departed for four day visit to USA’, by NINA also announced HR visit to US. |
| VL: Croat will not be leading SIPA despite political agreement among ruling parties
| Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Even the promised SIPA is being taken away from Croats’, mentioned on front ‘Even SIPA taken away from Croats’ by Miso Relota – VL learns from an anonymous source close to the OHR and EUPM that Sredoje Novic will be appointed the Director of SIPA, “who is the IC’s favourite”, despite the fact that the ruling parties agreed in February last year that the BiH Defence Minister should be a Serb, Head of OSA a Bosniak and Head of SIPA a Croat. According to VL, it shows the true colours of the IC, foremost the OHR, because they did not interfere into appointment of Nikola Radovanovic (BiH MoD) and Almir Dzuvo (OSA), and now when a Croat is suppose to lead SIPA, the OHR and EUPM suddenly put the stress on the expertise, not the agreement among the parties. VL concludes that the Croats are being turned into a national minority in BiH. |
| Meddzida Kreso says she cannot interfere into work of judges at
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Court President must not interfere into judges’ work’, by E. Mackic, N. Bise – Carries the President of the BiH Court, Meddzida Kreso, as commenting about her role of the BiH Court President. Kreso stresses that she cannot interfere into the work of the judges and that her prime role is to make sure that trials are being conducted in atmosphere of trust. “As the President of the |
Miscellaneous | |
| Chair of Association of Fired Intelligence Officers Ceranic says OSA Deputy Director Zaric stands behind threats against him
| Oslobodjenje back page ‘Son of Zaric’s driver threatens me with massacre’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘President threatened with murder’ by S. Karic – The Association of former intelligence agencies members on Sunday announced that Predrag Ceranic, Association President, received death threats. The release read: “Only two days after the Association was established, Association President was threatened he would be beaten up and massacred. The son of the driver (Zeljko Stanisic) of OBA Deputy General Manager, Danko Stanisic, known for his violent conduct after he gave a statement to BHT 1, made the threat.” The release further read that “Stanisic in only the instrument Risto Zaric is using in order to intimidate and discourage the Association members in their attempt to accomplish their rights.” |
| UNESCO delegation visiting BiH
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘UNESCO to complete the list of World Inheritance’ by V. Coric, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Visit: Mostar getting closer to UNESCO’, by V. Soldo – Senior officials of UNESCO visited the wider Mostar area yesterday (Sunday), including Mostar, when they were shown a movie about the reconstruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar. Today (Monday), the UNESCO delegation will visit the |
| NN: Recipients of “humanitarian” money were Ljubo Beslic and Zelimir Rebac
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Recipients of “humanitarian” money were Ljubo Beslic and Zelimir Rebac’ by R. Cengic – Mile Kudic, delegate of the Economic Block HDU at F BiH Parliament, claims that nobody knows who and how much money received in October 1999. The Fund was intended for HVO soldiers, but it was distributed to HDZ officials and people close to the party. The HDZ senior officials, who got the money, were: Ljubo Beslic, Zelimir Rebac, Drago Maric and many other (258) persons. The payments were performed through “Hercegopvacka Banka”. The others are: Ante Jelavic, Ivo Andric Luzanski, Dragan Covic, Neven Tomic, etc. The article also lists the names of persons along with the sum of money they received. |