OHR BiH Media Round-up, 24/4/2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

6 ex Croat leaders go toThe Hague

BiH legal team to end second round

Rycroft on const. changes

BiH Parliament to vote on cons. chgs

Excavation in Prijedor continues

Nikiforov on cooperation with ICTY

US Ambassador on const. changes

Pensions in FBiH before May 1

Serbia-Montenegro relations

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Burns meets Schwarz-Schilling

Orthodox Easter celebration in world

Orthodox Easter celebrations in SA

Kebo in visit to Washington

Orthodox Easter celebration in SA

Orthodox Easter celebrations in BL

Livno Municipality ’s anniversary

Orthodox Easter celebration in BL

Feature story on Easter customs

Jovic in visit to Derventa

Historical background of Easter

Easter celebrated throughout BiH

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Report on a successful businessman

Interview with Douglas McElhaney

Orthodox Easter celebration in BL

Report on milk production in BiH

Old foreign currency savings issue

Orthodox Easter celebration in RS

BiH youth on hourly payment

World news: Reforms in the IMF

Orthodox Easter celebration in SA

BiH savers to hold protests

Orthodox Easter celebrations

Orthodox Easter celebration in BG

Oslobodjenje

Old foreign currency holders cheated again

Dnevni Avaz

This is definitive division of BiH [Silajdzic]

Dnevni List

Decisive battle between patriots and betrayers! (on const. changes)

Vecernji List

Croats divided in education (different elementary schooling system in cantons with Croat majority)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Features Croatia related headlines

Nezavisne Novine

Volunteers were looking for pyramid (excavations at Visoko)

Glas Srpske

No publication today owing to Easter holidays

EuroBlic

Three young men chopped up RS flag [crime story]

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

US Ambassador McElhaney calls on adoption on const. changes

RHB– In an interview for RHB US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney calls on adoption of the constitutional changes amendments and added that he is convinced that MPs would vote for these changes on Tuesday.

BiH ends presentation of second round of evidences before ICJ

BH Radio 1 – The legal team representing BiH in the lawsuit against SCG for aggression and genocide, should end presentation of second round of evidences before International Court of Justice in The Hague on Monday. SCG Legal Team would have next five days to present second round of evidences, while verdict of President of the Court Rosalyn Higgins is expected in few months.

Constitutional reform

US Ambassador McElhaney strongly believes Parliament would pass constitutional amendments

FTV by Sanja Bagaric – Commenting the amendments to the BiH Constitution, the US Ambassador BiH Douglas McElhaney told in a short interview to FTV that it would be hard for BiH to join the European integrations without effective governmental system. He stressed: “[US] Undersecretary [for Political Affairs] Nicholas Burns said this weekend something very important: this is good for everybody in this country, regardless of their ethnicity, and therefore we have to raise ourselves above daily politics, and realize an essence of those processes. I am convinced that the BiH Parliament on Tuesday (April 25) will pass the amendments.” US Ambassador emphasized the constitutional changes would ease BiH’s path towards EU, as the Government would be more effective. Asked to comment what would happen if members of the Parliament fail to adopt the constitutional amendments, McElhaney said: “I think they are going to adopt them. We have all heard the debate during last few months, and I think – on the basis of what I’ve heard – that Parliament members will transform it into a positive voice. We want to continue with constitutional reforms, we want to carry out the second phase which will be more important than the first one.”

US Undersecretary Fried: This is not last phase of constitutional changes

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Passing of amendments opens perspectives for BiH’ by S.Numanovic– The US Undersecretary for Europe, Daniel Fried, stated for DA that the importance of the current constitutional reform in BiH is not only a perspective to join EU and NATO, but a creation of precondition for its next phase. Noting the US “would stay in this process as long as BiH peoples move forward“, Fried commented the “promise” given by the US Undersecretary Nicholas Burn that this reform would lead to BiH having one President, strong Prime Minister and strengthened Parliament by stressing that “this is not the last phase of changes. There is more of unfinished work. We hope the Parliament would pass this package so that BiH could move on.” Concluding that US would not leave BiH, Fried also answered to the question of possible abolishment of the entities stating that to date the consensus was not reached on this issue. “In a future, as BiH develops and moves closer to Europe, issue of entity may become simpler,” says Fried. Inset ‘More functional BiH is in interest of Croats too’ – US Undersecretary also underlines that the US Administration “is aware of stances by some bishops and Croat parties. We don’t want Croats marginalized… More functional BiH is better for Croats, Croatia too.”

HR CSS on const. changes: future negotiations must secure rights for Croats

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Without OHR in a year’, mentioned on cover by VoA – In an interview to the Voice of America during his visit to New York and Washington, the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, commented a recent letter by the Cardinal Vinko Puljic who called on Croats to reject the constitutional changes, by saying he was not pleased with that letter and adding he did talk to the Bishops about it, some of which talked to the IC representative for the first time. “We have to understand that there is a fear that a minority could be outvoted – Croats now have fear all the time that they can’t shape BiH’s future in their benefit,” Schwarz-Schilling argues. He continues that the future constitutional negotiations should include the regulation protecting Croats, their language and culture. Commenting stances of SBiH founder Haris Silajdzic, HR said that his stances aren’t good or responsible but stressed that Siljadzic might be thinking of upcoming elections and SDA vote he could take. Vjesnik, pg 14 ‘Position of Croats in BiH will not deteriorate’, by Erol Avdovic – reports that Schwarz-Schilling told Vjesnik’s correspondent in New York that a failure to adopt the constitutional changes would make BiH’s trip to Europe longer and would probably postpone closing of the OHR scheduled for next year. He added that he had started a dialogue with representatives of the Catholic Church in BiH and that he even spoke to the Pope Benedict XVI in Rome about the issue. “(…) I told Catholic Church’s bishops in BiH that I can understand their position that (the constitutional changes) will perhaps not achieve progress, which is correct. But it is not true that their position will deteriorate. It is maybe a status quo, but in other aspects, functioning of government and state, those are very important steps towards ‘normal state and normal democracy’, which build the road to Europe”, said the HR.

Ambassador Rycroft: Constitutional changes are not yet precondition for SAA , but at some stage could become necessary

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘European path of BiH is blocked by not passing of amendments’ by S.Numanovic– In a brief interview to DA, the UK Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft,welcomes the adoption of the constitutional amendments in the BiH Parliamentary Constitutional Commission expressing hope and expectation that the Parliament would now vote in favour of the reform. Asked to comment whether there is a possibility for the amendments to be rejected, Rycroft answered positively and added: “The changes to the BiH Constitution are not the precondition to sign the Stabilisation and the Association Agreement. However, at some stage during the European integration, the constitutional changes would be a necessary precondition. Sooner the changes to the constitution are passed, the better.” Talking about the second stage of the constitutional reform, Rycroft said that it is up to BiH politicians and citizens to decide. “When there is a talk about entities, we must know that the decision on the changes are brought by consensus, which doesn’t exist currently.” Inset ‘Normal role of foreigners’- The IC would have, as Rycroft said, important but not leading role in the process, ie. it would monitor it instead of the leading the process and imposing solutions. Inset ‘Croats aren’t endangered’- Rycroft underlined said Croatia shouldn’t be afraid of the constitutional changes, stressing that they aren’t going to be marginalized adding their specific issues would be discussed in the second stage of the reform.

Austrian President Fischer: const. changes are certainly a progress

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘European perspective for BiH in first line means membership in the EU’, mentioned on cover ‘BiH has to prove its European maturity’ by Sanja Skuletic– In interview to DA, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer comments the constitutional reform in BiH, saying he supports those “as they would certainly present the progress in comparison to current structures.” He concluded that the unsolved status of Kosovo is a insecurity factor in the Balkans, however he doesn’t except BiH to be more impacted by than any other country in the region.

DL on voting on const. changes: ‘Patriots’ vs. ‘Betrayers’

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Decisive battle between patriots and betrayers!’, by R. Dautefendic – Prior to Tuesday’s session of BiH HoR, which should be deciding on the destiny of the proposed constitutional changes, DL notes that the ‘patriots’, namely the SBIH, SDU and BOSS, are against the proposed changes together with the HDZ 1990, whilst the ‘betrayers’, the label used by the ‘patriots’ to describe the SDP and SDA, claim that the changes will receive the necessary majority in the BiH HoR, the two-third majority that is. The author notes that the key person is the Speaker of the BiH HoR, Martin Raguz (HDZ 1990), who repeats he will not vote for the changes, explaining his decision that the arguments given by those advocating the changes have not persuaded him that the changes will improve things. Finally, DL learns that other Croat MPs Filip Andric and Vinko Zoric will vote against, Vlatka Komsic will vote in favour of the changes, whilst Ruza Sopta has not decided yet.

HDZ spokesman Relota: Const. changes do not require votes of former HDZ members

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Votes by Raguz, Zoric and Andric are irrelevant’, not signed – announces that the National Council (NC) of HDZ will be discussing constitutional changes at Kiseljak on Monday night, and DL suspects the NC will support the changes simply because they were signed by HDZ leader Dragan Covic. DL also carries a statement by HDZ spokesman, Miso Relota, who says the constitutional changes do not require votes of former HDZ members (Raguz, Zoric, Andric) since he is convinced the changes will get the necessary majority in the Parliament after all.

DL interview: Leaders of HSP Djapic-Jurisic repeats party is against proposed const. changes

Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Coalition between HSP and Covic’s HDZ is impossible’, by Ivica Glibusic – carries an interview with leader of HSP Djapic-Jurisic, Dr. Zvonko Jurisic, in which he repeats his party’s position that the proposed constitutional changes are unacceptable for the Croats, foremost complaining about the issue of entity voting in the BiH HoR. He furthermore says the party will try to contest the ‘imposed constitutional changes’ from 2002 on constitutional status of peoples in BiH (Jurisic says the changes were imposed by former HR Petritsch), saying the Croats are not equal both in the RS and FBiH. Finally, Jurisic says his party is open for coalitions with other parties, apart from the ‘(Dragan) Covic’s HDZ’.

FBiH Vice President Dzihanovic with British Ambassador Rycroft: Constitutional changes are necessary

Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Bigger support to EU necessary’ not signed – FBiH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic received British Ambassador to BiH Matthew Rycroft and they talked about necessity of constitutional changes and overall situation in BiH, agreeing that the changes should be adopted in the BiH Parliament. Dzihanovic stressed that the 1^st phase of the constitutional changes is one of the crucial steps that BiH must take in order to secure faster moving towards European integration and that it is a forerunner of the 2^nd phase during which the organization of the middle level of authority and position of municipalities and towns should be discussed.

SBiH’s Silajdzic: proposed amendments lead to definitive division of BiH

Dnevni Avaz cover splash and pg 2 ‘This is definitive division of BiH’ by E.Sarac– Founder of SBiH Haris Silajdzic commented that amendments to BiH Constitution, which would be voted on, on Tuesday’s session of BiH House of Representatives, present definitive division of BiH. He stressed that something without precedent happened during the session of BiH HoR Constitutional- Legal Affairs Commission and that is that instead of technical, they were making essential and basic changes. Once again he emphasized the incompatibility between entity vote and democratic principles, stressing that RS representatives have made it clear that second phase would be futile, since they emphasized that RS position can’t be even discussed about. Silajdzic said that best example for this is current police reform, which would confirm each of his words. 

NN op-ed critical of S BiH founder Silajdzic: “patriots” should first abolish F BiH, then move on abolishment of cantons and lastly RS

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘To abolish Federation of BiH!’ by Sead Fetahagic – Writing about recent statements urging abolishment of RS, led by Haris Silajdzic, the author notes that there are many things about RS that do not fit, but nothing can be done about it since Serb politicians and Serb population will not give up on it and it cannot be abolished by use of force, unless another war is in plan. He is critical of Silajdzic’ hidden intentions on this, saying he and his followers stir up this idea on abolishment of RS in order to prevent seeing issue of how they earned their fortunes during the war is raised. He stresses the issue of abolishment of F BiH should first be raised, since its abolishment would have no impact on situation, i.e. everything would be placed in hands of cantonal authorities and competition between federal and cantonal authorities would stop. He concludes by saying that “patriots”, referring to Silajdzic, should first abolish their entity, which is much bigger obstacle on the course towards normal state, then move on abolishment of cantons and lastly RS.

VL comment on const. changes: Croat have to help themselves

Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘What do we believe in?’, by Iko Skoko – the author argues that the Croats in BiH are indeed in an unfavourable situation since many issues, including the constitutional changes, are imposed on them, however Skoko reckons it is the Croats themselves, who have to find answers to issues that burden them. “Only then we can loudly and clearly ask from others and IC to respect our people’s rights”

Economic and other political issues

Coordination of Association of Old Foreign Currency Savers called on depositors to boycott verification of their deposits

BHT1 by Mirela Cosic – The Coordination of Association of Old Foreign Currency Savers called on all depositors to boycott the verification of their deposits, because the new Law on settling debts on the basis of old foreign currency savings does not guarantee to get their money back. The Coordination deems the Law is not in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, adding that it once again insists on the verification of all deposits, which is not in accordance with the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court. Law envisages that all the depositors will receive 100 KM when they verify their deposits, but in the same time they have to sign the statement that they are not going to sue the state. BiH Old Foreign Currency Savers AssociationChair Amila Omersoftic stated: “Basically, the state retains the right to pay 100 KM and say ‘this is all you can get, because I cannot give you more’. And the citizens would not be able to do anything, because they have already agreed to that.” Therefore, the Coordination once again called on all depositors to be patient, and reject this law. Hayat – With regard to this issue, Association is going to hold protests on Saturday. Journalist did not state place of the protests. Omersoftic added: “We are most probably going to be supported by those structures in BiH which could ask for assessing whether the law is constitutional, namely annul the whole issue, and though our activities fight for a law which would not deceive citizens”. FTV, PINK, Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Old foreign currency holders cheated again’ and pgs 4-5 ‘State protected itself, savers cheated’ by A.Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Invitation for boycott of verification’ by S.S., Dnevni List pg 4 ‘New call on boycott of verification’ by Lj. Vidacak – also reported.

‘Circle 99’ on problems of education in BiH: divisions are main obstacle to full reintegration and existence of democratic and civic society in BiH

BHT1 by Marina Martinovic – At the regular Sunday’s session held in Sarajevo, the members of the Association of Independent Intellectuals ‘Circle 99’ discussed education in BiH. The Chair of the Circle 99, Hidajet Repovac, said the divisions in the education system are one of the main obstacles for the reintegration of the BiH society and that they have even further deepened the rift between ethnic communities in BiH. “I think a gap between ethnic and national communities is deeper now than it was during the war in BiH”, Repovac added. Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Douglas Davidson, said: “The tolerance of differences is something I called for, but let’s not forget that the ‘two schools under one roof’ phenomenon should have been a temporary measure. That should have been the measure aimed at encouraging refugees to return to their pre-war homes, and into different communities”. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Davidson: Educational system does not develop sense of collectiveness’ – Davidson added that the “educational system in BiH does not develop sense of collectiveness, acceptance and tolerance of diversity. In the matter of fact, it is vice versa… If they continue to teach [children] to believe in divisions… what hope does this country have to preserve integrity, not to mention joining the EU.” PINK – Participants agreed that the existence of these schools present a threat for peace and coexistence in BiH, as well as the European integrations. “Circle 99” also discussed the poor technical conditions in BiH schools. Hayat, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Future of this country depends on education’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Education system encourages divisions’ by M.Rener, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Educational system proof of deep division’ by M. Zorlak – also reported.

VL: Different elementary schooling systems for Croat pupils in BiH

Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Croats divided in education’, by Zoran Kresic – the article is arguing that the Croat pupils in BiH will attend different elementary schooling systems as of next school year since reports suggest that the Croat pupils in Herzegovina-Neretva, Posavina and Canton 10 will start with the 9-year schooling system, whilst that will not be the case in West-Herzegovina and Central Bosnia cantons (opting for the current, 8-year system). Kresic comments this shows ‘a disgraceful social and political reality of BiH Croats’.

BiH Human Rights Minister Kebo to meet US State Department and White House officials

BHT1 – Following the invitation of US Institute for Peace, BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo arrived to the United States on Sunday. It is expected that Kebo would meet officials of the State Department and White House. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Agreement on status of decertified policemen’ not signed – Following the visit to Washington, Kebo would depart for New York to meet with the senior UN and UNDP officials and discuss the issue of the decertified police officers. RHB, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Kebo in a visit to the USA’ by SRNA, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Minister Kebo pays official visit to USA’ not signed also reported.

HR Schwarz-Schilling: If everything goes well transition from OHR to EUSR could be in a year

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Without OHR in a year’, mentioned on cover by VoA–  In an interview to the Voice of America during his visits to New York and Washington, the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, said that if all goes as planned, in the next year the OHR “would carry out perform a transition from the international high representative to special European representative and that would be the end of OHR authorities and so-called Bonn Powers.” The exception for the interventions by the IC would be the cooperation with the ICTY. Inset ‘UN Commissioner promised help’- The HR said he talked to the senior UN officials on the issue of police officers who were decertified by the UN International Police Task Force [IPTF]: “We can only help them to conduct an investigation in BiH, because we did not fire police officers. General secretary, to whom I explained the case, deems that human rights shouldn’t be violated and that steps toward the solution should be taken.”

Int with Austrian Presidency Fischer: Balkans should be EU member states, not partners

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘European perspective for BiH in first line means membership in the EU’, mentioned on cover ‘BiH has to prove its European maturity’ by Sanja Skuletic– In interview to DA, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer stresses that the EU has confirmed in several occasions that the Balkans countries have a “European perspective”. Asked to comment the German Chancellor Angela Markel advocating “privileged partnership” and not full EU membership of the Western Balkans countries, Fischer said: “European perspective for a country alike BiH in my mind means, primarily, membership to EU after certain obligations and are met… only if the membership would not be possible it would be worth considering other ways to relate to Europe.” Talking about the largest obstacles for BiH on a European road, Fischer noted the war crimes’ indictees. However, he pointed out to three others things that need to happen for BiH to join EU: firstly, BiH has to prove a maturity in economic and political sense; secondly, the EU has to complete the last round of enlargement and be prepared for new members; and thirdly a positive atmosphere has to be created among EU countries so to ensure ratification processes are successful.

Int. Forum Bosnia : EU integrations have been well explained to citizens

Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Politicians additionally complicate situation’ By Fena – The participants of the debate organized by the International Forum Bosnia under title “BiH Political Controversies and European Integrations” on Sunday concluded that the process of the Euro-Atlantic integrations do not have an alternative in BiH. It was also stressed that this has not been well explained to the citizens leading to controversies which than become even more complicated by political parties and politicians. The Senior Deputy of High Representative Peter Bas-Backer stated on the occasion that in the future even more effort has to be put in the reform processes, instead to turning to controversies of retrograde nature.

Josip Merdzo: HDZ deputies in FBiH HoR to cross to HDZ 1990

Dnevni Avaz pg ‘HDZ deputies crossing to HDZ 1990’ by F.V.– As DA learns, a group of HDZ deputies in FBiH House of Representatives is going to leave the HDZ Caucus on Tuesday and cross to HDZ 1990. As DA carried, Caucus of the new party would be joined by Josip Merdzo, Slavica Josipovic, Rudo Vidovic, Djuro Matuzovic, Ivica Ceko, Zoran Maric and Ante Bosnjak, while negotiations are in progress with five more HDZ deputies, including current Head of HDZ Caucus Ivan Madunic. As DA stressed these information were confirmed by Merdzo, who also said that HDZ 1990 Caucus would become operative as of next week.

Chair of HDZ in Capljina denies they all have joined HDZ 1990

Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Vidic: Leaders divided Capljina!’ by Z. Kresic – President of the HDZ Commission in Capljina Smiljan Vidic denied that whole HDZ Capljina and HDZ Councillors in Capljina have joined HDZ 1990. Vidic added that this is about a small group of people, ‘5 or 6 of them, who privatized the party and the authority’.

HDZ, SDA leaders Covic and Tihic to solve Mostar budget issue this week

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Covic and Tihic are solving budget for Mostar’, by Miroslav Vasilj – announces that leaders of HDZ and SDA, Dragan Covic and Sulejman Tihic respectively, will be meeting in Mostar sometime this week to overcome the crisis which came to be after the Mostar City Council failed to adopt the 2006 budget. VL reminds that the Bosniak councillors in the Mostar City Council are objecting against the financing of the ‘Hercegovacka TV’ (Croat TV outlet from Mostar) from the budget, whilst the Croat councillors are objecting, among other issues, against the so-called ‘Kuwaiti loans’ (former Bosniak municipalities took loans from Kuwait, which are to be paid back from joint Mostar budget).

Interview with F BiH Min. Heco: Government is protecting private, not state sector

Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Government is protecting private, not state capital’ by R.Cengic – In a brief interview to daily, Vahid Heco, F BiH Minister of Industry and Energy, says that the F BiH is working illegally, while delegates are parliament are led by private, not common interests, and private capital is being protected better than state property. He claims that in line with F BiH Laws, it is not possible that F BiH Government annuls decision on electricity price increase, adding that lawsuit is the sole way for possible annulment of this decision. 

RS PM Dodik announces: control of sale of state capitals to commence soon

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Control of sale of state capital to commence soon’ by D.Risojevic – Milorad Dodik, RS Premier, told daily that the Commission in charge of audit into privatisation process in RS will be formed in ten days time, after which it would start controlling sales of states capital. According to him, RS Government is engaged in intensive consultations with the appointment of members of the Commission, that will be tasked with investigation on privatisation of companies and banks. (As of 2000, the state capital at 670 firms and seven banks in RS were sold through various sorts of privatisation. The process itself was followed in many cases with number of complaints regarding possible irregularities.)

BiH Restitution Commission will prepare a definite draft Law on BiH restitution until 30 June and hand it to BiH CoM

EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘Everybody deserves to be returned what was taken away from them’ by Tijana Veselinovic – Mustafa Begic, President of the BiH Restitution Commission, told daily that the Commission will prepare a definite draft Law on BiH restitution until 30 June and hand it to BiH Council of Ministers, after which public debates across the state will start. Feasibility Study is being prepared by Sarajevo Faculty of Economics Begic expressed full understanding with interest citizens show on this issue, adding that “Everybody deserves to be returned what has gone under nationalisation process”. ( Feasibility Study should propose manner in which seized property should be returned to civilians, religious communities and others in the period from 1 January 1945 to 3 March 2005.)

VL: Only FBiH Supreme Court can overturn FERK’s decision on electricity price

Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Only Supreme Court can overturn FERK’s decision’, by Eldina Medunjanin – According to VL, discussions in the FBiH Parliament about the FERK’s (FBiH Regulatory Agency for Electricity) decision on increase of price of electricity were wasting of taxpayers’ money since the law says the FERK’s decisions cannot be overturned by the FBiH Parliament, instead only the FBiH Supreme Court can overturn them in administrative procedures. VL notices that no MP in the FBiH Parliament made any suggestions to change the Law on electricity that would in turn enable the FBiH authorities to influence FERK’s decisions in the future.

BiH Armed Forces’ Podzic: BiH has good soldiers, obsolete equipment

Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Good soldiers and obsolete equipment’, by Mensud Zorlak – Chief of BiH Armed Forces Joint HQ. Lt-Gen. Sifet Podzic, stresses the BiH Armed Forces have good, well-trained soldiers, however the equipment they use is obsolete. He explains that the current equipment will not be changed in the next two years since the means for defence in the said period will be used mostly on transition of the Armed Forces.

War crimes and security

Prlic and others trial commences before ICTY

BHT1 – The trial before the ICTY against six former political and military leaders of BiH Croats will start on Wednesday [April 26]. Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Valentin Coric, Milivoj Petkovic, Slobodan Praljak and Berislav Pusic are indicted for war crimes committed against Bosniaks in so-called Croat Community of Herceg-Bosna in 1993 and 1994. All 6 of them have voluntarily surrendered to the ICTY on April 5^th, 2004 and pleaded not guilty.Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Trials to Croatian policy towards BiH’, by HINA, Vecernji List, pg 9 ‘Indictees defending themselves and Croatia’, by Davor Ivankovic – both announce the trials to ‘Prlic and others’ and both dailies carry similar comments by saying it looks as though the indictees will have to defend both themselves and the then Croatian policy towards BiH, since the Prosecution plans to use as evidence excerpts from books and statements made by former Croatian President Franjo Tudjman with regards to the Croatian policy towards BiH. Hayat, RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Trial against Prlic and others begins’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Commencement of trial against Croats from BiH on Wednesday’ by Sense, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Trial to ‘Croat six’ starts’ by Fena – also reported.

VL: Herceg Bosna was not criminal entrepreneur, it saved Croats and Bosniaks from annihilation

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Herceg-Bosna’, by Miroslav Vasilj – comments on the start of trials to ‘Prlic and others’ in which the authors disagrees with several arguments from the indictment, such as that ‘Herceg-Bosna’ was ‘an organized criminal entrepreneur’. Vasilj admits that crimes did happen in the then ‘Herceg Bosna’, however he argues the crimes were not planned and systematic as was the case with ‘the Serb aggressor’, insisting that ‘Herceg Bosna’ saved the Croats and Bosniaks from complete annihilation.

NN reports EU may suspend further talks with BiH if ICTY Chief Prosecutor reiterated in her report to EC BiH is failing to cooperate with ICTY

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Possible suspension of talks with EU’ by M.Cubro – Daily learns from highly positioned official of European Commission that if the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, reiterated in her Report to EC that BiH authorities are failing to cooperate with the ICTY, BiH would be faced with suspension of talks on SAA. Frane Maroevic, Spokesperson of the EC delegation to BiH, said: “The cooperation with the ICTY is a condition for closure of SAA talks. If a full cooperation failed, the suspension of talks is one of possibilities. However, I am of the view we cannot talk of suspension in a context of further round of talks scheduled for 12 May.” Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, does not believe talks would be suspended, while Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, reiterated information he had been receiving include not a single piece regarding hiding of Hague fugitives.

Weekend house of Teslic municipal chief mined: he accuses SDS official Stojicic and Teslic delegate Skrebic for being behind threats against him

Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Weekend house of Municipal Chief mined’ by G.Maunaga – Unknown person threw a hand grenade on the weekend house in Pavlovici village near Banja Vrucica owned by Teslic Municipal Chief, Rade Pavlovic. Explosion caused material damage to the house. Pavlovic stated that he has lately been receiving threats undersigned by “Black arm”. He believes that Dusan Stojicic, former RS NA Speaker, and Dragutin Skrebic, RS NA delegate, from Teslic are responsible for this act. Pavlovic was elected at the latest elections as a joint candidate of SNSD, SDP, NHI, S BiH, and SDA. Skrebic, together with some other delegates including SDS, has recently launched initiative for his removal.  Both Skrebic and Stojicic denied accusations they are behind this act. RTRS – also reported.

DL: Authorities in BiH are doing nothing to prevent series of car bombs

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Mafia from the Balkans’, by Arijana Beus – commenting on the series of explosions in BiH is last few days, Beus notes it is no surprise anymore when we see on TV that a car has been blown up. Beus wonders what the authorities in BiH are doing to put an end to this, claiming that they are more pre-occupied with staying in power and getting better salaries and other benefits rather then taking on the organized crime in BiH.

BiH COM announces BiH Commission in charge of audit of decisions on naturalisation of citizens might this week start seizing illegally obtained BiH citizenships

Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Seizure of citizenships this week’ by M.Cubro – The BiH COM has announced that the BiH Commission in charge of audit of decisions on naturalisation of citizens might this week start seizing illegally obtained BiH citizenships, adding: “The procedure of collecting necessary information on 61 cases is completed. The next session of Commission would decide on future status of these persons, and its is certain some citizenships would be seized. A legally stipulated procedure follows after this, and it is impossible to exclude the possibility of deportation.” Vjekoslav Vukovic, Assistant to BiH Security Minister and Commission President refused to talk about this issue. (Audit should cover citizenships allocated in the period from 6 April 1992 untill 1 January 2006.)