22.04.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 22/4/2006

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TV news broadcast on April 21

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA 18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

March invalid pensions to be paid

Regional News

Bomb planted under judge’s car

FBiH collects 634.5 millions revenues

OHR on fate of Palic

Trial to Jankovic beforeBIH Court

Terzic meets Reinermann

Barosso on const. amendments

HR on Palic’s case

Barosso on const. amendments

Kudic on ITA Steering Board meeting

Protests in front of BIH Court

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

‘Women – War Victims’ in protest

OHR on fate of Palic

Burns regarding BiH Presidency

Djogo was in contact with Mladic

Trial to Jankovic before BIH Court

No consensus on alloc. coefficients

FBiH Govt on electricity prices in BiH

Women – War Victims’ in protest

Pensioners on RS Gov. decision

‘Electricity 4’ project

BIH vs. SiCG hearing continued

Increase in prices of oil

 

Oslobodjenje

The reached agreement “obliges” all state delegates?

Dnevni Avaz

McElhaney and Humphreys warned Dodik

Dnevni List

Security Services have Abu Hamza under surveillance?! [Similar report to the one published in EuroBlic on Friday, see OHR BiH Media Round-up, April 21]

Vecernji List

Proof of Croatian innocence

Nezavisne Novine

New prices on bills

Glas Srpske was not published today owing to Orthodox Easter

Economy/distribution of ITA funds

CoM Chair Terzic meets World Bank’s Reinermann, ‘Electricity 4’ project discussed

 

 

 

 

 

RHB, TV Pink, BHT1, TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Reinermann: the largest individual investment in BiH so far’ by Se. M., Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Uniting of capacities for greater exports of electricity’ by D. P. Mandic, Oslobodjenje pg 13 ‘900 million US dollars for electricity’ by H. A., Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Approximately 270 million dollars for “Struja 4” project’ by M. CubroThe BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic and the World Bank Director to BiH Dirk Reinermann held press conference on negotiations on ‘Electricity 4’ project, held between the BiH CoM, entity Governments, Elektroprivreda companies in BiH and the World Bank. The project has been estimated to be 266 millions $ worth and it should ease development in BiH energy sector. Terzic said that the project presented a huge step forward in modernization of energy sector in BiH, which should result in better and cheaper services for BiH citizens. Oslobodjenje pg 13 ‘900 million US dollars for electricity’ by H. A. – reads that approximately 900 million US dollars have been earmarked for electricity infrastructure since World Bank participates in financial support to revitalisation and reconstruction of electric energy sector (Projects “Struja” 1 – 3).

ITA Governing Board member Kudic: agreement on distribution of ITA funds was not reached

 

TV Pink – Member of ITA Governing Board from RS Miodrag Kudic said that consensus on coefficients for allocation of resources form single account was not reached at Thursday meeting of the Board in Sarajevo. Kudic said that two proposals were suggested and no one was willing to reach compromise. According to Kudic, entities’ ministers of finance should by Tuesday talk to entities’ prime ministers and, depending on their commitments, schedule new ITA Governing Board meeting at which entities’ prime ministers would also be present. RTRS – ITA Governing Board session held on Thursday in Sarajevo did not bring the agreement on unblocking of ITA single account. ITA reported that a technical agreement was reached while representatives from RS in ITA Governing Board reported no agreement was reached. FBiH insists on decision on final coefficients for allocation of resources while RS insists on decision on temporary coefficients for allocation of resources. RS Representatives also proposed an audit on allocation of public revenues for 2005 to be conducted since they believe RS was deprived of 43,8 million BAM. RS Representatives reported that the only agreement, which was reached at the session, is that the entities’ prime ministers and BiH CoM Chair should attend the next session.

ITA Governing Board Chair Dixon : it was only agreed to hold another meeting to try to find a solution for unblocking of ITA funds

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘A meeting was agreed upon’ by D. Risojevic – Chairman of ITA Governing Board Joly Dixon denied the statement of ITA Spokesperson Ratko Kovacevic (who, following Thursday’s session of the Board, stated ITA funds should be unblocked in the course of the next week after entities’ PMs confirm the agreement reached between Ministers of Finances). Dixon explained that it was agreed only to hold a meeting next week in order to again try to reach a solution for this issue. The meeting should be held on Wednesday, but only if entities’ PMs, CoM Chair and all three Ministers of Finances agree on distribution of revenues prior to the meeting.

F BiH PM Hadizpasic: I learned about next week’s meeting of entities’ PM from media only

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘I do not know why Dodik would give up from the agreement’ by M. Kukan – F BiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic stated for DA that he learned only from media that the meeting of entities’ PMs would be held on Wednesday to discuss unblocking of ITA funds. He noted he is willing to negotiate an agreement and adds he does not know whether RS PM Milorad Dodik had violated the agreement on unblocking of the account they have reached in Mostar last week.

“Elektroprivreda HZ HB” Director Maric: new, higher prices will be included in electricity bills

 

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘New prices on bills’ and pg 3 ‘Elektroprivredas will send bills with new prices’ by R. Cengic – Director of “Elektroprivreda HZ HB” Vlado Maric has stated F BiH electric companies will include new, higher prices in their bills and added: ‘these are public companies and we must repect laws, therefore we will calculate electricity in accordance with laws, i.e. in accordance with valid price list’.

Foreign trades deficit of BiH growing

 

FTV – One of the burning problems in BIH, apart form the high rate of unemployment, is the BiH Foreign trades deficit that totalled 8 billion BAM in 2005. Governor of BiH Central Bank Kemal Kozaric stated that BIH would not be able to carry on with this deficit. Antonio de Lecea, Director of EC General Directorate for Trade Affairs with BiH, believes that the solution for decreasing the foreign trades deficit lies in the improvement of the production in BiH to meet the needs of BiH market first and then to meet the needs of export. The reporter noted that BiH has made the largest deficit with SiCG and Croatia adding that oil price and electricity prices dictate the amount of the foreign trades deficit.

BiH Minister of Traffic Dokic: Entities will construct the highway if the state does not find a concessionaire

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Entities will construct the highway if the state does not find a concessionaire’ by L. Sinanovic – BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications Branko Dokic stated for DA that, unless the state finds a concessionaire to construct the entire Vc corridor highway, then the entities will have to take the responsibility for the entire process and added that the corridor is currently being treated as a single project. However, if no concessionaire will be interested to construct the entire highway there is a possibility of defining separate priority parts of the highway.

 

Constitutional  reform

Barosso supports proposed constitutional amendments to BiH

 

 

 

TV Pink – In the letter to BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the agreement of BiH political parties on amendments to the BiH Constitution. Barosso said: “It is of great importance that the agreement respects rights of all citizens and constitutive peoples in BiH, and that is in accordance with European Convention on Human Right. Strengthening of power of governmental institutions, especially broadening power of BiH Council of Ministers and BiH Parliament would additionally help functioning of democracy. Now, it is very important that BiH Parliamentary Assembly adopts the agreed changes as soon as possible in order to implement them during October elections”. RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Barroso supported amendments’ by Nina, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina has a European perspective’ not signedalso reported.

HDZ 1990 Vice President Raguz: party will support 1st phase of const. changes if their amendments are adopted

 

RHBOn Friday, HDZ 1990 held press conference in Mostar at which the acting president, Bozo Ljubic, told the press the party has been registered with a competent court under the name ‘HDZ 1990’. With regard to the constitutional amendments, HDZ 1990 Vice President Martin Raguz stressed that the party would support the first phase of constitutional changes if their amendments were to be passed. Commenting their amendments, Raguz said that they referred to principles that foresaw all three constituent peoples’ equality. “This is a painful and difficult path but consensus of all three constituent people has to be provided”, said Raguz, adding that there was no such consensus. BHT1 – Raguz stated that their first request is “to annul the Entity voting and to revise the role of the BIH House of Peoples until the decision of BIH Constitutional Court on the vital national interests”. Additionally, Ljubic pointed out that they had met with representatives of U.S. Administration and European People’s Party “who had approved our amendments”. RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Raguz: let them support our amendments’ by F. V., Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Ljubic registered, Covic is dismissing Capljina’ by Zoran Kresic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Pre-requisite for our vote is abolishment of entity voting’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘They conditioned voting for changes with support to their amendments’ by M. K. – also reported on the press conference.

BiH HDZ Presidency session held in Mostar, const. reform and HDZ preparations for elections discussed

 

RHB, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Parliament should adopt the agreement as well’ by F. V., Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Accept agreement on the Constitution’ by Nina, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Agreement “obliges” delegates?’ byA. Omeragic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Adoption of the political agreement is needed’ by M. K.BiH HDZ Presidency held its 14th session in Mostar, at which it discussed constitutional reform in BiH, HDZ preparations for general elections and other issues. Commenting the constitutional reform in BiH, the Presidency pointed out that the agreement on constitutional changes in BiH had to be passed by the BiH Parliament Assembly before discussing the proposed amendments. FTV – HDZ BIH stated that it supports the constitutional changes if the agreement signed by political representatives is adopted.

HKDU President Ivan Musa: proposed const. amendments detrimental for Croats in BiH

 

RHBHKDU held press conference on Friday. HKDU President Ivan Musa said that the proposed constitutional amendments are detrimental for Croats in BiH and offered them no certain future. “We are deeply concerned over the proposed constitutional amendments since they put Croats in a political waiting room”, said Musa. Musa added that the amendments were not an expression of BiH peoples’ and citizens’ political will. “We call on Croat representatives in the BiH House of Peoples not to vote for the amendments, not even to attend the session dealing with the issue”, said Musa. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘HKDU: we will revitalise Croat peoples’ assembly’ by Miroslav Vasilj, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Do not vote for Constitutional changes’ by Dn. L. – also reported.

HoR Co-Chairman Dzaferovic: stances on agreement on Const. changes will not be presented at HoR session on Tuesday

Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Agreement “obliges” delegates?’ byA. Omeragic – Co-Chairman of BiH HoR Sefik Dzaferovic has stated it had not been foreseen stances on the agreement on constitutional changes would be presented at the HoR session scheduled for Tuesday. He added neither he nor his party [SDA] see anything disputable in this: ‘We have nothing against Parliament to adopt the Agreement…but we have concluded we need to wait for the amendments’.

DA: stances of delegates Avdic, Djedovic and Komsic on const. changes still unknown

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Votes of Avdic, Djedovic and Vlatka Komsic will be the ones to decide’ by H. OrahovacDA reads, judging by current ration of powers at BiH HoR, 25 delegates would certainly support the suggested changes to BiH Constitution at the session scheduled for April 25, while 14 delegates are currently against the changes. Stances of DNZ’s Ibrahim Djedovic, member of Croat delegates’ Club Vlatka Komsic and independent delegate Sead Avdic are still unknown.

PforBiH’s Halilovic: SDA’s Tihic and SDP’s Lagumdzija succumbed before blackmails coming from RS

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Tihic and Lagumdzija once again succumbed before blackmails coming from RS’ by E. SaracSafet Halilovic, the President of the Presidency of Party for BiH, has stated that the session of the Constitutional-Legal Commission of BiH HoR and the adoption of the constitutional amendments that are detrimental for the survival of the state brought yet another disappointment to BiH citizens. Halilovic noted that RS officials have successfully tested the willingness of SDA and SDP leaders to accept any blackmail coming from RS in order to preserve mutual partnership. ‘The most important thing for [SDA’s Sulejman] Tihic and [SDP’s Zlatko] Lagumdzija is to see sponsors from the international community and RS partners satisfied with their cooperation, which ensures their positions as well in the process’, Halilovic said.

US Undersecretary Burns met HR, asked from BiH to introduce Presidential system instead of tri-partite Presidency

 

RTRS – US Undersecretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns asked from BiH to introduce Presidential system instead of current three-member Presidency. “We believe that BiH should become normal democratic society and big step in that direction would be change of the Constitution in order to introduce position of President instead of current position of Chair of Presidency, which rotates among representatives of three main ethnic groups in BiH”, said Burns during the meeting with the High Representative to BiH Christian Schwarz Schilling. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘USA support Europe in liberalisation of visa regime’ by S. Numanovic – reads HR met with Undersecretary Burns and US State Department’s Rosemary di Carlo. HR stated they discussed the priorities and period of transition from OHR to EUSR, as well as constitutional amendments. HR said they expect delegates would be responsible and support what political leaders have agreed upon. They also discussed economic progress of BiH and HR stated USA support the activities of Europe to establish a more liberal visa regime with BiH.

HSS and Independent Croat Intellectuals: entity voting means Croats will always be outvoted

 

Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Croats will always be outvoted’ not signed – HSS and members of the Independent Croat Intellectuals held a debate on the proposed amendments to the BiH Constitution on Thursday evening and concluded that the political agreement of the leaders of 6 parties is nothing more than a way of insuring their survival in power. HSS thinks the mentioned leaders had failed to take into account the essential changes of the BIH Constitution, since entity voting in the BiH Parliament has nothing to do with parliamentary democracy, which is the first condition for the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The participants of the debate think the entity voting means that the Croats will always be outvoted, will stop being a political factor in BiH and will forfeit their right to constitutionality.   

Oslobodjenje op-ed: politicians made futile efforts – citizens not interested in constitutional changes

 

Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Futile effort’ by Daniel Omeragic – Referring to the process of the adoption of constitutional changes, the author mentions UNDP survey, which showed 33,5 % of surveyed citizens are indifferent towards the constitutional changes, while 16,4% refused to answer the questions they had been asked. The author concludes by saying that it seems as if politicians have made futile efforts to write the Constitution, since the survey shows citizens are not interested in Constitutional changes.

 

War crimes/security/judicial issues

OHR: RS close to implement BiH Human Rights Chamber’s decision in Palic case, warns F BiH to establish Commission for truth on sufferings of Serbs in Sarajevo

 

 

 

RTRS, TV Pink, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘No extension of deadline for investigation on Avdo Palic’ not signed, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Report was forwarded’ by Nina, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Search after Palic as soon as snow melts down’ by E. Kamenica, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Schilling reminds on “Sarajevo Serbs”’ by E. K., Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘OHR demands for exhumation of the body’ by D. Risojevic and A. Sisic Inset ‘F BiH Government is ignoring decisions of Human Rights Commission’ OHR stated it had received a report of RS Commission in charge of investigating the fate of Avdo Palic, a Colonel of the BiH Army. According to OHR, RS is close to fully implement the decision of BiH House of Human Rights if the Commission’s report on location of Palic’s body is correct. High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling will not prolong mandate of the Commission. The HR also said that exhumation of Palic’s body has to be done as soon as conditions permit that. OHR also warned FBiH that it is not acceptable that the Commission for truth on suffering of Serbs in Sarajevo has not been established as yet. As in accordance with the decision of BiH Human Rights Chamber, FBiH is obliged to establish mechanisms to find out truth on missing Serbs in Sarajevo. TV Hayat, BHT1 and FTV reported only on the part of OHR statement re Palic case.

Wife of Colonel Palic, Esma Palic, satisfied with HR’s decision

 

BHT 1 – Esma Palic, wife of missing Colonel Palic, expressed satisfaction with HR’s decision hoping that “the mortal remains will be found and that responsible individuals will be brought to justice. The deadline for the exhumation is 10 days”. Jasmin Odobasic, member of the Palic’s Commission deems that the deadline for the exhumation is adequate blaming employees of former RS Ministry of Defence, now BIH Ministry of Defence, because the case hasn’t been solved yet. “Person that escorted Palic from the prison, and most likely executed him, is at the moment hiding in Serbia and is protected by Yugoslav Army’, Odobasic claims. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Search after Palic as soon as snow melts down’ by E. Kamenica – also carries Esma Palic’s statement.

Women – victims of War protested in front of BiH Court asking for better protection

 

BHT1 – The Association “Women – Victims of War” organised protest in front of BiH Court in Sarajevo on Friday. The Association stressed that women that appeared as witness in numerous cases have been receiving threats afterwards. Members of the Association are also rancorous with the lack of interest of the prosecutor’s offices and the police to apprehend and prosecute war criminals, especially those whose dossiers are marked “A” and they also wonder how is it possible to allow one war criminal to testify in favour of the other war criminals. Jasminka Dzumhur from the Office of High Commissariat on Human Rights says BiH judiciary should devise a better protection system for witnesses adding that “in the case of the witnesses in the war crime trials, the best would be the relocation of the witnesses to some other country, outside BIH. The change of the identity would not be successful in BIH”. The Head of BiH High Judicial and Prosecution Council (HJPC) Branko Peric stated that organised protests in front of the BIH Court could seem “as the attempt of the political manipulation of the work of BiH Judiciary. It is not good to organise demonstrations in front of the Court”. TV Hayat – BiH Court Chair Meddzida Kreso said that the Court was not going to fall for any pressures, but that victims who had been raped were going to have a special treatment. FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5, announced on cover ‘Victims under constant threats’ by S. Rozajac, Dnevni Avaz pg 12, announced on cover ‘Hasecic: criminals are defending criminals at BiH Court, yet nobody is making arrests’ by N. Jamakovic, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Suspects on the bench for witnesses’ by Erna Mackic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘They are dissatisfied with treatment of victims’ by A. Djozoalso reported on the protest.

Bomb planted under car of Bihac Court judge, HJPC condemns recent attacks on judges and prosecutors

 

BHT1, Dnevni List pg 18 ‘Chairman of Court as target of bombing attack’ by Rusmir Karat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘A bomb was thrown on garage of Reuf Kapic’ by M. K.An exploding device has been planted under the car of Chair of Cantonal Court in Bihac Reuf Kapic on Friday in Cazin. BHT1, RTRS, FTV, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Judges and prosecutors as targets of terrorists’ by Eldina Medunjanin, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Condemnation of attacks on and threat to judges’ not signedChair of BiH HJPC Branko Peric warned that the attacks and frequent threats to judges and prosecutors are attempts of individuals and groups to frighten representatives of judiciary to deter them in their fight against crime.

Hague indictee Praljak developed six-hours long multi-media presentation in defence of Croats

 

Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Proof of Croatian innocence’ and pg 11 ‘Six hours that will defend Croatia’ by Davor Ivankovic – Hague indictee Slobodan Praljak, accused of ethnic cleansing and murdering Bosniaks, had gathered a team of 19 people to collect documents and tapes that would prove the innocence of Croats. Praljak had got an approval of judge Antonetti to hold six-hours long multi-media presentation in approximately 10 days before the Court and Praljak expects he would manage to prove Croats and Croatia were not aggressors but instead have saved themselves and Bosniaks too.

 

Police reform

DA: Ambassador McElhaney and EC Delegation Head Humphreys warned RS PM Dodik to stop politically interfering in police reform

 

 

Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘McElhaney and Humphreys warned Dodik’ and pg 2 ‘McElhaney and Humphreys warned Dodik to stop political interferences in police reform’ by E. Sarac – According to Dnevni Avaz, US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney and Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys met with RS PM Milorad Dodik in Sarajevo on April 19 and warned him to stop political interferences in police reform and to “forget about stories on preservation of RS MoI as a special part of BiH security system”. He was also warned to stop with political statements with regard to non-crossing of inter-entity boundary lines by police, because BiH must have a single security space and the police must have competences in the territory of the entire state in order for its efficiency to be improved.

OHR, EUPM: three EC principles in police reform must be respected

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘RS Assembly had accepted the three European principles’ by E. S. – According to OHR, RS NA Committee for Defence and Security can discuss police reform if they choose to do so, but the fact is they have accepted the three European principles on police reform, adopted the agreement that set up the current technical negotiation process ongoing in the Police Directorate and agreed that the role of the Parliaments would come after the Directorate completed its work. The Directorate is due to submit its report on the first three months to the CoM shortly, after which the CoM is responsible for distributing this report to the parties to the agreement including the appropriate institutions in the RS, as according to OHR. Spokesperson of EUPM Zinaida Ilaria shares a similar view and also says the stance of IC is crystal clear – there can be no deviations from EC principles.  

 

Other political issues

Stolac citizens protest against segregation and discrimination

 

 

 

 

TV Hayat – On Friday, peaceful protests, organized by Renewal of citizens’ reconciliation Association and Youth Forum, were held in Stolac. The gathered ones asked for abolishment of segregation and discrimination, war crimes and economy crime to be sentenced as well as for schooling and health sectors to be united, as Nerin Dizdar, the Chair of the Youth Forum said. “The protest announces what we are planning to do unless our requests do not be met”, said Dizdar. The Chair of the Renewal of citizens’ reconciliation Association Suad Prndelj said that Stolac citizens were not going to reconcile with situation they were faced due to current authorities. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘They announced they would block the town’ by F. V., Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Bosniaks are threatening with boycott and blockade of Stolac’ announced on cover ‘Radical Bosniaks are provoking conflicts’ by Frano Matic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘300 attacks on Bosniaks’ by A. B. – also reported.

HDZ 1990’s Ljubic: entire HDZ Capljina joined our party

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Ljubic: entire HDZ from Capljina joined our party’ by F. V., Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Ljubic registered, Covic is dismissing Capljina’ by Zoran Kresic, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘HDZ 1990 took over Capljina’ by Dario Pusic – President of HDZ 1990 Bozo Ljubic stated at a press conference in Mostar that the entire HDZ from Capljina had joined HDZ 1990 and he added that HDZ 1990 is currently the leading Croat party at BiH Parliament.

BiH HDZ’s Covic: BiH HDZ dismissed Capljina Board of HDZ

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Covic: we will see who is successful at the elections’ by F. V., Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Ljubic registered, Covic is dismissing Capljina’ by Zoran Kresic – President of BiH HDZ Dragan Covic stated the party would dispute the registration of new political party under the name “HDZ 1990” and will use all legal means to prevent this party from using acronym “HDZ” in its name. As a reply to the statement of Bozo Ljubic who said entire HDZ Capljina joined their party, Covic partially confirmed this and explained BiH HDZ dismissed its Board in Capljina and appointed a temporary party committee with Smiljan Vidic at the head, adding: ‘we will see at the elections who was successful’.

HR Schwarz-Schilling: BiH will be ready for Europe in a year

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘BiH will be ready for Europe in a year’ by VOA – HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling has stated BiH would be ready for Europe in a year time and added: ‘If everything goes as I hope it would, we will be ready in a year time. In the second quarter of the next year, we will realise the transition from HR onto Special Representative of EU and this will be the definite end of OHR competences, so called Bonn powers’.