Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 21 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| FBiH HoR on execution of budget | Terzic to address CoE |
| | FBiH HoR in session |
| New case of meningitis | World news |
TV news broadcast on 20 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Strike of HNC public medias | Day of Refugees marked | Oath taking in Capljina |
| | Declaration on Srebrenica | |
| HNC Government session | Refugees in BiH | Zenica inmates transfer issue |
| Proposal of BIH Constitution | CoE Parliamentary Assembly session | International Day of Refugees |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Day of Refugees marked | | Solemn oath ceremony in Capljina |
| Zukic, Kebo on BiH refugees | Insert from “60 minutes” | Refugees in BIH |
| Feature story on Foca returnee | Payment of pensions to start on Tue | Return process in Glamoc |
| Feature story on Visegrad returnee | Indictment vs Simonovic confirmed | Gypsy moth in RS forests |
| Oslobodjenje | 88% of domestic shares on the market [Aluminij privatization] |
| Dnevni Avaz | Halilovic accused Miletic of illegally spent money |
| Dnevni List | Franciscan priests refuse decree |
| Vecernji List | Susak gave to Franciscan priests money for bank |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Susak gave to Franciscan priests money for deposit in Hercegovacka Banka |
| Nezavisne Novine | They live in barracks and dream about their houses |
| Glas Srpske | Skinny budget – fat pockets |
| EuroBlic | A refugee set himself on fire to get a visa |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Terzic to address CoE parliamentarians; BiH Delegation disputes over Srebrenica declaration
| BH Radio 1 – The Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, today addresses the parliamentarians of the Council of Europe. Within the regular session of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly, Terzic will speak about the importance of BiH’s fully pledged membership in this European institution. Terzic will accent the past reformatory processes and activities aimed at ensuring BiH’s timely launch of negotiations for signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU by the end of the year. Meanwhile, BiH delegation failed to have a joint stance regarding the initiative of their delegation member Senad Avdic to offer the text of declaration on Srebrenica to CoE for adoption. Avdic stated he hopes that today delegation will harmonize their different views. |
| Hearing in Lijanovici case starts on Thursday | FENA – The main hearing in the so-called Lijanovici case (against Lijanovici brothers, HDZ President Dragan Covic, President of the BiH Constitutional Court Mate Tadic and professor Zdravko Lucic will start on Thursday. |
| FBiH HoR in session | RHB, BH Radio 1 by Ljiljana Radl – FBiH House of Representatives has commenced the session today in |
Return process | |
| International Day of Refugees: Still 187.000 persons or more waiting to return to pre-war homes
| RTRS by Radoslav Banovic – BiH Minister of Refugees and Human Rights, Mirsad Kebo, said that domestic authorities and the international community planned to spend about 200 million KM for the return process in this year. He also stated that there are still 187.000 persons in BiH awaiting to return to their pre-war homes. On occasion of the International Day of Refugees, Kebo confirmed over a million refugees returned to BiH. However, Mirhunisa Zukic Chair of BIH Association of refugees and displaced persons says this number is smaller. They both point to the problems returnees are facing after the return to their pre-war homes, such as difficulties in findings jobs. Hayat, Nezavisne novine pg 6 ‘Data on return are not correct’ by J. S– also carries Kebo and Zukic. PINK, BHT1, RHB, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘M. Kebo: 200 million KM for return process’ by B.S., Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 6 ‘They live in barracks and dream about their homes’ by S. Gojkovic, EuroBlic pg RS5 ‘Another 250,000 people wish to return to their homes in BiH’, announced on cover ‘Refugees and DPs in BiH to get new IDs’ by Nedeljka Breberina – Media included a number of return related features on the occasion of the international day of refugees. |
| Association of Refugees seeks from UN special status for Srebrenica to facilitate return
| BHT 1 Samir Kahrovic – BIH Umbrella Association of Refugees and Displaced Persons will send a proposal to the Unied Nation for adoption of resolution that would award Srebrenica with the special status in order to resolve the problems of the returnees in the region. Featured returnees to Srebrenica say that their biggest problems are unemployment and lack of jobs in the region. The special status, awarded to Vukovar in FTV, RTRS, PINK, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A special status for Srebrenica’ by K. C– The proposals will be read out on June 25, in New York, during preparations for UN assembly which is to take place in September. |
| Malkic: 1300 requests for return, only 250 housing units ready | FTV by Mirela Canovic – FTV brings a feature on return process to Srebrenica municipality and on difficult situation in that town. “In the last several months, we have received approximately 1300 requests for return but only about 250 housing units are going to be ready for moving in”, said Abdurahman Malkic, the Head of municipality Srebrenica. |
FOLLOW UP: Capljina oath taking ceremony | |
| BiH Deputy Defence Minister says no law broken in Capljina ceremony
| FTV, RTRS, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Law on Defence was not violated by Srna – BiH Deputy Defence Minister, Marina Pendes, stated that no provision under the BiH Defence Law has been violated during the oath taking ceremony of the FBiH Army recruits in Capljina on 17 June, when Croatian anthem was played. “I believe that ‘Lijepa nasa’ is a ceremonious melody always performed in such occasions. I don’t see playing of this tune at the oath taking ceremony as hymn of the another country,” said Pendes. |
| FBiH Defence Minister Nikolic: Radovanovic suggested considering change of ceremony
| Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover, ‘Banning ‘Lijepa nasa’ would devastate our identity’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview to daily, the FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, says that playing ‘Lijepa nasa’ Croatian hymn at the oath taking ceremony in Capljina has not violated the law, adding media politicised entire issuer. He stresses that Law on BiH state hymn and the Law on coat of arms and flag were also fully respected, while the text of the oath was appropriate. Asked is it true that Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, has asked from him to stop playing the tune, Nikolic said Radovanovic “suggested for him to consider, according to my [Nikolic’s] authorities, whether Lijepa nas will be played or not… I reconsidered it, but have not found a single legal obstacle in the law… I don’t see why would somebody mind this… Is that aim to devastate the identity of a people? If the BiH armed forces are to be established this way, that he will come to the stage when Croats will not see this army as theirs.” RTRS, BHT1 – Also carry Nikolic stated that Radovanovic only mentioned the change of protocol as a suggestion. |
| Ivo Miro Jovic: Capljina ceremony in accordance with legislation
| BHT 1 – “Nothing happened in Capljina, as many would like to see. Oath taking ceremony was held in accordance with all regulations and on this occasion a ceremonious melody was sang, as sang by Croats for the past 7-8 centuries,” said member of the BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic. Reporter says the BiH Law on Defence brings in confusion because it gives possibility to the entity armies to have their flags, anthems and insignia. |
| Chapel: Ceremony was professional; OHR without comment until EUFOR’s investigation
| FTV, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Oath taking ceremony was dignified and professional;’ by Srna, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Oath-taking ceremony was carried out professionally’ by rt, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Oath-taking in Capljina does not represent an incident for NATO’, announced on cover ‘NATO thinks no incident happened in Capljina, EUFOR still waiting for report’ by R. Cengic – NATO Spokesperson in BiH, Derek Chapel, stated that the oath-taking ceremony that took place in Capljina on Firday has underwent professionally. “I have attended the ceremony on behalf of NATO and I have seen that the BiH symbols and coat of arms were respected,” said Chapel adding that following the investigation EUFOR Commander David Leaky will take a final stance on this issue. RTRS, Hayat – OHR stated that it will not comment the mentioned events until EUFOR investigates the event in full. |
Crime and judicial issues | |
| Update on case ‘1st BiH criminal organization’
| BHT1, FTV, Oslobodjenje ‘For embezzlement of 6.5 million KM, probations and fines’ by L.S., Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Trial against Ferid Okic postponed until further notice’ by E. Mackic – The BiH Court acquitted Sedinet Karic, Mehmed Salkic, Amira Zahirovic, Eldar Malinic, Novalija Zukic, Senida Karic and Besim Jahic of charges for organized crime, customs fraud and bribery due to the lack of evidences. However, the accused in a case “Karic” was put on probation due to tax evasion and money laundering while Mehmed Salkic has been acquitted of the same charges. Sedinet and Senida Karic have been sentenced for possessing of illegal weapon. Sedinet Karic, owner of company “Sidoil” has been sentenced to 2 years in prison, but the sentence will not be executed if he does not commit any crime in the period of 4 years. Karic and Zukic have to pay a fine in amount of 1.440.000 KM. “We are not satisfied, who would be satisfied with such amount of money”, said Sedinet Karic. Attorney Krstan Simic said that they are going to file an appeal because they believe there was no enough evidences. The Court of BiH estimates that these men damaged FBiH budget for 6 millions KM. BiH Prosecutor, George Halbah announced that he is going to file an appeal because he is not satisfied with the Court’s verdict regarding this case. He feels that this verdict is unacceptable. Media have often speculated that Sedient Karic used the company “Sidoil” to illegally importing textile, shoes and some other goods from Hungary and Turkey to BiH, accusing his also of money laundering, etc.
BHT 1, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘End is not in sight’ by N. Zelenovic– The decision on transfer of four non-Bosnian inmates found guilty on the charges of war crimes from Zenica to Kula prison has not yet been executed. Decision was made last week by the BiH Justice Minister, Slobodan Kovac, after the inmates were physically attacked by other inmates following the screening of Srebrenica execution snapshots. Assistant to the BiH Justice Minister, Resad Fejzagic, stated that he has no information whether the independent commission established to determine the facts on the incidents in Zenica prison has completed its task. FBiH Ministry will decide on possible transfer after consideration of the report made by this commission. Hayat – The Commission was established by FBiH Justice Minster Borjana Kristo and should have ended it work by the end of the last week. |
| Transfer of 4 non-Bosniak inmates to Kula has not yet occurred | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Rest of prisoners threatened with rebellion’ by I. Milesic and last pg ‘Kovac: Prisoners from Zenica must go to Kula prison’ by I. Milesic, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘New state prison will be built’ by M. Karacic (carries Secretary of the BiH Justice Minister Jusuf Halilagic who says that this Ministry seriously thinks about resolving of this problem. He added that construction of a new state prison should start next year and criminals who committed most serious crimes would serve their sentences in this prison.) |
| Minister Halilovic files charges against Director Miletic
| Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘Halilovic accuses Miletic of illegal spending of money’, by E. Sarac – Avaz learns that the FBiH Interior Minister, Mevludin Halilovic, submitted late last month a criminal report against the Director of FBiH Police Administration, Zlatko Miletic, accusing him of breaching legal provisions pertaining to purchase of official cars valued at some 1,4 million KMs. Halilovic’s report says Miletic made a deal on October 25 last year about taking a loan from the Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank to purchase 19 vehicles, and Halilovic insists that Miletic breached the corresponding procedure. Miletic reacted by denying all the charges, saying he received the necessary consent from the FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic on |
| HB trial update/Jelavic’s lawyer demanded abolishment of house detention for his client
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Susak gave to Franciscan priests money for bank’ and pg 3 ‘Susak gave share amounting to 500 000 KM to Franciscan priests’ by Z. Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash ‘Susak gave to Franciscan priests money for deposit in Hercegovacka Banka’ and pg 6 ‘Susak gave us money for Hercegovacka Banka’ by Z. Tulic – At the trial against former HDZ President Ante Jelavic for the Hercegovacka Banka case, former Herzegovinian Provincial Tomislav Pervan testified. Pervan stated that through Croatian Defence Ministry late Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak financed reconstruction of the pulled down Franciscan church in Mostar and he sent a money order amounting to 500 000 KM to Franciscan priests as a foundation deposit in Hercegovacka Banka. Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Defence demands abolishment of house detention for Jelavic’ by E. Mackic also carries that Jelavic’s lawyer Dragan Barbaric announced that he would demand abolishment of the house detention for Jelavic. |
| Avaz: Update to ‘Leutar case’ investigation
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Financial Police, at prosecutor’s order, requests from FBiH MoI data on payment of half million marks’, by E. S. – Avaz learns that the Chief FBiH Prosecutor, Zdravko Knezevic, after the FBiH President Niko Lozancic requested an urgent investigation that would reveal perpetrator of assassination on late FBiH Deputy Interior Minister Jozo Leutar, requested the FBiH Financial Police to find out who received half a million KMs that were allocated as a reward for revealing of the identity of the killer and find out who issued the order. According to unofficial information, the Financial Police’s request, which was forwarded to the FBiH Interior Ministry some 20 days ago, is still with the FBiH MoI because allegedly, the FBiH Police Administration Director, Zlatko Miletic, is calling upon official secret, which resulted in no answer to the aforementioned requests. Avaz reminds that the FBiH Finance Ministry paid on |
Srebrenica anniversary / War crimes | |
| War crimes charges against Simonovoic confirmed by
| RTRS, BHT 1, PINK, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Indictment against Konstantin Simonovic confirmed’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Local judiciary in Brcko raised first indictment for war crimes against Konstantin Simonovic’ by E.R. – |
| 240 bodies exhumed near Zvornik
| BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘They tortured dead too’ by A.H. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘240 incomplete bodies exhumed’, mentioned on cover, by S. Smajlovic – Exhumation work on the mass grave in Liplje near Zvornik ended on Monday, with 240 incomplete bodies and 168 minor bones unrelated to the bodies found, the Tuzla County prosecutor’s office has said. The victims, who hail from Srebrenica, were killed in July 1995. The exhumation works lasted from 16 May, and were carried out by teams of experts of the FBiH Commission for Missing Persons, ICMP, the Tuzla County Interior Ministry, the Tuzla Health Centre and the Tuzla Commemorative Centre, under the supervision of the |
| DA: possibly Meron, Solana, Barroso to attend marking of Srebrenica tragedy
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Theodor Meron to be in Potocari?’ by A.H. – DA brings that there are still no official information on exact number of guests to attend the marking of 10th anniversary of Srebrenica tragedy. According to Abdurahman Malkic, only presidents of |
| Boris Tadic determined to attend ceremony in Potocari
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 inset ‘Boris Tadic in Srebrenica on 11 July’ – The Serbian President, Boris Tadic, will attend the ceremony of marking the 10th anniversary of Srebrenica tragedy on July 11. His Cabinet announced on Monday that BiH Presidency had invited Tadic to attend the commemoration over a month ago. Last week Association “Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje” declared that the arrival of SCG delegation and Tadic to Potocari is a “conceived provocation”. |
| Serbian parties’ reactions on Tadic’s attendance of Srebrenica commemoration
| Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Commemoration in shadow of politics’ by D. Radeka and B. Popovic – carries reactions of Serbian parties on the announcement on arrival of Serbian President Boris Tadic to Srebrenica commemoration. DS’s Dusan Petrovic thinks claims Tadic’s attendance would mean admitting the crime were groundless, G 17 plus believes Serbian Assembly should adopt a resolution on Srebrenica that would condemn the crime but would also say these crimes were committed by individuals, not entire people, and underline this was not a genocide. SPO’s Srdjan Sreckovic agrees with the latter opinion and says both Croatian and Muslim side should follow the example of Tadic and pay respect to Serb victims. Inset ‘Uninvited’ – DSS’s Andreja Mladenovic denied any of DSS representatives would attend the commemoration and said the party thinks it is not appropriate for any Serb party representative to attend. Inset ‘Bow before Serb victims too’ – Mothers of Serb Srebrenica Victims called upon Tadic to bow before Serb victims too on July 12 on commemoration in Bratunac. |
| Oslobodjenje on Tadic coming to Srebrenica
| Oslobodjenje, pg 9 ‘Tadic and Srebrenica’, by Daniel Omeragic – Commenting on announcement that President Tadic will attend the Srebrenica commemoration and in particular Malkic’s statement that Tadic’s arrival is a confession of genocide in Srebrenica, the author argues that Malkic is right in saying that Tadic should be allowed to pay respect to victims of Srebrenica, however the author believes that it would not represent the confession of genocide. In that context, Omeragic argues it foremost Tadic’s personal position, noting that the aggression on BiH and genocide against Bosniaks are foremost being proven in the ICTY, as evident in the Krstic trials. |
| SDHR Ney visits Srebrenica, discusses details of 11 July ceremony
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Visit to Potocari Memorial Center’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Ney interested n House of Confidence’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘House of Trust to be opened soon’ by Srna – SDHR, Martin Ney, on Monday visited Municipality Srebrenica, where he talked with Head of Municipality, Abdurahman Malkic, about the preparations for marking the genocide anniversary. “This is my first visit to Srebrenica. I wish to be informed about the details of marking July 11”, said Ney. SDHR also visited the project ‘House of Confidence’ |
| CoE to adopt Declaration on Srebrenica
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Snapshots of execution of civilians in Srebrenica are a shame for Europe’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Declaration on Srebrenica will be adopted’ by ra, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘Srebrenica is a shame of Europe’ by Agencies – The Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Renee van der Linden, has assessed that the footage of murder of civilians from Srebrenica were undisputable evidence for all of those who did not believe the crime was committed and he stressed the footage was a shame for Europe. |
| General Stankovic: only truth is the fact 1883 mortal remains were found so far
| Vecernje novosti pg 14, announced on cover ‘The truth has not been excavated as yet’ by Veljko Lalic – General Zoran Stankovic, former Chief of VMA (Military Medical Academy in Belgrade) has stated the true number of Srebrenica victims can be determined only through exhumations and court-medical processing of mortal remains. According to Stankovic, 1883 mortal remains have been found so far and this is at the moment the only truth. ‘Everything else is just a presumption, including claims of Richard Wright that other graves contain mortal remains of another 2571 persons’, Stankovic said. |
| Gligoric: Bosniak members proposed adoption of declaration to CoE without knowledge of Serb and Croat members | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Behind back of Serbs and Croats’ by S. Miletic – carries a statement of Tihomir Gligoric, a member of the delegation of BiH Parliamentary Assembly that attends CoE session, who claims Bosniak members of the delegation will propose to CoE to adopt a resolution on Srebrnica and he claims they have decided to do so without asking for an opinion of Serb and Croat members of the delegation. |
| Serbian Government insists it is not in contact with Mladic
| Oslobodjenje, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘We do not have contacts with Ratko Mladic’, by B. Boskov – Regarding ‘Sunday Times’’ report that Ratko Mladic has agreed to turn himself in for 5 million US$, Oslobodjenje carries reactions of Head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Relations with Media, Srdjan Djuric, and Serbian Justice Minister, Zoran Stojkovic, who both deny the report. Without going into details, Minister Stojkovic noted that no state body had contacts with Mladic, stressing that information about the state having contacts with Mladic were ‘dangerous’. The daily also notes that the word is that some wealthy people from |
| BHT 1: ICTY expects no more tapes showing execution of Serb civilians
| BHT 1 by Zoran Sarenac – BHT sources close to ICTY Prosecution deny that the Office of the Prosecutor expects a delivery from the RS Police Director Dragomir Andan and RS Interior Ministry of the snapshots showing execution of Serb civilians. ICTY Prosecution has been in possession of the recording of execution of Serb civilian in Bosnian Krajina by the members of BiH Army in 1995 [recently broadcasted in Serbian media] for longer time. “Obviously, that recording, which was available to everyone for four year, was brought up now in order to amortize, in a very trivial way, recently publicly reveal snapshots of execution of Srebrenica men,” commented journalist of Sarajevo based Dani magazine, Emir Suljagic. |
| RS Secretariat for Relations with ICTY: Over 3000 criminal charges for war crimes committed over Serbs
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Criminal charges against over 200 foreigners because of war crimes’ by NINA – The RS Secretariat for relations with the ICTY confirmed that, so far, competent RS bodies filed over 3000 criminal charges for war crimes committed over Serbs. Apart from the persons of the Bosniak and Croat nationality the names of over 200 foreigners, who were fighting for the BiH Army during the war, are also mentioned in the criminal charges. The RS Secretariat for relations with the ICTY informed that all criminal charges would be sent to the BiH Prosecution and on the ground of the investigation the Prosecution would decide which persons would be processed. |
Political issues | |
| EU Enlargement Commissioner says enlargement processe to continue | FTV, RTRS, PINK, Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘Joining of western Balkans was confirmed’ by Agencies – In his speech in the European Political Study Centre, EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, stated that it is very important to continue with the enlargement of the EU. Rehn added that while “everything went as badly as possible at the summit last week”, the Council confirmed the conclusions of December 2004 |
| Oslobodjenje on BiH getting closer to EU in light of recent events
| Oslobodjenje, pg 9 ‘European time-out’, by Zija Dizdarevic – Commenting on the process of enlargement of EU and recent events pertaining to EU constitution and budget, Dizdarevic says the current mood in the EU is that the EU is afraid of the enlargement and one of reasons is the factor called ‘Moslems’, something that could affect BiH’s chances. Talking more about BiH’s chances, Dizdarevic says it is an advantage that the UK will take over the chairmanship as of July 1 since it is the country of the current High Representative, and in that context the author raises the issue of future character of international engagement in BiH, saying it is not good to ask for the transformation of the OHR into the EUSR at this moment. Finally, the author concludes that the most important priority of BiH at this moment should be to become a PfP member and speed up the way to become a NATO member. |
| Association 2005’ presented platform for new Constitution
| RHB, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH declining, Dayton halted progress’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Republic of BiH and welfare state’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘For Republic with at least 5 regions’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘To name state Republic of BiH’ by B. Kristo, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘They have proposed a new constitution’ by Fena – Association “BiH 2005” – A group of distinguished BiH citizens gathered around the Project Association BiH 2005 on Monday presented the Platform for the new BiH constitution. Authors of the proposal are Chair of BIH Election Commission Vehid Sehic, FBIH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic, professors in |
| NN Int with Ashdown: ‘I did not give up from sanctions against RS’
| Nezavisne novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘I did not give up from sanctions against RS’ by M. Cubro – carries a page-long interview with HR Paddy Ashdown in which he state: ‘I did not give up from sanctions against RS and I will use this should RS and SDS choose isolation instead of integration to EU’. Asked whether he believes one can achieve a progress towards EU with parties that have been blocking reforms for ten years, HR has stated he does not support parties – SDS was on power in years that have passed, yet a lot had been done. ‘People elected nationalistic parties and, if these can implement reforms, then I can continue working with them. It is important to say that should nationalistic parties fail to transform into European conventional parties they would have no future’, HR said. He refused to say whether he had reached an agreement with RS President Dragan Cavic on police reform, but he said especially brave and encouraging initiatives are lately coming from Milorad Dodik. Asked to comment the announcement on arrival of Serbian President Boris Tadic to Srebrenica commemoration, HR said it is important for Serbian President to come to Srebrenica and it is important that he had expressed his wish to attend this event. ‘I hope we will use this to show the admittance of the crime that was committed, to show true respect and to show BiH can be a country that can leave its past behind it’, HR concluded. |
| Presidents of SCG,
| Oslobodjenje, pg 5 ‘Presidents of BiH, Croatia and SCG in Belgrade on July 27’, by A. Omeragic– Reports that the Chairman of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, President of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, and Croatian President, Stipe Mesic, should sign in Belgrade on July 27 a joint statement that will reflect on the current and future situation in the region. Although the statement has not been harmonized yet, Oslobodjenje learns it will seek responsibility of war criminals, stress the priority of joining the EU and underline strengthening of cooperation among the three countries. Apparently, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Statement on joint cooperation between SiCG, BiH and |
| VL: About 30 Municipalities to be abolished due to law on local self-rule
| Vecernji List pg 2 ’About 30 Municipalities in BiH faced with shutting down’, mentioned on cover ‘About 30 Municipalities in BiH to be abolished’ by D. Jazvic – VL says that after adoption of the law on local self-rule many Municipalities in BiH might be abolished. VL says that the new law would prescribe criteria that the Municipalities must meet and according to some estimations, about 30 Municipalities do not meet these criteria. Federation of BiH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic also shares this opinion and he warns that many current Municipalities were created as the result of political compromises. |
| VL: BiH Presidency to discuss tomorrow crisis in CoM
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘New round of negotiations’ by dja – VL says that, most probably, on Wednesday the BiH Presidency would discuss the BiH Council of Ministers’ crisis for the first time. According to the article, Chairman of the BiH CoM Adnan Terzic and BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic should also attend this session. According to VL information, it is not realistic to expect some bigger results from this session and a possibility to schedule a new meeting of the parliamentary majority has been mentioned as the only realistic option. |
| Reactions on HDZ announcement on removal of F BiH Ministers
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Only BiH parliament can decide on removals’ by R. Cengic – Upon announcement of HDZ on removals of ministers at F BiH Government, Head of the Party for BiH Caucus Ismet Briga has stated the Parliament must confirm any change within F BiH Government, but only after F BiH President asks for such a change and he has to have a consent of both Deputy Presidents of F BiH. F BiH Minister of Agriculture Marinko Bozic has denied his removal was discussed during the meeting he had with Dragan Covic. F BiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic says, in case of a removal, he would insist on professionalism and capability of new personnel. |
| VL op-eds/commentaries on Croats and HDZ
| Vecernji List pgs 6 and 7 ‘Dayton twilight’ by M. Vasilj – Commenting on the position of the Croat people in post-Dayton BiH the author says that in spite of the fact that the Dayton Peace Accord (DPA) guaranteed some sort of equality to the Croat people due to the revision of the DPA, its non-implementation and wrong interpretation Croats have been brought in the position of a national minority. The author blames for this situation the Croats themselves who were not able to organize themselves and fight for their rights. Vecernji List pg 7 Croat Interest Community’ by R. Dodig carries an editorial in which the author harshly criticizes HDZ and he says that the HDZ National Council was formed in order that the HDZ top becomes more important and in order to create an illusion that HDZ only takes care of Croat national interests. The author also proposes HDZ to change its name in Croat Interest Community since various HDZ fractions and lobbies stick together only because of power, profit and benefits. |
| DA op-ed on HDZ’s resistance against PBS reform
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘HDZ’s resistance against reform of TV system’, by Musein Orahovac – Carries an op-ed in which the author comments on the HDZ insisting on establishing a TV channel in the Croatian language, especially the HDZ’s argument that even national minorities in Europe have a right to TV in mother tongue. Orahovac notices that IC representatives did not respond with a quality answer to that, since the OHR called on the HDZ to ‘think one more time’, whilst the Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, ‘nonchalantly’ sent the HDZ a message to give up the status of constitutive people, thus ensuring a right to national TV channel. The author concludes that there are two scenarios how the situation can unfold, it will be either the HDZ appealing to the |
| Mikerevic: PDP will ask for a protection of OHR
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘We will ask for a protection of OHR’ by V. P. – The Chairman of Doboj Municipal Board of PDP, Dragan Mikerevic, accused RS Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Governance of failure to present its stance with regard to the removal of Svetislav Vasiljevic from the position of the Chairman of Doboj Assembly and he announced the party would seek for a protection of OHR in this case. |
| SD op-ed: ‘Paddy’s dictatorship to be replaced by European one’
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Paddy’s dictatorship to be replaced by European one’ by J. Celan – The editorial carries parts of an article that British professor John Laughland from the British Helsinki Board published in Mail on Sunday in which Laughland criticized the current situation in BiH and High Representative Paddy Ashdown. The SD article says that working on this article Laughland talked with representatives of all 3 BiH peoples and the HR himself. According to Laughland, Ashdown admitted him that his Draconian powers are non-democratic and they suppress democracy and civic society, however he (the HR) wants to bring his powers to the level at which these powers would become unnecessary. Laughland also noticed in his article that Ashdown’s so-called exit strategy is not exit at all but it is the entering strategy for the EU. |
| Humphreys: Too many political debates on education
| PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Too many political debates on education’ by Srna – Two-day conference has commenced in Sarajevo, and during which local and foreign experts are going to estimate BiH’s progress and define next steeps in education reform. The attendees were greeted by the Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys and BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic. Humphreys stressed that he was pleased with progress BiH had achieved. However, he appealed to all authorities in BiH to make a cooperative approach in the next phases of education reform. He warned that there are many more debates on education in the political sense, and less talks on actual problems in the education system. |
Economic issues | |
| Oslobodjenje on agreement on ‘Aluminij’
| Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pgs 4-5 ’88 percent of domestic stocks on tender’, by A. Omeragic – FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, told Oslobodjenje that he would today (Tuesday) inform the FBiH Government about the proposal of agreement that was reached with the Aluminij Management the other day, whilst the document (agreement) will be sent to the FBIH Parliament on Friday. PM Hadzipasic says the MPs will not be discussing the contents of the agreement, instead they will only vote on the principles of it. Still, Hadzipasic expects the MPs will accept the agreement. Regarding the future privatization of the company, the daily says both the Government and Aluminij Management agree that the company should be sold to a partner that would instigate growth, modernization of plant and hire more workers. Oslobodjenje notes that 88% of stocks will be offered in a tender. |
| Milanovic opposes customs-free import of meet
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Skinny budget – fat pockets’ by D. V. M. – The article discusses advantages and disadvantages of customs-free import of meet and quotes Deputy Chairman of Foreign Trades Chamber Petar Milanovic as saying that, in ten months since the decision on customs-free import of meet, the budget lost nearly 20 million KM. He also notes not a single firm, out of in total 12 that have the right to import meet without paying customs fees, is from RS. |