| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| HR on SDA, defence | OHR warns SDA | BiH may miss PfP | Ashdown on SDA position |
| HNC schools to open? | Investment in Brcko | Tihic denies accusations | Econ Forum in Prijedor |
| Teacher’s reps protest | Bologna declaration signed | Disabled children | Brcko – industrial zone |
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| UN discusses Iraq | Free trade zone in Brcko |
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| Oslobodjenje | SDA takes BiH away from admission into NATO |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown: Ball is now in SDA’s court |
| Dnevni List | Ashdown: OHR will not impose reform to military in BiH; First two armies, then the unified one |
| Vecernji List | Croat money to Sarajevo only; SDA guilty if BiH does not enter NATO |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | RS Association of Concentration Camp inmates: The Association requests dismissal of judges; How do money launders manage: Using someone else’s name, but account is theirs |
| Nezavisne Novine | Paddy Ashdown calls SDA to reconsider its decision to block the reform of defence system: OHR will not impose the Law on Defence; Banja Luka District Court: Trial to former police officers from Prijedor indicted for war crime postponed; SDHR Werner Wnendt: BiH can join NATO with one army only |
| Blic | Gojko Savanovic: BiH diplomas acceptable in the EU; Paddy Ashdown: SDA halts the defence reform; Sarajevo’s Prosecution: proofs on crimes over Serbs delivered |
Defence Reform | |
| Ashdown’s press conference on defence reform
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘SDA takes BiH away from acceding NATO’, Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘Ashdown: Ball is now in the SDA’s court’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, warned at a press conference in Sarajevo on Monday that, by rejecting the Proposal for Defence Reform, BiH would miss an opportunity for Euro-Atlantic integration and that this opportunity would not occur again in the near future. “I am confused by the reasons that some people in the Party of Democratic Action give for their refusal and I am surprised at their willingness to make such a catastrophic mistake,” Ashdown said. Ashdown emphasized that the proposal by the Commission for Defence Reform would in no way change the existing structure of the RS and the FBiH Armies. However, he said that under the proposal the state would have real control of the armies, a state defence ministry would be set up as well as a general staff at state level. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg.3- ‘OHR will not impose Laws on Defence’, Glas Srpske, pg. 3- ‘Partnership at stake’, Dnevni List (front and page 5, “Ashdown: OHR will not impose reform to military in BiH”, by Renata Radic), Vecernji List, front “SDA guilty if BiH does not enter NATO” and page 3 “SDA blocking BiH entering NATO”, by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 13, “There will not be Croat army in BiH”, by Zdenko Rerig, Jutarnji List, page 10, “Ashdown: SDA obstructs BiH army”, by Snjezana Pavic, Vjesnik, page 2, “Ashdown: SDA endangers reforms in BiH”, by H, Vecernje Novosti pg. 5 ‘Belgian army for Bosnia’; Blic pg. 7 ‘SDA halts the defence reform’ also reported on the press conference. |
| Ashdown meets BiH parliamentarians over the defence reform | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘A signal which is being expected by NATO, EU’, FENA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, met in Sarajevo on Monday with the representatives of the parliamentary political parties to brief them on the Defence Reform Commission activities/proposals. Ashdown underlined his concerns that BiH was about to make a terrible mistake, and miss an historic opportunity to establish state defence structures and take the first step towards NATO. Ashdown told the parliamentarians that if BiH missed this opportunity, it might not come back for a very long time. He said the world was watching how BiH reacted. If BiH rejected these reforms, it would call in question BiH’s commitment to reform in the eyes not only of NATO but the EU. At the meeting, the High Representative was accompanied by Jim Locher, the Chair of the Defence Reform Commission, and Bruce Maclane, a senior NATO official. The following parliamentarians were attended: Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA), Martin Raguz (HDZ), Seada Palavric (SDA), Beriz Belkic (Party for BiH), Milos Jovanovic (SDS), Jozo Krizanovic (SDP), Muhamed Morankic (DNZ, HDU, BOSS caucus) and a representative of SNSD. Dnevni List page 5, “Military to be put under state control”, by Miso Relota – the High Representative yesterday met with MPs in the House of Representative of BiH Parliament discussing the defence reforms. One of participants of the meeting, Martin Raguz (HDZ), told DL that HR Ashdown, Chair of DRC James Locher and NATO representatives presented a report on the work of the DRC. Raguz emphasizes it is clear that the current defence structure in the Republika Srpska and FBiH remains, and that military is being put under the State control. He further says that the key ambition was to put the military under the control of BiH institutions, namely the MoD at State level and parliamentary control which is the practice in western, democratic countries. “It is a fundamental pre-requisite to PfP, and than for membership in NATO”, says Raguz. |
| SDHR Wnendt on defense reform | Dnevni List (front and page 7, “Two armies first and then unified one”, conducted by R. Radic) carries an interview with Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt. With regard to the defense reform, SDHR Wnendt says: “The defense reform will not change the current structure of the army, that is, the current composition of the armed forces. Temporarily there will be two armies, however, these armies will be placed under the state control and they will have the joint headquarters. This is the first step in approaching NATO and probably approaching the membership in NATO.” Asked as to what will happen if the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic does not sing the document on re-organization of the defense system, SDHR Wnendt says: “BiH will not be on the way to become a member of the Partnership for Peace. However, this will not be imposed by the International Community or the High Representative. It is up to local politicians and citizens to decide on it.” Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 – ‘BiH can join NATO with one army only’- the daily carries an interview with the SDHR, Werner Wnendt in which he said that if BiH wants to join NATO, it could do so but with only one army. Wnendt recalled that at this moment, only SDA does not accept the offered solution and that the ball is now in their court. According to Wnendt, proposed solutions do not change the structure of the armed forces and do not create three ethnic armies. The daily quotes him as saying: ‘People in BiH must know that this is not an agreement between the international community, Serbs and Bosniaks – the defence reform is being discussed for the last 100 days, and Bosniak representatives are also in the Defence Reform Commission. |
| Oslobodjenje interview with Locher | Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘Components in FBiH Army are a reality’ – Interview with James Locher, the Defence Reform Commission Chairman. Locher emphasized that all the disputes with the Bosniak representatives had to be solved by Thursday when his commission was to report on the issue to the Peace Implementation Council. |
| Tihic promises to push for compromise in defence reforms | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘I expect some of our objections to be accepted’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 5 ‘Three armies’, FENA – “I will do everything in my power so that a compromise is reached. It is not possible to impose solutions in BiH without the agreement of all three peoples and in this situation it will have to be respected. I think that the High Representative and the chairman of the defence reform commission, James Locher, have BiH’s best interests at heart and will take into consideration some of our remarks,” the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, told media, commenting on the slowdown in the implementation of defence reforms. Tihic thinks that Bosniak political representatives should be included in discussions on BiH’s defence reforms, as so far the international community has discussed this only with Serb and some Croat political representatives. Tihic said that the Bosniak representatives in the commission did not unanimously support the proposed solutions and have decisively rejected the proposal for the existence of three ethnic armies in BiH. Commenting on Monday’s statement by High Representative Paddy Ashdown that the final draft on defence reforms will not encroach on the existing structure of the entity armies, Tihic said that the idea of reforms was understood by the BiH public to mean change, rather than legalization of something which does not legally exist. “According to the BiH Federation defence law, ethnic components do not exist, while we have to legalize the proposals of Locher’s commission. This is contrary to the BiH Constitution and represents a backward step,” Tihic said. He rejected Ashdown’s claims that the proposed reforms will be creating a single leadership and command system in the armed forces at state level. Tihic points out that according to this proposal, the chain of command at state level allows for a monoethnic command structure, from a member of the Presidency to the last soldier. Tihic warns that introducing parity in key positions in the future BiH Defence Ministry and joint command will lead to the formation of a parallel system under which everyone will be commanding their “own” army. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘Tihic: I am ready for compromise’ also carried a very similar Tihic’s statement. |
| Cavic slams SDA’s attempt to halt defence reform | BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘SDA does not accept reality’, Oslobodjenje pg. 8, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘Condemnation of SDA’s obstruction’, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 – ‘An agreement broken’, Dnevni List page 10, “SDA not ready to accept reality”, unsigned,SRNA – RS President Dragan Cavic said on Monday that defence reform was of crucial importance and that it was unacceptable and flagrant for the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) to halt the process in which a full consensus was reached on solutions which would be discussed in the forthcoming period and debated in parliament. “If it is true that defence reform will be stopped because of the SDA, then this indicates that certain Bosniak politicians are unwilling to accept the reality that in BiH it is impossible to introduce a concept which implies majority rule, or for decisions to be made by one group on behalf of another,” Cavic said in Prijedor. He said that the RS representatives were not happy with solutions stipulated in defence reform, but that this was an inevitable process. The RS President said that it was unacceptable for defence reform to be stopped because of dissatisfaction expressed by one political party and that such a move needed to be condemned in every way. “If anyone from the Serb side decided to reject any joint solutions or concepts, they would not be able to get out of it merely with such qualifications and comments, but it would invoke more energetic and scathing criticism,” said Cavic, who is attending a forum of cities and regions in Southeastern Europe held in Prijedor. |
| BiH politicians’ defence reform related reactions carried by Nezavisne Novine, Dnevni List, Oslobodjenje | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘Condemnation of SDA’s obstruction’ – The newspaper carries a number of reaction by BiH politicians on defence reform disputes. The SDS Spokesman, Dusan Stojicic stated that Tihic’s objections prove that politicians in BiH Federation cannot get used to the fact that BiH is a complex state, comprised of two entities and three constituent peoples. The daily quotes Stojicic as saying: ‘SDS condemns all attempts to obstruct the work of the Defence Reform Commission which is in the final stage.’ Dnevni List page 10, “SDS expects political sanctions against Sulejman Tihic”, unsigned) – an SDS spokesperson, Dusan Stojicic, is quoted as saying that the “SDS believes that the obstructions of the work of the Defense Reform Commission by member of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, will be sanctioned and not be an obstacle to final solutions to defense reforms”. Nezavisne Novine pg. 3 – SNSD’s Spokesman, Igor Radojicic condemned ‘requests of SDA and its leader, Sulejman Tihic, for establishment of single BiH Army and centralisation of the country, It is about time for the international community to finally say to its long time nourished pet – SDA – that there are limits and that they cannot come forward with the same ideas as 12 years ago.’ Dnevni List (page 3, “Single army according to NATO standards”, by D. L.) – SDP BiH is appalled with the fact that the polemics regarding the defense reforms is being run via the media, whilst in the same time the parliamentary parties, including the SDP, do not have official information on the issue. Believing that the reforms to the defense system is one of key issues for BiH, the SDP BiH says BiH should have single army organized in accordance with NATO standards, State Ministry of Defense, civilian command at level of BiH Presidency, parliamentary control at BiH level and transparent military budget. Nezavisne Novine pg. 3, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 also carried the SDP reaction. |
| War veterans, Bosniak intellectuals support SDA | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, FTV – Several associations of war veterans opposed proposed draft Law on Defence thereby supporting the SDA’as position on the issue. Associations of Green Berets, Patriotic League, Veterans of Defence War, and JOB signed a letter rejecting the draft and they demanded the establishment of a single Army in BiH as a precondition for joining the NATO. In their view the draft would cement current divisions within the country. On the same page, the newspaper carries a release by the Bosniak Intellectuals Congress saying that the NGO fully supports position of the Bosniak representatives in the Defence Reform Commission. |
| Slobodna Dalmacija on defence reform | Slobodna Dalmacija (page 13, “Common army will not save BiH”, by Marin Erceg) – the author wonders whether it is possible to reach a solution that would satisfy all sides in BiH, a solution which would help BiH join the PfP programme, and in that sense the author is not very optimistic believing the key players in BiH still have different positions. Erceg goes on to say that Sulejman Tihic and various Bosniak associations are wrong because they do not realize that BiH, as they see and advocate it, cannot survive. In that context, the author says that the former Yugoslavia had a joint army with which was dominated by the biggest of people (Serbs), and the same would be here in BiH (Bosniaks), which would lead to collapse of the both the State and army. |
| DL on HR Ashdown | Dnevni List (page 6, “Problem is not in Ashdown”, by Slavo Kukic) – according to Kukic, amid all the critics against the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, that he is guilty for this and that, for pretty much everything, people in BiH must get serious and realize that whoever is the leader of the IC in BiH, be it Ashdown or somebody else, “his range, when out destiny is in question, is limited”. Kukic argues that many issues in BiH should have been dealt with in a different way, however he gives credits to HR Ashdown for his efforts in the taxation and defence reforms noting that there’s different side of the story too, the story being that “we are responsible for our destiny”, which was best evident in the last elections and in many elections before. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Economic Forum of Cities and Regions of South-East Europe in Prijedor
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘BiH must overcome crime and corruption’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 12 ‘Hays: The future of BiH cannot be created without participation by citizens’, Dnevni List page 10, “BiH must become home for all people”, not signed, FENA – The Fourth Economic Forum of cities and regions of South-east Europe started in Prijedor on Monday. The Forum was opened by the Prijedor Municipality representative Nada Sevo. The Forum will focus on current processes in BiH and the neighbouring countries in the fields of economy and social policy, with special accent on problems burdening the transition process. The two-day Forum is attended by delegations of more than 20 European countries, BiH and foreign experts from the fields of economy and privatisation, representatives of domestic and foreign non-governmental organisations and the officials of the Council of Europe, the European Commission, OHR and OSCE. The attendees were among others addressed by Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays and OSCE Head of Mission to BiH Robert Beecroft. Blic pg. 7 ‘Reforms are impossible without citizens’ participation’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 20 ‘Authority closer to people’ – RS President Dragan Cavic said in his opening remarks that the Forum was of great importance for RS and BiH. “Principles on which the EU has been established are very important for the whole region, especially for BiH. The key principle is to bring closer authority to citizens,” Cavic said. Chairman of Working Group for Democratisation and Human Rights of the Stability Pact for South East Europe, Elisabeth Rehn, said that in the work of Stability Pact for South East Europe there were two important principles: one is regional and the other is principle from the bottom to the top. “If you do not have good bases at the bottom, then you do not have a basis for a good and strong country,” Rehn said. Head of OSCE Mission, Robert Beecroft, emphasised the importance of simultaneous development of the region and states. PDHR Donald Hays said that BiH needed strategies that would strengthen the economy. “Development of municipalities is a process that means the inclusion of citizens and you cannot have serious reforms without including citizens in them. You cannot achieve economic reforms without citizens, nor create future of this country. This country needs to become a home for all its people,” Hays said. |
| Ashdown addressed the Economist Conference in Sarajevo | Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘I will give BiH a golden key for coming out of Dayton’s prison’, Dnevni Avaz pg, 2 ‘It is profitable to invest in BiH’, Dnevni List page 2, “BiH ‘swallowed’ 17 billion dollars”, unsigned, FENA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, addressed on Monday the Economist Business Roundtable, which was taking place in Sarajevo, OHR said in a press release. “The Economist Business Roundtable deals with management culture, investment conditions and government intervention, and it is this focused business perspective that makes the discussion here so refreshing – because your bottom line is whether companies can do business profitably in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The short answer is yes, they can. What the BiH authorities, together with their partners in the International Community, are now doing is consolidating a business environment that makes it possible for companies in this country to prosper. This is the key to creating jobs, and it is the key to engineering Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transition to economic Stability,” said Ashdown at the beginning of his speech. |
| Italian companies to set up economic zone in Brcko District | BHTV, FTV – The officials of Brcko District and the union of industrialists of Venice signed an agreement on the construction of a large industrial zone in Brcko District at the Italian embassy in Sarajevo on Monday. The entire project will cost between 120 and 140 million euros. The first investment worth 7 million euros will be in infrastructure on the initial 30 hectares of the industrial zone. The zone will spread over 130 hectares. A total of 15 companies will start with the works and it is expected that a further 15 will be involved at a later stage. Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue. |
| Tihic, Terzic, Ashdown meet with Urso | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, RTRS, FENA – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic, BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic and the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, met in Sarajevo on Monday separately with Minister of Foreign Trade of Republic Italy, Adolfo Urso. Minister Urso stressed that Republic Italy supports stabilisation and development of BiH. He commended reform in the fiscal sector, security-intelligence and defence systems. On this occasion he promoted the Italian Government’s initiative, in co-operation with the European Commission and the Stability pact, on creating a free trade zone in the entire Balkans. Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue. |
| Auditing in Srpske Poste begins | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5 – ‘RS Chief Auditor entered Srpske Poste’- the daily reports that the RS Chief Auditor, Bosko Ceko, on Monday begun the auditing of the Srpske Poste. The above was confirmed by both, Bosko Ceko and Director General of Srpske Poste, Milutin Pejic. Ceko stated that the auditing is being carried out in line with the decision of the RS National Assembly from April 9 this year and the final report will be presented to the public once it is completed. |
| Law on veterans | Blic pg. 6 ‘Compromise of creators and the bank’ – Offered working draft on the law on veterans is compromise between the law’s creators and the World Bank – it was concluded at yesterday’s session of the RS Veterans, families of the fallen soldiers and war invalids organisation. This organisation’s representatives said that the World Bank insisted that all payments to those categories has to fit in amount of 105 million KM, that is this year budget of Ministry of Labour and Veterans Protection. Veterans are not satisfied with propose solutions. |
| CoM adopts Budget revision | Blic pg. 7 ‘Budget rebalance defined’ – The Council of Ministers on Monday drafted a revised budget for the BiH institutions and a bill on its implementation. The drafts will be forwarded to the Presidency, which as an authorised proposer will forward them to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. The new budget for the BiH institutions is harmonised with the IMF recommendations on restrictive public expenditure and on entity governments and amounts 212 million KM. The obligations of BiH for servicing the foreign debt remain the same and amount to about 324 million KM. Sarajevo media, Vecernji List (page 2, “Budget only 1% bigger”, by E. Medunjanin), Dnevni List (page 3, “Draft rebalance of budget of BiH institutions devised”, by Fena) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 6, “Draft rebalance of budget devised”, by D. Pasic) also reported on the session. |
| Action Plan on re-structuring of FBiH power system | Vecernji List (front page, “Croat money to Sarajevo only” and page 2, “Croat money from power to Sarajevo”, by Z. Kresic) carries that the shutting down of Elektroprivreda of Croat Community of Herceg Bosna (EP CC HB) was definitely approved by the adoption of the Action Plan of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for re-structuring and privatization of power sector in the FBiH Parliament. VL goes on to say that in this way the solutions, by which it is being tried to secure the financial monopoly at the expense of Croats, have been also presented. According to VL, after the restructuring process is completed, Sarajevo will be the seat of the distribution company for the region South. VL says that in this way Sarajevo would have at its disposal all the money earned on the sale of power to Croat and Serb beneficiaries. VL concludes that only Croat areas in BiH will remain since Serbs have already announced that they will not adopt such Action Plan. |
| Editorial on tax collection in BiH
| Vecernji List (page 6, “Cut in tax”, by R. Dodig) carries an editorial dealing with the tax collection in BiH. The editorial says: “I remember the data stated by Head of CAFAO Mission ion BiH Alan Jensen saying that the Federation of BiH only, lost 500 million KM due to unpaid tax.” The author goes on to say that none was sanctioned because of it. The author also says: “I believe that the domestic authority in BiH, no matter what it is like and whose it is, is not able to secure basic filling of the budget through tax collection…Instead of all possible sorts of international politocracy and bureaucracy International Tax Office only, should be introduced.” |
Political developments | |
| Mostar restructuring
| In an Interview for Dnevni List (front page and pg. 7), when asked about the Mostar re-structuring issue, SDHR Wnendt says: “The Commission will start with its work on Thursday. Winterstein, who is coming from Germany today, will be the chairman. It is up to the members of the Commission, who come from all political parties, to come up with the solutions for the re-organization of the city. We hope that they will agree upon with regard to the new Statute for the City of Mostar. It is still early to speculate about the final result.” Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Winterstein activates Commission for Mostar Statute’ quotes OHR South Spokesperson Avis Benes as announcing the inaugural session of the Commission on Thursday. |
| Stojicic claims there is no division in SDS | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 – ‘There will be no changes in top SDS leadership’- the Spokesman of SDS, Dusan Stojicic claims that no changes in the top party leadership will happen at the forthcoming party congress. He also denied claims that Mirko Sarovic will replace Dragan Kalinic at the post of the party president. According to Stojicic, the SDS congress will show the strength and the internal unity of the party, achieved in spite of all challenges and temptations that the party was faced with. Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 also carried the statement. |
Education | |
| Strike of HNC teachers | Vecernji List (page 4, “There is no working obligation for time being”, by amd, and “Laus: Strike goes on”, by Fena), Dnevni List (front and page 16, “In spite of promises of minister Musa school year will not start”, by D. Kozina, page 16, “Government should be held accountable for whole situation”, by D.K.) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 6, “Strike goes on”, by Z. Zekic, and page 16, “Musa: Classes begin!, Trade Union: There are no classes!”, by D. Juka) deal with the strike of teachers in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. The dailies carry that the HNC Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Jago Musa, held a press conference yesterday during which he called on teachers and students come in front of their schools today. Musa also said that the imposing of the working obligation is out of question at the moment because HNC Government does not have legal stronghold to impose it. SD, DL and VL also carry President of the Trade Union of primary school teachers Slavko Laus who says that the strike goes on. DL carries Laus announcing a lawsuit because of a one-sided ultimatum call of the Government to call off the strike. DL (page 16, “It is high time that children start to go to school”, by M. Relota) carries that Prime Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government Miroslav Coric stated that he personally expected that the classes would start today and added that the call of the minister Musa to start with the classes today was the only realistic solution for all parties involved. |
Affairs, incidents, legal proceedings | |
| DL: “HDZ phone lines illegally connected”
| Dnevni List (front and page 9, by P.R.) carries that Head of Hrvatski Telekom Mostar (Croat telecommunications Mostar), Stipe Prlic, stated that 9 phone lines were connected illegally and without authorization to the HDZ headquarters in Mostar. Prlic explained that the HDZ phone lines were disconnected due to accumulated debts, however, meanwhile somebody connected the 9 phone lines. Prlic added that they were trying to find out who is the person who did it. DL also carries that the source from the OHR stated for Onasa news agency that the OHR would soon publish the report of the Special Auditor’s Office on the business operations of Hrvatske Poste and Telekomunikacije and two companies that emerged from them, that is, HT Mostar and Hrvatske Poste Mostar. Prlic confirmed this information and said that he received a preliminary report from the Special Auditor’s Office. Prlic added that he could not talk about its contents because he is forbidden to talk about it before the report is officially published. Sarajevo media also reported on the issue. |
| Masovic to Paravac on Srebrenica-Potocari | Dnevni List (page 8, “Masovic: Mister Paravac, your show failed!”, by Fena) – President of FBiH Commission for Missing Persons, Amor Masovic, sent the Serb member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, a letter regarding Paravac’s failure to attend the opening of Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Centre. Masovic says that despite Paravac’s statement made in front of the “BiH Court” that “there were no representatives of the Bosniak authorities in front of the ‘Viktor Bubanj’ barracks”, he (Masovic) had believed that Paravac was going to attend the Srebrenica event. This triggers Masovic to say it is clear that Paravac used the gathering of the former Serb POWs as an alibi not to show up in Srebrenica. Vecernji List, page 3, “Masovic on Paravac’s absence”, by f, Sarajevo dailies also carried the letter. |
| Concentration camp inmates request dismissal of judges and prosecutors | Glas Srpske, cover page- ‘Dismissal of judges requested’ – The RS Association of the Concentration camp inmates will request dismissal of several judges and prosecutors, appointed to various departments of BiH Courts and judicial institutions in Sarajevo Canton. The Deputy Chairman of the Association, Slavko Jovicic told Glas Srpske that former inmates cannot allow that those who, during the war, sentenced Serbs to years in prison for just having a knife, or battery lamp now work as judges and prosecutors. The daily quotes Jovicic as saying: ‘We will request the HJPC and the OHR to forbid those judges and prosecutors to work. Of course, we will present evidence for our claims.’ The list of judges and prosecutors which should no longer work in those posts, as drafted by the Association is as follows: Venceslav Ilic, judge of the BiH Court, Davorin Jukic, member of the F BiH HJPC and judge of the Sarajevo Cantonal Court, and cantonal judges and prosecutors: Hikmet Arnautovic, Salem Miso, Amir Jaganjac, Idriz Kamenica, Muhidin Kare, Saban Maksumic and Muhamed Podrug. Glas Srpske, (pg.3 – ‘Protest to Ashdown’), also carries the announcement of the Association which says that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, applies double standards when it comes to the victims of the war. The Chairman of the Association, Branislav Dukic supports his claim by saying that Ashdown did not appear when they tried to place memorial plaque on ‘Viktor Bubanj’ barracks on September 19, and yet tomorrow, he did attend the ceremony in Potocari. Dukic announced the Association will send an official protest letter to Ashdown and Ambassadors accredited to BiH. |
| PSC Serb Sarajevo submits charges against officers from ‘Viktor Bubanj’ barracks | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘Case submitted on officers from ‘Viktor Bubanj’, Glas Srpske, pg. 5 – ‘Hell in the war time prisons’, Report on crimes over Serbs in Sarajevo submitted, Blic pg. 18 ‘Proofs on crimes over Serbs submitted to the Prosecution’ – The Srpsko Sarajevo Public Security Centre submitted on Monday a report to the County Prosecutor’s Office on “committed crime acts against humanity and values protected by the international law during the war in the area of the Sarajevo’s settlements of Boljakov Potok, Brijesce, Buca Potok and Sokolje and in camps for Serbs in the Central Prison and former barracks Viktor Bubanj”. The report says that crimes were committed by the war commander of the Military Police of the BiH Army, Kerim Lucarevac, the former head of the Central Prison, Ismet Bajramovic Celo, the commander of the Military Police for the Sarajevo region, Dzevad Topic, the head of the former camp Viktor Bubanj, Besim Muderizovic, the guard commander, Himzo Dolan, guards Kemal Dautovic, Fahrudin Alic and other members of the former Military Police of the BiH Army. |
| Trial to Prijedor policemen postponed | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 – ‘The trial to Prijedor policemen postponed’, Blic pg. 6 ‘Postponed trial’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 21 ‘They ask for disqualification of president’- the daily reports that the trial to eleven former police officers from Prijedor, indicted for killing of Catholic priest Tomislav Matanovic and his parents, in 1995, was postponed until further notice. |
| House of Kostajnica mayor bombed | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘A bomb against the mayor’, Glas Srpske, pg.2 – ‘A bomb against the Mayor’- according to the dailies, a hand grenade was thrown at the house of Kostajnica Mayor, Drago Bundalo, on Saturday night. All windows on the house were broken, Banja Luka police reported. Bundalo said that thanks to pure luck, none of his family members were injured in the blast. He believes that this attack is linked to his persistent attempts in the local assembly to identify individuals responsible for several incidents in the municipality. |
| Bocinja | Vecernje Novosti pg. 6 ‘Police Minister – terrorists’ protector’ – quotes Dzevad Galijasevic, former president of the Maglaj Municipal Council, as saying that after committing crimes such as murders and diversions in the Western Europe, terrorists are coming to Mujahedeens’ village Bocinja, where Police Minister, Semsudin Mehmedovic, provides them with new identity, passports and other documents. The terrorists – mujahedeeens stay in the village for some time, usually three months, after which they go into new terrorist actions. |