OHR BiH Media Round-up, 22/7/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

FBiH HoP session today

RS Council of Peoples in session

Law on protection of personal data

Cons. Court discuss RTV system law

FBiH HoP in session

Prijedor affairs

FBiH HoP to discuss Aluminij issue

World News

London attack update

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

New explosions in London

World News

Struggle for free food in Sarajevo

40.000 passport booklets arrives

BiH CoM in session

BiH Parl. on collective leave in Aug.

FBiH Government in session

Causevic meets BiH HoP Commission

Update on murder case from 1998

Veterans on law on veterans’ rights

BiH Trade Union Conf. in session

ICTY on Milosevic case

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

World News

New explosions in London

New explosions in London

Feature story on a Srebrenica citizen

Update on Valjan case

Cases of war crimes against Serbs

Project on employment in Srebrenica

Update on “Sugar affair” case

BiH Court on war crimes in Kravice

Milosevic trial, update

Update on claims of false passports

Exhumations in Budak continues

Oslobodjenje

Chief of diplomacy [Ivanic] will not bear responsibility for his actions

Dnevni Avaz

Invitation to [Bosniaks of] Krajina to reconcile [Message by mufti Ceric]

Dnevni List

New attacks on London

Vecernji List

EUFOR disarmed whole village

Slobodna Dalmacija

London under explosions again

Nezavisne Novine

New terrorist attack (explosions in London)

Glas Srpske

77 names to Prosecutors

EuroBlic

77 more suspects for crimes against Serbs

Vecernje novosti

New explosions in London

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

RS Council of Peoples in session

BH Radio 1 by Radmila Grubesa – A session of the RS Council of Peoples is underway in Banja Luka. Agenda includes the discussion on a decision to launch procedure for vital national interest protection from the law on compensation for material and non-material damage made during the war. Bosnian caucus in the Council believes that the law jeopardizes vital national interests of the Bosniak people. Caucus Chair Remzija Kadric said that the Bosniak interests were jeopardized because of an inadequate way in which the compensation is to be paid i.e through worthless securities/bonds.      

FBiH HoP in session

RHB, BH Radio 1 by Aida Hasanbegovic – FBiH HoP is holding its session in Sarajevo today. The deputies are expected to discuss the draft law on management over funds and investment funds. They should also discuss the information on resolution of the open issues in the Mostar Aluminium Company. The House will not consider draft law on civil service in urgent procedure as proposed but it decided to discuss in regular procedure.  At the demand of FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic the FBiH HoP would also discuss the FBiH Government’s information on activities taken with regard to resolving of Aluminij open issues. 

Project to construct BiH State Prison presented

BH Radio 1 by Mirsad Bajtarevic – BiH Justice Ministry presented a project to construct the BiH State Prison with 300 beds. The construction of the facility will cost euro 15 million and it might start in six months, according to BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac. The foreign donors have already provided euro 3 million for preparing the project documentation. 

FBiH police accused two persons of involvement in illegal sugar trade

RHB, BH Radio 1 – FBiH police submitted to the BiH Prosecution criminal reports against two persons from Novi Travnik suspected of illegal sugar deals from 2001-2003 through 13 fictive companies. The deals were worth up to 11 million KM. 

Economic and social issues

BiH CoM in session: law on indirect taxation procedure adopted

RTRS, PINK, Hayat, BHT1, FTV, RHB, Dnevni List pg 4 ’40 000 passports for BiH citizens soon’, mentioned on cover ‘New 40 000 passports arrive soon’ by E. Mackic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Tax collectors closed the circle’ by V.Bugarin, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Foreigners and associations must pay taxes’ by M.Cubro, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Strategy to resolve Roma issues accepted’ – The BiH Council of Ministers held a session on Thursday in Sarajevo. The BiH CoM defined a proposal of the Law on indirect taxation procedure as well as a proposal of the Law on forced payment on indirect taxes in BiH. The BiH CoM also discussed the agreement on social welfare between BiH and Slovenia and the ways in which 20 000 BiH citizens, who earned their pensions in Slovenia , could avoid double taxation. DL inset ‘Visa free regime’ carries that according to BiH CoM’s decision, citizens of 9 EU state members do not have to have visas in order to enter BiH.

FBiH Government in session: minimum wage redifned/ Govt seeks CoM’s help regarding pensions earned in Slovenia

Hayat by Alem Karamesic – FBiH Government held the last session before the summer break on Thursday, in Sarajevo. It endorsed the draft law on FBiH minimum wages per hour, which stipulates that an employer is not allowed to pay an employee less than 1.75 KM per hour. “We hope that in this way, by reducing the minimum wage salary, we are going to stimulate employers to register as many employees they have, as possible”, said FBiH Minister of Labour and Social Policy Radovan Vignjevic. Taxation Administration and labour inspectors will be in charge of supervising implementation of the law. If an employer is to pay less then agreed upon, he will have to pay fine in amount of 1.000-10.000 KM. The law has been sent to the Parliament for adoption. The Government also adopted the agreed text of the collective agreement on which the Economic-Social Council has worked for almost a year. The collective agreement is to provide equal legal protection for employees regardless of whether they work in a state or private company or an independent shop and states that all employers are responsible to ensure the rights defined by this collective agreement. FTV, BHT1, RHB, PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Employers facing a loss will not have to pay for some benefits’ by M.K., Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Equal right to all, but less equal labour rights’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Smallest hourly wage 1,75 KM’ by E. Medunjanin– also reported.

FBiH Govt: VL: Slovenians stall signing agreement on pension insurance with BiH

Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Slovenians stall’ by TK, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Tensions between Sarajevo and Ljubljana because of pensioners’, mentioned on cover, by A. Omeragic – The FBiH Government has decided to asked the state authorities to facilitate the process of solving problem of non-existing an inter-state agreement on the pension insurance with Slovenia and to send a demand to Slovenia to sto0 with stalling signing of the agreement. 

FBiH Govt fails to agree on any of solutions for Enegropetrol co-capitalisation  

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Zutic tasked to prepare new tender for Energopetrol!’ by M. Kukan – FBiH Government at the session on Thursday has failed to reach a solution on co-capitalization of Enegropetrol oil company. Potential privatisation partner INA/Mol Consortium refused to pay additional debts of Energopetrol in amount of BAM 30 million. FBiH Government rejects to write off the debts, which would enable continuation of negotiations with the possible buyer. Otherwise, the tender procedure is mostly likely going to be annulled. DA learns from credible sources that the majority in the Government believed that all proposals were not based on law and would damaged the state capital.” High ranking official in the Government said that for this reasons PM Ahmet Hadzipasic instructed his deputy Dragan Vrankic “to offer at the next session a legally valid possibility on solving the issue of 30 million KM debt or to cancel the tender.”  Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover, ‘The closest solution is agreement on debt with FBiH’ – also reports adding that the Government has instructed the Privatisation Agency to prepare alternative tender. FTV – The FBiH Government decided to postpone discussion on this issue until Autumn, when the new law on management of companies in privatisation process should be adopted.

Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Energopetrol case after summer holidays?’ by N. Bise – According to unofficial information the EP case might be prolonged by the end of the summer holidays.

Farmers continue protesting/ invite HR Ashdown to talk to them

PINK, BHT1, FTV, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Farmers urged Ashdown to address them’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Tons of potatoes for citizens of Sarajevo’ by em , Hayat by Elma Kazagic – BiH farmers continue their protest in front of building of joint BiH Institutions in Sarajevo. They lit a torch on Thursday as a symbol of their fight for their rights. “Our requests are certainly going to be met, as every single day there are more and more nongovernmental organizations, citizens, farmers support us in our fight”, said the Chair of BiH Farmers Association Ranko Bakic. Featured citizen said that she strongly supported the protest.

RHB, Oslobodjneje pg 7, mentioned on cover, ‘Torch lit to protest against darkness in the state’- Farmers invited the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, to visit them andto talk to them.Farmers said they want the HR to tell them do they have the right to demand the reform of the agricultural sector.

Causevic: ITA will exceed its tax collection plan of 2bn KM

PINK, FTV, RTRS, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘960 million KM of indirect taxes’ by B.S., EuroBlic pg 2 ‘Preparations for VAT introduction approaching to end’ by N.B., Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Almost a billion’ by Lj.Cicic – Director of the BiH Indirect Taxation Administration Kemal Causevic on Thursday said that in the first six months of this year the ITA has collected 960 million KM of indirect taxes, which is 12 percent or approx. 80 million KM more in comparison to 2004, and 10 percent above the plan for this year. Causevic expressed assurance that the planned amount of a little less than 2 billion KM would be exceeded, and reminded that the trend of revenue growth has been maintained in the past twenty days of July. The Commission for Foreign ad Trade Policy of the BiH House pf Peoples visited ITA on Thursday in Banja Luka to discuss the introduction of the VAT. ITA is to launch the collection of VAT on January 1 2006 , and expects another four legal acts necessary for VAT implementation to be passed as soon as possible, Causevic stressed. 

War crimes

RS MoI files charges against 77 persons for war crimes against Serbs

BHT 1 byBoris Grubesic – RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) submitted 5 reports to the BiH Prosecution accusing 77 persons of committing war crimes over Serbs in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Capljina, Zvornik and Milici. ICTY approved court proceedings against 4 persons from the list, where a majority of cases refer to former barracks Viktor Bubanj in Sarajevo and an attack on Yugoslav army in Tuzla area. Even though investigations on these cases were ongoing for years, there were no indictments. “We are confident that this time BiH Prosecution will accept this report as grounded and will launch investigation, which will result with indictment,” said RS Police Director spokesman, Radovan Pejic.  RS Prime Minister Adviser, Cvjetko Savic, announced meeting with the BiH Chief Prosecutor on the issue soon. RTRS – Pejic added that RS MoI collected new facts on war crimes against Serbs in Srebrenica area. Glas Srske cover pg splash ’77 names to Prosecutors’ by S.S.– Referring to its source, GS once again claims that the former high-ranking officials of BiH Army are amongst those suspected. RHB, PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Priority is the investigation into Viktor Bubanj’, EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘77 more suspects for crimes against Serbs’, RSpg 1 ’77 more suspects’ by Dusanka Stanisic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ’38 persons suspected for “Viktor Bubanj” case’ by N.Krsman – also reported.

BiH Court extends detention to Kravice war crimes suspects

RTRS, BHT1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Detention to nine suspects expanded’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Detention to suspects for war crimes in Srebrenica prolonged ’ by A.M., Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Detention to 9 suspects extended’ by B.K., Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Detention of nine suspects extended’ by A.D. – BiH Court decided to prolong the pre-trial custody for nine persons accused of killing over 1.000 Bosniaks in Kravice near Srebrenica on July 13/14, 1995. The decision was made upon request of BiH Prosecution because who claims that suspects could escape or try to influence the witnesses, but also stresses they are a potential risk for citizens. The group was arrested last month by the RS Interior Ministry. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Names of seven known’ – Oslobodjenje unofficially learns that the suspects are Milenko Trifunovic, Slobodan Jakovljevic, Aleksandar Radovanovic, Milos Stupar, Pero Mitrovic, Branko Djinic and Milovan Matic. 

ICTY Prosecution ask for presentation of new evidences in Milosevic trial

Hayat, BHT 1, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Del Ponte: Crucial evidence against Milosevic omitted’ by De.L., Vecernji List pg 21 ‘New process against Milosevic because of Scorpions’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Nevertheless, Milosevic will be held accountable for Srebrenica as well?’ by H  – ICTY Prosecution requested re-opening of presentation of evidences procedure in the case against Slobodan Milosevic. This was explained that the new key evidences proving involvement of Serbian and Yugoslay authorities in genocide in Srebrenica were found. The evidence is the snapshots of execution of 6 Srebrenica Bosniaks carried out by Serbian “Scorpions” unit. Six new witnesses will also be invited, including person who made the video recording.

Update to alleged assistance to Ratko Maldic by SiCG Army official

EuroBlic pgs 4-5, announced on cover “Mladic’ guard retired over night’ by Tanja Nikolic-Djakovic – Daily reports that Dragomir Krstovic, SiCG Colonel and Head of Ratko Maldic’ security, has been retired over night. As daily learns, the news on his retirement was passed on to him at Thursday morning meeting with the General Staff Chief Dragan Paskas and Head of Military Security Agency, Svetko Kovac. SiCG Defence Ministry responded to daily’s questions through memo, saying that “Krstovic was reiterated in July”. Daily notes only one day before retirement, Krstovic was said to be on sick leave.

DA int with Head of ICMP: Mistakes did occur before DNA identification was established

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Searching for missing persons in BiH is entirely political issue’ by Sanja Skuletic – In an interview to DA, the Head of the International Commission for Missing Persons [ICMP] in BiH, Catherine Bomberger, says that there is no doubt genocide was committed in Srebrenica, where ICMP had identified about 2079 victims to date. She notes that the biggest problem in search of missing persons is politics: “Everything in BiH depends on political will… all depends on readiness of the authorities to reconcile with the truth and realize that hiding grave sites will not prove that crime did not occur.” Commenting reports on mistakes in identifying 22 victims of war crimes in Bosanska Krajina, Bomberger underlined that mistake did occur before identification using DNA. “Until November 2001, identification was conducted using classical methods, where margin of mistake is up to 70%, while in use of DNA identification the percentage was reduced to 0.05%. Therefore, it is not a surprise that mistakes did happen before, and that authorities want to carry out control of those identified earlier. We support this.” Asked whether this means that bodies of victims identified before 2001 will be re-exhumed for renewed identification, Bomberger confirmed positively adding it is “the only way to see whether mistake  happened.”

Political developments

Ivanic requests Terzic to finally resolve his status

Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 5 ‘Foreign Minister will not bear responsibility for his decisions’ V.Z. – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic on Thursday requested BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic to finally resolve his status after summer holydays. He also requested Terzic to resolve the status of all PDP Ministers in the government saying he would not bear responsibility for decisions he is making in so called technical mandate.

HDZ President Covic: Solution is that Terzic revokes decision on removal of Ivanic

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Solution is that Terzic revokes decision on removal of Ivanic’ – In an interview with the daily, HDZ BiH President Dragan Covic once again denied allegations by his counter-candidate for the post at the latest party Convention Bozo Ljubic on alleged irregularities in the HDZ President election procedure. Covic also said that the HDZ BiH was even more stable after the Convention thereby rejecting speculations on political divisions/conflicts inside the party. Regarding the current crisis in the BiH Council of Ministers, Covic said that it was about a serious political problem and that the only solution was that BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic revokes/annuls decision on removal/acceptance of resignation of Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic.

BiH Constitutional Court President Tadic: We will make decision on PBS Law today

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘We will make decision on PBS Law today’ – The BiH Constitutional Court is expected at its session on Friday to decide on whether the Croat Vital National Interest has been jeopardized by the proposed PBS Law. In a statement for the daily, the Court President, Mato Tadic, said he hoped the Court would make the decision on the issue at the very beginning of the session so that the parliamentary procedure for the adoption of the Law could be continued.   

SD op-ed on necessity to establish Croat TV channel

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14, mentioned on cover ‘Croats also have right on self-determination’ by S. Jurkic (he launched the petition on establishment of the Croat TV channel) carries an editorial in which the author reiterates once again the need for establishment of the Croat TV channel saying that without the Croat channel Croats are being deprived of their basic human rights and that international conventions are being violated in this way. 

Brcko dispute update: ‘Parliament “broke” on ethnic edges’

Blic pg RS7 ‘Work of Assembly blocked’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Parliament “broke” on ethnic edges’ by N.Tanasic – Ratko Stjepanovic, President of SDS Brcko, Thursday stated after Serb delegates left parliament session, the parliamentary crisis has commenced. . [The parties have strongly disagreed about the construction plan, in which Bosniak included the construction of a mosque in former military barracks, which is strongly opposed by Serbs]. Milan Tomic, Brcko Parliament Speaker and SNSD delegate, expressed readiness for compromise and talk, which is to lead to harmonisation of session agenda. Mladen Bosic, Head of SDS Caucus, stated that Mirsad Djapo, Brcko Mayor, wanted to demonstrate and exercise his political power, noting Djapo is the main culprit for these events. He said if the regulatory plan for S settlement were not withdrawn from the agenda, the SDS would not participate at the session of Assembly. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Resumption seeks – negotiations’ by M.Djurdjevic – GS also notes that by leaving Brcko District Parliament, Serb delegates prevented their colleagues of Bosniak and Croat nationality to outvote them.

Supervisor Johnson holds consultations trying to overcome crisis in Assembly

Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘Serb delegates left the session because of a mosque’ by V.Jahic – Daily claims that Susan Johnson, Brcko Supervisor, held consultations Thursday with Brcko Mayor Mirsad Djapo and Assembly Speaker Milan Tomic in an attempt to identify way for continuation of Brcko Parliament work. SDP on Thursday released a press statement, which, inter alia, demands from Supervisor Johnson to “in regard to recent developments, pass such measures that would affirm principle of full equality of all religious communities in Brcko District.”

DL: Dispute between N. Lozancic and HDZ representatives in FBiH HoR

Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Niko Lozancic does not have parliamentary support of HDZ any longer’ by Z. Jukic – According to a DL source, at the end of the last week HDZ Deputy President Niko Lozancic demanded from President of the HDZ Caucus in the Federation of BiH House of Representatives Ivan Madunic and Deputy Chairman of the FBiH HoR Josip Merdzo to arrange convening of an extraordinary session of the FBiH HoR during which the reconstruction of the FBiH Government would be discussed and the resignation submitted by FBiH Health Minister Tomo Lucic accepted. DL says that Merdzo and Madunic resolutely rejected Lozancic’s proposal and Madunic stated in public that Lucic did his job well and that he wants to talk with Lucic about political reasons of his resignation. DL says that Merdzo received and refused the same demand from Lozancic at the beginning of this week as well. The article concludes that this shows that HDZ President Dragan Covic and Lozancic will have many problems in implementation of their political decisions especially when purges within HDZ are in question.  

HDZ received Ljubic’s complaint

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14 ‘Relota: Ljubic’s appeal received’ by Z. Tulic – SD says that a few HDZ members claim that they did not vote at all at the HDZ Convention although their names appeared on the lists of voters. Asked to comment on this information HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota stated that still there are no information on this issue and that this issue itself is very complicated. Relota also said that HDZ received Frano Ljubic’s complaint about regularity of the HDZ Convention and added that he cannot say concretely whether and when someone from HDZ would reply to the Ljubic’s complaint. 

SB on background of Lucic’s resignation

Slobodna Bosna pgs 12 and 13 ‘Covic removed Minister Lucic after his attempt to crime in company ‘Melifico’! by S. Mijatovic carries that FBiH Minister of Health Tomo Lucic was forced to submit the resignation after he started to raise the issue of illegal business arrangements with Mostar company  ‘Melifico’. SB explains that this is about the contract according to which ‘Melifico’ has a status of a privileged supplier of medical equipment and medicines for all health institutions on the territory of former Herceg Bosna. According to the article, since current Director of the MostarClinicalHospital Ante Kvesic is also one of co-owners of Melifico this represents a drastic example of conflict of interest. Also, ‘Melifico’ is located in the premises of ‘Soko’ company with whose ‘privatization’ HDZ President Dragan Covic is closely related. 

SB: BiH State Institutions controlled by war criminals and their supporters

Slobodna Bosna cover page ‘Leader of BiH is Karadzic’, pgs 18-27 ‘Big research unveils shocking facts – BiH State Institutions controlled by war criminals and their aids’ Suzana Mijatovic – The author claims a big magazine research shows that the four BiH state institutions: Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA), Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA), State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and State Border Service (SBS) are controlled by war criminals and their supporters. According to the magazine, Goran Popovic, former RS Customs Administration Director, is the main creator of the personnel policy at the Serb part of ITA. After disclosure of several million-worth customs duties evasion and following public pressures, Popovic was removed from office in 2002. Moreover, in OSA, SDA’s Almir Dzuvo is witnessing in an ignorant manner occupation of the state secret service by Karadzic supporters. In third case, according to Slobodna Bosna, HR Paddy Ashdown has, by appointing Sredoje Novic as SIPA Director, opened doors of the state police for war criminals and their faithful aids. Finally, the magazine says that the SBS has from the very beginning controlled by SDS’ pensioner Slavisa Vukovic.

BiH Parliament to go for vacation on 1 August

BHT 1 byLejla Redzovic Medosevic – Sefik Dzaferovic, the Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives, says that the BiH Parliament will go for collective holidays: “We officially decided that collective leave in BiH Parliament will last for 15-20 days, from 1^st to 20^th August. This does not mean that parliament won’t work if that is necessary,” said Dzaferovic. Most of the parliamentarians agree that there is a lot of the work to be done, but no one offered to work without annual leave, commented reporter. “I can only say that we concluded this morning that we will have shorter leave and that Parliament will have continuity in its work,” said BiH HoR Deputy Chair, Martin Raguz. “We are in so many processes and reforms that I am sure we could work day and night in order to respect some deadlines,” said SDS delegate, Bosko Siljegovic. Defence and police reforms, adoption of the law on public broadcasting system are only few of the tasks that BiH authorities should implement until this fall, concluded reporter.

Beslic proposes construction of new building to seat Ministries in Mostar 

FTVAnita Damjanovic – Five FBiH Ministries should move from Sarajevo to Mostar. FBiH Government’s working group headed by the Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic works towards finding suitable locations for the offices of ministries in Mostar. Mostar Mayor Ljubo Beslic suggested a to be reconstructed and to host all ministries, adding HR Paddy Ashdown is going to support this proposal. FTV notes that the Peace Implementation Council has recently reminded HR Paddy Ashdown of the Dayton Agreement’s obligation under which five FBiH ministries be seated in Mostar.

HR Ashdown visits Mostar today

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Ashdown in Mostar today’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown in Mostar today’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, is visiting Mostar today [Friday], meeting with mayor Ljubo Beslic and City Council Chair Murat Coric. Ashdown is to welcome the efforts of the Mostar administration, which have resulted in achieving a position on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Former HR Petritsch: BiH needs a new alliance       

Dani pgs 26-28 ‘BiH needs a new alliance’ – In an interview with the magazine, former HR and Austrian diplomat Wolfgang Petritsch said that the SDP BiH-led Alliance for Change, which was in power during his mandate, had come up too early. “I am confident today that a new four-years term (for such an alliance) would achieve better results. I believe that in spite of everything this idea has survived, and I think that it would be surely good to form a broad coalition in 2006 that overcomes entity and ethnic divisions. It is needed to establish a sustainable alternative to the current politics and create a comprehensive vision of the future of the country,” said Petritsch.   

NN op-ed critical of HR

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Fata Morgana’ by Slavo Kukic – The author is critical of the latest HR’s address to BiH HoR, noting many things HR raised and promoted were just on a piece of paper, while practice saw no implementation. He seeks explanation of difference between “united” Mostar for which the HR holds credit and the dis-united Mostar, apart from the fact. The author stresses that the economic and social situation in this state is aggravating.

Application of law on service in charge of foreigners’ affairs to start

Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Arranging of illegal entrance and stay of foreigners in BiH’ by T. Dragic – The text of the law on service in charge foreigners’ affairs has been harmonized and implementation of the law can start. DL says that by adoption of this law, the area of migration is being arranged and this is one of pre-requisites from the Feasibility Study.

Security issues

Osl: ex Seselj’s bodyguards planted explosive in MemorialCenter?

Oslobodjenje pg 6, announced on cover ‘Former Seselj bodyguards suspected’ by A.Avdic – Daily claims referring to its reliable source at RS MoI that the former members of security of Vojislav Seselj have been suspected of having placed 35 kg of explosive at Potocari. Source further claims that police had brought for questioning the following persons: Mirko Krajisnik (27), Miljan Skopljak (28), Goran Petrovic (29), Dragan Petrovic (33) and Sreten Neskovic, all known as arms smugglers on the route Serbia-RS. However, none of them has been kept in custody.

DA on Potocari: RS MoI disclosed lies of its Director Andan

Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘RS MoI disclosed lies of its Director Andan’ by A.Hadzic – Daily upholds its claims on Potocari (that it was well-planned trick of politics and police of RS) by referring to the latest information by RS MoI on the issue that explosive was not “intended for activation”, but instead “organized group of smugglers have put it there”. Abdurahman Malkic, Srebrenica Mayor, is of the view that explosive case was totally aimed at “causing a chaos on the eve of 11 July”. Sadik Ahmetovic, Srebrenica MuniciPal Speaker, says “it is high time RS MoI gets serious and raise the issue of responsibility of Dragomir Andan. Ever since he assumed position, he has skilled in fabricating affairs and events he holds no proofs for.”

Mektic: Check-ups into possible terrorist attacks in BiH

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Check-ups into possible terrorist attacks in BiH’ by M.Cubro – Dragan Mektic, BiH Deputy Security Minister, has stated that “security agencies at all levels in BiH are checking into the possibility of seeing attacks occur in our state, following AL Qaida’s threats that it would attack all states, that have deployed troops in Iraq. We have not as yet completed the analysis of all possible aspects of these threats, but in the enxt few days, we will have information collected from all security agencies.” Selma Delalic from SIPA stated: “We hold no information neither do we have a comment on alleged AL Qaida’s letter and threats.”

FTV update on revision of citizenship awarded on false documents

FTV – For past three days, FTV has featured a story on illegally issued passports [claiming that 37.000 passports were issued on false documentation] and approached the BiH Council of Ministers asking whether CoM has established a working group to investigate these allegations. BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic confirmed that there have been reports on illegally issued passports, but he stated that he doesn’t know much about this case. Halilovic’s Assistant Miodrag Pandurevic refused to comment speculations. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Unidentified became equal citizens of BiH’ – Oslobodjenje states that the State Commission for revision of BiH citizenship has disclosed a number of irregularities in issuing passports to persons of African-Asian origin, Serbs from Croatia and Bosniaks from Serbian reigon of Sandzak. The Chair of the Commission, Miodrag Pandurevic, says about 400 citizenships will most probably be proven as false and revoked.

Two persons detained for murdering a police officer in Travnik in 1998

BHT 1 by Damir Simic – BiH citizen, B.E. from Travnik, has been accused of murdering police officer Anto Valjan in Travnik in 1998.  According to BHT’s source close to FBiH Prosecution and Ministry of Interior, person with initials Lj.M. is mentioned in amended report on this case and suspected of giving false testimony in past court procedure, in which acquittal was granted. So far, these two suspects have not been arrested. “We have many facts determined, but at this time, until we consider MoI’s amended report, we can’t say is there a ground for criminal persecution,” said FBiH Chief Prosecutor, Zdravko Knezevic. Reporter reminded that 8 Croats are murdered in Travnik region in 1997 and 1998, including two policemen. FTV – According to FTV’s sources, murder suspect is Esher Beganovic and Muris Ljubuncic has been suspect of fale testimony during the investigation.

Misunderstanding btw EUFOR and villagers Uniste

Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘EUFOR disarmed whole village’ and pg 3 ‘EUFOR raided Uniste’ by P. Grubisic – VL says that EUFOR carried out a landing operation in village Uniste (placed on the BiH border with Croatia) using 15 helicopters and 250 soldiers. VL says that the cause of the action was misunderstanding with a local shepherd. The EUFOR’s action in Uniste finished on Wednesday night after they took away all hunting guns from local people.

Police and defence reforms

Map of police areas is being changed?

Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Map of police areas is being changed?’ S. Numanovic – Talks on police reforms in BiH will be continued in Sarajevo on Tuesday in organization of BiH Council of Ministers, learns the daily. The leaders of political parties have been invited to discuss on further activities related to the reform and agree on whether the talks will be continued amongst the political parties representatives or the issue will be transferred to the entities’ and state institutions. A well-informed source told the daily that the political leaders are expected to approve a plan of discussions on the reform during the summer holidays so that they might have a more precise draft on their tables early in September. In that way, they would be in position to agree on reform by the end of September, which represents an ambition of a part of domestic public and the international community. The EC would in that case gave green light for start of talks on Stabilization and Association Agreement with BiH. According to the daily it is possible that the initially proposed police areas maps are changed. Some proposals include division of the Mostar police area on the Mostar and Trebinje area and inclusion of Pale in the Sarajevo police area.     

Interview with Stankovic: Abolishment of RS MoD is the price of BiH admission to NATO

Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘Abolishment of RS MoD is the price of BiH admission to NATO’ by V.Popovic – In a page-long interview to daily, Milovan Stankovic, RS Defence Minister, reiterates that “if we want to NATO, we must lose Defence Ministry…BiH has committed to integration into EU and NATO, and those integrations demand certain standards and rules.” He notes if Parliaments adopt proposed Draft Laws, it is realistic to expect that BiH is admitted into NATO’s PfP in the next five years.

RS Veterans’ Association on police and defence reforms: Bud of future conflicts

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘The bud of future conflicts’ by B.T. – Savo Cvjetinovic, Presidnet of the RS Veterans Association, expressed fear in Derventa that the solutions being imposed in relation with police and defence reforms will be the bud of the future conflict, adding: “These reforms are aimed at creating unitary BiH, where Serbs would, within a short timeframe, become an ethnic minority. Unitary BiH was the war-time goal of Bosniak leadership.” He referred to police and defence reforms as “imposition dictatorship” by the EU and NATO. He is of the view the procedure should be launched constitutional court.

VL op-ed: ‘Demobilization better than NATO’

Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Demobilization better than NATO’ by Z. Kresic carries an editorial on the defence reform and the author says: ‘Contrary to the current plans on establishment of the unified Army, which is more a matter of political needs in order to satisfy the Bosniak side, it would be much more rational to think about de-mobilization of the state and investing of money in education and economy.’