| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Wimbledon | Reactions – EU summit | Human trafficking | Komarica’s statement |
| Pope’s visit | Reactions – Pope’s visit | EU list | RS Government |
| World Bank’s loans | Strike in BL Clinic Center | WHO on SARS | Ivanic praises his Ministry |
| Austrian investments | Tuzla’s pits | Komarica’s speech |
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| Oslobodjenje | Chetniks were preparing assassination of Pope |
| Dnevni Avaz | Bitterness of pensioners (over non-increase of pensions) |
| Dnevni List | “Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament Martin Raguz: Black-and-white approach in passing of political decisions is not possible any longer”; “Search of house in village Nadanici near Gacko: SFOR found large quantity of weapon”; “Peter Scheider: Nevertheless, Council of Europe does not threaten with sanctions” |
| Vecernji List | “Ashdown wants new reform of Police”; Petricevac will be turned into orchard” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “Rivers ‘swallowed’ 7 lives”; “Banja Luka Police arrested Croatian citizen: He was carrying gas gun and posters of Anto Gotovina” |
| Glas Srpske | Textbook Review Commission: Laying claims on Serb writers; “Die Presse” on Pope’s visit to Banjaluka: Political mine field |
| Nezavisne Novine | Clinical Centre Foca/Srbinje: A patient believed to be suffering from SARS admitted; Brussels: The list of personae non gratae in EU by the end of the week; Banjaluka: Police banned protests of medical staff in front of Republika Srpska Government building |
| Blic | After the Pope’s visit: Both the authority and Vatican satisfied; Bishop Komarica: Diocese faces extermination of Croats; Cavic: That is the opinion of Bishop Komarica only; Cedomir Jovanovic: Money obtained by Moskovic’s kidnapping was also used for Karadzic’s protection |
Thessaloniki Summit/ BiH-EU relations | |
| Humphreys, Ivanic on the Summit
| BHTV 1, Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, RTRS – Upon return from Thessaloniki, representative of European Commission said that BH was faced with many requirements in order to join EU. BH authorities admit that the process is going to be difficult and that it depends of the political will. BiH and other western Balkans countries will be member of EU for certain, however when that would happen depends on their readiness to implemented set requirements before them. Michael Humphreys, Head of the EC delegation in BiH, said that it must be proven that BiH was self-sustained and efficient state with functional political institutions which could and do bring decisions, with self-sustained economy which would bring prosperity to all citizens. BH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic stressed that the most important success for BiH was that EU for the first time clearly said that it sees our country as a member country. He expressed readiness of BH authorities to entirely and decisively implements those reforms, which would make BH citizens to become EU citizens. Some of those would be politically sensitive, stressed Ivanic adding that there would be many economically difficult moves to make, including politically unpopular measures to be taken. However, he added that he believe BH authorities must show their willingness to do so. But, such optimism in regard to joining EU is not shared with some of the European media, especially German, who believe that it would take 10 to 15 years. Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Ivanic: BiH will be EU member’; Thessaloniki Summit results presented in Sarajevo – EU doors opened (Humphreys and Greek Ambassador’s press conference); Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Ivanic: Much work is ahead of us’; Western Balkans will be a Greek priority (Humphreys and Greek Ambassador’s press conference) Blic pg. 7 ‘Joining the EU depends on BiH’ also reported on the a joint press conference of Greek Ambassador to BiH Mihail Koukakis, Italian Ambassador to BiH Saba D’Elia, the head of the European Commission delegation in BiH, Michael Humphreys, and BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic held in Sarajevo on Monday. Vecernji List (page 2, by E. Medunjanin, “Lifting of aid prevented”) – a report from press conference of the BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, who on Monday stated that BiH could this year expect between 150 and 200 million US$ in loans from the World Bank (WB). Talking about the recent visit of the BiH CoM to the US, Ivanic said “the timing” was right otherwise BiH would have lost the WB’s aid in the long run. In that context, Ivanic says the WB’s original mid-term plan determined that BiH loses a special status which in turn meant that BiH was to receive only the “regular” aid of 30 million US$ a year. “Now I think we can expect redefining of the WB’s mid-term strategy because representatives of the institution acknowledged our arguments”, says Ivanic. Talking about the recent Thessaloniki summit, Ivanic stressed a fact that for the first time it was publicly stated that the countries of the western Balkans would for sure become EU members. Dnevni List, front and page 4, by FENA, “Talks with World Bank ‘at the right moment’, Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Bridge to Europe’; Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘USA promised there will be no sanctions against BiH’ also report on the Ivanic press conference. |
| EU list of unwanted persons
| FTV – Following Thessalonica summit, there was no publication of EU black list of persons non-grata from BiH. The list was produced two months ago, and as FTV 1 found out, was not much different from American. At least 25 persons from BiH, participating criminal activities or materialistically supporting to war criminals, would not be able to enter EU countries. The black list was urgently sent by OHR to Brussels about ten days prior to EU summit, and therefore was expected to be published by now. BH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic said that this black list was most talked about in BiH, while other countries did not pay that much interests to it, adding that there was no discussion on this list in Thessaloniki summit. However, FTV 1 claims that High Representative Paddy Ashdown in bilateral meetings at the EU summit had discussion on the black list of BH citizens unwelcome in Europe. Procedure on adoption of the list is complicated, as each member state must adopt it. According to Ivanic, this was an issue that international community did not want to consult on with local authorities. BH Foreign Affairs Minister said this was never discussed, and added he was not aware the list went from OHR to EU. According to sources close to international community, FTV 1 claims that European list could include some of religious leaders. Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘List of personae non gratae by the end of the week’ – A NN source close to European Union claims that by the end of this week, the European Union is expected to publicise the list of personae non gratae, who will be banned from entering EU states owing to their constant non-compliance with Dayton Peace Agreement, support to network of war crime suspects and connections with organised crime. The list is to be verified in Brussels this week. According to NN source, the name of Dragan Kalinic will not be included in this first list of names, which dopes not have to mean that his name will not be listed in some of the addenda to the initial list on personae non gratae. |
| DL’s editorial on Thessaloniki Summit | With regard to the Summit of EU and western Balkans countries, Dnevni List (page 11, by S. Kuzman, “None Head of state left dissatisfied”) says: “Through adoption of the document called ‘The Thessaloniki Agenda for western Balkans’, the EU and leaders of Croatia, BiH, Serbia and Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia defined concrete, priority reforms in western Balkans- the fight against organized crime and corruption, changes that lead towards the market economy, close mutual cooperation, and unavoidable extradition of former ‘heroes’, ‘knights’ and ‘protectors’ to The Hague which represent a hard way to the day when Europe will be finally unified with the Balkans states as its members.” |
| ICG report on admission of southeast Europe countries to EU | Dnevni List (page 11, not signed, “Intention of BiH Government to enter EU in 2009 is not realistic”) carries that the latest report of the International Crisis Group says Croatia is the only country of southeast Europe that has a chance to enter the EU in 2007. The report also says: “The intention of the BiH Government to enter the EU in 2009 is not realistic until BiH resolves basic problems with regard to building of the State.” |
Reactions to Pope’s visit to BiH | |
| Komarica, RS leadership on the visit
| BHTV 1, Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, RTRS – It has been estimated that Pope was greeted on Sunday in Banja Luka by between 50 and 70,000 people. Organising board have received praise for ensuring that entire visit went without any problem. RS President Dragan Cavic, Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and RS National Assembly Speaker Dragan Kalinic criticised statement by Franjo Komarica on difficulties related to the return of Catholics to RS. Answering this criticism, Banja Luka bishop Komarica said that the guilt for this lays on all those who were in the leadership of this entity in last ten years. President of RS Cavic stressed that messages expressed by Pope were clear enough and produced positive effect in reconciliation process in BiH. Cavic also believes that Komarica’s statement had local approach, adding that he was surprised with bishop’s claims of political nature. Cavic stressed that all those who wanted to return, were able to do so. Komarica denied Cavic’s statement, and said that there was still a large number of Croats who could not return to their homes. Despite division between Catholic Church and RS authorities on this particular issue, they both agreed that the organisation went very well sending positive message to the world. (Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘RS leadership following Poe’s visit – Surprised with Bishop Komarica’s speech’; ‘Bishop Franjo Komarica – Pope’s visit will enter into BiH history’; Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘BiH Inter-Religious Council members called on to remain persistent in working for reconciliation’; ‘Cavic: Komarica’s speech was of the political nature’, Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Bishop spoke as politician’, Blic pg. 7 ‘All praises to the police’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 7) Vecernji List (front and pages 4 and 5, by Zdenko Jurilj, “Petricevac will be turned into orchard”) reports that the venue used for the Pope’s holy mass on Sunday, a plateau adjacent to the Petricevac Monastery, will be turned into an orchard and will also be used to grow wheat on it.The same papers (page 4, by bs, “Surprised by speech by Bishop Franjo Komarica” and page 12, by Zvonimir Despot, “Komarica a target of leaders of Republika Srpska”) reports that the President, Speaker of National Assembly and Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Dragan Cavic, Dragan Kalinic and Dragan Mikerevic respectively, were surprised by the speech by the Banja Luka Bishop, Franjo Komarica, who stated that thousands of Catholics left the Banja Luka diocese and that not many of them have returned. A joint press statement by the RS leadership believes there’s been an obvious development in the area of return of property and reconstruction of religious facilities and protection of religious freedoms. “And of course, it is not correct not to mention a really difficult position of the Serbs who fled from Croatia who still cannot solve the problem regarding the return of their property, and the problematic position of the Serbs in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, reads the joint press release. (Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, by Milorad Labus, “RS leadership ‘attacks’ Bishop Komarica”, Dnevni List, page 10, by F, “Cavic surprised by part of Bishop Komarica’s address”) |
| Ivanic’s letter, reactions in the world to Pope’s visit | BHTV 1 – BH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic sent letter to organising board for Pope’s visit in which he stated that it was a custom everywhere in the world that Foreign Affairs Minister was present at the arrival of Pope. He stressed that the letter was not a protest, but an instruction. Reactions in the world in regard to Pope’s visit in Banja Luka were different. Viennese press said that Pope’s wish to decrease a division between Catholic and Serb Orthodox Church failed. In Belgrade reactions are different, and in Croatia they stressed the significance of Pope’s invitation to mutual forgiveness. Belgrade non-governmental media stressed the importance of the visit and the fact that Serb Orthodox Church representatives did not attend Petricevac mass. Pro-state media, however, used the mass to remind of crimes committed in WWII against Serbs adding that by inviting to mutual forgiveness Pope made significant step towards reconciliation. Even though Chief of Diplomacy Goran Svilanovic urged Serb Patriarch Pavle to greet Pope in Banja Luka, apparently due to place of mass holding, Pavle decided to stay in Serbia. Croatian President, Stipe Mesic said Pope’s visit to Banja Luka has double significance – spreading message of tolerance and enabling refugees to visit their homes. Italian press pointed out that while Pope did ask for forgiveness of crimes committed, he avoided to name the group responsible for constant killing but rather talked about victims generally. |
| EUPM praises RS police performance | FTV – EUPM praised the work of local police performed during Pope’s visit. EUPM Spokesperson Alun Roberts said that on Sunday Banja Luka had been a city of peace, adding RS police took care of every aspect of the visit in extraordinary way although they did not have modern equipment. |
| Oslobodjenje: Chetniks were preparing assassination of Pope | Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘Chetniks were preparing assassination of Pope’ – The Serb extremists network made of several organisations in RS, Serbia and Serb Diaspora in US, was preparing assassination of Pope John Paul II during his visit to Banja Luka, but also during his earlier visit to Croatia, learns the newspaper from the reliable sources close to the BiH state institutions. According to these sources, the RS police and foreign services in BiH and Croatia were informed about the assassination scenario three months before the Pope’s visits to BiH and Croatia. Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘Ravna Gora Movemenet is a matter of entire OHR’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Ban of the Chetnik Movement is the issue for the entire OHR’, Dnevni List page 6, by FENA, “Issue of Ravnogorski Chetnik movement concerns whole OHR” – International Supervisor for Brcko Henry Lee Clarke supports measures taken by the USA against all those accused for war crimes and the ones supporting them. “ If it is necessary here to take some measures related to restrictions and blocking of accounts, better to say restrictions regarding the free use of property for criminals and their organizations, than it is a real issue which will be dealt with in accordance with law”, supervisor Clarke told FENA. Asked if he would, in line with his powers, sanction and ban the work of the Ravna Gora Chetnik Movement in Brcko, Clarke said that these issues were the matter of the whole OHR in BiH, but that the Office was never announcing in advance his possible actions related to such cases. “District has at disposal strong instruments for fighting organized crime, either it includes war crimes, corruption or another offences, but the instruments include evidences and legal procedure”, Clarke said, adding that together with his associates he would with pleasure cooperate with the local authorities in solving the mentioned problems. Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘Indictment against Almir Abdulah soon’ – BH Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the indictment will be brought soon against Almir Abdulah from Zenica, suspected of having made threats to Pope John Paul II during his visit to Croatia. Although Abdulah is still in custody, the investigation is ongoing and by 9 July, when his detention sentence is to expire, the Prosecutor’s Office should complete the investigation and consider the possibility of bringing the charges against Abdulah. |
| Editorials in Sarajevo dailies related to the Pope’s visit | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 In Focus column by Mirko Sagolj ‘Too late’ – “Pope’s visit to Banja Luka has besides the religious an emphasized political significance as well. Before all, the RS authorities showed they can, if they want, very successfully organise and secure events of the biggest risk. This means, that, if they wanted, they also could organise, for example, Ferhadija Mosque cornerstone laying out ceremony in the same successful manner,” Sagolj wrote. Oslobodjenje pg. 2 “Mass for the return” Op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Dizdarevic believes that the Pope’s visit will come to his full sense if as many Croats as attended the holy mass in Banja Luka return to RS. Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 Commentary of the Day by Edina Sarac ‘What can do RS police?’ – Sarac wonders why the RS police members, who collected praises for the security during the Pope’s visit, could not protect a Bosniak returnee to Janja Smail Smajic, who had been neaten up a day earlier? |
| “Die Presse” on Pope’s visit to Banjaluka | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Political mine field’ – Beta news agency re-reported the assessment of yesterday’s edition of the Vienna daily “Die Presse”, according to which the hope of John Paul II that split between Catholic and Orthodox Church will be reduced following his visit to Banjaluka has totally failed. According to report, Pope yesterday stepped on the political mine field, which is double-explosive. |
| DL’s editorial on Pope’s visit | Dnevni List (page 6, by Slavo Kukic, “Pyrrhic victory”) – says that the Pope’s visit to Banja Luka represents a victory, albeit a Phyrric one, of the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic. In that context, Kukic gives all credits to Covic for doing a very job during the Pope’s visit (NB: Covic was President of organizational board) saying that Covic is using the Pope’s visit and his role in it as some sort of a break before the storm, the storm being many malversations, like the “SOKO” and “HPT Mostar” cases, that link Covic to them. |
Reforms | |
| RS Government on defence reform
| BHTV 1, RTRS – RS government at Monday’s session adopted document on basis for reforms in the sector of defence in BiH, together with the entity’s plan of action. They said yes to establishment of joint civilian command at the state level, and no to the establishment of a single army. Reforms in defence can be implemented at the level of both entities and state, said Milovan Stankovic, RS Defence Minister. He added that RS authorities believed that there should be civilian control of armies in BiH, however under that control there still should be two armies in the country. Stankovic said that RS government’s attitude is acceptable for fulfilling all the requierements related to the accession to Partnership for Peace. Future organisation of RS army will be in accordance with NATO standards, pointed out Stankovic. Government also plans to decrease number of soldiers to 5000. Stankovic also said: “If the RS National Assembly adopts basis for the reform of defense at its special session, that is to take place tomorrow, the RS representatives will advocate these stands in the Standing Committee for Military Issues, that should make final proposal of the defense reform in BiH”. Dnevni List page 2, by Onasa Blic pg. 7 ‘Dismissals in the Ministry announced’, Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘Reform of army is necessary’; Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Nothing beyond the law’ – At yesterday’s session in Banjaluka, which was also attended by the Republika Srpska President, Dragan Cavic, the Republika Srpska Government discussed the basic reforms in the field of defence and defined stances, which are to be discussed at the next session of Republika Srpska National Assembly. |
| Reform of the police forces to follow | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Ashdown opened another issue of BiH functioning – Large-scale reform of police forces to follow’ – The international community might as soon as at the beginning of next autumn launch a comprehensive action of police forces reconstruction in order to make them capable of dealing with the organised crime as the biggest obstacle to the integration of BiH and the entire region into Europe. “It is possible that the EUPM will be tasked to launch reforms of the police forces in BiH,” Chief OHR Spokesman Julian Braithwaite told the newspaper. Vecernji List (front “Ashdown wants new reform to Police” and page 2 “Ashdown in favour of reduction of Police administration”, by D. Jazvic) – VL also says that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, has raised the issue of reorganization of the Police forces in BiH at the Thessaloniki summit giving a proposal to the BiH authorities to review the current structure of the Police citing a fact that there are 11 Police forces and 11 Police Commissioners in BiH. VL goes on to say that the HR Ashdown does not insist on the changes but still would like to see new reforms to the organization of the Police. A statement by an OHR spokesperson, Oleg Milisic: “The High Representative is not bringing into question the European standards that were applied in BiH during the process of reform to the Police. On that side it is important to stress that existence of the institution of Police Commissioner is not questionable. The problem is in size of Police administration and from that point of view he raised the issue of the need to carry out changes to the Police. We will see how much the domestic politicians see the issue as important and priority.” |
Other political developments | |
| Interview with Martin Raguz
| Dnevni List (front and page 7, by Miso Relota, “Black-and-white approach in passing of political decisions is not possible any longer”) carries an interview with Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament Martin Raguz. Asked as to when the issue of change of the BiH Constitution will be raised in the BiH Parliament, Raguz says that it can be expected that this issue will be raised and added that HDZ BiH will be ready when this happens since they initiated a need for the consistent, constitutional reform much before the others. Asked to comment on the journalist’s conclusion that the BiH Constitution is already being changed due to some OHR decisions, Raguz says: “The High Representative also stated that the Dayton Peace Agreement is foundation and not roof, that is, it is not a finished construction. At this moment, we can say that there is no big willingness of the International Community to raise this issue. They are also aware that this situation will not be able to last long. They are aware that this solution is not functional, however, they say that it is a matter of time and the issue of an internal agreement of political structures within BiH, especially the ones that have political and election legitimacy. It is necessary that they find the model as to how to start with that process and the sooner they find it the better.” |
| BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs on education of children in Diaspora | Dnevni List (page 2, by Fena, “Additional classes for BiH citizens abroad are being organized”) carries that reacting to the letter of the World Congress of BiH Diaspora in which they expressed their disappointment over the fact that proposals of Diaspora with regard to the additional education of children are not incorporated in the procedure of passing a new Law on Primary Schools, the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a press release yesterday. The press release says that provisions on education of children of BiH citizens who live abroad were incorporated in the Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education in BiH. The aforementioned Ministry stresses that the Framework law was adopted in the Parliamentary Assembly and since it was adopted in different texts in the House of Representatives and House of Peoples the process of its harmonization has been underway. |
| CoE’s Scheider on bilateral agreements with US on ICC | Dnevni List (front and page 5, unsigned, “Council of Europe not threatening with sanctions after all”) – the daily carries the Speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Peter Scheider, who stated yesterday that “all attempts of pressures against European countries to sign with the US bilateral agreements on non-extradition of the US citizens to the ICC are unacceptable”. Questioned how the CoE and EU cold help the countries exposed to the US pressures, Scheider expressed an opinion that the EU “could help if there’s concrete pressures and concrete economic damages” but expressed doubt that something could be done if the pressures from Washington have a general nature. Talking about what happens to countries that sign bilateral agreements with the US like Albania did last week, Scheider said the CoE does not have sanctions at disposal but could only ask its members not to sign the agreement. |
| SDP Mostar’s press conference | Dnevni List (page 15, by S. Jakovljevic, “SDP does not support newly established HNC Government”) – a report from press conference by the SDP of Mostar during which its President, Sead Djulic, talked about topical issues in Mostar. Djulic stated that the number of local self-government units does not necessarily mean the unity of one area also stressing that the SDP Mostar was of an opinion that the unity in functioning of Mostar could not be ensured through one unit of local self-government. Commenting to the newly established Government in Canton 7, Djulic said the SDP did not support forming of the Government under the High Representative’s influence. |
| Session of Stolac Municipal Council
| Slobodna Dalmacija (back page, by Ivo Raguz, “Session without agreement”) – a report from Monday’s session of Stolac Municipal Council (MC) which was attended by 13 out 17 councilors. The author notes that the atmosphere during the session was “difficult and intolerant” and that the councillors reached an agreement about only one item from the agenda, namely the resignation that the Head of Municipality, Zeljko Obradovic, submitted on June 10. In that context, the daily reports that the MC concluded that a next session of the Council should be convened within 15 days in order to appoint a new Head of Municipality. The article goes on to report that the session was marked with many breaks and accusations among the councilors which resulted in three councillors (one each from HDZ, SDP and SDA) leaving the session. |
| Textbook Review Commission on content of textbooks | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Laying claims on Serb writers’ – The Republika Srpska members of the Textbooks’ Review Commission objected against the tendency observed in the textbooks, from which pupils in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are learning, according to which no nationality is written along with the names of Serb writers. Namely, the ethnicity is clearly indicated along with the names of non-Serb writers, whilst no ethnic reference is made along with the names of for example Desanka Maksimovic, Aleksa Santic, Petar Kocic, Branko Copic, etc. Another objection concerns further tendency observed in the textbooks of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to which the formulation of “Bosnian language” is being used. According to Republika Srpska members, this represents an intention to create something, which no state in the world has – supranational language. The experts think that the term “our language” should be clearly defined in textbooks. |
| SDS session on 12 July | Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘SDS will not elect the new leader’ – Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson, yesterday stated that SDS will not elect its new leader at the next SDS session on 12 July. He denied claims that some regional boards of SDS have demanded the election of new president, who would replace Dragan Kalinic on this position. |
Economic/ social issues | |
| Strike in BL Clinical Centre continues
| BHTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Strike continued’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 12 ‘RS authorities has fulfilled not a single worker’s demand’ – Day after Pope’s visit, Banja Luka Clinical Center has continued with strike, which lasts for over a month. Workers gathered on Monday saying that Banja Luka Clinical Center was in very difficult situation and that their possibilities to offer help to patients were very limited. One million and 50,000 KM paid to Clinical Center by RS authorities several days ago were not enough. Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 7, ‘Police banned the protests in front of the Republika Srpska Government building’ – Republika Srpska Interior Ministry has placed a ban to the protests, which the medical staff announced for today in front of the Republika Srpska Government building in Banjaluka. The explanation for ban placement was that following Decrees of the Municipal Assembly, any public gathering or assemblies in Banjaluka may only be organised at two locations: Trg Krajine and Mladen Stojanovic Park. |
| Public consultations on arms export/import | BHTV – Public consultations on production and export/import of weapons were held on Monday in Sarajevo. BiH authorities were asked to precisely set the list of those countries where weapons would not be allowed to export. The problem of those countries that companies cooperated till now, but are on American sanctions list, was stressed. Producers complained of the long and complicated procedure to win licence to export weaponry following Orao affair. Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Military industry on the failures of the law’ – The event was organised by the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber and gathered representatives of the BiH military industry. |
| June pensions will not be increased | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 9 ‘Bitterness of pensioners’, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘June pensions will not be increased’ – The June pensions in the BiH Federation will not be increased, according to a decision made on Monday by the FBiH Pension-Invalid Insurance Fund’s Steering Board. Representatives of the pensioners expressed their astonishment and announced street protests over the decision. |
| Hadzipasic announcing removal of directors, steering boards | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Hadzipasic announcing removal of directors, steering boards (in certain state companies with bad performance)’ – More than 50 steering boards, which the FBiH Government is being authorized for, are soon to be reviewed. Some members of the steering boards as well as some directors of failed state companies are likely to be removed. |
| OHR on Fatnik Polje | Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘Republika Srpska Government is in charge of all the problems’ – OHR yesterday did not want to comment as to whether Donald Hays, PDHR, altered his stance on justification of the resumption of the works at Fatnik Polje Tunnel. NN was told at OHR that: “We do not comment on any business correspondence. It is up to the Republika Srpska Government to provide answers and solutions to problems listed in audit report on Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda.” |
| Update to Pejic case
| Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘Open competition announced for General Manager’ – Milorad Zrnic, President of the Executive Board of Serb Post Office, confirmed that Executive Board on Friday denied objection filed on dismissal decision by the General Manager of Serb Post Office, Milutin Pejic. Accordingly, Executive Board has announced an open competition to fill in the position of the General Manager of Serb Post Office. |
Crime | |
| Human Trafficking
| FTV – BiH was recently described as the country where human trafficking blossomed. Tuzla Ministry of Interior arrested 4 girls in nigh bar Jezero on Modrac. However, new reason for fear in this regard was caused by information that girls are more and more difficult to find in night bars, and more often in private apartments. In action performed by Lukavac police station, four female foreign citizens who illegally live in BiH were found. Check showed they were from Serbia, Romania, Ukraine and Monte Negro. Spokesperson for Tuzla Canton MoI, Miralem Malkic said that local police have been facing more difficult problems in fighting human trafficking since victims now have often been held in private houses and apartments. |
| Trial of Brdjanin | FTV – Trial of Radoslav Brdjanin, charged with crimes committed in Bosanska Krajina, was continued before ICTY on Monday. Protected witness BT 94 took the stand. He wrote diary in Banja Luka in period ’92-’93, which later became ‘back chronicle’. In his diary, now used as evidence, witness particularly dealt with impact of media propaganda on the crimes that followed marking it was deadly especially in rural areas. Witness also wrote down talks he had with some of the prisoners from concentration camps Omarska, Keraterm and Manjaca, allegedly visited by Brdjanin and other high ranked officials. All this was preceded by conflict discussion of Defence and Prosecutor with Chairman of the Court. Brdjanin’s lawyer asked for week of rest, due to overscheduled work, which would mean delay of evidence presentation process planned to finish by 1 August. Prosecutor also asked for postponement. Cross-examination of protected witness continues tomorrow. |
| Hague investigations in BiH | Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘The Hague contacted the SDS official, Momcilo Komljenovic’ – The Hague investigators last week contacted the General Manager of NIRS “Petrol” (NIRS stands for Naphtha Industry of Republika Srpska) and member of the SDS Chair Board, Momcilo Komljenovic. Komljenovic, who assumed the duty of the President of the Executive Board of the Kotor Varos Assembly, said that: “I was not interviewed. They just contacted me, asked of my whereabouts, place of work, phone numbers and other personal information. Although I sought for a written explanation, they did not give the reasons into this action.” |
| Update to Matanovic case/Phase 1
| Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Trial begins on 30 June’ – The trial against 11 policemen from Prijedor, charged with illegal detention of the Catholic Priest Tomislav Matanovic and his parents Bozana and Josip Matanovic at their house since August till September 1995, will commence on 30 June this year before the Banjaluka District Court. The indictment against 11 policemen from Prijedor was brought on 30 January this year. |
| Police arrest at Gradiska border crossing | Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘A Croat carrying posters of Gotovina and Norac arrested’, Slobodna Dalmacija front and page 22, by M. Labus, “He was carrying gas gun and Gotovina posters” – The Croatian citizen, Dragutin Bosnak (1961) from Krapina was arrested at the border crossing in Gradiska on Saturday, because the border police found rocket pistol and posters with war crime suspects Ante Gotovina and Mirko Norac. Radomir Njegus, Republika Srpska Police Director, stated that the Court in charge of the violation has set a 15-day detention against Bosnak. On Sunday night, police arrested Imeri Hirzi from Tuzla (originally from Kosovo) for having attempted to rob two female pilgrims. |
| Karadzic Book presented in Belgrade
| Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘The book “Wartime orders of Radovan Karadzic” presented’; Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Truth is the best defence’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 8 ‘All Karadzic’s wartime orders’ – The representatives of the International Board for Defence of Radovan Karadzic on Monday in Belgrade, presented the first book (in a series of books) on political activities of the former BiH Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic during the war in BIH. The book is to emphasise and reveal that the most wanted war crime suspect is not bearing any responsibility for the war in BiH. The President of the Board is the Professor of the Belgrade Law School, Kosta Cavoski. |
| Gotovina case | Jutarnji List (front and page 3, by Helena Puljiz and Igor Vukic, “Mesic: It’s possible Gotovina be questioned in Zagreb”) – a statement by the Croatian President, Stipe Mesic, who told the daily that an ICTY indictee at large, Ante Gotovina, could be given a chance to talk to the ICTY investigators in Zagreb before he talks to the judges of the Tribunal. According to Mesic, this comes following a telephone conversation he had with the Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, on Friday. The daily also contacted del Ponte’s spokesperson, Florence Hartmann, who claims Mesic could not conclude from the conversation with del Ponte that Gotovina could be questioned in Zagreb. “Gotovina has one possibility: to come to The Hague, by surrendering or getting arrested”, said Hartmann. (Vjesnik, front “Mesic: It is technical issue whether conversation with Gotovina will be conducted in Zagreb or The Hague” and page 2 “Hartmann: Telephone conversation between Mesic and del Ponte strictly of courtesy nature”, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 2, “I believe Gotovina will surrender” and “Conversation Mesic – del Ponte strictly of courtesy nature”, Dnevni List, page 17, “Conversation Mesic – del Ponte strictly of courtesy nature” and Vecernji List, front “Same procedure for Gotovina like for Ademi?” and page 10 “The Hague Prosecution ready for concessions”) |