23.11.2004

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 23/11/2004

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 23 November

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Ivanic inBrussels

US Congress on assistance to SCG

Del Ponte before UN SC

UN approves EUFOR

BiH HoP, FBiH HoP in session

Osmanovic on Del Ponte address

Del Ponte before UN SC

Opposition protests in Kiev

ICTY update

TV news broadcast on 22 November

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS (19,30)

Farmers’ protests in BiH

Meeting in Brussels

Farmers’ protests

SFOR search Mladic house

Brcko drivers protests

Cavic met with Tadic

Doko on farmers’ protests

RS officials in Belgrade

DPA anniversary

Issue of sanctions to RS

Meeting in Brussels

War crime case, Doboj

Zubak on DPA

DPA reception

DPA reception

War crime case, Bijeljina

 

Oslobodjenje

Momcilo Mandic, under UN guarantee, witnesses in case of Krajisnik; State with constitution like this is not sustainable; House of Ratko Mladic’s nephew searched; Jelavic did not buy a single HB share; One-hour protests of farmers; Belgrade – Banja Luka: When the cooperation with ICTY lacks, RS positions gets worse

Dnevni Avaz

Trade Union seeks Prosecution measures; European instead of Dayton structure; Osmanovic: I expect replacement of Njegus and Matijasevic; SFOR raided house of criminal Mladic

Dnevni List

Robinson: HVO was bank’s owner

Vecernji List

Police brought in protesters’ leader

Slobodna Dalmacija

Gorica: Local people were pushing protesters away

Nezavisne Novine

Cavic and Tadic send a message to the Hague fugitives: Surrender of arrests; Reception at BiH Presidency: Dayton ahs introduced peace, which can be supplemented; Prosecutor’s Offices in RS got 46 cases from the Hague ; Farmers blocked the BiH border: Protests against import

Glas Srpske

On the eve of del Ponte’s address to the UN SC: Pressure of the Hague lever

EuroBlic

Alert for Banja Luka and Belgrade : Extraditions or RS would lose police; Farmers protest: Police prevented the border blockade; Njegus refused to file resignation

Vecernje novosti

Tadic, Kostunica, Cavic and Mikerevic in Belgrade on cooperation of RS and Serbia with the ICTY: Cannot stand it any longer!; Testimony of Serbs on tortures at Gornji Potocari: Silence about the camp

Nacional

Features Serbian related topics

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

US Congress on assistance to SCG

BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – US Congress has passed decision according to which the assistance of 73,6 US dollars to Serbia and Montenegro is condition with the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladic. According to unofficial information, other conditions include the cooperation with the ICTY and request for SCG to stop supporting the separate institutions of RS. 

BiH HoP, FBiH HoP in session

BH Radio 1 – The BiH House of Peoples has commenced the session in Sarajevo. The agenda includes the discussion on the changes to the BiH Concession Law. FBiH House of People has also started with the session discussing the rebalance of the FBiH budget for this year, and the draft Law on Privatisation Audit in FBiH. On the later, FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic has noted that the FBiH Government and authorities are under the strong influence of those opposing the privatisation audit.

Covic on 25 Nov reception

 

RHB at 12.00 – Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated: “Personally, I will try to motivate Serb member of the BiH President Borislav Paravac just to be present at the reception organized on the occasion of BiH Statehood Day.’

OHR on property legislation implementation in Prijedore

RTRS at 12.00 – OHR has confirmed that the property legislation implementation in the municipality of Prijedor has been completed, reads the letter of Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, addressed to Prijedor municipal officials and RS Ministry of refugees and DP’s.

 

War crimes

Update to meeting btw RS and Serbian officials on cooperation with ICTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EuroBlic cover and pgs 2-3 ‘Extraditions or RS would lose police’ by Nikola M. Jovanovic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Surrender or arrests’, Vecernje Novosti cover and pg 2 ‘Cannot stand it any longer!’ by P.V.-D.R,l Nacional pg 4 ‘Fellow Serbs, extradite us Serbs’ by V.P.  – The RS delegation led by Dragan Cavic, RS President, in Belgrade on Monday met with the top officials of Serbia and Montenegro, led by Boris Tadic, Serbian President in the wait of the address of Carla del Ponte, ICTY Chief Prosecutor, to UN Security Council.On the occasion, the RS President Dragan Cavic called on war crime suspects to surrender voluntarily.

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Surrender of arrests’ by Agencies – According to NN, Tadic and Cavic also announced that the work of Defence Ministries and MoI’s of Serbia and RS from both sides of Drina river would be expanded and raised “to the highest level possible”.Cavic and Tadic announced that there would be consequences not only for Serbia and RS but for all Serb people if Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte declared there was no progress regarding cooperation with ICTY. Cavicsaid: “RS has High Representative above its head, who can cause “direct consequences”. And this aspect makes our situation differ from the one of Serbia.”

RHB, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje, cover and pg. 3 ‘When cooperation with the Hague is missing, the position of RS is worsening’ by Branislav Boskov, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Cooperation with the Hague is also in the Serbian interest’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Serbs cooperate with ICTY only because of money?’ by NINA and Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Tadic with RS leaders about war crime suspects’ by ap– also reported on the meeting.

BHT 1 on possible sanctions against RS

 

BHT 1 by Boris Gagic – Officials from Banja Luka are worried because of sanctions that could potentially be imposed onto RS by the International Community. ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte will submit her report to the UN Security Council on cooperation between ex-Yugoslavian states and ICTY. It is expected that the cooperation of RS would be marked as insufficient. RS President Dragan Cavic said that sanctions will lead nowhere as RS institutions are willing to cooperate with ICTY. RS Vice-President Adil Osmanovic said that sanctions, especially those imposed against police, presented the only way in which full cooperation with ICTY would be established. Osmanovic: “Only through serious sanctions RS institutions would consider this issue and its obligations more seriously.” SNSD member Krstan Simic: “If Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic really care about RS they should bring crucial their decisions within 24 hours; on the other hand, if it comes to sanctions, [Dragan] Mikerevic’s Government would have to resign.” Political analysts believe that by arresting war criminals, RS could show that entities’ institutions really are functioning. OHR has given no statements on possible sanctions or dismissal of certain RS officials. The High Representative Paddy Ashdown said “As far as we think of dismissals they are nothing but speculations, which exist in BiH all the time and I do not comment on them.”

RS press focus at Del Ponte’s address before UNSC, reactions

 

Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Pressure of the Hague lever’ by E.G.S. – The article brings some comments in the wait of Carla del Ponte’s address to the UN SC with the regard to the cooperation with the ICTY. Dragan Djordjevic, member of Presidency of the RS PoWs Association, says that new strike against RS can be expected following Del Ponte’s address. The report further refers to the most recent letter Association address to HR, Paddy Ashdown.

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Possible removals at RS authority’ by V. Popovic –The representatives of the political parties in BiH do not exclude the possibility of seeing sanctions introduced and the RS most senior officials removed over the failure to cooperate with the RS. They also share the view that RS might face with sanctions unless Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Maldic surrendered. Such officials are: Desanka Radjevic from SDS, Krstan Simic from SNSD, Adil Osmanovic from SDA.

HDZ is of the view that sanctions would be introduced not only against RS, but also against BiH.

EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘RS future at stake’ by Nedeljka Breberina Milos Solaja, President of the International Relations Centre in Banja Luka, Ostoja Barasin, political analyst, and Krstan Simic from SNSD share the view that RS would face with sanctions. However, none of them can state with certainty how painful those sanctions would be. Simic said that RS Government should file resignation should sanctions be imposed against RS.

Oslobodjenje, pg. 7 ‘Anxiety in Banja Luka, Belgrade and Zagrebby Fena – Announcement of del Ponte’s address before the UN SC.

SFOR searches house of Ratko Mladic’s nephew

 

RTRS – On Monday SFOR conducted a routine unannounced search of the home of Milan Mladic, a nephew of Hague indictee Ratko Mladic, Eastern Sarajevo police spokesman Radovan Pejic confirmed. According to Milan Mladic, certain family documents and photographs were seized and a receipt was given to the homeowner. SFOR had informed the local police about the operation and a patrol was deployed at the peacekeepers’ request, Pejic said. No incidents were registered during the search.

RHB, BHT 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje, cover and pg. 5 ‘House of Ratko Mladic’s cousin was raided’ by A. P., Dnevni Avaz, cover ‘SFOR got into a house of cousing of criminal Mladic’ and pg. 4 ‘They have searched the house of Mladic’s cousins’ by M. Drinjakovic, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘SFOR searched house of Ratko Mladic’s close relatives’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 2 ‘House of Mladic’s cousin searched’ by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Documentation from the house of Mladic;’s nephew taken away’ by N. Krsman; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘They searched the house of Mladic’s’ by B.S.  also reported.

Mandic, under UN guarantees, to travel to Hague and witness

 

Oslobodjenje, cover and pg. 7 ‘Momcilo Mandic to testify in “Krajisnik” case with UN guarantee’ by Senita SehercehajicMomcilo Mandic, the first Minister of Justice at RS Government, went from Belgrade to the Hague on Monday. He will testify in “Krajisnik” case next Tuesday. Mandic had been banned from entering EU countries but UN had brought a decision to temporarily suspend this ban and Mandic was issued a guarantee by the Collegium of the Prosecutor’s Office and by the Hague Court that he will be able to safely return to Belgrade after he testifies. Mandic’s lawyer Dusko Tomic has stated that Mandic is neither a witness of defence nor of prosecution. ‘He is a witness of the truth’, Tomic said.

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Mandic at the trial of Krajsnik’ by N.N.; Nacional pg 2 ‘Krajisnik is a friend of mine’ by N.B.; Vecernje Novosti pg 17 “Momcilo versus Momcilo’ – also reported.

Osmanovic: ‘I expect removal of Njegus and Matijasevic’

 

Dnevni Avaz, cover ‘I expect removal of Njegus and Matijasevic’ and pg. 5 ‘I expect Paddy Ashdown would remove Njegus and Matijasevic’ by Edina Sarac – In an interview to DA, RS deputy President Adil Osmanovic has, among other, stated he expected Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte would submit her report to UN Security Council, by which she would accuse RS authorities of obstructing cooperation with ICTY. He claims the most responsible persons for such a situation are Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic and RS Police Director Radomir Njegus and he says he expects HR Paddy Ashdown would remove them.

ICTY gives green light for 46 cases to be processed before RS Prosecutor’s Office

 

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ‘The Hague Tribunal gave green light for 46 cases be processed before RS Prosecutor’s Office’ by D. Risojevic – The RS Prosecutor’s Office has received assents from the Hague Tribunal for the criminal prosecution of 46 persons suspected of having committed the most serious war crimes. The majority of files with “A” label have been delivered with the Banja Luka Prosecutor’s Office. NN reports that not a single file with Hague assent has been given to East Sarajevo PO, while all the other PO’s have received some files.

 

Political issues

BH Presidency holds DPA anniversary reception

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Anniversary of signing of the Dayton Agreement was marked’, mentioned on cover ‘European instead of Dayton system’, by A. M. – The ninth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement was marked on Monday, and the BiH Presidency organised a reception on this occasion. BiH Presidency Chair Borislav Paravac believes that reforms, such as establishment of BiH Court and Prosecution, state border service, SIPA, OSA, present a good base for sustainable state. Paravac said: “Our main task is to recover BiH economy. We have to solve the issue of cooperation with ICTY as soon as possible, to arrest all war criminals, since it presents presumption of our true reconciliation.” Representative from the state in which the peace agreement had been signed pointed out all unfulfilled RS’ obligations. The issue on war criminals who are still free could cause some negative consequences to RS. BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic as saying that he hopes this was the last anniversary of signing the Dayton Agreement with the current constitutional organisation of the state. ‘The state with such a constitution and without a high representative cannot function’, Tihic has stated. DA inset ‘McElhaney: I am satisfied with safety situation in BiH’ – US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney has expressed his satisfaction with safety situation in BiH and he said that if he were a BiH citizens he would demand for greater reforms.

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘State with such a constitution is not sustainable’, mentioned on cover, by V. Zivak -BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic said that in terms of economy, BiH is not a sustainable state. ‘I hope we will meet the 10th anniversary of signing the Dayton Agreement with changed entity constitutions, and not only with changed state constitution of BiH, by which we will re-define the constitutional organisation of BiH’, Covic said. Inset ‘Covic pleads for three levels of the authority’ reads that Covic said “The fact is that 5 levels of authorities in BiH cannot sustain. Bureaucracy apparatus, which accumulates about 70% of all BiH budgets, ensures no perspective.” He said he would plead for three levels of the authority but ‘the only question is how to get to such a solution’.

RHB, BHT1, FTV – also reported on the DPA reception covering all mentioned points.

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 5 ‘Dayton may be supplemented’ by A. Sisic; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Peace is the biggest heritage’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Paravac called on arrest of ICTY indictees’ by NINA , Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Reception in BiH Presidency’ by dja

Oslobodjenje, op-ed pg. 9 ‘Role of Dayton’ by Mirko Sagolj – The author commented on the Dayton Agreement by saying that there are few agreements in the world on which there are many opposite opinions as it is in this case.

Top European officials call on Western Balkans to cooperate with ICTY and implement reforms

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Without cooperation with the Hague, Balkans will not be a part of EU’ by Sead Numanovic – The EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, EU candidates states and high officials of EC and Stability Pact have called on the countries of the Western Balkans to improve the cooperation with the ICTY, specifically stressing the need to arrest immediately Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Ante Gotovina. This is one is a series of conclusions presented in the communiqué following the second annual forum of the EU – Western Balkans forum. The EU countries also stressed they will continue to support reforms processes, adding that was the way to EU. As for BiH, officials pointed out to the importance of the EU program signed with BiH on Monday stressing it was based on partnership. The programme enables BiH to be included it EU programmes in which it also has to bear some minimal costs. As for the visa regimes towards the Western Balkans countries, ministers concluded that these states have to implement reforms before liberalisation of the system. HR Paddy Ashdown was also in Brussels on Monday to brief European officials on the reforms and current situation in BiH. DA learns [inset ‘Ashdown in Brussels ’] that Ashdown paid special attention to upcoming EUFOR mission and lack of cooperation with ICTY.

FTV – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic said that BiH was aware of its problem, and that RS would have to start cooperating with ICTY, or else not much could be expected out of the project. Ivanic pointed out that EU had no obligations towards BiH, and that it was up to BiH to manage the project.

RHB, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Agreement on the programme signed’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘For candidates countries, the conditions from Copenhagen still on force’ by S.N., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Closer with EU with assistance’ by Dusanka Stianisic; Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Foreign Ministers should sign a joint document’ by N.N. , Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Amount of EU assistance will depend on quality of projects’ by N. Sumanovic – also covered.

Radovanovic meets EU defence ministers

 

RHB, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Without cooperation with the Hague, Balkans will not be a part of EU’ by Sead Numanovic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘ALTEA mission cannot be unsuccessful’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘There is no approaching to EU without full cooperation with The Hague’ by NINA, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Admission to NATO possible without prosecution of ICTY Indictees’ by ONASA; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Only insignia are new’ – BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic stated in Brussels after the meeting with the EU Defence Ministers Monday that the BiH admission to the NATO’s programme Partnership for Peace was possible separately from the prosecution of war crime indictees and that this was an opinion of the EU Defence Ministers. The meeting also discussed the EU follow-on mission in BiH. Radovanovic also said that the EU military mission in BiH “Althea” could not be a failure.

Update to FBiH Government crisis

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Hadzipasic expects arrival of the all ministers to the session of the Government’ by Ad. H. – According to DA, late Monday night, the talks regarding the solution to the problems in FBiH authorities functioning were held in the building of FBiH Government. After harmonisation of the SDA and Party for BiH’s stances last week, HDZ was expected to voice its attitude on set of measures proposed in accordance with the Programme of the Government’s operation however failed to appear. “I have scheduled the next meeting of the Government on Monday and I expect all ministers to be present,” said Ahmet Hadzipasic, FBiH Prime Minister, for DA.Daily also reports that so far no party has officially refused the meeting on Monday.

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘HDZ minister boycotted the meeting?’ by A.T. – Daily also features Hadzipasic who confirms that the meeting will be held on Monday.

Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Agreements without HDZ Ministers again’, mentioned on front, by N. Bise – DL says that according to their information after the aforementioned meeting SBiH Ministers were planning to hold a special meeting during which they, allegedly, were supposed to discuss a possibility to return to the FBiH Government.    

On the same issue Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Colak invited Tihic to have talks’ by Z. Kresic reports that HDZ President Barisa Colak called on SDA to launch new talks on resolving the FBiH Government crisis and to avoid meetings that Hadzipasic arranges. Colak added: ‘If the issues are the political ones, and they obviously are, then partners in the authority should resolve these issues at the level of political parties and not Ministers, who are an operative body and who implement politics of ruling parties, however they cannot and they should not resolve inter-party issues.’

FTV announces the meeting of the Government. 

Paravac rejects to attend celebration of 25 November

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Paravac refused to attend ceremony marking 25 November’ by A.M. – DA carries that the chair of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac has rejected to mark 25 November as the BiH Statehood Day. “So far, no member of the Presidency from Serb people has attended the ceremony marking 25 November. That date is not being recognized in RS. It is not holiday even in BiH as we do not have a law on holiday,” stated Paravac. Sulejman Tihic said that this Paravac’s decision is against Dayton agreement. The host of this year’s reception will be Dragan Covic.

Oslobodjenje inset pg 6 ‘BiH Statehood Day is not celebration’ – also carries Paravac’s statement.

Dnevni Avaz, pg. 3 ‘Paravac against a state holiday’ by Admir Malagic – the author is critical of the announcement of Borislav Paravac not to attend the marking of November 25. ‘As an excuse, Paravac says this holiday is not being marked in RS, and in this way he acts as he was the President of this entity and not the President of BiH state’.

Issue of TV may be a subject of dispute btw SDA and HDZ

 

Dnevni List pg 13 ‘Bosnian editorial board or TV will end up at court?’, mentioned on front, by S. Bjelica – Sources close to SDA Mostar say that this party has already forwarded its proposal on Herzegovinian RTV (HRTV) to HDZ and according to this proposal Herzegovinian RTV should be organized as a public RTV service of the City of Mostar with a single administration and management and 2 editorial boards, one in Bosnian and one in Croatian language. DL also says that HRTV will be one of the crucial problems in the relations between SDA and HDZ if these 2 parties do not find a compromise and it might happen that the whole case ends up at the court. DL explains that SDA Mostar will not accept the fact that HRTV, as a media outlet in which representatives of other 2 peoples are not employed, is financed from the city budget.

SDS to elect new president on 10th December

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Dragan Cavic is the only candidate for SDS President’ by D.R. NN has learnt from many sources close to SDS top leadership that currently Acting president of SDS, Dragan Cavic, is – for the time being – the only and the most serious candidate for the position of the SDS President. SDS Assembly is to elect the new president and vice presidents at the session scheduled for 10th December.

Ivic Pasalic answers to critics

 

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 5 ‘Pasalic: They want to turn FBiH in state of Bosniaks and Moslems exclusively’ by V. Zaja – Asked to comment on reactions of Bosniak officials to his statement (he said that he stands for the Croat Federal Unit in the FBiH), President of Croatian Block Ivic Pasalic stated that condemnation of his statement comes from those who want to turn the FBiH in a state of Bosniaks and Moslems exclusively and who want to assimilate Croats or move them out of BiH.

IFIMES on last, local elections

Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Cavic might be last RS President’ by NINA – DL carries an analyses of the International Institute for Middle East and Balkans Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana, which says that decrease of national parties’ popularity is the main characteristic of the last, local elections in BiH. The analyses also says that BiH citizens sent a harsh warning to international representatives, especially HR Paddy Ashdown, who supported forming of the authority with the national parties. According to IFIMES this did not give positive results and the HR’s policy had an absolutely wrong direction for BiH. IFIMES also believes that coming of Dragan Cavic to the position of the SDS President might be a cause for SDS reform and distancing from the SDS wartime and post-war policy, while on the contrary Cavic might be the last RS President.

 

Economic and social issues

Protests of farmers throughout BiH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vecernji List cover pg splash and pgs 2 and 3 ‘Police brought in protesters’ leader’, by V. Begic, Z. Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg ‘Gorica: Local people were pushing protesters away’ and pg 3 ‘Farmers from BiH blocked borders with Croatia’ by B. Cosic, A. Karamatic, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Police prevented showdown on border crossing’, mentioned on front, by N. Bise, NINA – The BiH Associations of Farmers blocked 4 border-crossings with Croatia on Monday because of their dissatisfaction with the position of farmers in BiH. The dailies also say that during the protest President of the aforementioned Association Ranko Bakic was verbally attacked at the border-crossing Gorica near Grude. According to some information, owners of shops and business premises close to that border-crossing were in the group that was threatening Bakic. On the same issue VL says that apart from verbal assaults, shoving took place as well and Police brought Bakic in.    

RHB, FTV, BHT1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, cover and pg. 10 ‘One-hour long protest of farmers’ by D. Ob, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘They threat to burn trucks with imported goods’ by E.D.A., EuroBlic cover ‘Police prevented the border blockade’ and RSpg 8 ‘Satisfied with warning’ by M. Pilipovic; Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Protest versus import’ and pg 9 ‘Dissatisfied with the BiH ratio between import and export’ by B. Grgic-N. Kaliman  – also reported.

Doko says protests of farmers were not necessary

 

FTV BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Dragan Doko said that the protests of farmers were not necessary, however admitted that farmers were faced with difficult situation. Doko stated: “Changes to the free trade agreements have to be introduced together with the partners; some kind of agreement has to be reached. We have tried, during meetings with authorized ministers from Croatia and SCG, to point out to the fact that BiH has some objections to such agreements, and we asked other side to reconsider the possibility of not including certain products. That was our initiative but I have to stress that we have reached no agreement; due to the fact that everybody wants to take the side they find the most suitable.”

Truck drivers protest in Brcko

 

RTRS – Members of the Transportation Section at the Brcko District Chamber of Commerce blockaded the Brcko – Banja Luka and Brcko – Orasje roads on Monday protesting against the insufficient number of the international transportation licences which made it impossible for them to transport goods and passengers at the international level. Miroslav Cosic, the Chair of the Governing Board of the Brcko Commerce Chamber, accused the Ministry of treating number of licences issued as charity, adding that one way licence is 200 KM on the black market and annual licence costs up to 15 000 KM. Brcko Supervisor Susan Johnson sent a letter to CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic notifying him that the authorized Ministry is in violation of the final arbitration decision and the status of the District.

FTV – Unless their situation is solved, drivers announced they will block roads in entire country.

RHB, BHT 1 – also reported on the protests.

Trade Union seeks prevention of shares’ sale in firms subject to audit

 

Dnevni Avaz, cover ‘Trade Union seeks for measures of the Prosecutor’s Office’ and pg. 4 ‘To freeze profit and to prevent sale of shares in firms that are subjects to audits’ by E. P. – This is a short statement of the President of BiH Trade Union, Edhem Biber, who said the Trade Union would ask for freezing of profit, reinvestment of capital, reallocation of dividends and ban on trades in shares of privatised firms that are subjects to audits.

PDHR Hays says IGA must be freed from all political influences 

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘’IGA must be freed from all political influences’, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Independence of Export Credit Agency is of crucial importance’ by NINA – Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays sent a letter to Chairman of the BiH House of Peoples Goran Milojevic and his Deputies Velimir Jukic and Mustafa Pamuk regarding changes and amendments to the Law on Export Credit  Agency (IGA) in BiH. In his letter Hays expressed concern about possible influence of these changes and amendments on independence of IGA and immunity of the personnel in this Agency. The letter also says: ‘It is especially important that IGA’s financial situation is secured in the law in order to make possible employing of professional personnel with the best qualifications. We strongly believe that IGA should be free of all external and political influence.’  DL says that the BiH HoP is supposed to discuss this law at its session that is to take place on Tuesday (today).

 

Legal and police issues

Toby Robinson testifies in HB case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Robinson: HVO was bank’s owner’ by D. P. Mandic – Hercegovacka Banka (HB) Provisional Administrator and key prosecution witness in the HB case Toby Robinson was cross-examined on Monday. Among the other things, Robinson stated: ‘If we look at the founders’ capital of the bank, we shall see that 100 % of money was coming from HVO through 6 companies and on the ground of this one can conclude that HVO was the bank’s owner.’ DL says that according to court documents, HVO was not a shareholder of the bank and there are no evidence that suspect in this case and former HDZ President Ante Jelavic owned a single HB share or that he was in some of the HB Steering Boards. Asked to prove that Jelavic allowed to use HVO funds for purchase of HB shares, Robinson said that she does not have a written document to prove it, however, the FBiH Ministry including its Minister at that time (referring to Jelavic) are responsible for costs. DL also says that the key witness also did not have evidence, which prove existence of 50 secret HVO accounts. According to DL, the cross-examination will continue on Wednesday.

On the same issue Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14 ‘Ante Jelavic has nothing to do with HB’, mentioned on front, by Z. Tulic says that from the things Robinson stated during the cross-examination one can conclude that HB was a solvent bank and that the OHR exclusively stands behind the raid of HB and its audit. SD says that the defense concluded that the laws on banks in the FBiH were seriously violated in this case, and answering to this kind of questions every time, Robinson referred on the orders she received from the OHR. An inset in SD under headline ‘Paying of OHR auditors’ says that paying of auditor’s company ‘Ernest Young’ is also disputable in this case. SD says that this company received 1,5 million Euros for their services in this case and out of this amount HB paid 300 000 Euros and the defense asked how it was possible that an insolvent bank pays such big amount. According to the article, Robinson said that the OHR engaged this company. SD says that this was done in spite of the fact that another company ‘De Loyte’ had better references at the international market at that time.   

FTV, Oslobodjenje, cover and pg. 2 ‘Jelavic has not bought a single share of HB’ by A. N., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Robinson stated there are no written evidences on Jelavic’s responsibility’ by M. Kukan, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Toby Robinson: Hercegovacka Banka was a property of HVO’ by A. Durmo– reported that Robinson testified.

Njegus refuses to resign

 

EuroBlic cover and RSpg 2 ’Njegus refused to file resignation’ by BETA; Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Njegus refused to file resignation’ by N.N.; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Njegus won’t leave’  – BETA news agency on Monday reported that the RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus, refused to file resignation to this position, which Darko Martijasevic, RS Interior Minister, demanded from him. The same source notes that Matijasevic made this demand few days ago, but Njegus refused to file it and took sick leave. Zoran Glusac, Head of Cabinet of RS MoI, on Monday was not aware of this, confirming that Njegus did not come to work over the past few days.

BiH HoR constitutional commission on confiscating illegally purchased property

BHT 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Proposal on the law on confiscating illegally purchased property rejected’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Instruments for confiscating illegally purchased property already exist in legal system’ by H. Orahovac – The Constitutional and Legal Commission of the BiH House of Representatives on Monday did not support the proposal of the Law on confiscation on the illegally purchased property. Commission Chair Mirsad Ceman explained that the members decided there was no need to adopt this law as it would require an agency that would deal with this issue, while the law already covers these measures. 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Quorum existed, then melted’ by N. Zelenovic – The Commission also did not take any stance regarding the proposal of Sulejman Tihic constitutionality of the Law on election of BiH Presidency members and delegates at both houses of parliament should be reviewed.