OHR BiH Media Round-up, 21/8/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)	TV PINK (18,00 hrs)	BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)
Puljic on Croats in BIH	Mandic transferred to Kula prison	Metaljka de-blocked
Lozancic answers to HR	Gas prices in increase	Meeting of “RS Poste” management
RS Government on police reform	Foreign currency savers to protest	BD Prosecution on tax-evaders
Metaljka unblocked	BiH farmers to pitch new tents	Rebuilt Mosque in Visegrad
NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)	FTV (19,30 hrs)	RTRS (19,30 hrs)
A mosque opened in Visegrad	Detention for Mrso’s murderers	Metaljka unblocked
Mandic transferred to Kula prison	Restaurant denies Mrso killed there	Update on Poste Srpske
ICTY on Ivica Rajic’s case	Metaljka de-blocked	Mandic transferred to Kula prison
Foreign currency savers to protest	Danger of “Upper Horizons”	RS Government on police reform

Oslobodjenje	Rajic will be process beforeBiH Court
Dnevni Avaz	Some individuals privatized Foundation [for veterans housing care]
Dnevni List	[Mostar prison] inmates on strike because of new cook
Vecernji List	New incident in Stolac: Bosnjak and an Englishman in a mayor’s house
Nezavisne Novine	Defence reform: Pilots neither in the air nor on the ground

	Security issues/ police and defence reform
Metaljka border crossing unblocked after Paravac, Matijasevic visited Cajnice	RTRS by Radivoje Obrenovic – After several days of protests following the murder of the State Border Service officer Bojan Prodanovic by his Bosniak colleague Anis Bandic, Cajnice citizens unblocked the road leading to the border crossing Metaljka. BIH Presidency member Borislav Paravac and RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic visited Cajnice on Saturday and spoke to members of the municipal authorities and citizens. Matijasevic and Paravac condemned the murder and promised to do everything to ensure justice is served. Paravac said he will demand thorough investigation and severe punishment. Matijasevic stated that RS MoI will do everything in its power to preserve public peace and order. Paravac and Matijasevic also visited Prodanovic’s family. Hayat – Paravac also said that he would ask for persons who gave job to Anis Bandic to take the responsibility. BHT 1 – SBS denied that the murder was motivated by the ethnicity differences, stating that Bandic murdered his colleague in state of nervous breakdown. FTV, RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Metaljka border crossing unblocked’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Border crossing unblocked’, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘Blockade of border crossing ended’ – also reported on the end of protests.
DA op-ed strongly criticises Bukejlovic using SBS officer’s murder to prove RS MoI should continue to exist	Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Bukejlovic’s cheap demagogy’ op-ed by Mirela Kukan – Editorial refers to the announcement of different BiH officials regarding the measures following the murder of SBS officer. On the statement by Dragan Metkic, Deputy BiH Security Minister, that the file of every SBS and police officer will be opened [see BiH Media Round up for August 20], author says this indicates that in the past it was only enough to apply for the job to get it without any physical or mental tests. On the other hand, author says that the fact that victim is Serb and perpetrator a Muslim [even though Ministry says that the crime was carried out in the state of serious psychological disturbances] was highly used for politicising in RS: “RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic deems that things like this had not happened when SBS was under entity’s control. It is said that Bukejlovic uses terrible murder to promote interests of his government in a process of police reform and to prove that joint police structure in not possible in BiH without RS MoI existence.”
Media carry NN article on Jahorina meeting: If reform fails, RS could be in position of isolated part of Cyprus	BHT 1, FTV, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown announced SDS officers removals’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Possible ban of SDS’- Media carry the report published by daily Nezavisne novine on 20 August [NN pg 2 ‘If they don’t accept police reform, EU is to welcome FBIH’, mentioned on cover, by V. Popovic] which claimed that the HR Paddy Ashdown told SDS representatives at the Jahorina meeting that the EU would seriously consider possibility of accepting BiH without RS if no progress is made at the police reform talks in Mostar on Tuesday. According to the article, Ashdown also warned them that the banning the SDS or removals of the party’s officials was a possibility. Media all reported that daily carried one of the SDS officials who attended a meeting as saying that Ashdown underlined that if the reform fails, RS will suffer consequences and could be in position alike the isolated part of Cyprus . [For more details, see BiH Media Round-up August 20]
RS Government says its delegation will take part in Mostar negotiations on police reform	Hayat, RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjneje pg 2 ‘Solutions in line with RSNA conclusions’, Vecernji list pg 3 ‘RS Government delegates to come to Mostar’, Dnevni list pg 3 ‘Negotiations in line with Assembly’s satances’ – RS Government stated that its delegation would participate in continuation of negotiations on police reform scheduled for 23 August in Mostar. RS Government announced that it is doing everything in order to find a solution for reform within framework of the BiH and RS Constitutions, and in line with the set EU principles. It added it feels that proposals of certain political parties need to be considered through legal bodies of political parties and after that in the RS National Assembly.
DA int with Terzic: progress to be made in Mostar	Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We have strong agreement with EU on beginning of negotiations’, mentioned on cover, by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, the BiH Prime Minister, Adnan Terzic, said he expects the progress to be made at the meeting on police reform in Mostar on Tuesday. He adds it is possible that the agreement on police maps is to be reached, as well as some other issues of concern for the transition period which will last from 3 to 5 years. “Perhaps not all will happen in Mostar. Maybe we meet once again in Sarajevo before 15 September. If it happens, than political leaders should brief the parliaments on what was agreed… If not than on 15 September we should sit down to take stances and try to solve open issues… We have strong agreement with EU that if we sent the agreed police reform proposal in line with European principles to the parliamentary procedure before 15 Sept, and if Parliaments adopt it by mid October, than we will start the negotiations on Stabilisation and Accession Agreement on 10^th anniversary of Dayton Agreement,” says Terzic.
NN on possible cuts in BiH military aviation	Nezavisne novine cover splash, pgs 14-15 ‘Pilots neither in the air, nor on the ground’ by D. Risojevic, D. Muminovic – NN cover splash story is a feature about the possibility for air forces to be cut in the course of BiH defence reforms. Namely, Defence Reform Commission is yet to decide whether to keep the air fight units. “For the time being, there are indications that a number of aircrafts will be decreased, and the rumours of possible cuts in aviation alerted the pilots,” reads the article.

	Political issues
First reconstructed mosque in region opened in Visegrad	BHT 1 by Sanita Lisica – Reconstructed Emperor’s Mosque [Careva dzamija] was ceremonially opened on Saturday in Visegrad. This is the first mosque reconstructed and opened in this region of RS, and Bosniak returnees all expressed the hope that this will further accelerate return process to the city. Ceremony, lead by mufti Mustafa effendi Ceric, was also attended by the representatives of the Serb Orthodox Church and Bosniak member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic who stressed the future can be built only by joint efforts of all BiH peoples. Head of Municipality Visegrad, Miladin Milicevic underlined the fact that not a single incident has occurred in the region since the returnees came back to their homes. Nevertheless, all officials have agreed that more has to be done in economic and housing area, which would enable more people to return. Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Bosnia could not survive for 1000 years because of hatred, but for love and justice’, mentioned on cover, by A. Bajramovic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Call for prayer heard after 13 years’, mentioned on cover, by Elvira Aganovic, Vecernji list pg 2 ‘Careva mosque opened’, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘Careva mosque opened’ by Srna – all reported.
Media bring Lozancic’s letter on pardoning Prce	RHB, RTRS, Hayat – Media carry reports that the FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, answered to the demand of the OHR to explain his decision for pardoning Miroslav Prce, which was already reported by Sarajevo dailies day before [see BiH Media Round up August 20]. In a letter submitted to Paddy Ashdown on Friday evening, Lozancic said that the decision to pardon former FBiH Defence Minister was not illegal nor it questioned the work of the Court/Prosecution. He further says that Prce wrote to the FBiH President, “like any other citizen could do”, asking him for pardon, and was further processed with participation of all authorized institutions. “You will agree that there is no need for any kind of secrecy or lack of transparency with such great number of participants in the pardoning process and with written and opened correspondence. In Miroslav Prce’s case, the Constitution regulations as well as provisions of the Law on pardoning have been respected”, said Lozancic adding Prce also suffers grave medical problems. “This is entirely act of mercy,” concludes Lozancic.
Cardinal Puljic: BiH Election Law, Constitution damaging Croats	RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Puljic : Constitution and election law damage Croats’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Number of Catholics in BiH has been almost cut to half’, mentioned on cover, Vecernji list pg 2 ‘Cardinal Puljic: 466.000 Croats live in BiH’ – In an interview to Livno radio, Cardinal Vinko Puljic stated that only 466.000 Croats live currently in BiH, while it population constituted of 820.000 people before the war. He also said that Croats in BiH do not seek only to be constituent people but also sovereign, i.e. equal to Bosniaks and Serbs in entire territory. However, Puljic believes that this was been impossible to achieve since BiH Constitution and Election Law have been made in a way damaging Croats.
Mostar City Administration appointment: There will be no annulments, SDA/HDZ meetings next week to solve problems	Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Mayor Beslic admits there is ethnic lack of balance’ by F. Vele – IN a statement for DA, the Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, admits that there is a lack of ethnic balance in the City Administration after 133 employment orders for administration were issued. Beslic however adds that the issue is to be tackled, explaining that he scheduled meetings for next week to bring both HDZ and SDA representatives to find the way out of this crisis. Dnevni list pg 6 ‘Appointments of the officers will not be annulled’, mentioned on cover, by V. Soldo – DL also carries Beslic’s statement along the same lines. Vecernji list pg 3 ‘Ney: appointments of officers in Mostar legal’ – VL carries the statement of by the SDHR Martin Hey who welcomed appointments in City Administration, adding they were legal.
VL: Dizdar cases “yet another incident” in Stolac	Vecernji list cover splash ‘New incident in Stolac: Bosnjak and an Englishman in a mayor’s house’, pg 3 ‘Boskovic hassled by Englishman Hector and Dizdar!’ by Frano Matic – VL carries that the president of Bosniak Youth Forum from Stolac, Nerin Dizdar, “caused yet another incident in Stolac”. Apparently, Dizdar arrived to the house of Mayor Stjepan Boskovic, together with an English civilian identified as brigadier Gulalan Patrick Hector [who said he was member of EUFOR], demanding to see the Mayor to discuss the war crimes committed in Stolac. However, Boskovic apparently did not want to see them as he was just having a family lunch, and after explaining visitors that the business is not to be discussed at home he called police and reported he was harassed. However, Dizdar told daily that he was following Hector who apologized the Mayor for disturbing him home. He added that Boskovic talked to them for about 10 minutes, and that only when they left they were stopped by the police on the road.
Terzic: meetings next week to find solutions to CoM situation	Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We have strong agreement with EU on beginning of negotiations’, mentioned on cover, by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, the BiH Prime Minister, Adnan Terzic, announces his trip to Washington to meet “certain number of people” to discuss possible grants in order to enable beginning of VC corridor construction. On the situation in the Council of Ministers, Terzic said that next week he expects the meeting of the leaders of parties creating parliamentary majority to find solutions to the crisis. “I have certain proposals and solutions, but we need to let leaders of political parties to present their stances too. One of possible solutions is to appoint experts from RS, as I suggested earlier. I think that [Svetozar] Gligoric goes into that category [note: Gligoric would replace Branko Dokic* in that case*],” says Terzic.
Bosic: All those HR dismissed could be soon back in SDS	RTRS – SDS Vice President Mladen Bosic stated on Saturday a the session of Bijeljina SDS Board that the party is going through the ‘consolidation’ process, adding he believes that all those officials the High Representative dismissed will be back to the party in some future period. “I am certain we will soon be in position for either the one who brought the decisions or the European Courts for Human Rights to annul the decisions,” said Bosic.

	Economic issues
Rendic meets management of Poste Srpske/ dismissed Director and his Deputy announce they will come to work on Monday	RTRS by Sinisa Mihailovic – Trade Union of the “Poste Srpske” company condemned the appointment of Milanka Rendic to the position of acting Director of this company. However, Rendic, who entered her offices on Friday only after police intervention [see BiH Media Round-up August 20], was not bothered by this and started working. Drazen Avramovic, the chair of the temporary Supervisory Board stated that Union should deal with matters concerning the workers and not the appointments. Reporter comments that whilst the Union remains firm in its position, a certain number of departmental directors – who previously pleaded loyalty to former Director Milutin Pejic – have responded to Rendic’s invitation and met with her. She expressed satisfaction with this fact and stated that new tasks have already been distributed. On the other hand Pejic’s deputy Milenko Vuceta says that the number of directors that responded to the invitation was far less than Rendic said. Vuceta says that he will nevertheless go to his work on Monday as well as Pejic. BHT 1 – According to BHT 1, a larger part of the management has refused to attend the meeting with Rendic, who on the other hand appraised this meeting as successful and justified absence of her colleagues saying they were on vacations. Meanwhile, the entrance to the building was forbidden to Vuceta and Pejic, who both announced coming to work on Monday. Hayat, Dnevni list pg 5 ‘Depositors still try to get back their money’, mentioned on cover, Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘Fifteen directors loyal to new director’, mentioned on cover, by M. Kremenovic– also reported on the meeting.
Depositors of old foreign currency savings announce blocking border crossings in October unless their problems negotiated	RTRS, RHB, PINK, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Despositors threat to block border crossings’ – The management board of the BiH Association of the depositors of old foreign currency savings held a session in Sarajevo on Saturday calling on BiH authorities to commit themselves to negotiate their problem, and warning that otherwise they will block border crossings in BiH in October. The Association has filed lawsuits against several states and banks, which hold the money of the Association member, however according to the board the BiH authorities have not done anything about this. The Association announced that it would not give up on their requests, until the issue is solved.FTV – Association reminds that the total unpaid savings are 3. 3 billions US dollars without interest rates, while the largest debtors are “Ljubljanska Banka” and “Invest Banka”.
Farmers announce general protests for 5 September if their demands are not met	PINK by Ljubisa Davidovic – BiH Farmers announced they will put up the tends in front of the HDZ building in Mostar on Monday, and next month they will do the same in front of the RS Government building in Banja Luka. The Chair of the BiH Farmers Association Ranko Bakic said that they want HDZ to dismiss the BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Dragan Doko. Farmers reportedly accused Doko, a HDZ official, as failing to do anything to protect domestic production. If their requests are not met, Bakic said that general protest was to take place on September 5.
FTV feature on ‘Upper Horizons’ project, critical of RS Elektroprivreda and EFT	FTV by Anita Damjanovic – FTV reports on the project “Upper Horizons” stating that it has raised many doubts among experts and the public, however in spite of warnings the project has been continued. The project is aimed at building a tunnel to redirect the water from Fatnicko and Dabarsko fields to Bilecko lake and then to basin of river Trebisnjica, and it could be the largest energy investment in the Balkans. Few years ago OHR instructed British company “EFT” to cease works, but then allowed them to continue, while FBiH Government asked from the BiH Council of Ministers to do the same. However, the RS “Elektroprivreda” and “EFT” have continued with their plans, even though the international conference on this was held in Neum two years ago and all experts warned against possible ecological disasters to be caused by the project. On the other hand, the spokesperson for “EFT” Nenad Savic explained the company hired British experts who arrived in three individual teams and concluded otherwise. FTV brings that even OHR Auditor warned of privileged treatment that “EFT” has. Savic explained that RS “Elektroprivreda” will pay “EFT” for their work in electricity in next seven years, after which the project will belong to the State which will profit 5 million Euros per annum. Recently, the office of the BiH State Prosecutor asked “EFT” to submit all documents regarding their business with RS “Elektroprivreda” and Savic said that this documents will be submitted as soon as possible so that this investigation could end once and for all.
DA cover splash story: Foundation for veterans housing publishes corrected lists/ reactions	Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Individuals privatised Foundation’, pg 2 ‘It is sad that individuals privatised Foundation’ by A. Basic – DA leading story brings reactions to the Foundation for Housing Care of veteran population who published the revised list of their beneficiaries on Saturday. Mehmed Sisic, the president of the FBiH Association of demobilized soldiers and the member of the Foundation’s board strongly objected to this adding that the board has not even met to discuss the corrections. “It is said that individuals privatised the Foundation and that they bring decisions on their own,” said Sisic.

	War crimes
ICTY Prosecution strongly objects request to transfer Rajic’s case to Croatia, instead to BiH Court	FTVBy Zinaida Hamidovic– ICTY Prosecution filed a request to the ICTY Council for transfer of cases not to discuss the demand under which the case of Ivica Rajic should be handed over to Croatian instead of BiH judicial authorities. Rajic was indicted for war crimes against humanity and breaching of war rules and regulations in BiH. This request was signed by ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on August 15, who called on the rule titled “11 BIS” according to which the transfer can be recommended only by the Prosecution or the ICTY Council, and not by defence lawyers. Prosecution already demanded the case to be handed over to the BiH Court , estimating this institution is capable of providing impartial trial. On the other hand, Defence claims that the situation in the BiH Judiciary can prolong the case, stressing that Croatian judiciary is much better prepared. RTRS, Hayat, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Rajic will be processed before BiH Court’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘ICTY Prosecution objects to Rajic’s trail in Croatia’ by Fena, Vecernji list pg 4 ‘Del Ponte against lawyers proposal’, mentioned on cover, Dnevni list pg 3 ‘Defence doubts BiH judiciary’, mentioned on cover, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘Prosecution against handing over Rajic case to Croatia’ – also reported.
DA: Djukanovic arrested/extradited Mandic to gain support in IC	Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Djukanovic arrested and extradited Mandic?’, mentioned on cover, by E. Sarac – DA carries that the arrest/extradition of Momcilo Mandic to BiH was not planned or orchestrated. “It is all about well calculated move by Montenegro President Milo Djukanovic,” reads the article quoting a source close to Montenegrin intelligence. DA source explains that Djukanovic did this only because of his own personal interests: facing charges for smuggling tobacco in Italy in the eve of referendum on Montenegro independence, Djukanovic decided to do something to please the international community hoping this will bring him more popularity and support from that side.
PINK feature on establishment of the BiH Institute for Missing Persons	PINK by Milka Mrdja – The agreement on the establishment of BiH Institute on Missing Persons will be signed on August 30 in Sarajevo. The Institute will take over the tasks from the existing entity organizations, i.e. RS Office on Missing Persons and FBiH Commission on Missing Persons. The Institute should be an independent, scientific institution carrying out its authorities in line with the state law on missing persons. But, according to the agreement, entity offices for missing persons should continue their work, so to be closer to the families of the missing ones. “There would be no great changes, except that the single data base on missing persons would be created, which would result in denial of all speculations on the issue”, said the Chair of the RS Office Milan Bogdanic. In the first two years, the Institute will be consisted out of the existing entity offices, with 17 Bosniaks, 12 Serbs and 7 Croats. In this way, the families should have no fear that someone is going to be damaged in any way, adds Bogdanic.