Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 22 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (13,00 hrs) |
| Holy mass at Petricevac | Derventa court on UNIS trial |
| BiH Presidency in session | World news |
| Orasje: Agriculture feature | Sports |
TV news broadcast on 21 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| | HR on sanctions to RS | CoE meeting in |
| Terzic’s speech in CoE session | Terzic addressed CoE Assembly | Burial at the Potocari cemetery |
| HR’s interview for BL press | Declaration on Srebrenica crimes | Post-traumatic syndrome |
| Milovanovic on Mladic | 550 bodies to be buried on July 11 | War-criimes trial in Brcko District |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Pensions for FBiH pensioners | Roundtable on visa regime in BiH | HR’s possible sanctions towards RS |
| Reconstruction in Mostar | CoE meeting in | Terzic’s speech in CoE session |
| Equipment for fighting crime | War-crimes trial in Brcko District | Burial in Potocari |
| “Air | Tadic will come to Srebrenica | Death anniversary of 21 civilians |
| Oslobodjenje | [Terzic in CoE]: Police and PBS reforms still possible |
| Dnevni Avaz | Hadzipasic and Zigic deny Vrankic [regarding privatization law] |
| Dnevni List | Fines amounting to thousands KM for illegal work |
| Vecernji List | VL has not been published today due to Croatian Day of Anti-fascism |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | SD has not been published today due to Croatian Day of Anti-fascism |
| Nezavisne Novine | Integration to EU is the only solution |
| Glas Srpske | Excellent pupils out on street? |
| EuroBlic | Features Serbian related titles |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BiH Presidency in session
| RHB – BiH Presidency should meet today and discuss a proposal of joint statement that BiH, |
| FBiH HoR in session | RHB – FBiH House of Representatives in continuing its session today. MPs should be voting on the proposed re-balance of the FBIH 2005 budget. |
| Agreement on Srebrenica declaration fails | RHB – BiH delegation to Council of Europe failed to reach a consensus about Sead Avdic’s declaration on Srebrenica. |
| Mihajlica says Srebrenica commemoration politicised | FENA – President of Serb Radical Party (RS) Milanko Mihajlica called on all elements in BiH not to abuse marking of the 10 anniversary of the Srebrenica events and not to use the crime committed in Srebrenica for political purposes. Mihajlica said that the commemoration has already been politicized. |
| HDZ Presidency to meet tomorrow | FENA news agency – The HDZ Presidency session to take place tomorrow (Thursday) in Kiseljak. |
Political issues | |
| Terzic address CoE Parliament: police/PBS reforms could still be implemented; OHR’s role should be linked to SAA
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Police and PBS reforms still possible’ by Antonio Prlenda – Addressing the CoE Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday, the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, noted that all political factors in BiH were agree the only way for stabile BiH is integration into stabile European family. Terzic also said that there is still a realistic chance to complete police and PBS reforms on time to ensure positive avis regarding the beginning of Stabilisation and Association negotiations. Talking about the recent report by the Venice Commission which concluded that powers of the High Representative must be gradually faded out, Terzic stressed OHR’s role should be changed in a way it is entirely attached to the issue of SAA negotiations. Asked by representatives from Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Police reform deosnt bring down Republika Srpska’ by Sead Numanovic – Talking about the police reform, Terzic said that problems regarding this issue perhaps indicate that police, and not army, provided higher level of support to the war crimes suspects in their hiding. “In any case, police reform s not a project which will bring down RS, but introduce better stanadards of the security for all citizens in BiH,” concluded Terzic. FTV, RTRS, Hayat, BHT1, PINK, RHB, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘BiH has never been closer to EU’ by M. Batarello, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Integration to EU is the only solution’ by Agencies, Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Tadic is safe’ by G. Cvorovic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘No changes to the Dayton’ by Beta– also reported. |
| Round-table on liberalisation of visa regime: Obstacles are police and PBS reform
| RHB, Pink, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pgs 4-5, mentioned on front ‘Ashdown is biggest opponent to abolishment of visas’, by V. Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Citizens should not pay for what authorities in BiH do’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Visa regime endangered domestic tourism’ by M. Zorlak– Round table on liberalisation of visa regime in BIH was held in Sarajevo on Tuesday. It was stated that the greatest obstacles for abolishment of visas are issues of police reform and law on public RTV system. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Visas as stranglehold’ by V. Bu., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘To Ashdown citizens are audience that likes blood’ by Agencies – SDP’s Zlatko Lagumdzija stated he wondered how BiH is to expect visa liberalisation by countries that have sent us HR who says we look like an audience in Roman arena that likes to see blood on floor. Lagumdzija also pointed out to the slow implementation of adopted laws. PINK – BiH Presidency member Ivo Miro Jovic said that there was possibility for visas regime to be liberalized. On the other hand, Lagumdzija said that there was possibility for a number of states to introduce visas regime to BiH, such as for example RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Visas as strangle hold by V. Bu – Chair of RS NA Dusan Stojicic stated that he is against all politicisation and statements that BIH is into the worse situation than 3 years ago. Darko Fras member of Slovenian National Council stated that it is up to BIH to resolve the important issue if it wants to have better visa regime for its citizens. Certain NGO’s suggested abolishment of diplomatic and official passports to BIH politicians since then this problem would probably be solved very quickly. |
| Ashdown: ‘I did not give up from sanctions against RS’
| RHB, RTRS, PINK, Hayat, Dnevni List pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’– Media carry that in a page-long interview to Banja Luka based Nezavosne Novine, the HR Paddy Ashdown stated: ‘I did not give up from sanctions against RS and I will use this should RS and SDS choose isolation instead of integration to EU’. [See BiH Media Round-up June 21 for details] |
| SDHR
| RTRS, BHT1, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘To reach consensus on completion of security and RTV system reforms’ by M. Zorlak– BiH Presidency Chair Borislav Paravac on Tuesday met with the SDHR, Martin Ney, and they both underlined the necessity of having consensus on completion of reforms in the security sector and PBS, which are conditions for beginning of negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Ney reminded Paravac that BiH has no alternative to orientation towards EU. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘PBS reform should be completed’ – Paravac also met with the UK Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft, who also underlined necessity complete the process of police and PBS reforms. |
| Ivo Miro Jovic meets OSCE Chief Davidson
| RHB, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic: Further assistance of OSCE mission important for BiH’ by NINA – Croat member of BIH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic met with the Head of OSCE Mission to BIH Douglas Davidson. They discussed the importance of OSCE assistance offered to the BIH authorities. Davidson stressed that activities regarding education, defense reform, public administration reform will remain priorities for OSCE in BIH. |
| FBiH HoR adopted draft law on labour inspections
| Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Fines amounting to thousands KM for illegal work’ and pg 7 ‘Fines for illegal work up to 10 000 KM’ by A. Vrebac – The Federation of BiH House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday a draft law on labour inspections with the conclusion that it can be used as good ground for drafting a proposal of the law. DL also says that FBiH Minister of Labour and Welfare Radovan Vignjevic stated that this legal project is an attempt to give bigger authorities to inspectors in preventing the illegal work. RHB, PINK, FTV also covered. |
| Ljubic’s supporters held mtg/Ljubic’s complaint got lost?
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Ljubic and others do not give up struggle’ by Z. Jukic – Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Where has Bozo Ljubic’s complaint got lost?’ by F. Vele – carries Ljubic as saying that he sent to the HDZ Commission in charge of implementation of party elections a complaint questioning regularity of the HDZ President’s election and that he received an acknowledgment of receipt. On the other hand President of the aforementioned Commission Perkan Pervan says that he and other members of the Commission have not received any complaint questioning regularity of HDZ President’s election and that the Commission would deal with the complaint if they receive it. |
| Avaz: Covic still receiving salary from BiH Presidency
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Dragan Covic still receiving salary in BiH Presidency’, by A. M. – Avaz learns that the removed member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, is still receiving salary from the BiH Presidency, despite the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown’s, decision from March this year, which ordered that Covic was losing right to compensations and other privileges effective immediately. Despite the HR’s decision, the Presidency’s Secretariat issued a decision, which allowed Covic to receive the ‘presidential’ salary in the next six months i.e. until October. Avaz learns that the OHR sent the Presidency’s acting Secretary General, Ranko Ninkovic, a letter asking him to verify the authenticity of his signature on the (Secretariat’s) decision and present the OHR a full report on the case. OHR spokesman |
| Dzihanovic: our constitution will be adopted after elections in 2006 | Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Our Constitution will be adopted after elections in 2006’ by R. Cengic – carries an interview with Deputy President of F BiH Sahbaz Dzihanovic who, together with a group of experts from BiH, had drafted new BiH constitution. Dzihanovic expressed his convince that the Constitution may be adopted after elections in 2006. |
| Avaz op-ed: Does BiH have state government at all?
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘Does BiH have state government at all?’, by Lana Sinanovic – The author notices that the BiH Council of Ministers has not held a single session for more than a month, despite the fact that ministers Branko Dokic and Mladen Ivanic are officially not members of BiH CoM. Sinanovic argues that state ministers are behaving like a bunch of “insulted high school students”, and as per normal it is the BiH ordinary citizens that are suffering. In context of necessary reforms, the author says there are more talks about reforms in BiH in |
| NN op-ed: Anarchy on power
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Anarchy on power’ by Aleksandar Sekulic – the author refers to the most recent events at CoM and HoR and says Bih is a state ruled by nobody. He also says the participants of the current authority in BiH are not up to tasks they are facing and citizens, with them at the head, cannot hope for a better future. |
| | Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Protest over accreditation to Turkovic’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Farnks criticized the Government’ by Srna – Arizona Republican Congressman Trent Franks criticized the State Department at a session of US Congress over approving the accreditation to BiH Ambassador to US Bisera Turkovic by saying that she was one of founders of ‘a radical Muslim party – Party of Democratic Action’ and she had a significant role in bringing radical Islamists during the war to BiH. |
Srebrenica commemoration / other war crimes issues | |
| ICMP: By
| FTV, PINK, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BY 11 Julyh, 550 Srebrenica victims will be identified’, Oslobodjenje, pg 7 ‘550 victims from Srebrenica will be prepared for burial’, by Onasa, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Identification of another 550 victims from Srebrenica by July 11’ by De.L., Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘2032 Srebrenica victims were identified’ by Srna, Vecernje Novosti 14 ‘2032 victims were identified’ by D. St. – The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) anticipates that there will be approximately 550 bodies identified and ready for burial at the Potocari cemetery on July 11, stated the ICMP spokesperson, Doune Porter. She reminded that ICMP recently announced it had identified the 2000th victim from Srebrenica, and that as of |
| Tihic/ Mothers of Srebrenica discuss SCG delegations’ arrival to Potocari
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Subasic: We will ignore SCG representatives in Potocari’ by S.S. – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic on Tuesday received the members of the Association “Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa enclaves” to discuss the preparations for marking the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. The Chair of the Association, Munira Subasic, told DA Tihic was asking them about the announced arrival of SCG delegation at the Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Boris Tadic arrives on behalf of the country hiding criminals for past 10 years’, mentioned on cover, by A. Hadzic – Tuzla mufti Husein Kavazovic, who is also a member of commemoration’s organizing board stated that Islamic community in BiH “doesn’t want to have anything to do with the official protocol regarding the arrival” of SCG delegation. Vecernje Novosti pg 15 ‘NGOs from |
| Terzic: Tadic will be safe in Potocari
| RTRS,FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Tadic will feel secure in Srebrenica’, Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Tadic is safe’ by G. Cvorovic – At the press conference following his address before the CoE Parliament, Adnan Terzic stated that Boris Tadic will be provided with the same level of security as every other person to attend the commemoration ceremony in Potocari memorial center. Terzic also said that SCG committed aggression against BiH, noting that it representatives have decided to appear on commemoration only after the snapshots of execution of Srebrenica civilians appeared. “If this visit occurred earlier, we would not talk about this [security] today,” said Terzic. |
| Tadic says he will attend commemoration despite objections | Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘President doest pay attention to threats’, mentioned on cover, by B. Boskov – Serbian media reported that Serbian President Boris Tadic would attend marking of 10th Srebrenica crimes anniversary regardless of message “Mothers from Srebrenica and Zepa Enclave” sent him [See BiH Media Round-up on June 21]. |
| Vojvodina: support to initiative to proclaim July 11 a mourning day | Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘ |
| ICTY President confirms he will attend commemoration | FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 5 ‘Meron goes to Srebrenica’, by Sense, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Theodor Meron arrives to Potocari’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Meron in Srebrenica’ by Sense – ICTY has confirmed that the President of the Tribunal, Theodor Meron, would attend the marking of 10th anniversary of Srebrenica tragedy, to be held in Potocari on 11 July. |
| BiH delegation to CoE tries to harmonize declaration on Srebrenica
| FTV by Zinaida Hamidovic – Addressing the CoE Parliamentary Assembly in BHT 1 by Alenka Bruck – “This declaration should simply emphasize a wish for the massacre in Srebrenica to be the last act of genocide on the European continent – it should be the warning for the future generations”, said Avdic in his telephone statement for BHT. “I don’t know why he did not say that to me earlier – we are together for three days now, but he did not say anything to me. Instead he suggested that we should discuss the declaration during the breakfast or dinner, and I believe that such important issues should be discussed much more seriously”, said Gligoric. PINK, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Avdic: It is clear who was a victim, and was a perpetrator in Srebrenica’, inset ‘Gligoric: I cannot take stance on something I have not seen’ by S.N. – also carry Avdic and Gligoric. |
| Milicevic: Avdic collects signatures for Srebrenica resolution
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Avdic collects signatures’ by G. D. – A delegate at the European Parliament Ljiljana Milicevic confirmed CoE did not adopt a resolution on Srebrenica Tuesday. She explained the procedure that has to be followed in order for a document to become valid and state: ‘No person had seen the declaration of Sead Avdic’. She also stated she had no doubt that he will manage to get 20 signatures needed for the adoption. |
| Simonovic pleads not guilty
| RTRS, FTV, BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Simonovic stated not guilty’, Oslobodjenje, pg 8 ‘Indictee denies responsibility’, by Fena – Konstantin Simonovic pleaded not guilty before the Brcko District Basic Court on all counts of the indictment issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Indictment charges Simonovic for war crimes committed against non-Serb civilians in the concentration camp “Luka” in Brcko. The Court has rejected defence request to let Simonovic defend himself from freedom, and ordered a new two-month custody for him. |
| First indictment for war crimes by District Prosecutor filed in BL | Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Nikola Dereta from Sipovo was indicted for war crimes’ by N. Moraca – On June 13, Banja Luka Regional Prosecutor’s Office brought an indictment against Nikola Dereta from Sipovo over war crimes committed against civilians. The Prosecutor’s Office emphasised that the indictment was confirmed on June 17. This was the first indictment for war crimes the Regional Prosecutor’s Office raised after reform of judiciary in BiH. |
Economic issues | |
| Distribution of pensions in FBiH as of Monday
| TV Pink, BHT 1, Hayata, FTV, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Payment of one overdue pension on Monday’, mentioned on cover ‘Payment of one overdue pension agreed’ by T. Dragic – Director of the FBiH Pension Insurance Bureau Nadir Kovacevic stated that payment of one overdue pension (from 2000) in the Federation of BiH would start on Monday, June 27, while regular pensions would be paid on July 1. |
| Vrankic says he is not blocking law on audit of privatization; Zigic says law stuck in Vrankic’s ministry
| Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash ‘Hadzipasic and Zigic deny Vrankic’ and pg 5 ‘Audit of privatization is not in my drawer’, by Mirela Kukan – Carries an interview with the FBIH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, in which he resolutely denies that the law on audit of privatization i.e. a new working version of the law on control of contracts related to privatization is stuck in his ‘drawers’, as claimed by the BiH Unions leader Edhem Biber and FBiH Minister of Industry and Energy Izet Zigic. Vrankic argues that neither his ministry nor he personally are proponents of the law, adding that the World Bank and other institutions have a lot objections to the text of the law. Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash ‘Hadzipasic and Zigic deny Vrankic’ and pg 5 ‘Law is at Vrankic’s!’, by M. K. – Minister Zigic insists that the law is stuck at Minister Vrankic’s ministry. “Like I already said, due to a series of financial details and application of the procedure, it is necessary that the Finance Ministry does its part of the job and the law is there. Moreover, the FBiH Government concluded that the Finance Ministry becomes the official proponent of the law”, underlines Zigic. Avaz notes that the FBiH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, confirmed Zigic’s words and that the law is indeed at Minister Vrankic’s. |
| BiH farmers announce new protests
| Dnevni List ‘Terzic tricked agreements with farmers’ by NINA – The BiH Association of Farmers has lost trust in Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic since he did not implement conclusions of their joint meeting held on June 5. President of the aforementioned Association Ranko Bakic will talk about this issue and other problems that BiH farmers are faced with at the opening of the fair of BiH products that is to take place in |
| Miljevic: Terzic and Doko are working in the interest of Croatian economy | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Terzic is protecting Doko’ by D. V. M. – According to RS Association of Employers Chairman Damir Miljevic, Chairman of BiH CoM Adnan Terzic is controlling the imports lobby, therefore he does not mind disastrous moves of Foreign Trades Minister Dragan Doko. Miljevic accused Terzic and Doko of working in the interest of Croatian economy. ‘If Terzic does not mind the Minister who has the worst foreign trades policy, then CoM Chairman should leave as well’, Miljevic said and emphasised that his request for removal of Terzic and Doko has no political background. |
Capljina incident/ security issues | |
| EUFOR: Capljina ceremony did not breach law, but Nikolic should consider new book of rules on ceremonies
| BHT1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Military discipline not breached at the Capljina oath taking ceremony’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘There was no violation of military discipline’ by M. C., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Solemn and correct’ by N. Z. – EUFOR concluded that the oath taking ceremony in Capljina on June 17 was conducted in a dignified manner. The oath to BiH was sworn solemnly and correctly. Unlike the ceremony at Manjaca on RTRS – EUFOR expects BIH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic to submit the report on the practice and legal issues regarding national anthem playing at military ceremonies. |
| NATO says no similarities between Capljina and Manjaca ceremonies
| Hayat, Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘No similarities with Manjaca’, by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘There was no violation of military discipline’ by M. C., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Solemn and correct’ by N. Z. – NATO spokesperson Derek Chapel stated that events that took place in Capljina were not comparable with the incidents that took place in Manjaca and Bileca, when recruits booed BiH anthem and took oath to RS instead of BiH. PINK – “Events which took place on Friday were formal. Official flag, national anthem were respected. There were no nationalistic signs, nor insulting speeches. Question whether it was appropriate to play national anthem of some other state is a legal one, and legal advises are going to be undertaken. It should be pointed out that this ceremony, which took place on Friday, was not similar to the one we saw on April 16”, said NATO Spokesperson Derek Chappel. |
| Nikolic says there is no need for investigation of Capljina ceremony
| Hayat by Asim Beslija – FBiH Minister of Defence Miroslav Nikolic said that he sees no problem in having Croatian anthem played along with the BiH one during the oath taking ceremonies. Nikolic said that since no laws had been breached there was no reason for any kind of investigation to be carried out. He says that the reaction was a political game“In a way, it seems as if the aim was to make a parallel between the two events, namely the one in Bileca and Manjaca where laws were broken and one during which no laws were broken”, said Nikolic. Nikolic says that the whole event is nothing but the right of a constitutive nation to preserve its culture and tradition, even through the military structures. Reporter ends the whole story by saying that he can’t wait to see what the oath taking ceremony of joint BiH Army is going to look like, since, if the trend is to be continued, it will be more like a music concert. |
| HVO objects investigation of Capljina ceremony | RHB, Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘Protest of volunteers and veterans of HVO’, not signed – HVO Veterans Association expressed its dissatisfaction with the investigation of events in Capljina when Croatian national anthem was played during solemn oath taking of FBIH army recruits. |
| DL op-ed on Capljina ceremony
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Respecting of anthem’ by |
| EC donated equipment for automatic fingerprint identification system
| RHB, TV Pink, BHT 1, NTV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Million and half Euros for identification of criminals’, mentioned on cover ‘To arrest criminals easier’ by M. Zorlak, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Equipment for easier identification of criminals’ by M. Rener – Head of the European Commission delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys presented to the BiH Ministry of Security the 3 million KM worth equipment for establishing the state-level Automatic Fingerprint Identification System. This system should improve the police efficiency in identifying and discovering criminals.The data basis will be established in Hayat – “The system will increase BiH efficiency in terms of fingerprints analyses. It will be used for all kinds of criminal investigations and identifications in the whole BiH, in order to gain as precise details on a criminal act as possible”, said Humphreys. |
| Limov: BiH to get two more intelligence agencies
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘BiH to get counter-intelligence and military-intelligence agency’, announced on cover ‘BiH gets two more intelligence agencies’ by M. Cubro – According to Tomislav Limov, the Chairman of Parliamentary Commission for Surveillance over the work of BiH intelligence agencies, BiH should soon get another two intelligence agencies – counter-intelligence agency (KOA) and military-intelligence agency (VOA). He announced the Commission would soon launch consultations on establishing these two intelligence agencies. |
| Bukejlovic says RS Government to offer police reform concept in fall | Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘Concept of police reform in autumn’, by Fena, Dnenvi Avaz pg 8 ‘RS Government to repsent its concenpt in fall’ – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic on Tuesday said that the RS Government would present its concept of police reform in BiH by fall. Bukejlovic told RS Radio that contacts are currently being established with the relevant State institutions and the Council of Ministers for the purpose of preparing the best concept of police reform. “A solution for police reform must be found, because we are firmly committed to joining |
Judiciary issues | |
| Hearing in case of ‘Covic and others’ starts today
| Hayat, Oslobodjenje, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Main hearing starts’, by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Hearing in case of Covic and others starts tomorrow’, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Main hearing in case Covic and others tomorrow’ by De.L., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Main hearing in Lijanovici case to be held tomorrow’ by Agencies – The main hearing in the so-called Lijanovici case (against Lijanovici brothers, HDZ President Dragan Covic, President of the BiH Constitutional Court Mate Tadic and professor Zdravko Lucic) will starts today. |
| Grabovac and Hafizovic suspected over payment with regard to information on murder of Jozo Leutar
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Grabovac and Hafizovic were suspected’ by M. Cubro – According to a collocutor from F BiH MoI, Nikola Grabovac and Sefika Hafizovic, former Minister and Deputy Minister of Finances of F BiH respectively, were suspected of illegal payment of money compensation to foreign citizens for providing information on murder of late Deputy Minister of F BiH MoI Jozo Leutar. The Chief FBiH Prosecutor, Zdravko Knezevic requested the FBiH Financial Police to find out who received half a million KMs that were allocated as a reward for revealing of the identity of the killer and find out who issued the order. According to unofficial information, the Financial Police’s request, which was forwarded to the FBiH Interior Ministry some 20 days ago, is still with the FBiH MoI because allegedly, the FBiH Police Administration Director, Zlatko Miletic, is calling upon official secret, which resulted in no answer to the aforementioned requests. The FBiH Finance Ministry paid on |
| Vignjevic testified at HB trial
| Dnevni List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘HVO did not have problems with payment of contributions’ by E. Mackic – Federation of BiH Labor Minister Radovan Vignjevic testified at the trial against former HDZ President Ante Jelavic for the Hercegovacka Banka case. Among the other things, Vignjevic stated that pension-disability contributions for members of the Croat component of the FBiH Army for 1996 and 1997 were paid. He also stressed that he himself did not check whether the aforementioned funds were paid but he received the report on paid funds from the Pension-Insurance Bureau Mostar. |
| Trebinje Prosecution launches investigation against Salih Alijagic
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Alijagic got expelled and robbed, now they charge him with destroying of business books’, by A. M. – Reports that the County Prosecution in Trebinje yesterday (Tuesday) took a decision to launch an investigation against Salih Alijagic. The case-file is in hands of prosecutor Obrad Rajcevic, who says the decision was made because there is a grounded suspicion that Alijagic committed a criminal act of forgery or destroying of business books. On the other hand, Alijagic sees the latest development as continuation of injustice by the RS judiciary, labelling the situation as ‘nonsense’. |
| McNair: Recent failures have not shaken the optimism of BiH Prosecutor’s Office Special Department
| BHT 1 by Boris Grubesic – Deputy Director of BiH Interpol Asim Fazlic was acquitted last week on all counts of the indictment, after he spent more than a year in custody. Sedinet Karic and other six indicted persons were found guilty for only small part of the indictment on Monday. Head of the Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crimes and Corruption to the BiH Prosecutor’s Office John McNair claims that those verdicts have not shaken the optimism of this department: “What is needed is the will to process these cases before the court. The police and the Prosecutor’s Office are not supposed to work only on easy cases, but on those more complex as well. We will win some and we will lose some, and we have to be prepared for this”, added McNair. Fazlic will probably return to his job, but he will also probably file a request for the compensation. According to the BHT reporter, two main problems are that some foreign employees in BiH judiciary system are not familiar with the European convention on human rights, and that they could not be processed before the courts in BiH because they have diplomatic immunity. |