Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 22 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) |
| Ashdown in RS on police reform |
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TV news broadcast on 21 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Lozancic’s letter to HR | World News | Zenica: Clashes after football match |
| World news | Debates on RS’ environmental plan | Koricanske stijene crime, anniversary |
| Regional news | BiH Youth Agency’s campaign | Koricanske Stijene: the culprits |
| Commemoration in Celebici |
| UNDP on reconciliation in BiH |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| A person died after football game | Zeljeznicar’s fan dies of heart attack | Traffic accidents in RS |
| Koricanske stijene crime, anniversary | Koricanske stijene crime, anniversary | Koricanske Stijene anniversary |
| Lies about Karadzic and Mladic | Reactions on Ashdown’s statement | Feature on Trebinje Prevoz |
| Meeting of BiH students in | Dispute about building site in | Football incident in Zenica |
| Oslobodjenje | Reasonable loans for demobilized [soldiers] |
| Dnevni Avaz | Big robbery of Agrokomerc is being prepared |
| Dnevni List | Dangerous waste is killing citizens (waste disposal issue near Mostar) |
| Vecernji List | Million on young people with Pope (Pope Benedict XVI in |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Young man rushes towards Pope (Pope Benedict XVI in |
| Nezavisne Novine | Former director left the debt in the amount of at least 4,4 million KM |
| Glas Srpske | Death was faster than life |
| EuroBlic | A full pupil’s bag costs between 100 KM and 150 KM |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
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| LATEST NEWS OF TODAY |
| Colak on police reform
| RHB at 12.00 – RHB announces tomorrow’s meeting dedicated to police reform that will be held at Karaotok near Capljina. The outlet also carried a short interview with the BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, who, when asked what he expected from the meeting, said that it was hard to predict the outcome, especially having in mind the course of the reform so far. Colak says he is not a pessimist, saying that an appropriate solution will have to found eventually, because a situation without a solution will bring nothing good to everyone, especially to BiH. Furthermore, Colak says there are indications, even some evidences, that BiH could lose some considerable European funds by 2013 if it does not reform its police by September. |
| EC expects progress from police talks
| RHB – European Commission in BiH says it expects progress from tomorrow’s meeting on police reform. According to the EC spokesman, Frane Maroevic, the EC principles regarding the police reform have been made clear to the participants of police talks. |
| HR Ashdown in
| RHB – High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, is in |
| CoM on police reform mtg: concrete things to be discussed
| SRNA – The spokesperson for the BiH Council of Ministers Chair, Bojan Zec Filipovic, told SRNA that the police reform talks will be continued tomorrow in the motel ‘Karaotok’ near Capljina, starting at 11.00. He stressed that as all stances of the parties are already known, it is expected that the leaders will discuss the concrete solutions on the remaining issues. |
| Ivanic: PDP to wait and see if there are some proposals
| SRNA – PDP leader, Mladen Ivanic, told today that there are no indications of the progress made when it comes to the police reform. “As for the PDP, we will wait and see whether there would be some proposals and than we will take a stance,” said Ivanic adding PDP officials were not invited to meet with the HR Paddy Ashdown. |
| SNSD expects Govt to have proposal on police reform
| SRNA – SNSD Vice President, Krstan Simic, told SRNA that the party is not certain whether they would meet HR Ashdown today. He added that SNSD expects from the RS authorities to come up with the clear proposal when it comes to the police reform, and if the proposal is in accordance with the SNSD’s stances than it will receive their support. He added that SNSD believes that organization of the police has to be in line with the organization of judicial structures, while the police HQs should follow the district prosecutions. |
| Mihajlica on police reform
| SRNA – The leader of the RS Serb Radical Party, Milanko Mihajlica, announced that they will neither give up on the agreement on Joint political acting nor change its stance on the defence/police reforms. He also called on all other signatories of the Agreement, as well as the RS National Assembly and the President to seek the solutions regarding these reform within the RS and BiH Constitutions, respecting the existing institutions. |
| DNS on police reform
| SRNA – DNS Banja Luka Board called on the RS authorities to act in accordance with RS and BiH Constitutions when discussing the police reform, and to demand the survival of the RS Interior Ministry. |
| RS PoWs on police reform | SRNA – RS Association of the PoWs today sent the letter to the HR Paddy Ashdown demanding the survival of the RS Interior Ministry. |
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| Security issues |
| One died, 19 injured in hooligan/police clash after football match in Zenica
| Hayat by Muhamed Bikic – According to the police report, a 26 years old Aner Kasapovic died of the heart attack after the football match that took place on Saturday in Zenica, which in addition resulted in 11 police and 8 civilians suffering injuries. Namely, the football teams of Zenica “Celik” and Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Zeljeznicar fan died’, mentioned on cover, by A. Dzonlic – DA quotes a witness who indicates that police used violence against Kasapovic, after which he started to feel week and died. Dnevni List, pg 37 ‘Zeljeznicar supporter Amer Kasapovic died’, mentioned on front ‘Supporter died in unrests’, by N. Bise, Zeda – DL says that according to unofficial information, Kasapovic died after getting knocked on the head by a stone. RHB, RTRS, FTV, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 49 ‘Out of 20 injured, 12 police officers’, mentioned on cover, Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Zeljeznicar supporter tragically died in unrests after football game’, mentioned on front ‘Death of supporter in clash with police’, by Zeda, Valentina Rupcic, Glas Srpske pg 13 ‘Fan succumbed to injuries?’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine sports inset, pg 4 ‘Zujo: death occurred as consequence of heart attack’ by S. Sisic and Nezavisne Novine sports inset, pg 4 ’11 policemen were injured, cars, shop windows and traffic lights were destroyed’ by A. Mujkic also reported stating the cause of death was heart attack. |
| DA op-ed on Zenica incident: ‘Stop terror on stadiums’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Stop terror on stadiums’ op-ed by Almasa Hadzic – Author notes that hooligan behaviour has moved from being regarded as incidents to a “normal” thing at football matches. It urges police and prosecutors to deal with this issue. Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Hooliganism’, by Anja Vrebac – DL also carries an op-ed along the lines. |
| DA update on SBS officers’ murder/ reactions
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 9 ‘Dostanic: Politicians should do their job, this homicide should be left to judiciary’, by Aj. Delic – Commenting on the murder of a State Border Service member, Bojan Prodanovic, from the Metaljka border crossing, the Chief of SBS Operations Department, Rado Dostanic, stated that the murder was a heavy blow for the SBS, however Dostanic notes that nobody within the SBS is politicizing the case. “We will accept official findings of judicial bodies”, says Dostanic, adding that politicians, who have been trying to politicize the case in past few days, should be doing their own job. Inset entitled ‘Even the state top is responsible’ carries a member of SNSD Executive Board, Nikola Spiric, as saying that the problem lies in the fact that BiH authorities are not doing their job. Spiric says it is impermissible that the SBS has no leadership after all the funds have been invested into the SBS, pointing the finger at the BiH Council of Ministers and BiH Presidency. Another inset entitled ‘Establish facts’ carries the President of HDZ Caucus in FBiH Parliament, Josip Merdzo, as saying that many things are being politicized in BiH, even those that should not be politicized. Merdzo notes that facts ought to be established first before going into analysis. |
| NN op-ed critical of the authorities over failure to investigate possible links of individuals with terrorism | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Tourist or terrorist image’ by Mirza Cubro – The author lists examples of couple situations in which BiH was brought in relation with radical Islamists and criticizes authorities for failure to verify how many radical Islamists have actially arrived to BiH during the war, what they have been doing or were they connected with terrorist organizations. ‘The most important of all, the current authorities have no idea whether individuals currently reside in BiH or organizations exist, which might be brought in relation with terrorism’, the author notes. He claims the current authority had appointed people who do not know how to do their jobs properly to the most outstanding positions in security services, and he also claims the authority finds its personal interest in such a situation, therefore causing a blockade of any normal functioning of the rule of law in BiH. |
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| War crimes |
| Marking 13th anniversary of killings at the Koricanske stijene held
| RTRS by Zeljko Raljic – Marking of the 13th anniversary of the crimes committed at Koricanske stijene [mountain gorge near Prijedor], when Serb forces executed around 250 Bosniaks and Croats from the city, was held on Sunday. BIH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic and FBIH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic attended the event at which it was pointed out by families of victims that the body remains of all those killed were not found. Tihic called on the RS authorities to process those responsible for the crimes and to help in finding bodies of victims. “A criminal is a criminal, not a national hero as criminals have no nation or religion”, stated Tihic. Hayat – “I call on the highest RS officials to arrest the responsible ones and to say where the bodies of killed ones are”, said Tihic. FTV, BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS MoI knowns who are the perpetrators’, mentioned on cover, by A.Dzonlic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Tihic calls on RS authorities to process the perpetrator’, mentioned on cover, by B. Kahrimanovic, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Anniversary of crimes at Koricanske stijene’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Tihic appealed to RS authorities to punish those responsible for killings’ by G. Maunaga– also reported. |
| BHT 1 feature on Koricanske stijene executioners: only one indicted for war crimes
| BHT 1 by Lejla Redzovic-Medosevic – The Commander of Intervention Unit within Prijedor police, Darko Mrdja, has so far been the only person indicted and convicted for death of about 200 people at the Koricanske Stijene mountain gorge. He pleaded guilty before the ICTY for the crime, and was sentenced to 17 years in prison. It is assumed that several dozens of Intervention Unit members from Prijedor participated in executing those Bosniaks and Croats, but only Mrdja was indicted so far. “I participated in killing those innocent people. I’m truly sorry, and I want to apologize to all the victims and their families”, stated Mrdja before the Hague Tribunal. Other persons who are responsible for the crime on Koricanske Stijene should be processed in BiH, but so far there were no indications that it is really going to happen. |
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| Economic, social and judicial issues |
| Pejic invites ‘Sector Security’ to leave Poste Srpske administration
| Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Pejic invited “Sektor security” to leave the Administration of the firm’ by R. Segrt – The removed Director of “Srpske Poste”, Milutin Pejic, Sunday invited “Sector Security” employees to leave the building of the Main Post Office in Banja Luka because their entrance to the firm was illegal and unauthorized. He sent a letter, as the firm’s Executive Director, claiming persons who contracted them were not authorized to represent “Srpske Poste”. Djordje Stanisljevic from “Sector Security” rejects all Pejic’s claims and says his firm had signed a legal business with the leadership of “Srpske Poste”. |
| Oslobodjenje: FBiH Govt to offer reasonable loans to veterans
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Reasonable loans for demobilized [soldiers]’ by Asaf Becirovic – Daily’s lead story says that the FBiH Government has decided to offer over 4 milion KM for self-employment of demobilised soldiers, who make up 19% of unemployed person in FBiH. The money will be given in a form of loans for unemployed through FBiH Investment Bank under very reasonable conditions, says Director of the FBiH Employment Agency, Hasan Musemic. |
| DA: Selimovic is trying to purchase Agrokomerc illegally
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Big robbery of Agrokomerc is being prepared’ by M. Kukan – DA writes that Hilmo Selimovic, majority owner of Sarajevo Brewery [in a very harsh conflict with DA for years] is “getting ready to add company to his list of firms, Agrokomerc from Velika Kladusa.” Selimovic’s son, Mujo Selimovic, an owner of MIMS company, apparently offered to the FBiH Government and FBiH Privatization Agency 7 million KM for co-capitalization of this once industrial giant. Avaz says that company was estimated to be 370 million KM worth. “It is clear to all that Selimovic indents to illegally purchase yet another strong company,” reads the article noting that Hilmo Selimovic’s purchase of 30% shares of “Klas” company was also illegal. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘No privatization without tender’ by M. K. – The Chair of the BiH Association of Independent Trade Unions, Edhem Biber, comments for daily that any privatization of Agromkomerc must be carried out without any manipulations and only after international tender process. |
| Former Head of
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Former director left the debt in the amount of at least 4,4 million KM’ and pg 5 ‘Turjacanin left the debt in the amount of at least 4,4 million KM’ by G. Maunaga – Former Director of Banja Luka Health Care Center Goran Turjacanin, who was removed from the position in May because he refused to adopt reports on the work of the Center for 2004 and Plan on the Work of the Center for 2005, according to NN, together with then leadership of the Center had made a debt in the amount of approximately 4,4 million KM. The debt was made through irregular distribution of apartments, failure to pay contributions and through loans for apartments for Turjacanin and his associates. |
| Kebo: Ashdown to establish a fund for help to returnees
| EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Ashdown to establish a fund for help to returnees’ by M. S. – BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo has stated HR Paddy Ashdown should, by the end of this week, set a meeting with representatives of international organizations to ensure funds for urgent interventions for returnees in BiH. ‘Donations from this fund would be given to people who had returned to their pre-war homes, yet have no means for life’, Kebo said. |
| DL:
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Croatia agrees to annex to Free Trade Agreement’, by Marko Karacic – DL learns from an unofficial source in BiH that the Republic of Croatia has agreed to an annex to the Free Trade Agreement (signed between BiH and Croatia). This was confirmed by the spokesman of the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Milan Pavic, who says |
| VL: Witnesses from
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘K. Cosic and M. Galic to conclude trials’, by Zoran Kresic – VL announces that former senior officials of Croatian Government, namely former Deputy Defence Minister and Deputy Finance Minister, Kresimir Cosic and Miljenko Galic respectively, will be taking part in today’s completion of trials against Ante Jelavic in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case. VL argues that the two of them will reveal details how |
| GS: Ashdown favors pensioners in Federation | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Ashdown favors the Federation’ by R. Skondric – in an interview to GS, Secretary General of RS Pensioners’ Party Ilija Stevancevic has listed a number of problems pensioners from RS have been facing for years and he said pensioners have lost confidence in all authority institutions. He said F BiH is persistently obstructing the decision of the Human Rights Chamber reached in 2003, according to which it should accept payments to every pensioner who have earned their pensions in F BiH. ‘High Representative Paddy Ashdown remains silent with regard to this issue, while RS still pays out pensions to returnees to F BiH who have earned their pensions in F BiH. We have asked from Ashdown to see us, to talk about a difficult and discriminatory situation of pensioners, but he didn’t even bother to reply’, Stevancevic says. He added that, considering the fact HQ of the Office of High Representative was seated in |
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| Political issues and police reforms |
| DA int with Ashdown: Only whole BiH can enter EU
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Only entire BiH can enter EU’, mentioned on cover ‘I don’t believe that the meeting in Mostar will take only one day’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, the HR Paddy Ashdown denies report by Nezavine novine [Saturday, 20 August] according to which he warned SDS officials that EU would consider accepting BiH without RS if police reform fails, whereas RS cold become alike isolated part of Cyprus: “I have never even thought of Cyprus model for BiH’s admittance to EU. BiH is one state, and as such it will join EU.” He further underlines it is necessary to achieve some progress on police reform at tomorrow’s meeting in Mostar. “I don’t believe the meeting can end in one day,” HR added. Ashdown stressed there was no change in policy on entities’ MoIs: “Some phases are possible in the course of reform implementation, but it is clear the state will have exclusive competencies over police.” The HR also underlined that all sides must realize that if they obstruct the process, measures will follow: “If some Bosniak politicians still desire to play their games when it comes to appointment of directors of the BiH security agencies… than I don’t have a choice but to be very thought. Same thing goes for HDZ which tries to use law for its political goals, like the Law on pardoning. Also, if SDS – which makes up RS Government – continues to isolate that entity from rest of the Balkans…, they will have to pay for that.” Ashdown at the end strongly criticised “irresponsible statements” by some politicians who used the murder of SBS officer near Cajnice to destabilize other reforms, calling such politicians “pathetic”. |
| DL on police reform: It is safe to say Mostar meeting will not produce results
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Serbs do not give up their requests’, by Dario Pusic – Prior to tomorrow’s continuation of talks on police reform in Mostar, the author argues it is safe to say that a solution will not be found because the RS representatives will not be giving up their positions even after the last warning coming from the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown.In that context, DL carries a member of the SDS Main Board and president of SDS Caucus in BiH Parliament, Momcilo Novakovic, who confirmed that senior SDS officials talked to the HR at Jahorina last Thursday, and that topics of the meeting included reforms to defence and police. “What I have to say is that there were no threats or warnings”, said Novakovic. He also notes that there is enough width in the EC’s principles to reach a quality solution, and Novakovic believes that a solution will be indeed reached. |
| SDS source: Bukejlovic walked out from Jahorina meeting over dispute with Cavic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Bukejlovic and Cavic got into an argument over different stances on police reform’ by V. Popovic – A high official of SDS, who attended the most recent Jahorina meeting, claims RS PM Pero Bukejlovic had walked out from the meeting after he got in a conflict with RS President Dragan Cavic, whom he had accused of having agreed on the possibility of crossing inter-entity boundary lines by the police with HR Paddy Ashdown and, by doing so, he had failed to respect RS NA conclusions. The source further claims ‘RS Government, with Bukejlovic at the head, does not accept the concept Cavic had agreed upon with Ashdown. Therefore, it is not excluded Bukejlovic would be removed from the executive authority’. |
| Tokic: Cypriot model in BiH undermines BiH’s territorial integrity
| FTV, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Endangering of territorial integrity of BiH’, not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘HR advocates dividing BiH’ – The President of SDU, Sejfudin Tokic, assessed the possibility to apply the Cypriot model in BiH and accept only the FBiH, not the RS, to the EU, as the gravest disruption of BiH’s territorial integrity and constitutional order. Tokic made the assessment after the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown’s, statement on only one part of BiH (FBIH) joining the EU, without the RS. Tokic says that Ashdown should be punishing politicians and national oligarchies because the reforms are late, noting that the HR’s behaviour reminds of political activities of Lord David Owen from the times of aggression on BiH saying that HR Ashdown advocates division of BiH. |
| Ashdown: After police reform, priority lobbying for visa regimes abolishment
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I am starting action to abolish visas’ not signed – Asked what would be his priority if the police reform is agreed, the HR Paddy Ashdown says: “As soon as BiH gets green light to launch negotiations on Stabilisation and Accession Agreement with EU I will launch an action of lobbying for abolishment of visa regime. I think that PM Adnan Terzic will join me in that mission.” Ashdown adds he would travel in European capitals to lobby for this, however strongly underlines all this is impossible without an agreement on police reform. |
| VL interview: Lozancic on pardoning Prce, pardon was legal
| Vecernji List, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘Lozancic: Nobody will be above the law’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries a lengthy interview with the FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, in which he mostly talks about the recent decision to pardon the former FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Prce. Lozancic insists that the decision abided by the laws and regulations and that the procedure was carried out accordingly. President Lozancic also says that he explained everything to the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in a letter that was sent the other day. Asked by the journalist to comment on the OHR’s statement that the time of such decisions and politicians is over, “probably thinking about you”, commented the journalist, Lozancic noted that the time of those who are above the law in running out. |
| DL interview: Lovrinovic says education reform unclear, BiH experts should be included
| Dnevni List, pgs 8-9, mentioned on front ‘BiH needs its own education system’, by Ivica Glibusic – Carries a lengthy interview with Nikola Lovrinovic, a recently removed Education Minister of Central Bosnia Canton (removed by HR Ashdown). Lovrinovic argues that the whole education reform in BiH is unclear, namely who is running the reform, what is the aim of the reform and loads of other issues that need sorting out. Lovrinovic is of opinion that BiH experts should be more involved in the process and create an education system that will be custom made for BiH, given the country’s features and the fact that there are three constituent peoples in it. |
| Dokic replies to Terzic, claims he had removed Bajrambasic because other Vc corridor project managers have asked him to do so
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘He removed Bajrambasic because project managers had asked for it’ announced on cover ‘He removed Bajrambasic because four project managers had asked for it’ by V. Popovic and M. Cubro – Outgoing BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications Branko Dokic replied to CoM Chairman he had removed Izet Bajrambasic from the position of the Coordinator of Vc corridor project because the project managers had asked him to do so. A source close to CoM Chairman claims Dokic was trying to ensure his advisor Bozo Blagojevic to overtake leading of this project. Dokic, on the other hand, denies such claims and says other project managers had asked for the removal because Bajrambasic did not fit in teamwork, therefore he claims he was trying to protect interests of the project. |
| VL on current political picture of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje | Vecernji List, pg 9 ‘People of Uskoplje are hostages of political crisis’, by Vesna Leto – Features a story on the current political situation in Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, claiming that the ‘marriage’ between the two separate administrations (Croat and Bosniak one), which was formed under auspices of the OHR, has collapsed. According to the president of local HDZ, Zrinko Topic, the key is the issue of outvoting, and Topic claims that the HDZ will never agree to the concept of state of citizens, a requested by the Bosniaks, not in the state of three peoples in which the three peoples are equal in the Constitution. VL also notes that the municipality is yet to adopt the 2005 budget and on top of this, the Head of Municipality, Vahid Busatlic (SDA), resigned from the post. |
| VL op-ed on future of BiH Croats
| Vecernji List, pg 8 ‘Is Croat ship in BiH sinking?’, by Friar Iko Skoko – Following the statement by Cardinal Vinko Puljic that the number of BiH Croats (Catholics) has halved from the pre-war figures, friar Skoko says it is high time Croats did something to stop the negative trend. Skoko notes that if some political circles want to have less Croats in BiH, the Croats should not be helping them. |