| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Internal debt issues | Breweries on production | Chris Patten in BiH | 4 arrested for illegal trade |
| Verdict to Tihomir Blaskic | Sugar affair update | BiH police restructure | Chris Patten in BiH |
| | Reform of BiH police | | RS Market Control |
| Statement by Chris Patten | Lack of blood reserves | FBiH HoP in session | RS Gov reshuffle |
| Oslobodjenje | Everything ready for opening of the Old [bridge]; French Affairs Minister: There are still a lot of bridges to build in BiH |
| Dnevni Avaz | Mostar a centre of the world; Patten: The BiH Government is determined to solve ‘sugar affair’ |
| Dnevni List | Entities are not states and they cannot behave as they are the states |
| Vecernji List | New |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | EU damaged by 100 million Euros because of sugar from BiH |
| Glas Srpske | Chris Patten in |
| Nezavisne Novine | Hands full of patients |
| Blic | Rajko Pavic, a young man who wounded Slavica Knezevic: I ask for forgiveness |
| Nacional | Serbs are chasing Karadzic |
| Dani | Shocking: ‘Torlakovic killed by Keljmendi, and Gasi was his partner!’; John McNair: Soon we will win a battle against Bosnian mafia; Zlatko Lagumdzija: BiH is divided the right way; Banja Luka Nova Bank Affair: The most expensive walls in BiH |
| Slobodna Bosna | |
Old bridge opening ceremony | |
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| RHB, BHTV1, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover page story, pgs 4-5 ‘Everything ready for opening of the Dnevni Avaz cover page story ‘Mostar a centre of the world’, pgs 2-4 – DA carries three pages of articles relevant to opening ceremony. |
| Tihic says all preparations completed
| Dnevni Avaz cover page story ‘Mostar a centre of the world’, pg 2 ‘Today in BiH we are celebrating the victory of good and peace’ by E. Sarac, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘The Old Bridge will be opened today’ and pgs. 2-3 ‘Old Bridge will be opened by diving-jumps to Neretva’, inset ‘Tihic: victory of Mostar people’, by V. Coric – Chairman of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic confirmed at the press conference on Thursday that all the preparations related to the Old Bridge opening ceremony in Mostar have been completed. “This event and the presence of so many foreign officials means recognition and support to BiH for all the progress it has achieved. Today we are celebrating a victory, a victory of good and peace. With the reconstruction of the |
Tihic not expecting Sanader to apologize for Bridge’s demolition
| BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Beslic will not allow Croats to be accused’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Tihic does not expect Sanader’s apology for pulling down of Old Bridge’ by H, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘The Old Bridge will be opened today’ and pgs. 2-3 ‘Old Bridge will be opened by diving-jumps to Neretva’, inset ‘Tihic: victory of Mostar people’, by V. Coric – Sulejman Tihic Tihic also stated that he does not expect any statement of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in which Sanader would express regret over the role of the Republic of Croatia in BiH, that is, because of pulling down of the Old Bridge. Tihic added: “Sanader is welcome to Mostar and BiH. By giving its assistance in building and reconstruction of the Old Bridge and the old part of the city Croatia clearly expressed its stand on this issue.” |
| Beslic says Croat officials will be present, but will not allow to be accused
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Beslic will not allow Croats to be accused’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Beslic: Croats will come too’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Tihic: Coexistence and tolerance won by reconstruction of bridge’ by D. Kozina – Mostar Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic denied information which speculated that no Croat official will be present at the ceremony. Beslic apparently stated for US media that Croat officials would leave the ceremony if Croats were to be collectively accused for Bridge’s deconstruction. Beslic explained: “I don’t want to speculate with that statement. Croats also consider the Old Bridge to be theirs. I don’t want let anybody to blame Croat people for demolition of Old Bridge and I will never allow that. I am ready to do anything and help to disclose the true perpetrators, and especially their motives.” |
| Ashdown on Old Bridge, Islam
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Islam is not less European than Judaism and Christianity’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Old bridge is keystone for reconstructing multi-ethnic BiH’ by N. Huskovic – “For just as Mostar represents the keystone for BiH, so Bosnia and Herzegovina could provide a kind of bridge between Europe and Islamic world,” stated the High Representative Paddy Ashdown at the closing session of the symposium ‘Urban rehabilitation – messages from Mostar’ held on Thursday in Mostar. “BiH’s Muslims are showing that Islam can be no less a European religion than Judaism or Christianity – and in so doing offering a glimpse of the kind of bridge that can exist between these allegedly competing civilizations. Ashdown delivered a speech to the Islamic Conference Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) Symposium in Mostar. |
| DL int with Mesic on Old Bridge
| Dnevni List front and pg 7 ‘Entities are not states and they cannot behave as they are the states’ by I. Glibusic – DL carries an interview with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic who is going to attend today’s the Old Bridge opening ceremony in Mostar. Asked about symbolism and importance of the Old Bridge, Mesic says that the Old Bridge opening ceremony is a chance to continue to move together towards the joint goal and that is unified Europe. Asked about his stand on further development of the Bosniak and Croat relations in Mostar and the whole BiH, Mesic says that BiH citizens must be aware that BiH is their state, that they will contribute to its development if they work on building of joint institutions and that entities are not states and that they cannot behave as they are the states. |
| Security issues for Old Bridge opening ceremony
| RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘About 260 police officers taking care of VIPs’ by F. Vele – Local and international security services in Bosnia-Hercegovina, including NATO peacekeepers, have set up a security shield in Mostar ahead of the formal opening of the town’s Old Bridge. FBIH Interior Ministry will provide security for VIPs, engaging about 260 police officers for this duty. In total 2341 police officers will take care of security during the ceremony. RHB, BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Police arrested bomb-planter’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘About 260 police officers taking care of VIPs’, inset ‘Almir S. from Konjic arrested’, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘The Old Bridge will be opened today’ and pgs. 2-3 ‘Old Bridge will be opened by diving-jumps to Neretva’, inset ‘One person was arrested in Konjic’, Vecernji List front pg ‘New Old Bridge to be opened today’ and pg 3 ‘Opening of new Old Bridge today’ by M. Musa, Dnevni List pg 15 ‘Person suspected of planting explosives in Herzegovina arrested’ not signed and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 13 ‘Arrest in Konjic’ not signed – Konjic police arrested Almir S on suspicion of having participated in several cases of bomb planting in Hercegovina. His arrested was confirmed by FBIH MoI spokesman Robert Cvrtak. He added that the man was one of the 232 people police had identified as to be posing “an indirect threat” to the security of the opening ceremony. |
| DL on opening ceremony | Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Life and new hope for Mostar’, by Vera Soldo – notes that, despite many believing that the opening of the Old Bridge would not change things much in Mostar, one facts remains, it will give an opportunity to all the smart and capable people to use the arrival of world statesmen and present Mostar in the best possible way. “After that, they can tell about Mostar to their friends, they can return to Mostar, bring friends along too. One thing is certain, the Bridge itself, the symbol of Mostar, will not help Mostarians that much unless they want to do it themselves”, notes the author. |
“Sugar affair” | |
| Terzic and Patten on sugar affair
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 12 ‘It is strange that you like candies so much’, mentioned on cover, by Z. Rerig and Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Al 16 prerequisites from Brussels met’ by D. Jazvic, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Domestic politicians responsible for joining EU’ by V. Vujovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘ “Sugar affair” is a test for the authority’, mentioned on cover ‘Chris Patten in Sarajevo: “sugar affair” is a big test for BiH authority’, by A. Sisic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Sugar weighing privileges’ – Following the meeting with CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, EC Commissioner for Foreign Relations Chris Patten commended determination of BiH authority to undertake all possible measures in order to prevent an affair similar to the “sugar affair” from happening again. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Sugar affair [not] existing’ – Addressing journalists after their meeting, Terzic stressed that there is no an issue of sugar affair before that is established with the facts. “We will not hide anything under the carpet and surely there are some discrepancies in the system too. But as long as that is not proved we cannot judge in advance as we still don’t know whether there is an issue or not,” said Terzic. Patten agreed with this. BHTV 1 – “We do not know is there any affair but in my experience I can tell you that in past when we were discovering similar problems governments have never reacted that fast as the Government has in Sarajevo”, stated Chris Patten. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH authorities rightfully threat sugar affair very seriously’, mentioned on cover ‘BiH Government is determined to solve sugar affair’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview for DA, EU Commissioner for External Affairs Chris Patten said on sugar affair: “BiH Government is right to treat this issue this serious… I am sure that BiH authorities wioll do anything in their power to establish as to what really happened. If there is a problem, we will help it solve.” Asked whether he was worried about this, Patten answered: “I would be if BiH authorities tried to cover up. But, that is not the case here and I am sure that they are honest when they say that they will do everything possible to discover what happened.” |
| RS Trade Minister: RS companies are not guilty for sugar affair
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘RS Companies are not guilty for sugar affair’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS companies are not guilty for sugar affair in BiH’ by Onasa – RS Trade and Tourism Minister, Boris Gaspar, said on Thursday that companies from the RS are not blame for the current “sugar export/import affair“, which damaged the budgets of the European Union countries for around 100 million euro. He said that only two companies in the RS – Janjos Prijedor and Uborgroz Celinac, have been identified as exporters and importers of sugar. |
| Update to sugar affair
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Prosecutor Jurcevic refuses to comment, Customs administration not involved’, by M. Karacic – DL notes that the ‘sugar affair’ is opening more and more questions every day and carries the Director of FBiH Customs administration (CA), Zelimir Rebac, as saying that the CA is not involved in the affair. In that context, Rebac explains that the sugar went through the customs, noting that whatever happened to it later, it is not problem of the CA. Rebac goes on to say that an investigative team has been formed to determine where the sugar ended up, however Rebac could not reveal any details. The only person who can talk about the investigation, State Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic, did not ant to make any comment for DL. The daily also notes that according to data of the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, last year BiH imported 233.880 tons of sugar, which surpasses the country’s needs a lot. Slobodna Dalmacija, front and pg 12 ‘EU damaged by 100 million Euros because of sugar from BiH?’, by Zoran Zekic – SD notes that Rebac has already ordered the Sector for prevention of customs crime to investigate the whole story, and that the CAFAO, BiH Prosecution and Indirect Tax Administration are also involved in the investigation. SD also notes that accidentally or not, the sugar affair started with a statement by the CoM Chairman, Adnan Terzic, who stated that BiH’s needs for sugar were in the region of 35.000 tons. However, the FBiH CA’s data show that BiH imported 170.000 tons of sugar last year. SD also carries the manager of ‘Prodex’ Company of Grude, Petar Corluka, which has been labeled as one of the main suspects in the scheme, who says that according to his information, the affair is calming down and that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, himself worked on it. |
| NN op-ed on sugar affair
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Sweet secret’ by Dragan Klincov – The author is writing about the “sugar affair” bringing some information and facts related to it. He concludes the article by saying that: “The public expects from local authorities conduct a swift and efficient investigation in order to resolve “sweet secret” and avoid seeing our state get “diabetes” represented in the penalties from Europe.” |
Other economic issues | |
| FBiH Government the withdraws law on internal debt
| RHB, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Hadzipasic withdrew the proposal law on internal debt’ by A. Basic, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘FBiH Government withdraw law on internal debt’, by Erna Mackic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Stop to law on internal debt?’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Next week about old savings’, by B. Kristo – The FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, withdrew the proposal of law on determining and settling of internal obligations in FBiH from the agenda of the FBiH Parliament’s House of Peoples session held on Thursday. The Proposal will be discussed at extraordinary sessions of both the House of Peoples and House of Representatives scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday. In the meantime, the FBiH Government will be negotiating with representatives of caucuses in both the chambers about the said Proposal in order to discuss possibilities of adoption of the law. “There is a possibility to make a pressure against the FBiH Government and Parliament to lift the moratorium of internal claims… which could cause a collapse of the FBiH budget,” said PM Hadzipasic. |
| OHR on internal debt
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Internal debt is not an issue that can be pushed under the carpet’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 17 ‘Well coordinated action of RS Police’ not signed- Resolving the issue of internal debt is of great importance for BiH and OHR hopes that the FBiH House of Representatives will adopt the law regulating that issued, spokesperson for the OHR in Banja Luka Ljiljana Radetic said on Thursday. Reacting to the failure of the FBiH House of Representatives to adopt legislation allowing the implementation of the plan on internal debt prepared in cooperation with the IMF, Radetic said that that issue cannot be simply pushed under the carpet. “The plan prepared by BiH authorities together with IMG is rather realistic. It protects the most endangered ones and ensures that authorities honour their commitments”. She said that the IMF would continue with talks and that OHR hopes that the FBiH Parliament will adopt this law in the near future. |
| FBiH HoR Deputy Speaker on internal debt
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Association of savers going to Human Rights Court in Strasbourg!?’, by Miso Relota – carries Deputy Speaker of the FBiH Parliament’s House of Representatives, Josip Merdzo (HDZ), as saying that the priority is to satisfy as many old savers as possible. “We are nobody’s hostages. The IMF’s position is pretty restrictive and that’s the whole problem. The OHR and IMF want to pressure the MPs to adopt the law. One has to know that all the parameters of the law are still not defined. One still does not know the exact amount of internal debt, and chances are it is lesser than it was presented (…) We still believe that the old foreign currency savings should be best regulated by a special, separate law”, said Merdzo. Merdzo goes on to say that in case there is no agreement soon, the adoption of the law will be postponed for autumn, however he does not rule out a possibility that the law gets adopted in the FBiH HoR through outvoting. Finally, Merdzo notes that European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg will be acting upon requests of associations of savers, regardless of possible solutions in the corresponding law. |
| Ivanic denies frauds’ accusations
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Everything is a lie’ by R.I. – BiH foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic denied all claims made by the president of the Novi Front NGO from Banja Luka, Dragomir Babic, who accused Ivanic and BiH Transport and Communications Minister, Branko Dokic, of frauds worth millions of KM. In the text that appeared on Thursday in Oslobodjenje, Babic said that the Dokic and Ivanic took money mainly from RS Telekom, Elektrodistribucija, etc. Ivanic stresses that Babic claims were “ungrounded and an expression of Babic’s personal frustration.” |
| Oslobodjenje: Covic, HDZ to appoint a man loyal to them to the position Chief BiH Auditor
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Political decision to install Chief BiH Auditor?!’ by Az. Kalamujic – Daily writes that member of BiH Presidency Dragan Covic and HDZ are determined to bring “a man loyal to them” to the vacant seat of the Chief BiH Auditor. Article adds that they also want to do this before the October elections and the beginning of second round of audits of BiH presidency. Previously the position was held by Ivan Miletic who resigned “just before the hot report on BiH Presidency for 2003.” Author further argues that Covic’s intention is to avoid the adoption of the new law on audit [which foresees for the selection process of the chief auditor to be run through publicly advertised vacancy notice] by appointing a person with the five years mandate. The main HDZ candidate for the Chief BiH Audit position is Miljenko Sego, Chief of the Financial police office from Ljubuski. The Presidency is expected to discuss this proposal on 27 July. |
| VL int with Toby Robinson
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Even without Todoric’s Agrokor, consortium can buy the bank’, mentioned on front, by Zoran Kresic – VL the daily notes that the Provisional Administrator for Hercegovacka bank, Toby Robinson, ‘(un)expectedly’ showed up in Zagreb this week, where she had talks with 8-member consortium of Croatian companies, which is currently having a second thought whether to buy Hercegovacka bank, after Eronet was not awarded the 3rd GSM licence. In an interview for VL, Ms. Robinson confirms that Agrokor, already a former leader of the consortium, has left the scheme, however, Ms. Robinson denies that the consortium has fallen apart. She notes that most of the members are still interested in buying the bank, stressing that a new evaluation of the bank’s value has to be made, because the situation with Eronet has certainly changed the value. Moreover, Ms. Robinson confirms that the Eronet Supervisory Board had a meeting, deciding to contest the decision to award the 3rd GSM licence to HT Mostar. “We, of course, expect Eronet to get the 3rd GSM licence in BiH, because it is the only candidate that can fulfill all the criteria. If professional criteria had been taken into account, we would have got the licence”, concludes Robinson. |
| Magazines on purchase of building for ITA seat
| Dani pgs 32-34 ‘The most expensive walls in BiH’, mentioned on cover, by Snjezana Mulic-Busatlija, Cvijeta Arsenic – The article deals with the building in Banja Luka chosen by the RS Government for the seat of the Indirect Taxation Administration, claming that the procedure was not transparent. Dani claim that even though RS Finance Ministry refused to disclose the number of bids. However author claim they learned that construction company Krajina offered a fully operational building for about 10 million KM, however RS Government accepted the joint offer by Nova Banka and Vrbas company. That building, says article, cost about 14 million KM and has nothing but the walls. Slobodna Bosna pgs 23-25 ‘Mikerevic committed five times bigger crime in comparison to what Grabovac did and was removed by Ashdown!’ by Suzana Sacic – In an article which heavily accuses RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic for a number of financial crimes and corruption, SB also refers to the purchase of building for ITA seat claiming that this was a result of misuse of office by Mikerevic and RS Finance Minister Branko Krsmanovic. Krsmanovic previously awarded Nova Bank from Bijeljina to exclusively deal with public revenues and indirect taxation, and now – according to SB – it additionally purchased the building for ITA seat. |
| SB int with BiH auditors | Slobodna Bosna pgs 26-29 ‘We do not fear politicians nobody informed that ‘they are not allowed to steal’!’ by Nidzara Ahmetasevic – SB publishes an interview with the two State Auditors Samir Musovic and Dragan Kulina “who suffered brutal political revenge following their reports.” Musovic and Kulina say that they were threatened of never being able to find job after revealing the reports on 21 BiH institutions, however they add that their security was never seriously jeopardized. They also say that new 15 reports will be made public soon, and that the most common irregularities found in the work of state institutions is the lack of internal controls, proper rules and procedures. Asked were these the first report the Audit Office for BiH institutions has compiled since its establishment in 2001, Kulina says: “We have earlier reports which perhaps talked about even more serious crimes, but our decision to go public this time proved to effective.” |
Political issues | |
| Patten says progress achieved in BiH
| RHB, BHTV 1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Progress achieved in moving BiH closer to EU’ by A. Terzic, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘SIPA will strengthen BiH’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 12 ‘It is strange that you like candies so much’, mentioned on cover, by Z. Rerig and Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Al 16 prerequisites from Brussels met’ by D. Jazvic, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Domestic politicians responsible for joining EU’ by V. Vujovic – Within the visit paid to BiH, EU Commissioner for External Affairs Chris Patten met with Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic on Thursday and they talked about the steps that BiH authorities have taken with regard to meeting of 16 prerequisites from the Feasibility Study. At the press conference held after the meeting, Terzic stated that the BiH CoM did a part of the job that was expected from them and now it is up to other BiH institutions to continue with full implementation of the commitments that BiH took upon itself. Patten stated that he was following the work of previous Governments in BiH and that it took more time than everyone wanted to reach the destination at which BiH is now, however, Patten also reminded that he is delighted with willingness of Terzic and his associates when meeting of the aforementioned prerequisites is in question. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH authorities rightfully threat sugar affair very seriously’, mentioned on cover ‘BiH Government is determined to solve sugar affair’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview with DA, Patten adds that some issues were not solved , such as the State Statistics Agency. FTV – “We have some laws in the Parliamentary procedure, but the encouraging fact is that the House of Peoples endorsed resolution by which they obligated themselves to adopt all the laws coming from the Council of Ministers and which are in the package of measures from Feasibility Study by the end of September. I expect, in fact I am sure, that the House of Representatives will bring the same resolution. And these are things tat show that we have complete political consensus in BiH for moving towards Europe,” commented Terzic. |
| Mikerevic on RS Govt reshuffle
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Consultations between Mikerevic and ruling parties and opposition’ by M.V., Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Mikerevic to commence talks with crucial political participants’ by V. P., Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘The Constitution is the key’ by Srna – The President of RS Government, Dragan Mikerevic, has confirmed that he will commence talks with crucial political participants in RS soon. He will meet representatives of the authority, opposition parties and international community in order to define following moves in relation to reform processes. He confirmed there will be RS Government reshuffle and emphasized that the removal of SDA Ministers will depend on further decisions of this party. |
| NN editorials on political situation
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘How to get to the Brussels?’ by Slavo Kukic – The author is writing about the recent statement of the US out-going Ambassador, Clifford, who said that SDS should be banned. The author claims that a BBC is doing a story on this and journalist contacted him for the comment. He admits that SDS is a darker side of BiH story in the past 15 days. However, he also raises the possibility of seeing the Serb electorate go through homogenisation if SDS were abolished. Namely, SDS voters would turn to radicalism, meaning radicals, as it was the case when Nikola Poplasen was removed and supporters moved their support from radicals onto SDS. He concludes the article by saying: “Power is sweet to everybody, including Ashdown. However, his address to the people results from the construction error. Which should be removed as soon as possible. Because otherwise, Brussels might seem further and further from us.” |
Police, security and crime issues | |
| Police Reform Commission meet for first time
| BHTV 1 – The police reform in BiH is necessary not only for the purpose to ensure security of citizens, but also to contribute to the security at the regional level, said Barisa Colak, BiH Security Minister, at the first meeting of the Police Reform Commission. He stressed that the divisions inside the police forces in BiH, a surplus of employees and a bad technical equipment are reasons for urgent police. “These steps will mean big progress in realization of conditions laid down in the Feasibility Study, which foresees an aim of the police reform to increase efficiency and capability of police in fight against organized crime, terrorism, and war crimes,” said Colak adding that SIPA should also be included in the fight against organized crime very soon.BiH Minister of Safety concluded that the police in BiH will be organized in accordance with European standards and experience. FTV, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘The police should be out of reach of politics’ by N. K. – EC Commissioner for Foreign Relations Chris Patten addressed the members of the Commission for Police Reform in BiH, who held their first session. He stated that the police must have responsibility towards the public but also must be protected from political influences. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Efficient fight against the crime’ by A. Terzic – “The fact that the process of police reform has started is encouraging, and that work has to be completed by the end of this year,” said Patten at the occasion. |
| Patten visits SIPA
| FTV, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5 ‘ ““Sugar affair” is a test for the authority’ by A. Sisic carries the inset ‘Patten: EU is monitoring development of SIPA’ – EC Commissioner for Foreign Relations Chris Patten visited SIPA yesterday, on which occasion he stressed the importance of an urgent full operative work of SIPA. SIPA Director Sredoje Novic has stated that the officials of this Agency have informed Patten on the main priorities of SIPA. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Establishment of firm and prosperous society’ by V. Vujovic – Patten also stated that he received a lot of information about SIPA’s plans and that he will be following its further development with great interest. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘SIPA will strengthen BiH’ by M.K. – Novic expressed satisfaction that SIPA has become the classic police institutions with broad authorities, and therefore will be able to fight organize crimes, terrorism and war crimes. |
| OHR: New RS Interior Minister has to pass OHR vetting procedure
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘New Minister has to go through vetting’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘OHR will check the new RS MoI’ by Fena – OHR spokeswoman in Banja Luka Ljiljana Radetic confirmed that the appointment of the new candidate for the RS Interior Minister needs to undergo vetting procedure by OHR. RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said on Wednesday that the new Interior Minister would be his choice while RS Vice President Adil Osmanovic thinks that that position should go to Bosniaks in order to assure equal representation of all three constitutive peoples in RS institutions. |
| Carty on police reform
| RHB, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Only criminals benefit from disunited Police’ by De.L – Head of the EU Police Mission in BiH Kevin Carty stated during his visit to Tuzla that the Commission for Restructuring of the BiH Police started with its work yesterday and it should determine the future of police forces in BiH. Carty also said that at the moment, the police forces in BiH are disunited in 22 police institutions and criminals benefit from this situation the most. Carty added that BiH should have a single, efficient and transparent police institution that will enjoy full trust of citizens. Also covered by Dnevni Avaz and Oslobodjenje. |
| McNair on fight against crime in BiH | Dani pgs 24-26 ‘John McNair: Soon we will win a fight against organized crime’, mentioned on cover, by Dzenana Karup-Drusko – In an interview to Dani magazine, the Chief of BiH Special Department for organized crime, economic crime and corruption, John McNair talks about his current involvement with the BiH judiciary, not wanting to disclose details of the cases currently on going. Praising the work of both international and local judges working in the BiH Court, McNair comments to the journalist question as to how much time it is needed to fight mafia in BiH: “I think that we have good chance, due to two reasons. The first is that now there is a joint effort to solve the issue of an organized crime. Yesterday I attended the meeting, also attended by the representatives of SIPA, and all other important police and security services in BiH, Customs Administration and Interpol. For the first time, all those institutions committed to coordinating their work. Secondly,… there is something I would call generational change. For some reason the most impressive legal experts in BiH are people who have just completed the law faculty… I believe that this new generation of BiH lawyers, judges and prosecutors will make a big change in this country.” |
War crimes | |
| OHR on resolution on RS and ICTY cooperation
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Arrests should follow resolution’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Arrest war criminals, and not present only words’ by Fena – OHR welcomed the adoption of the Resolution on cooperation of the RS with the ICTY, however thinks that indicted war criminals need to be arrested, said OHR spokesperson in Banja Luka, Ljiljana Radetic. She stressed indicted war criminals need to be arrested and that not only “words should be presented”. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH authorities rightfully threat sugar affair very seriously’, mentioned on cover ‘BiH Government is determined to solve sugar affair’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview for DA, EU Commissioner for External Affairs Chris Patten stresses that one of the issues BiH has to meet in order to begin with Stabilisation and Accession Agreement is fully cooperation with ICTY. |
| Verdict to Blaskic on 29 July
| RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Verdict to Tihomir Blaskic on 29 July’ by Sense, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Verdict on Blaskic case on July 29’, mentioned on cover, not signed – DL carries that the ICTY announced that on July 29 the ICTY Appellate Council will publish a verdict against former HVO Commander in the Central Bosnia Tihomir Blaskic. |
| EUPM on RS police action in Trebinje region
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Action of RS Ministry of Interior in Herzegovina was well coordinated’ by Onasa, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Compliments to RS police’ by M. Dz., EuroBlic, pg. RS12 ‘ “Hunt” on indictees’ by M. J. – EUPM Spokesperson Alun Roberts stated yesterday that the action of RS police in Bileca and Gacko was well coordinated but no war crimes indictee was found. ‘EUPM members monitored the entire action, which was aimed to arresting of war crimes indictees’, Roberts said. Also covered by Dnevni Avaz and Oslobodjenje. |
| Nacional on RS police action
| Nacional pg 2 ‘Serb mercenaries chasing Radovan’ mentioned on cover ‘Serbs in pursuit after Karadzic’ by M.N. – The author brings some information related to the most recent police action of search after Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic in the areas of Bileca and Gacko, including confirmation of Radomir Njegus, RS Polcie Director (See yesterday’s Preview for more details). Moreover, Nacional journalist refers to a police officer from Gacko, who said that: “We, regular police of RS, have not contacted those commandoes. They came in three Jeep’s, they went with us, but were not under out command. A layman would realise they were well-organised. They took positions around Motel “Klinja” early in the morning and have not left their position until action completed. They vanished later on, I do not know whether they went to Bileca.” This source also claims that other policemen commented on this as those people were “mercenaries, Serbs, who are ready to clash Karadzic and Mladic, in order to get the promised award.” |
| Carla Del Ponte, Mikerevic on Radovan Karadzic | Dnevni List pg 17 ‘Karadzic health is very good and he did not change his look’ not signed , Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Karadzic has not changed his looks’ by Srna – Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte has stated for Dutch media that she believes a political will to arrest Karadzic exists but, at the moment, it is difficult to implement it. The article carries the inset ‘Mikerevic: Let Ashdown say where Karadzic is’ – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic stated that neither him nor RS Government services know where Karadzic is as well as that it would be good if HR Paddy Ashdown show them where Karadzic is hiding. ‘We have courage, strength and personnel needed for the arrest. However, it would be good if Ashdown showed us where Karadzic is’, Mikerevic stated for a Holland TV station on Wednesday. He emphasized that cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is not limited just to arresting a person and he wondered ‘why the international forces had not arrested Karadzic’. |