| RADIO HERCEG BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BiH Presidency’s session | Visegrad police action | SEECP Summit | Burial of Novica Lukic |
| L. Topic on SEECP Summit | S.Sjekirica released | Presidency in Session | Visegrad police action |
| IO about BiH reforms | ICMP Conference | IC’s warning | Reaction to police’s action |
| M. Raguz on EC report | SEECP Summit | Action in Visegrad | RSNA sessions tomorrow |
| Oslobodjenje | Srebrenica genocide worried Belgrade |
| Dnevni Avaz | Sanel Sjekirica: My life has been completely destroyed |
| Dnevni List | ’Self-rule’-Proceedings in criminal procedure against Jelavic temporarily suspended; Payment of taxes on income and property in one country only |
| Vecernji List | Croatia-EU: Open doors for negotiations with Union; Posavina still under water |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Trials to Ljubo Cesic Rojs and Stjepan Spajic: Hebrang: 66th regiment was in Defence Ministry of Republic of Croatia; Croatia gets positive avis |
| Glas Srpske | Establishing Commission for investigating crimes against Serbs in Sarajevo – Not a single thing done; Tuzla – Aleksandar is waken up; Paddy Ashdown – Warning to RSNA; Novica Lukic buried; Church ceremony under a tenth; Fatal shot in neighbour |
| Nezavisne Novine | Cavic and Mikerevic’s correspondence on Oil Refinery – Cavic: “I shall prevent criminals from controlling Refinery”, Mikerevic: “I don’t know who is in Oil lobby”; After Novica Lukic’s murder in Visegrad – Three policemen suspended, Djeric and Njegus want Lukac to resign; RS Government – Milan Bogdanic new Chairman of Srebrenica Commission; Misuse of road tax payments in RS – RS roads call on OHR to join in investigation; Milkos employees in strike – Workers spent the night in front of Cantonal Government |
| Blic | Zvornik people were scared by a common May-beetle; Novica Lukic buried: Three policemen suspended over murder |
| Vecernje Novosti | 10,000 citizens bade the last farewell to Novica Lukic: Innocent to death |
BiH/International Community | |
| Presidency discusses preparations for SEECP Summit, defence reform, economic cooperation with Croatia
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 5, mentioned on the front page ‘Dragan Covic guarantees full security’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘SFOR has still not submitted approvals for 12 generals’, and pg. 2 ‘Informal meeting of Foreign Ministers held’, Dnevni List, page 3 ‘Good regional cooperation a pre-requisite for European Union’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic) – Wednesday’s Summit of Heads of States or Governments of South Eastern Europe Cooperation Process was the main topic of Tuesday’s session of BiH Presidency. BiH Presidency has made final preparations for SEECP Summit, which will be held in Sarajevo. Member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic reminded that in last year BiH has Presided over SEECP and he pointed the achievements made in that year. He said that their goal is to become some kind of base for stability. Dragan Covic announced series of bilateral meetings, saying that BiH and IC have built that kind of security structure that today’s Summit is secured in all aspects. BiH Presidency today has accepted the Agreement with Croatia about avoiding of twofold- taxation. Before today’s Summit today in Sarajevo was held an unofficial meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SEECP, and they have agreed on the text of finishing document and they have discussed some of the topics, which are especially important for the region. Deputy of BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lidija Topic pointed that their arrival has announced Presidents of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia, as well as Prime- Ministers of Croatia, Albania, Turkey and Greece. Leader of BiH delegation will be Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic who will officially open the Summit. Deputy Lidija Topic pointed that during the Summit it will be especially spoke about fight against organized crime, liberalization of visa- systems and about traffic of telecommunications and energetic. She also pointed that since BiH took the Presiding over SEECP it has initiated many of Diplomatic meetings, so that regional countries would get closer to European Integrations. Vecernji List, page 2 ‘Croatia become full-time member’, by Dejan Jazvic – the daily notes that two events will mark today’s summit of nine member countries of SEECP (Southeast Europe Cooperation Process) in Sarajevo, namely the handover of presiding country between BiH and Romania, and Croatia becoming the full-time member. Dnevni List (front & p 3, “Payment of taxes on income and property in one country only”, by E. Mackic), Vecernji list (p 2, “Agreement on avoiding of double taxation with Croatia”, by f) and Slobodna Dalmacija (p 9, “Agreement on avoiding of double taxation with Croatia”, by B. Kristo) carry that at it session held yesterday, the BiH Presidency passed the decision on accepting the Agreement on avoiding double taxation on income and property with Croatia. Dragan Covic, BiH Presidency member, has stated that this is a standardized European agreement that BiH has signed with some dozen of countries. Vecernji List, page 3 ‘BiH authorities angry because of SFOR’s slowness’, by eme – reports that a member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, confirmed to journalists that the BiH Presidency, at the session held yesterday, did not discuss the issue of appointment of military commanders to BiH armed forces, since SFOR is yet to forward the Presidency results of vetting of candidates. |
| Topic on the SEECP | Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘BiH has been a successful chair of the process’ – Speaking about achievements in last year and about importance of today’s Summit, Deputy of BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Lidija Topic said much was done in last year and that today’s Summit is a crown of those efforts. “So what have we done in last year? We have been Presiding over the Process, who is called SEECP and is important for us, for BiH because EU lays on principles of regional cooperation, meaning even the EU is a regional cooperation of States, today fifteen of them and by beginning of next month of twenty- five of them. Being that BiH is on the way of getting closer to EU, so that one day we would become EU member, one of measurable principles of out successful closing is that regional cooperation. A year ago we have inherited the Presiding over that regional process, what was a challenge for us, because we had inherited high standards of States that have been Presiding before us. Today we can be satisfied that we have been Presiding successfully for a year, that we didn’t only satisfied the form, but that we have improved the topics we have inherited and on top of that we have added some topics that are priority for us, but also show to be a priority for whole region. So what have we done? Shortly, for example London’s Declaration, which is a document, brought in October of 2002, and it, is about fight against organized crime in SEE, and we have improved it with Sarajevo’s Declaration and with meeting of Ministers of Interior of these eight States. Further more, we have improved out relation toward the UN Convention on fight against trans- national organized crime, which was accepted in Palermo, where BiH Delegation also accepted it. We have had a Conference of Ministers of Justice and again we brought a new Declaration, by which we have deepen the possibilities of implementation of that UN Convention on fight against trans- national organized crime. New topics that we have brought is for example meeting of Ministers of defence, that happened last week in Sarajevo, what was extremely important for us, to affirm reform of defence, because for us is important association to PfP, for what we expect to happen on Summit in Istanbul in sixth month this year”, said Lidija Topic, Deputy of BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs. |
| International organizations urge BiH authorities to accelerate key reforms | Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘BiH loses 100 million dollar (if it does not speed up reforms)’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8, Dnevni list front & p 4, “Slow reforms to blame if 100 million US$ are lost”, by E. Mackic, Slobodna Dalmacija p 16, “OHR appeals: Adopt Law on Higher Education”, by D. Pasic,Blic p 12 ‘BiH might lose 100 million dollars’,FENA – The members of the Board of Principals and the Council of Europe urge the BiH State and Entity authorities to speed up key economic and social reforms in order to enable better living standards for all BiH citizens, and the continuation of reconstruction and development efforts in the country, OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic told a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Specifically, the Board of Principals urges the BiH State Parliament to adopt the Higher Education Law. Passage is needed to improve the quality of the BiH education system through more efficient use of tax payers’ and students’ resources, by developing common quality assessment procedures and prescribing common standards at the State level and financing at the Entity level. |
| SD announces HR Ashdown’s meeting with HDZ MPs today | Commenting that, during his stay in Zagreb, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown surely could not get support for reforms that would bring into question the fundamental rights of any people and the rights which are already recognized to national minorities elsewhere in Europe, Slobodna Dalmacija (p 17, “Solution to education reform on the way”, by Marin Erceg) carries that the HR is to meet HDZ representatives in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly perhaps as soon as today. The author says that this indicates that a solution which is the only possible one – respect of rights which are not negotiable and defining of education reform – could be found soon. |
| SD says HR Ashdown should observe Liberal Democrats’ manifest in BiH | Slobodna Dalmacija, page 17 ‘British manifest for BiH education: all languages should be preserved’, by Zlatko Tulic – noting that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown’s, recent visit to Zagreb had only one aim, to show that the HDZ BiH is against education reforms, the author suggests that the Croat officials should remind the High Representative about the interview he had given to the ‘Guardian’ in which he stated that he was in BiH implementing the manifest of the British Liberal Democrats from the year of 1992. According to the author, the manifest speaks about independence of colleges, schools and schooling that is close to the people. SD also claims that Ashdown, back in 1992, promised that he would support linguistic diversities and cultural tradition of Scotland, which triggers the author to suggest to the Croats to remind the HR about the promises in the manifest. |
| Turkey to fully support BiH’s accession to PfP | Dnevni Avaz pg. 5, mentioned on the front page ‘We will support BiH’s accession to PfP’ – Interview with Rejep Taib Erdoan, Turkish Prime Minister. “Turkey will without any reserve support BiH’s accession to Partnership for Peace,’ said Erdoan. |
Security/investigations | |
| Jelavic case
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Detention extended for Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic in detention for two more months’, Blic p 13 ‘Detention to Jelavic, Rupcic and Prce extended’ – BiH Court on Tuesday decided to prolong detention to former Croat Officials: Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Miroslav Rupcic. This decision of BiH Court is a response to Prosecution’s demand. The detention was prolonged because the Court established that there is a danger that they might escape, or try to affect the witnesses or their associates. Josip Muselimovic, Defence Lawyer of Ante Jelavic said that Prosecutor had announced that official charges would be filed soon. |
| Jelavic’s lawyer says his client should be released from detention | Dnevni List, front page splash and page 7 ‘’Self-rule’-Proceedings in criminal procedure against Jelavic temporarily suspended’, by N. Dedic – reminding that the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo was conducting a process against Ante Jelavic, charging him with criminal act as described in article 358, paragraph 3 (presumably of the FBiH Criminal Code), which Jelavic committed in capacity of the FBiH Defence Minister, DL learns from Jelavic’s lawyer Josip Muselimovic that he appealed against the process, believing there are no legal grounds to charge his client, since Jelavic’s right to immunity was not observed. According to Muselimovic, the appeal was lodged on January 9 this year. Muselimovic goes on to say that he, in late afternoon hours of yesterday, received a decision of the BiH Constitutional Court, which acknowledges the appeal. Muselimovic explains: ‘Proceedings in the criminal case before the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo are temporarily suspended. The same proceedings are at the BiH Court too. The decision takes effect immediately, and the suspension of proceedings is valid until there is a final decision of the BiH Constitutional Court’, adding that, according to his interpretation, the BiH Court too must suspend the proceedings. ‘The appeal must be observed, detention abolished and my client must be released, because the Constitutional Court ordered all further proceedings in the matter’, says Muselimovic, adding ‘if we know that the Constitutional Court acknowledged the appeal on February 25 and 26, 2000, in cases of endangering the territorial integrity, it is clear that in cases, which the State Court has taken over, there are temporary measures of the Constitutional Court as the highest court. According to that, the proceedings must be suspended simultaneously’. DL also reminds that detention to Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic has been extended for two more months in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case. |
| Sjekirica happy to be cleared of involvement in Madrid bombings | BH Radio, Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 3 ‘My life has been completely destroyed’, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘When I hear his voice I will believe they have released him’, Blic p 10 ‘Sjekirica interrogated and released’, Nacional Belgrade daily p 19 ‘Sanel Sjekirica released from custody’ – The Spanish police have released Sanel Sjekirica after questioning him. He was suspected of involvement in recent terrorist attacks in Madrid. Sjekirica has been released because the judges investigating the terrorist attacks did not ask for his statement. “I have decided not to give a statement to anyone because I believe I am all destroyed, and after all that has happened I am not ready for anything. I feel very nervous. I have just taken a pill. I cannot go on like this. I cannot give statements to anyone at present, “ Sjekirica told BH Radio. Nezavisne novine page 6 ‘I told police everything I know about Madrid terrorist attack’; “Spanish Police didn’t suspect me on terrorist attack in Madrid. Questioning me they wanted to get information on people who might be linked to this attack. I met that people at the Faculty”, said Sanel Sjekirica in a phone conversation yesterday. He said that he had not been arrested, he had been detained. Sjekirica couldn’t speak about details of questioning. Controversial about his location, south of Spain or Sweden, Sjekirica explained saying that he has told his mother that he would be camping in Spain. “Actually I went to see my girlfriend in Sweden. My mother doesn’t like her very much. Therefore, I didn’t tell her the truth”. According to him, Spanish Police wasn’t asking about lost BiH passport. |
| RS Moi – Hajducke Vode operation | Nezavisne novine page 3 ‘RS MoI covers up Hajducke vode case’; Dr Radojka Bijelic sent open letter with request to Police and Prosecutor’s Office to tell the truth about murder of her brother. She thinks that Heads of RS MoI are responsible for the murder and covering up. Her brother was killed on August 19, 2003. Policemen shot him with 7 bullets in the back while he was sitting in a car at Hajducke vode Motel parking place. 12 policemen are suspended. Doboj District Prosecutor’s Office hasn’t finished investigation yet. |
Cooperation with ICTY | |
| Ashdown on Visegrad operation
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘If would be terrible for the RS if these policemen were to be made political scapegoats by those who have long obstructed RS cooperation with ICTY’, Nezavisne novine page 3 ‘Police should not have been made political scapegoats’ – “The Visegrad operation marks the most serious attempt yet by the RS authorities to detain those indicted by ICTY, in accordance with BiH’s international obligations. When the RSNA debates the consequences of this operation tomorrow, they should reflect on the fact that the future of the whole country is under threat due to the lack of cooperation between the RS and ICTY. The existence of the RS is protected by law, but if the RS does not obey the law, including BiH’s international obligations, it weakens its claim to protection under the law. I do not know if the operation in Visegrad was conducted in accordance with approved procedures. There is now rightly an investigation underway, and it would be inappropriate for me to prejudice the investigation by commenting on it at this stage. But those policemen in Visegrad on Sunday were carrying out the duties and obligations of Republika Srpska and the state of BiH. If would be terrible for the RS if these policemen were to be made political scapegoats by those who have long obstructed RS cooperation with ICTY, and with it BiH’s chances of a better future. Things must not stop now. There is no alternative but to continue these operations to detain these dangerous fugitives from justice until they are all in The Hague. If these indictees had the real interests of their people at heart, they would voluntarily surrender themselves, rather than expose their communities and families to the necessity of special police operations to detain them against their will. The international community will therefore be following the debate in the RSNA tomorrow extremely closely”, said HR Paddy Ashdown in a public statement made on Tuesday. |
| EUPM: Police has the right to use force in self-defence | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Police has the right to defend themselves by weapons’, Nezavisne novine page 2 ‘Use of force must be balanced’, FENA – The RS Police operation carried out in Visegrad Sunday would have been a complicated and dangerous task for any police force carrying out such operation. If police meet serious resistance in an attempt to carry out an arrest they have the authority to use force in self-defence, EUPM spokesperson Kilian Wahl told a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Wahl also said that an investigation into the incident during which Novica Lukic had been killed was underway. |
| RTRS story on Visegrad police operation
| RTRS – After a tragic incident in Visegrad many citizens asked themselves can they trust the Police, whose work they are financing like tax payers. After Special Squad of RS MoI has killed Novica Lukic, citizens were shocked and they are asking “why the Police did opened fire and killed innocence man”. RS Law strictly gives explanation when can Police use force. Experts say that the Law was established by European standards, but in this case they say that the Law was broken in most brutal and most primitive way. “Heavy incident that has happened in Visegrad actually presents a shame for RS Police; I believe it presents a problem in general, which was now imposed to RS Security Bodies. It is not recorded that ever in history, that in one such lousy way, which starts to provoke very heavy consequences, one Police action was conducted. I believe that it was conducted in that way, probably by inducement of SFOR members or certain Intelligence Services, which are coordinating action of Police, because our Police has never broke into the apartments on this way”- said Bozidar Spasic, expert on security and crises. Even though the reporter tried to contact Minister of Interior, Director of Police or with Investigation or Court Bodies, he has walked into the wall of silence. As they were told within the RS MoI was agreed that no one will give explanations or statements to the citizens. “This failure like this one of RS Police, is catastrophically and it deserves not only the critics, but most probably the Government will have to intervene by replacement, even of Minister himself is necessary”, said Bozidar Spasic, expert on security and crises. Police has violated the Law, which says that fire weapons can be used only in protection of citizens and only with proper announcement that they will open fire. Reporter concluded that RS MoI has lost a confidence of citizens, which can hardly be retrieved and most certainly they will not retrieve it by silence. Nacional Belgrade daily p 7 ‘SFOR was involved?’ – The public in Visegrad speculates on participants of the action that took place in Visegrad. The article reads that considering the brutality applied during the action, there are certain indications that RS Ministry of Interior members did not take part in the action. The article also reads that there are grounded suspicions that the International Forces’ members dressed in uniforms of the RS Ministry of Interior killed Novica Lukic. On the other hand, SFOR and EUPM officials deny any connection with this action. |
| RTRS: Reactions to Visegrad operation | RTRS – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic expressed deep grief because of tragedy and he said that he can’t comment the action, because he didn’t receive all informations. He pointed that he returned late last night from his trip to London and that he is jet to meet RS MoI Officials. “I think that we are all deeply disturbed with that incident, people within MoI and I believe wide public in RS and in BiH. So, I can not give any comments before I receive results of investigation”, said Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime- Minister. Veterans’ association of Sarajevo- Romanija’s region issued a statement in which they demand full investigation of responsibility because of wrongly use of Police force. President of RS Association of Prisoners of war, Branislav Dukic said that they are bitter because of murder of Novica Lukic and they ask President Dragan Cavic did he sign “cutting of Serbs’ heads” by method Serbs on Serbs. They have invited President Dragan Cavic to conduct an investigation on murdering of Novica Lukic (in Visegrad), Predrag Bijelic (in Hajducke Vode) and of Risto Jugovic (former Director of Jahorina Insurance). SPRS also issued a statement in which they demand clearing of all circumstances of this action and of violation of basic human rights. They also demand punishment for all responsible ones within MoI. Ognjen Tadic, General Secretary of SRS- Dr Vojislav seselj (Serb Radical Alliance) said that RS Government must take political responsibility and show that they are different from High representative and SFOR. He said that his Party is protesting because of persecution of persons indicted by ICTY. (Note: all these statements were read by the reporter) |
| Three policemen suspended; Mikerevic and Djeric’s comments | Dnevni List, page 18 ‘Mikerevic without comment on MoI’s operation in Visegrad’, not signed, and page 18 ‘Djeric does not intend to resign’, not signed, Vecernji List, page 4 ‘Three policemen suspended because of murder of N. Lukic’, by Branka Stevandic – report that the Director of the Republika Srpska Police, Radomir Njegus, yesterday took a decision to suspend from work three members of the RS Special Police, who participated in the RS MoI operation in Visegrad in which Novica Lukic got killed, pending results of the ongoing investigation that is being conducted by the RS MoI’s Internal Affairs. Dailies also report that the RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, did not want to comment the MoI’s operation in Visegrad, saying that he did not want to make any comments until there is an official report. VL notes that the RS Interior Minister, Zoran Djeric, does not plan to resign because ‘the minister does not participate in direct planning and carrying out of such operations’. Djeric says: ‘I am not authorized to participate in planning of such operations, but as the first man of the RS MoI, I probably take some responsibility’. RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, Nezavisne novine cover and page 3 ‘Djeric and Njegus request Lukac’s resignation’, Blic front page and p 13 ‘Three special police members suspended’, Nacional Belgrade daily, p 6 and 7 ‘They killed him as soon as he got out of bed’, Vecernje Novosti p 16 ‘Innocent to death’ also reported on the issue. |
| Funeral of Novica Lukic and protest in Visegrad | Nezavisne novine cover and page 2 ‘Responsibility of executors and executives requested’ – Novica Lukic was buried yesterday in Visegrad. More than 5.000 people attended funeral. No one of RS officials was present. Protest was held in Visegrad earlier yesterday. Some 10.000 people called for responsibility of executors and executives. Protest was peaceful. Protesters expressed displeasure when RS MP Mirjana Kosarac spoke. SDS RSNA representative was the highest-ranked official in Visegrad. RTRS, Dnevni Avaz, Blic front page and p 13 ‘Peaceful protest in Visegrad’, Nacional Belgrade daily p 6 ‘Protest of 10,000 people in Visegrad’, Vecernje Novosti p 16 ‘Innocent to death’ also reported on the funeral. |
| RS Government appointed new Chairman of Srebrenica Commission | Nezavisne novine cover and page 6 ‘Milan Bogdanic new Chairman of Srebrenica Commission’; Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 – RS Government appointed Milan Bogdanovic as President of Srebrenica Commission. Bogdanovic was appointed last night at RS Government extraordinary session. He has been a member of Srebrenica commission so far and also is a member of RS Commission for searching missing persons. OHR stated that appointment of President of the Commission is a matter of RS Government. Commission member, Smail Cekic, said that appointment itself would not bring progress. |
| Marko Arsovic on Srebrenica Commission | Vecernje Novosti p 6 ‘Ashdown buries truth’ – Marko Arsovic has resigned from the position of the President of Srebrenica Commission. In an interview for Vecernje Novosti Arsovic explained under what kind of pressures the Commission had worked while he was at the position of the President. He claims the Commission met with High Representative Paddy Ashdown in Sarajevo two months after the Commission started functioning, at which occasion Paddy Ashdown, according to Arsovic, ‘held a dictatorial speech’. On the occasion, the High Representative told the Commission members: ‘It is not your task to conduct investigations in order to shed light on historical events, which you are actually doing and so dispersing your work, losing time and chance to do your basic task’. Arsovic also says that the list of people whose mortal remains were found had not been made available for the Commission, since the list is filed in an archive of the Hague Tribunal. The only person who has had an insight to the list was Robert Bacon, the Commission member appointed by High Representative Paddy Ashdown. Arsovic stated: ‘I simply do not understand the decision of the High Representative by which he had dismissed Savic, because we have accomplished a full cooperation with him and his associates’. He claims two of the Commission members have received a data disc with approximately 100,000 documents in English, yet Bacon had made no efforts to provide with copies in Serb language, which Arsovic interprets as an obstruction of the work of the Srebrenica Commission. |
| Health condition of Aleksandar Starovlah
| Glas Srpske cover page ‘Aleksandar is waken up’ – Health condition of Aleksandar Starovlah is improving. Dr Samir Hustic from Tuzla Hospital said that Aleksandar is breathing. He can hear and moves head when someone is talking to him. |
| Oslobodjenje: Srebrenica genocide worried Belgrade | Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘Srebrenica genocide worried Belgrade’ – The ruling made by the ICTY Appeal Council confirming conviction of Radislav Krstic for genocide committed in Srebrenica in 1995 worries authorities in Belgrade for at least two reasons. First, this is about the first valid verdict for genocide that might influence other trial primarily that of Slobodan Milosevic and second, the ruling might influence the lawsuits filed against Serbia and Montenegro before the International Court of Justice for aggression and genocide by BiH and Croatia. Dnevni List, page 6 ‘Concern over verdict on genocide in Srebrenica’, not signed – reports that former and current Foreign Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro, Goran Svilanovic and Vuk Draskovic respectively, fear that the verdict on genocide that occurred in Srebrenica (Krstic trials) could affect the BiH lawsuit against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). ‘Indirectly it can have an influence because the lawsuit is based on a claim that there was a genocide. However, it should be talked about at the International Court in The Hague’, says Svilanovic. Draskovic is quoted as saying: ‘I hope it does not have an effect’. |
| DA: Is removal of Kalinic to follow? | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, mentioned on the front page ‘Is removal of Kalinic to follow?’ – According to the newspaper, the financial report submitted by SDS is being carefully analysed at the OHR and OHR will present its stand on the issue in coming days. However, the daily learns that an Orao-like scenario might be possible outcome, meaning additional financial investigation will be carried out possibly by the international auditors into the SDS operations after which the removals, criminal reports and proceedings will follow just like in case of Bijeljina-based company that abused UN arms embargo on Iraq. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Hays addresses Investment Conference in London
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘BiH does not need solidarity but partnership’, FENA – PDHR Donald Hays spoke on Monday at an international investment conference in London. In his speech, Ambassador Hays pointed out that as a result of reforms implemented in the course of the last year or so the BiH investment climate has moved from “inclement” to “mild”, OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic told a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Ambassador Hays called on international investors to take a fresh look at BiH. “I do not appeal to your sense of humanitarian solidarity or good will. I appeal to your good business sense. This is an economy that is rapidly righting itself. It is a country that is in the heart of an emerging free-trade zone, that is on the doorstep of the European Union, that has a renewed infrastructure, a modern fiscal and banking system and a rapidly developing SME sector,” Hays emphasized. |
| Cavic – Brod Oil Refinery | Nezavisne novine cover and pages 4 and 5 ‘I will prevent criminal groups from further controlling of Brod Oil Refinery’; On February 4, 2004, RS President, Dragan Cavic sent letter to RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, asking for urgent investigation on Oil Refinery business. Cavic warned Mikerevic on negotiations with unknown businessmen from Ukraine, through mediators from Serbia, allegedly involved in export of weapons to countries under UN sanctions. RS President mentioned contracts with Devin, Petrolbard, Galaksi and Crodux, company owned by ICTY indictee, Croatian General Cermak. He reminds Mikerevic on agreement with Vitol. |
| Mikerevic – Brod Oil Refinery | Nezavisne novine cover and pages 4 and 5 ‘Mikerevic: I don’t know who are the lobbies interested in Oil Refinery’; Dragan Mikerevic sent replied to Dragan Cavic on February 12, 2004. The way Cavic’s letter was written Mikerevic considered to be inappropriate. He said that RS Government is working transparently and in accordance with law. Mikerevic claimed that he had met businessmen from Ukraine because their arrival was announced from Cavic’s office. RS Prime Minister said that he was not against conctract with Vitol, although he had warned Minister Bogicevic that long term relations with this company should have not been established. Talking on debts, Mikerevic stated: “It is possible to realise, from your letter, that suppliers are responsible for situation in Oil Refinery, not management and steering board of the company”. |
| RS Roads – OHR | Nezavisne novine cover and page 9 ‘”Roads” called on OHR to join investigation’; RS Roads Public Company called on OHR to join investigation on banks and Insurance companies suspect on keeping road tax payments, claims Nezavisne novine source close to OHR. RS is losing BAM 15 million per year on road tax. In a letter sent to OHR, RS Roads management explains how banks and insurance companies are keeping the money. Payments never go to the Budget because there is no account number on payment slip. |