| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BIH HoR in session | Miroslav Vjestica arrested | Miroslav Vjestica arrested | Karadzic’s letter |
| Presidency in session | BiH Law on weapons sale | | Miroslav Vjestica arrested |
| Meeting of BIH parties | RS leaders held meeting | EUFOR action in H. Pijesak | RS crisis overview |
| Miroslav Vjestica arrested | Partisans and cetniks issue | Salaries for workers in BHS | Russian Amb. for N.N. |
| Oslobodjenje | Former defence ministers must be held accountable |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic: My government is legitimate; EUFOR seals off criminal Ratko Mladic’s haven |
| Dnevni List | Croats must win their rights together |
| Vecernji List | Merry Christmas |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Nezavisne Novine | Underground facility of RS Army: Bunker where Ratko Mladic was hiding sealed; Alexander Grischenko: Dayton Agreement is the foundation for survival and stability of BiH; Miroslav Vjestica arrested on grounds of war crimes indictment |
| Glas Srpske | Holy Archpriest Synod of Serb Orthodox Church: Drumhead courts again |
| EuroBlic | SDS supports Government with Dodik and Ivanic |
| Vecernje novosti | Press release following the meeting of SPC with Bishops from RS and F BiH: No law for Ashdown |
| Nacional | Dragan Mikerevic insulted US Ambassador in F BiH: Get out of my office! |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| NATO detains alleged PIFWC supporter | FENA – This morning, NATO detained Dusan Tesic, an alleged PIFWC supporter, for questioning with regard to activities contrary to the Dayton Peace Agreement. Tesic is being held at a secure facility for further investigation into his PIFWC links. |
| Meeting of parliamentary majority parties postponed | SRNA – The meeting of parliamentary majority party leaders scheduled for today by the BiH Presidency, in efforts to resolve the crisis in the Council of Ministers arising with the resignation of the Serbian ministers, has been postponed due the inability of the SDS and PDP presidents, Dragan Cavic and Mladen Ivanic, to attend. “A new meeting will be scheduled most likely for December 28,” said Drago Vukovic, advisor to Presidency chairman Borislav Paravac. |
| Banja Luka Bishop Komarica on IC
| SRNA – Banjaluka’s Catholic Bishop, Franjo Komarica, said on Friday that “we can not allow ourselves to be used as the dumping ground for the refuse of the IC and other destructive forces.” “We have much that is constructive to offer Europe,” Bishop Komarica told reporters on the occasion of Christmas. The Bishop appealed to politicians and IC representatives in BiH to show more determination in forming the foundations for this country’s stable future. |
| PDP officials calls on Serb reps in CoM to resign
| SRNA – The Executive Director of the PDP, Gavrilo Antonic, on Thursday stated that those Serb representatives who do not resign and decide to stay in the BiH CoM will legitimize the recent decisions of the HR, Paddy Ashdown. Antonic told a press conference that remaining in the Council of Ministers would represent a sign of support for the measures and processes announced by the HR. He declared that the crisis can be resolved through an agreement between the two strongest parties in the RS – SDS and SNSD, and noted that PDP would support their agreement. |
| OHR: Increased financial reserves in October | FENA – The money reserves in BiH during October and the previous months were increased in a stable rate. The reserves of foreign currencies with the BiH Central Bank (CBBH) have been increased as well, and the growth of banking capital in the private sector has been recorded, is stated in the latest OHR Economic Report for November. |
Political crisis in RS/ BiH | |
| Parties making up BiH parliamentary assembly meet today to discuss crisis [note: postponed] | RHB, BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Terzic asked for meeting of parties making up the parliamentary majority’ by A.M., Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Authority crisis gathered political leaders’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Meeting of ruling parties leaders’ by D. Jazvic – Leaders of all political parties in BiH that make up the parliamentary majority will meet in Sarajevo most probably on Friday [today]. At this meeting Chair of the BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, will give an explanation and open a discussion on resignations of ministers from the BiH Council of Ministers, BiH Presidency Chair Borislav Paravac announced after presidency has approve this initiative to Terzic. Parties will discuss resignations by BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic, Civil Affairs Deputy Minister Zoran Tesanovic and Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic. RTRS – Invitation for the meeting was sent to SDS, SDA, HDZ, PDP and SzBIH. |
| Terzic on CoM, upcoming meeting
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Council of Ministers will continue with work’ by 3 ‘Council of Ministers will continue with work’ by M. Cubro – On the eve of today’s meeting (Friday), Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair: “I believe in a positive outcome of the meeting, following which BiH Council of Ministers would continue with its work normally. .. I am of the view the Law has not been clearly defend in regard to duties of ministers in resignation. I expect lawyers to give their stance as to whether ministers in resignation need to attend BiH CoM sessions..” Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Terzic: My government is legitimate’, pg 2 ‘CoM is fully legitimate’ by F.C. – Terzic stated for DA that he scheduled the session of the CoM for 30 December. He also said that there were no new resignations in CoM on Thursday: “SDS has not called on their ministers and deputies to leave the CoM, except Minister [Slobodan] Kovac. Apparently the reason for that is not the current situation, but the fact they are not satisfied with his work for months. CoM will show next Thursday that it is fully legitimate.” |
| BiH Presidency on crisis
| RHB – The BiH Presidency considered the report by CoM Chair Adnan Terzic on resignations of ministers from the Council of Ministers. Borislav Paravac stated that the information was accepted without broad discussion. FTV –Paravac stated that the fact that BiH Presidency leads foreign policy, instead of the BiH Foreign Ministry, is a problem. On the crisis in BiH, Paravac commented: “It would be difficult to give any comments. We should discuss it… [today], after having an open discussion on what caused the crisis; not to deal with consequences.” Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Terzic asked for meeting of parties making up the parliamentary majority’ by A.M., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Assistance to state Government’ – also covers. |
| Cavic, Dodik, Ivanic, Djokic discuss the crisis
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘The exit out of the crisis must be found’ – The RS President, Dragan Cavic, on Thursday met with the leaders of SNSD, PDP and SPRS – Milorad Dodik, Mladen Ivanic and Petar Djokic. Ivanic stated for DA that this was another in a series of the meetings to resolve the current situation: “It is in nobody’s interests for crisis to last and exit out of it must be found, but there must be equality among all political personalities in RS.” BHT 1 by Tanja Alavuk, Natalija Popadic – The issue of the new Government should be solved on Tuesday,when RS National Assembly session isscheduled.Ivanic said that crisis in RS Government can be solved by SDS and SNSD. “In situation like this, because of the distribution of political powers, due to the number of seats in the Parliament and the National Assembly, the key of stability is in hands of these two parties,” said Ivanic. EuroBlic cover ‘SDS supports Government with Dodik and Ivanic’ and RSpg 1 ‘SDS and SNSD to decide’ by Rajna Radosavljevic; Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Meeting at Cavic’s office about crisis’ by SRNA – Borislav Bojic, SDS Vice President, confirmed in a statement to papers that SDS would support government formed of SNSD, PDP and SDS officials. |
| HR Ashdown reminds the real cause of crisis is RS failure to cooperate with ICTY
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘The cause of the crisis is not package of the measures, but the incapability of the RS authorities to meet their obligations towards the Hague’ by S.N., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Karadzic protected by Belgrade and supported by Banja Luka’, mentioned on cover, not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘RS authority is the cause of crisis’ by N.N.; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Reproach against Belgrade’; Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Belgrade should better not impede Srpska’ by D. Stojakovic, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘War crime indictee enjoys protection of Belgrade’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14 ‘Banja Luka is protecting worst criminals’ by D. Pasic– The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, issued the statement on Thursday adding that the crisis in the authorities has not been caused by the measures he introduced but by consistent refusal of RS authorities to meet their obligations under Dayton. “Amid all the short-term manoeuvring and political gamesmanship of the last few days, the only fact which matters is being lost. We are now just days away from the tenth anniversary year of BHT 1, RHB, FTV, RTRS – all bring HR statement. |
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| RHB, FTV,Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘US Embassy supports Ashdown’s statement’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘US Embassy supports Ashdown’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘RS authority is the cause of crisis’ by N.N.; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Reproach against Belgrade’; Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Belgrade should better not impede Srpska’ by D. Stojakovic – The U.S. Embassy to BiH announced on Thursday it strongly supports the statement issued by the High Representative, reminding RS authorities that the sole cause of the present situation is their complete failure to uphold their responsibility to arrest indicted war criminals. The U.S. Embassy estimated this failure as “a failure that is impeding |
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| RHB, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 “Dayton agreement must be fully implemented’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Britain supports Ashdown’s measures’ by BETA; Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘We are not abolishing RS’ by D.S, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 13 ‘Neither Dayton not RS will be abolished’ by D. Pasic, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Greta Britain supports Ashdown’ not signed – 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 |
| French also support HR
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘France supports Ashdown’s decisions on RS’ by NINA – First Secretary of the French Embassy in BiH Benoit Schneider stated that France supports measures taken by High Representative Paddy Ashdown against the RS last week. |
| NN int with Russian Ambassador: Fear of RS abolishment understandable
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘Dayton Agreement is the foundation for survival and stability of BiH’ by Z. Kopanja – In an interview to NN, Alexander Grischenko, Russian Ambassador to BiH, says that the concern of the RS leadership over the latest developments, where they recognise attempts for abolishment of RS, is understandable. He stresses that bearing in mind there is no unified standard for police structure in |
| BiH Justice Minister rejects to tender his resignation | EuroBlic cover ‘SDS supports Government with Dodik and Ivanic’ and RSpg 1 ‘SDS and SNSD to decide’ by Rajna Radosavljevic; Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Meeting at Cavic’s office about crisis’ by SRNA, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Kovac just joins collective resignation’ not signed– Slobodan Kovac, BiH Justice Minister, rejected demand of SDS to tender his resignation to this position, claiming he would do that only if all other Serb ministers and deputies tendered their resignations, stressing: “I would join a collective resignation of the Serb people representatives at the BiH COM, but I will not tender it on my own.” He stressed it was clear to him now he did a right thing not to rush into tendering resignation, since all ministers and SDS officials had not withdrawn from joint institutions. He added that SDS was exerting pressure against him to tender resignation, “while some other people are exerting pressure against me to remain on the post”. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘I will not allow being manipulated’ by V.P. – A senior official of the SDS confirmed to NN that the SDS would disassociate from the so far work and actions of Kovac. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Kovac: I was told that ‘entire Serb personnel’ will resign’ – Kovac states for DA that when he was asked to resign, he was said that that referred to ‘entire Serb personnel’ and not only him. |
| Mikerevic meets Vukicevic to discuss crisis | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Dayton is obligating for the HR too’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘To urgently form new RS Government’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Ashdown caused the crisis’ by G.D.; Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Authority crisis’, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Ashdown’s measures caused crisis of RS and BiH executive authority’ not signed , ONASA – The latest measures by HR Paddy Ashdown have caused a crisis in the executive authorities in the RS and BiH, RS prime minister-in-resignation Dragan Mikerevic and Ambassador of SCG to BiH Stanimir Vukicevic said on Thursday. The two officials agreed that it is necessary to form the new RS government as soon as possible in order to continue the process of reforms. Vukicevic said that the Serbian leadership is concerned over the latest situation in the RS and emphasized the need for full respecting/implementation of the |
| Serb Orthodox Church on HR measures
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Drumhead courts again’ by S.R.T.; Vecernje Novosti cover ‘No law for Ashdown’ and pg 4 ‘Destroyer of peace and good will’ – Following the latest measures of HR, Holy Archbishop Synod of Serb Orthodox Church with Archbishoprs from RS and F BiH on Thursday called on respect of freedoms and democratic rights of all the peoples in BiH, warning that drumhead courts are trying Serbs again. |
| Ivanic, Dodik on measures
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Protest against absolutism’, ONASA – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic, who resigned several days ago, said that his resignation was a sign of protest against the “absolute and untouchable authority” of High Representative Paddy Ashdown. “We live in a time when we can accept individual sacrifices, but institutional sacrifices, such as the abolishment of the Republika Srpska, that is too much,” Ivanic told the Belgrade-based BK TV’s Klopka program on Wednesday evening. He said that the RS politicians must show dignity and not allow the High Representative to treat them as “second-class citizens.” Ivanic said that |
| Dodik: New Govt ASAP
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SNSD accepts resignation of RS Government’ by SRNA – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, on Thursday stated that this party would accept the resignation of the RS Government, adding SNSD is of the view that it is necessary to constitute the new government composition as soon as possible. He added that Thursday meeting of SNSD concluded that this party would fully contribute to this. |
| SBiH: ‘Cavic is now waging his own war with HR’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Cavic is now waging his own war with High Representative’ – Chairman of the Party for BiH’s Presidency Safet Halilovic believes that the international community must help BiH if it does not want to leave the entire situation to the dictate of retrograded concepts coming from RS. “The international community must help BiH to as soon as possible join PfP and EU,” said Halilovic adding that the international community should also radically sanction all those disrespecting Dayton Agreement regardless of their political position. |
| Lagumdzija: Ashdown must work or leave
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Ashdown must work or leave’ by N.N. – Zlatko Lagumdzija, President of SDP of BiH, assessed that unfulfilled promises had marked this year, especially in regard to non-admission of BiH into PFP, stressing: “It has shown that BiH has been subjected to attempted reform processes of HR, Paddy Ashdown, and false local reformists.” |
| RS NGOs ask Venice Commission to abolish HR powers
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Abolish broad powers of HR’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ashdown’s measures need to be urgently annulled’ by SRNA; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Demanding for limiting Ashdown’s powers’ by M.J.-Lj.Lj., Dnevni List pg 6 ‘To abolish Ashdown’s big powers’ not signed – The coordination centre of the RS NGOs has sent a letter to the Venice Commission asking it to abolish the special powers of the HR Paddy Ashdown and to restore his activities within the framework of the BiH and RS constitutions and the Dayton. The letter, signed by the president Branislav Dukic says: “If the Venice Commission ignores our requests by the first half of January next year, the coordination centre will launch a series of radical measures, of which the public will be notified later, in order to protect the survival of the RS, the BiH Constitution and the Dayton Agreement.” |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on Ashdown | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Counter-attack’ In Focus column by Zija Dizdarevic – According to Dizdarevic, the RS political leaders want to discredit High Representative Paddy Ashdown and topple Council of Ministers. He also claims that political differences between foreign/international authorities regarding the latest development in RS and BiH are also visible. “EU did not support US in banning SDS and PDP officials from entering its territory. |
War crimes/ defence and police issues | |
| RS MoI arrest war crimes suspects, transfers to Bihac
| RHB, FTV, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Miroslav Vjestica arrested’ by D. Ob, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Miroslav Vjestica’ by S. Dzanica, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Miroslav Vjestica arrested on grounds of war crimes indictment’ and pg 2 ‘Miroslav Vjestica arrested’ by M.K.-Sn.K.; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Miroslav Vjestica arrested’ by V. Janjic, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘The Hague suspect Miroslav Vjestica arrested’ by R. Karat– On Thursday, the RS Police arrested former SDS official and delegate at the RSNA, Miroslav Vjestica, over suspicion that he had committed war crimes against the civilian population. He was arrested on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the cantonal court in Bihac. Vjestica, born in 1947 in Bosanska Krupa Municipality, was immediately transferred to the Cantonal Court in Bihac, which is due to process him according to concordance reached with the Hague tribunal, the RS Interior Ministry said in a press release. ICTY approved processing of this case. RTRS – Rade Mutic, spokesman of the Public Security Center Banja Luka stated that Vjestica didn’t resist arrest. Although it was stated that Vjestica was arrested following the approval of the case by the ICTY, the spokeswoman Florence Hartman wouldn’t comment this arrest. |
| EUFOR seals off Han Pijesak underground military premises
| BHT1 – EUFOR Commander in BiH, David Leakey, said today that all underground military facilities in Crna Rijeka near Han Pijesak will be sealed off on suspicion that they are being used to hide persons indicted for war crimes. “This is a well designed and constructed military installation which in the last few years has been used by persons accused of war crimes. Because of this it will be closed, along with other bunkers and underground military facilities in the area located within a radius of a few kilometres,” Leakey told journalists after a tour of the military installation in Crna Rijeka. According to Leakey, the installation has a telephone exchange which is the most expensive to maintain in FTV – FTV carries EUFOR believes that Ratko Mladic has been hiding in this facilities just past summer. RTRS – Momcilo Djeric commander of Crna Rijeka claims that no ICTY indictee dwelled in these premises. BIH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic visited the premises this afternoon and stated that the destiny of these premises will be resolved soon. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Bunker ready to use’, mentioned on cover, by A., Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘EUFOR closed off hiding place of criminal Ratko Mladic’, mentioned on cover, by S.Se. – M.Dr., Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Bunker where Ratko Mladic was hiding sealed’ and pg 2 ‘Leakey sealed underground bunker where Mladic was hiding’ by D. Muminovic; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Bunkers waiting for padlocks’ – also reported. |
| RS Army official denies underground facility used by PIFWCs | Glas Srpske cover pagestory ‘It’s not because of Ratko” – The Chief of the Administration for Civilian-Military Cooperation of the RS Army’s HQ, Lieutenant Colonel Borisav Vukcievic denied Thursday the statement made by EUFOR Spokesperson Chris Percival that the air conditioning system detected in RS Army’s underground military facilities was an evidence that those facilities had been used by war crime suspects. He said that such statements were used only to manipulate the public, because EUFOR knew very well that the installations in the underground facilities had to be maintained on a daily basis and that without proper daily maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning, these facilities would be ruined. |
| Follow up to alleged Karadzic’s letter
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Alleged Karadzic’s letter faxed from Takovska street in Belgrade’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Karadzic’s letter sent by fax from Belgrade post office’ by B.Boskov – Belgrade based Radio B92 learned that the letter allegedly written by Radovan Karadzic and sent to RS media was faxed from a post office in Takovska Street in Belgrade downtown. Radio also said that the Serbian police has been trying to identify the person who sent several letters of the same contents from the same fax. The investigation has been commenced started upon request of RS MoI. |
| NN: OSA not delivering information on PIFWCs | Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘OSA is not delivering information’ by Mirza Cubro – Following reports that OSA has so far delivered only one single information (which proved to be false) regarding whereabouts of PIWC’s to RS MoI, NN learnt at SIPA that since OSA was establishes six months ago, it had not handed a single piece of information to SIPA on the same issue. |
| Criminals charges against Anic, Buljubasic, Mahmuljin, Prce, Delic
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Former defence ministers must be held accountable’ by Az. Kalamujic, Dnevni List pg 7, mentioned on front ‘Criminals charges against Anic, Buljubasic, Mahmuljin, Prce, Delic’ by N. Bise, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Criminal charges against Generals and Ministers’, mentioned on front ‘Generals and Ministers suspected of deceits’ by R. Soldo, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 91 ‘Anic, Prce and Buljubasic damaged defense for 5 million KM? by A. Martincevic – On the ground of suspicion that they abused authorities and their positions the Federation of BiH Police Administration handed over to the FBiH Prosecution in Sarajevo criminal charges against former FBiH Defense Ministers and their Deputies, that is, Mijo Anic, Ferid Buljubasic, Sakib Mahmuljin, Miroslav Prce and Rasim Delic. The dailies also carry that criminal charges were filed against other 5 persons who were working with them at that time. |
| EUPM on appointment of RS Police Director | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Banja Luka is late” – EUPM Spokesperson Alun Roberts stated at Thursday’s regular press conference in Banja Luka that with regard to the future appointment of a new RS Police Director, the responsibility in this matter rested with the RS Review and Selection Board. This Board, according to EUPM, is the body responsible for determining whether the candidates who applied met the necessary professional criteria to hold such a high police office. |
Other political issues | |
| Paravac on Serbian authorities’ decision
| FTV, RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Paravac: My attitude is known’ by S. Skuletic – BiH Presidency Chair Borislav Paravac on Thursday stated, commenting on the decision of the Serbian Assembly to equalize legally the struggle of partisans and cetniks in the Second World War, that the public is well informed about his stand on this matter. “The Serbian Assembly has equalized those two movements declaring that both of them, the partisan and ravnogorski, were antifascist movements”, responded Paravac. When asked how this decision would be reflected on the relations between BiH and BHT1 – Equalizing the rights of participants in the World War II in the movements of ‘partisans’ and ‘chetniks’ in Serbia can strengthen nationalistic forces in the RS, believe WWII veterans. |
| BiH HoP, HoR in session
| RHB, BHT 1, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘With new taxes and excise in new year’ by D. Polovina-Mandic – The BiH House of Peoples adopted on Thursday the conclusion with regard to negotiations on borders and turnover of people and goods among BiH, Croatia and SCiG. They also adopted a conclusion according to which a proposal of the Law on Sales Tax and proposal of the Law on Excise will be discussed at the session that is to take place on December 29 so that these Laws can come in force on |
| FBiH Govt in session
| Dnevni AVaz pg 4 ‘Lack of money delays changes to the Law on civil victims’ by Ad. H., Dnevni List pg 7 ‘To release big foreign investors of taxes’ by J.P. – The F BiH Government held its session on Thursday during which they discussed amendments of the HoR to the proposal of the FBiH budget and a proposal of the Law on its execution. The Government also defined a draft Law on changes and amendments of the Law on corporate income tax in order to create conditions for stimulating of high-quality foreign investments. FTV, RHB – It was proposed for the implementation of the law on basic social protection to be postponed for a year since there is not enough money in FBIH budget. This law should come into force on 1st of January 2006 and was sent into Parliament procedure in an urgent procedure. |
| Interviews with Cardinal Puljic
| Dnevni List front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Croats must win their rights together’ by I. Glibusic – In an interview with DL, Cardinal Vinko Puljic says that through introduction of a new Election Law under patronage of the OSCE a way for further ethnic cleansing was introduced, which is an obstacle for the return of Croats to their pre-war homes. He added: ‘At the same time a law according to which people should present themselves in the place where they were born was introduced in the RS…Now there is a long procedure of registration and bureaucracy in order to divert people from the intention to look for their roots. All this is blessing of the OHR.’ Vecernji List pgs 4 and 5 ‘Cantons, FBiH and RS should be abolished and regions should be established’, mentioned on front ‘To abolish entities and establish regions’ by J. Pavkovic also carries an interview with Puljic. He said that the principle of parity should be introduced at the state level, as well as, mechanisms, which would protect all peoples and citizens. Puljic added that a Municipality should be the next authority level, while the regions should play a role in coordination of economy and security. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Small improvements in building equality’, mentioned on cover ‘Croats in BiH are not diaspora’ by Husein Orahovac – Interview with Cardinal Puljic along the same lines as those mentioned above. |
| Commentary on Petritsch with regard to HB case | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 13 ‘Petritsch witness to benefit of Jelavic’ by M. Herceg carries a commentary on the statement that former HR Wolfgang Petritsch gave to BBC Radio a few days ago when he said that Croats were under strike at the time when he was the HR, and this caused the crisis, however, at the end Croats accepted the idea of BiH as a unified state. The author says that one can see the difference between this statement and the statement that Petritsch gave at the time of the Hercegovacka Bank raid when Petritsch was talking about crime and criminals, however, now, according to the author, Petritsch talks about political pressures. SD also says that suspect in the HB case, former HDZ President Ante Jelavic, is going to invite Petritsch, former Head of the OSCE Mission in BiH Robert Barry, former |