Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 24 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA(12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| FBiH Govt in Mostar | EUFOR set checkpoint at Makljani | Letter to Paravac and Ivanic |
| BiH delegation in CoE | 10 killed by explosion in | Bileca citizens resume protest |
| ICTY news | Earthquake on Sulavesi island | Police search in Brcko |
TV news broadcast on 23 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Change of BIH constitution | Ivanic meets Bukejlovic | Protests in Bileca | Protests in Bileca |
| Ivanic meets Bukejlovic | SDS on CoM’s restructure | Ivanic meets Bukejlovic | Ivanic meets Bukejlovic |
| BIH at the CoE session | Ivanic to travel to | Constitutional changes | Will Ivanic travel to |
| FBiH Govt session on Mon | Yushenko inauguration | Foca municipal issues | Legal reform in RS |
| Oslobodjenje | Without visas in |
| Dnevni Avaz | Agrokomerc is used by those against privatization; Ministers in resignation must do their job |
| Dnevni List | Bet-Shop robbed |
| Vecernji List | Scams worth millions in car-insurance |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Nezavisne Novine | Bileca citizens demand punishment of rapists: Thousand of citizens protested in front of police building; Consultations on composition of RS government: Bukejlovic still without PDP support; Because they stopped the vehicle of Adila Osmanovic: Five Banja Luka policemen before Disciplinary Commission |
| Glas Srpske | Over a thousand of Bileca citizens protested in front of police station: Detain rapists!; Gregory Copley warns: Danger from the Balkans |
| EuroBlic | Bileca people demand arrests over the rape of a girl; RS-PM designate seeking for support: PDP still abstained |
| Vecernje novosti | In Jahovac near Bijeljina: A death at the manhole |
| Nacional | Features Serbian related stories |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Citizens of Bileca broke into Assembly interrupting the session: protests continue | RTRS, BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – Several hundreds of Bileca citizens continue with the protests demanding the removal of persons responsible for reaching a decision on releasing 3 persons, suspected of raping 23-year-old girl. Citizens demand for the 3 persons to be arrested again. Bileca Assembly convened a special session to discuss the safety situation in Bileca but citizens broke into the Assembly premises and interrupted the session. |
| RS PoWs object against Karavelic’s appointment
| RTRS at 12.00 – RS Association of Former Detention Camp Inmates has today addressed a letter to Borislav Paravac and Mladen Ivanic, demanding from them to reject the nomination of Vahid Karavelic, the retired general, to the position of the BiH Ambassador in |
| FBiH Govt in session
| RHB at 12.00 – FBiH Government is holding a session at Mostar today. The agenda includes, among other issues, Proposal of authentic interpretation of law on sale of apartments with tenancy rights and Proposal of decision on writing off of ‘Airbosna’s’ debts. |
| EUFOR establishes checkpoint in | BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – EUFOR set a checkpoint at Makljani near Rama. This is the fourth time in the past 10 days EUFOR set a checkpoint in the area of |
| BiH Delegation attend CoM parliament EUFOR
| RHB at 12.00 – Delegation of BiH Parliament is taking part in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe. Sead Avdic (MP) will be addressing the CoE on the issue of protection of human rights in Kosovo, Elmir Jahic (MP) will be talking about peace prospects in middle East, whilst Martin Raguz (MP) will be talking about Europe-US relations. |
| Investment summits commences in | BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – Approximately 170 participants, as well as a number of representatives of companies, should attend the 2nd |
Political issues | |
| Ivanic: PDP’s support to new RS Govt depends on solving CoM crisis
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘PDP will wait for SDS stance’, mentioned on cover, by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ivanic demand joint position regarding CoM’ by J.S., Dnevni List pg 2 ‘New RS Prime Minister Designate still without PDP support’ not signed , Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Bukejlovic still without PDP support’ by V.Popovic, EuroBlic cover and RSpg 1 ‘PDP still abstained’ by Tijana Veselinovic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘New round of talks’ by D. Radjan; Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘PM-designate takes the place of Sisyphus’ by Sl. Pesevic – The President of the PDP, Mladen Ivanic, stated on Sunday that the support of this political party for forming of the new RS government headed by Pero Bukejlovic will depend on the resolution of the crisis in the BiH Council of Ministers. Following the meeting with Bukejlovic held on Sunday, Ivanic added that before party’s definite decision, PDP expects the SDS, as well as the parties from the Federation participating in the CoM, to state their stands on resolving the crisis in the state authorities in the next several days. BHT 1 – PDP expects to hold meeting with SDS representativesin the next coming days to agree on joint position. If PDP reaches mutual stance with SDS on the crisis in the BiH CoM by the February 1, PDP will support Bukejlovic, stated Ivanic. FTV – Ivanic said that his political party is prepared to fulfill the commitments from the Agreement on harmonized political activity, but reiterated that the Agreement also states that the signatory parties will be united in their relations towards the CoM and resolving of the crisis in this BiH body. RTRS – In this regard, Ivanic stated: “[Joint position] is something that must be brought to an end in the next several days regardless of the political delicateness of the matter. That is a PDP precondition for any kind of talks regarding Government”, says Ivanic. |
| SDS ministers will not attend 1 Feb CoM session
| BHT 1 by Sanita Lasica – SDS confirmed for BHT 1 that their ministers will not attend the 1 February session of the Council of Ministers. “That means that the CoM will not have quorum and that the session will not be held, which also assumes that there will have to be additional changes in the CoM, i.e. election of its new composition,” said Momcilo Novakovic, SDS delegate in the BiH House of Representative. BHT 1 also comments that while SDS believes that new composition is needed, but with Adnan Terzic as the chairman. SDA position is that if ministers fail to participate in the upcoming session, sanctions will be imposed in accordance to the law. “That means that Prime Minister Terzic can decide on reliving off the duty those ministers in resignation and initiate procedure to appointment the new ministers,” said SDA representative, Mirsad Ceman. HDZ wants meeting with coalition partners in order to prevent deepening of the crisis in the CoM. “The result of that meeting – a new Government or new start of the current structure, or some third solution – will have to be left to the discussion,” stated HDZ representative, Pero Pavlovic. BiH Justice Minister, Slobodan Kovac, confirmed he would attend the CoM’s session. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SDS Ministers will not attend the session’ – carries Novakovic’s statement. |
| OHR: ‘Outgoing ministers must do their job’
| Dnevni Avaz, pg. 2 ‘The laws too read the outgoing ministers must do their jobs’ mentioned on cover ‘Outgoing ministers must do their jobs’ by F. Cardzic – OHR Spokesperson |
| Ivanic: I can go to US for Prayer Breakfast
| BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘No obstacles to breakfast with Bush’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Prayer breakfast is private thing’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘I can travel to USA’ by FENA; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘I can if I want’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Ivanic in USA’ by f – Mladen Ivanic, the outgoing BiH Foreign Minister and PDP President, on Sunday stated that he could travel to USA, noting that his possible trip to USA at the beginning of February, where he should attend the prayer’s breakfast with US President, George Bush, was his private matter. According to media, Ivanic and Mikerevic had received invitations to attend the breakfast. |
| VoA: BiH citizens to | Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 5 ‘Without visas to |
| FTV feature on constitutional changes
| FTV by Sinan Saric – FTV brings a feature on the possible changes to the BiH Constitution, adding that those in favour of such idea claim that the Constitution is discriminatory. Articles 4 and 5 of the BiH Constitution deprives citizens of their political right to be elected to the office. “As it is well known, this right is reduced in a way that delegates in the House of Peoples from Serb people can be elected only from the RS territory, delegates from Bosniak and Croat people can be elected only from the FBiH territory, and the same thing is with the BiH Presidency,” said the Chairman of the BiH Parliamentary Constitutional and Legal Commission, Mirsad Ceman. Four proposals on the constitutional changes have been submitted to the Commission, but those were never discussed due to opposing of three Commission’s members, Petar Kunic, Tihomir Gligoric and Momcilo Novakovic, They claim that the national interests of the Serb people would be jeopardized with harmonisation of the BiH Constitution with the European human rights convention. “That is about individual citizens rights and that is about European human rights convention. That convention is, in a way, pushed to the centre of attention, but it is normal that Serb is elected from the RS in function of protection of that community,” stated member of the Commission, Petar Kunic. |
| FTV on new Foca head of municipality facing obstructions
| FTV by Hasan Gabela – After the local elections in October last year, |
| DL int with Stolac Mayor: ‘Decision on pulling down crosses is illegal’
| Dnevni List pg 20 ‘Decision on pulling down of cross is illegal’ by N. Bise carries an interview with Head of the |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on meeting of 6 FBiH parties | Oslobodjenje, op-ed pg. 9 ‘Integration’ by Ibrahim Prohic – The author refers to the meeting of six parties from the FBiH held last week and he criticizes SDU (the initiator of the meeting) by saying it does not have the necessary credibility for such an intention. The author stresses that the crucial weakness of the mentioned initiative is of a strategic nature and says it would be naïve to think the crisis in RS could be resolved without the participation of Serb parties. The author concludes by saying a political idea, in order to be successful, needs to be comprehensive and systematic. |
Crime / Police / Defence / Intelligence | |
| Thousand of citizens protests asking police to detain rapists of 23 yrs girl
| FTV, RTRS, BHT1, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Thousand of citizens protested in front of police building’; Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Detain rapists!’ by S.A.; EuroBlic cover ‘Bileca people demand arrests over the rape of a girl’ – Several hundreds of Bileca citizens protested on Sunday in front of the police building. The reason is that the Prosecution decided to release three persons suspected of involvement in a rape case, which took place on the night 20 to 21 January in the Trebinje settlement of Dubrave. The girl, who was raped and stabbed, has been hospitalized at Trebinje Surgical Division. Miladin Samardzic, Bileca Mayor, addressed the gathered citizens, noting Bileca had never experienced such a loathsome crime. The citizens announced they would gather Monday again. |
| Five BL PSC policemen before disciplinary comm. because of stopping Osmanovic
| Nezavisne Novine cover splash, pg 2 ‘Five Banja Luka policemen before Disciplinary Commission’ by S. Karic – Five policemen from the Banja Luka PSC should face Disciplinary Commission one of these days, over the alleged severe violation of the duty when in November last year they stopped the vehicle of Adil Osmanovic, RS Vice President, using barricades. Osmanovic filed a complain, while police claims Osmanovic ignored police at Turbe and Knezevo, that attempted to stop him, and Banja Luka police acted properly. |
| Copley: Terrorism against West may increase via the Balkans
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Danger from the Balkans’ – GS carries report of TANJUG news agency (initial report of Voice of America), according to which Gregory Copley, Editor-in-Chief of US Magazine “Defence and Foreign Affairs”, has warned that following stabilisation of situation in Iraq, the number of attempted terrorist actions against Western states may increase via the Balkans. |
| NN op-ed on police reform
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Political reform of police’ by Mirza Cubro – The author is referring to the most recent statements regarding police reform, with particular note on HR’s statement (that police reform would see savings of around BAM 1409 million without explaining who). The author speculates as to whether there would be new reduction of police staff, in order to equalise salaries of police officers throughout BiH. The closing words read that Paddy Ashdown’s reformists would most likely end this game as winners again. |
| DL int with Radovanovic on abolishment of entity defence ministries
| Dnevni List, pg 7’ mentioned on front ‘Idea of abolishment of entity ministries difficult to implement’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – Questioned as to what would happen to the entity armies in case the entity defence ministries were abolished, BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, says: “I cannot give you an exact answer to that. What has been stated precisely is that the entity armies are to be kept in one of agreed models, but their size and organizational structure, given the request regarding the fiscal viability, will be subject to discussions”. Asked to comment whether the process of abolishment of the entity MoDs could be completed during 2005, Minister Radovanovic says: “I personally think that the abolishment during this year is problematic because they are structures with series of functions. That’s a serious issue and I think the idea of abolishment of entity ministries in 2005 is a very ambitious one and it is very difficult to do from the technical point of view”. Finally questioned whether there is a possibility that the entity MoDs stay in tact, given the resistance from the RS, Minister Radovanovic says: “Ultimately, it is possible because such processes require decisions in parliaments” |
| Sacked OBS and FOSS staff file appeals | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Sacked agents from the OBS and FOSS filed appeals’ by M. Cubro – The Parliamentary Commission in charge of monitoring the work of the BiH OSA has received appeals with regard to the legality of decisions terminating the employment of several intelligence agents that worked in what was formerly Entities’ intelligence agencies. This was confirmed by the Commission Chairman, Tomislav Limov. According to him, the appeals in question along with the appeals of all those who believe that they were sacked illegally will be considered after the expiration of the 30-day deadline within which the OSA Director will have to take a position on the appeals. Limov, however, did not wish to say how many appeals have been received or the names of those who appealed. |
Trial / judicial issues / war crimes | |
| DL reveals background of meeting between President Mesic and Jelavic’s wife
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Covic and Sanader are Jelavic’s captors?’, by Zvonimir Jukic – Commenting on the news published in the media that the Croatian President, Stipe Mesic, received wife of Ante Jelavic, Iva Jelavic that is, DL claims to have learned from sources close to the Jelavic family that Iva decided to contact President Mesic after she had realized that people she had relied on, foremost the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, and Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, wanted Ante Jelavic to stay behind the bars for as long as possible. According to the source, the reason why “Covic and company” want to keep Jelavic in custody lies in the fact that Jelavic, if he were defending from outside the prison, would be able to realize who had the interest to keep him behind the bars, after which he would be able to undertake actions which would shatter Covic and people around Covic’s cover, in other words he would be able to expose them and charge them for the deeds he has been solely charged with. Iva Jelavic did not want to comment on the meeting with Mesic, and DL notes that President Mesic promised that he would help as much as he could. |
| RTRS: new law on court brings no results as expected
| RTRS by Stanko Pupovac – RTRS comments that the new law on the RS Courts doesn’t bring the expected results. Cases are just piling up due to lack of judges, money, premises, material and equipment necessary for normal functioning of the judiciary. New law expects from the Basic and County Courts to be efficient. The Justice Ministry states that effects of the new law should be visible after 6 months. Chairman of RS Supreme Court Zelimir Baric says that RS budget doesn’t have enough resources to enable proper functioning of the Courts. Chairman of RS National Assembly Board for judiciary reform Krstan Simic says that the law has encompassed all European legal standards but it hadn’t paid attention to the real situation in the Courts. Some citizens already complained regarding judges and high legal fees. Legal experts feel that legal reform in RS is ongoing and that it is necessary to find legal solutions that will have complete trust of the citizens. |
| Del Ponte to raise new indictments soon
| Oslobodjenje, cover andpg. 2 ‘The latest Hague list’ by Sense – According to Sesne agency, the procedure of verification of the “December collection” of indictments brought by Carla Del Ponte, is being brought to an end, which does not mean the names of indictees would be published next week. Agency also argues that most probably Del Ponte will inform the authorities in |
| Trials against 6 Croats to start in 2007
| Dnevni List pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Trails against Prlic and others at beginning of 2007’ by I. Glibusic – Lawyer Zeljko Olujic who represents ICTY indictee Bruno Stojic in the ICTY process against 6 military and political officials of the Croat Republic of Herceg Bosna says that the ICTY trials for 2005 and a half of 2006 have been already planned and therefore it will not be possible that the trials against aforementioned officials start before 2007. |
Economic issues | |
| Hadzipasic: Agrokomerc is used by those opposing privatisation audit
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Those who oppose an audit are using “Agrokomerc”’ and pg. 5 ‘Those who oppose the audit of privatization are using “Agrokomerc”’ by M. Kukan – The article refers to the recent visit of Federation of BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic to Sanski Most and his meeting with “Agrokomerc” Trade Union. Prime Minister Hadzipasic has stated he asked from the Trade Union, the management, Supervising Board and FBiH to commence activities towards re-registration of the firm and start 2-3 lines of production in the following two months. Prime Minister Hadzipasic claims those who oppose an audit of the privatization are using the situation at “Agrokomerc”. [The workers of Agrokomeric held a number of protests demanding the re-launch of the production and removal of the management board] |
| Vrankic to oppose selective privatization
| Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Vrankic: Aluminij is not disputable’ by Z. Kresic – Federation of BiH Minister of Finances Dragan Vrankic stated that he would oppose selective audit of privatization and he stressed that privatization carried out according to the so-called Markovic’s model cannot be annulled on the ground of that law. Vrankic also said that instead of resolving the issue of big companies, which do not work and incur debts on a daily basis, the FBiH Government ‘deals with’ successful companies such as Aluminij. Vrankic believes that possible adoption of the law, which has the ‘Bosniak majority’ in the FBiH Government and Parliament, will be illegal as well as its application. He added: ‘There is no a new law which can contest rights given before.’ |
| VL: BiH administration reduction possible after reorganization of BiH | Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Billion for 5 authority levels’, mentioned on cover ‘Sarajevo holds world record when bureaucracy is in question’ by D. Jazvic – VL says that with an exception of big political centers such as Brussels and New York, Sarajevo is the town with the biggest administration in the world. According to VL, majority of the employees in |