Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 24 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| Covic-Tihic meeting | BiH could stay without gas supplies |
| Farmers to meet BiH authorities | 70 killed in |
| OHR assessing Prce pardon docs | Weather |
TV news broadcast on 23 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Negotiations in Hutovo Blato | Reception disrupted | No evidences on terrorist camps |
| Colak on HR’s statement |
| Police reform negotiations in H.Blato |
| OHR on police reform |
| Cooperation between police forces |
| OHR in |
| First war crimes trial in Court of BiH |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Deminer killed by electric wire | Branislav Medan apprehended | HNC MoI arrested B. Medan |
| Miner killed in the mine “Mramor” | Heroin smuggler sentenced | Negotiations in Hutovo Blato |
| Funeral of Kasapovic | Imam accused of sexual harassment | SRS doesn’t support negotiators |
| Meden arrested in Mostar | Miner killed in coal mine Mramor | EUPM on ICG’s report |
| Oslobodjenje | Judges and prosecutors are running away from stress and too much work |
| Dnevni Avaz | Leakey: There are no terrorist camps here |
| Dnevni List | Suspect for genocide in Srebrenica arrested ( |
| Vecernji List | Al Qaeda’s terrorists were trained in |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | New charter flights for Mostar in October |
| Nezavisne Novine | Imam was arrested [over accusations for sexual harassment of 6 girls] |
| Glas Srpske | From |
| EuroBlic | Judges are leaving because of pressures exerted by politicians |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| OHR assessing Lozancic’s documentation | RHB, BH Radio 1 – OHR spokesman |
| Covic, Tihic met to discuss reforms
| RHB – Presidents of HDZ and SDA, Dragan Covic and Sulejman Tihic, met at the HDZ HQ this morning in order to discuss the implementation of reforms in BiH. The press conference is ongoing. More details will be presented later in the day. |
| Farmers meet authorities to negotiate their terms
| RHB, BH Radio 1 – BiH Farmers Association is currently meeting with the representatives of the state authorities in the BiH Ministry for Foreign Trade. The chair of the Association, Ranko Bakic, told they will present the clear platform consisting of 8 items, which include adoption of the BiH Agriculture Law, establishment of the BiH Agriculture Ministry, etc. |
| BiH could stay without gas supplies
| BH Radio 1 – Director “BiH Gas” Almir Becarovic warns that the lack of the activity on the part of the BiH Treasury Ministry could very easily stop the gas delivery to BiH. In a statement to BiH radio 1, he added: “All this can be changed with just one letter, that is with scheduling a meeting to find the ways to solve this issue.” |
| RS MoI: Terzic’s statement ill intentioned | SRNA – RS Interior Ministry stated that Adnan Terzic’s comment regarding the reports on terrorist camps in BiH [he called it “continuation of [Dragan] Adnan’s statements”] was ill intentioned. |
Police reform | |
| Hutovo Blato police reform meeting without concrete results: next round of talks in Bjelasnica on 31 August
| FTV by Amir Kadribegovic – A daylong meeting on police reform in Karaotok motel, in Hutovo Blato near Capljina, ended about 19.00. Journalists commented that no new details about the police reform process were released, except that the negotiations will continue at the |
| Oslobodjenje: police HQs/maps to be decided by future conference of state police directors?
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Maps will be done by conference of directors of future police?’, mentioned on cover, by Azhar Kalamujic – Daily says that one of the top conclusions of the daylong meeting on police reform in Hutovo Blato was that the police regions and their headquarters will be established after the police management structure is set up, i.e. during the implementation of the reform. CoM Chair Adnan Terzic confirmed for daily that sides talk about possibility for these issues to be discussed by future conference of the state police directors. Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Karaotok’ op-ed by Senka Kurtovic – Op-ed is negative towards the authorities for the delays in agreeing on the reforms. |
| DA: Constitutional changes are necessary, Ashdown could impose them
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Change of Constitution is necessary, and Bukejlovic and Matijasevic object to that’ by E. Sarac – The key reason for the problems with police reform is because of the constitutional restrain, says DA. According to one of the participants of the meeting, Paddy Ashdown cannot impose the reforms but he is allowed by the Dayton Agreement to regulate the issues of constitutional changes, which could include the police reforms. DA information says that Terzic and Ashdown do not give up on 9+1 police maps plan, however crossing of the inter-entity border line is only accepted by Milorad Dodik and Dragan Cavic, and is strongly objected by Pero Bukejlovic and Darko Matijasevic. DA says that SDS officials, objecting such changes, are trying to gain time as the session of SDS Main Board is on 26 August. DA concludes that arrival of RS Police Director Dragan Andan to Hutovo blato, and even faster departure, also shows that some removals at the high positions are very possible. [RTRS has also reported Andan’s arrival] |
| DL’s source: Pressure on SDS is growing
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘First concrete moves in new establishment of police surfacing’, by Dario Pusic – DL learns from an anonymous source that now, when the institutions are finally making progress in the police reform talks, the pressure on the SDS is growing. The source says the SDS Main Board will be meeting on Friday. |
| RTRS: Some progress was made, more pressure on SDS
| RTRSby Biljana Bokic– Reporter learned that some progress has been made and that parties have discussed the establishment of Institute for Forensic, Institute for Police Training and Agency for Managing Police. Reporter also says that it was decided to make additional pressure on SDS, which will hold session of its Main Board on Friday, and will be marked as a chief culprit for the failure unless they do accept the police reform. “Expectations are that negotiations on police reform will end and that solution, which is in accordance with principles will be found, meaning that Police is united on the State level,” stated Frano Maroevic, Spokesperson of the EC. |
| Terzic: RS politicians are bound with RSNA delcatiaons, but reform has not alternative
| BHT 1 by Martina Kristo-Antelj – BHT1 comments that the negotiations on police reform in Karaotok motel ended without any concrete results. Adnan Terzic said that RS politicians are bound with the RS National Assembly declaration signed in November 2004. “Therefore it is very important that we do not give careless statements, and that we stick to the principle that police reform has no alternative in BiH”, said Terzic. Hayat by RTV Mostar – Terzic added during the lunch break that “you will not hear that negotiations had failed or that some solution was reached but that some progress has been made and most likely we will continue next week on Bjelasnica”. He added that “RS representatives have certain guidelines issued by RS NA, and after the signing of the Agreement on Coordinated Political Acting in December people that attend these meetings with us are not optimistic of what awaits them upon their return”. RS PM Pero Bukejlovic prior to the meeting expressed his expectations that the agreement on police reform will be reached. He added that he has no disagreements with the RS President Dragan Cavic. “The only difference is in the ways to implement the reform” added Bukejlovic. Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘First concrete moves in new establishment of police surfacing’, by Dario Pusic also carries Terzic. |
| Bukejlovic: We’ll talk for 5 years if necessary
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘SDS will be culpable should the negotiations fail’ by V. Coric, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Step by step – Bjelasnica’ by V. Janjic, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Continuation of talks next week’, by Frano Matic – Reports that the RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic engaged into polemics with journalists, who asked him whether the numerous meetings on police reform are showing political weaknesses and lack of interest among politicians. Bukejlovic commented: “Well, if those before us (journalist remark reads: “thinking about the HRand previous negotiations”) spent one year, we can do that too, and if it is necessary, we will spend five years”. |
| Udovicic: SDS to define stance re police and defence reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Delegates of SDS from east RS oppose Cavic’s proposal’ by V. P. – Deputy Chairman of SDS Slobodan Udovicic has stated SDS Presidency should Thursday take a stance with regard to police and defense reforms, while the Main Board of SDS should define stances regarding the same matter Friday. A high official of SDS told NN members of SDS from eastern RS will not accept any draft police reform that would be contradictory to RS Constitution. ‘Members of the Main Board from east will not support any proposal of party president Dragan Cavic to respect the three principles of EU, including the one defining crossing of inter-entity boundary lines in exceptional cases’, the member said. |
| Jovicic: HR attended lunch only to reiterate threats
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Having a lunch or threatening’ not signed – reports HR Ashdown attended the lunch with participants of police talks, after which he returned to |
| Colak: Nothing is agreed until all is agreed
| RHB, Hayat, RTRS, BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Negotiations marathon moves to Bjelasnica’, mentioned on cover ‘Continuation in Bjelasnica’, by F. Vele, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘First concrete moves in new establishment of police surfacing’, by Dario Pusic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘SDS will be culpable should the negotiations fail’ by V. Coric, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Step by step – Bjelasnica’ by V. Janjic– In a statement given before the meeting, BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak said that the agreement on police must be reached by September, stressing that it has to be based on European standards. He expressed belief in success of negotiations. During the recess of the meeting, Colak stated for the media that progress in negotiations has been made, but that they will stay on agreed principle that “nothing is agreed before everything is agreed”. Asked, does he expect that Paddy Ashdown will impose the final solution, Colak said the HR will not make such decision as it neither helps BiH nor it ensures the beginning of the SAA negotiations. |
| Hadzipasic: FBiH Govt supports PRC report
| RHB, RTRS, BHT1, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘SDS will be culpable should the negotiations fail’ by V. Coric, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Step by step – Bjelasnica’ by V. Janjic – FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, stated prior to the police reform meeting that he expects the negotiations will continue in line with the report by the Police Reform Commission chaired by Wilfred Martens. He underlined FBiH authorities will stick to their stance on police reform to be based on PRC report. Hadzipasic added he came to Karaotok only because he did not want anybody to say that the negotiations failed because he did not come. Politicians from RS did not want to give any statements. Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘They came not to agree!’, by Emil Karamatic – Hadzipasic: ‘I cannot say anything, I am just a small entity Prime Minister’ |
| OHR on police reform: EU conditions for membership cannot be negotiated
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 No negotiations on conditions for EU membership’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘OHR: the talks must bring progress’ not signed – OHR spokesperson, |
| SNSD met HR Monday, discussed police, defence reforms
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Radmanovic: We all agree that BiH should get closer to EU’, by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘To bring BiH closer to |
| Oslobodjneje: Ashdown visited
| Oslobodjenje, pg 7 ‘Ashdown preparing ground for punishing Tuzla?’, by A. Avdic – Reports that many people have assessed the sudden visit to Tuzla by the HR, Paddy Ashdown, as preparatory work the aim of which is to erase Tuzla from the list of towns/cities that will be seats of police areas/regions. The author says it is being assumed that HR Ashdown wanted to ‘soften up’ the Tuzla canton Prime Minister, Bajazit Jasarevic, Mayor of Tuzla, Jasmin Imamovic, who on several occasions stated that it would be unacceptable that the police region seat be located in Bijeljina and not Tuzla. According to |
| Tihic, Covic meet today to discuss police/defence reforms, SBS and SIPA
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tiihic and Covic talk about police reform and SBS’ by F.V. – SDA and HDZ leaders, Sulejman Tihic and Dragan Covic respectively, are meeting in HDZ headquarters in Mostar today in order to discuss the police and defence reforms, crisis in the CoM, and appointments of SIPA and SBS directors. The meeting was also supposed to be attended by the SDS leader, Dragan Cavic. EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Gradual progress’ by Nedeljka Breberina and Srna inset ‘The “leading trinity” arrives as well’ – also report. |
| EUPM denies ICG report
| BHT1, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘ICG report is an attempt to discredit EUPM’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Putting obstacles’ by V. J.– The EUPM finds it most disappointing that a draft document prepared by the International Crisis Group (ICG) was recently leaked to the media, EUPM announced. “It is regrettable that EUPM was not presented with a copy of the report and offered an opportunity to respond to its content before media circulation,” said Commissioner Kevin Carty, Head of the EUPM, in a statement to media. “I question the timing of the leak and the apparent attempt to discredit the credibility of EUPM at this critical time in the development of policing in BiH.” Carty concluded. RHB – ICG’s report stated that EUPM is not capable to supervise implementation of police reform in BiH, adding that it has done nothing to help FBiH and RS MoIs to reduce crime rate, as crime rate in RS has increased for 22% in last two years and in FBiH 32%. |
| BHT 1 on ICG report
| BHT 1 by Mirela Cosic – BHT1 comments that it has been a while since a NGO’s report upset international officials so much, as the latest analysis of the EUPM’s work in BiH prepared by the ICG. EUPM denied the negative reports, and OHR also commented the report is nothing but a group of rumours and tendentious statements. “I can say that the ICG made this report in a very professional manner, by using a lot of sources… I know for a fact that many OHR employees, and many EUPM officers really agree with this report. All those denials are the consequence of the fact that OHR has to deny this report”, said Hugh Griffiths from the Balkans Investigative Reporting Network [who was the first to publish it]. Responding “This report is accessible for all the officials in BiH. I suspect that it was not forwarded to the EUPM because EUPM had very hostile attitude while ICG was investigating for this report”, responded |
Allegations on terrorism in BiH/ Other security issues | |
| Leakey: There are no terrorist training camps in BiH
| RTRS, BHT1, RHB, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘There are no terrorist camps here’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘There are no terrorist training camps in BiH’, mentioned on cover, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 23 ‘EUFOR denies existence of camps’, by Dejan Jazvic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They were shut down and destroyed’ by Srna – EUFOR Commander General David Leakey stated on Tuesday that EUFOR does not possess the information on existence of terrorist training camps in BiH. Comment on Nezavisne novine report that the |
| Terzic: This is a continuation of campaign against us by our neighbours
| FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘Terzic: There are no terrorist training camps in BiH’, by H, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘There are no terrorist camps in BiH’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Terzic: Campaign from neighboring countries’ not signed – The Chair of the BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, said on Tuesday that information on terrorist training camps in BiH was untrue and added that this was “continuation of a campaign coming from the neighbouring countries“. “I have spoken with people who are in charge of security services and it is clear that such information is untrue,” Terzic told journalists in Capljina where he attend the talks on police reform. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘This is continuation of Andan’s statements’ – In statement to DA, Terzic said that this could be regarded as the continuation of statements given by RS Police Director, Dragan Andan, [who earlier speculated on terrorist presence in BiH] |
| BHT1 feature on terrorism allegations
| BHT 1 by Marina Boskovic, Suzana Stambol – There are no no evidences to support the claim that terrorists are trained in BiH, representatives of NATO, EUFOR and BiH Ministry of Security unanimously stated. The origin of video published by Cybercast News Agency which allegedly shows an active terrorist training camp in BiH, is unknown. “Media publish a lot of things that turn out to be incorrect. I simply don’t want to comment something that is not confirmed by the relevant institutions”, said BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak. The tape was obtained from the Association for International Strategic Studies and their source claims that those recordings were made in BiH before the massacre in Beslan. “I believe that the tape was made after the war in BiH, not only because my source says so, but also due to the fact that it shows the training in much better conditions than it would be possible during the war. It is obvious that it is not the training in military tactics, but in terrorism tactics”, said President of this Association, Gregory Kopley in telephone statement for BHT [MMU note: Kopley often writes articles about possible terrorist activities in the area of the Balkans for |
| Copley: terrorists from camps in BiH are leaving to
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Copley: terrorists from camps in BiH are leaving to Iraq and Chechnya’ by V. Coric and P. Klincov – Chairman of The Association for International Strategic Studies from Washington Gregory Copley claims several terrorist groups are training terrorists in BiH, who later depart to Iraq, Turkey or Chechnya. He claims names of persons involved in training have been forwarded to intelligence services. Asked to say why NATO and EUFOR have not discovered such camps, he replied: ‘European countries and NATO are not willing to intensify any kind of actions as long as peace exists in BiH’. |
| Entities’ MoIs deny existence of terrorist camps
| EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘There are no terrorist camps in BiH’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘There are no terrorist camps in BiH’ by Srna – Spokesperson of RS Police Director, Ratko Pejic stated that RS MoI also has no information on existence of jihad training camps in the RS territory. RTRS – Spokesperson of FBiH MoI, Robert Cvrtak, stated that the Ministry has no information that these camps exist in FBiH, or that terrorists are being trained in FBiH. |
| SDA demands Bosniak to head SBS
| Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjneje pg 4 ‘SBS Director should be Bosniak’, Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘CoM should appoint Bosniak as director of SBS’, by A. Malagic– The advisory board of the SDA Presidency held a session on Tuesday giving its unanimous support to its president Sulejman Tihic in his efforts to ensure equal representation of the constituent nations in police and security structures be achieved. The SDA believes that it is unacceptable that not a single Bosniak is among the six chiefs of police institutions who have been appointed so far, asking therefore the BiH CoM to appoint a Bosniak candidate as director of the State Border Service, who by the virtue of the office, is also a member of the BiH Police Steering Committee. |
| East Sarajevo Police confirms: Bandic’s car deliberately set on fire
| Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Golf 3 set on fire on purpose’, by Branka Stevandic – The VW Golf Mk.3, which belongs to Anis Bandic (who shot fellow State Border Service colleague Bojan Prodanovic), was deliberately set on fire. According to a statement coming from the East Sarajevo Police, an expert witness has established that the car was poured with flammable liquid and then set on fire. |
| SBS and F BiH MoI confirmed employees are not taking psycho-physical tests | Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Law-keepers are not taking psycho-physical tests’ by D. Muminovic – BiH SBS and F BiH MoI Tuesday confirmed members of security structures in BiH are not under any regular medical tests and no person can say with certainty whether they are in a good psychical or physical health condition. |
| NN op-ed criticizes neglecting of mental health in employment at SBS | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘State limited service’ by Davud Muminovic – the author refers to the case of murder of SBS officer and says SBS is marked with the word “joint” rather than “professional”. He criticizes the fact that, in the process of employment of new workers, more attention is paid to their national structure than to their mental health. |
| BiH Interpol to launch investigation on trafficking in human organs in BiH | Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘BiH Interpol to launch investigation on trafficking in human organs’ by R. Rakic and A. Sisic – Upon claims of IOM saying that 13 young women have disappeared in the area of Modrica and Doboj, BiH Interpol Task Force will launch an investigation on trafficking in human organs in BiH, as according to Adi Biser, acting Deputy Director of BiH Interpol. |
War crimes | |
| HNK MoI arrests war crimes suspects upon RS MoI request
| Hayat, RTRS, BHT1, FTV, Oslobodjeje pg 4 ‘Person arrested for war crimes’, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 7 ‘Suspect for genocide in Srebrenica arrested’, by N. Dedic, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Suspect for Srebrenica crime arrested’, mentioned on front ‘Branislav Meden arrested on Titova street’, by R. S., Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘Jailed because of war crimes’, by A. V. – Acting at the request of the RS Interior Ministry, members of the Hercegovina-Neretva Cantonal MoI arrested Borislav Medan, 40, a war crime suspect, and handed him over to the BiH Prosecutor’s Office this afternoon. All media speculate that |
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| BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BiH Court cannot take over Samardzic case’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘They request from Carla del Ponte to conduct an audit on the work of the State Prosecutor’s Office’ by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Samardzic case stays in Trebinje’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘BiH Court will not take over Samardzic case’, by vr, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Samardzic case remains in Trebinje’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Samardzic to stand trial in Trebinje’ by A. D., Glas Srpske pg 12 ‘Trial in Trebinje after all’ by N. Z.– The Court of BiH has decided that it cannot take over from the County Court in Trebinje the case against Nedjo Samardzic indicted for war crimes committed against civilians in Foca. After the War Crimes Chamber reviewed the complete case, the Court decided that it cannot take over this case, among other things, because of the fact that the indictment has already been confirmed and the beginning of trial before the |
| FTV feature on BiH War Crimes Chamber’s trails
| BHT1 report by Boris Grubesic – First trial before the Court of BiH’s War Crimes Chamber will start in mid-September; it will be the case against |
| Exhumations commenced near Gradiska
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘From Zagreb to death’ by B. V. – Exhumations of mortal remains of “Berbir” battalion members (mostly Bosniaks and Croats) commenced yesterday in the vicinity of Gradiska. The article implies involvement of |
| Mandic to be charged with war crimes? | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Sarajevo Prosecution leads investigation against Mandic for war crimes’ by B.C. – DA leaders that Momcilo Mandic, recently extradited to BiH after being charged with organized crime, is a also a subject of the investigation carried out by Sarajevo Prosecution regarding war crimes. Charges will be soon forwarded to State Prosecutor. |
| BiH Institute on missing persons starts working next week
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Issue of missing persons finally becomes state problem’, by E. Mackic – The BiH CoM and ICMP will next week launch the state Institute for missing persons. According to ICMP spokeswoman, Doune Porter, the relevant entity Commission/Office for missing persons will merge into one state institution. |
Political issues/ international presence in BiH | |
| Milisic: OHR’s transformation depends on progress of BiH authorities
| Hayat, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Transition into EUSR’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Ashdown assessed Tuzla Canton can go on without OHR’ by A. Hadzicalso carries Milisic’s statement. – OHR did not want to comment the forthcoming steps to change the structure of the organization in a way to ensure transition to the Office of the EU Special Representative. Nevertheless, OHR spokesperson |
| RHB on Ashdown’s visit to
| RHB by Zvonimir Banovic – Paddy Ashdown made an unannounced visit to |
| Lozancic sends HR documents on Prce pardon
| BHT 1, RTRS, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Lozancic sent documentation to Ashdown’, Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Lozancic submits complete documentation on pardon’, by Srna, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Documentation on Prce pardon at High Representative’s’, by NINA– FBiH President Niko Lozancic has submitted the OHR with the documentation used in bringing decision to pardon former FBiH Defence Minister Miroslav Prce. HR Paddy Ashdown on Monday demanded from Lozancic to give him more information on the decision to grant a pardon to Prce, who was originally sentenced in 2004 to five years in prison for a misuse of public funds. OHR said it will comment on the explanation on Wednesday. |
| Colak: | RHB – Asked to comment the alleged statement by the HR Paddy Ashdown in which he said that RS could be treated as isolated part pf Cyprus [NB: which he denied], BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak said that that if true the statement is dangerous. Colak stressed BiH, as well as any other state, has nothing to do in the |
| Terzic does not believe Ashdown made the ‘ | Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘First concrete moves in new establishment of police surfacing’, by Dario Pusic – Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, commented the alleged statement by Paddy Ashdown on only one part of BiH (FBIH) entering the EU (which the HR denied) by saying that he has not heard as disastrous a statement in a long time. “I believe the HR did not say that”, stated Terzic. |
Audits, economy and judiciary | |
| BiH to lose gas supply from
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Complete stoppage of gas on October 1’, by M. Zorlak – Russian ‘Gazexport’ will stop supplying gas to BiH after ‘Energoinvest d.d. Sarajevo’ and ‘BH Gas’ failed to reach an agreement with the Russian company how to pay back the debt BiH owes to the Russian company (104,8 million US$). BH Gas director, Almir Becarevic, points the finger at the BiH CoM and BiH Treasury for not tackling issues pertaining to the debt, especially having in mind that the |
| TI report: BiH should sign convention on fight against corruption
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Facing corruption’ by D. V. M. – BiH Transparency International Report reads executive and legislative authorities in BiH should sign UN convention on fight against corruption, because it is the only country in the region that still had not signed it. The report concludes that, should BiH fail to sign the convention, it would be a sign that the current authorities are not showing enough of political will t seriously face corruption. BHT1, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH has not signed the convention’, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘BiH still tolerates corruption’ by Srna, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘BiH does not want UN Convention against corruption?’, by vr, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘BiH unprepared against corruption’, by B. Kristo – carry similar report. |
| Audit of the RS Education Ministry for 2004 shows a number of irregularities
| Hayat, RTRS by Sinisa Mihailovic– The Officer of the RS Chief Auditor has published an audit report on the RS Ministry of Education and Culture for the last year concluding that the activities of the Ministries were not harmonized with the existing legislation, with a focus at the system of public procurements and investments. Report states that the Ministry failed to establish the control measures, hasn’t planed the budget in line its realistic and real needs, has not defined the policy of public procurement resulting with contracts on public procurement ripped to values to Km50 thousands. Audit Report stressed that Minister is responsible, and in 2004 that was Gojko Savanovic. The Ministry didn’t want to comment, stating that RSNA will discuss this audit report. |
| Bajrambasic to complain against Dokic’s decision to remove him/ Terzic denies saying he will settle scores with Dokic
| RTRS by |
| Hayat feature on VAT introduction
| Hayat by Elma Kazagic – Hayat feature on Value Added Tax [VAT] says that after its introduction BIH will face with the problem of increased prices mostly affecting already poor citizens. The experts stated that solutions for this problem must be found at the entity level. Zlatko Hurtic, Economic Advisor to the BiH CoM Chair, said that triggering the crisis over VAT implementation is a political manipulation to ensure votes at the forthcoming elections. On the other hand, Radovan Vignjevic, FBiH Minister of Labour and Social Policy stated that the VAT of 17% will increase the prices of certain products and it will have the “domino effect” negatively affecting mostly poor citizens. The CoM experts estimate that 43 million KM will be enough to tackle the impact of VAT on poor citizens. Reporter noted that this means that an average poverty stricken household of 3 members will annually receive 211 KM. |
| Peric: HJPC does not know exact reason why judges resigned
| EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Judges are leaving because of pressures exerted by politicians’ and pg RS3 ‘To courtroom under pressure’ by Tijana Veselinovic – HJPC Chairman Branko Peric said HJPC does not know the exact reason why 7 judges and prosecutors have filed their resignations in the past month and added their jobs are quite difficult and challenging. On the other hand, according to Peric, they are under ‘constant pressures of parties involved in procedure to resolve their cases’. [note: the title reads pressures were exerted by politicians, which might have been a result of misinterpretation of the word “party” that can stand for both political party and a client]. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Seven resignations in one month represent a serious problem’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘New resignations were announced’ by N. Zelenovic, Dnevni AVaz pg 5 – also report on the statement. |
| Oslobodjenje on judges and prosecutors filing resignations: reasons are stress and a lot of work
| Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Judges and prosecutors running away from stress and huge work’, by Aldijana Omeragic – Following the news that 7 judges and prosecutors have filed resignations the other day, the daily took several comments from judicial officials, who all agree that the jobs the prosecutors and judges are doing is stressful. According to a prosecutor at the Sarajevo Prosecution, Oleg Cavka, judges, especially the prosecutors, are giving up big salaries foremost because of the stress and because of huge number of cases and impossible working conditions. |
| DL: OHR employees pressuring HJPC in order to get jobs in
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Under-trained OHR’s officials want to be part of Court’, by Zvonimir Jukic – The author learns from a source close to the OHR Sarajevo that many foreign employees of the OHR’s Legal Department, who are to lose the jobs at the end of year, are pressuring domestic and foreign officials, especially the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, in an effort to get lucrative jobs in the BiH Court. Jukic says their only motive is to keep the privileges and high salaries they have been earning in the OHR although they are not properly qualified to do the job in the |
| Closing arguments in Jelavic trials on September 26
| Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘Jelavic will be cleared of charges’, by Erna Mackic – The closing arguments in the trials to Ante Jelavic in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case will be presented on September 26. Jelavic’s defence team believe that their client will be acquitted because the prosecution failed to prove its claims from the indictment. |