Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| BiH HoR on Free Trade Agreement | BiH HoR discusses FTAs | Hays: BiH is not a real state |
| OHR’s statement on Covic’s decision | Macedonian ex-minister surrenders | Gregorian on defence reform |
| NHI: Covic avoids responsibility | World news | NATO strike against FRY anniversary |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Covic case update | Covic not to resign | Covic’s announcement |
| Puljic meets French Amb De Fabiani | OHR on Covic’s decision | OHR on Covic’s announcement |
| OSCE on BIH War Crimes Chamber | CoE delegation on police reform | Report of |
| Kebo visits | NATO Ambassadors on PfP | D. Nikolic postponed plea entering |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Covic not to resign | Covic’s announcement | Covic update |
| The IC calls on Cavic to resign | OHR on Covic’s announcement | OHR on Covic’s decision |
| HR’s report to UN Security Council | Ex USC Prime Minister sentenced | RS MoI on Popovic’s accusations |
| Pandurevic leaves for | Burglary in municipal court | The ICTY cases update |
| Oslobodjenje | Ashdown address to UNSC: RS still not established full cooperation with |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown to remove Covic |
| Dnevni List | Ljubuski: Big search after sniper and contract killer |
| Vecernji List | They released from hospital child with sepsis |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Covic: Remove me, I am not guilty! |
| Glas Srpske | Troubles of Trifko Dacevic |
| Nezavisne Novine | Covic called on others to remove him |
| Blic | |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| NHI: Covic avoids responsibility | RHB – Commenting on the Dragan Covic’s statement that the indictment against him is actually directed against the Croat people, NHI issued a press release, which says that in order to avoid his personal responsibility Covic started to hide behind the Croat people. |
| BiH HoR in session, some provisions of FTAs on agenda
| BH Radio 1 Mustafa Karahmet, RHB, RS Radio – The BiH House of Representatives holds the session today to discuss the implementation of the Free Trade Agreements with |
| OHR welcomes Pandurevic’s surrender
| BH Radio 1 Brana Markovic – OHR office in |
| PDHR Hays: BiH still not become a real state
| RS Radio – |
Covic case | |
| DA: Ashdown to replace Covic at beginning of next week
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Ashdown will replace Covic’, pg 2 ‘Paddy Ashdown will replace Covic next week’ by S. Numanovic – DA learns that the HR Paddy Ashdown will replace Dragan Covic at the beginning of next week from the position of the BiH Presidency member. Article reads that it is unclear who would replace Covic, while the most speculated name is that of Martin Raguz, current Deputy Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives. DA says that Raguz is interested int taking over both Presidency and the HDZ President positions, however there is a strong opposition within the party to this. “Covic is strongly against having Raguz to take over. One of the reasons for [Covic] delaying the resignation is an effort to prevent Raguz to take over his place,” claims that author adding that Covic is supported by Niko Lozancic, and several other ministers in the Federation institutions. However, despite the fact that some of them may leave the positions following Covic’s potential removal, DA says that HDZ is not expected to cause any crisis in the state authorities. |
| Possible candidates for replacing Covic are eight Croats from BiH Parliament
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Eight Croats in BiH Parliament’ – If removed, Dragan Covic is to be replaced by one of the eight Croats from the BiH Parliament, while the law doesn’t stipulate that a person would have to come from the same party. The possible candidates for the position are: Martin Raguz, Vinko Zoric, Filip Andric, Ivo Miro Jovic and Ruza Sopta from HDZ; Jozo Krizanovic from SDP; Ivo Lozancic, an independent delegate who has just left the NHI; and Mladen Potocnik, another independent representative. |
| Croat member of the Presidency Covic not to step down
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘I remain in BiH Presidency by will of voters’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I do not want to betray those who elected me’, Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘I remain member of BiH Presidency’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘I will not submit resignation, but I will respect decision on removal!’, mentioned on cover ‘I will not submit resignation!’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash ‘Covic: Remove me, I am not guilty!’ and pg 7 ‘Dragan Covic: I will not submit resignation’ by Z. Tulic, Nezavisne novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Covic called on others to remove him’ by N. Krsman, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘I will not resign!’ by N. Zelenovic, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘He is protecting the will of voters’ by Dusanka Stanisic – Member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, announced on Wednesday at the press conference in Sarajevo that he would not resign from his position. Cpvic said that he would do that if BiH is a normal, democratic country, but it is not. Covic expressed his readiness to respect the High Representative’s decision on his removal, if that happen. He also underlined that indictment against him is only part of political campaign directed against Croats in BiH. “I don’t take those pressures to which I have been exposed these days as something against Dragan Covic, I take this as pressure on the people that I represents, Croat people”, said Covic. He added that indictment is full of insinuations and that proved criminal is invited to testify against him as protected witness. “I believe that the time has come to stand up and save the BiH for our children, in order to avoid repeating of war horror”, stated Covic. Asked for comment on OHR’s warnings that his decision not to resign would seriously damage BiH’s reputation, Covic said: “I think that we damaged BiH’s reputation long time ago, by adopting catastrophic measures in this State.” |
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| Jutarnji List pg 13 ‘They want my removal in order to divide Bosnia’ by S. Pavic carries an interview with Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic (the article notes that the interview was conducted before Covic’s press conference held on Wednesday). Asked as to why there is a wish to remove him, Covic says: ‘Internal re-organization is ahead of BiH, and we stand for the organization of BiH as a state of three constituent peoples, who will be equally constituent on the whole BiH territory. It will be difficult to realize this idea since it does not correspond with the strategy of certain power-wielders from international institutions who look at the area of whole Balkan more globally. I am deeply convinced that they want to create BiH, which will finally have two entities, one with Serb domination and another one with the Bosniak domination… I am aware that I could profit a lot on the ground of my withdrawal since there were many offers, which said ‘just withdraw and you can choose what you will be doing’.’ Covic refused to say what concretely was offered to him. |
| OHR, PIC regret Covic’s decision to remain in office
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘World does not want to talks to an indictee’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘By his decision Covic brings BiH’s international reputation into question’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘OHR’s reaction to Covic’s decision’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 2 Covic should consider his position once again’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Ashdown hopes that Covic will consider his position once again’ by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ashdown will react upon his return to BiH’ by N. K., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Let Covic think about it’ by N. Z., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Last Ashdown’s warning to Covic’ – The OHR has stated that the decision of Dragan Covic, Croat member of the BiH Presidency, not to resign from post may seriously shake the confidence of BiH citizens and international reputation of BiH institutions. The OHR states that High Representative Paddy Ashdown will analyse the situation and announce his decisions after he returns from PIC (Peace Implementation Council) Steering Board ambassadors deeply regret President Covic’s announcement that he intends to remain in office despite the criminal indictment confirmed against him by the |
| SDP BiH believes Covic’s resignation moral, political and not legal issue | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BiH’s reputation cannot stand as much as Covic’s one can’ – SDP BiH Secretary for Media Damir Masic said in Sarajevo on Wednesday that the resignation of Croat member of BiH Presidency Dragan Covic was not a legal but a political and moral issue. |
| DL editorial on Covic’s decision to remain in office
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Covic’s manipulations’ by D. Polovina-Mandic carries an editorial on Dragan Covic’s decision not to withdraw from his current position and the author says: ‘Having made such decision Covic completely consciously started a battle against the whole International Community and he involved in this battle all citizens and the state that he represents in order to protect his personal interests exclusively…Nevertheless, Covic is right when he says that consequences of his decision will be serious, however, these consequences will be even more serious for us since thanks to our votes Covic and others like him lead us to total disaster.’ |
| NN op-ed on Covic
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Covic case’ by Natasa Krsman – Referring to Wednesday’s press conference of Dragan Covic, the author ironically notes that message was sent out this state is not normal, since media are exerting pressure on basis of upheld indictment, and because prosecutors have published such an indictment, and diplomats from all over the world called on Covic to resign. She notes that transferring of responsibility for a concrete criminal act onto the Croat people does not surprise at all, since leaders of nationalistic parties seem to be doing it regularly. She concludes Croat people has not benefited from tax evasion case in “Lijanovic” affair, neither has Serb people benefited from “Orao” affair or Bosniak people from affair related to Hasan Cengic. She stresses it would have been appropriate if leaders of other political parties had supported independent judiciary instead of supporting their coalition partners. |
| Danas editorial on Covic’s case: Croat member of BiH Presidency without any authorities
| Danas Mostar-based magazine pgs 14 -17 ‘Croat member of BiH Presidency without any authorities’ by Danas investigative team carries that in case that Dragan Covic remains a Croat member of the BiH Presidency, Croats would have a virtual ‘President’ whose suggestions, proposals, objections etc. will be heard only within a narrow circle of his colleagues from HDZ and political circles such as Sulejman Tihic and Borislav Paravac. According to Danas, such situation suits Paravac and Tihic since in that case they would be the ones who will be passing all crucial political decisions. Danas also says that as a result of Covic’s and HDZ uncompromising cooperation with the OHR the judiciary reform was carried out and foreign judges and prosecutors were installed as mere observers. The article goes on to say that only after the lawsuit for the Lijanovici case was filed, Covic started to attack these judges and prosecutors, who came to the |
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| Vjesnik pg 14 ‘Kouchner or Bajolet instead of Ashdown’ by A. Zornija speculates as to who might be successor of High Representative Paddy Ashdown and according to the author former French Ambassador to BiH Bernard Bajolet and former French Minister of Health Bernard Kouchner stand the best chances. The author also says: ‘Ashdown has just partly succeeded in achieving of the basic task: approaching BiH to the moment when it will be able to mover further by itself without the intervention of the International Community. For this reson, Ashdown’s successor, no matter whom it would be, will have a lot to do.’ |
Political developments/reforms | |
| Ashdown addresses UN Security Council
| BHT, Hayat, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 5 ‘RS still not established full cooperation with The Hague’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘There is too much politics in work of BiH police’ – High Representative Paddy Ashdown addressed the UN Security Council on Wednesday. He was talking about the started reforms as the greater part of his report was dedicated to the BiH cooperation with ICTY. He said that ten years after |
| NATO role in BiH presented to joint parliamentary commission
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Defense reform is being carried out for the security of BiH’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH Defense Ministry finally filled’, FENA – It is not for entity parliaments to decide on the nomination for full membership of BiH in NATO, but this is something the state parliament will do after BiH joins the Partnership for Peace program, NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo Commander Gen Steven Schook said on Wednesday speaking to members of the Joint BiH Parliamentary Commission for Defence and Security and Control over the Work of Defence and Security Structures in BiH. “The BiH Presidency expressed willingness on a number of times to join the PfP and eventually NATO. Despite this the RS National Assembly adopts the position that, once BiH joins the PfP, it would decide on whether the country will join NATO or demilitarise. This is certainly not within the authority of any entity”, Schook said. He said that once BiH meets all requirements for membership in NATO the BiH Parliament will have the role of ratifying accession to NATO, and not the RS or FBiH. He added that the SDS led RS Government has also set a number of limitations before members of the Defence Reform Commission from the RS in developing a full range of proposals for fulfilling requirements of NATO and OHR for further systematic reforms, “including reforms that are necessary because of the fact that there are still people in the military supporting Ratko Mladic and other indicted war criminals”. Schook expressed hope that the SDS led RS Government will consider changing its position and give its members of the Commission all that it needed for fulfilling the requirements of NATO and OHR. “The bottom line is that defence reform is being implemented because of the security of BiH and not the further existence of the RS”, Schook said. |
| DA int with Gregorian: I expects abolishment of the recruitment in fall
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I expects abolishment of the recruitment in fall’, mentioned on cover, by Sead Numanovic – The Co-Chair of the Defence Reform Commission, Raffi Gregorian, says in an interview to DA that defence reforms are not in a deadlock, despite the 18 March’s decision of the RSNA to limit the work of the Commission, and he noted a progress has been achieved. Asked what BiH could expect at the NATO’s |
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| Pink, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘BiH on good way for admission’ by De.L., Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘There must not be demilitarisation’ by A. Macanovic, EuroBlic cover pg splash and pg RS1 ‘Bosnia cannot enter NATO without army’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – BiH “from a functional aspect” should not have three defense ministries, just as none of the NATO participating states have a decentralized chain of command, the standing representative of Slovakia to NATO, Igor Slobodnik, said on Wednesday in Banja Luka. During talks between NATO representatives and the military and political officials in the RS, he said that BiH is on a good path towards NATO because it has made substantial progress in defense reform and cooperating with the ICTY, but noted that certain conditions must be fulfilled. In this context, he indicated one political condition – establishing a full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Should BiH decides to carry out demilitarization, this would mean that it is giving up on NATO membership since every country must give its military contribution, Slobodnik said in response to a question on the initiatives for demilitarization of our country. Chairman of RS NA Committee for Defense and Security Velimir Sakan claims he does not understand why defense reform concept that would be carries out trough entity institutions was unacceptable. Chairman of SDA Caucus at RS NA Tarik Sadovic thinks RS politicians believe in vain they could persuade ‘the big and powerful ones they were right’. |
| BL analysts Vejnovic: BiH bodies must be reformed prior to reforming subsystems | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Telling the old story again’ by M. Dzepina – reports on the meeting of NATO representatives with RS politicians and carries statements of Velimir Sakan and Tarik Sadovic (see above). The article also carries a statement of Head of Banja Luka Center for Geo-strategic Research Dusko Vejnovic, who thinks certain bodies in BiH must be reformed first because there can be no reform of subsystems without it. |
| CoE monitoring team visiting RS
| Pink, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘RS Government supports cooperation with The Hague’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘In accordance with measure of Srpska’ by G. Dakic, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘The key is still in the Hague’ by M. S., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘ – A delegation of the Committee of Ministers of CoE visited Banja Luka Wednesday and met RS leadership to discuss the fulfillment of pre-requisites BiH has obliged to fulfill after it became a member of this organization. The delegation held separate meetings with RS PM Pero Bukejlovic, RS President Dragan Cavic and RSNA Chairman Dusan Stojicic. During the meeting with Bukejlovic, the delegation was particularly interested in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, police reform, changes to the law on local self-governance and adoption of the Law on High Education. Stojicic has stated a positive progress in fulfillment of obligations has been made and it was realistic to expect BiH would be accepted to PfP in the course of this year and it would start with ASA negotiations. With regard to police reform, Stojicic said standards that must be respected in police reform were not disputable, but RS want to be actively engaged in discussion on organization model that would include RS interests. |
| Venice Commission submitted a report on BiH constitutional system to BiH Presidency
| BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘To abolish three-member Presidency’ – The Venice Commission delivered its report to the BiH Presidency in which they are recommending that BiH should have only one president in place of the current tripartite Presidency. The current constitutional structure was marked as not functional. The report also says that if part of authorities would be transferred from the lower levels of government to the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) the governmental structure like that would be the most acceptable. |
| IFIMES: Ashdown should leave before end of mandate
| Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Ashdown should leave before end of mandate’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Ashdown leaves before end of mandate’ by vr carry that International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) believes that High Representative Paddy Ashdown should abandon this position before the end of his mandate. IFIMES also believes that the HR is the most responsible for the complete situation in BiH in the last 2 years and the he extremely complicated the BiH political scene by accepting national parties as partners. According to IFIMES, the compromise solution in the German-French competition for a position of the Ashdown’s successor might be election of the HR from Slovenia or Macedonia since these states are not neighbours to BiH and people from IFIMES claim that some circles in Brussels already discuss this possibility. |
| US Ambassador, SDP BiH leader discussed disputes re Sarajevo Council establishment
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘SDP will not participate in Sarajevo City Council’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Comprehensive and fast reforms in the interest of all citizens’, FENA – US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney on Wednesday visited the BiH Social Democratic Party (SDP) and held talks with its President Zlatko Lagumdzija about the current events in BiH, economic and security reforms, the unconstitutional establishing of the Sarajevo City Council, and future activities, SDP said in a press release issued following the meeting. Lagumdzija informed Ambassador McElhaney about the “brutal violation of the principles of equality of peoples and citizens, the BiH Constitution and the Election Law in |
| BiH Presidency Chair Paravac requests for full equality of constituent peoples (in FBiH)
| Pink, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘To implement decision on constituency of peoples’, Dnevni List pg4 ‘To establish constituency of peoples’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Sarajevo violates Constitution’ by Z. Rerig, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Demand was sent to the Constitutional Court’ by N. Z. – BiH Presidency Chair, Borislav Paravac, on Wednesday has forwarded a request to the BiH Constitutional Court, which demands from this institution to take appropriate action to implement the Constitutional Court’s Decision on constituent peoples in BiH. The reason for addressing the |
| Ivanic: Bozanic doesn’t have to have obligations towards US, EU
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Bozanic doesn’t have to have obligations towards US and EU’, mentioned on cover, by Azhar Kalamujic – BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, told daily that newly nominated Minister at large of the BiH Foreign Ministry, Dragan Bozanic, can be assigned with tasks that would no include obligations towards US, EU. Bozanic’s appointed has been controversial, as earlier foreign diplomacies refused to approve his appointment as the BiH representatives in the Council of Europe. Bozanic [former Karadzic’s Information Minister] could work in the international institutions or in the Ministry, says Ivanic. He adds that the fact that he is also under US sanctions doesn’t present a problem for his Foreign Minister position, and claims that a number of Western European diplomats suggested him to withdraw his resignation from the Council of Ministers. |
| Tomljenovic: Third entity is not possible any longer
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Herceg-Bosna was solution for Croats’ by A. Macanovic carries an interview with RS Vice President Ivan Tomljenovic, who reiterates that Herceg-Bosna, led by fair Croat people and fair Croat politicians and not the one that late Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak and President of the Croat Republic of HB Mate |
| Z. Robovic to be new Croatian Ambassador to BiH
| Dnevni List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Zulfo Robovic new Croatian Ambassador to BiH’ by M. Batarello carries that current President of the Croatian Economic Chamber Zulfo Robovic is going to be a new Croatian Ambassador to BiH since Josip Vrbosic is leaving this position. Robovic stated for DL that he cannot comment on this issue at the moment and that more details will be known next week. Also, former Head of the |
| HSS, NHI, HNZ and HSP Djapic-Jurisic on const. Changes
| Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Together on change of constitution’ by mv carries that HSS, NHI, HNZ and HSP Djapic-Jurisic representatives held on Tuesday a meeting during which they discussed coming constitutional changes, Election Law and return of displaced persons. Initiator of the meeting HSS President Marko Tadic confirmed that the meeting took place and he added: ‘It was concluded to make the joint Declaration on the constitutional changes which would be ground for our future acting.’ |
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| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Ambassador Butler will replace Hays’ by D.K., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Butler instead of Hays’ by N. M. – OHR has stated Larry Butler would be a new PDHR instead of |
War crimes/cooperation with ICTY | |
| OSCE says BiH courts ready to process war crimes
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Rulings made against 27 Bosniaks, six Croats and 17 Serbs’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Bosniaks are most frequently among those accused’, Dnevni List pg5 ‘Numerous obstacles on way of successful processing’ by D. P. Mandic, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Authority too slow in finding perpetrators and when compensation are in questions’ by E. Medunjanin, ONASA – Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Douglas Davidson on Wednesday presented a Report on war crimes trials before BiH courts which states that they are capable to processing war crimes cases. “BiH courts have proven their capability of processing war crimes, despite the complex legal situation, lack of assets, untrained staff, unwilling witnesses, and lack of political interest,” Davidson said. The report states that it is necessary to improve inter-entity and inter-state cooperation in execution of court decisions with the help of bilateral agreements. Davidson said the OSCE hopes this report will serve as the means by which BiH authorities will increase the efficiency in processing war crimes. |
| Pandurevic surrendered to ICTY
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Vinko Pandurevic in the Tribunal’s custody’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Pandurevic in The Hague cell’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Pandurevic went to the Hague’ by De.L., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Pandurevic arrived’ by Beta, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Pandurevic in the Hague’ by S. K. – Retired RS Army general, Vinko Pandurevic, left for the Hague on Wednesday where he voluntarily surrendered to the ICTY. Padurevic was escorted by the RS Interior Minister, Darko Matijasevic, and RS Government announced it will offer guarantees for release until the beginning of the trial. Pandurevic was indicted for war crimes committed in Srebrenica. |
| Nikolic did not enter plea
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘Drago Nikolic to enter plea in a month’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Nikolic postponed entering of plea’ by NINA – Former RS Army officer, Drago Nikolic, indicted for war crimes committed in Srebrenica region, did not plea on the charges of the indictment before the ICTY on Wednesday. Nikolic called on his right to enter plea within 30 days. This was Nikolic’s first appearance before the ICTY following his voluntary surrender last week. |
| Cajnice citizens preparing a lawsuit against SiCG
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Troubles of Trifko Dacevic’ by R. Obrenovic – Ratko Masic and family members of approximately 20 Serb people that were killed near Cajnice on February 14, 1993 by SiCG citizens of Muslim religion, are preparing a lawsuit against SiCG because it had done nothing to prevent its citizens from crossing the border and killing their family members in the territory of RS. They say the attackers have arrived from Bukovica village in |
| Tomislav Popovic, brother of an Hague indictee: police are threatening to me
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Police are threatening me’ by S. Radjen-Todoric – Tomislav Popovic from Sekovici, the brother of the Hague suspect, Vujadin Popovic, claims the RS MoI has been threatening that he and his wife would lose jobs unless they present information on his brother. Popovic says: “My claims I really do not hold any information about my brother are of no help. They call me for a meeting at police every day and tell me what may happen with me unless I cooperate.” He is afraid that his family may end as the family of Lukic’ from Visegrad (during the attempted arrest). Popovic further claims that everything has started few days ago when RS MoI CID Chief, Dragi Milosevic, called him and told him he must cooperate in search after Vujadin. |
| RS MoI did not threaten Popovic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘RS MoI did not threaten Tomislav Popovic’ by S.K. – The RS MoI on Wednesday denied statement of Tomislav Popovic (that police is threatening him). The RS MoI explains they contacted Tomislav Popovic on several occasions so far, in order to inform him of the possibility of voluntary surrender of ICTY war crime suspects. The press release says that Tomislav told police during meetings that he personally financially supports his brother Vujadin and his family, adding “Tomislav refused to take part in mediating between RS MoI and Vujadin Popovic, with an aim to reach an agreement on voluntary surrender.” Release notes owing to this stance of his, RS MoI warned Tomislav his conduct may be regarded as aiding war crime suspects and hence illegal act with all the consequences originating from it. EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Popovic guarding his brother’ by S.V. carries RS MoI press release, noting RS MoI did contact Tomislav Popovic, and told him his conduct may be regarded as aiding war crime suspects. |
| Grishchenko: | Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘There are ongoing check-ups on whether Hague indictees are hiding in Russia’ by Agencies – Russian Ambassador to BiH Alexandar Grishchenko has stated Russian authorities have undertaken activities to check on correctness of claims that some of Hague indictees were hiding in Russia. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Hadzipasic very satisfied with visit to
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘We can increase the export to Serbia for 200 million KM’ by M. Kukan – The FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, says he was very satisfied with the visit of FBiH delegation to Serbia, where they met with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Deputy Miroljub Labus. He also stresses the importance of the meeting held between more than 150 businessmen who discussed the ways for future cooperation. Hadzipasic says that “FBIH expects to increase surplus in trade with SCG through BH Steel and Lukavac coal industry… Only through cooperation with those two companies and Ljubija mines, with help of some benefits that Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Agreement on free trade at sight?’ by A. Beus says that Serbia Vice President Miroljub Labus stated that he asked Federation of BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic to resolve the issue of Free Trade Agreement between BiH and Serbia and Montenegro and that it was promised that this issue would be discussed in April. Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘April lifts up the ramp’ by Srna also reports on a meeting between F BiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic and Deputy President of Serbian Government Miroljub Labus on Free Trades Agreement between BiH and SiCG. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Mattson left
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Swede left BiH Court’ not signed carries that the fact that Swedish judge Mat Mattson, who was in charge of the investigation against Dragan Covic and who was one of those who opposed contents of the indictment against Covic, left the BiH Court shows that relations among international judges and prosecutors in the BiH Court are rather uncoordinated and that the OHR decides on everything. SD also says that Mattson was appointed a Chief Prosecutor in |
| RS Association of POWs sent an excuse letter to EUPM
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A mistake writes an excuse’ by O. M. – RS Association of POWs has sent an excuse letter to EUPM due to misunderstanding with regard to organizing of their meeting. ‘Our office in |
| Limov: 307 OSA employees were legally sacked
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘306 intelligence officers were legally sacked’ by M. Cubro – Tomislav Limov, Chairperson of the BiH Parliamentary Commission for surveillance over BiH Intelligence and Security Agency, confirmed that Commission did not observe a single illegality in the process of dismissing 307 intelligence officers. He said: “We have concluded there has been no single violation of legal acts in any of 15 appeals filed.” He also added that Commission r4commneded sacked intelligence officers to file suits with courts in charge, since Court may establish whether other laws apart from Law on OSA and human rights were violated. On this he added: “I am of the view a large number of them would get satisfaction at the Court.” |
| SIPA still without one regional centre
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SIPA is not covering 20% of the territory’ by M. Cubro – SIPA is not able to open the fourth regional office because SIPA top officials and the BiH Council of Ministers cannot agree on where this office will be seated. This was stated by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Defence and Security Commission, Bosko Siljegovic. According to the proposal made by SIPA Director Sredoja Novic, apart from Banja Luka, Mostar, and Sarajevo, Brcko should also be one regional centre. However, the CoM Chairperson Adnan Terzic wishes to see Tuzla as seat of the fourth regional centre. SIPA also has problems with the filling of vacancies, as the law does not allow allowances for what is called separate life – life apart form one’s family, in another town. The lack of facilities, i.e. a permanent location for SIPA, also remains a problem hindering the filling of vacancies within SIPA. |