| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Protest in Aluminijum | BiH HoP on taxation | Self-promotion in Fed HoR | Djindjic trial stopped |
| National prefixes in media | Fed HoR for pensioners | Law on indirect taxation | RSNA Session Report |
| Terzic’s interview | RS budget rebalance | License for Eronet | RSNA Live report |
| Award Program | Trial on Djindjic murder | Uncontrolled construction | Protests in Banja Luka |
| Oslobodjenje | By the end of the year, an overdue pension will not be paid out; Zitouni M’hamed was in the secret shipment; Protests of Aluminij workers: Politicians are conflicting us |
| Dnevni Avaz | Nothing of a half of the pension?; Orton about the IC: In BiH they say one thing, and do the other |
| Dnevni List | Aluminij: Crisis surrounding BiH giant solved; International supervisor comes to Mostar? |
| Vecernji List | Fifth composition of Croatian Parliament: Parliament a mixture of nex and experienced politicians; Aid to Vares Croats delivered |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | After bloody weekend and wave of crime, situation in Mostar becomes dramatic: Police calls on citizens to help |
| Glas Srpske | Mladen Ivanic denies accusations by Sulejman Tihic: Bigger catholic than Pope |
| Nezavisne Novine | Panel of Judges of Special Court in Belgrade: Trial against suspects for murder of Djindjic commenced; Jakob Finci: Peoples are jeopardised while their politicians co-operate well; Sarajevo: BiH authorities took over returns’ responsibilities from OHR |
| Blic | Mila Djindjic: Zoran meant everything to me; Dragan Cavic: The campaign on the Dayton revision has been ordered; Unbelievable: 10 non-working days in January |
Economic and social issues | |
| BiH HoR fails to agree on Indirect Taxation Law
| BHTV 1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Brcko: a threat to the Law on Indirect Taxation’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Text of the Law on Indirect Taxation not harmonized’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘No agreement on number of regional centres of ITA’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Number of centres marks the break up’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘State postponed payment of its debts for a while yesterday’, Blic pg 12 ‘Disputable fifth center’ – The delegates of the BiH House of Peoples have on Monday adjourned its session, as the joint Commission consisting of representatives from both Houses, failed to reach an agreement on harmonized text of the Law on Indirect Taxation. Namely, the delegates failed to agree on only one amendment out of 26, dealing with the number of regional centres for indirect taxation. Four centres were envisioned in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla, however disputable amendments also foreseen the fifth centre in Brcko, which is supported by Serb delegates. Ilija Filipovic, member of the joint Commission of the Houses of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, expressed his hope that consensus will be reached. The Commission is unanimous in suggesting to the House of Peoples to postpone the discussion on this issue. The meeting of the commission was also attended by the Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays addressed delegates in attempt to encourage representatives to pass the law. Mustafa Pamuk, Commission member warned ”by not adopting this Law BiH will loose a lot”. The BiH House of Peoples scheduled the next session for December 29, at the same time when House of Representatives is scheduled to meet as well. Commission is also expected to finalize its work in the next six days. FTV – Member of the Commission Zoran Spasojevic commented that the “law could not be passed at the moment, but we’ve got information that High Representative will not impose the law, so we need to revise it at some stage later.” European Commission clearly signalled that any further assistance for the Indirect Taxation Administration is conditioned with 4 regional office, regardless to where they are located. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Gligoric: placed Brcko in RS’ – Tihomir Gligoric, Serb member of the Commission and in support of Brcko as the fifth regional centre, commented for Avaz: ‘The fact is that in this way we have three regional centres in Federation and one in RS, and by including Brcko we would achieve entity balance.’ Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘OHR: Agreement by 29 December’ – Office of the High Representatives stressed that the Law has to be adopted by the end of year if BiH was to stay within timeframe which enables introduction of VAT in 2006. |
| Avaz: EC demands ITA and VAT regulations to be passed | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘European Commission demands urgent measures’ – Daily claims to learn that Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic received the letter from Eneko Landaburu, Director of the European Commission Foreign Affairs Directorate, which inform BiH that EC expects from BiH Parliament to adopt All necessary legal regulations for Indirect Taxation and Value Added Tax in next six months. Lamdaburu outlined exact timeline of expected actions, stressing that there were enough of postponements. |
| RS NA adopts budget, discusses economic policy | RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Rebalance of the entity’s budget adopted’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘2004 is crucial for Republika Srpska’ Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Accelerated steps next year’, Blic pg 13 ‘Economy falling down, poverty rises’, Vecernje Novosti pg 6 ‘Banja Luka – the capital?’ – The RS National Assembly adopted on Monday the Rebalance of the Budget for 2003, which has been increased by 2 percent than the planned amount and is estimated at one billion and 17 million KM. RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic presented to the RS National Assembly’s representatives the document ‘The Basics of the RS Economy policy for 2004’. Mikerevic said that the economy policy should be implemented as of the first day in 2004. The policy envisage the growth in GDP for 6-7% and inflation will be 7%. ”We have no right to be pessimists, we have real potential, too big black-market and if we can not fight it significantly then this Government should not exists.” -stated Mikerevic. Milorad Dodik of SNSD said that the growth of salaries and pensions were not very clear in this Policy Paper. Slobodan Popovic, of SDP objected to the way that fight against crime is presented in the Economy paper. The session will continue tomorrow. The agenda also included the proposal by SNSD for the changes to RS Constitution, namely to its part regarding RS capital city. SNSD demanded Banja Luka to be declared as Republika Srpska’s capital instead of Serb Sarajevo. FTV – Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic proposed economic policies for next year and promised the emphasize will be on pensioners and health workers. BHTV 1 – Mikerevic explained: “We have resources and we need to include large segment of gray economy…this government does not deserve to stay in power if we can’t provide better living for our citizens.” CRHB – The increase of salaries in RS administration will be possible after the RS Government dismisses 4000 workers by April 2004, stated the Prime Minister of RS Dragan Mikerevic. Mikerevic added that his Government would provide severance pays for the dismissed police officers and solders in the amount of 6000 KM per person. |
| RS Ass. of families of fallen soldiers dissatisfied with budget
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Increase of budget funds or protests’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘2004 is crucial for Republika Srpska’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Less money, more concerns’ – Dissatisfied with the plan of RS budget for the next year, the Association of the families of the fallen and captured soldiers and civilians held a protest of warning in front of RS Parliament building in Banja Luka on Monday. The budget resources for this category of people have unjustly cut down from BAM 105 million (as this year) to 101 million. Radojka Boric, President of the Association, said that they are specially unsatisfied that the invalid pensions will be decreased, and they are of the opinion that the Budget should be 130 KMs. The Association announced it will hold protests every day if their requests are not fulfilled. |
| FBIH Government denied possibility to pay out pension by the end of year
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje cover pg story ‘By the end of the year, there will be no payment of the overdue pension’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Urgent measures for taking care of veterans’, Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Nothing of the half pension?’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Pensioners left without promised pension’, Vecernji List front ‘Uncertain payment of debts to pensioners in 2004 too’, pg 2 ‘Pensioners will wait?’ – FBiH House of Representatives at its session held on Monday approved proposed measures for improvement of pensioner’s welfare. These measures also include payment of an overdue pension or at least one half till end of year, however FBiH Government officials stated that this would not be possible to do in such short time left. FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic stated that paid out of the pensions ‘is not realistic to be completed by end of year, since it is not based on current law.’ FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic underlined that the ‘pensions can not be paid without rebalance of the budget and for that purpose the Parliament should be in permanent session till end of December.’ At the session, HoR was also scheduled to discuss the housing problems of the war veterans, however the Government was tasked to propose measures before final discussion. FTV by Martina Kristo – Report comments that instead of constructive discussion about the problems of pensioners and war veterans, FBiH HoR was misused for self-promotion of some representatives. Federation Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said that the government was trying to fulfil demands for better living standards of pensioners, but it did not want to give unrealistic promises and added: ‘We have managed to negotiate with IMF to pay one half of an overdue pension untill end of year, but such action requires rebalance of the budget.’ |
| Protests of Aluminij workers | CRHB, Dnevni List page 5 ‘Workers send message: Do not quarrel us with miners!’, Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 17 ‘Idle workers do not let us work’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Workers of Aluminij want continuation of work’ – About one thousand members of the Independent Trade Unions of the Aluminij company in Mostar, together with the representatives of sub-contractors of this company, came out in front of the office building on Monday and held a one-hour warning protest rally. The cause of the rally is the threat to discontinue the supply of electricity to the Aluminij and the consequent shutdown of the company. Addressing the rally the president of the Independent Trade Unions, Miroslav Zelenika, said that the workers will for the continuation of the production. The Assembly of Aluminij’s shareholders also sent an open letter to the FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic warning him of possible negative consequences in case that Aluminij company is shut down. The open letter also says that they will consider Elektroprivreda of BiH and the FBiH Government responsible for consequences and material damage caused in case that Aluminij stops its production and they will demand compensation for such situation by using legal means. Oslobodjenje cover ‘Politicians are conflicting us’, pg 3 ‘Politicians are conflicting us on the ethnic basics’ – Daily claims that 200 workers were protesting. |
| Meeting on Aluminij fails | FTV – FBIH Minister for Industry, Mining and Energy Izet Zigic met with representatives of the BiH Elektroprivreda, HZ HB Elektroprivreda, Aluminij Mostar and coalmines, in a trail to discuss the options for supplies of electric energy. However the dispute between Aluminij and Elektroprivreda on the price has not been settled. Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Kreso refused to sell cheaper electricity to Aluminij’ – Zigic commented for Oslobodjenje that the agreement failed as the parties could not agree on the price, and the issue has been returned to the government which should discuss it again on the session scheduled for Tuesday. Minister added that the Government will have to chose between politics and economics. Izet Zigic was charged by the FBIH Government to be a moderator in a dispute between Aluminij and Elektroprivreda BiH. Dnevni List front ‘Aluminij: Crisis surrounding BiH giant solved’, pgs 4&5 ‘Aluminij continues with production’ by Miso Relota – DL were told by the FBiH Government that the assessment is that there is a possibility to provide additional electricity from the thermal power-plant, which includes a risk in supplying of electricity, the risk which has to be taken by the Elektroprivredas and “Aluminij”. DL also learns concrete conclusions from the meeting was for the FBiH Government to take upon itself to make the tariff prices of electricity within next three months. DL goes on to say that one thing is certain, namely that “Aluminij” will be getting the electricity most likely at 27 Euros per MWh and that the FBiH Government would cover the difference in price of electricity for “Aluminij” and the market price. |
| CRA warns CoM over deadline on GSM licence: Eronet could be closed down | FTV, Dnevni List front, pg 2 ‘Discussion on GSM license for whole of BiH’ – The Communications Regulatory Agency [CRA] has sent a letter to the BiH Council of Ministers reminding on deadline for third GSM licence. The letter reads that Action plan on issuing third GSM license has not been respected and CRA will introduce a ban for Eronet if CoM doesn’t make any decision on the premium of the licence and operator before January 1, 2004. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Establish GSM price or we close Eronet down!’ – CRA Spokeswoman Amela Odobasic reminded that according to the action plan agreed with the CoM, that body was supposed to make a decision on the price of premium by 25 November. In addition she said that CoM also had an opportunity to extend the deadline for issuing third GSM licence which would also postpone the process of closing Eronet down. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Eronet will be banned from further work as of 1 January?’, ‘Basic: Today we determine the price’ – Deputy BiH Transport and Communications Minister Haris Basic stated that price for GSM licence will be determined at the session of CoM today. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Licence to third GSM operator will cost BAM 150 million’ – Branko Dokic, BiH Minister of Traffic and Communication, confirmed that the licence for a third GSM operator will cost BAM 150 million at most. |
| Terzic on Free Trade Agreements | BHTV 1 – The Free Trade Agreements with neighbouring countries are likely to be postponed. Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated: “We’ve got technical problem since governments in Croatia and Serbia are in technical mandate, so we were not able to discuss FTAs with them…CoM will postpone effectiveness of these agreement for three months and trade regime will remain the same”. He added that in the special circumstances, FTAs could be suspended in cases where the economic situation is very difficult, as it is the situation in BiH. |
| Terzic on Ploce Port | CRHB – Adnan Terzic, the Chairman of the BiH CoM, in an interview to Podgorica based Pobeda spoke about the relations between BiH and Croatia, and on the the issue of the Ploce port. Terzic confirmed that if no agreement is reached with Croatia on Ploce, the BiH will look in the market for the best possible conditions of the Port usage. ”If it is shown that Ploce port deal is not good, we will have to turn to Bar port” – said Terzic, emphasising that the roads are the greatest problem if the Bar port is to be used. Asked what is the obstacle in the relations with Croatia, Terzic responded that the economic cooperation is an obstacle, adding that if Croatia continues to observe BiH like a source from which they can take money, which Croatia can do without problems for next year or two, but then money will dry up because BiH economy will fall apart. “I am of the opinion that the Free Trade Agreement can in addition complicate things” – said Terzic. Positive trend in the relations with Serbia and Montenegro has been noted according to Terzic. |
Political issues | |
| Cavic against change of DPA
| RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Declaration was ordered’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Republika Srpska President opposes to Dayton revision’, Blic pg 13 ‘Cavic: the revision of the Dayton has been ordered’, Vecernje Novosti pg 6 ‘The Dayton remains’ – The RS President Dragan Cavic has warned again on Monday that the Declaration signed by a group of European Parliamentarians (which demands revision of Dayton Peace Agreement) has destabilising effect and re-opens issues that led to war in BiH. In a press release issued by his Cabinet, Cavic said that the Declaration has been lobbied and creates an illusion to some political parties in BiH, regarding possible establishment of centralised state without entities and attempts to qualify the improvements in BiH since the war is over as failure. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Contribution to the destabilisation of BiH’ – ‘We reject non-truths and we do not accept such initiatives, and we warn these and other politicians from abroad that the future of BiH will not be determined with their will, and contrary to the will of people, but by those elected representatives of the people, through mutual agreement which affirms the constituent peoples, entity and BiH.’ – reads the statement from Dragan Cavic. truth |
| CoP to discuss Serbs vital national interest | CRHB, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Brake on training’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Vital national interest of Serb people jeopardised’ – Momir Malic, Co-Chairperson of the Republika Srpska Council of Peoples, at session of this body’s Presidency on Monday, raised the issue on violation of vital national interest of Serb people. The procedure followed the adoption of the Law on changes and addenda to the Laws on defence and army, which, according to Malic is in violation of Republika Srpska Constitution. |
| SPRS demands abolishment of FBiH entity | Vecernje Novosti pg 6 ‘RS and – 10 cantons’, RTRS – ‘The Social Party of RS will in agreement with its coalition partners start the initiative for abolition of the FBiH. The initiative will start next year in the Assembly of RS and Parliamentary Assembly of BiH’ – said Petar Djokic, President of the Socialist Party of RS. ‘This initiative means the future set up of BiH with 10 cantons and RS and all this is within the Constitutional Changes, the joint interests would be realised through the joint state bodies. In this way all constituent people would be equal” – stated Petar Djokic at the press conference on Monday in Trebinje. |
| Terzic met EU officials | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Implementation of 16 conditions depends on BH authorities’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Authorities must take over responsibilities for reforms’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘European Union wants to continue co-operation’ – The EU Troika [Greece, Italy and Ireland] ambassadors in Sarajevo met BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic to discuss the best way for the BiH Government, Parliament and political parties to secure significant progress in the implementation of the 16 demands identified in the Feasibility Study. At a meeting, it was pointed out that European doors were undoubtedly open to BiH and that the outcome of the Feasibility Study took into account the progress that had been achieved so far by the BiH government. It was further pointed out that the time span for the completion of this process depended on the state and entities’ governments and on the dynamics of implementing the priorities set out in the Feasibility Study, says a statement by the Italian embassy. The EU Troika also stressed that It is a task of the government to determine the schedule and division of responsibility in complete agreement with other institutions at state level and that of the entities which will secure progress. The EU will continue to observe this process with great interest and support it with the firm conviction that essential progress will be accomplished. |
| Ivanic vs Tihic on visit to Israel | Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Bigger catholic than Pope’ – Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, told GS that BiH Presidency, not its Bosniak member, Sulejman Tihic, should decide what states Foreign Minister would visit or which states he would not visit. Ivanic denied accusations by Tihic that BiH Presidency did not provide an assent to his visit to Israel. Ivanic furtehr stressed that BiH Presidency has ever so far criticised any move he made as Foreign Minister. He noted that Tihic had so far criticised the running of foreign policy. On this, Ivanic said that he had made some moves, which were not in personal interest of Tihic, but instead in BiH interests. Ivanic concluded that in his actions, Tihic attempted to be a bigger catholic than Pope. Patriot pgs 6-8, pg 46 ‘Tihic’s behaviour is inappropriate and contradictory with BiH interests’ by Slobodan Vaskovic – Following the widely debated trip to Israel, BH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic in an interview to Patriot magazine stressed that: “During meetings, I presented BiH views, which support the rights of both, Israeli and Palestinian peoples to have their states. The only true way to achieve this is through agreement.” On Sulejman Tihic criticism of his trip, Ivanic says that this visit was of crucial importance for a long-term international policy of BiH. “Such behaviour is absolutely inappropriate and contradictory with the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, Tihic attempted to impose a kind of parallel authority – an attempt to place official institutions of BiH on one side, and his personal influence and position on another”, stresses Ivanic. |
| DL on Mostar issues | Dnevni List front, pg 7 ‘International supervisor comes to Mostar?’ by De. L. – DL reports that the Chairman of Mostar Commission, Norbert Winterstein, in his proposal of future statute for Mostar that he submitted to the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, recommended an introduction of a supervisor, who would facilitate the implementation of the new statute for Mostar. On top of that, Chairman Winterstein recommend changes to the Constitution of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), which would enable that Mostar is no longer a special case in the state-legal set-up of the FBiH and enable that the Mostar model be applied in other multi-ethnic cities in the FBiH. Regarding the implementation of the new statute for Mostar, DL says Winterstein says the implementation must be completed by municipal elections scheduled for next year. Furthermore, DL says it is not yet known whether the OHR will monitor the implementation through its Mostar office (OHR South) or whether a special person will be appointed to deal with the issue. Dnevni List pg 7 ‘‘Cosmetic changes’ of democracy on case of Mostar re-organization’ – Vice President of the BiH HoR Martin Raguz stated: “There is still no enough strength either in the IC or the OHR to resolve the Mostar issue completely in a principled way, that is, through application of democratic standards, through the abolishment of parallelisms, creation of one functional city whole within which the protection of national interests of all those who live in Mostar will be secured, but the solution that will not be an obstacle for high-quality functioning of the city….” |
Return issues | |
| First regional centre for return opened | FTV, RTRS, BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘More responsibilities for BiH authorities’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 6 ‘BiH authorities took over returns’ responsibilities from OHR’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘BiH has not enough funds to reconstruct housing facilities’ – BiH Minister for Refugees and Human Rights Mirsad Kebo and the Principal Deputy High Representatives Donald Hays opened the first regional centre in Sarajevo, which will monitor the return process. In addition to this, there will three more centres in Mostar, Tuzla and Banja Luka. Minister Kebo stated that the “process of property return is going well and rate is already over 90%”. These centres will enable close monitoring of the process and for local authorities to take full control. Donald Hays: “Over one million people already returned, but international community will not renounce until last person comes back home.” |
| Komarica on return of Croats | Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘3000 Croats returned to Banjaluka out of 80 thousand’, Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘There are almost no Croats in Banja Luka’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Number of returnees keeps decreasing’, Vecernji List front, pg 5 ‘There are almost no Croats in Banja Luka any longer’ – Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica held a press conference during which he warned of an extremely poor return of Croats to the area of Banja Luka, as well as, to the Republika Srpska. Komarica also said: “Some representatives of the International Community wanted to discredit my efforts exerted at the level of Europe and even before the Pope when the return of displaced persons not only of Croats but of Bosniaks and Serbs as well, is in question. However, this is about minor figures who failed to prevent the Pope’s coming to Banja Luka.” |
Judiciary | |
| OHR on pressure against judiciary
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘To respect the principle of independency’, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘OHR on independence of Police and judiciary’ – BiH faces a choice – either it can go back to the days when politicians interfered in, and sought to control, the work of the police and the judiciary, or it can respect the principle of the independence of the police and the judiciary and move forward towards Europe, OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic told FENA today responding to how does OHR view complaints against the work of High Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils. |
| Tihic met with VKBI, discussed Bosniak representation in judiciary | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Mutual concern over inequitably of Bosniaks’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Concern because of the breach of Constitution’ – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic on Monday met with the delegation of the Council Congress of Bosniac Intellectuals (VKBI) in order to discuss the activities and problems of the Council. Expressing support to Council’s activities, Tihic congratulated the 11th anniversary of VKBI’s existence, emphasising the significance of co-operation with other non-governmental organisations such as the Serb Citizens’ Council and the Croat National Council, and others. Interlocutors also raised concerns about the violating of constitutional decrees on equitability of the constituent peoples, i.e. to the inequitable treatment of Bosniacs in security and judicial bodies. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘In Srebrenica, Trebinje, Foca, Sokolac, Vlasenica, B. Novo, Modrica… all judges are Serbs!’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘To initiative discussion on the position of Bosniaks in judiciary and police’ – articles dealing with Bosniak representatives in judiciary and police. |
| Orton critical of IC
| Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Orton: International Community was exerting pressure against me’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘People from the international community talk one, and do other thing’ – BiH Ombudsman for Human Rights Frank Orton on Monday held farewell breakfast with the journalist. Orton mentioned the ‘silence of the administration’, which often slowed down efforts to resolve appeals sent by BiH citizens to the BiH Ombudsmen Office. About the behaviour of international officials in BiH he said that in practice he encountered cases where their actions contradicted proclaimed principles. In this context he warned of “double standards” and stressed that representatives of the international community in BiH are responsible to act in accordance with principles they publicly proclaim, which concern rule of law and the general respect of human rights. Asked to comment the independency of his work, Orton responded that there were pressures: ‘It happened with some officials from the international community. For example, one official told me that I have to work in a way he suggests. They also minded that I did not show more cooperation with them in the story on merging entities’ with state institution of the ombudsmen. Therefore I understand the disappointment of BiH citizens who listen that people from the IC think one, and do another thing.’ However at the end he stressed that his job was not to ‘monitor IC, even though it frustrated me.’ |
War crimes | |
| EUPM denies RS Police’s trial to arrest Karadzic was ‘clumsy’ | Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Dnevni Avaz’s writings not correct’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘This was the very first trial of RS police to arrest a war crimes suspect’ – EUPM issued a press release following articles published during the weekend in Dnevni Avaz daily and taken from London based Times magazine, which accuses EUPM for the failure to have Radovan Karadzic arrested in the recent action. The article refers to the operation as ‘clumsy’, which EUPM strongly denies saying that RS police professionally conducted the operation in Bijeljina, underlying that this was the very first trial of RS police to arrest the war crimes suspects. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Clumsy denials from EUPM’ – In addition to publishing an entire press release by EUPM which denies Avaz’s articles on recent action with an aim to arrest top war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic which article referred to as clumsy, Avaz’s journalist Sead Numanovic stressed that everything daily wrote was taken from the Times magazines, as it was said. In addition, Numanovic says that EUPM respond was also clumsy. |
| SCG representative on lawsuits
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Dispute to be ended through agreement between politicians’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘It would be logical for politicians to agree on lawsuit against SCG’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Resolve lawsuits of BiH and Croatia against S&M through agreement’ – Representative of Serbia and Montenegro before the ICTY in the Hague Tibor Varadic stated that it would be ‘logical’ for BiH and Croatian lawsuits against SCG are resolved through the agreement between the politicians. ‘These disputes are actually the continuation of the conflicts and the continuation of the something that was overcame. It would be logical to end facing nations and states opposite to each other and to concentrate to the responsibilities of the individuals’, stated Vadaric in an interview to Novi Sad based Gradjanski list. |
| Srebrenica Woman welcome Ashdown urging Srebrenica Commission to finalize its work | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘From RS Commission we expect truth’ – The Srebrenica and Zepa Mothers Association welcomes the decision of High Representative Paddy Ashdown requesting the Srebrenica Commission established by the RS Government to complete and presents results of its work by April 14 2004. “We think that it is high time to say the truth. We can now only expect the High Representative to use his authority and force RS authorities to do exactly this even though we expect more politics than reality from their side because they will try to avoid the truth on what happened in Srebrenica in July 1995”, Association President Munira Subasic told FENA. She also welcomed the appointment of the Smail Cekic, director of the Institute for Crimes Against Humanity and International Law and ICMP Head Gordon Bacon as members to the Commission. |
| BH Human Rights Chamber orders RS to provide with information on missing | FTV – BiH Human Rights Chambers ordered RS authorities to provide all information on missing persons form Vlasenica, Rogatica, Bratunac and to disclose the locations of the mass graves. In addition, RS government should pay 300 thousands KM for Institute for the missing. In reference to request of families of 13 BiH Army soldiers, who were arrested by HVO in Mostar, the Chamber similarly ordered the Federation to provide information and, if they are dead, to pay 100 thousand KM for the Institute. |
Security | |
| Update on Zitouni arrest | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘SFOR analyses confiscated material’ – SFOR has reported that M’hamed Zitouni, BiH citizen of Algerian citizenship arrested in Travnik on Sunday, has been in a safe, undisclosed location. Members of his families will be able to contact him very soon. Handing him over to BiH authorities depends on ongoing investigation and evidences found. Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘M’hamed Zitouni was in secret shipment’ – Daily claims that it mentioned Zitouni for the first time mentioned in its issue published in November 2000, as one of the 103 Algerian whom FBiH Interior Ministry allegedly issued illegal ID cards. |
| Ivanic on Intelligence Law | Patriot pgs 6-8, pg 46 ‘Tihic’s behaviour is inappropriate and contradictory with BiH interests’ – In an interview to Patriot, BH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic stated that the BiH Intelligence Law, that he could not have approved its consideration at BiH Parliament before the entity parliaments took a stance on it. He still thinks BiH Parliament cannot discuss this Law (regardless of the fact that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, forwarded it for parliament procedure), since entity Parliaments have not discussed it. Another objection he had on this Law is the fact that the Law does not include the term “entity” anywhere in its content, which actually marks annulment of entity institutions. |