OHR BiH Media Round-up, 23/11/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Threatening letter to HKDU Livno

Rice on ICTY fugitives

BH delegation to return to BiH today

BiH pol. leaders signed joint. declar.

Merkel to tourEurope

Kostunica in Zagreb

Bishops’ Conf. demands fair BiH org.

Israeli parliamentary elections

2 options fro KosMet

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Conference in Washington

Agreement signed in Washington

Agreement signed in Washington

Rehn’s letter to Terzic

Ivanic on Washington statement

Reactions on Washington agreement

OHR on constitutional changes

Tihic on Washington statement

Helsinki committees’ joint statement

HDZ delegation in Livno

Colak, Paravac on the statement

Okic sentenced to 22 years in prison

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Rehn’s letter to Terzic

Agreement signed in Washington

UN on DA implementation

Agreement signed in Washington

Helsinki committees’ joint statement

Conference in Washington

FBiH HoR on Energopetrol

FBiH HoR discussed Energopetrol

SPON on Washington documents

Issue of Zigic’s resignation

Warning strike in Canton Una-Sana

Terrorist suspect interrogated

Oslobodjenje

Agreement on constitutional changes signed’

Dnevni Avaz

Washington Declaration for the future of BiH

Dnevni List

Japan and Germany are looking into responsibility of BiH authorities (donations)

Vecernji List

One cannot say NO to America

Slobodna Dalmacija

Grbic and girlfriend shot at with 24 bullets (shooting incident in Mostar)

Glas Srpske

Where is justice, Paddy?

Nezavisne Novine

Agreement for constitutional changes reached

Blic

Serbs accepted change of Constitution

Vecernje Novosti

Serbia related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Rice: Balkan state cannot join NATO w/out apprehending ICTY fugitives

BH Radio 1, RS Radio – If they want to be a part of the NATO, all Balkans states must apprehend the ICTY fugitives, warned the US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice. At the ceremony marking the 10^th anniversary of DPA, Rice said that it is necessary to move further away from the framework that established the peace in BiH in order to ensure its future. The Agreement, says Rice, must be transformed.

Guardian: Agreement reached under heavy US pressure 

BH Radio 1 – Article published by the British Guardian reads that BiH leaders agreed to the biggest shift towards centralising power in their partitioned country since the war ended 10 years ago. “A pact reached in Washington under heavy American pressure” foresees changes to be agreed by March and Guardian notes that “are bound to be difficult.”

RS Interior Ministers Matijasevic says Washington agreement good basis for further talks

SRNA – RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic assessed that the statement political leaders signed in Washington was a good basis for further talks on constitutional changes, adding that meritorious political dialogue on change to BiH Constitution should be run within domestic institutions.

RS economic expert on SAA talks

RS Radio – Mladen Micic, President of the RS Chamber of Commerce, is of the view that real problems during SAA talks with EU will surface when issues related to economy come to agenda, since no basic foundations for this field have been provided. He is of the view that independently from F BiH, the RS Government should have observed and recorded situation in the field, which would provide it with better info on social categories of population, which is in connection with VAT introduction.

Constitutional Changes/Reforms/BiH Road to EU

BiH political leaders obliged to make necessary constitutional changes

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Washington Declaration for the future of BiH, pg 3 ‘The process of constitutional changes is being launched’, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 3 ‘Agreement on constitutional changes signed’, Vecernji List, front pg splash  ‘One cannot say NO to America’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Croats signed under American pressure’, by Zoran Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 12 ‘All for reform of BiH’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘New Constitution by March 2006’, Glas Srpske cover pg ‘Changes until March’ by SRNA – The leaders of main BiH political parties promised in Washington that they will carry out constitutional changes by the March 2006. In a joint declaration, titled “Commitment to the Implementation of Constitutional Reforms”, political leaders stated that they will carry out all the reforms necessary for BiH to become the member of NATO and European Union as soon as possible. The deadline for the final decision on constitutional reforms is March 2006, so that they could be ready for the general elections scheduled for October 2006. “We have decided to start the procedure of constitutional reforms, which will strengthen the Government and rationalize Parliament and the Presidency,” said the statement signed in Washington. The statement was signed by SDA President Sulejman Tihic, SDS President Dragan Cavic, PDP President Mladen Ivanic, HDZ President Barisa Colak, Party for BiH President Safet Halilovic, SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija, SNSD President Milorad Dodik and Mate Bandur of the Croatian National Community (HNZ). United States of America believe that the tripartite rotating Presidency should be replaced with one President, and that the state should have Prime Minister and one Parliament with strengthened authorities; analysts claim that signed agreement represent only the agreement in principle on the constitutional changes, and that the concrete solutions are yet to be discussed. US Under Secretary Nicholas Burns stated that even this is more than it was expected, because political leaders promised to carry out the constitutional reforms.

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Agreement for constitutional changes reached’, pg 3 ‘Support to changes of Constitution’ by V.Popovic reports on the agreement signed and carries statements of Burns, Cavic (see below), Ivanic.

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘He wants only Bosnians’ by VOA carries Burns’ statement.

EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Serbs accepted change of Constitution’, RSpg 2 ‘Changes of Dayton by March 2006’ by R.Radosavljevic-M.Milic, Vecernje Novosti pg 15 ‘A statement signed’ by FoNet) – report on a joint statement signed, carrying comments of Ivanic, Burns and Sefer Halilovic, Party for BiH official, who told daily that the statement is just a transitional solution leading to negotiations, that should result in constitutional changes by March 2006. Halilovic also said: “That is final deadline by which final changes should be determined, since that is when general elections should be scheduled for future authority structures in BiH. Therefore, we expect assistance from the USA.”

Vecernje Novosti pg 15 ‘Only agreement changes Constitution!’ by Dusan Stojakovic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They were hoping in vain’ by Z. Markovic– carries Ivanic statement to daily, reiterating his stances.

RS political leaders call on Karadzic, Mladic to surrender or they will be arrested

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Call on Mladic and Karadzic’, Oslobodjenje pg 3, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Call to surrender’, Glas Srpske cover pg ’Karadzic and Mladic’ – Participants in Washington talks from RS, SDS President Dragan Cavic, PDP President Mladen Ivanic and SNSD President Milorad Dodik signed a statement, resolutely calling on all the persons indicted for war crimes – including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic – to surrender themselves to the Hague Tribunal. It is emphasized that, otherwise, RS is prepared to take all necessary measures to locate ICTYindictees and arrest them.

BiH CoM Chair Terzic handed to US ’ Rice a paper on Brcko

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Strengthening of relations between the District and the State’ – A declaration, which BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic delivered to the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, emphasizes the strengthening of the relations between Brcko District and the state of BiH.

US official: declaration includes deadlines for const. Changes

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Important step forward made’ by S.S. – An American official told DA that the declaration expressing the readiness to carry out constitutional changes singed by the leaders of political parties was very important as it also includes the deadline to end these reforms: “BiH leaders thus committed to implement constitutional changes by March next years and to work on strengthening BiH institutions.”  

BiH citizens can count on US – State Secretary Rice

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘US are persistently and decisively working for BiH to be a united state’ – US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice made it clear during a lunch in Washington on Tuesday that all BiH citizens could count on BiH just as they had been able to so far. She added that today President George Bush’s administration was still committed to work on establishment of BiH as an united state and apprehension of all war crime indictees. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Woords must be transformed into action’ also carried Rice’s address.

Burns: All power must not be with entities, but strong central authorities; RS must arrest Karadzic; w/out speculations on new HR, to be named next several weeks

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Negotiation on strengthening BiH are yet to follow’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, the US Undersecretary for political affairs Nicholas Burns stresses that the US deems the divisions created by Dayton Agreement must now be brought down. He adds that BiH must become normal state meaning “that all the power is not in the hands of entities, but that there is a strong central authorities.” Commenting the agreement signed in Washington, Burns underlines that the months to follow will bring long and difficult negotiations on the concrete constitutional changes, but adds that those talks will be very important. Asked about the future of cantons and entities, Burns says that only domestic politicians and not the international community are to decide on this. It is time for the IC to back off a bit, says Burns. Inset ‘Praises for Ashdown’ carries Burns commenting that Paddy Ashdown was extraordinary High Representative. “It is up to us now to chose next HR and this will be done by the United Nations, EU, USA and other countries. The selection will be made in next several weeks and I don’t want to speculate about who will be elected,” said Burns. Inset ‘RS authorities responsible for arrest of Karadzic, and not Terzic and Tihic’ – US Undersecretary underlines that Carla Del Ponte is not right to blame NATO for Karadzic and Mladic still being at large, but that this is a responsibility of Serbian and RS authorities. “RS should find Karadzic and Serbia to find Mladic… We told clearly to authorities in Banja Luka nad Belgrade that we will not normalize relations until those two are not arrested and extradited… [RS] must know where is Karadzic. He is one of them. Most probably Karadzic spends several months a year in RS, there he has a network of supporters. RS Government must do everything to either find him or to help us find him… The responsibility for solving the issue up to RS authorities and not the BiH officials, Terzic or Tihic,” concludes Burns.

US’ Holbrooke: ‘RS must understand that BiH is integrated country’

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘RS must understand that BiH is integrated country’ not signed – Talking at the Washington meeting one of the DPA authors Richard Holbrooke stated: ‘There is too much powers in the entities. This is a mistake that we have made in Dayton. Nick Barns said that we did the most we could however I believe that we could do more. After all we have stopped the war, introduced a joint currency, created a unified country and for this reason the RS must acknowledge once and for all that BiH is an integrated country. I regret a lot that we allowed that an entity is called the RS. I did not understand completely, neither emotionally nor politically, contents of this name when we agreed it upon.’

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Changes are super-structuring of Dayton’ by Agencies – Richard Holbrooke, the creator of the DA in Washington advocated the abolishment of tri-partite BiH Presidency and changes to the name of Republika Srpska, voicing out the message to the Serbs to amend mistakes committed in Dayton. Holbrooke also said it is high time Serbs accepted they were part of BiH. Daily also notes that members of the BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, Sulejman Tihic and Borislav Paravac expressed opposed views during their presentations at Washington conference. Namely, Jovic and Tihic stressed Dayton stopped further development, while Paravac referred to DA as a good agreement, which just needs to be slightly upgraded. Milorad Dodik stated that he left the Conference when Holbrooke started to speech in praise of Alija Izetbegovic “and advocated changes of RS name. I view Holbrooke as retired politician and I am not interested in his view.”

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Stick to Alija’ not signed – carries Holbrooke’ statement

Solana about DPA

Dnevni List pg 4 ‘BiH will keep Dayton Constitution’ by NINA, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Dayton remains Dayton’ by TANJUG – Javier Solana, EU High Representative for foreign affairs and security, Monday stated that “nobody refers to dramatic changes of DA, and Dayton will remain basic constitution of BiH”. He stressed tat Dayton will remain Dayton in principle.

Cavic: Serb side and IC represent one side, while Tihic and Croat side represent another

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Some want it, some don’t’ by SRNA– Dragan Cavic, RS President, Tuesday stated that Serb side has no reason to be dissatisfied with talks on constitutional changes in Washington, adding it showed there are two approach to this issue: one represented by Sulejman Tihic and Croat parties, and the other represented by Serb side and the international community. Cavic also said that all representatives from RS had a unified stance on all issues.

I find the statement strong, powerful and concrete, says Tihic

Pink Natasa Sjeric, BHT – Bosniak member of BiH Presidency and SDA Chair Sulejman Tihic finds signing of the declaration as confirmation of BiH representatives to carry out constitutional changes, especially in terms of state structures. “We have signed the statement on Monday and I find the statement strong, powerful and concrete, which will enable political parties to launch constitutional changes. Unfortunately we failed to agree on concrete issues regarding constitutional solutions since there was no consensus”, said Tihic.

Ivanic says talks on constitutional changes will certainly continue

Pink, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Expectation to introduce one president were unrealistic’, SRNA – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic told SRNA that a joint statement signed by BiH political leaders in Washington expressed commitment to creating conditions for building BiH institutions that can answer the demands and standards of the EU and NATO. “The statement says that we will continue the talks on the Constitution, but stresses that we will keep the Presidency, Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Expectations that one president be elected in BiH, in my opinion, were unrealistic,” said Ivanic. He said that the RS parties still support the three-member Presidency. “There was a demand that the Council of Ministers be renamed into a Cabinet. We support the Council of Ministers and feel that the House of Peoples should exist as well, which could have a more simplified role,” said Ivanic. He said that the joint statement means that the talks will certainly be continued in BiH. Ivanic feels that the most important thing is that there was no pressure from outside, and there were no attempts to impose a solution. He hopes that such a position will remain, “since it would not be good for BiH if the IC were to impose political positions and attempt to impose solutions.” “That would return BiH years into the past, to the pre-war period, for which there is no need or justification,” feels Ivanic.

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘SDA has come to abolish RS, while HDZ is making FBiH’ by Az. K. – PDP President Mladen Ivanic said that parties from the FBiH are responsible for the failure of the Washington negotiations. He added: ‘Representatives of the Serb parties have an impression that SDA President Sulejman Tihic has come convinced that the RS would be abolished in Washington and when he became aware that nothing would come out of it, he left negotiations in an improper way. On the other hand, Croat parties led by HDZ tried to open the talks on establishment of many Federal units in BiH.’ 

OHR: It is up to BiH politicians to resolve issue of constitutional changes ASAP

RHB, Pink – The OHR Spokesperson Mario Brkic presented the OHR stance on the Washington talks on constitutional reform in BiH at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tue4sday. “Constitutional changes do not present a term for integration in Europe. It is about acceptability of BiH’s system in terms of its relation with the EU, great expenses which are coming out as the result of such BiH’s structure. It is up to domestic politicians to solve this issue as soon as possible”, said Brkic.

Bandur ( HNZ) comment on Washington talks

Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Statement harmonized after fifth reading’, by Ivana Rozic – Mate Bandur from the Croat People’s Union (HNZ), who took part in the Washington talks, explains that the documents the BiH political parties signed in Washington means that BiH political parties are dedicated to follow and implement reforms that are necessary for BiH to become a full NATO and EU member. He notes that in order to achieve this, BiH must strengthen state institutions that will be consistent with other member countries of the Euro-Atlantic community and work on protection of human rights. Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘USA will guarantee constitutional changes’, by V. V. – carries Bandur who says that ‘we have firm guarantee that the US Government will issue a separate document by which it will promise its active presence and influence throughout the constitutional reform process”.

DL: Colak was last to sign joint statement, Covic not invited to Washington because of pending proceedings against him

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Changes to constitutional system’, not signed – HDZ’s Barisa Colak was the last one to sign the statement after he got assurances from the US that they would be involved in the future constitutional reforms. The article also reports that the HDZ BiH President, Dragan Covic was not invited to the Washington talks because of judicial proceedings conducted against him. Pink also carried Colak’s statement.

Covic at public debate in Livno: Croats will decide about their destiny; Covic says he is not paying RTV tax until Croat TV is established in BiH

RHB, Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Croats in BiH will decide about their destiny on their own’, by NINA – HDZ organized a public debate in Livno on Tuesday about the constitutional changes. The HDZ President, Dragan Covic, repeated the party was not in favour of cosmetic changes to the constitution. He also noted that the ‘mother of all questions’ was the issue of territorial organization of BiH, which has to be agreed with the other two peoples, stressing that the Croats will this time around decide on their own destiny because the Croats have to consider themselves as a constituent people, not anyone’s Diaspora.  Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Livno is more important to Covic than Dayton’, by Frano Mioc – Covic was asked during the debate about the issue of RTV tax, and he reportedly answered that he did not pay the RTV tax and that he would start paying it when a Croat TV has been established in BiH.

Catholic bishops say DPA prevented just peace in BiH

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘English scenario, Russian protection and American supremacy’, by KTA – Carries an article signed by KTA (Catholic information agency) which says that (Catholic) bishops in BiH believe that the DPA did stop the war in BiH, however it did not enable, but it rather prevented a just peace in BiH. One of claims of the article reads: “If institutional injustice is built into foundations on any one country in the world, as is the case with BiH, it has no future and it cannot survive, even if it has the English scenario, Russian protection and American supremacy behind it”.

Russia says most important thing in BiH is to preserve consensus amongst peoples

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘It is up to peoples in BiH to determine system in the country’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To preserve consent’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Russia supports changes based on Dayton’,SRNA – The Russian Foreign Ministry feels that the proven positive side of the Dayton Accords must serve as the basis for the constitutional process in BiH, as all of its major aims, they being confidence building and the establishment of constructive cooperation among the constituent peoples, are more valid than ever. “It is important for the eventual evolution of the Dayton accords to serve the strengthening of inter-state dialogue, to take into account the complicated realities and challenges of the Balkans,” says a press release. The Russian Foreign Ministry stresses that it is up to the peoples of BiH to arrange their country. “Russia is prepared to continue supporting the strengthening of BiH as a factor of European stability, this to include comprehensive and mutually beneficial Russian-BiH cooperation,” says the press release. It stresses that the 10 years of implementation of the peace agreement have revealed the shortcomings inherent in the Dayton system of state management. “Overly intense IC presence has led to the development of BiH’s political life, to a ‘syndrome of dependence’ on foreign factors. Local initiative is squashed, transfer of responsibility for the future to BiH citizens is very late in coming. Democratic institutions, whose actions are under the supervision of IC structures, are being defamed in the eyes of foreigners,” adds the Russian Foreign Ministry. It says that all of this has led to political debate, both inside BiH and outside, on the possibility of changing the peace agreement and Constitution. “The most important condition for stability in BiH is to preserve the consensus of the BiH parties with respect to the crucial issues of the state’s functioning,” says Russia .

UN Security Council extends EUFOR mandate

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘EUFOR mandate extended’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘EUFOR mission extended’ by AP, Vecernje Novosti pg 15 ‘Extension for EUFOR’ by BETA-AP, FENA – The UN Security Council reminded BiH authorities in New York on Monday evening of their commitments under the Dayton Agreement signed ten years ago, including the hand over of indicted war criminals. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the further implementations of provisions of the Dayton Agreement, which ended the conflict in BiH in 1995. The resolution states that the “primary responsibility” for the further implementation of the Dayton Agreement “rests with the BiH authorities and the further readiness of the international community and leading donors to implement political, military and economic tasks” in the reconstruction of the country. The UN Security Council of Ministers extended the mandate of EUFOR in BiH for another year and welcomed the progress of BiH towards EU membership, ten years after the peace agreement ended the war which divided the country. The Security Council of Ministers also extended the mandate of NATO to assist the EU peacekeeping forces in BiH, which number 6.500 soldiers. The UN Security Council endorsed the resolution on extending the mandate of peacekeeping forces in BiH several hours after the EU foreign affairs ministers approved the start of talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with BiH. The EU stated that the talks would start in Sarajevo on Friday.

Rehn officially informs Terzic of launch of SAA talks with BiH on 25^th November

RHB, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Terzic officially informed of launch of talks with EU’ by Agencies – Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair Tuesday received a letter from Olli Rehn, EU Commission for Enlargement, in which Rehn informs Terzic of decision reached by European Commission, proposing his arrival to Sarajevo on 25^th November should mark the commencement of SAA talks with EU. BiH CoM released a statement saying: “Chairperson Terzic, with delight, accepted this offer and confirmed that BiH talks with EU on SAA can start in Sarajevo on 25^th November.”

New phase of BiH relations with EU commences Friday: BH is prepared for 1^st round of talks

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘BiH is ready for first round of talks’ by M.Kavaz-Sirucic – Daily notes that the history of EU enlargement records no previous case before BiH when recommendation for SAA tlaks was prepared so swiftly. The SAA will be the first agreement with EU, which would mark the transfer of BiH from voluntary into mandatory phase of harmonisation of local legislation, daily ntoes. Osman Topcagic, Director of the BiH Directorate for European Integration, expressed a thrill over EU recommendation for launchment of SAA talks. According to him, BiH is prepared for the first round of talks, which are to commence at the end of January 2006. Topcagic explained that “the first meeting will be dedicated to general issues, initial and final provisions of Agreement, political cooperation with the EU and regional cooperation. We are most certainly prepared to discuss these issues.” According to Inset ‘Reinhardt Priebe on behalf of EC’, Frane Maroevic, Spokesperson of the EC Delegation to BiH, stated that Reinhardt Priebe , Director of the EC Directorate for Western Balkans, will be attending talks on behalf of EC. According to inset ‘BH negotiating team’, the BiH delegation in charge of preparation and running of talks will be consisted of: Adnan Terzic, Lidija Topic, Osman Topcagic and Igor Davidovic. Members of experts groups are still to be elected. Moreover, the BiH Presidency is to accept all the appointments.

Jiří Kudĕla: Experts should be let to deal with negotiations with EU

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Experts should be let to deal with negotiations with EU’ by A. Omeragic – Czech Ambassador to BiH Jiří Kudĕla has stated he recommends to BiH authorities to let experts deal with negotiations on SAA and he also recommends them not to politicize the negotiations without any need. He noted BiH would later need a stronger state government, as well as Ministries that currently do not exist. Although he thinks it would be the best for BiH to be developed as a “citizens’ state of equal-righted people, regardless to which nation they belong”, Kudela believes the Dayton rights should be respected too ‘even in those areas where one of the peoples represents the majority’. With regard to the next HR, Kudela said he hopes Czech candidate, Alexander Vondra, would be appointed to this position, but even if some other candidate, for example Christian Schwartz Schilling, is appointed instead, Kudela says Czech Republic would support BiH in its efforts to join EU.

NN op-ed on SAA talks: chance offered by Europe must be extremely seriously acknowledged

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A European gift’ by Aleksandar Sekulic – Writing about decision of the EU CoM to recommend launchmet of SAA talks with BiH, the author notes this is the most valuable gift BiH could have got on the 10^th anniversary of Dayton Peace Accords, stressing that the chance offered by Europe must be extremely seriously acknowledged and understood, since every minute wasted on this course would cost us a wasted year in achieving the final goal – admission to EU. He concludes that it depends on those running the state on the course to EU when BiH will be admitted to EU, adding there is no time to have second thoughts and stalling.

VL: EU would like to have 5 regions in BiH

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘EU regions are abolishing the Dayton RS’, by Zdenko Jurilj – VL argues that the regionalization of BiH is a plan that needs to be implemented in BiH if the country wants to use pre-accession funds of the EU. VL notes that official Brussels concocted a project entitled ‘BiH to Europe with five regions’ four years ago, whose plan is to economically strengthen the five regions in BiH (Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka, Zenica and Tuzla), which should eventually result in decrease of political influences the current cantons and entities have. VL also notes that the RS authorities sent the EC a letter in which they claimed that the issue of economic regionalization of BiH is a political issue and that the ultimate goal of some parties is not the proclaimed economic progress, but further sidelining of the RS institutions.

Opinion poll in RS about joining EU, NATO

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14 ‘RS: 73 % interviewed persons supports EU’ by F, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Citizens do not want BiH in NATO’ by M. S. – As according to results of the Prime Communications survey, approximately 73,5% of RS citizens support admission of BiH to EU, while 26,5% think BiH should not join EU. 51,2% of citizens think BiH should not join NATO, while 33,9% support the admission to NATO.

Karic: If Kosovo becomes Republic, RS will become local community centre in BiH

Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘To Europe or to war in 2007’ by Dragana Cabarkapa – In a page-long interview to daily, Bogoljub Karic, President of the Serbian Movement of Forces (PSS) and one of leading businessmen in SiCG, speaks of Kosovo, constant divisions, destruction of economy. He makes a reference to RS in the following context: “By accepting the idea that Kosovo should be republic, that RS should be turned into local community center in BiH, the international community is facing with danger to have republic of Baski or Corsica in the future.”

Economic/Social Affairs

FBiH HoR on Energopetrol/Reactions by Hadzipasic, Grahovac, Dzihanovic

RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ’24 sustained votes of SDA saved FBiH Government’ by M. Kukan – A. Dedajic say that representatives of the parties at whose demand an emergency session of the FBiH HoR was convened on Tuesday and who demanded annulment of the FBiH Government decision on Energopterol’s (EP) strategic partner (INA-MOL) remain shocked at the end of the session. DA explains that they did not vote on the FBiH Government’s decision however it was made possible to its members to continue with preparations of the contract on co-capitalization of EP. DA also says that SDA had a crucial role in the whole issue (out of 35 SDA representatives in the FBiH HoR, 24 of them were sustained, while HDZ did not take part in it at all and President of the HDZ Caucus Ivan Madunic announced this scenario and said that HDZ would express its support to the FBiH Government in this way). Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH Government continues talks with INA-MOL’ by S. Sehercehajic also reported on the session.

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘FBiH Government starts with preparation of contract’ – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic stated after the session that it should be waited for the session of the FBiH House of Peoples.

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Obvious manipulation of Parliament’ carries FBiH Deputy Prime Minister Gavrilo Grahovac as saying that the Parliament did not decide anything since the session was run in a way that there was no voting at the FBiH Government’s decision at all. According to Grahovac this shows that it can be manipulated with the Parliament if there is a wish to do so.

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘To sanction criminal activities’ carries FBiH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic as saying that the Parliament actually did not do anything. He added: ‘The attitude of the FBiH Parliament is a serious indicator that this body does not want to take over responsibility for future events in the so-called process of privatization…’

Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Merdzo sold Energopetrol’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Co-capitalization of Energopetrol passed’ by E. Medunjanin also reported on the issue.

DL op-ed on ‘Energopetrol’: Politicians are incapable, looking after their own interests

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Energopetrol’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – commenting on the situation regarding the ‘Energopetrol’ and events in the FBIH HoR, the author says the events showed that BiH politicians have no political culture, that they have no knowledge about what they are supposed to discuss and that they put personal and interests of certain groups before interests of the state, since they have changed opinion regarding the ‘Energopetrol’ issue within a few days.

DL: Japan and Germany want to know how their money was spent in BiH

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 8 ‘Japan and Germany are looking into responsibility of BiH authorities’, by Mensud Zorlak – The Chairman of BiH Parliament’s Commission in charge of investigating how the foreign donors’ money was spent in BiH, Tihomir Gligoric, says there is a possibility that some donor countries, especially the big donors, start audits in order to find how the money they had donated was spent. He explains that it would appear that the Japanese government is the first government to raise the issue because it had sent 600 million KMs worth of donations, adding that the Japanese government is forming a working group that will be sent to BiH. DL also reports that it would appear that EU countries have similar plans, foremost Germany because it donated some 350 million KMs.

OHR: Flouting of audit reports endangers BiH transition process

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘A short breath reactions’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Criminal charges do not follow reports’ not signed,Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Prosecutor’s to follow auditors’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Disrespect towards audit reports jeopardizes BiH’, FENA – While the State and Entity Auditors have started to make a positive impact on the way public money is handled in BiH and the way public companies are run, this impact has not been nearly large enough, OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic said on Tuesday citing remarks made at a conference in Sarajevo on Monday by Patrice Dreiski, Head of the OHR’s Economics Department. “No matter how outrageous the findings – theft, incompetence, mismanagement – the popular indignation that now customarily follows the publication of audit reports appears to last only for a matter of days,” he said “But after the indignation has died down, the politicians, directors of assorted boards and other insiders go back to business as usual”, Dreiski said. Dreiski said that the failure of the audits, till now, to sustain popular indignation and improve the management of government departments and public companies “represents a real danger for BiH’s economic transition as a whole.”

ITA records better results in collection of public revenues in 2005

Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Indirect Tax Authority collected billion and 870 million KMs’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘1,87 billion KMs of revenues collected’, by V. R. – The Indirect Tax Authority is recording a constant increase in collection of public revenues. Namely, it has so far this year collected one billion and 870 million KMs, which is an increase of 11% when compared to the same period from last year when it comes to revenues collected on the account of indirect taxes.

GS splash: RS pensioners urge HR Ashdown to involve in resolving pensioners problems

Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Where is justice, Paddy?’ by R. S. – The article criticizes HR Paddy Ashdown over his failure to react with regard to the issue of payments of pensions in accordance with the place where a pension was earned. It brings the information that approximately 30 million KM will be paid out from RS Pension and Insurance Fund to pensioners who have earned their pensions in the area of F BiH. Chairman of RS Association of Pensioners Rade Rakulj claims HR Ashdown favors the side of F BiH officials and is preventing return of people. Inset ‘Sin’ – Rakulj says it would be fair from HR Ashdown to finally see justice be done prior to his departure from BiH, since he has the power to order F BiH to act in accordance with the decision of the Human Rights Chamber with regard to payment of pensions.

EC’s Daviddi: Free market protects domestic production

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Free market protects domestic production’ by N. Krsman – The deputy Chief of EC Delegation to BiH, Renzo Daviddi, has stated BiH had obliged to liberalize its market and it must fulfill this obligation, however this does not exclude protection of domestic production. During “Protection measures – the only way to protect domestic production” conference, it was emphasized that BiH had adopted legislation that was harmonized with agreements of WTO. Daviddi assessed it was important to prepare the administration in segment of foreign trades, because unprepared and unprofessional administration might cause significant implications in the state. 

Croatian President Mesic on construction of Peljesac bridge

Nacional, front pg splash and pgs 16-18 ‘Building of Peljesac bridge without tender is impermissible’, by Brislav Jelinic – Carries a lengthy interview with Croatian President Stipe Mesic, which is dominated by domestic (Croatian) issues regarding the construction of the Peljesac bridge. Questioned to comment on objections coming from BiH authorities regarding the construction of the bridge, President Mesic says he has always claimed that Croatia should be discussing with its neighbours issues that concern both parties. “In any way, we should inform them what we are doing (…) If we did not solve the issue of Ploce port, and in the meantime we already started building the Peljesac bridge, it is clear that one could expect such reactions from BiH”.

Crime/Terrorism/Security/Legal Proceedings

Swedish prosecutor questions Begtasevic

Dnevni List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Bektasevic’s aids are hiding in Sweden?’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List 5 ‘Where are Bektasevic’s associates’ by V. Rupcic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Swedish prosecutor interrogated Mirsad Bektasevic’ by M. Cubro, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Bektasevic was interrogated’ by Srna – Swedish prosecutor Thomas Lindstrand interrogated Mirsad Bektasevic, a Swedish citizen who was recently arrested in Sarajevo over the suspicion he had participated in preparations of a terrorist attack, at BiH Court on Tuesday.

SD: Possible terrorist targets in BiH were Sarajevo airport, SCG Embassy

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 15 ‘Terrorists prepared attack on airport?’, by Zlatko Tulic – Writing about the recent arrests in BiH that are linked to possible terrorist activities, SD claims to have learned from sources close to police and BiH Court that possible targets were supposed to be the Sarajevo airport and the Serbia and Montenegrin embassy to BiH. Allegedly, these information are being checked in details.

SCG’ Centre for Terrorism warns: BiH in great jeopardy from terrorism

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH in jeopardy from terrorism’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Islamists are still a threat’ by Srna – Executive Director of the SCG Center for Terrorism Issues Zoran Dragisic has stated BiH was in a great jeopardy from terrorism, there are Islamic terrorists in its territory and this is the reason aid in fight against terrorism. He assessed many “sleepers”, who were in the Balkans during the war, had remained in BiH, Kosmet and Macedonia.

BiH Court reaches verdict in organized crime case

Vecernji List, pg 25 ‘Okic got 22 year of prison’, by rs – BiH Court sentenced Ferid Okic and Vesija Fevzija to 22 years and 4 years and two months respectively. They were charged for being involved in a criminal organization, which is the first trials of this type in BiH, and that they were smuggling drugs and silver and kidnapping people.

Miscellaneous

Terzic meets UN officials requesting revision of police decertification

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘It is unacceptable to put the issue of the decertified police officers under carpet’ by S. Numanovic – The Chair of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, today meets the United Nations’ officials, Jean-Marie Guehenno, chief of operations, and Mark Malloch Brown, chief of the UN Secretary General cabinet, to discuss the issue of police officers decertified by the UN International Police Task Former during the UNMBiH mandate. Terzic told Avaz that “we will discuss all decertified police officers, and not only those 150 who filed charges against BiH. The talks with commence with the opinion of the Venice Commission.” In case UN doesn’t accept the recommendation by the Venice Commission to establish the commission for revision of the decertification process, Terzic comments he is afraid that all 800 decertified police officers would file charges against the UN. “I don’t think that this international organization would want something like this.”

Covic says he had not other chance but to exclude Raguz, Merdzo, Ljubic

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Covic: Raguz, Merdzo and Ljubic forced us to exclude them from the party’ by F. Vele – HDZ BiH leader Dragan Covic comments for DA that Martin Raguz, Bozo Ljubic and Josip Merdzo literary forced him and the party to bring decision to exclude them. “When somebody acts [like they did],.. if you want to keep the party together, you have to show it has organized statutory activities, thus this was necessary,” says Covic who also rejected to comment to the accusations that his election was orchestrated. 

CBC Education Minister: Will of parents is holy letter to me

Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Mother tongue is holy letter to me’, by Ana Drmac – carries an interview with recently appointed Education Minister in Central Bosnia Canton, Branko Golub, who says his first task is to visit all ‘two schools under one roof’ schools in the canton and get acquainted with the real situation. As for his future plans, he stresses: “I know that I will respect the parents’ wishes when it comes to language that is used in classes. Curriculum they (parents) choose will be the holy letter to me”.

Hayat on alleged dispute between OHR and CoM re police ranks

Hayat Asim Beslija – The BiH Council of Ministers tried to adopt regulation book on police ranks, regardless of the fact that it is not in line with law on BiH police officers. Allegedly, the regulation book should allow individuals, who got promoted under suspicious circumstances and without any qualifications, to keep their positions. The OHR was the first to react. It suspended adoption of the regulation book, by saying that it is not in line with the law on BiH police officers. “The regulation book, proposed by the Ministry, contains regulations which would allow persons, without police experience to be ranked and by this the law’s intention has been violated. The OHR will continue insisting on having the law on BiH police officers’ regulations consistently implemented which present the base of professional and efficient police work”, said the OHR Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic. Reporter says that a lot more has been hiding behind the OHR’s words, since it was obvious that certain highly ranked police officials, who were building their careers without respecting any kind of criteria, were trying to be protected. BiH Deputy Minister of Security Dragan Mektic says that there are such persons in police, but that the exact number of them remains unknown. Mektic says that all of it happened due to the lack of criteria, a long before. “Such person should not be eliminated from the position by the regulation book on ranks, but due to the fact that he/she lacks necessary qualification”, says Mektic. According to Mektic, dispute between the OHR and BiH Council of Ministers occurred due to criteria on initial rank. The OHR stated that even different kinds of professionals, while entering police forces, should be given the lowest rank, regardless of their experience, while the CoM believed that they should be ranked according to their experience and qualification.

ICRC Task Force on missing persons: Destiny of approximately 14 thousand people unknown

Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘The truth is the sole consolation’ by N.Zelenovic – Tuesday’s session of the Task Force of the ICRC, held in Sarajevo, released information that as till 1 November 2005, the total of 21446 claims have been filed with the ICRC for search after missing persons. Out of this number, the total of 13868 claims are still unresolved. According to Martin Ney, SDHR, Tuesday stated that the number of approximately 14 thousand families, who are still waiting for information about their beloved ones, proves that appropriate institutions failed to meet their duties stipulated by the Dayton Agreement.