| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Human Rights Court Law | Return process | Reform of judiciary | Fire in Herzegovina |
| HR visits Geneva | EU assistance to BiH | Iran can target Israel | RS internal debt |
| World news | Iraq’s presidency | Fund raising for Potocari | Regional news |
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| Kakanj cement factory |
| World news |
| Oslobodjenje | There will be no exchange of the territories without the contract |
| Dnevni Avaz | Who minds the construction of the highway through BiH |
| Dnevni List | “Vineyards in Ilino Polje disappeared in fire”; “BiH budget takes business risk of Bosmal”; “Government is violating Law on ministerial, Government and other appointments” |
| Vecernji List | “Abu Hamza called on Jihad in BiH”; “Rojs in Posusje: There is no force that will break us down” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “He was watering with fuel and setting to fire trunks of pines”; “Three new speed- boats to Police” |
| Glas Srpske | At the Math Olympic in Tokio: A bronze medal goes to Doboj |
| Nezavisne Novine | An authority crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina about to begin: Party for BiH announces its withdrawal from authority; Payment of severance pays commenced at the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Railways: 500 persons to be without employment |
| Blic | Del Ponte called on former camp inmates to testify; Nikola Spiric: Constitutional Court should asses the law on military apartments; TV PINK shakes BiH |
BiH/International community | |
| Handing over responsibility for return process to BiH’s institutions
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Talks on the Plan of Return in 2004’, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Paddy Ashdown today in Geneva’, Dnevni List page 2, not signed, “Responsibility for return in 2004 is laying on BiH authorities”, Vecernji List page 3, by Fena, “Ashdown in Geneva”, Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘Ashdown to present the plan for transfer of responsibility onto BiH institutions’’- The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will be in Geneva on Monday where he will meet with the UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Kamel Morjane. During the talks the High Representative will outline the plan for handing over responsibility of leading the return process to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions in 2004. The International Community in BiH is working with the domestic institutions to ensure that their technical and financial capacities can ensure continued support for this process. BHTV 1 – Strategy of return, a state’s document, which defines systematic actions to deal with this issue, was not adopted. However, the biggest problem in return is still finances. However, BH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees say that finances were not the only problem the government needs to solve to secure sustainable return. ‘It is not enough to provide only a roof above the head, there are other conditions to be met – such as education, employment, pension and invalid insurance, health insurance, etc’ said Minister Mirsad Kebo. BiH needs approximately 900 million KM for reconstruction of houses, while only 100 million KM are given for return issues from BH budget per annum. Delegate in House of Representatives of BiH Parliament, Martin Raguz said that in addition to donations, BiH seeks to sign the contract on more suitable credits to secure further actions in return, as there are still half of million of refugees wanting to return to their place of origin. |
| EU assistance to BiH/Balkan countries | BHTV 1 – It was not realistic to expect that the 4.65 billion Euro ‘joining’ assistance for Balkans countries approved by European Union until 2006 will be significantly increased. After months long discussion between Brussels and Balkans countries, EU leaders approved increase of existing budget for Balkans for 200 billion Euro two weeks ago in the summit held in Thessaloniki. So far, this was seen as optimal increase. Greece insisted on 4 times bigger increase, but European Commission said that European taxpayers already paid enough for the countries which ‘in last decade did not return with appropriate progress’. Beside that, members states of EU were still facing recession and inflation. However, in addition to bilateral assistance, EU plans to strengthen its action plan of regional cooperation. Only several days the agreement on 63 million Euros of assistance to BiH as a part of CARDS programme, EU announced during the weekend it approved additional 31.5 million Euros of assistance to Western Balkans countries to improve regional cooperation. It was not announced how much of this assistance would go to BiH. |
| EU Ambassadors to visit Mostar | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘The main goals of the visit is to asses general situation’, FENA – Ambassadors of the EU states to BiH will visit Mostar on Monday to meet with the Prime Minister of Canton 7, cantonal Assembly Speaker and his deputies, the mayor and deputy mayor of the town, members of the Commission for designing the Statute of the City of Mostar and the international officials there, it was announced by the Italian Embassy in BiH on behalf of the EU Presidency. The main goal of the visit is to estimate the general situation in Mostar and Canton 7 in this, for citizens and local authorities, particularly critical phase from political, as well as economic and social point of view. “Ambassadors of the EU countries regard the future of Mostar and co-operation of different communities in Canton 7 as essential for the future of BiH and emphasise the need for particular focus on these matters”, the release said. |
Political developments | |
| Unresolved border issues between BiH and Serbia-Montenegro
| Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 3 ‘There will be no exchange of territories without the contract’ – Although the BiH Council of Minister has not received an official request by the authorities of Serbia and Montenegro for any move of the BiH border so far, the issue has been subject of discussion between the authorized BiH and SCG border commissions for several months now. Sead Avdic, a deputy to the BiH Parliament, has warned on the SCG authorities’ intention to take some 35 square kilometres of the BiH territory. BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, however, says that the BiH side has been insisting on making a contact on all disputed border issues that will then be ratified by the parliaments of both countries. |
| Lagumdzija on political situation in BiH | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘International representatives rule in BiH’ – President of BiH SDP Zlatko Lagumdzija stated that, differently from BiH, war crimes and mass murderers were not part of political structures in Iraq, which puts it in better position from BiH. “Changes in BiH today are essentially more being lead by the representatives of the international community than by local officials. Only few days after they come, they started to believe they are experts for the situation in BiH,” stated Lagumdzija at the conference of socialists/social-democrats held in Rome. |
| DL: “(FBiH) Government is violating Law on ministerial, Government and other appointments” | Dnevni List (front and page 4, by S. Kuzman) carries that during the closed part of the session of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government the decision on removal of all Steering Boards of companies was passed without any explanation. DL says that since the FBiH Government is an executive body of the legislative authority it should not pass such absurd, political decisions. DL also says: “After these changes it can be expected that Covic totally destroys Hrvatski Telekom Mostar, that Cengic and his associates buy Elektroprivreda BiH or BiH Telecom, that Ivanic, Cavic and their associates destroy Elektroprivreda RS and Telekom Srpske. Why does the OHR keep silent on this issue? Why does High Representative Paddy Ashdown, who should voice his opinion, keep silent on this issue?” DL says that the OHR and the HR have not issued a press release for 20 days. DL speculates that this silence could mean that the OHR is getting prepared for new initiatives or that, perhaps, the OHR got scared that its competence might be reduced. DL says that there is also the third possibility and it is that the EU policy towards BiH has changed after Italy became a chairman of the EU. |
| Party for BiH to withdraw from authority | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Party for BiH announces its withdrawal from authority’’- Safet Halilovic, President of Party for BiH Presidency, announced that dissatisfied with the implementation of reforms, Party for BiH will review its further participation in authority coalition. The withdrawal from authority and from the coalition composed of SDS, HDZ, SDA and PDP, would result in authority crisis at both levels, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and BiH as well. |
| Petition for removal of Republika Srpska Prime Minister | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Petition to lead to removal of Republika Srpska Prime Minister’ – The signing of the petition, which the Republika Srpska Association of the families of the killed and imprisoned soldiers and civilians recently launched for removal of the Republika Srpska Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, will be organised at Republika Srpska cities. According to Radojka Boric, President of the Association, 1500 signatures have been collected so far. She is of the view that it will not be hard to collect 1500 signatures more (the total of 3 thousand), necessary for initiating the proceedings from removal of Mikerevic. |
| Reactions to Mikerevic statement re apprehension of war crime suspects | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Mikerevic: Republika Srpska police will detain Hague suspects’ – Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, stated that Republika Srpska Ministry of Internal Affairs and Republika Srpska Intelligence and Security Agency will detain war crime suspects, stressing that it is still too early to give any assessment as to how successfully Republika Srpska would meet its obligations towards The Hague. Nikola Spiric is of the view that the appeal of Republika Srpska authority officials to war crime suspects to voluntarily surrender aimed at gaining support of ICTY and Carla del Ponte is “disgraceful and represents the last humiliation of the Republika Srpska citizens”. Velimir Sakan stated that Republika Srpska cannot avoid its duties towards the ICTY, noting that impossible missions cannot be expected. Sefik Dzaferovic of SDA is of the view that the international community should exert pressure against Republika Srpska authorities to arrest Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. He also warned that Republika Srpska authorities are not ready to perform these arrests. Mirko Banjac of DNS is of the opinion that the Republika Srpska authority are ready to arrest and extradite war crime suspects, in order to preserve their skin for some time, because they have already destroyed the Republika Srpska through various criminal related activities. Slobodan Popovic stated that SDS must confront with the political ideology created by Karadzic and Mladic. |
| President of HSP Croatia Anto Djapic visited Usora | Dnevni List (page 3, not signed, “Djapic: Stronger economic connecting of Croatia and BiH”) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 16, by Boro Jelic, “Define strategy of development”) carry that President of HSP Croatia and representative in the Croatian Parliament Anto Djapic visited Usora yesterday and stressed that Croatia should help Croats in BiH through opening of companies and giving loans for the development of economy. He referred to the need of stronger economic connecting of Croatia and BiH and added that the Croat people in BiH has to define clearly the strategy of development and politics. |
Economic/financial issues | |
| Internal debts in BiH
| BHTV 1 – BiH authorities are supposed to solve the issue of public debt till October this year. One of proposals was to write off 80% of this debt, which is criticised by public. BiH owes more than 10 billion KM to its citizens. This includes old foreign currency savings, war compensation and overdue payments for health and pension funds in BiH. After negative reactions by citizens, RS authorities said it was still early to talk about writing off the debt. Dzevad Osmancevic, an economy expert said that if this initiative was adopted, it would only solve problems in short-terms. RS public debt is about 4.5 billion KM. RS government denies prognosis made by some economists that both this entity and the state were facing possibility of bankruptcy. RS Finance Minister Branko Krsmanovic said: ‘We will not worry that there would be bankruptcy, because at this moment we are solving this by establishing strategy of paying overdue obligations.’ While opposition in RS seeks legal solutions to this issue, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said ‘this job is not easy at all, it is very sensitive, goes deeply into many things such as basic human rights.’ OHR doesn’t offer solutions, but waits for opinions of experts in this field. ‘There is no single solution which would be in accordance with fiscal reality and satisfy Council of Europe’s criteria’ – stated Donald Hays, Principal Deputy of the High Representative. Hays repeatedly said that interests of citizens must be a priority. |
| RS internal debt | RTRS – RS Government is also busy but with extinguishing social fires. In addition to protests of Unions of pensioners and soldiers due to their difficult situation, RS government faces difficulties in solving their internal debt. BiH owes more than 10 billion KM to its citizens – unofficial data show that RS internal debt is 4.6 bilion KM, while Federation owes 5.4 billion KM. Internal debts includes former foreign currency savings, war compensation and overdue payments for health and pension funds in BiH. BiH announced it would present strategy for return of public debt in October. One of the proposals in regard to strategy is to write off 80% of the debts. RS savings holders, whom RS government owes more than 1.6 billion KM, described this initiative as nonsense. For RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic this is just one of the options, but sensitive one since it could disturb the public. He said government was ready to face the issue of public debt, but it still has no clear position on it. ‘This job is not easy at all, it is very sensitive, goes deeply into many things such as basic human rights, so very soon we will, already next week, establish expert group which would work on this problem. Those would be experts that are familiar with essence of this problem.’ The Council of Ministers say they would gladly pay 100% of public debt, but at the same time it would present collapse of the state. There, as Deputy BH Minister for Finance and Treasury Jusuf Kunalic said, it was important to have a strategy in order to secure partial debts payment to citizens. Kunalic added that there is an initiative to write off the public debt, but considers it unrealistic, ‘especially when we have in mind that almost 50% of this debt was old foreign currencies savings. Stands of World Bank and International Monetary Fund on the issue of savings are known. In my opinion, the only questionable issue was war compensations.’ |
| VL: “IMF threatens FBiH authorities” | Vecernji List (front page, “IMF threatens FBiH authorities” and page 3, “There is no yielding to Trade Union demands”, by Z.K.) carries that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completely stopped the initiative of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic according to which the debts of companies towards the state would be written off. IMF believes that it would endanger the current fiscal balance. VL says that in this way Hadzipasic just like his predecessor Alija Behmen tried to write off the debts of Bosniak companies mostly. VL also says: “Through an attempt of ‘money laundering’ through the budget, Hadzipasic practically tried to reduce social tensions that will according to the well-informed ones escalate this autumn. In case that the FBiH Government decides to make a sort of ‘salto mortale’, although it cannot be expected realistically, it would mean giving up of the complete assistance to BiH that even amounts up to 300 billions (?) in complete implementations.” |
| DL: “BiH budget takes business risk of Bosmal” | With regard to the construction of Corridor Vc, Dnevni List (front and page 5, by J.P.) carries that the way in which “Bosmal’ company would get the concession is, at least, strange. The article says that the concession would be given without a public tender and that this means that someone in the BiH Council of Ministers supports ‘Bosmal’. While trying to explain this situation, BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications Branko Dokic stated that the existing state Law on Concessions makes this possible. DL says that the second problem is as to how it will be paid to ‘Bosmal’ for the construction of the highway and that ‘Bosmal’ proposed to get the concession for 40 years. The article says that in case that the investment is not paid off as long as the concession lasts, the concession might be extended. DL says that there is also another option and according to the sources close to the BiH Council of Ministers in the reply to the Bosmal’s letter of intention it was stated that the financial deficit of ‘Bosmal’ will be covered by money from the BiH budget. |
| Avaz: Who minds highway through BiH | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 3 ‘Who minds highway through BiH’ – Commentary of the Day by Fadil Mandal. “It would an unforgivable mistake to miss the chance for the cinstruction of the highway through BiH, although some pretentious political and media amateurs are suggesting otherwise,” writes Mandal. In another article on the issue on the same page “BOSMAL is the only acceptable option”, Dnevni Avaz quotes Dragan Mihajlovic, the Professor at the Banja Luka University’s Construction School, as saying that the contract with BOSMAL is currently the only possible way for the construction of 5c corridor through BiH. |
| Independent Trade Union of Aluminij reacts to statement given by Minister Izet Zigic | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by De. L, “Where Minister Zigic is spending our funds?”) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 14, by Darko Juka, “Unlike Government’s, our spending is transparent”) carry a reaction of the Independent Trade Union of Aluminij workers to the statement given by Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Minister of Energy, Industry and Mining Izet Zigic, who stressed that extra profit appears in Aluminij company and it is being shared in a certain way. The press release of the Independent Trade Union says that they raised this company from ashes and that the FBiH Government has never invested a single KM in Aluminij. They also pose the question to the FBiH Government, that is, its competent Ministry asking as to where they are spending money. The press release also says that Aluminij spends its funds in a transparent way and wonder whether the FBiH Government is doing the same. The Trade Union sent a message to Zigic saying that they will not allow that the production in Aluminij is shut down due to someone’s incapability, idleness and corruption. Dnevni List (page 2, by Miso Relota, “Irresponsible statements of Zigic and Bjelobrk”) carries an editorial on the same issue in which the author criticizes the statements given by Zigic and Head of one of Elektroprivreda BiH Departments Boro Bjelobrk. |
| Privatisation of Brod Oil Refinery | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 11, ‘Five investors interested in Oil Refinery in Brod’ – The Russian Companies “TNK” and “Likoil”, the Austrian OMV, Greek “Helenik Petroleum” and Hungarian Hom have expressed the greatest interest in buying the Republika Srpska Oil Refinery in Brod. The tender is to be opened at the end of this or the beginning of next year. The nominal value of the company will be KM 267.2 million. |
Judicial reform | |
| Reform of judiciary
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Enormous judges’ salaries did not justify expectations’ – Independent Judicial Commission finds financial position of courts in BiH as catastrophic. In its recent report IJC pointed several weaknesses of the court system and budget management. Head of Commission Rakel Surien said: “In spite of high salaries of judges in the range from 2500 to 3500 KM, the courts are still very inefficient and judges need to show much more in order to deserve their salaries”. Around 400 judges need to be fired and in addition non-judiciary part of the system should be reduced fro 30%. Compensation for fired judges amounts to 10 million KM. Rakel Surian expect the coming reconstruction of the judiciary institution will result in budget saving of 10 million KM. |
| FBiH Government proposes cessation of the application of Law on FBiH Human Rights Court | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘FBiH doesn not need Human Rights Court’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Abolishment of the Court’, Vecernji List page 2, by Fena, “Non-existing Human Rights Court is being abolished”, Dnevni List page 7, not signed, “Is there a need for existence of Human Rights Court?”, FENA – The FBiH Government has sent into an urgent parliamentary procedure a draft law on the cessation of the application of the Law on FBiH Human Rights Court. The Government believes “that there is no need for existence of the Court because this court has never been established and performed its duties so that the reason for the existence of the Law/Court has lost its sense.” |
| Oslobodjenje: Interview with the ICTY President | Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5, mentioned on the front page ‘The Hague processes might last by 2009’ – Interview with the ICTY President, Theodor Meron. “We have been working a lot on the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement as well. I was recently in Sarajevo for two days and I can say we are very satisfied with a fact that, following long discussions and negotiations, finally there is a consensus on the establishment of a special war crimes court in BiH. If everything is to go under the plan, the next step will be made in October when High Representative Paddy Ashdown and I will present an official report on the issue to the UN Security Council and request for the official approval,” said Meron. |
Other issues | |
| Fund raising campaign for Potocari
| FTV – The project for Memorial Centre receives important support from authorities in Tuzla Canton, but also from Entities and public enterprises. Total amount collected is around 8 million KM. Some embassies also provided financial assistance, like US Embassy donating 1 million dollars for the centre. However, a response from citizens and private companies is not satisfactory. Beriz Belkic, president of the Board for Potocari, hopes that necessary 10 millions KM for the centre will be partly provided after re-balance of budgets. |
| Abu Hamza called on jihad in BiH
| Dnevni List (page 2, by Fena, “Extradition of America because of calling on jihad”) and Vecernji List (front and page 3, by Fena, “Abu Hamza called on jihad in BiH”) carry that according to Sunday Times Glen Janvee was pretending to be an Islamic terrorist and he invited those who share his opinion to his Internet page that he used as a sophisticated trap to collect information on the activities of the Islamic extremists. Sunday Times says that radical Imam Abu Hamza was so impressed with Janvee’s Internet page that he sent to Janvee 20 video tapes with the material which calls on British Moslems to go to fight for jihad in BiH and Afghanistan. Jnavee says that he sent all video tapes to FBI that is collecting evidence in order to demand from Great Britain the extradition of Abu Hamza. On the same issue, Vecernji List (page 3, by Miro Bosnjak, “Intensified control over strangers at all levels”) carries on the same issue that through newly adopted Law on Foreigners’ Residence in BiH legal prerequisites for prevention of human trafficking will be created and expelling of the persons who have committed any kind of illegal actions will be made possible in this way |
| Bronze medal for Doboj math expert | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘A bronze goes to Doboj’ – At the International Math Olympic in Tokio, which finished last Saturday, Milanka Jankovic, a high-school graduate from Doboj, won bronze medal. |
| CRA not to allow media monopoly in BiH | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘CRA will not allow a media monopoly in BiH’ – In an interview to NN, David Betts, Director Executive of the CRA, stated that CRA is still open for any suggestion and objection upon Decision on temporary suspension of electronic media broadcasting licence transfer. He also appealed to citizens and media in BiH to take part in discussion. |
| 5th marijuana plantation detected in Republika Srpska
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘The capacity of plantation is four tons of marijuana’ – During days search, the members of the Police Station from Bileca and Public Security Centre from Trebinje detected a fifth and also the biggest marijuana plantation in the Republika Srpska at the locality of Bijeljani, on the road between Bileca and Berkovici. In collaboration with the Prosecutor, the action of collecting evidence aimed at bringing charges for illegal production and trafficking in narcotics. |
| Reconstruction of mosques | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Two mosques reconstructed’; Nezavisne Novine, pg. 10, ‘Camdzic: Human rights respected’ – The first reconstructed mosque was on Saturday opened in the Banjaluka settlement of Vrbanja in the presence of several thousand of believers, Imam of Islamic community and officials of political and public life of Republika Srpska. In his speech during the opening of the mosque, Deputy Head of the Islamic Religious Community in BiH Reis Ismet effendi Spahic called on Bosniaks to reconcile, forgive, and co-live with their neighbours of Croat and Serb nationality. Adil Osmanovic, Republika Srpska Vice President, congratulated to Vrbanja population for their courage and determination to reconstruct the mosque. According to NN inset 1, the reconstructed mosque was also opened in Blagaj near Novi Grad on Saturday. According to NN inset 2, the reconstruction of Ferhadija mosque will start during autumn season. The four experts from Great Britain, who will make a project for mosque reconstruction, will visit Banjaluka sometime in August. |
| Editorial: “Cardinal Puljic attacked by silence” | Vecernji List (page 2, by Miso Relota) carries an editorial which says: “The celebration of the Central European Catholic Days that started in Kupres, deserved to be in the prime time news and on the front pages. Nevertheless almost all media in the capital of BiH were silent on the event!? That treatment explains the bishops’ fear and their demands addressed at domestic authorities and the International Community to guarantee preservation of religious and national identity. Cardinal (referring to Cardinal Vinko Puljic) was attacked again! A few days ago by the abusive language, now, by silence. And silence is more dangerous than all verbal attacks that he and his Church have been exposed to so far. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, by Blanka Magas, “FTV darkness, clumsy statement of Bishop Vlado Kosic and Covic’s ignorance) carries an article dealing with the same issue. |
| Big fire, which broke out in old part of Neum, localized | Vecernji List (front page, “Neum in grip of guests and fire” and pages 4 and 5, “Fire-fighters prevented disaster in front of Neum”) and Dnevni List (front and page 3, by M. Maslac, “Vineyards in Ilino Polje disappeared in fire”) carry that fire broke out in the old part of Neum yesterday. The dailies carry that firemen from Neum with the assistance of their colleagues from Metkovic, Croatia, and citizens managed to localize a big fire that broke out. DL says that according to unofficial information human carelessness caused the fire. |