21.04.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 21/4/2006

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Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 21 April

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Prices of oil on world market up

Explosive device in Una-Sana Canton

Good Friday celebration in RS

Tokyo : EU-Japan summit

Mass grave discovered near Prijedor

Regional news

FBiH: tax collections increased

Charges against Delic not adopted

World news

TV news broadcast on 20 April

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Constitutional amendments adopted

Regional News

Croatian President in visit to BiH

HR on constitutional amendments

RS Gov. accepted report  on Palic

FBiH Govt on Vc corridor highway

HNC HDZ session

BiH-Cro Interstate Council in session

Issue of war crimes at large

Holbrook on cons. amendments

Cavic on constitutional amendments

Stanko & Predrag Ristic arrested

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

RS Government session

Croatian President in visit to BiH

ITA SB did not reach consensus

BIH and Croatia interstate council

BiH vs. SCG lawsuit, update

RS Government’s session

Mesic met BIH Presidency members

ICMP’s conference

BiH-Cro Interstate Council in session

Mesic met SzBIH and SDU members

RS Govt on Avdo Palic’s case

Cavic on constitutional amendments

 

Oslobodjenje

[BiH-Cro Interstate Council] Governments have to solve problem of Port Ploce

Dnevni Avaz

[Di Carlo] Message from Washington : Adopt constitutional changes

Dnevni List

Croats are not endangered (DiCarlo on constitutional changes)

Vecernji List

Homeland War invalid committed suicide (On suicide of war invalid from Novi Travnik whose colleagues speculate that he did it because of application of new FBiH Law on rights of invalids and members of their families)

Slobodna Dalmacija

General Delic responsible for Uzdol and Grabovica? (ICTY extended bill of indictment agst BiH Army General Rasim Delic – see OHR BiH Media Round-up, April 20)

Nezavisne Novine

Equality for all peoples in BiH [session of BiH/Cro Inter-state Council]

Glas Srpske

Baptismal tree of crucifixion [Easter pastoral letter of Patriarch Pavle]

EuroBlic

Naturalized ones threat to “make trouble” [reactions on statements of Abu-Hamza]

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related titles

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Leader of HDZ 1990 Ljubic: Party officially registered, many people joining HDZ 1990

RHB– HDZ 1990 held a press conference in Mostar on Friday. The acting president, Bozo Ljubic, told the press that the party has been registered with a competent court under the name ‘HDZ 1990’, putting an end to speculations that the party will not be able to use the name of HDZ. Ljubic also noted that many people are joining the HDZ 1990, stressing that the whole of HDZ BiH Municipal Board of Capljina has joined the HDZ 1990.

HDZ Presidency to discuss const. changes today

RHB– HDZ BiH Presidency is holding 14th session on Friday. Items on the agenda are ongoing constitutional changes and forthcoming elections.

 

Constitutional reform

Croatian president Mesic on const changes:

Reform must provide protection for all three constituent peoples 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTV – During the meeting of the BiH-Croatian Inter-state Council, BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic briefed the Croatian President Stjepan Mesic about the course of the constitutional reform in BiH. Mesic said that he supported any solution which would make BiH function like a state. “Constitutional changes have to protect all three constituent peoples and provide mechanisms which would prevent blockade in constitutional changes in its second or third phase”, said Mesic. Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Mesic: We can move to EU only as good neighbors’ not signed – Mesic added: “I support everything could help BiH, but I consider that current constitutional changes in BiH need to fully protect all three constituent peoples.” He added that “cementing” could damage BiH thus if the country “is determined to progress on the road to Europe, than we all must support this, as the South East Europe must also become a part of the EU.” Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Mesic wants guarantees for constitutional changes’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL notes that Mesic’s statement on constitutional changes in a way supports positions of parties that want clear guarantees that the issue of entity organization of BiH will be raised after the October elections. PINK, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To avoid blockades’ by SRNA, Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Governments will solve debatable issues’, by D. P. Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 4 ‘Protect all three constitutional peoples in BiH’, by E. Felic – also carried.

VL: President Mesic had secret dinner with Silajdzic and other opponents of const. changes

 

Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Mesic wants guarantees for constitutional changes’, by Dejan Jazvic, Inset ‘Secrecy and conspiracy of meetings with politicians from BiH’ – notes that unlike all other visits to BiH, this visit by President Mesic was covered with veil of secrecy because official protocol was not made public. Namely, VL says there was a ‘leak’ that Mesic had private dinner on Wednesday night with Haris Silajdzic, his other SBiH colleagues and leaders of SDU, who are all fierce opponents to the constitutional changes, arguing that they probably used the opportunity to convince Mesic that they are right (when const. changes are in question). (similar in Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Mesic talked to opponents of constitutional changes’, by HINA)

BiH political leaders claim that they have provided majority for support of the vote on proposed amendments

 

BHT1 By Marina Boskovic– Leaders of leading political parties in BiH who signed the agreement on constitutional changes in BiH claim that they have provided enough votes to have the amendments passed in BiH House of Representatives. After months long negotiations between the leaders of the political parties, final version of text of the Constitution has been harmonized and if amendments are not passed, BiH would have another chance only in 4 years. “I do not expect it to happen, but if does, BiH will not be able to move towards Europe as other states”, said the British Ambassador to BiH Matthew Rycroft. HDZ 1990 representatives believe that the proposed amendments would not be passed. After their amendments were rejected, HDZ 199’s Martin Raguz and Filip Andric left the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Commission’s session. In five days it will be familiar whether BiH is going to get the new Constitution. “We have agreed on the final text of the amendments, it came out as the result of compromise reached by all political participants and the BiH Presidency has reached the final decision and no changes can be introduced”, said SDS leader Dragan Cavic.

Oslobodjenje: Despite criticism/opponents, parties believe const. changes would be adopted

 

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Votes for changing the Constitution assured’, mentioned on cover By A.Omeragic – Daily comments that despite the objections to the proposed amendments to the BiH Constitution, the leaders of the political parties are entirely sure that the changes would receive the support in the Parliament. Commenting the session of the BiH parliamentary Constitutional Commission [CLAC] which adopted only ‘technical corrections’ to the amendments to the BiH Constitution and the walkout from the session by the CLAC members from HDZ 1990 [Martin Raguz and Filip Andric], SBiH representatives in CLAC Beriz Belkic also expressed dissatisfaction. However, he added that his party would not abandon a demand to abolish entity vote in the BiH House of Representatives. “Even though our amendment wasn’t passed we have submitted it to the procedure immediately, so that it would be discussed about at the Parliament’s session” said Belkic.

CLAC member Kunic: traps for RS’s competences remained empty

 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Traps remained empty’ by Z. Markovic – Member of Constitutional-Legal Affairs Commission Petar Kunic stated for Glas Srpske that the status of RS would have been reduced down to the level of a municipality if the originally suggested amendments to BiH Constitution had been adopted. ‘Only upon the intervention of delegate Tihomir Gligoric and me, leaders of parties changed the amendments and this prevented the republic competences from falling in a trap from which these would never got out alive’, Kunic stated.

Member of Constitutional Legal Commission of BiH Parliament Andric called on Croat MPs in BiH HoP to prevent adoption of const. changes amendments

 

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19, mentioned on cover ‘Covic’s Central Committee (Communist time body) against Croats’ by P. Milos carries an interview with member of the Constitutional Legal Commission of the BiH Parliament Filip Andric. Commenting on the fact that correlation of forces in the BiH House of Representatives has changed when support to constitutional changes is in question and that it is quite certain that these changes might be adopted, Andric said: ‘Unfortunately, this is the way it is. The only chance is to do something in the BiH House of Peoples, that might prevent this deceit.’ Andric called on Croat MPs in the BiH HoP to prevent adoption of such Constitution ‘on the ground of which others would be deciding on destiny of Croats’. Asked about the 2nd phase of the constitutional changes talks, Andric says that the Constitution is something that should be built at one time and completely.

Chairman of Croat Caucus at HoR Zoric: Croat delegates will not support constitutional changes

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Croat delegates against changes’ by M. Cubro – Chairman of Croat Caucus at BiH HoR Vinko Zoric on Thursday stated Croat delegates at BiH Parliament will not support changes to BiH Constitution and will again ask for entity voting to be abolished. He says they will ask for the introduction of a principle according to which at least 1/3 of delegates from the three constitutive peoples will have to vote for a law in order for it to be adopted.

SDS leader Cavic: I believe parties who signed agreement would vote in favour proposed amendments

 

PINK– Following the session of the BiH parliamentary Constitutional Commission [CLAC] which endorsed the amendments to BiH Constitution, SDS Leader Dragan Cavic said that BiH House of Representatives would vote on the amendments at the session scheduled for April 25: “Our representative in BiH CLAC insisted amendments to remain the same as agreed by political parties…and political party, which I lead [SDS] will, in accordance with the Main Board’s decision vote in favour of the amendments.  I do not know about other parties but I believe that the parties that signed agreement on constitutional changes would do the same”, said Cavic. RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘SDS will vote for amendments’ by Agencies, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘SDS supports amendments’ by R. R., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘You never know’ by SRNA – reported.

SDP’s Lagumdzija: automatic disband of parliament set

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Automatic disband of parliament set’ by P.K. Zlatko Lagumdzija, SDP President, has stated that technical corrections of the Amendments to BiH Constitution have defined that the State Parliament would automatically be disbanded – instead of seeing it reach decision on its disbandment – if it fails to elect Council of Ministers’ President in three circles. AT the public debate on constitutional changes held in Banjka Luka, Lagumdzija said he sees no reason why these proposals for the change of BiH Constitution would not be supported by all, since the alternative is to maintain the current situation.

SDU’s Tokic: Technical changes to amendments strengthen divisions

 

Oslobodjenje pg ‘Succumbing to RS ultimatum’ by FenaDnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Tokic: BiH authorities are definitely being derogated’ by A.M., Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Prevent entity divisions’, not signed – SDU President, Sejfudin Tokic, claims that the adopted technical changes to the constitutional amendments (endorsed by the BiH Presidency on Wednesday related to defence and security issues) represent a new step in superseding competences of the state of BiH, especially when it comes to area of defence, again calling on the MPs not to adopt the proposed changes.

Election Commission: signing out of elections depends on constitutional changes

EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Elections depend on Constitution’ by N. B. – BiH Election Commission stated the elections should be signed out on May 4 but it it certain that the adoption of constitutional amendments might call for introducing of certain changes to the Election Law as well, therefore it is possible that the elections would be signed out approximately on May 25.

HR Schwarz-Schilling welcomes CLAC decision: reform is now up to parliamentarians

 

PINK – OHR Spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic stated the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the Constitutional-Legal Commission of the BiH Parliament to accept the proposed amendments to the BiH Constitution. “The decision means that BiH’s elected representatives now have the opportunity to discuss these amendments in a broader forum”, said Radetic reporting the stand of the High Representative, together with the message that it is now up to Parliament to consider these amendments. Schwarz-Schilling said that the proposed changes are important steps towards streamlining the State structures, which will help equip BiH better for EU integration. “The amendments are the first step in a longer process. There will be an opportunity to put forward further amendments in a second phase”, declared Schwarz-Schilling. RHB, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Votes for changing the Constitution assured’, mentioned on cover By A.Omeragic, inset ‘Better organization of the state’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Additional amendments in second phase of negotiations’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘First step is successful’ by M.Dz., Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Situation is better than it looks’, not signed – also carried.

US Deputy Assistant SecretaryDiCarlo: Adopt constitutional changes now!; US would not exert pressure on RS to abolish entities

 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Message from Washington: Adopt constitutional changes’ by S.Numanovic – Welcoming adoption of the amendments to the BiH Constitution by Constitutional Legal-Affairs Commission [CLAC] of BiH Parliamentary Assembly in an interview for DA, Deputy Assistant to US Secretary of State Rosemary DiCarlo said: “These changes are not depriving any people by any chance. Aim of these reforms is to strengthen the state and its efficiency so all BiH citizens could live prosper. This is just the first step towards more efficient authority that is much more in accordance with European standards… If you do not pass the first one, you will never reach the second phase of the changes.” DiCarlo stressed that one of the main changes that have to be made in the future is reform of public sector. Inset ‘Adopt amendments now!’ – Commenting an official US stance, DiCarlo said the amendments must be adopted now, so they could be applied before October elections. “This is important as we believe that OHR will close soon. Those that are elected in October elections, will constitute new responsible authority… If that does not happen, BiH will preserve same authority structures as it had before.Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘There will be no pressures for abolishment of RS’ by M.Cubro carries Di Carlowho stated that the US will not exert pressure against RS representatives to discuss the issue of entities’ abolishment during resumption of talks on constitutional changes. Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Croats are not endangered’ and pg 3 ‘Constitutional changes do not endanger Croats’ by E. Mackic – carries an interview with Di Carlo along the same line.

EC President Barroso welcomes agreement on const. changes

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Manuel Barroso: Place of BiH is in Europe’ by S.N. – In the letter to BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the agreement of BiH political parties on amendments to the BiH Constitution. Barosso said: “It is of great importance that the agreement respects rights of all citizens and constitutive peoples in BiH, and that is in accordance with European Convention on Human Rights… Now, it is very important that BiH Parliamentary Assembly adopt the agreed changes as soon as possible… That would be a positive signal to EU and its members that BiH has decided to implement other reforms and additionally close the state to the Union.”

UNDP: About 40% of BiH citizens support const. changes: 51% Bosniaks, 48% Croats and 27% Serbs support amendments

 

Hayat – According to results of an opinion poll carried among 2000 citizens by UNDP in the past ten days as part of the Early Warning System Report for the first quarter of 2006, 40,1 % of BiH citizens support constitutional changes, 10 % oppose them while 33,5 % are neither in favor nor against, and 16,4 % don’t know or do not have an answer on the changes. In FBiH 50,3 percent of citizens support constitutional changes, with only small percentage of 4,5 against, but 27,2 % neither support nor are against, and 18% do not have an answer. In the RS,  26,9 % of citizens support the changes, 40 % neither support nor are against, and 14,7 don’t have an answer. According to the poll 51 % of Bosniaks support the amendments, while this percentage among Croats is 48% and among Serbs 26,9%. BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Constitutional changes supported by 40% of BiH citizens’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Most of citizens support constitutional changes’ by S. Gojkovic,  Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Changes of the Constitution do not have more then 50% majority of citizens’ by T.L.-also reported.

Daily op-ed: If const. reform fails, EU/US would share criticism

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Amendments’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Commenting recent events regarding constitutional changes, editorial reads that the amendments to the BiH Constitution are likely to be adopted in both houses of BiH Parliamentary Assembly. Author concludes: “If that does not happen, it will be strong blow for both US and EU, and they would share [this criticism] with opponents of the constitutional changes.”

SD op-ed: Most BiH political leaders support const. changes due to huge IC’ pressure or in order to preserve their positions

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘You can either support constitutional changes or lose position’ by M. Karacic comments on behaviour of BiH political parties when changes to the BiH Constitution are in question and the author concludes: ‘Most BiH political leaders support these changes mostly because of huge pressure of the International Community or in order to preserve the positions that they occupy at the moment, however, unfortunately this is the way the politics in BiH is.’

Dani comment: Whatever happens to proposed const. changes, it will not be US ’ headache any more

 

Dani, pg 3 ‘It is easy for America without us’, by Ivan Lovrenovic – commenting on the process of constitutional changes, Lovrenovic stresses that BiH, “chained with impossibility to change the situation within, with minimum of domestic forces”, has no other option but to turn to the IC, in this case the US administration, to carry out the necessary changes. The author says that by judging the appearance of the US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney, on FTV’s ’60 minutes’ show, during which, according to Lovrenovic, the Ambassador “lost his cool” when he was advocating for the changes, it looks as though the chances that the amendments will be adopted are not that big. As a conclusion, Lovrenovic reckons whatever happens to the changes in the BiH Parliament, whether they get rejected or adopted, it will not be the “US’ headache any more, not at all”.

 

Other political issues

BiH-Cro interstate council meets in Sarajevo : proposes abolishment of Councils, issues to be solved by state institutions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHT1 – Members of the BiH-Croatian Interstate Council at this 10th session agreed in Sarajevo on Thursday that relations between the two countries were good and friendly, and called on settling outstanding issues in keeping with European standards. President Stjepan Mesic, who headed the Croatian delegation, stated in Sarajevo that the relation among two countries have an ascending line thus there was no more need for the Interstate Council. “We believe that relations between the two states have improved so that we need no Interstate Council, at least not in that form, since these are two sovereign, European states, and the issue of relations should be solved through institutions in charge”, said BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic. The officials also agreement launching initiative to hold the meeting of Presidents and Prime Ministers of BiH, SCG and Croatia in Dubrovnik in May which would focus on the fate not only of the BiH-Croatia Interstate Council, but also the BiH-SCG Interstate Council. BiH Presidency members and Mesic discussed Port Ploce and Peljesac bridge issues. FTV – In terms of Port Ploce, nothing new has been said. “We have agreed to call on our Governments to solve this issue in line with the existing agreements and European standards”, said Tihic. On regional issues, it has been said that BiH and Croatia were not going to interfere in the issue of Kosovo status. He also told journalists the BiH Council of Ministers has not prepared material for the session which was a reason for absence of the Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader or any Croatian Minister. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Governments have to solve problem of Port Ploce’ by Az.Kalamujic – Tihic said that the Governments of two states are working on text of the new agreement on Port Ploce.  RHB, PINK, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Mesic: We can move to EU only as good neighbors’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Equality for all peoples in BIH’ by A. Sisic, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Three issues are disputable’ by Dusanka Stanisic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Agreement between neighbors’ by Z.Domazet, Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Governments will solve debatable issues’, by D. P. Mandic, Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Mesic wants guarantees for constitutional changes’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 4 ‘Protect all three constitutional peoples in BiH’, by E. Felic– also carried.

BiH CoM Chair Terzic on RSNA Committee for Defence/Security’s session on police reform: There is no place for any further interpretations

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Without police reform there is no European path’, mentioned on cover ‘Terzic: No deviating from already adopted agreement’ by E.Sarac – Commenting upcoming session of the RS National Assembly’s Committee for Defence and Security Issue which would should discuss police reform on April 28, the BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic said that this discussion among the RS officials which would focus at the things that have done in the course of the reform to date is welcomed only if carried within the set deadline. “But, if that discussion means changing the Agreement [on police restructuring signed last year], some deviations from things already agreed, it should worry us all.” He reminded that the Agreement on the police reform and three European principles of depoliticised police, regions organized by technical criteria and state control over police have to be respected. Terzic concluded: “There is no place for any further interpretations. It is clear that there has to be single state budget, and not a consolidated one. It is clear that the police has to be organized at the state and local levels and that there should be no political interference in its work. We must not allow to be stopped in our way to Europe, specially due to the fact that we had a good start.”

FBiH Government established Law proposal on Amnesty for those that avoided military service

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Amnesty proposed for all deserters’ by M.Kukan– At its Thursday’s session FBiH Government has established a Law proposal on Amnesty for avoiding military service and submitted it to the FBiH Parliament in urgent procedure. Passing the Law was in accordance with the proposal of Defence reform Commission and stipulates general amnesty for all citizens who refused or for some other reason haven’t served military in period as of 1992. FBiH Government also rejected the initiative by the deputy Nermin Pecananc to set more favourable retirement conditions for members of FBiH Interior Ministry. It was emphasized that Police reform Directorate is also working on plan proposal for implementation of the reform, which includes analysis of decrease of surplus employees and social welfare packages. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Law proposal on amnesty established’ not signed, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Amnesty for desertion in whole country’ by I. Glibusic, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Amnesty for deserters’ by E. Medunjanin – also reported.

RS PresidentCavic: Possible recognition of Kosovo’ independence could encourage separatism

 

Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Background for separatist ideas’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Kosovo independence will influence situation in region’ not signed – RS President Dragan Cavic stated for Bijeljina-based ‘BN’ TV that possible recognition of independence of Kosovo could undermine the principle of integrity of borders in Europe and make a precedent that could encourage separatism. Cavic also stressed there is no point in linking the status of Kosovo with position of the RS because it would damage the RS and Serb people within framework of the DPA, which is the basis of BiH.

Delegate Tihomir Gligoric announces casting of vote of non-confidence in BiH CoM for April 25

 

EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘On trust on April 25’ by R. R. – Delegate of the joint club and launcher of the initiative for casting of vote of non-confidence in BiH CoM Tihomir Gligoric stated delegates of BiH Parliament will vote on trust in BiH CoM during a session that will be held on April 25. He assessed it is good that this voting would take place after voting on constitutional amendments and added he expects delegates would withdraw their support to CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic.

JL: US Vice President Cheney might open door of NATO to BiH and SCiG during his visit to Croatia

 

Jutarnji List pg 7 ‘Cheney opens door of NATO to BiH and Serbia in Dubrovnik’ by V. Vurusic, A. Palokaj, K. Zabec – According to the sources close to the Office of the Croatian President, during his visit to Dubrovnik, Croatia, that is to take place soon, US Vice President Dick Cheney might propose extending of the Adriatic Charter (made of 3 candidates for NATO – Croatia, Macedonia, and Albania) on BiH and SCiG soon practically opening the NATO’s door to these two countries. JL says that at the time of Cheney’s visit to Croatia US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice would be paying a visit to Turkey and it has been expected that she as well might come to Dubrovnik for a few hours.

 

War crimes, judiciary and security

RS Govt adopts report on fate of Colonel Palic, demands extension of deadline

 

 

 

 

RTRS– The RS Government adopted on Thursday the Final report of the Commission for investigating the fate of the RBiH Army Colonel, Avdo Palic. In its report, the Commission said that numerous witnesses were questioned and that it has been determined with “great certainty” that the remains of Colonel Palic were buried in the broad area of Han-Pijesak. Commission informed that activities on finding the remains are made difficult by poor weather conditions, thus it asked from the OHR to extend the deadline. Commission was established on January 25 by the RS Government with a task to investigate fate of Palic, who gone missing during the operation in Zepa during the war. Deadline to submit the final report was April 21. PINK, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Body of Avdo Palic in region of Han Pijesak’ by E.K., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Avdo Palic buried on territory around Han Pijesak’ by N.Jamakovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Colonel Palic was buried in the area of Han Pijesak’ By D. R. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘The encirclement is tightening’ by G.D.  – also carried.

Two men apprehended for assistance to the ICTY indictee Mladic

 

FTV– A pilot and retired colonel of the SCG Army Stanko Ristic and his son Predrag Ristic were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged assistance to the indicted war criminal at large, Ratko Mladic. Serbian media report that by this the net around Mladic is tightening and that his apprehension could be expected any day now.  Serbian media also carried statement of ICTY Spokesperson, Aleksandar Nikiforov, who said that at the latest meeting of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte, it was stated that Mladic would be delivered to the ICTY until April 30. PINK, BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Instead of Mladic they arrested pilot’ by B.B., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Mladic’s helpers arrested’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Detention ordered for Mladic’s helpers’, EuroBlic pg 5 ‘BIA intercepted conversation of Ratko Mladic and his aides’ by V. Z. C. – also carried.

War crimes suspect Boskic apprehended in USA ; admitted laying to US authorities re participating the war

 

BHT1– BiH refugee Marko Boskic said before a Court in Boston that he lied when he told the Immigration Office that he was not engaged in the war in BiH. Allegedly, Boskic helped Serb forces in killing of about 1,200 Bosniak men in 1995. Boskic was also mentioned in some of previous trials in ICTY, which regarded Srebrenica massacre, but ICTY stated that would not indict him since their goal is to sentence those who ordered the massacre. If Boskic is sentenced by US Federal Authorities he could get 10-year imprisonment and be deported to BiH after serving the sentence. Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Boskic admitted participating the massacre’ by Onasa, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Bosnian Croat kept silent about his participation in massacre’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 4 ‘Boskic: I was recruited in RS Army by force’ not signed – also reported.

SiCG Ambassador to BiH Spasovic: BiH lawsuit vs. SiCG will be harmful for relations between BiH and SiCG

 

RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘International Court of Justice is not place for showdown’, mentioned on cover by Marina Kavaz-Sirucic, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Kosovo and RS shouldn’t be connected with each other at all’ by A.Malagic, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Suit damages relations between states’ by D.Muminovic, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Spasovic: Suit may be harmful’ by D.S., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘The Hague is a wrong address’ by Z.D., Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Lawsuit against SCiG would harm good relations’ by D. P. MandicThe relations between BiH and SCG are in a very good trend and are heading in the right direction, but the ongoing dispute before the International Court of Justice on the BiH lawsuit against SCG for genocide would damage the relations  regardless of the outcome, the newly appointed SCG Ambassador to BiH, Grujica Spasovic, told a press conference in Sarajevo Thursday. It is the position of his government that this court is not the right place for “our dealings with the past”. Spasovic stressed that the cooperation with the ICTY is a duty of his state, adding that war crime suspects will be apprehended and extradited to Scheweningen, stressing: “If Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, are hiding in SiCG, they will be extradited to the Court or our Government will provide firm evidence those persons are not in SICG.”

Main hearing before ICJ, BiH team proving genocide intentions

 

BHT1, FTV, RTRS – At the continuation of the main hearing in the case of BiH vs. SCG for aggression and genocide held before the International Court of Justice, member of BiH legal team, Thomas Franck, addressed denial of the other side of that genocide was committed in Srebrenica in 1995, arguing this event was a climax of the plan prepared on campaign of the ethnic cleansing against Bosniaks. He stressed that the plan “wasn’t lead by the individual but by the State”. Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Franck: Genocide project wasn’t lead by individual, but the State’ by Sense, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Proving intention to commit genocide continues’ by Fena -also reported.

BiH Presidency member appeals for releasing of Sarovic and allowing him to defend from freedom

 

RTRS – The cabinet of BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac on Thursday issued an appeal to the human rights and judicial institutions to allow the former RS President and BiH Presidency member, Mirko Sarovic to defend himself without being incarcerated. The appeal, which called on respect of elementary need for respecting human rights and integrity of every person, was signed by 25 persons from the spheres of politics, science, culture, the Serb Orthodox Church, and other public persons, including Paravac, Dragan Cavic, Mladen Ivanic, Metropolitan Nikolaj and others. Sarovic is standing trial before BiH Court being indicted for financial embezzlements in regard to performance of Privredna Banka East Sarajevo. BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Appeal signed by Paravac, Cavic, Ivanic and Metropolitan Nikolaj’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘They demand Sarovic to be released’ by A. Dj., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘To defend while free’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘To make possible pre-trial release for Sarovic’ not signed– also carried.

Dani: Former BiH Prosecutor Rattel raised ‘harmless charges’ against former PBES Director Mandic; where the evidences disappeared?

 

Dani pgs 22-23 ‘British connection of Momcilo Mandic’ by Dzenana Karup-Drusko – Commenting the beginning of the trial before the BiH Court against Momcilo Mandic, Milovan Bjelica, Milorad Govedarica and Mirko Sarovic for organized crime and financial embezzlements related to dealings of Privredna Bank East Sarajevo [PBES], Dani alleges that Prosecutor Jonathan Rattel was removed from the case due to its connections with British intelligence services. Article carries that, after he read the charges against Mandic, newly appointed judge of the BiH Court Manfred Dauster commented that the charges were ‘harmless’. Article reads that the Prosecutor Eric Larsson, now in charge of PBES case, would have troubles to correct all the mistakes made during the investigation, since the trial has already started and some evidences are missing. Author notes that the Prosecution could introduce some new evidences gained after the raid on detention cells of the indictees in Doboj last week. Dani claim that the main problem in the investigation process appeared since Rattel was organizing Mandic’s meetings with former RS Police Director Dragomir Andan, leaving them to talk in privacy, adding that former HR Paddy Ashdown approved it since “Mandic was working for international intelligence agencies”.

Reactions following terrorism threat over citizenship audit: EUroBlic says security agencies are unprepared to prevent those from coming true

 

EuroBlic cover pg splash, RSpg 1 ‘Naturalised ones threat to “make trouble’’ by M.Soja – In regard to statement Abu Hamza, the leader of mujahedeens community in BiH, gave recently (saying that if BiH Commission for Citizenship Audit takes BH passports from him and his followers, their reaction will follow), daily notes that the BiH authorities cannot guarantee, in no way, that they would prevent threats of mujahedeens’ leaders from coming true. Dragan Mektic, Assistant to BiH Minister of Security, is of the view that “these threats represent confrontation to state”, unable to state whether security agencies in BiH are following on Abu Hamza and his followers and adding security agencies have “seriously acknowledged Abu Hamza’s threats”. Bojan Zec Filipovic, Assistant to BiH CoM Chair, says that threats are still in domain of speculation, stressing Commission must conduct its work. Zoran Tesanovic, Assistant to BiH Minister of Civil Affairs, stated that “Abu Hamza’s threats should be acknowledged seriously” and necessary activities should be conducted accordingly. He added threats actually represent pressure against Commission members. Vjekoslav Vukovic, President of the Commission, did not want to comment on the so far work of Commission. Daily learns that Commission has not started with audit of citizenship as yet.

 

Economic issues

RS Govt. approved pension increase of BAM 10 to 15 until 30 June, increases salaries to RS MoI

 

 

 

 

 

RHB, PINK, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ’20 million KM for socially endangered’ by O.V., EuroBlic RSpg 2, announced on cover ‘BAM 15 to pensioners of monthly basis’ by Tijana Veselinovic, Nezavisne Novine pg6 ‘Next pension higher for BAM 10 or 15’ by D.RIsojevic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Allowance with pension’ by G.Dakic – The RS Government decided at Thursday’s session that the additional BAM 15 will be paid to pensioners, users of child and maternity allowance, social welfare and care on a monthly basis. Milorad Dodik, RS Premier, explained that aid applies to period from 1 April to 30 June 2006 , for which the amount of approximately BAM 3.6 million was provided, adding that BAM 10 aid will be given to those pensioners with pensions above BAM 150. The RS Government also determined proposal of Law on RTRS and program of public investments in period 2006-2010; passed program for mitigation of consequences on socially endangered categories caused by introduction of VAT and decided to increase RS Ministry of Interior employees got raise of salaries in amount of 100 KM. The financial advisor for privatization of Telekom Srpske “Reiffesein” to submit privatization program by the end of this month in order to accelerate the process.

NN on ITA SB session: De-blocking of the single IAT account next week; Next session to be attended by entities PMs

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘De-blocking mid next week’ by R. Cengic – The article reports on the session of ITA Governing Board on distribution of ITA funds from IAT single account and reads ITA confirmed the distribution of funds should be unblocked mid next week after PMs of entities and state confirm the agreement reached between Ministers of Finances and members of ITA Governing Board. ITA Spokesperson Ratko Kovacevic stated the Ministers of Finances reached an agreement in principles but they do not want to make it public until PMs confirm it next Wednesday. RTRS – RTSR carries that Kovacevic told them that ITA SB did not reach consensus, but that the stances were brought closer on this issue and added that the meeting of entities’ prime ministers would be held prior to new session of ITA Steering Board, most probably on April 26. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Blockade of the single account continues’ by T.Lazovic– DA reports that at the session, the RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic proposed to use the coefficients determined in line with the VAT applications form January by June, which was rejected. In statement for DA BiH Finance Minister Ljerka Maric confirms the entity PMs Ahmet Hadzipasic and Milorad Dodik would attend that next week’s meeting.  PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV– briefly announced the session took place.

HR Schwarz-Schilling to IMF, World Bank: Economic situation in BiH is better than it might appear

 

BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Situation is better than it looks’, not signed – OHR spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic stated on Thursday that the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, had conveyed to representatives of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington an assessment that the economic situation in BiH is far better than it might appear at first sight. Radetic also stated that the HR would raise some concerns related to fiscal discipline prior to elections in BiH related to possible increase of salaries and social expenditures.

CoM Chair Terzic presented economic report for last year; EC’s Humphreys says SAA would bring more benefit then damage

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Catastrophic consequences of Bosanski Brod Refinery’s not working’ by T.Lazovic,– Talking at the conference ‘BiH Economy in European Context’ organized by the BiH Council of Ministers’ Economic Policy Planning Unit, the Chair Adnan Terzic presented economic report for the last year, stressing it is unbelievable that BiH authorities can’t find solution to re-launch production in the Oil Refinery in Bosnian Brod. Inset ‘More benefit then damage from the association’ – Head of EC Michael Humphreys attended Conference and for DA commented effects of Stabilization and Association Agreement on BiH economy. “It is true that markets would open and that BiH companies would have stronger competition, but they already have such situation on regional market. There is more positive things then eventual difficulties” said Humphreys. FTV, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Terzic: To resolve internal debt through bonds’ by E. Mackic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Many reasons for optimism’ not signed also reported.

SD: Cantons faced with minus amounting to 6 millions KM after VAT introduction

 

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18, mentioned on cover ‘Cantons faced with minus amounting to 6 millions KM’ by F. Mioc carries that a value added tax (VAT) did not damage BiH citizens only but FBiH Cantons and Municipalities as well.  SD goes on to say that according to official information even 6 Cantons have had smaller incomes on the ground of a VAT in the first 3 months of this year than in the same period of the last year. SD says that this difference in incomes amounts from 2% in the Posavina Canton to 10 % in the West Herzegovina Canton (6 millions KM in FBiH in total). 

BiH Central Bank Governor Kozaric expects decrease of prices in months to come

Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Kozaric expects decrease of prices’ by E.P. – BiH Central Bank Governor Kemal Kozaric told press conference that after increase of prices in January and February due to VAT, he expects gradual decrease of the prices in the coming months.