Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS(12,00 hrs) |
| BiH HoP discusses Law on RTVtoday | BiH HoP in session | SBiH not to attend Neum mtg |
| FBiH HoR session today | Protests of BiH students and farmers | BiH HoP in session |
| Neum meeting | FBiH HoR in session | Sale of Serb property in |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Meeting of political parties in Neum | Milan Gvero surrenders to the ICTY | Gvero turn himself in to the ICTY |
| Donations expenditure report | Meeting in | Political parties to meet in Neum |
| BIH&SCG free trade contract | Sulejman Tihic on Neum meeting | Donations expenditure report |
| BIH&CRO free trade contract | Mladen Ivanic on Neum meeting | EU meeting in |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Milan Gvero surrenders to the ICTY | Price of medical alcohol increased | General Gvero surrenders to ICTY |
| Gotovina’s accounts to be blocked | Discussion on free trade agreement | EU Ministers on ICTY cooperation |
| BIH-SCG free trade contract | More domestic products bought | Meeting of political parties in Neum |
| Issues to be discussed in Neum | Gvero turns himself in to the ICTY | Donations expenditure report |
| Oslobodjenje | SDS, PDP announced to boycott talks on constitutional changes |
| Dnevni Avaz | Mladic’s deputy to surrender |
| Dnevni List | President will be elected from line of one people |
| Glas Srpske | Visiting the Torbicas of full heart |
| Nezavisne Novine | 12 billion KM was donated for reconstruction of BiH |
| Blic | RS facing flood threat |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BiH HoP in session
| BH Radio 1 By Mustafa Karahmet, RS Radio, RHB – The BiH House of Peoples has commenced the session in |
| Student protest against sale of Marsal Tito barracks
| BH Radio 1 By Aida Suljevic – About hundred students gathered today in |
| FBiH HoR in session
| BH Radio 1 By Ljiljana Radl, RHB – FBiH House of Representatives today adopted the draft Law on FBiH Internal Affairs. The law was adopted together with the amendments which enables decertified police officers, for whom judicial verdicts established that there was no ground for desertification, to keep their job or to be re-employed to police forces. The HoR did not adopt the draft Law on Police Officers. |
| FBiH Supreme Court sentences Vuksic to 8 months of prison | BH Radio1, RS Radio – FBiH Supreme Court has today found former FOSS Director, Ivan Vuksic, guilty of taking hostages at Hercegovacka Banka in Grude on |
| Farmers protest at Doljani, Izacic
| BH Radio 1 – BiH Farmers Association currently protests at the border crossings Doljani and Izacic. The Association says these protests are aimed to support the BiH delegation which is currently in |
Political developments/reforms | |
| BiH ruling political parties to meet in Neum today, discuss state institutions functioning
| RHB, BHT, FTV, TV Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘SDS, PDP announced to boycott talks on constitutional changes’ – A two-day meeting of HDZ, SDA, SDS, SzBIH and PDP leaders will start in Neum on Monady. Coordinator of the meeting is BIH Presidency member Dragan Covic. HDZ spokesman Pero Pavlovic stated that the topic of the meeting will be functioning of the government in BIH and added that he cannot speculate whether constitutional changes will also be on the agenda. SzBIH Presidency President Safet Halilovic stated that there are many obstacles to normal functioning of authorities in BIH and meeting in Neum is the right opportunity to open some questions regarding that. SDA President Sulejman Tihic stated that all problems in functioning of BIH institutions should be marked and added that those problems are closely connected to constitutional order of BIH. PDP President Mladen Ivanic stated that the crisis in CoM will be the only topic of conversations in Neum and added that if someone starts the discussion on constitutional changes in BIH, PDP members will leave the meeting. SDS President Dragan Cavic confirmed that constitutional changes won’t be the topic of the meeting. Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘President will be elected from line of one people’ by M. Zorlak, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash andpg 13 ‘Negotiations without tackling RS’ by Z. Tulic, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘PDP and SDS do not want change of Constitution’ by B. Stevandic announce the Neum meeting. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 13, mentioned on cover ‘We can talk about everything but about Constitution not at all!’ by A. Macanovic carry Ivanic and Mihajlica’s statements regarding the meeting. Nezavisne novine pg 6 ‘Talks on work of BiH authority institutions’ by M. Cubro – carries announcement on Neum meeting in a single report with statements of Mladen Ivanic, Sulejman Tihic, Safet Halilovic. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Not a word on the constitution’ by |
| Dnevni Avaz: Party for BiH not to participate at meeting in Neum
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Party for BiH not to participate at meeting in Neum’ – Late on Monday, the Party for BiH Presidency decided not to send its representatives to participate at the meeting of ruling BiH political parties in Neum. “The BiH Parliament is a place where the crucial issues of legislative and executive authorities functioning should be resolved/discussed,” said Party for BiH President Safet Halilovic. |
| Tihic: Meeting in Neum should specify the problems in state institutions functioning
| TV Pink, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Government’s functioning linked with/related to constitutional changes’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘We will list the problems in government functioning’ – Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency and SDA President Sulejman Tihic said that, during the Neum meeting, all the problems within the BiH institutions should be specified. According to Tihic, all these problems are closely related to the constitutional system. Tihic said that the next meeting should be more concrete, but members of other political parties should take a part at the next meeting, and not only those who presented Parliament’s majority. Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Constitutional changes will resolve issue of capital’ by M. Zorlak, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Related story’ by Fena also carried Tihic’s statement. |
| Ivanic: PDP does not give up on its demands
| TV Pink, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘PDP does not give up on four demands’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Four conditions’ by N. Zelenovic – Resigning BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs and PDP President Mladen Ivanic said that the party decided to take a part at the meeting in Neum, due to the fact that the issue of problems in BiH institutions was going to be discussed and not the constitutional changes. Ivanic said that 4 demands, made by PDP, were to be reiterated and they should be adopted at the meeting. In that case there is a possibility for PDP ministers to withdraw their resignations. Ivanic says: “The first demand is that the Dayton Peace Agreement has to be respected, second, it could be decided on reforms only by BiH institutions, third, there should be an equality principle as well as consensus, and it is of extreme importance for us, for BiH institutions to take over the authorities from the international institutions. These are the 4 demands we are going to insist on; these principles represent condition for further PDP’s participation in BiH institutions.” |
| HNZ’s Brkic: All citizens, political parties should participate in discussion on constitutional changes | Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Brkic: Deciding on BiH’s future is right of all of us and not of some parties only’ by I.G. – Commenting on the meeting in Neum, HNZ President Milenko Brkic stated that the fact that representatives of 5 parties ascribed themselves a right to discuss constitutional changes alone show how immature these parties and some individuals within these parties are. Brkic added that they forgot that all citizens and all political parties, especially the ones that participate in the Parliament have the right to discuss this issue. |
| SDS political advisor Pivasevic: Mikerevic is creating rift between SDS and PDP
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Mikerevic is trying to create a rift between PDP and SDS’ by V. P. – Upon Dragan Mikerevic’s announcement that PDP would in future act as an opposition party at RSNA and saying the party has paid too high price due to cooperation with SDS, SDS political advisor Stanko Pivasevic thinks Mikerevic is trying to create a rift between SDS and PDP because he is no longer the Prime Minister. Pivasevic has stated that the goal of SDS is to continue to be coalition partner with PDP. |
| Mikerevic: Voting for Bukejlovic’s Government PDP was choosing between two bad solutions | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Mikerevic wanted Dodik for Prime Minister’ not signed – Former RS Prime Minister and member of PDP Presidency Dragan Mikerevic stated that PDP will start to act as opposition in the RSNA with clear distinction towards SDS since, so far, ‘PDP has paid a high price of cooperation and coalition with SDS’. He added that voting for Pero Bukejlovic’s Government PDP was choosing between two bad solutions. |
| FBiH HoP should adopt Law on Police Employees in original form
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘HoP and F BiH Commission for Harmonization are “rescuing” the law’ by R. Cengic – Since F BiH HoP has adopted eight amendments to the Law on Police Employees and internal affairs prior to a warning from OHR, F BiH Parliament expects from HoP to adopt the Law on Police Employees in its original form. ‘We cannot change anything now, amendments have been adopted and it remains to vote for the Law in its entirety. I believe this is a done deal although I cannot present the stance of HoP. Perhaps F BiH Government and Minister can change something, but there is still a possibility for HoP to adopt the Law without amendments and for the Commission for Harmonization to straighten things up in accordance with recommendations of OHR’, Muhamed Ibrahimovic, the Chairman of F BiH HoR, has stated. |
| SRS leader Mihajlica: No suggestion diminishing RS police authority should be accepted
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘New CoM’ by N. D. – carries a statement of SRS President Milanko Mihajlica with regard to Neum meeting and also quotes him as commenting the police reform: ‘We do not oppose establishing of a single body at BiH level that would serve for coordination of tasks between RS and F BiH Ministries of Interior. However, we should not accept any suggestion that would diminish authorization of RS police, especially if it would be dictated by the international community and Bosniak parties’. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Paddy Ashdown’s proposal on police reform should be rejected’ also carried Mihajlica’s statement. |
| Independent Board to propose candidate for RS Police Director on Wednesday
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘The best candidate, of the 5 that applied, to go before the RS Government’ – Ilija Lukic, the Chairman of the Independent Director Selection Board, announced that the ISRB will on Wednesday select and propose to the RS Government the best of the 5 candidates that have applied for the position of the RS Police Director. According to Lukic, the ISRB will review all necessary documents, including those relating to the certificates that no disciplinary measures have ever been declared against the candidates and will interview them. |
| Candidate for RS Police Director Jaganjac denies media claims
| Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘I am not under investigation’ – GS carries a letter addressed to the daily by Fadil Jaganjac, one of the candidates for the position of the RS Police Director. This letter came as a reaction to article published in GS Monday which made several allegations against Jaganjac. In his letter, Jaganjac described the contents of the article as malicious and incorrect. He is not surprised that the article was published, as the interviews with candidates for this position will take place this Wednesday. Jaganjac further claims that he had information two days ago that this article was being prepared and that the journalist who wrote it had not contacted him but had allegedly referred to reports published by a daily newspaper from the Federation in writing the article. Jaganjac announced that he was going to file a lawsuit against the newspaper and the journalist as early as this week. The daily announced to respond to this letter tomorrow (Wednesday). |
| RS Association of Former Camp Inmates critical of Jaganjac
| Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Jaganjac shows his cards’ by V.J. – The RS Association of former camp inmates, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the ISRB, Ilija Lukic, Monday, requested this body to reject the application of Fadil Jaganjac for the position of the RS Police Director and stressed that this request represented no form of pressure or influence in terms of the selection process. In explaining their request, the Association recalled that several days ago Jaganjac told the Sarajevo-based “Dnevni Avaz” newspaper that he was of the view that “he as a Bosniak should have priority compared to other candidates”. He further said that he “supports the new territorial organisation of police structures in BiH” which was recently proposed by the HiRep, Paddy Ashdown. “Jaganjac, also, said that if he is eventually selected, his task will be to abolish the IEBL between the two Entities of BiH”, the Association says stressing that Jaganjac’s appointment to the position of the RS Police Director would be shameful as he is, with his statements, violating the Constitutions of the RS and BiH, and denying its (RS’s ) constitutional position. |
War crimes/cooperation with ICTY | |
| Mladic’s wartime deputy Milan Gvero goes to
| TV Pink, BHT, TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Mladic’s deputy to surrender’, pg 3 ‘Milan Gvero, wartime deputy of criminal Mladic, goes to The Hague’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Milan Gvero to turn himself in on Thursday’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Indictee Milan Gvero in The Hague on Thursday’ by Hina, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Milan Gvero is leaving to The Hague on Thursday’ by vr,Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Milan Gvero to departure to the Hague’ by S. Karic and M. Cubro, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Gvero goes voluntarily to the Hague’ not signed, EuroBlic pg 3, announced on cover ‘Mladic’s chess partner goes to the Hague’ by D. V., Vecernje Novosti pg 17, announced on cover ‘Gvero too is going to the Hague’ by P. Vasiljevic – Retired RS Army General and ICTY indictee, Milan Gvero, has decided to turn himself in to the international war crimes court.Gvero was Ratko Mladic’s assistant for political and religious issues in the RS Army during war in BiH. The indictment against Gvero has still not been made public, but it probably contains accusations for war crimes committed in BiH.It has been confirmed by the Serbian Government that Gvero decided to turn himself in after discussions with Serbian Justice Minister Zoran Stojkovic. They agreed thatsurrender would be the best move, which is in the interest of the nation and its citizens. Serbian government will provide all the necessary guarantees, so that Milan Gvero could be temporary released from prison until the beginning of the trial. Gvero will leave for |
| Gregorian on measures to prevent assisting PIFWCs
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘We will break network of Mladic’s supporters’, mentioned on cover, by A. Prlenda – Co-Chair of the Defence Reform Commission, Raffi Gregorian, states for daily that helping Ratko Mladic and other war crimes suspects at large could be prevented in a future by establishing the joint military commander for personnel. He fully supports the report by BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, on Mladic’s residence in Han Pijesak. However, he underlines that it is important to solve the issue of RS responsibility. “This was about personal Ratko Mladic’s file, in which it is clear that he was retired in the RS Army only in 2002… The issue is how Mladic was receiving that pensions,” says Gregorian adding that 2001 he was informed that it would be illegal for RS not to pay out pension to Mladic. DRC Co-Chair also says that it is important to establish who are individuals from RS Army, or close to members of RS Army, which maintain contact with PIFWCs offering them assistance. |
| Oslobodjenje examines war past of new RS Welfare Minister
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 “Yes, I was in the group that arrested Medunjanin family”, mentioned on cover, by B. Kahrimanovic – Daily examines the war past of the newly appointed RS Minister of Welfare and Veterans issues, Miodrag Deretic. In a talk with Oslobodjenje’s journalist, Deretic confirms that he personally did participate the arrest of Medunjanin family in Kozara, 1992. He describes the details of this arrest, concluding that when he surrendered the family in military barracks, they were alive. Only later, says Deretic, did he find out that the family was killed and well as a number of other their relatives. |
| BiH working group for coop w/ICTY request law to punish PIFWCs helpers
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To prepare the law on punishing persons involved in networks supporting criminals’ by Srna – The Working group for monitoring the cooperation with the ICTY on Monday issued an instruction to the Justice Ministry to draft the law that would punish persons involved in networks supporting war crimes suspects at large. The BiH Council of Ministers also informed that the Group also envisaged the series of activities to ensure the fully controlled borders with |
| OHR: Srebrenica Work Group must forward report on completed activities by end of February
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘OHR expects the report by the end of February’ by V. P. – OHR expects from Srebrenica Work Group to forward a report on completed tasks to RS Government by the end of February. ‘The deadline by which the Work Group must complete its work is the end of February. It is important all recommendations from Srebrenica Commission report to be implemented entirely without delays. Considering the fact the Work Group is still working, we cannot give any comments until the final report is published in February’, OHR Banja Luka Spokesperson |
| Oslobodjenje: Srebrenica Working Group will not complete its report on time
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Report will not be completed in time’ by S. Rozajac – A member of the Srebrenica Working Group, appointed by the RS Government to implement the conclusions of the Srebrenica Commission report, stated for daily that their report will most likely not be ready until the end of February. Member says that the Groups is dealing with very serious work, and that he is satisfied with the pace and a way all members accepted their responsibility. Source adds that it is not important whether the group will complete the report by the end February or 10 days after that, as long as the work is done. |
Economic/social issues | |
| International conference on information society opens in
| RHB, TV Pink, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH at the doors of modern industrial revolution’, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Through legalization of software to 600 new places of work’ by E. Mackic, FENA – The BiH Ministry of Transport and Communications and UNDP jointly organized the two-day International Conference on Information Society that started in Sarajevo on Monday. The Conference gathered over 400 participants including government officials, local and international experts as well as leading companies. The main purpose of the Conference is to present and promote the Strategy of the Information Society, with the focus on the legislation aspect. This document, together with the Policy and Action Plan for development of information society, has been prepared by BiH experts engaged by UNDP. The BiH Council of Ministers has adopted these documents. “UNDP gathered young and smart BH experts, who have proved, by preparing the initial documents for information society development, that BiH has the intellectual capacities for enhancement of the BiH’s road towards final acceptance into a European family of nations”, said Branko Dokic, Communication and Transport Minister of BiH. He concluded that the world is in an information revolution and that the development opportunity of small countries such as BiH lies in their participation in that revolution. Dokic said that significant funds would be needed for information society development and that one of the ways for getting money could lie in the legalising software not legalised so far, as well as in the strengthening of information-communication (ICT) industry. BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic said that BiH is one of the few countries in the region to have an information society development strategy and stressed that it has been entirely adjusted to European standards. He stressed that the priority now is on the implementation of this strategy, which represents a step forward in the integration of BiH into |
| BiH Parliament Commission: 12 billion KM were donated for reconstruction of BiH
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 4 ‘BAM 12 billion BAM donated for reconstruction of BiH’ by M. Cubro – Tihomir Gligoric, the Chairperson of the BiH Parliament Commission for investigation on collected and spent donations, on Monday stated that the donators have donated the total amount of BAM 12 billion intended for the reconstruction of BiH since 1996. The number has been recorded at the database of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations. He has also said: “I am of the view data base may contain some duplications, but it also does not record donations of many donors such as European Commission or almost the entire NGO sector.” The meeting that took place Monday was of consultative nature, since insufficient number of members attended the meeting. However, the meeting has agreed to demand from the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to present information on the collected resources, as well as that “BiH Prosecutor’s Office, SIPA and auditors involve in this investigation. The fact is there are many people, who would like to see this investigation fail.” Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Billions without a paper?’, |
| Tender for EICC opening announced
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Info Centre for faster coming of BiH companies at European market’ by D. Polovina-Mandic carries that the EU has announced a tender looking for a new organisation that would open theEuro Info Corresponding Centre (EICC). Deputy Head of the EC mission in BiH Renzo Daviddi stated that these centres offer various services for businismen, including information about EU funds and opportunities to apply for the tenders. Also, it is possible to get in EICC information about other markets, new business partners or information about EU laws and instructions. Oslobodjenje pg 13 ‘BiH companies closer to their EU partners’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘To EU market in easier way’ by eme also covered the issue. |
| Energopetrol shareholders announce they’ll sue FBiH Govt
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Share holders will sue FBiH Government’, mentioned on cover, by A. Avdic – Association of Energopetrol shareholders will sue the FBiH Government if oil terminals in Blazuj, Zivinicama, Ploce and Mostar are taken out from privatization process of this company. Member of the Governing Board and a shareholder, Mijo Maricevic, says that shareholders owe 33% of Energopetrol and thus the Government has no right to take these terminals and make them available to the company “Terminals of Federation”. In addition, Trade Union says that about 500 workers would lose their jobs if these terminals were taken by the other company. |
| Audit report: crime destroyed “Srpske Sume”
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Crime devastated forests’ by D. Risojevic – the article carries bits and pieces of the Audit Report on the work of “Srpske Sume” and reads the firm is facing serious difficulties in finances and management, followed by the lack of surveillance, inadequate internal control and criminal activities at all levels. |
| FIPA to present investment possibilities in BiH in
| Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘Presentation of investment possibilities in BiH has commenced’ by Srna – FIPA issued a press statement saying the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trades (ICEKS) has organized a presentation of investment possibilities in BiH. The presentation commenced Monday in |
Miscellaneous | |
| 337,000 KM transferred to Alijagic brothers’ account so far
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘BAM 337 thousand transferred to Aliijagic’s brothers’ by V. Duka, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Loan has not arrived as yet’ – Dobroslav Cuk, Trebinje Municipality Head, has stated that the amount of BAM 337 thousand has been transferred onto the account of Alijagic’s brothers at Central Profit Bank in Mostar by 18 February. Cuk has stressed that the amount of BAM 250 thousand, which RS Government has allocated as an assistance to Trebinje municipality, has not, as yet, been delivered to the municipality, since the manner of payment has not been determined. |
| Vecerni List on bomb hoaxes in Mostar, Livno: Political showdowns through threats
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Political showdowns through threats’ and pgs 2 and 3 ‘Terror of bomb hoaxes’ by Z. Kresic – VL says that since the election of HDZ Commissioners in Mostar local boards started, relations between two fractions of HDZ Mostar have been very strained and they were insulting, imputing and threatening each other. As an example VL states the last week raid of the Federation of BiH investigators in a company of one of newly elected HDZ Commissioners charged with smuggling. According to VL, those who are better familiar with this case claim that the raid was not justified at all and the FBiH policemen reacted on the ground of completely false information. VL also says that bomb hoaxes in the Herzegovina-Neretva Cantonal Government could also be one of political means for destabilization of the situation. An inset in VL under headline ‘ ’Bomber’ stopped Government’s work’ says that there was another bomb hoax in the HNC Government’s building on Monday. Another inset to the VL article under headline ‘Inspector was one who was ’ordering’ bombs in cafe!’ carries that the Municipal Market Inspector J.B. was arrested on Monday on the ground of suspicion that he was paying to Ante D. to make phone calls and give false information about explosive devices which were, allegedly, planted in a cafe in Livno. The motif of this crime was extortion. |
| Update to Novica Lukic murder case
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Photo was taken secretly’ – Dusko Tomic, the defence attorney for the two members of the RS MoI Special Police, indicted for the murder of Novica Lukic, the brother of Milan Lukic, a war crime suspect, claims in the letter addressed to the daily today that this process is rather difficult in particular because of a certain number of journalists that have been continuously publishing lies of “anonymous witnesses” to this tragedy. One of them is a person whose “truth” was unfortunately presented by the daily last November. |