Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 24 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| HR | HR addresses the Parliament |
| Bad reception | FBiH HoP on pardon law |
| Croat parties on Mostar budget | |
TV news broadcast on 23 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| HoP ratifies the agreement on HVO | New talks on constitutional changes | Spiric calls on boycott of Parliament |
| NATO Cmdr met BiH Presidency | Spiric calls for boycott of BiH HoR | Political leaders on const. changes |
| Spiric urges RS MPs to boycott HoR | Terzic replies to Spiric’s accusations | |
| SDA, HDZ discussed Mostar budget | BiH HoP in session | Reactions in region on referendum |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Meeting on const. changes in SA | | New talks on constitutional changes |
| Spiric urges RS MPs to boycott HoR | Reactions in region on referendum | BiH HoP in session |
| Referendum in | Political leaders on const. changes | RS reps boycott work of HoR comiss. |
| Tadic accepts results of referendum | Ulrich meets BIH Presidency | Spiric calls for boycott of BiH HoR |
| Oslobodjenje | Schwarz-Schilling will say today who is working for private and who for interests of BiH |
| Dnevni Avaz | Schwarz-Schilling: I will name opponents of reforms |
| Dnevni List | Destructionists will be publicly singled out (HR announces speech in BiH Parliament) |
| Vecernji List | BiH military: 2100 soldiers to be fired |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Siroki to lose 500 jobs (interview with Lijanovici’s Jerko Ivankovic) |
| Nezavisne Novine | RS delegates are leaving BiH Parliament |
| Glas Srpske | Crime has name and surname [Dodik and Spiric met with Mirjana Simanic] |
| EuroBlic | Slap in the face of Terzic [RS delegates were asked to boycott BiH Parliament’s work] |
| Vecernje novosti | Let’s offer our hand [Statements of Serbian officials after Montenegrin referendum] |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| HR Schwarz-Schilling addresses the BiH Parliament
| BH Radio 1 by Senka Jasarspahic – For the first time after assuming the office, the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling addressed the BiH Parliament talking about obligations, especially those related to the reforms, before the Parliament in time before elections. Schwarz-Schilling stressed that these 100 days MPs have to work to stimulate economic development, support independent judiciary and police, meet international obligations and develop civil society. HR underlined that laws related to several reforms must be passed before elections, especially when it comes to higher education, set of laws in economy area and judiciary sector, public broadcasting system and police reform. He also noted the OHR would not interfere into the work of domestic officials and that they [MPs] have to take over the responsibility. Outlining BiH’s perspectives, Schwarz-Schilling mentioned some of its successes such as the ‘Grbavica’ film which received Golden Bear award at |
| FBiH HoP to discuss the Law proposal on Pardons
| BH Radio 1 by Ljiljana Radl – At session today the FBiH House of Peoples is to discuss the proposal of the Law on Pardons and amendments to the Law on Executive Procedure, both previously passed by the FBiH House of Representatives. Pardons law was adopted after OHR insisted on it, as the current law has not been harmonized with the one on state level. New law proposal disables pardoning for people indicted for war crimes. |
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| BH Radio 1 – Police reform Directorate’s Steering Board Chair Vinko Dumancic stated that at today’s session, the |
| OHR spokespersonTunovic:
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Constitutional and police reforms | |
| Six political leaders meet to discuss const. changes; opponents invited to submit their a solution
| PINK– Leaders of six political parties – SDA, |
| Party leaders sign joint statement supporting March agreement on const changes; continuation of talks after election; RS PM Dodik: special commission should be established
| Hayat – Hayat commented that some of the participants looked quite discontented after the meeting. “The joint statement has been written, and it would be given to all of you. Four sentences, and that’s enough. Thank you very much”, was all that Dragan Cavic told journalist after the meeting. “We have simply ascertained that unfortunately, one month after they managed to stop the reforms in the Parliament, those who voted against constitutional amendments have not offered realistic alternative”, stated Zlatko Lagumdzija commenting the statement. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Agreed constitutional package the only solution’, mentioned on cover by A.Omeragic – Commenting the meeting Lagumdzija said Tihic hasn’t offered “major innovations.” The joint statement reads only four lines in support of proposed changes: “Considering that month after blocking the reform, the opponents of the amendments haven’t still proposed a common solution that could be passed in the Parliament, we believe that proposed package is only realistic alternative.” Lagumdzija also noted that unless the opponents do not come up with a proposal in ten days, reform would have to wait end of year. Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘They expect new proposals from the opponents’ by M. Cubro – SNSD leader Milorad Dodik said he believes a special parliamentary commission should be established to carry out the process of constitutional changes after October elections. |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Covic: The only interesting thing was the menu’ by A.Malagic, inset ‘Talks on new government after elections’- As possible subject of the meeting, establishment of new majority after elections was mentioned and even though avoided the direct answer, Zlatko Lagumdzija said that he proposed at the meeting to apply some things learned from the lesson in this process. “New government must be established in a manner to change the situation in the country. In October we have to establish the government around concrete program so that this situation wouldn’t be repeated” said Lagumdzija. Inset ‘Cavic for more frequent meetings’ – Dragan Cavic commented: “Atmosphere of preparedness to compromise is generally good, not only when it comes to constitutional changes, but opens possibility of the agreement in all other issues which would be inevitable in the following period, especially after signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement.” |
| BiH HoR Deputy Chairs Spiric and Dzaferovic: support constitutional changes
| BHT1 late news – In brief statement the BiH House of Representatives Deputy Chairs Nikola Spiric and Sefik Dzaferovic, repeated their stances on constitutional amendments following the working lunch held with party leaders in the residence of US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney. They repeated that they personally support the amendments as well as their parties and added they do not know anything about the discussions held on Tuesday since they were not present. |
| HDZ Presidency: Support to const. chgs/Decision on pre-election coalitions to be passed on Monday
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14 ‘Decision on pre-election coalition on Monday’ by Z. Zekic – The HDZ Presidency held a session on Monday. After the session HDZ President Dragan Covic stated that HDZ would continue to actively participate in the constitutional changes talks. Talking about preparations for the October elections, the HDZ Presidency had analyzed proposals of the Croat parties with regard to possible pre-election coalitions with HDZ and the HDZ Presidency concluded that they would pass the decision on this issue at the next HDZ Main Board session that would take place on May 29 in Mostar. |
| PDP’s Radovanovic: PDP did not change stance / SNSD’s Dodik: SNSD not willing to accept abolishment of entity voting | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They remained on the same course’ by Z. Domazet, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Verification of what was already agreed upon’ by Dusanka Stanisic – PDP’s Vinko Radovanovic stated that the party had not changed its stance with regard to the agreed constitutional changes and added the party is not ready for launching of new negotiations. Inset ‘Without courting’ – asked whether he would agree to hold talks on possible abolishment of entity voting, SNSD’s Milorad Dodik stated he was not willing to please anyone, especially Party for BiH’s leader Haris Silajdzic. |
| DA: EU Ambassadors did not accept proposal of RS PM Dodik on establishing of state police, with [preserving] RS MoI divided into couple of regions
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘EU diplomats gave Dodik a lesson’ by S.Numanovic – Daily learns that before Tuesday’s meeting with US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney, that RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik had a ‘unpleasant meeting with the EU Ambassadors who warned him that he should not quit three principles of police reform agreed on October 5, 2005. The three EU principles urge for the exclusive state competency for police legislation and budgetary issues, local police areas designed on the basis of technical policing criteria, and a system that protects the police from improper political interference. DA’s source says that Dodik promised he will send representative to the next meeting of Police Reform Directorate [ |
| DA: Police regions to correspond to judicial/ prosecutorial territories?; 5 region categories depending on size of population; EUPM: there would be no negotiations on three EU principles
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Police regions in accordance with judicial and prosecutorial?’ by E.Sarac – Daily learns that Executive Body of the Police Reform Directorate [ |
| HR
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Schwarz-Schilling: I will name point opponents of reforms’ by S.Numanovic – Announcing his Wednesday’s speech before the BiH Parliament, the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling told the group of BiH journalist that he would soon start naming and criticizing politicians who oppose reforms: “I intend to publicly expose those whose work was damaging a future of this country. In BiH politics there are lot of those who are not politically mature, there is corruption, people with bad deeds or intentions, egocentric persons… It is good to blame those people before the elections to say they are not constructive, that they are not working for common good.” Asked to say make it clear whom exactly he talks about, the HR gave example of rejection of the constitutional changes. He also announced that he would present list of laws he expects to be adopted within next 100 days: “I will present list of laws, which has support of great number of people, and which can change situation in this country for better, not only with regard to European and Euro-Atlantic integrations, but also with regard to better living standard.” The HR also said he would also given his estimate on the situation in the country after little over 100 days of his work on the position. Inset ‘BiH is sovereign state’ carries HR as denying any political connection btw Montenegrin referendum with situation in BiH. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Schwarz-Schilling will say today who is working for private and who for interests of BiH’ by A.O. – Schwarz-Schilling said: “There are lots of fields in which BiH Parliament can work in the next four months: economy, police reform, education, reform of Public Broadcasting System [PBS].” Inset ‘Respect agreement on police’ – HR reminded those obstructing police reform to respect the Agreements previously achieved, otherwise Stabilization and Association Agreement [ |
Dispute over Commission for sufferings in Sarajevo | |
| BiH HoR Deputy Chair Spiric calls on RS reps in HoR to boycott it until CoM complies with decision on establishment of Commission for sufferings of Sarajevo Serbs
| FTVby Dzenana Zolota – Following the meeting with the Chair of the RS Association of missing persons form Eastern Sarajevo, Mirjana Simanic and the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, Deputy Chair of BiH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric told the press conference that he will invite the RS representatives in the BiH HoR to walk out of the session on Wednesday after the plenary session and to boycott the work of the House until the Commission for sufferings of Sarajevo Serbs, Croats, Jews, Bosniaks and others is established by the Council of Ministers. He noted that RS representatives in BIH HoR are not obliged to respect the Chairman that refuses to abide by the BIH Parliament’s decision and form the commission. “I will call on Serb representatives tomorrow [Wednesday] not to listen to Terzic’s speech, since by his statement he has stopped being the Chairman we have all respected. He can keep “rolling” until the elections” said Spiric. Dodik stated that the crime must be “named” and cannot be collectivised as it the common case in Sarajevo adding that BIH Institutions must serve in finding the truth about the committed war crimes. “ |
| 11 out of 12 RS delegates at HoR not to attend HoR sessions until Commission for Sarajevo Serbs is established
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS delegates will boycott sessions of BiH Parliament’ by V. Popovic – 11 out of total 12 RS delegates at BiH HoR have decided not to attend sessions of HoR until CoM Chair Adnan Terzic establishes a commission for investigation of sufferings of Sarajevo Serbs. Only Mirko Blagojevic from |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘ |
| HoR Dep. Speaker Spiric says he would not attend BiH HoR session until Commission for suffering of citizens in
| BHT1 late news – Asked about his invitation to RS representatives to walk out the BiH HoR’s session and boycott its work, Deputy Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric told while interviewed in BHT 1 studio that a reason for this was the rejection of the CoM Chair Adnan Terzic to establish a Commission for suffering of Serbs, Croats, Jews, Bosniaks and others in Sarajevo. He explained the BiH Parliament endorsed a decision on such commission [on |
| DEPOS: CoM Chair has an obligation to fulfil decision on forming the Commission for Sarajevo Serbs
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Terzic’s obligation’ by Z. M. – Deputy Chair of DEPOS Svetlana Cenic has assessed that CoM Chair Adnan Terzic has an obligation to fulfil the decision of BiH Parliament on establishing of the Commission for investigation of sufferings of Sarajevo Serbs and added: ‘Families of killed people deserve to know the truth and they cannot wait for the commission for investigation of events in entire BiH to be formed’. With regard to appeal of |
| RS Veterans’ Association support Spiric’s boycott announcement
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Asking for processing of war crimes suspects’ by Srna– Presidency of RS Veterans’ Association has asked all institutions in RS and all RS representatives in joint institutions to remove all obstacles for processing of suspects for war crimes over Serbs. They deem that it is unacceptable for this process to be in one way only and at the same time they support the boycott announcement of BiH House of representatives’ Deputy Chair Nikola Spiric. |
| CoM Chair Terzic denies claims that he doesn’t allow the Commission; says the Comm should be for the whole state
| PINK- Responding to a call on boycott by the Deputy Chair of the BiH House of Reps, Nikola Spiric, the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated for Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz on Tuesday it is not true he refuses to establish commission for investigation on sufferings of Serbs in Sarajevo. According to Terzic, the only right thing to do is to establish a commission tasked to investigate truth about sufferings of all peoples in the entire BiH. Terzic stressed that this Commission can be tasked to investigate the truth about sufferings of Sarajevo citizens first, adding that they have been victims of crimes in period from 1992 to the end of 1995 [for more details see BiH Media Round-up May 23]. Hayat- also carried reaction. |
| RS reps leave session of BiH Comm. for Finances and Budget; They will not attend Wed session, expect address by HR | RTRS – The RS members of BiH Parliament Assembly’s Commission for Finances and Budget left the Tuesday’s session of this Commission on report of the BiH Council of Ministers on results of VAT introduction. Commission President Ljiljana Milicevic explained that RS members have left the session, because the Chair of BiH CoM Adnan Terzic had failed to act in accordance with House of Representatives’ order and establish commission tasked to investigate sufferings of Serbs in |
| BiH Justice Minister Kovac said would not resign despite demands from NGOs and parties from RS
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘He does not intend to resign’ by N.D. – Commenting demands made by some NGOs and political parties from RS to Serb representatives in BiH Council of Ministers to resign, after BiH CoM refused to form Commission for Suffering of Serbs in Sarajevo, BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac said that he does not intend to resign. Kovac said: “I believe that it is for the best that we stick to legislative and instead of Commission demanded from RS, we should form Commission that received support in the BiH Parliament, which would examine suffering of all peoples in |
| HR: There are enough of decisions of
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Schwarz-Schilling: I will name point opponents of reforms’ by S.Numanovic, inset ‘He would not speak about Commission for Sarajevo’ – High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling said that he is not going to talk about Commission on suffering of Sarajevo Serbs before the BiH Parliament: “I think we have enough of decisions of Human Rights Chamber on issue of missing persons, that have been ignored on different levels of BiH authority. I think these decisions have to be implemented regardless to the nationality of victims. So, authorities have to respect these decisions, not constantly forming new commissions.” |
| DL: Spiric’s call to Serb MPs to boycott session another attempt to weaken state authorities
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Spiric’s acrobatic stunts’, by Resad Dautefendic – commenting on the appeal of the Deputy Speaker of BiH HoR, Nikola Spiric, to the Serb MPs to boycott the session of BiH HoR because BiH CoM Chairman, Adnan Terzic, does not want to form a commission that is to investigate sufferings of Serbs and other peoples in Sarajevo, the author argues this is yet another attempt from the RS to undermine the BiH CoM and suspend the |
| GS op-ed critical of CoM Chair Terzic: silence can be thundering pre-election message
| Glas Srpske op-ed pg 2 ‘Silence – a thundering pre-election message’ by Veljko Kojovic – Referring to the statement of CoM Chair Adnan Terzic that the decision on establishing of a commission for investigation of sufferings of Sarajevo Serbs would not be reached as long as he is CoM Chair, the author notes such a statement might have surprised only the naïve ones. The author added: ‘In the election year, being silent on certain events becomes a thundering pre-election message that would, as he presumes, bring votes to his political structure’. |
Follow up: Montenegrin independence | |
| Preliminary results in
| FTV- Chair of Republican Referendum Commission Frantisek Lipka published official preliminary results of the referendum in |
| Serbian President Tadic accepted Montenegrin referendum, promising to be the first official to visit
| FTV – Serbian President Boris Tadic has welcomed the independence of |
| RSNA Speaker met Montenegrin Assembly Speaker; future relation traditionally good
| RTRS – The Speaker of the RS National Assembly Igor Radojicic met with Speaker of Montenegrin Assembly Ranko Krivokapic in Podgorica on Tuesday. Radojicic congratulated the Montenegrins for their independence. He stressed future relations between RS and |
| EU Commissioner Rehn:
| FTV – EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn stated that both |
| Head of BiH team in lawsuit for aggression Softic:
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘ |
| EU recognized results of referendum/VL: Serbs to demand some sort of autonomy in
| Dnevni List pg 32 ‘EU recognized result’ not signed carries that the EU called on Monday both sides in |
| DEPOS Co-Chairperson Cenic: | Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Status of Kosovo more dangerous than independence of Montenegro’ not signed carries DEPOS Co-Chairman Svetlana Cenic as saying that independence of Montenegro would not have big influence on relations in BiH unlike influence and consequences that possible independence of Kosovo might create in Serbia, BiH and the whole region. She added that none in the RS supports independence of Kosovo. |
| After
| BHT1 by Zoran Sarenac – After Montenegrin referendum was declared successful, Serb movement ‘SPONA’ has announced that it will request from the RS authorities to carry out referendum for the RS independence. On the other side, Society for Protection of Endangered Peoples welcomed the Montenegrin independence but pleaded to international Institutions not to allow same possibility for the RS. SPONA has organised petition “It’s your choice” in RS cities to support the separation of this entity from BiH, and representative of this NGO, Dane Cankovic, called on people from Balkan countries to “influence their political leaders so they can lobby for peaceful break up of the region including former BiH”. However he refused to say how many people signed the petition. Vojin Zejak, |
Other political issues | |
| BiH HoP adopts BiH/Croaita agreement on rights of HVO victims, members of families
| FTV– BiH House of Peoples approved the agreement between BiH and |
| BiH Presidency meets NATO delegation to discuss transition: defence reform most successful project after
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| VL: 2100 BiH troops to lose jobs, NATO to provide 6,5 not 13 million Euros for severance pays
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘BiH military: 2100 soldiers to be fired’, by Zoran Kresic – VL notes that after the entity military forces and two entity MoDs merged into one BiH Armed Forces and state MoD, it is expected that some 2100 soldiers and officers will lose jobs in 2007. As for the money that is to stimulate troops to sign off and which is to be secured by NATO, VL notes original reports were stating that NATO was going to secure 13 million Euros, however after UK and Netherlands objected to this, the amount was halved, namely VL says the word in Brussels is that NATO will approve some 6,5 million Euros. |
| Osl.: Adoption of budget is not problem in Mostar but fact that Mostar Statute is not being implemented
| Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Herzegovinian TV caused fight between SDA and HDZ’ by A. Becirovic carries President of the HDZ Mostar Board Denis Lasic as saying that he guarantees that HDZ Councilors would support adoption of the Mostar budget today (on Wednesday). Osl. says that it is questionable whether the Mostar Councilors would have a chance to discuss the budget at all since before this item they are supposed to discuss systematization of places of work in the Mostar City Administration and Urban Planning Bureau and these ere some of the things that SDA and HDZ have a conflict about. Head of the SDA Caucus in the Mostra City Council, Suad Hasandedic stated: ‘SDA Councilors cannot accept a proposed budget. If our amendments were adopted perhaps we shall support the budget.’ According to him it is disputable that the budget envisages financing of Herzegovinian TV. Osl. concludes that it seems that the problem does not lie in the Mostar budget but in the fact that the Mostar Statute is not being implemented, ‘and among the others, Mostrians can thank the OHR on this situation’, as well as in the agreement signed between HDZ and SDA in August 2004. |
| DL, VL: Still unclear whether Mostar budget will be adopted, Mostar representatives to meet with HR on Thursday
| Dnevni List, pg 11 ‘HDZ and SDA without agreement on Mostar’, by Sanja Bjelica – With regards to the meeting between senior delegations of HDZ and SDA about topical issues in Mostar (for details see OHR Media Round-up, May 23), DL carries SDA President, Sulejman Tihic, who said the two parties’ positions on several issues have been brought closer, however the final agreement was not reached. He also noted that city officials should continue discussing topical issues and reach an agreement one of these days. DL goes on to say that representatives of both parties expressed hope that supervision for Mostar was not necessary. Finally, the daily announces that representatives of political parties from Mostar together with the President of Mostar City Council and Mostar Mayor will be meeting with the High Representative in |
| Mostar Mayor Beslic: proposal of budget is prepared in best possible way considering limited funds
| Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘I offered the best possible’, by Sanja Bjelica – The Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, underlines that the proposal of the city’s budget for 2006 was prepared in the best possible way considering the funds that are available to the city, arguing the budget proposal aims to take care of the needs of all beneficiaries in the best possible way. Beslic argues that during the meeting between HDZ and SDA delegations on Monday, nobody made significant objections to the proposal, underlining it is now down to the councillors to adopt the budget, “since everything else is just politicizing”. |
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| Oslobodjenje, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘First platform, then coalition’, by S. Rozajac – Leaders of HSS and |
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| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Next week about coalitions’, by tk– The President of |
| VL: Croat parties must focus on vital national interests and stop smearing each other
| Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘List for Croats’ equality’, by Ivan Bagaric – commenting on recent reports that speak of possible making of Croat coalitions in BiH, Bagaric argues they are about ‘preliminary bouts in the pre-election campaign’ in which there are only three serious contenders, the HDZ BiH, HDZ 1990 and |
| BiH Civil Service Agency Director Finci: Appointment of Sinisa Macan for CIPS Director has no legal ground
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Appointment of Sinisa Macan has no legal ground’ by E.Sarac – BiH Civil Service Agency Director Jakob Finci stated that appointing Sinisa Macan for CIPS Director [after Board of Civil Service for appeals within Council of Ministers adopted Macan’s appeal, annulling appointment of Mustafa Pasalic] has no legal ground. Finci said that Agency will probably not raise dispute before |
Economic issues | |
| RS Prosecutors were presented with the plan and methods of work of special unit of RS Police during meeting in “Mrakovica” villa
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Special unit started working’ by D. Risojevic – According to information in possession of Nezavisne Novine, during the meeting between RS Police officials and representatives of RS Prosecutor’s Office, held in “Mrakovica” villa [see OHR BiH Media Round-up: May 23], the prosecutors were presented with the plan and methods of the work of a special police unit for fight against organised crime, which was recently established in frame of RS MoI. Anonymous source told NN that the special unit will be functional in the entire territory of RS and members of the unit will have the authority to take over the cases from any of Public Security Centres and continue with the investigation, which would make fast and efficient conducting of investigations possible and would exclude the possibility of exerting local pressures on inspectors. Chief RS Prosecutor Amor Bukic stated RS Minister of Interior had initiated the meeting in order to present activities MoI is conducting to improve results of fight against organised crime. |
| Head of FBiH Tax Admin.: forcible collection of taxes ongoing, BAM 300 million evaded
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Taxes in the amount of approximately BAM 300 million evaded’ by R. Cengic – In an interview to NN, Head of F BiH Tax Administration Midhat Arifovic said F BiH is currently carrying out a forcible collection of approximately BAM 900 million of tax debts, as well as BAM 150 million of disputable debts that are currently undergoing a check-up at the Ministry of Finances, while taxes in the amount of approximately BAM 300 million were evaded, which means this amount would never be registered as a debt. He also noted that the biggest debtors are state-owned firms, such as mines, steel factories, even the “Railroad” company, and their total debt amounts approximately BAM 360 million. |
| ITA postpones Steering Board session for May 30
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dzombic demanded session postponement’ by T.L. – Daily learns that session of Indirect Taxation Administration [ITA] Steering Board scheduled for Wednesday is postponed [allegedly for May 30] following demand of RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic. Reasons behind Dzombic’s demand are not known. The session was supposed to be about the final agreement on the allocation of public revenues from the single ITA account. |