| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| NHI on SDA | Tax evasion of 1,2 m KM | BiH candidate for Oscar | Defence reform |
| No Croats in Brcko District | Defence reform | NATO on defence reform | Mikerevic in London |
| HNC schools still on strike | UN general assembly | Economy in BiH | Protests in Ugljevik |
| Const. Court Chair in Tuzla | BiH candidate for Oscar |
| N. Korea nuclear program |
| Oslobodjenje | RS police were apprehending Bosniaks in Prijedor |
| Dnevni Avaz | Javier Solana: Eyes of Europe are looking at BiH |
| Dnevni List | Mostar clinic: first operation on removal of lung; Protests in front of HNC Government on Friday; CRA must act in accordance with Law on telecommunications |
| Vecernji List | Americans invite BiH to Iraq; Defence reforms: Warnings coming from all sides |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Drvar: A present from Canada; Forceful collection of taxes in Republika Srpska: Debtors on the black list |
| Nezavisne Novine | Bruce McLane (sp!), Head of the NATO Peace Operations Department for Balkans: NATO is satisfied with the draft Law on Defence; Following the police action in Hajducke Vode, near Teslic: The internal control department of the RS Interior Ministry investigating the action; Instead of cancellation of the strike, Education syndicate of Herzegovina – Neretva Canton expand the list of their demands: 13 000 pupils suffer because of the conflict between Government and Syndicate; Employees of the Srebrenica Battery Factory on strike: Workers threaten to burn themselves |
Defence reform | |
| Solana: Europe is looking at BiH
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 5 ‘The eyes of Europe are looking at BiH’ – Interview with Javier Solana, the EU Commissioners for Foreign and Security Policy. “The next couple of weeks will be of crucial importance for BiH. It is facing a clear choice: either the reforms in the sectors of customs, taxation, defence and intelligence will be accepted or they will be rejected. The parties that won the elections last year promised reforms”, said Solana. Dnevni List (page 21, “Policy for prevention of conflict”, by D.L.) carries that EU representative for foreign policy and security Javier Solana stated for Vienna’s newspapers ‘Standard’ that the EU is intending to develop systematic policy for the prevention of conflict ‘either in Macedonia, Congo, Bosnia or south Caucasia’ as a response to international threats. Solana warned that unresolved regional conflicts, injustice and frustrations, that emerge out of it, represent fertile ground for terrorism. |
| SFOR Commander urges BiH leaders to accept defence reforms | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Non-acceptance of defence reform would be a real tragedy’, Dnevni List page 5, “BiH has no choice if it wants to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme”, by Fena, Vecernji List, page 3, “Ward: To NATO through reform only”, by f , Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘Through army reform to NATO’, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 – ‘First Commission, then Parliaments’, Blic pg. 7 ‘There will be no integration into NATO without the reform’, ONASA – SFOR Commander General William Ward said that BiH leaders must accept defence reforms if they want BiH to progress towards Euro-Atlantic institutions. “Acceptation of these reforms will clearly declare that BiH has opted for the European Union. Defence reforms are necessary for the country’s development,” Ward said at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday, adding that progress in the military has been achieved, although politicians have to make the final decision. “This is a great step forward, although some would like it to be bigger. However, any step forward is better than a step backward,” Ward said. He denied that claims of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) that the reforms suggested by the defence reforms commission are the result of an agreement between certain members of the commission. Ward reiterated that defence reforms do not foresee changes to the entity armies, but their merging under one flag. |
| OHR: Defence reform proposals need to be debated within the parliament | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘A goal is adoption (of the defence law) in the parliament’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Give parliament a chance’, FENA – OHR reiterated on Tuesday that reforms that are being drawn up by the Defence Reform Commission should rightly be debated in parliament, through the democratic process in this country. But these reforms will never enter parliament, will never be scrutinized by the democratic process, unless the Defence Reform Commission can complete its work and present its proposals to government and parliament, OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic told a press conference in Sarajevo and reminded that the rejection of these reforms delays integration of BiH into NATO for a very long period of time. The OHR believes that the best way to address the concerns that have been raised is to do it through parliament and the democratic process. These proposals are not take-it-or-leave-it. The objective all along has been that these proposals should be discussed in government and ultimately adopted by parliament. If BiH wants to join PfP, it cannot do so on the basis of reforms imposed by the international community, OHR stated. Dnevni List (page 2), Statement of Day: “I cannot form single army, because I cannot go beyond Dayton authorities”, by Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative for BiH. |
| Locher, McLane on defence reform | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘In PfP through defence reform’, and pg. 8 ‘A single army and apprehension of Karadzic lead to NATO’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘The Commission’s report represents the first step towards NATO’, Dnevni List page 5, “Only State Parliament can declare state of war”, by E. Mackic,Vecernji List, page 3, “You reject privileges of NATO membership”, by E. Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 – ‘Locher: Parliamentarians shall decide on defence reform’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 – “McLane: NATO is satisfied with the Draft Law on Defence of BiH’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘Either ‘no’ or NATO’, FENA – BiH Defence Reform Commission Chair James Locher and NATO representative Bruce McLane urged BiH authorities on Tuesday to accept the Commission’s defence reform solutions. Locher repeated that if BiH rejects these proposals it would not be able to join the Partnership for Peace. “By adopting recommendations of the Commission BiH will become a credible candidate for Partnership for Peace. It is therefore necessary to adopt proposals of the Commission as soon as possible”, Locher said. He reminded of changes provided by the recommendations and stressed that during the work of the Commission there were no obstructions from any of the domestic members. NATO representative Bruce McLane also stressed the importance of adopted defence reform proposals as soon as possible. He reminded that he personally, but also the NATO Secretary General George Robertson, thought that only with the adoption of the recommendations BiH might become a credible candidate for membership in the Partnership for Peace. He also reminded of numerous privileges provided by membership in the Partnership for Peace, and especially in NATO. However, he added, BiH accession to the Partnership for Peace and its movement towards NATO solely depend on the will of domestic politicians to reach an agreement. McLane will speak about activities of the Defence Reform Commission at a session of the Peace Implementation Council’s Steering Board on Thursday. Chief OHR Spokesman Julian Braithwqaite emphasized that the SDA, which was opposing proposed reforms, would not be sanctioned, but that it would be in position to explain its position to the BiH citizens. |
| Becirbasic, BiH SCMM members on defence reform
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Dnevni List page 5, “Compromise on defence reform by Thursday”, unsigned , Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, FENA – BiH Standing Committee for Military Matters (SCMM) General Secretary Enes Becirbasic said on Tuesday that he expects adequate solutions for defining the final report of the BiH Defence Reform Commission to be found before the Peace Implementation Council session scheduled for September 25. “We hope to have something to offer to the members of the Peace Implementation Council by Thursday”, Becirbasic said. He reminded that certain issues have been resolved and that there were disputes with regard to some issues. According to Becirbasic, the disputes besides an expert also have a political dimension. Becirbasic expressed confidence that BiH political representatives would reach a compromise in order to ensure that defence reforms continue also in segments that were not covered so far. About the work of the Defence Reform Commission, Becirbasis emphasized that reservations were expressed towards certain solutions, that complaints were equally coming from all sides, and that this shows that no one could be full satisfied. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 – ‘Compromise may be reached by tomorrow’- Secretary General of the BiH Standing Military Committee, Enes Becirbasic believes that the Draft Law on Defence may be finalised by tomorrow. In a statement to Srna news agency, Becirbasic expressed hope that BiH politicians ‘will be wise’ and find an appropriate framework to allow experts finish their job. The Croat Deputy Secretary General of the Standing Military Committee, Stjepan Pocrnja, rejected all allegations of the Bosniak representatives that the Draft Law on Defence was a result of an agreement between Serbs and Croats, accepted by the international community. Pocrnja also said that by the end of the week, political parties in BiH will study the Draft Law and see for themselves that it does not contain any solutions harmful for any of the sides, but that it is a compromise solution. (Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 – ‘The Draft Law on Defence acceptable for all’). The Serb Deputy Secretary General of the Standing Military Committee, Savo Sokanovic believes that a compromise solution will be found and that political views and assessments would be a bit more important then the expert’s. According to Sokanovic, the defence reform in BiH is also a political issue. Due to the fact that BiH is a complex state with two entities and three constituent peoples, when it comes to such sensitive issues, solutions that can be politically sustainable and acceptable for all sides have to be found (Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4- ‘Solution in the hands of politicians’, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 – ‘Experts write, politicians decide’) |
| NHI hopes Ashdown will take measures against Tihic | Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘The ball is now in Ashdown’s court’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘NHI expects Ashdown to sanction Tihic’, FENA – The New Croatian Initiative (NHI) came out with a press release on Tuesday expressing the hope that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will take “the same measures against the BiH Presidency member, Sulejman Tihic, that he used to take before against the officials who in his judgment stood in the way of reforms in BiH”. The NHI most vigorously condemns the allegations by Sulejman Tihic who said that the Draft Defence Law was a result of a Serbo-Croat deal with the international community. This only testifies of his political inability to reach an agreement with his coalition partners SDS and HDZ. “The NHI assesses Sulejman Tihic’s statements as an extreme way of preventing BiH from acceding to the Partnership for Peace, which the SDA supports only declaratively but is doing everything to thwart it”, the NHI press release says. |
| RS Defence Ministry will hold SDA responsible for possible failure of reform | Blic pg. 7 ‘There will be no integration into NATO without the reform’ – “The RS Defence Ministry once again showed it accepts the cooperation, because it has done everything in order to create bases for defining the draft law on defence reform. However, the SDA has stopped the process, confirming that always someone from the Federation is in charge for obstruction,” Branko Trkulja, spokesman of the RS Defence Ministry, said. He added that if because of the SDA all efforts on harmonising stands fail, the RS will request their (of SDA) responsibility, since it may happen that BiH will not be accepted to the Partnership for Peace. |
| Vecernji List on defence reform | Vecernji List (page 3, “BiH losing contact on route towards EU”, by Dejan Jazvic) – the author argues that the stall in the defence reform, which occurred after the SDA refused the DRC proposals, could compromise BiH position in talks with the EU regarding the making of the Feasibility study, which was mentioned by the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, who revealed that shutting the door to NATO’s PfP is not the only consequence of failure to accept the reforms. The daily also carries a statement by an OHR spokesman, Mario Brkic, who says that the two processes, namely joining the NATO and talks with the EU, are not in direct connection. In that context, Brkic says one cannot ignore the fact that by rejecting the defence reforms, BiH is sending a very bad signal to the EU about BiH authorities’ dedication in implementation of reforms in the country. Vecernji List (page 2, “Army to everyone’s liking”, by Dejan Jazvic) – the author notes that Sulejman Tihic was perhaps right in saying that people in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina expected more from the defence reforms, however the author stresses that Tihic and his party colleagues from the SDA are wrong in rejecting messages from the High Representative and NATO reps that the DRC’s proposals are only first steps that would take BiH to NATO. The author also says that Tihic is wrong in believing that a centralized army in BiH could be established overnight, saying that “nobody is ready to embark on such a risky anti-Dayton adventure, including Ashdown”. |
| Oslobodjenje editorial on defence reform | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘Serious drama involving unserious players’ Editorial by Antonio Prlenda – “By wrong judgments (or wishes) of the international community representatives but also of SDA, BiH has been brought at the very beginning of its accession to the Euro-Atlantic integration into a blind street, which it will hardly come out from without (negative) consequences,” Prlenda wrote. |
| Niko Lozancic on defence reform | Vecernji List (page 6, “BiH should be demilitarized”, conducted by Zoran Kresic) carries an interview with president of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Niko Lozancic. With regard to the defense reform, Lozancic says: “I am expecting from SDA and other Bosniak parties to accept the fact that other peoples also live in BiH and that the system ‘one voter-one vote’ can cannot be applied. I am expressing satisfaction over the fact that Mr. James Locher and the OHR recognized this situation and together proposed such solutions on the defense reform.” Asked to comment on the journalist’s statement that the OHR let representatives of three peoples to resolve this important issue, Lozancic says: “I am experiencing this as a new approach of the OHR towards BiH reality. This is a considerable contribution to make possible passing of crucial reforms, laws and crucial decisions within BiH institutions and this will demand additional efforts of all political factors in BiH.” |
Political developments | |
| BiH House of Representatives discusses salaries, funds intended for return
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Members of the state parliament refused to reduce increased salaries’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8, Slobodna Dalmacija page 21, “Representatives harmonized their salaries with salaries of ministers”, by D. Pasic, Dnevni List page3, “Nevertheless, representatives’ salaries increased”, by Fena, FENA – The BiH House of Representatives passed on Tuesday conclusions proposed by the Administrative Commission of this House concerning the decision on harmonising salaries of representatives with salaries of ministers, which was adopted by Administrative Commission of both Houses in April. Conclusions proposed by SDA’s Sefik Dzaferovic, who opposed the adoption of the decision on increasing salaries of representatives, did not receive the required support of representatives. Representatives also rejected the resolution proposed by SDP’s Zlatko Lagumdzija, which requested all relevant Parliament bodies and BiH institutions to cancel decisions on increasing salaries that are not covered by the Budget for 2003. Representatives adopted conclusions of the Human Rights, Immigration, Refugees and Asylum Commission concerning the BiH Annex 7 Implementation Strategy. They requested the BiH Council of Ministers to review the possibility of finding additional donor funds, taking loans, and organising specific donor conferences abroad for return, as well as redistributing funds from the BiH Budget and finding additional sources of financing. Representatives also adopted the conclusion proposed by Tihomir Gligoric calling for the establishment of a commission that would investigate into the use or possible misuse of funds provided for return so far. The House of Representatives also passed a decision declaring that this House is in permanent session. |
| Ivanic, Covic attending session of the UN General Assembly | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Ivanic to have a separate meeting with Powell’, FENA – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic will participate in the 58th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, which will be held September 21 to 26, was announced by the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) on Tuesday. During the session the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, will meet the foreign ministers of South-east and Central European countries, which are part of the world alliance for battling terrorism. Apart from Ivanic, the meeting will also be attended by the senior officials of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia and Serbia and Montenegro. Ivanic will also have a special meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State. Further, Ivanic will be addressing a forum of leaders of South-east Europe, which will be held at the Columbia University, on the subject of strengthening regional co-operation. On Thursday, September 25, the BiH diplomatic chief will be hosting a working breakfast for the foreign ministers of participating countries of the South-east Europe Co-operation Process (SEECP), which is presided by BiH. In the course of the Assembly session Ivanic will hold bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Croatia, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Lithuania, Cuba and Iran. He will also participate in the meeting of senior representatives of participating countries of the Central European Initiative (CEI), which will be hosted by the Croatian Foreign Minister, Tonino Picula. BiH delegation at the UN General Assembly is headed by the BiH Presidency Chairman, Dragan Covic. With regard to the visit of BiH delegation to the USA, Vecernji List (front page, “Americans are inviting BiH to Iraq”, and pages 4 and 5 “Americans are inviting BiH peacemakers to Iraq”, by J. Pavkovic) carries that the delegation visited the Pentagon and State Department at the beginning of this week. Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, and BiH Minister of Security, Barisa Colak, explained progress in the organization of (BiH) Army in order to include BiH in the military projects of the International Community, through sending of the BiH peace mission to Iraq. VL also says that during the visit paid to the State Department, the BiH delegation met with Lawrence G. Rossin, who is in charge of the area of Southeast Europe and Balkans, and who was especially interested in which phase the World Bank projects are, as well as, the organization of the City of Mostar. According to VL, representatives of the State Department announced their coming to BiH in order to question possibilities that BiH takes over some cases from The Hague. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Covic: I had important meeting with Bush and Schroeder’ also reported on the visit. |
| Brcko Election Law | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘The same rules as in the entire BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 – Brcko District Election Law is completely harmonized with BiH Election law, and District elections are scheduled at the same time as municipal elections in BiH, in October 2004, it was stated by the OHR office in Brcko. According to this law, same regulations on right to vote would apply in Brcko as in any other part of BiH, and mandates for District assembly will be won almost the same way as in municipalities, cantons and entities. Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Changes of the statute necessary’ – Croat representatives in Brcko district assembly addressed on Tuesday a letter to the Assembly Speaker on adopting Election law without Croat representatives. In this letter, they sharply condemn adoption of Election Law without representatives of Croat people. Deeply aware of our duties and responsibilities in Assembly work, that will in future adopt very important laws and decisions, but at the same time aware of violating final Arbitrary decision and BiH constitutions changes – we ask for changes and amendments to the Brcko District Statute with which we will fully harmonized District and BiH legislature, it was said in this letter. We will deliver our proposals in seven days and until than, we cannot take part in the work of Assembly. |
| Mostar restructuring | Dnevni List (page 9, “There will not be withdrawal for High Representative’s principles”) – the daily got a confirmation from the OHR that the inaugural session of the new Mostar Commission will be held in premises of OHR South tomorrow at 1100. The author notes one cannot expect too much from the tomorrow’s session, because it is unlikely that the Commission would tackle the essence of the Mostar issue at tomorrow’s session. Furthermore, the author says the Chairman of the Commission, Norbert Winterstein, will present his plans, and goes on to say that the members of the Commission that have been appointed so far will probably learn tomorrow whether Winterstein appointed independent experts to the Commission. In that context, the author says that apart from meeting requirement on expertise of the future (independent) members of the Commission, the representation of all constituent peoples and other will obviously come into play too. Relota concludes the article by saying that the Commission will have to work in accordance with the principles presented by the High Representative during the formation of the first Commission. On the same issue, Vecernji List (page 4, “First session of Commission for Statute on Thursday”, by Z. D.) notes if the Commission does not carry out the task it has given by the deadline, High Representative Paddy Ashdown will impose a solution and sanction the obstructionists. Dnevni List (page 9, “Conflicts within SDA will make new Commission unstable”, by Zvonimir Jukic) carries that the re-organization of the City of Mostar is not a wish of SDA or HDZ, or a hint of the International Community, but a necessity that all citizens feel safe and free in Mostar. According to the author, although announcements of the political parties’ leaders, who participate in this process, were rather encouraging probably the things will not go smoothly this time either. The author goes on to say that the conflicts within SDA are more than obvious and reminds that the SDA asked a consensus to be a way of decision-making in the new Commission and that all issues on which the agreement is not reached should remain the way they were regulated by the Dayton Peace Accord (DPA). DL says that the DPA organized Mostar as the city with 6 municipalities and through applying the consensus model in the decision-making and opposing any kind of re-organization, SDA can secure that the current organization of Mostar remains. |
Economic/social issues | |
| The Economist business conference ended
| BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Economic progress in 12-15 month’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 16, FENA – At the “Second Business Roundtable with BiH governments”, which was completed on Tuesday, more than 120 managers from international and local companies considered the achievements and the upcoming challenges for successful enterprising and investing. Representatives of the Economist, which organised this gathering, Nenad Pacek and Matthew Shinkman, said at press conference that the business community regarded as main problems the inexistence of a single economic space, dropping of economic growth, lower sales in the past 18 months and a great number of operational obstacles to business and investments. Representatives of the executive authority in BiH expressed the intent for creating of a single economic space in BiH and presented concrete steps for forming of an advantageous business environment and realising of economic growth. Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays commended the greater degree of co-operation between the state and entity governments and their dedication for implementation of economic reform. “The situation is mature for expecting significant improvements in the economic sector in the next 12 to 15 months, but this solution will not be given by the international community, but the leaders in BiH. With politicians and the citizens of this country we will force economic growth, creating of new jobs and space for creating of wealth in BiH”, emphasised Hays. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 14 – ‘Donald Hays: Banking sector in BiH is stable’- PDHR Donald Hays stated after the second round table with the BiH Governments held in Sarajevo, that the Governments expressed the intention to continue with creation of a single economic space in BiH and presented concrete steps that need to be taken in order to establish favorable business environment and increase economic growth. According to Hays, BiH must be more aggressive in creation of the atmosphere attractive for foreign investors. |
| Srebrenica: Workers of Battery Factory on strike | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 – ‘Workers threaten to burn themselves’, Glas Srpske, pg.4 – ‘Without job and without money’- the workers of the Srebrenica Battery Factory have entered a strike yesterday, dissatisfied with the redundancy payment, determined by the RS Government. The representative of the workers trade union, Dragomir Vasic said that a commission for negotiations with the RS Government was appointed. Member of the negotiation team, Novak Milosavljevic, said that the factory workers will burn themselves if their requests are not fulfilled. |
| F BiH Tax Administration on their debtors | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘Oil distributors in BiH Federation owe 78 million KM taxes to the Tax Administration’- the daily reports that the importers and distributors of oil and oil products in the BiH Federation owe some 78 million KM to the F BiH Tax Administration. The Federation Tax Administration forwarded this information to the delegates of the Federation Parliament. Chairman of the Association of importers and distributors of oil products with the F BiH Chamber of Commerce, Muhidin Alic told Nezavisne Novine that such debt was made by those importers who were protected by current and previous authorities. |
| RS Tax Administration on its debtors | Glas Srpske, cover page – ‘Debtors on the black list’ – the daily reports that the RS Tax Administration is carrying out forceful collection of taxes in more than one hundred companies. The daily carries the names of the companies that owe the biggest amounts, such as the ‘Kekerovic Company’ which owes 8,9 million KM. The RS Tax Administration told the daily that forceful collection of taxes is not a simple process. |
| FBiH Customs Administration denies audit report | Dnevni List page 3, “Statements of auditors on financial report for 2002 are not correct”, by R. Radic) carries that representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Customs Administration denied the auditors’ report which says that the FBiH Customs Administration’s purchase of uniforms and vehicles was done opposite to the legal procedure, that salaries of the employees were illegally increased by 20% etc. The representatives of the FBiH Customs Administration also stated that statements from some parts of the report more refer to the work of the FBiH Government and FBiH Ministry of Finances than to the work of the FBiH Customs Administration. Also, their spokesperson Andja Cosic denied media speculations that Head of the FBiH Customs Administration Zelimir Rebac wrote off 375 000 KM of customs to Citrus company from Bihac. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
| Nezavisne Novine Editorial on Bulldozer
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 7 – the daily carries the editorial entitled ‘Bulldozer’ by Damir Miljevic, in which the author said it is no wonder that foreign investors are avoiding BiH as there is no healthy business environment in the country. Speaking about yesterday’s conference on BiH’s business perspective held in Sarajevo, Miljevic repeats words of some participants that it is impossible to have successful business in BiH if you respect all necessary legal provisions. The author says that, after the completition of the phase 1 of the Bulldozer project, the sponsors of the project turned the blind eye to the requests to correct mistakes from the first round. The second phase of Bulldozer begun with pathetic attention from media but – all businessmen got involved. Enormous energy was invested in the project, tons of paper used to finalise proposals and actually hundreds of proposals were received. However, all of that went down the drain at the meeting of the central Bulldozer commission in Sarajevo. Miljevic concludes: ‘I am amazed with the courage of the leading officials of OHR to teach us lessons and make a farce from our serious attempts to do something for this country. Last Friday, Donald Hays, in the same column in Nezavisne Novine sent a message to the public that we should get rid of nonsense. I agree with him – it is about time that we get rid of nonsense such as the Bulldozer commission and open the dialogue between businessmen and authorities by ourselves. Without mediators this time.’ |
| Banja Luka Pensioners: We will block the Govt | Blic pg. 7 ‘Give parliament a chance’ – The pensioners of Banja Luka are dissatisfied with their status and the fact that the announced increase of pensions by six percent was not realised – Nenad Ratkovic, the President of the Banja Luka Pensioner Association, said on Tuesday. He announced that the pensioners would undertake radical measures for the purpose of realising their requests, such as blockade of the RS Government’s work. |
| BiH delegation at annual meeting of IMF and World Bank | Dnevni List (page 21, “BiH achieved considerable results”, by D.L.) carries that the BiH delegation led by chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic is attending an annual meeting of the International Fund and World Bank that is taking place in Dubai. DL says that Terzic stressed in his speech that BiH has passed a long way towards economic sustainability and it received the assistance from the international programme on this way. Terzic added: “Our wish is to reduce the influence of the International Community in the coming period and to take over completely the process of decision-making on all issues that refer to the future of our country.” |
| DL says there is less hope for Mostar to get WB’s funds | Dnevni List (page 16, “Time is getting short, and city principals are staying silent”, by V. Soldo) – an article dedicated to the issue of establishment of common public utility company in Mostar and the World Bank’s money allocated for the purpose. DL notes that the deadline for the establishment (September 30) is approaching and says if Mostar fails to meet the World Bank’s deadlines, then the money, some 7 million US$, will end up in Bijeljina. The daily also carries the President of HDZ Caucus in Mostar City Council, Jadranko Lovric, as stressing that the deadline is approaching whilst the City Administration and the City principals are staying silent. Lovric notes there is not enough co-ordination within the City Administration which is the carrier of the project. |
| DL: “CRA must act within Law on Telecommunications” | Dnevni List (front and page 7, by M. Rasic) carries that the OHR and the International Community established CRA as an objective and politically independent regulatory agency. DL goes on to say that as such CRA should respect BiH laws, however, CRA does not do it when the issue of the third GSM license and Eronet is in question. DL explains that Law on Telecommunications says that CRA has to act within two months after the issuing of a license has been demanded and reminds that Eronet asked for the license on January 7, 2003, however, CRA did not do anything to meet its legal obligation. DL says that apart from CRA, the BiH Council of Ministers is also responsible, because they also did not meet their obligations. According to DL, the only thing that could justify CRA is that HT Mostar also demands the license. The article also says that the OHR and IC keep talking about importance of establishment of rule of law, however, CRA can obviously ignore the law and it undermines its credibility in this way. |
Education | |
| HNC teachers still on strike
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Students rejected to come to schools’ – After HNC Education Minister Jago Mursa called on calling off the strike and return of students to the schools, leaders of HNC Trade Unions of primary and high schools (that works under Croat curricula) rejected on Tuesday one-sided break of strike until their demands are fulfilled. Unions’ representatives called on HNC government to continue with negotiations. President of the HNC Primary Schools Teachers Trade Unions, Slavko Laus, denied the allegations that all employees had received July salary, adding that between 60% and 70 % of schools had not received it. Contributions for health insurance have not been paid for April, May and June. President of the HNC Trade Unions of Secondary, Josip Milic, announced that the Trade Unions would file charges in a few next days against the Government due to its having breached the Collective Agreement which was signed 8 September, as well as the Law on Strike, which provides for that a strike shall be called off by consent. A protest rally is scheduled to be held on Friday at 10:00 hrs in front of the building of the Cantonal Government.HNC Education Minister Jago Musa stated that number of schools and students responded to his call to return to schools and that some schools partly or completely organized teaching. Vecernji List (front page, “Instead in classes, students in shadow”, and page 5, “Teachers sue Government, students on streets”, by O. Cvitkovic), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, “Students came and went back home”, by D. Juka), Dnevni List (page 15, “Protests in front of HNC Government on Friday”, by S. Bjelica), Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 – ’13 000 pupils suffer because of the conflict between Government and Syndicate’also covered the issue. Dnevni List (page 15, “Musa: I am ready to go to prison because of Article 91”, by S. Bjelica) carries that HNC minister of education Jago Musa stated: “I keep calling on children to come to schools and perhaps I am violating Article 91 of the branch agreement, however, I am ready to go to prison because of it.” |
| Croats from Bugojno want to preserve First elementary school | Slobodna Dalmacija (page 16, “Do not abolish Croat school”, by Frano Mioc) – Croats from Bugojno oppose the abolition of the legal entity of First elementary school in this town, the school which uses the Croat curriculum and which is attended by some 450 pupils. Apart from the local municipal board of HDZ, the resistance to abolishment was expressed by parents and teachers, as well by some 2000 Croats in a referendum organized last weekend. A statement signed by the Parents’ and Teachers’ Council says the First elementary school in Bugojno was the engine that moved the process of return of Bugojno Croats and now the OHR and OSCE, under a disguise of administrative unification, want to abolish the school. The PR adds if the school were to be abolished, not only would the return process be hampered, it would also open doors to new emigration of the Croats from the Bugojno area. |
Security affairs/ incidents | |
| RS policemen were apprehending Bosniaks in Prijedor’
| Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 5 ‘RS policemen were apprehending Bosniaks in Prijedor’ – According to the newspaper, just as 11 years ago, the RS police officers were apprehending Bosniaks in Prijedor on Tuesday. The action was taken in order to stop distribution of then leaflets with, as the police said, inappropriate content. The leaflets actually read that a total of 3,227 Bosniaks and Croats including 122 children were killed in the town during the war which are, according to the newspaper, just a pure truth. |
| Situation in Bocinja | Dnevni List (page 10, “Serbs are being forced to convert to Islam”, not signed) carries that spokesperson of the mujahedeen community in Bocinja near Maglaj Enef Islamovic sent a message to members of 114 families of Serb returnees to convert to Islam if they want to live in peace in Bocinja. DL says that the Serb returnees judge this act as a culmination of religious and political exclusiveness and as an effort to expel Serbs from this area again. |