Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 23 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| HR on Russian Foreign Ministry | BiH HoP in session |
| McShanesupports HR’s decision | EUFOR inspects military facilities |
| SDS demands Kovac’s resignation | Need for flour industry protection |
TV news broadcast on 22 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Use p of pyrotechnics | Karadzic’s letter to RTRS | SDS Main Board in session | Matijasevic/ police reform |
| Op ‘Harvest’ in Mostar | Reactions to crisis at CoM | BIH HoR in session | Karadzic’s letter? |
| BIH HoR in session | Ferhadija: trial against RS | Terzic on reform process | |
| FBIH HoR in session | Serbian Parlt on ‘chetniks’ | EC on HR’s measures | HR on political situation |
| Oslobodjenje | Citizens of Bosnian Krajina demanding 1 million KM from RS; Paravac’s resignation not demanded; HDZ demands from BiH Presidency to protect Dragan Covic |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic: Attacking me, they revenge to Ashdown; Verdict against Vuksic eradicated; Sulejman Tihic invited Serbs to return to Jajce |
| Dnevni List | |
| Vecernji List | Price of electricity will be 30 % higher in 2005 |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | 11 branded from |
| Nezavisne Novine | Darko Matijasevic: Some Hague indictees want to surrender; SDS call on Minister Kovac again to tender resignation; Russian Foreign Ministry: The change of |
| Glas Srpske | Raising political temperature in Republika Srpska: A letter of false Radovan; Dragan Cavic: Ill intention |
| EuroBlic | Ashdown’s penalties have jeopardised the RS MoI; SNSD: Dodik as Premier; Serbs and Croats do not want to be Bosnians |
| Vecernje novosti | Humanitarian action in Srbac: Children desirous of everything |
| Nacional | Serbs are cowards and I will oppress them easily; Alleged letter of Karadzic: Brothers and sisters |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| British Foreign Ministry supports HR measures
| RHB at 12.00 – British Deputy Foreign Minister Denis McShane supports the actions taken by the HR last week. He underlined that the measures were designed to uphold the |
| SDS calls on PIC to stop pressures on RS
| SRNA news agency – SDS issued an official press statement following the meeting of its Main Board calling on the Peace Implementation Council to stop further pressures by the IC in BiH against elected representatives and the institutions of RS. Conclusions of the meeting stress that “it became unbearable and humiliating for breaches of the human rights and general freedoms and political violence to have a legality of any international representatives.” |
| SDS for joint work of parties from RS
| ONASA news agency – SDS believes that “an agreement in principle of parties from the RS and their joint work… is a condition for overcoming the crisis and the basis for the protection of constitutional competencies of the RS and BiH from unprincipled and tendentious pressures.” SDS said it will also candidate a person for a delegate in the BiH HoP instead of Nado Radovic and it accepted the resignation of RS PM Dragan Mikerevic. |
| EUFOR continues inspection into military facilities | BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – EUFOR continued inspections of military facilities, said EUFOR representatives in |
| BiH Farmers’ Association criticises work of Foreign Trade Ministry | BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – BiH Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Ministry has done nothing in the past period to protect domestic flour industry, according to BiH Farmers’ Association President Ranko Bakic. In a letter sent to BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, Bakic emphasized that such the inactivity of the competent ministry might lead to a total destruction of this economic sector in BiH. |
Political crisis in RS/BiH authorities | |
| Terzic on situation in CoM
| BHT 1 by Marina Boskovic– Chairman of BIH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic has not yet put the resignation of the BIH Minister of Transport and Communications, Brako Dokic, into procedure. Reporter comments that Terzic optimistically announced that the new session of BIH CoM will be held next Tuesday, adding he expects all Ministers to appear. Asked about the announced resignation of Justice Minister, Slobodan Kovac, Terzic said that it depends on possible collective resignation of Serb Ministers not excluding the possibility of both Dokic and Kovac staying in CoM. Terzic commented: “This is a matter of political agreement. I want to hold the session of CoM on Tuesday, and I want to see who is going to come. After that, we will make further steps in accordance to law.” While the future of BIH CoM is still uncertain, Terzic assured that the reform process would continue. However, Ashdown believes that the fulfilment of tasks from the Feasibility Study has become problematic. Ashdown stated that BIH’s way to EU could become significantly delayed if the crisis should continue. RTRS – also brings information on CoM session on 28 December. |
| Terzic: reforms must continue
| Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on front, ‘Illegally gained property will not be confiscated’ by D.Polovina-Mandic – Taking about the processes of reforms in BiH, Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that everything goes according to the plan. He added: ‘It is important for me that all laws and decisions, that we passed, and there have been over 1200 of them in these 2 years, were passed with full consent of representatives of the Serb people and none decision was passed contrary to the will of the RS Government.’ RTRS, BHT1, FTV – Terzic states the same. |
| Terzic: ‘Politicians from RS want to revenge to Ashdown through attacks against me’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Politicians from RS want to revenge to Ashdown through attacks against me’, mentioned on cover ‘They are revenging Ashdown by attacking me’ by S. Numanovic – BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic considers a campaign against him launched by some politicians from RS including SNSD leader Milorad Dodik an obvious attempt to transfer all the problems to CoM i.e. the state level. “The whole world has marked exactly the RS, its government and politicians as the only problem due to which BiH has not joined Partnership for Peace,” Terzic said in an interview with the daily. “Creating an issue of Terzic actually represents a response to (High Representative Paddy) Ashdown for what he has done. Since they (the politicians from RS) know we have established good relations through (attacking) me they want to revenge to Ashdown,” emphasized Terzic. |
| Ashdown on resignations of RS politicians
| BHT 1 – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in a telephone interview to BHT 1, emphasized that he has completed the main part of his job by making the decision on measures against Republika Srpska, adding it is now up to local politicians to solve the crisis. Ashdown further comments: “I think we’re forgetting the true reason why all of this happened and what is the essence of the problem. This has nothing to do with where I am at the moment. It only has something to do with the fact that RS has failed to arrest the war crime suspects in the last nine years.” RTRS by Daliborka Predragovic– Ashdown, in a telephone interview to RTRS, added that the latest resignations of RS representatives will not cause serious political crises in BiH, but will slow down reform processes. “First of all, I don’t think that this is a crisis. I think that this is an interruption in carrying out of reforms. For a long time CoM hasn’t worked in that field and a result of which is that reforms leading towards EU and NATO have not been carried out,” said HR. |
| OHR: Ministers who resigned must attend the CoM sessions
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ministers who resigned must attend sessions’ by S,N. – Regarding the announcements by some Ministers who resigned from their posts that they will be coming to their offices but that they will not be participating in the work of the Council of Ministers, the OHR warns that such the behavior means violation of the Law on CoM. “One of the main principles the governments have to fulfill is that they are fully functional. That includes existence of a composition, which will ensure the government to be able to make decisions. Citizens must have the government all the time. In that context and on the basis of the Law on CoM, this means that the members of the body who resigned must fulfill all of its obligations including the participation at CoM sessions until the new Ministers are appointed,” Chief OHR Spokesperson Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Ministers must attend the sessions until official handover (of the offices)’ by Se. K. carried OHR Spokesman |
SDS Main Board in session: Kovac asked to resign; FTV speculates same with Radovanovic, Acimocic
| RTRS by Sinisa Mihailovic – After seven-hour session of SDS Main Board, the party has not issued the official press release but journalists learned that SDS said it would not accept further reduction of the RS’s authorities. RS President Dragan Cavic said that no one in RS could lead politics destroying the constitutional organization. “Anyone who fails to understand that brining down those foundations destroys peace in this country makes a fatal mistake.,” said Cavic adding that the unity of political parties in the RS is a clear message to all that nobody will be implementing the policy of abolishment of the RS or changing the constitutional system in BiH. Cavic said that the unity should “not be seen as a coherent nationalist activity but rather as a coherent entity policy on the protection of the BiH Constitution.” Cavic emphasized that reforms of police and defence in which RS would end up without those institutions, are unacceptable for all parties in RS “and the international community must understand that their pressure has simply united the formerly opposing parties“. RTRS carries that unofficial they learned that SDS has recommended to all its Ministers within the CoM to submit the resignations. FTV – According to FTV, SDS Main Board asked from BIH Justice Minister, Slobodan Kovac, to resign, but also from BIH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, and BIH Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade Slobodan Acimovic. SDS didn’t demand the resignation of the Chairman of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac. Due to resignations submitted by the PDP Ministers, SDS believes that a crisis exists only in executive level of authority adding this is why it won’t ask its representatives at BIH Parliament Assembly to resign. BHT 1 – According to BHT 1, Kovac has rejected to resign. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Resignation of Slobodan Kovac requested, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Borislav Paravac stays in the Presidency of BiH’ not signed – dailies carry information broadcast by FTV and BHT 1. Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘SDS call on Minister Kovac again to tender resignation’ by V. Popovic – also covers. |
| Speculations on RS PM-designate
| EuroBlic cover ‘SNSD: Dodik as Premier’ by Nedeljka Breberina-Rajna Radosavljevic – The report notes that since the most recent meeting bewteen Dragan Cavic and RS parliamentary parties did not bear any fruit, the talks are ongoing behind closed doors regarding the nomination of RS PM designate. The names of Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, and his party colleagues, Milan Jelic and Nebojsa Radmanovic, were brought up in this regard. Krstan Simic, SNSD and Velimir Sakan, PDP, both claim talks on PM-designate are still ongoing. |
| Russian Foreign Ministry criticises HR measures
| RTRS, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Ashdown’s decision is inappropriate’ by Onasa, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Moscow: Ashdown’s sanctions lead BiH to crisis’ by NINA, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘The change of Dayton is inadmissible without consensus in BiH’ by P. Klincov; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘He leads the state in crisis’ – The Russian Foreign Ministry issued press release warning that the issue of BiH’s membership in an international organisation must not be the motive for erosion of the peace agreement, changes to which are inadmissible without a consensus within the country. Ministry also feels that actions undertaken by the HR Paddy Ashdown call to question every argument for their necessity and appropriateness. “Russia warned Paddy Ashdown on several occasions not to take actions which lead to violating still very fragile balance in BiH and to hindering the peace process in the country,” says a press release. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘OHR surprised with Russian Foreign Ministry’s reaction’ by M. Drinjakovic – Commenting on the issue, the OHR said they were surprised with such a reaction by Russian Foreign Ministry since the Russian Embassy in BiH had been consulted and it had participated in the process of preparation not only of the latest measures but also those announced in June this year. “The Russian Embassy fully supported the measures without making any objections and agreeing that the full cooperation with |
| EC: Resignations must not bring into question the reformatory process | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘OHR surprised with Russian Foreign Ministry’s reaction’ by M. Drinjakovic– The European Commission officials warned on Wednesday that the current events in BiH, i.e. the RS must not bring into question the reformatory process. The EC confirms its full support to the HR, Paddy Ashdown, and the measures he is implementing, and rejects the claims that those measures are directed against the Dayton Accords. After hearing the report of the EC for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, about visiting |
| Tadic-Kostunica-Markovic mtg: ‘Ashdown’s accusations of RS leadership unfounded’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown’s accusations of RS leadership unfounded’ by Tanjug – Measures against RS taken last week by High Representative Paddy Ashdown are basically undemocratic and illegal. It is unfounded to accuse the current RS leadership/government of failing to cooperate with The Hague Tribunal and punish the entire RS over that, consider the top Serbian state leaders, TANJUG reports. Serbian President Boris Tadic, who chaired last night’s meeting also attended by Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and National Assembly Speaker Predrag Markovic, stood for persistent implementation of the Dayton Agreement calling on the High Representative to respect the BiH constitutional order and establish normal relations with RS leadership. |
| EU on entry ban of SDS and PDP officials
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘EU has not still decided on entry ban to SDS and PDP officials’ by M. Cu. – NN has learnt at the Office of Javier Solana, EU High Representative of Foreign and Security Affairs, that the European Union has not still taken any stance regarding the invitation of the American Administration to ban an entry to EU states to SDS and PDP officials. NN has learnt that: “EU has previously reached decision to freeze the assets and entry ban of PIWC’s in former |
| NN op-ed criticises RS authorities
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Revenge of the anti-Hague lobby’ by Pero Simic – The author is critical of the RS authorities, stressing that any RS citizen with the slightest brains must have acknowledged over the past few days that we are not actually witnessing new elements for history of anarchy and deceit of the people by the authorities in RS. The author is critical of the RS authorities, that are indeed responsible for the failures and deserving of measures imposed by HR, but who still avoid the responsibility and try to deceit the public with their alleged protection of RS and its vital interests. |
| DL op-ed on IC stance in the crisis
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘BiH still on tracks towards EU’ by D. Kozina carries an editorial with regard to the RS non-cooperation with the ICTY and the author says that the US, European and even Russian diplomacy made some moves with regard to this issue and certain disagreements among them is obvious in these moves. According to the author, first of all, this disagreement is obvious from the stand of EU Commissioner Oli Rehn who stressed that the EU will not be following moves of the US Government, which banned SDS and PDP officials entrance in this country but also from the stand of the Russian Foreign Ministry which says that the latest HR’s sanctions against RS officials are inappropriate. |
| NN op-ed on resignations, Terzic | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘New elections’ by Predrag Klincov – The author notes that the resignations of two ministers and one deputy minister of Serb nationality at the BiH COM have seriously shaken the work of this institution and indicated BiH is heading towards early elections. The author notes Adnan Terzic has actually admitted this would happen by saying that he does not want to work at rump composition of CoM. The author further stresses that the key for possible elections is in the hands of Slobodan Kovac, BiH Justice Minister, whom SDS invited to tender resignation. |
Other political issues | |
| BiH HoR in session: Ruling parties reject to form Agency for confiscation of illegally gained property
| RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘SDP’s Law on confiscating illegally confiscated property rejected’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘SDA, SDS, HDZ and PDP against the agency for confiscation of illegally gained property’ by V. Zivak, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Proposed Law on participation of BiH troops in peacekeeping operations adopted’ by Agencies; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Commission is weighing rates’, Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on front, ‘Illegally gained property will not be confiscated’ by D.Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Report on Government’s crisis demanded from Prime Minister’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Lagumdzija: Authority is protecting criminals’ by B. Kristo – During its session held on Wednesday the BiH House of Representatives did not adopt the SDP proposal to form the Agency for confiscating of illegally gained property. Instead of it, SDA, HDZ, SDS and PDP representatives supported the report of the Constitutional-Legal Commission in which it was stated that there are enough mechanisms for confiscating of illegally gained property within the current legislation and for this reason there is no need to form the special Agency for this issue. VL says that Serb representatives did not boycott yesterday’s session of the BiH HoR. RTRS – “I think that leading coalition of protectors of largest criminals in this country is completely exposed here, that is SDA, HDZ, SDS and PDP,” said Zlatko Lagumdzija, SDP Representative commenting to the failure of HoR to form the Agency. Representatives of mentioned parties have rejected this allegation as inaccurate, explaining that legislative and institutions to fight this already exist. “Institutions exist, from Prosecutions, Courts, Financial Police, Tax Administration, SIPA and so on, which will uncover, sanction, every one to its authorizations, and trial to conductors of criminal activities,” said Mirsad Ceman, Chairman of BiH HoR’s Commission for Constitutional and Legal Affairs. |
| FBiH HoR in session discuss the budgetary issues
| RHB, BHT1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘More than 100 amendments to draft budget’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Next week on budget’ by S.Se., Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Municipal Court returned to Tomislavgrad’ by J. Petrovic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Budget amounts to billion KM’ by eme, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Municipal Court returned to Tomislavgrad’ by J. Petrovic, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Municipal Court returns to Tomislavgrad’ by ljdj – According to President of the Federation of BiH House of Representatives Muhamed Ibrahimovic the FBiH HoR will vote for the FBiH budget next week. He added that representatives submitted over 100 amendments to the budget proposal and the FBiH Government needs additional time to decide on them. Therefore the FBiH HoR will vote on the budget most probably on December 28 (next Tuesday). During its session held of Wednesday, the FBiH HoR adopted a proposal of the Law on FBiH Courts. DL says that according to the amendments, which were adopted with this Law, 2 Municipal Courts should be formed in Maglaj and Tomislavgrad. |
| HDZ demands from BiH Presidency to protect Dragan Covic
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘HDZ demands from BiH Presidency to protect Dragan Covic’ by Az. Kalamujic – Dragan Covic, the member of BiH Presidency, has requested the BiH state top leadership to take a stance at today’s (Thursday) session regarding the letter when the leading officials of the HDZ of BiH have warned Paddy Ashdown, High Representative, of the campaign aimed at criminalising of Croat officials at BiH authorities. According to report, Borislav Paravac has self-initiatively included this issue in agenda of today’s session. |
| Milojevic on SDA proposal for creation of Bosnian nation
| EuroBlic cover and RSpg 3 ‘Serbs and Croats do not want to be Bosnians’ by TANJUG – The Mostar based media reported that Goran Milojevic, Chairperson of the BiH House of Peoples, stated that Serb and Croat delegates at the BiH Parliament had strongly opposed to the SDA initiative to create a new nation in BiH – the nation of Bosnians. |
| On appointments of Heads of Departments in MCA | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Heads of 5 Departments of Mostar City Administration will be appointed tomorrow’ by F. Vele – Mostar Mayor Ljubo Beslic confirmed for DA that Heads of 5 Departments of the Mostar City Administration (MCA) will be appointed tomorrow. Beslic said that the appointments will finish by the end of this week and the names of the Heads will be published at the first working session of the Mostar City Council, that is to take place on December 29. |
War crimes | |
| Matijasevic: no ICTY indictee hides in RS; state institutions also responsible
| RTRS by Vesna Cibic – RS Interior Minister, Darko Matijasevic, stated at the press conference that the RS MoI does not possess any information on the whereabouts of any indicted war crime suspects in the RS and, thus, cannot be held accountable for the accusations on inadequate cooperation with the ICTY. However, he added that there are indications of interest of ICTY indictees in voluntarily surrender and that negotiations could be a success. “There are some indications that interest exists, which is very significant, but at the same time I can tell you that all those persons…there is a clear signal that those persons aren’t in RS,” underlines Matijasevic. He added that the RS MUP has been actively negotiating with families of Hague indictees in order to present them all guarantees and benefits given by the RS government. RS MoI stressed that the RS MUP is not satisfied with cooperation with the state intelligence-security agencies, such as the OSA, SIPA and SBS, on which he has warned the international community. Matijasevic said that IC is familiar with this problem, however RS MoI will complain on this once again request replacement of police officers. Matijasevic announced that the RS MUP, in cooperation with the RS Defence Ministry, has found a certain documentation, which is probably related to the war period. He said that the public will be informed about that when the RS MUP completes the analysis of the documentation. BHT 1 – Matijasevic complained on SIPA: “I will be very direct and say that I have received only one information from SIPA in past three months. The information was supposed to be valid, but later it turned out that it couldn’t provide any result in identification of war crime suspects.” FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS MoI is not the only one responsible’ by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘ICTY fugitives are not in RS’, Dnevni List front pg splash and pg 2 ‘The Hague indictees interested to turn themselves in’ by A. Beus, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘RS MoI will not respect decisions’ by B. Stevandic and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘They are trying to persuade The Hague indictees to turn themselves in’ by A. Macanovic, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Some Hague indictees want to surrender’ and pg 2 ‘Some Hague indictees are interested in surrender’ by S. Karic; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Indictees are not here’ by B. Janjic; EuroBlic cover and RSpg 1 ‘Ashdown’s penalties have jeopardised the RS MoI’ by Rajna Radosavljevic; Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘New surrenders soon?’ by M. Labus– also covered. |
| Letter allegedly by Karadzic reaches RS media
| BHT 1, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Media received an alleged letter of Karadzic’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Nevertheless, Karadzic is in Belgrade?!’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Karadzic is willing to sacrifice himself for rescue of RS?’ by B. Stevandic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘Karadzic calls Serbs on civil disobedience’ by A. Macanovic – RTRS and Srna news agency were handed Wednesday a letter signed by Radovan Karadzic, where he calls RS citizens to raise their voice against selfish behavior of SDS and calls all Serb officials in joint BiH bodies to resign and reject work in these institutions. The letter, sent by fax from RTRS – RTRS has rejected to read the letter due to questionable authenticity. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Ljiljana Zelen Karadzic denies authenticity’, Glas Srpske cover page story ‘A letter of false Radovan’; Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Serbs, SDS and Radovan were framed’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Nevertheless, Karadzic is in Belgrade?!’ not signed -The wife of Radovan Karadzic, Ljiljana Zelen-Karadzic, has denied that a letter forwarded to the SRNA news agency today, which is allegedly signed by him, is authentic. |
| Cavic: Alleged letter of Karadzic is an ill-intentional political manipulation
| Glas Srpske cover page ‘Ill intention’ not signed – RS President Dragan Cavic has assessed that the alleged letter of Radovan Karadzic was an ill-intentioned political manipulation, regardless of who might be behind this, stressing: “Such things are happening just at the time when we are trying to find a way for a joint public appearance with regard to resolving the crisis’.” He added that the letter was extremely dangerous for the current status of RS. It might lead malevolent people to draw a conclusion that RS bodies and its representatives, especially SDS, are maintaining political contacts with war crimes indictees. |
| Del Ponte warns BiH prosecutor over “
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ’The publication of file “Brcko malta” brings into question the word of Bijeljina Prosecutor’s Office’ by Az. Kalamujic – Carla del Ponte, ICTY Chief Prosecutor, has warned the BiH Chief Prosecutor, Marinko Jurcevic, to work on professional code of conduct of the Bijeljina District Prosecutor, Novak Kovacevic, who has allegedly handed the file Military convoy of JNA at Brcko Malta on 5th May 1992 to the media. Jurcevic has been warned that this was not the first time something of this kind happened, noting the leak of information on other criminal investigations the Hague Tribunal had approved has been observed previously. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘ Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘The Hague returned files related to “Tuzla” procession’ – NN also claims that the ICTY has returned some files to Bijeljina District PO and classified them as files with label “C” (i.e. with insufficient evidence). The files allegedly concern Selim Beslagic and Jasmin Imamovic. |
| VoA: RS Army hides Mladic? | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘RS Army hides Mladic?’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Voice of America: RS Army is hiding Ratko Mladic’ by NINA – Voice of America claims there are evidence that the RS Army is hiding ICTY indictee Ratko Mladic. DL says that Voice of America gave this statement in the commentary, which reflects the official stand f the US Government. |
Police and judiciary | |
| Transport companies vs. RS in Ferhadija case | FTV – BHT 1 – The first interrogations on this case are announced for March 2005. If Cavic decides to pay the compensation during the mediation period, all charges will be dropped. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Citizens of Bosnian Krajina demanding 1 million KM from RS’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Main pre-trial hearing on 3 March 2005’ by N. Moraca; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Transport companies demand compensation of BAM 1.27 million’ by Mirna Soja – also cover. |
| Matijasevic doesn’t support PRC conclusions | RTRS by Vesna Cibic – RS Interior Minister, Darko Matijasevic, stated that he did not support the solutions of the Police Restructuring Commission as they have crossed from the technical domain into the sector of constitutional competencies. Matijasevic told a press conference held in Banja Luka on Wednesday that he cannot assess whether the Police Restructuring Commission has completed its mandate successfully: “I can’t say that a consensus was reached on solutions that were suggested and which will be presented to the High Representative and the Chairman of CoM by the PRC Chair’s report, Wilfred Martens,” said Matijasevic. He added that he did not consent with those solutions, nor was he satisfied with the methodology and working results of the Commission. Matijasevic said he will respect decisions of the HR Paddy Ashdown on dismissal of nine officials of police stations in the RS, although they are not justified. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Commission overstepped its mandate’ – also reported. |
| DA op-ed on Matijasevic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Blindness of Darko Matijasevic’ op-ed by Edina Sarac – Editorial deals with performance of the RS Interior Minister, Darko Matijasevic, saying that while he opposes the PRC conclusions “he doesn’t offer anything in return. There is no concept of future BiH police, no argument based justifications for further existence of MoIs. Matijasevic offers literary empty paper and empty story… If he is again reelected [in the new Government], than it is entirely clear that there is not a bit of willingness to cooperate with ICTY.” |
| FBiH Supreme Court annulled acquitting verdict in trail of Ivan Vuksic | BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH Supreme Court annulled acquitting verdict in trail of Ivan Vuksic’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘New trial of Ivan Vuksic’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Vuksic will be tried again’ by A.D. – The FBiH Supreme Court annulled the ruling made by the Sarajevo Cantonal Court on March 30 this year by which former Federation Intelligence-Security Service (FOSS) Deputy Director Ivan Vuksic had been cleared of charges for taking hostages at Hercegovacka Bank premises in Grude in 2001 (during the SFOR raid into the Bank). According to the new Federation Criminal Proceedings Code, the renewed trial will take place before the FBiH Supreme Court. |
Economic and social issues | |
| VL on new system of paying electricity bills
| Vecernji List front pg splash ‘Price of electricity will be 30 % higher in 2005’, and pg 5 ‘It will be paid 30 % more for electricity to strangers’ by Z. Jurilj – VL says that as of the next year or at the beginning of 2006 at the latest BiH citizens should start paying electricity bills to authorized companies specialized for purchase and sale of electricity. According to VL, this means that the BiH citizens will not be paying electricity bills to the producer directly but to the companies, which sell electricity, and therefore it is logical that the electricity price will be higher (VL says that according to unofficial estimations it might be 30 % more expensive). Commenting on this issue, FBiH Minister of Energy Izet Zigic stated that the price of electricity will not go up for the time being, at least until the Regulatory Agency for Electricity becomes competent for this issue. |
| Aluminij signed contract worth 80 million Dollars | Dnevni List pg 13, mentioned on front, ‘Contract worth 80 million Dollars signed’ not signed – Aluminij and Croatian company TLM from |
| Update to Buk Bijela project
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Stance of UNESCO is crucial for a decision on Buk Bijela’ by Srna; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘UNESCO’s word is final’ by Srna – SiCG Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has stated that a stance of experts, which will be hired by UNESCO, will be crucial in reaching a decision on the construction of “Buk Bijela” hydropower plant. He reiterated the stance that the plant should be constructed at any cost, even if it means losing political points. |
| Tihic visits Jajce | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Tihic called on Serbs to return to Jajce’, mentioned on cover, by J. Ganibegovic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Privatization unsuccessful, return improved’ – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic visited Municipality Jajce, where he held talks with municipal officials. The talks focused on the situation in this municipality, with raising concerns over its current status. Officials assessed that the property laws implementation has been completed fully, however privatization unsuccessfully. It was also noted that the rate of refugee return is good, except for the Serb returnees, who were called on by Tihic to return. |