| RADIO HERCEG BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| SEECP Summit in Sarajevo | SEECP Summit finished | SEECP Summit finished | RSNA on Police’s action |
| W. Swimmer- BiH reforms | Turkey- BiH cooperation | W. Schwimmer in Sarajevo | D. Lukac on Police’s action |
| R. Njegus’s report | EU/BiH operational groups | HDZ decision | Two Policemen detained |
| Trilateral meeting-Trebinje | RSNA in session | EU/BiH operational groups | SEECP Summit in Sarajevo |
| Oslobodjenje | Region becoming example of coexistence and cooperation |
| Dnevni Avaz | Criminals threaten to revenge |
| Dnevni List | Sarajevo Declaration stipulates that borders in region remain the same; Main Board of HDZ to meet in mid-May |
| Vecernji List | Montenegrins too want ‘Ionic’ corridor through Popovo polje |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Jelavic and Prce should be set free; Ante Jelavic from Kula prison: I go on hunger strike as of midnight |
| Glas Srpske | RSNA on Visegrad tragedy – Responsibility after investigation; RS Police Director, Rdomir Njegus – He wasn’t armed; RSNA Commission – Who has cameras?; Caterers with heart of gold; On your knees, say I’m sorry; Water makes problems to farmers |
| Nezavisne Novine | SEECP Summit – Citizens want reforms; BH Court will not release former member of the BiH Presidency – Ante Jelavic goes on a hunger strike; RSNA discussed RS Police action in Visegrad – MPs want Djeric and Njegus’s resignations; Radomir Njegus – Murdered Novica Lukic wasn’t armed; Dragan Lukac under pressure of RS authorities; Memorandum on construction of Banjaluka-Okucani Highway – Joint venture of BiH and Croatia for the construction of Sava bridge |
| Blic | Mafia Doctor is under supervision in Toronto; Tragedy near Prijedor: Three were killed in a crash of ‘Golf’ and train; “Lukic” case: Djeric and Njegus are facing resignation |
BiH/International Community | |
| Seventh SEECP Summit ends
| Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘Region becoming example of coexistence and cooperation’, Dnevni Avaz front page, pgs. 2-3 ‘The Balkans becoming a region of peace and prosperity’ – The nine members of the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) ended their seventh Summit in Sarajevo on Wednesday. The Heads of the State or Government of the SEECP countries adopted the Declaration, which further emphasizes the importance of the regional cooperation strengthening and supports the countries advancing towards Euro-Atlantic Integrations. Roamnia took over SEECP chairmanship from BiH. Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS – Seventh Summit of SEECP was held in Sarajevo on Wednesday and it was attended by nine Officials of regional countries and high officials of EC, OSCE, UN, NATO, and Stability Pact. Main topics of this Summit are regional cooperation and fight against organized crime. The Summit was opened by Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, who among other things, said that BiH is on a good way of reforms, which will provide the opportunity to join European Integrations and he expressed his hope that in June BiH will become member of PfP. President of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marovic pointed the interest of his country for improvement of regional cooperation and for joined activities in frame of regional initiative. He pointed the significance of dialogue within SEECP. Chief of EC Mission in BiH, Michael Humphries said that this Summit presents an end of good BiH Presiding over SEECP, saying that this Summit has gathered leaders of different countries, members of EU, of NATO and of those who are jet to become members. Members of BiH Presidency today have spoke with Bulgaria President, Jorg Pervanev, with whom they talked about bilateral cooperation of two countries. It was concluded that potential for improvement of cooperation exist and that would imply the liberalisation of visas- system. BiH Presidency has also met with Prime- Ministers of Greece and Albania and it was concluded that joined interests are peace and stability within the region, economic prosperity and tolerance. Dnevni List (front & pages 4-5, “Sarajevo Declaration stipulates that borders in region remain the same”, by Danka Polovina Mandic), Slobodna Dalmacija (back page, “Avis to Croatia, recognition to the region”, by Z. Rerig & D. Pasic), Vecernji list (front “Cooperation is most significant for region” & p 3, “Cooperation is key to region”, by Dejan Jazvic) also reported on the Summit. |
| Tihic, Ashdown addressed the SEECP Summit | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘PfP in June, agreement with EU in September’, Nezavisne Novine cover and page 2 “Citizens want reforms”, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Region becoming example of coexistence and cooperation’ (just reports on Tihic’s speech) – At the opening of the Seventh SEECP Summit in Sarajevo on Wednesday, Chairman of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said he was convinced BiH would be admitted into the NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program in June, and that it would start negotiations with EU on signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement in September. “BiH is today on the good path to become a functional state with the institutions that will allow it full membership in the Euro-Atlantic Integration,” said Tihic. High Representative Paddy Ashdown emphasized in his speech that the process of integration into Europe required discipline as well as political, economic and social transformation. Ashdown said that Croatia, which had got positive response from the EU regarding the process of its candidacy for full EU membership, represented a good example that should be followed by other countries such as BiH. Slobodna Dalmacija also carried the HR speech. |
| OHR on obstruction of education reform
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Additional sanctions against HDZ if they do not change their position?’ – “At the moment we cannot say if there will be additional sanctions againt political parties or individuals obstructing the education reforms including the harmonization of the cantonal education laws with the BiH framework law on education,” OHR South spokesperson Sanela Tunovic told a press conference in Mostar on Wednesday responding to a journalist question if there would be additional sanctions against HDZ. |
| Prime Ministers of Croat-majority Cantons/CRO press on education | Dnevni List (p 2, “It is necessary to establish single Education Institute”, by Nina), Vecernji List (p 4, “To establish one Education Institute”, by nk) and Slobodna Dalmacija (p 8, “FBiH: Croats ask for one Education Institute”, by H) carry that, at their meeting held in Orasje yesterday, the Prime Ministers of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, (Miroslav Coric), West Herzegovina Canton (Viktor Lasic), Herzeg-Bosnia Canton (Stipe Pelivan) and Posavina Canton (Ivo Vincetic) concluded that it was necessary to establish a single Education Institute for the Croat curriculum. The Institute will be seated in Mostar and is to offer expert services for all the schools working according to Croat curriculum in BiH. Vecernji List, page 6 ‘Law on education adopted’, by sm – carries the Central Bosnia Canton Minister of Education, Nikola Lovrinovic, as saying that the Cantonal Government yesterday adopted the Law on elementary and secondary education, which is consistent with the Constitution and Framework law on education. VL notes that representatives of the IC have shown dissatisfaction with the adoption of the law. Dnevni list (p 11, “Croat children without Christmas and New year holiday”, not signed) comments that the new academic year (2004/2005) will start with great uncertainties for teachers, parents and pupils, particularly when it comes to making the academic calendar. This is due to the fact that no legal act stipulates how non-working days over Christmas and New Year, i.e. how winter holidays for Croat and Bosniak children in the so-called unified schools will be identified. DL adds that, although this is down to the cantonal Education Ministries, the possible solution to the problem is difficult to predict. The paper concludes that the unnatural idea of forcible unification will lead to problems that cannot be resolved by either domestic or international institutions. Slobodna Dalmacija (p 16, “Croat MPs outvoted 3 times”, by f) carries Ilija Filipovic, the Chairman of the Constitutional & Legal Commission of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, as saying that the Commission on Tuesday discussed the constitutionality of the Proposal of BiH Framework Law on Higher Education. He adds that, in the procedure on the Law, Croat officials have been outvoted 3 times: in the Council of Ministers and in the Constitutional & Legal Commissions of both Houses of the Parliament. Filipovic also says that, if there is a failure to make corrections to the proposal, Croat officials will invoke the vital national issue clause. |
| OHR allows transfer of civil servants | Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Transfer of civil servants allowed’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Officers from the entities in the state ministry’, Blic pg. 12 ‘Radetic: Officials are changing their jobs’ – HR Paddy Ashdown imposed the amendments to the BiH Law on Civil Service allowing transfer of the civil servants from the entities’ to the state-level ministries thereby speeding up of the process of reforms in the country. The decision was made at the request of BiH Council of Minister Chairman Adnan Terzic and Entity’s Prime Ministers, Dragan Mikerevic and Ahmet Hadzipasic, according to OHR spokesperson in Banja Luka Ljiljana Radetic. Dnevni List (p 4, “Officials from military sector move from entity to state level”, not signed) also reads that, in response to a request by BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and FBiH Prime Minster Ahmet Hadzipasic, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown amended BiH’s Civil Service Laws allowing civil servants to move from Entity to State Ministries. In their letter to the High Representative, the three Prime Ministers say that the “transfer of civil servants from the Entity to the State will be crucial in order to set up the new state Ministry of Defence and to decrease the over-all cost of government. Furthermore, recruiting experienced staff from Entities will be necessary to implement the reforms quickly”. This is an essential part of the process of giving the new state institutions the resources they need and is particularly important for the process of defence reform, as it will free up defence officials at the entity level to move to positions at the State level. |
| CoE General Secretary visits BiH | Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘BiH’s obligations are not doing a favour to CoE’, Vecernji list p 3, “Europe dissatisfied with speed of reforms”, by E. Medunjanin, Dnevni list p 3, “Schwimmer: I am pleased with dissatisfaction in speed of implementation of reforms”, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija p 17, “BiH late in fulfillment of 91 commitments”, by B. Kristo – Walter Schwimmer, the Council of Europe General Secretary, said after meeting with BiH Parlimentary Assembly’s officials in Sarajevo on Wednesday that the fulfilment of the BiH’s post-accession obligations towards CoE would simultaneously mean making a progress in the process of the country’s integration into Europe as well as in establishing the Rule of Law and functional democracy in BiH. |
| BiH-EU task force discusses Feasibility Study requirements | BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Cooperation with the Hague and single market’, Dnevni Avaz pg. Pg. 5 ‘Fight against crime and corruption a priority’ – In Sarajevo was held a meeting of a consultative working group of EU and BIH during which were discussed achieved results in fulfilling demands from the Study of Feasibility. European observers are informed about the progress made in fields of judiciary, statistics, internal affairs and trade and progress in all other fields. Difficulties in implementation exist and are most visible in fields of veterinary and judiciary. Most endangered are fields of judiciary, trade and cooperation with the ICTY. Fulfillment of EU conditions is related directly with the work of BIH institutions. Final answer will be known in June when BIH should be invited to join PfP program. |
| PDHR Hays in Vitez | Vecernji list (p 2, “New Election Law path for new generation of politicians’, by S.S.), Dnevni list (p 7, “Opportunity for new generations of young politicians”, by Zeda) and Slobodna Dalmacija (p 16, “We need new politicians”, by Z. Cilic) report that, during his meeting with Mayors and Speakers of Municipal Councils of Central Bosnia Canton, which was held in Vitez yesterday, Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays said that the next local elections in BiH would be an opportunity for the young people to elect a new, modern and younger generation of politicians who would represent the interests of all the citizens. DL and SD add that, apart from direct election of Mayors in FBiH, PDHR Hays also discussed the issues of use of construction land, Law on Ministerial Appointments and tax-related issues with his hosts. SD notes that PDHR Hays stated that the changes that were about to happen meant political maturing of BiH. |
Cooperation with ICTY/War Crimes | |
| Ashdown on RS’ cooperation with the ICTY, Visegrad operation
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘If there are obstacles to the future of BiH, RS is bringing itself into a danger’, mentioned on the front page ‘RS must not be obstacle on the BiH’s road’ – In an interview with Oslobodjenje (the entire interview will be published in the Pogled weekly supplement on Saturday), High Representative Paddy Ashdown said the RS was bringing itself into a big danger if a picture is created that the RS represented the main obstacle on the path of the better BiH’s future. Commenting on the recent RS police operation in Visegrad, Ashdown said that the RS should have apprehended war crime indictees long time ago. “I cannot say that the RS police acted professionally but I also do not have reason to think that they did not. That is something that should be determined by the investigation,” emphasized Ashdown. |
| Djeric, Njegus received anonymous threats by phone | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘Criminals threaten with revenge’ – The daily learns that RS Interior Minister Zoran Djeric and Police Director Radomir Njegus have received anonymous death threats by phone over the Visegrad operation during which Novica Lukic, the brother of the Hague fugitive Milan Lukic, was killed. |
| RSNA on RS Police action in Visegrad | Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Glas Srpske cover page ‘Responsibility after investigation, ‘He wasn’t armed’;’ Nezavisne novine cover and pages 4 and 5 ‘Murdered Novica Lukica wasn’t armed, Blic front page and p 13 ‘Lukic was unarmed’, Dnevni List, page 11 ‘Serious failures of Police during Visegrad operation’ – RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus, confirmed in RSNA that Novica Lukic, killed in Police action in Visegrad was not armed. Njegus stated, “There were no major mistakes during the action. Two members of RS MoI have broken to a ground floor and have opened fire on which occasion Novica Lukic, a brother of ICTY indictee Milan Lukic, got killed”. Njegus stated that none of participants knew the action aim until 05:00 hrs in the Sunday morning. Members of Special Police were told the mission aim and object while lined up in Ustikolina. He added that the plan of action was prepared by professionals in Operative Department and MoI Special Police Force. He stressed that the action should have proven readiness of RS MoI to independently execute the most complicated actions and fulfil international commitments. Njegus said that Ministry is to continue investigation of this case. According to him the situation in RS Moi is under control at the moment but is not good and that he will stand for members of Special Police because they were “just men sent to assignment”. RS Police Director warned that the only thing they got from the RS authorities is verbal support but there is also a great pressure and inhibition of RS MoI work. Njegus accused RS Intelligence Agency that they were not providing necessary information. According to him, all they have got were two useless information. Both position and opposition MPs disprove RS Police action in Visegrad and requested resignation of Zoran Djeric, Radomir Njegus and officers who have planned the action but the resignation of RS Government as well. |
| Two Special Police Force members in custody | Nezavisne novine page 2 ‘Two Special Police Force policemen detained’; Srpsko Sarajevo District Court ordered 2 month of detention for two policemen suspects of Novica Lukic’s murder, Srpsko Sarajevo Prosecutor, Dragan Ninkovic announced. |
| ‘Dragan Lukac under pressure to resign’ | Nezavisne Novine cover and page 4 ‘Lukac under pressure of RS leadership’; The Special Police Force Chief, Dragan Lukac, has been under horrible pressure of the RS leadership for a longer period of time to resign. The pressure reached its maximum after the RS Police action in Visegrad, Nezavisne novine learnt from source close to RS MoI. He said that RSNA Speaker and SDS President, Dragan Kalinic requested Lukac’s resignation. Besides Kalinic, RS Interior Minister, Zoran Djeric, and RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus, put the pressure on Lukac for the last three days. Present authorities are not fond of Lukac due to his support to Biljana Plavsic back in 1997. RTRS also covered the issue. |
| Srebrenica Commission | Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Bogdanic: We are about to locate graves’ – Newly-appointed Chairman of the Srebrenica Commission Milan Bogdanic told the newspaper that the RS Interior Ministry and the Army had presented new documentation that would help the body to determine the truth about the developments in Srebrenica in July, 2004. BHTV – Work of Commission for investigation of events in Srebrenica in 1995 will be directed toward giving answers to families of missing persons who applied to the Home for Human Rights, announced Chairman Milan Bogdanic. Commission will establish a list of missing persons and search for mass graves locations. Bogdanic pointed the importance of establishing the list of missing persons because it is known one side has been decreasing and other increasing the number of victims of Srebrenica genocide. Glas Srpske page 2 ‘In full speed by summer’; Nezavisne novine page 8 ‘Commission must find graves but number of victims too’; Srebrenica Commission must find out what have happened to missing persons, their identity and number, said Milan Bogdanic, newly appointed Srebrenica Commission Chairman. “Both sides have used different numbers. One side was increasing and other decreasing number of victims”, stressed Bogdanic. Reconciliation is Commission’s final aim. IC representative in Srebrenica Commission, Gordon Bacon, welcomed appointment of Milan Bogdanic. Vecernji list p 5, “Locate graves of Srebrenica victims”, by Branka Stevandic and Dnevni list p 18, “Bogdanic new Chairman of Srebrenica Commission”, not signed also report that, following removal of Marko Arsovic from the position of the Chairman of the Srebrenica Commission, the RS Government at its emergency session appointed Milan Bogdanic the new Chairman. RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Fassier requests full RS government’s cooperation’, Vecernje Novosti p 5 ‘Speed was ordered’ – Senior Deputy High Representative Bernard Fassier called on the RS authorities to fully cooperate with the Srebrenica Commission. Commenting on the statement made by removed chairman of the Commission, Marko Arsovic, that there had been no massacre in Srebrenica, Fassier said that that was why Arsovic had not been an appropriate head of the body. Blic p 12 ‘Arsovic was obstructing’ – “Arsovic’s denial of the Srebrenica massacre is extraordinary, and only serves to underline why he was not a fit chairman of the Commission”, OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic stated. Milisic said that Arsovic has attempted to obstruct the work of the Commission on several occasions because he could not have accepted the fact of Srebrenica massacre. The new President of the Srebrenica Commission, Milan Bogdanovic, stated that he respects Arsovic and feels sorry he had to leave the Commission, but he was not in a position to comment Arsovic’s statement. Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘After Ashdown’s intervention, we have started receiving information’ ‘ The international member of the Srebrenica Commission, Gordon Bacon, told FENA that the body would manage to prepare final report within the deadline set and that, after HR Paddy Ashdown’s intervention, the RS authorities would cooperated with the Commission. Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘Bogdanic should speed up work of the Srebrenica Commission’ – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic claims that the newly-appointed chairman of the Srebrenica Commission, Milan Bogdanic, possessed necessary operative skills and he would therefore improve and accelerate the work of the body. Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘What Bogdanic knows?’ Commentary of the Day by Almasa Hadzic – The author wonders what did RS Prime Minister want to achieve by appointing to the post of the chairman of the Srebrenica Commission the man who, bearing in mind his war past, was involved in the crime? The daily on page 9 ‘Milan Bogdabic was close associate to the Hague indictee, Ljubisa Beara’ also publishes an article on the alleged compromising Bogdanic’s war past. |
Court proceedings/investigations | |
| Jelavic to go on hunger strike
| Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Jelavic goes on hunger strike’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Ante Jelavic goes on hunger strike’, Nezavisne novine cover and page 3 ‘BiH Court will not release Ante Jelavic from custody’ – Ante Jelavic went on hunger strike late on Wednesday and will strike all until he is released from Kula Prison, near Sarajevo. Slobodna Dalmacija on front and page 2 ‘I go on hunger strike as of midnight’, not signed – also reports that Jelavic sent a message through his lawyer that, if the Constitutional Court’s decision is not respected, he will go on hunger strike. Slobodna Dalmacija, front page splash and page 2 ‘Jelavic and Prce should be set free’, by Zlatko Tulic – following the BiH Constitutional Court’s temporary decision to suspend proceedings against Ante Jelavic and Miroslav Prce that are being undertaken at the Sarajevo Cantonal Court (see yesterday’s Cropress summary), SD carries Jelavic’s lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, as saying that, if one was abiding by legal provisions, it is easy to conclude that his client is now in illegal detention. According to the article, since Jelavic and Prce have spent more than three months in detention and since Prosecutor John McNair plans to question more witnesses, it is clear that the Prosecution does not have enough concrete evidences to charge Jelavic, Prce and Miroslav Rupcic, which leads the author to say that one can think about a rigged process against the troika. SD goes on to say that the BiH Constitutional Court’s decision came out of blue for the BiH Court, which caused panic in the BiH Court, because, SD claims, all BiH Constitutional Court’s decision are binding, therefore Jelavic and Prce should be set free. According to Muselimovic, if Jelavic and Prce are not set free ASAP, he will file criminal charges against judges of the BiH Court because of failure to comply with the Constitutional Court’s decision. |
| Supreme Court of Croatia confirmed Fikret Abdic’s sentence | Nezavisne novine page 5 ’20 years of Fikret Abdic’s sentence confirmed’; Karlovac District Court received verdict from Supreme Court of Croatia. It proves original sentence of Karlovac District Court which found Fikret Abdic guilty for war crimes. Abdic was sentenced to 20 years. He has been detained in Karlovac since June 2002. |
Economic issues | |
| Agreement signed on supplying Aluminij with power
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Aluminij secured electricity’, Vecernji List, page 4 ‘Aluminij gets electricity after all’, by mbm, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 16 ‘Aluminij has to buy expensive imported electricity’, by Zoran Zekic, Dnevni List, front and page 3 ‘Aluminij gets electricity for next three months only’, by V. Soldo – the CEOs of ‘Aluminij d.o.o. Mostar’ and ‘Elektroprivreda of Herceg Bosna’ (EP HZ HB), Mijo Brajkovic and Vlado Maric respectively, on Wednesday signed a contract on supply of electricity to ‘Aluminij’ until June 30 this year. Unhappy with the duration of the contract, Brajkovic hopes the issue of supply of electricity to ‘Aluminij’ will be solved for next year noting that ‘Aluminij’ is not getting the electricity pursuant to tariffs as proclaimed by the High Representative for BiH, meaning at an average price of 29,7 Euros. According to the contract, ‘Aluminij’ will in the next three months import part of electricity from Croatia, and a part will be provided by EP HZ HB at 28,6 Euros per MW/h, which is some 5 Euros more than the summer tariff (23,7 Euros) charges. In that context, Maric says EP HZ HB will be providing its electricity for the price set by the electricity tariffs, noting that ‘Aluminij’ will be paying higher price because of the electricity that has to be imported. |
| DL: Statement of the Day: Donald Hays, PDHR | In its ‘Statement of the Day’ column, Dnevni List (p 2) carries Donald Hays, Principal Deputy High Representative, as saying: “BiH does not need solidarity but partnership.” |
| Joint venture of BiH and Croatia | Nezavisne novine cover and page 3 ‘Joint venture of BiH and Croatia for construction of Sava bridge’; BiH Minister of Communications and Transport, Branko Dokic and Croatian Minister for sea, tourism, communications and development, Bozidar Kalmeta, signed memorandum on construction of Banjaluka-Gradiska/Bosanska Gradiska-Okucani highway. Construction of Sava bridge will be BiH and Croatia joint venture while to countries will separately construct highway on its territory. 30 kilometres should be constructed in BiH and 9 kilometres in Croatia. |
| Cavic and Mikerevic – Brod Oil Refinery | Nezavisne novine page 9 ‘Mikerevic: Government is in charge; Cavic: I can and shall act’; Talking on correspondence about Brod Oil Refinery between RS Prime Minister and RS President, Dragan Mikerevic said that only RS Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and company management are legitimate to discuss that issue. “Others, regardless of their position, can make suggestions but are not in charge”, Mikerevic stated. RS President, Dragan Cavic, said that Mikerevic probably became indignant because documents were published in Nezavisne novine. He stressed that documents didn’t come from his office. “I can not make executive decisions but I can and shall discuss not only this issue but all others I consider to be important”, Cavic said. |
| BiH, Croatia and Montenegro on construction of Adriatic-Ionic highway | Dnevni List, page 2 ‘Adriatic-Ionic highway of great importance for Europe’, by Nebojsa Kolak, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 8 ‘Corridor of mutual interest’, by Gabrijela Bijelic, Vecernji List, front page splash ‘Montenegrins too want ‘Ionic’ corridor through Popovo polje’ and page 2 ‘Montenegro too for construction of corridor through Popovo polje’, by Zdenko Jurilj and Robert Bubalo – report that the Croatian Minister of Traffic, Tourism and Maritime Affairs, Bozidar Kalmeta, BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Branko Dokic, and Montenegrin Minister of Traffic and Communications, Andrija Lempara, signed at Trebinje yesterday a joint initiative on cooperation in construction of the Adriatic-Ionic highway, which also marks an official start of trilateral negotiations relating to realization of this project. According to the three ministers, seven other countries, which are leaning onto this highway, will be included in the project. VL notes that, although the ministers did not specify the itinerary of the future route, journalists got a practical confirmation that majority of the route would go through BiH, to be exact through Popovo polje, to which Croatia and Montenegro agree. Minister Kalmeta explains: ‘We will ask from the seven countries, which lean onto the road, to get involved in the project, in order to request that the Adriatic-Ionic highway be included in ‘Pan-European corridors’ at the next conference of European ministers of traffic and communications that’s scheduled for May in Ljubljana’. |
| FBiH Govt and Unions discuss Law on Bankruptcy | Dnevni List, page 9 ‘Unions request postponement of application of Law on bankruptcy’, by NINA – reports that the FBiH Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Ahmet Hadzipasic and Izet Zigic respectively, yesterday met with representatives of BiH Independent Unions led by Edhem Biber, to talk about issues pertaining to the Law on bankruptcy. Apparently, the conclusion is to have a close cooperation between the FBiH Government and the Unions within the Economic-Social Council in order to find solutions which will help the workers’ status and complete social packages for redundant workers. According to DL, the Unions will ask for postponement of application of the disputable law by 90 days. |
| Improvements in process of registration of companies, more work to be done | Dnevni List, page 6 ‘Process of registration of companies shortened by 17 days’ by Renata Radic – according to the latest survey on registration of companies in BiH, which was conducted in early 2004 within the BAC project (Business Environment Adjustment Credit) that is funded by the World Bank, it takes 63 days to register a company in the FBiH, which is an improvement when compared to the situation from 2 years ago, when it took 80 days. According to the survey, it takes 30 days to register a company in the RS, an improvement by one day when compared to situation from two years ago. DL also reports that a new draft law on registration of businesses has been forwarded to the BiH Council of Ministers, and that the World Bank expects relevant entity and state authorities to simplify the process, where it would take 7 days the most to register a company. |
| DL: Issuance of third GSM licence to be speeded up | Dnevni List, back page ‘Issuance of third GSM licence to be speeded up’, by not signed – carries a spokesperson of Communications Regulatory Agency (RAK), Amela Odobasic, as saying that the process of issuance of the 3rd GSM licence in BiH will be speeded up. Odobasic says the reason for speeding up of the process is the decision of the BiH Council of Ministers according to which the licence is to be issued by end of June. |
| DL: Hajric: 40 million Euros coming to Mostar area | Dnevni List, front and page 9 ‘Hajric: 40 million Euros coming to Mostar area’, by Renata Radic – carries the Director of FIPA (Foreign Investment Promotion Agency), Mirza Hajric, as saying that results of the recently held Mostar Investment Conference could be felt soon in form of an investment worth 40 million Euros, which will be invested into the Mostar area. Hajric does not want to reveal details of the project, saying it would not be in the interest of interested parties. He, however, reveals that the bidder is from western Europe. |
| VL calls for subsidies or protection measures for BiH agriculture | Vecernji List, page 2 ‘What about thousands of suffocated chickens?’, by Ljuba Djikic – reflecting on TV reports, which showed thousands of chickens getting suffocated by farmers who say it does not pay of to grow chickens because lack of subsidies and import of chickens at lower prices, the author notes that the farmers at least expected a reaction from relevant authorities, which unfortunately never came. ‘What else needs to happen to the poultry or cattle business, agriculture in BiH in general, in order for the authorities or powers-that-be in this branch of economy start taking either protection measures or giving subsidies?’, concludes the author. |
| VL: BiH wages bigger than in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro | Vecernji List, front and page 5 ‘Workers in BiH paid like workers in Poland’, by Eldina Medunjanin – noting that statisticians in BiH have calculated that, based on average salaries in both BiH entities, a BiH worker gets paid 1,5 Euros per hour, the author says that BiH workers get paid more than their colleagues in Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania and Bulgaria, who get something like 1 Euro per hour. VL goes on to say that many employers say that these figures ought to be taken with reserves, since there are many people in the black market that make even more money. In that context, VL reckons that an average wage in BiH is probably higher, which leads the author to say it is similar to wages in Poland, in the region of 2,2 Euros per hour. |