OHR BiH Media Round-up, 22/5/2003

Oslobodjenje

Premier Hadzipasic does not accept ultimatum

Dnevni Avaz

Arrested Hidajet Buric from Prijedor claims information nonsense on alleged preparing the assassination of Carla Del Ponte

Dnevni List

Croatian generals hit by The Hague: New indictments for Norac, Markac, Domazet, Brajkovic and Tomljenovic

Vecernji List

Extraordinary proposal of law in Parliament of Federation of BiH: One year in prison for adultery

Slobodna Dalmacija

BiH closes its European doors on itself?

Glas Srpski

Rain finally makes farmers happy: Rain drops worth of gold;

In Batkusa near Samac: Heroin confiscated

Nezavisne Novine

Michael Humphries, Head of European Commission in BiH: EU will not undertake any measures against BiH for the time being; The Hague Tribunal: Miroslav Radic pleaded not guilty; Investigation into the death of 5 year old boy, Aleksandar Markovic: Police questioned three persons; Armed robbery in Banjaluka: 20000 KM robbed in a minute; Following the shooting in Sokolac: Spaic: Nobody ordered my murder

Blic

Suicides because of crises and lack of money; Threatening with kalasnikov riffle a man robbed the amount of KM 20,000 from bank; Nenad Ratkovic: pensioners on the streets after the Pope’s visit

Economic affairs

BiH Council of Ministers agreed on principles for the third GSM licence issuance

Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Four disputed principles for new GSM licence’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Principles agreed for issuance of the third GSM liecence’ – The BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) adopted on Wednesday the report on the situation in the telecommunications sector in light of the third GSM licence issuance, which was prepared by the BiH Communications and Traffic Ministry. The decision on conditions for issuing the third GSM licence in based on four key principles. It states the need for fulfilling competitive equality and economic value of all other operators in the telecommunications sector, preservation of the stability of the telecommunications system in preparation for the privatisation and a fair and economically justifiable valorisation of compensation for the third GSM licence at the communications market in BiH. The fourth principle calls for support for independent work and activities of the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA), without any pressures or influences in the field of communications, and especially in implementing decisions of the BiH Council of Ministers on issuing the third GSM licence.

Vecernji List (page 5, by EME, “Decision on issuing of third GSM license by end of June”) and Dnevni List (front and page 3, by M. Relota, “4 crucial principles for issuing of third GSM license”), Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘Four criteria for allocation of GSM licence adopted’; Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Licence to EroNet’also reported on the issue.

FBiH Government ready for dialogue with Trade Unions

Oslobodjenje fron page, pg. 6 ‘Premier Hadzipasic doies not accept ultimatums’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 11 ‘Hadzipasic does not give up reduction of salaries in BH Telecom’ – The FBiH Government seriously intends to work with the trade unions as a partner in resolving the problems of economic revitalization, employment as well as social issues, said the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, during the meeting of FBiH Government with the BiH Trade Unions Association leadership held in the Trade Union

Building in Sarajevo. According to Hadzipasic, the Government will not agree with any 

ultimatums, but it will be ready for open talks aimed at resolving all the disputed issues. “The Government does not print money or take the role of managers that need to employ workers, modernise technology and run fabrics”, said Hadzipasic, and added that in three months the current government has managed to unblock privatisation, revision and arbitration and propose the laws on bankruptcy and liquidation that will show which companies are productive and profitable. President of BiH Union Edhem Biber said this meeting was organised to seek solutions for certain problems, adding that there is still a great number of unemployed workers in the Federation, that there is no qualitative social programmes and that the workers are still without the right to health protection and possibility for retirement.

Dnevni List (page 5, by Ivica Glibusic, “Hadzipasic: I will persist in reduction of salaries in BiH Telecom”) and Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, by D.P., “Hadzipasic: Amount of salary is impermissible”) also covered the issue also quoting Hadzipasic as saying that he would persist in reduction of the salaries in BiH Telecom saying that it is inappropriate that an average salary in this company amounts to 1230 KMs.

PDHR Hays visited Bosmal City Centre construction site

Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Hays: I wish that there are as many such projects as possible in BiH’, Oslobodjenje pg. 16 ‘BiH will become more attaractive to foreign investments’ – “I wish that there were more projects such as the Bosmal City Centre and that BiH has infrastructure that would represent strength in the region. The Bosmal City Centre represents a combination of foreign investment and local enterprise and I thinks that this is the right time for more such partnerships,” Principle Deputy High Representative Donald Hays said on Wednesday during his visit to the Bosmal City Centre construction site in Sarajevo. Hays agreed with the management of Bosmal, chief investor in this project, that this structure would become a symbol of a new era in the development of a modern BiH and its economy. Bosmal Manager Nijaz Sabanovic said that construction work on the Bosmal City Centre would be completed in November and that final touches and possible corrections in accordance with the demands of buyers would then be made. Nezavisne Novine, page 20, ‘Hays: BiH needs more projects of this kind’, Dnevni List page 19, not signed, “BiH is entering new era of modern development” also reported on the issue.

PDHR Donald Hays sent a letter of thanks to Muhamed Ibrahimovic

Dnevni List (page 3, not signed, “Thank you letter to FBiH Parliament”) carries that Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays sent a letter of thanks to Chairman of House of Representatives of the Federation of BiH Parliament Muhamed Ibrahimovic for the support of the Parliament in the realization of the first phase of the Bulldozer Commission.

EFT to buy Hidrogradnja

Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘EFT offered 3 million for “Hidrogradnja” – British firm EFT (Energy Financing Team) offered the amount of KM 3 million for the firm “Hidrogradnja” from Serb Sarajevo. As NN learnt at Republika Srpska Govenrment, EFT obligated that it would invest the amount of KM 10 million in Hidrogradnja in the next three years and keep all those currently employed at work.

As the Republika Srpska Government  announced recently, EFT was the only bidder, that responded to tender for Hidrogradnja.

BiH-IC relations

Humphreys: BiH must decide which path to take

Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘A difficult decision for BiH’ – The Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH, Ambassador Michael Humphreys, stated that one should not expect an immediate action of the European Union towards BiH due to the decision of BiH authorities to sign with the United States the agreement on exclusion of American citizens from extradition to the International Criminal Court. At press conference held Wednesday Ambassador Humphreys said that the EU waits to see weather the BiH State Parliament would ratify the agreement with the United States. He admitted that BiH was facing a difficult decision and, as he said, although it invested much negotiating effort, the country failed to fulfill all the EU guidelines. “It is not our role to force BiH on certain acts. However, BiH must decide which path it wishes to take. If it wishes to take the path of European integration than it must show this by action, and not only words”, said the Head of EC Delegation to BiH. The Irish diplomat reminded that not a single EU participating country or a country that will become a member of the Union next year, has signed such an agreement with the United States. Of the countries that participate in the “Stabilisation and Association

Programme” only Romania has signed the agreement, but has not yet ratified it.

Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘There will be no measures against BiH over the agreement with USA for the time being’ – Michael Humphries, Head of EC in BiH, said in an interview for the newspaper that for the time being, the European Union will not be undertaking any measures against BiH, following its signing of the agreement with the USA. However, EU will closely monitor the process of ratification of the agreement at the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. According to Humphries, in spite of all the efforts placed in this matter, BiH authorities failed to fully comply with EU directives. Vecernji List page 2, by D. Jazvic, “Intensive cooperation and faster spreading of EU” also carried the statement.

BiH deal with US on ICC exemption will not block EU road – BiH Deputy Foreign Minister

Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Eight out of nine EU instructions fulfilled’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘BiH is the only country which has put 8 EU instructions in the agreement’ -“The reactions from the EU addressed to the BiH Foreign Ministry after BiH’s signing of an agreement on exemption of US citizens from the jurisdiction of International Criminal Court (ICC) do not carry the same critical tone as those addressed to Albania,” BiH Deputy Foreign Minister Lidija Topic said on Wednesday. “The EU has recognized our need to sign the agreement and our efforts to follow EU guidelines,” Topic said at a news conference in Sarajevo and expressed hope that the agreement would not slow down the process of European integration for BiH. With that goal in mind, Topic added, the BiH Foreign Ministry will continue to with active lobbying in European institutions. Out of the nine European guidelines for states aspiring to joint the EU, in whose interest it is also to meet the US request for signing of this agreement, BiH has failed to meet only one, which refers to exemption of solely American citizens serving in official missions in BiH.  The signed agreement stipulates exemption of all American citizens and everyone serving in the US army, which practically includes other citizens as well. “According to US laws, non-US citizens can also serve the army and we could not intervene or change anything in this respect,” Topic said. The remaining eight guidelines have been met, including the one which eliminates exemption from ICC jurisdiction, but retains the provision on the obligation to try persons before national courts. That means that the US judiciary still has the obligation to try its citizens, and there is also a possibility of trying them before BiH courts, unless the US citizens in question enjoy immunity on different grounds. The American side agreed on the provision that the BiH Parliamentary Assembly must ratify the agreement in order to make it valid and the provision that each side retains the right to unilateral renunciation of the agreement, which is one of the key guidelines of the EU. BiH’s obligation towards other, non-signatory states to allow transit through its territory for persons extradited to the ICC has not been breached. Topic added that it is in BiH’s interest to continue to receive US aid and enjoy the presence of its troops, as well as prepare for membership in the Partnership for Peace and the EU. The text of the agreement, which was signed on May 16 by Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac and US Ambassador Clifford Bond, is pending submission into parliamentary procedure.

Vecernji List (page 3, by E. Me., “Eight out of nine EU directions”), Dnevni List (page 4, unsigned, “BiH does not expect worsening of relations with European Union”), Blic pg. 7 ‘Concession to Americans’also carried Topic’s statement.

Vecernji List (page 3, by Z. Kresic, “EU forgives BiH after all”) reads that instead of condemnations and eventually sanctions, the EU has accepted the signing of a bilateral agreement on non-extradition of US citizens to ICC with a lot of understanding. In that context, VL reports that the ambassadors of EU members in BiH conveyed the concern of the EU to members of the BiH Presidency, but also showed personal understanding for the “case of BiH”. The message that the ambassadors delivered at the end of the meeting, reports VL, was that the EU has certain rules of “behaviour” that candidates for accession to the EU has to abide by. In the same time, members of the BiH Presidency told the ambassadors they were ready to continue with reforms and accept EU standards, however they stressed the need to the American stay in the Balkans.

On the same issue Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 17, by Zlatko Tulic, “BiH is closing door of Europe to itself?”) carries that in spite of the warning coming from Brussels Sarajevo is ready to sing the aforementioned agreement with the USA. SD carries BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak as saying: “I am convinced that the agreement will be ratified and we shall have to have talks with EU as soon as possible so that this act does not make our further way towards Europe harder.” 

EC presents new form of partnership with western Balkans

Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘EC presents new form of partnership with western Balkans’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘New EU strategy towards the Balkans’, Nezavisne Novine – The European Commission on Wednesday adopted a proposal of new partnership for the European integration with the countries of the western Balkans. The document will be sent to the EU Ministerial Council and European Parliament for consideration. It foresees strengthening the current policy towards the region aimed at as faster as possible integration of the western Balkan countries into EU.

Vecernji List (page 2, by D. Jazvic, “Intensive cooperation and faster spreading of EU”), Dnevni List (page 5, not signed, “New form of partnership with Western Balkans countries”) carry that the European Commission adopted yesterday the proposal on a new partnership with Western Balkan countries for European integration. The dailies say that this document envisages strengthening of the current policy towards the region so that Western Balkan countries can enter the EU. Head of EC Mission in BiH Ambassador Michael Humphreys stated: “With this proposal we are showing that the EU door are opened for Western European countries. However, although they are open it is not easy to pass through that door.” Vecernji List (front and page 11, by Stojan de Prato, “Croatia is pulling ‘Western Balkans” towards EU”), Jutarnji List (page 3, by Augustin Palokaj, “New strategy of EC for countries of Southeast Europe”) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 2, by Matko Franac, “Western Balkans – partner to EU”) carry that EC Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Christopher Patten presented the EC proposal on admission of the countries that should be adopted at the Summit in Salonika.

Political developments

FBiH House of Representatives interrupted discussion on amendments to FTV Law

Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Voting postponed on amendments to the FTV law’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Deputies request FTV to broadcast sessions’ – The sixth regular session of the FBiH House of Representatives was not completed on Wednesday. It should resume next Tuesday, when, in line with announcements, the representatives should consider the Working Programme of FBiH Government for 2003 and the amendments to the Law on RTVFBiH proposed by representative Mirnes Ajanovic. His proposal for amending the Law on RTVFBIH was considered on Wednesday, but the voting was prolonged for the next session of the House until the FBiH Government presents its position on the issue. Ajanovic requests that the law insures live TV broadcasting of the entire sessions of both Houses of FBiH Parliament. A day before, the Senior Deputy High Representative, Gerhard Enver Schroembgens, addressed letters to the chairmen of both Houses of FBiH Parliament appealing that Ajanovic-proposed amendment is not accepted in the Parliament. Ajanovic sharply protested against the letter. Dnevni List page 4, by M.R., “Declaring on Amendments of Law of Federation of BiH TV postponed” also covered the issue.

BiH House of Peoples accepts CoM initiative to pass the education law in urgent procedure

Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Education law in urgent procedure’, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Education law in shortened procedure’ – On Wednesday the BiH House of Peoples accepted the request for considering the draft Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education in BiH in urgent procedure, meaning that the time frame for the task will be shortened. Dnevni List page 4, not signed, “Foreign debt of BiH 4,05 billion KM” also reported on the session.

Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Education with differences’ – Gojko Savanovic, Republika Srpska Minister of Education, and Robert Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, stressed that the framework agreement on primary and secondary education does not deprive the Ministries of Education of Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina of their authority in this field. According to Pearse McCorley, OSCE Regional Spokesperson, the representatives of the ministries of education of BiH were consulted on the issue of laws, falling under authority of BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications. 

VL: Interview with BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic

Vecernji List (front page, “There is no trade with Republika Srpska” and page 5, “Certainly there is no trade with RS”, by Milan Sutalo) carries an interview with BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic. With regard to the statement of Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Zivkovic, in which he raised the issue of BiH territorial integrity, Ivanic says: “The BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested because Zivkovic’s statement indirectly connected the status of Kosovo with the status of BiH. We did not send a protest note to Belgrade because the statement was not the way it was presented…Zivkovic did not talk about division of BiH, he did not mention annexation to his country etc.” With regard to the speculations of the Sarajevo based media saying that, allegedly, Belgrade is willing to support the abolishment of the RS if BiH gives up a lawsuit against Yugoslavia, Ivanic says: “The RS is a constitutional category and none in Belgrade will be able to trade with it. I hope that I will hear this from Bosniak politicians too some day.”   

FBiH Minister of Defense M. Nikolic supports W. Ward’s model of re-organization of BiH armed forces

Vecernji List (page 2, by Zoran Kresic, “Minister Nikolic supports Ward’s model”) carries that Minister of Defense of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Miroslav Nikolic, supports a model of re-organization of armed forces in BiH proposed by the COMSFOR Lt-Gen William Ward. According to Nikolic, as early as three years ago the Croat component was supporting the idea to create the defense structure at the level of BiH with the joint Ministry of Defense, joint Headquarters and three national components. Nikolic added: “I believe that three national components have to be an integrative factor in the joint Army.”

Reactions to Paravac’s statement

Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘Republika Srpska has not been created by Serbia’ – BiH officials has reacted on Chairman of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac’s statement that the Republika Srpska has not been created by Serbia and Montenegro, but it was created in a civil war and represents an expression of the will of the Serb people in BiH. Vice-president of the SDA Elmir Jahic claims that one of the proofs that Serbia and Montenegro was actively engaged in aggression is Slobodan Milosevic’s signature on the DPA. Member of the Party for BiH Beriz Belkic thinks that with such statements Paravac damages his own people. President of the SDU Miro Lazovic says that Paravac as a member of BiH Presidency should develop unity and work on strengthening the state institutions, and not to create a mythical consciousness and give statements that keep Serbs in isolation. (Note that these reactions were published in Sarajevo press on Wednesday)

Sub-regional consultative commission for weapon control 

Blic pg. 3 ‘BiH acts jointly’ – Delegations of Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH reached an agreement in Banja Luka on Wednesday that a BiH team would carry out inspections of weapons and military equipment in Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia. This was stated by personal representative of the chairman of the OSCE Mission for implementing the agreement on weapon control, Claudio Zapulla. He said that the accord was reached by the signatories of the agreement on sub-regional control of weapons and military equipment, which was signed in Florence in 1996 by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia [FRY], Croatia and BiH. Republika Srpska Assistant Defence Minister Maj-Gen Bosko Gvozden said that it was up to the BiH delegation to agree on the number of inspectors, which should number five or six. Inspections should be carried by the end of the year, as stipulated by yesterday’s agreement.

OHR

OHR on Mostar Commission, HNC Government

Dnevni List (page 13, by D. K., “Interpretations of certain principles as help to Commission”) carried an OHR spokesperson, Avis Benes, as talking about the work of the Mostar Commission, at a press conference of international organizations held in Mostar yesterday, that the OHR Sarajevo, at a request of the Commission, sent interpretations of certain principles that will help the Commission continue rendering some important issues.

Slobodna Dalmacija (back page, by M. Landeka, “Benes: It is irresponsible to be without cantonal government for seven months”) carries Benes as reiterating that it is politically irresponsible that the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government has not been formed for seven months. “They are playing political games and there is not much will for responsibility in other words for solution to the problem”, said Benes. (Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue.)

DL’s editorial on HR Ashdown

Dnevni List (page 6, by Bakir Hadziomerovic, “Paddy, then and now”) carries an editorial in which the author says the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, upon his arrival to BiH, was perceived by the BiH public as a brave and consistent politician who understands and knows recent events in the region, or in a nutshell, as the author puts it, “an ideal solution for many problems because of which BiH citizens who care to live in a normal and democratic state adopted him without a reservation”. Hadziomerovic goes on to say that the change in the path of “our lord” happened after the elections when HR Ashdown, according to the author, caused disbelief among progressive forces with his initial comments of good election results by SDA-HDZ-SDS on basis of which the OHR prepared a media strategy on accepting “the new reality in BiH”. “It would be wrong to accuse Ashdown for the fact that the people in this country changed some sort of European future of BiH for the nationalistic miserable existence, but one has to establish it was exactly Ashdown who offered enough reasons because of which the nationalistic coalition partners took over the authority again. By aggressively favouring ‘the new reality’, Ashdown ruled out any possibility of forming of authority without an SDA-HDZ-SDS coalition in which he was helped by the permanently ruling PDP and Party for BiH”, says Hadziomerovic. The author adds that Ashdown’s decision to side with the nationalists was also influenced by a defeat of  “his only true favourite” Haris Silajdzic, who was then defeated by the then underdog Sulejman Tihic.

War crimes

Update to Kazani Pit case

Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘Kazani case postponed owing to defendant’s illness’ – The trial against Sead Kadic and Samir Bejtic, charged with war crimes against civilians in 1993, was yesterday postponed before the Cantonal Court, owing to absence of one of the defendants, Bejtic. The reason for joining the process against two of them was because they jointly carried out crimes.

Exhumation at Koricani Rocks

Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ’59 human remains exhumed at Koricani Rocks’ – The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission for search for missing persons has so far exhumed human remains of 59 persons on the locality of Koricani Rocks. The remains are believed to be citizens of Prijedor, who were murdered on this site on 21 August 1992.

Alleged attempted assault against Carla del Ponte

Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Zenica police released three persons’ – The person, who was kept in detention in Zenica on Tuesdat, owing to reasonable suspicion of having prepared the assassination against Carla del Ponte during her visit to Sarajevo (in collaboration with two other persons) was yesterday released home. All three persons are from Prijedor.

As NN learnt art Zenica Cantonal Court, the three persons were under the influence of alcohol and made verbal threats. However, they were unarmed.

Dnevni Avaz covered the issue on the front page.

DL: Lord George Robertson: “Belgrade must extradite Mladic”

Dnevni List (page 8, unsigned) carries a report from BETA, according to which the NATO Secretary General, Lord George Robertson, stated at Brussels after a meeting with the Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Zivkovic, that NATO “keeps open doors” to Serbia and Montenegro entering the Partnership for peace and that the key pre-requisite for that is that Ratko Mladic be extradited to The Hague Tribunal “if he is in Serbia”. PM Zivkovic reportedly stated that he was convinced Serbia and Montenegro would enter a co-operation programme with NATO by end of the year by fulfilling the pre-requisites on full co-operation with the ICTY.

Other issues

Update to Sokolac shooting

Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘Spaic: Nobody ordered my murder’; Glas Stpske page 10, ‘When trigger tries’ – Ratomir Spaic, the owner of RMG firm from Serb Sarajevo, who was wounded in Tuesday shooting in Sokolac, says he does not know the persons, who attempted top murder him, neither their motive. He suspects that they may be drug addicts, because they attempted to take his vanity case, where he kept money, from him. Members of the Sarajevo Cantonal Court are placed around the Clinical Centre Kosevo, where Spaic and Jankovic are hospitalised. Any contact with the wounded is prohibited.

Police also issued wanted warrants after Ognjen Orasanin (25) and Mladen Ceho (34) for the attempted murder.

Zoran Colovic, who was in the company of Spaic and Jankovic during the shooting, took them to hospital and later on went to Slobodan’s house. Next day, he came to police to give testimony. He also accused Milovan Cicko Bjelica for having ordered the murder of Spaic and Jankovic, because he is of the view that nothing can happen in Sokolac without the knowledge of Bjelica.

NN yesterday failed to get any comment from Bjelica during the course of yesterday.

Update to Bijeljina tragic death of 5-year old boy

Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘Police questioned three persons’ – Bijeljina Public Security Centre yesterday announced that police arrested two Heads of Departments at Bijeljina City Hall, Milomir Cvijetinovic and Sreten Maksimovic, and one person employed at City Water Supply, Milan Peric. They are held responsible for the death of 5-year old boy Aleksandar Markovic, on Friday 16 May. The boy tragically died after falling into an unmarked septic tank near the primary school in Bijeljina.

Dragan Gavric, duty judge at Bijeljina Basic Court, where three detainees were handed aloong with criminal reports and order on detention, stated it would take him a couple of hours to assess whether criminal reports contain any incriminating evidence to keep detainees in detention or let them go home.

Radic entered his plea

Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 4, ‘Miroslav Radic pleaded not guilty’ – Miroslav Radic, former JNA officer, yesterday pleaded not guilty on all accounts of the indictment, which charge him with the murder of at least 200 people from Vukovar hospital at “Ovcara” farm in November 1991.

Armed robbery of Zagrebacka Banka in Banjaluka

Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 11, ‘20000 KM robbed’; Glas Srpske, page 10, ‘Robber took pensions away’ – The payment of pensions at Zagrebacka Banka in Banja Luka was yesterday discontinued, owing to armed robbery. Namely, the assailant wearing a mask barged into the Bank premises, threatened with automatic rifle and robbed 20000 KM. The witnesses claim the robbery lasted for only a minute, and also there was no shooting and nobody got hurt. (Blic pg. 6, Vecernje Novosti pg. 19)

Farmers: Rain at last 

Glas Srpske, cover page stories, ‘Rain drops worth of gold’ – The farmers and agricultural experts share the view that the rain, which has started to fall throughout Republika Srpska Tuesday afternoon, is worth of gold.

Confiscation of heroin near Samac

Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Heroin confiscated’ – The night before the last, the police raided the restaurant “Putnik” in the village of Batkusa near Samac and arrested four drug dealers at the moment of delivery of 1kg of drugs. Heroin of pure quality was packed in two parcels of 1/2kg. Its worth at illegal market is assessed around KM 100 thousand. The owner of the restaurant did not want to make any comment onto arrest, stressing that: “I know nothing about this.”

According to eyewitnesses, two of the detainees are from the village of Donji Zabar (BiH), while two are from Serbia and Montenegro.

Milakovic case

Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘InterPol searching for Milakovic’s’ – BIH State Prosecutor’s Office is today expected top order the Judge, Vlado Adamovic, to issue an international arrest warrant for the wife and two sons of Milorad Milakovic, Milka, Sasa and Slavisa. This order follows the confirmation received from the Republika Srpska Interior Ministry, claiming that three of them are not within the territory of Republika Srpska or anywhere in BiH.