OHR BiH Media Round-up, 25/3/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Good Friday is being marked

Mine accident

Ashdown versus Colak (DA)

Easter greetings

RS PM on war crimes against Serbs

US Ambassador warns RS (NN)

World news

BiH Statistics Agency report

Weather forecast

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

BIH HoR in session

HR’s report to UN Security Council

BiH HoR discussed FTA’s suspension

Colak before UN Security Council

Gregorian on defence reform

BiH lawsuit against SCG

Donald Hays on BIH situation

BiH HoR in session

WCC presented in Banjaluka

Slobodnik comments situation in BIH

Issue of lawsuit against SCG

NHO on Covic’s statement

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS(19,30 hrs)

Situation in Gornji Vakuf Uskoplje

Investigation in RS Elektroprivreda

Ashdown’s report on BIH

BiH ombudsmen institutions

Donald Hays ’ statement

Donald Hays on BIH situation

The free trade agreement

BiH HoR discussed FTA’s suspension

BIH HoR in session

Terzic on HR’s decision on property

BiH lawsuit against SCG

Tax evasion case in Bijeljina

Oslobodjenje

Ratko Mladic’s bank account frozen

Dnevni Avaz

Colak abused his address to the Security Council

Dnevni List

Covic will be removed

Vecernji List

Conflict between Colak and Ashdown

Slobodna Dalmacija

Companionship of Jelavic and Bishop Peric dangerous for society!

Glas Srpske

Brcko: Dogs assault people

Nezavisne Novine

RS authorities must implement defence reform

Blic

Refinery waiting for partner

Vecernje Novosti

Sreten Lukic: First operation, then Hague!

Belgrade’s Nacional

Serbian tycoons give “awards” to Hague indictees

Dani

Cover features no headline, but a caricature of crucified Dragan Covic

Slobodna Bosna

The top secret of ustasha emigration

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Bukejlovic: genocide was committed against Serbs

BH Radio 1, RS Radio – RS Prime Minister, Pero Bukejlovic,stated that both the RS Government and the NGOs are committed to proving that the genocide was committed against the Serbs noting that there are efforts to minimize this issue. Opening the conference “Through Truth to Justice” being held on Pale, Bukejlovic stated that “perhaps” bigger genocide was committed against people in Sarajevo than in Srebrenica as everything happened under the patronage of the authorities. He added that the aim of the conference was to find an answer of suffering of Serbs, especially in Sarajevo , during the war in BiH.

RS Radio – Darko Matijasevic, RS Interior Minister, stressed that MoI was compiling documentation on all the crimes committed in F BiH, adding that the goal of the conference is to reach truth and justice. He said: “There are no good or bad people who committed crimes – instead, they are all war criminals.”

BiH Statistics Agency presents foreign trade exchange report

BH Radio 1 Lejla Suzanj – BiH Statistics Agency today presented the report on the BiH’s foreign trade exchange, noting that the highest import of goods to BiH in February this year was from Croatia while the BiH’s goods were mostly imported to the EU countries.

Political developments/reforms

Ashdown harshly criticizes Colak for abusing his address before UNSC to defend Covic

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Colak abused his address at the Security Council’ by S. Numanovic – DA brings that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown and BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, are in conflict over Colak’s speech before the UN Security Council. Article says that talking on behalf of BiH, Colak harshly criticized the work of foreign judges and prosecutors, which recently raised the indictment against Dragan Covic. “BiH has finally started to receive respect in the international circles. When a state minister come to address the biggest body in the world, the Security Council, than s/he is expected to deal with the issues regarding the BiH, and not issues of one political party or perhaps just one people,” Ashdown stated for DA. HR stressed that the UN SC members also share his opinion that Colak has damaged BiH reputation abusing his address before the Security Council. Ashdown also minds that Colak has never raised the issue of foreign judges and prosecutors in the CoM before New York speech. Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Paddy Ashdown and Barisa Colak quarrelled’ by M. Cubro also covered the issue.

Colak denies he defended Covic before UNSC

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I did not defend Covic in the UN’ by F. Vele – The BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, stated for DA that his speech delivered before the UN Security Council was not directed at protecting Dragan Covic, as claimed by the HR Paddy Ashdown. “I warned on certain things for which I believe should be changed on BiH’s path to European Union,” said Colak. He adds that regarding the issue of foreign judges and prosecutors he underlined the need for all of them to respect the European Convention on Human Rights. “If I wanted to defend Covic, I would do that publicly, and not before gathering like this. I talked in the benefit of entire community. In New York, I talked on behalf entire Council of Ministers,” concluded Colak.  

Terzic without a comment to Colak’s speech

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Terzic: I did not see speech’ by S.N. – The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, stated for DA that he has not read the speech delivered by Barisa Colak before the UN Security Council and thus cannot comment on dispute between the Security Minister and the High Representative. Asked why Colak was in New York instead of him, Terzic explains that a year ago he addressed the UN SC, six months ago this was done by Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and this time it was decided for Colak to carry out this duty in capacity of Deputy Chair of the CoM.

VL on conflict between Ashdown and Colak

Vecernji List cover pg splash and pgs 2 and 3 ‘Conflict between Colak and Ashdown’ by Z. Kresic carries on the same issue that the HR caused a real diplomatic scandal when obviously upset and contrary to the regular procedure he returned at the speaker’s platform and responded to Colak’s statements. VL also says that the HR was irritated the most by defeating information which says that 10 000 Croats left the RS since 1999 and according to the article the HR’s reaction could be interpreted only as a diplomatic mission called ‘Rescuing of the RS’. VL concludes that, probably, this conflict will be useful since someone of BiH officials referred to the fact that the International Community sends false information on the situation in BiH quite frequently. VL inset under headline ‘He finally put his foot down’ says that Colak’s colleagues from HDZ believe that Colak is a politician without an attitude and this move before the UN security Council might be mean that Colak finally realized that HDZ lost authority in the eyes of the Croat people and the IC. Another VL inset under headline ‘Although diplomat he does not accept criticism’ carries that by his constant threats the HR turned radical HDZ into a cooperative and moderate party. According to VL, the aforementioned conflict is just an introduction to a harsher conflict with HDZ that the HR avoided because of mortgage about his lack of inclination for Croats. The author says: ‘If the HR decides to remove Covic, he will open a frontline on which there would be more losers.’   

Financial Times: Paravac supports Covic

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Covic enjoys Paravac’’s support’, FENA – The Financial Times on Thursday reports on the refusal of the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, to step down despite the upcoming beginning of trial on March 30, at which he will face corruption charges. Reporting that in resisting the international pressures, Covic enjoys the support of his Serb colleague Borislav Paravac, the newspaper states that this case indicates new weaknesses of the political system in BiH, following the crisis that began with the mass resignations of RS officials in December.

DL: HR to remove Covic

Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Covic will be removed’ and pgs 2 and 3 ‘Ashdown removes Covic?’ by Z. Jukic carries that DL sources, who are better familiar with the talks that High Representative Paddy Ashdown has in Washington, claim that upon his return from the USA the HR will pass the decision on removal of Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic. DL also says that according to many analysts the reasons as to why the story about Covic’s removal has lasted so long are his good relations with the HR.  DL sources confirmed that, only thanks to the HR’s lobbying, Covic was given time to submit resignation and extends his political life within HDZ in this way. DL says that in case that he was removed it would mean his definitive departure from the political scene.

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Covic should tender resignation’ by VoA – In a statement to BiH Editorial Office of Voice of America, Paddy Ashdown, HR to BiH, said that international community is unified in the stance that Dragan Covic should tender resignation and defend before the court as a private person.

Vjesnik: HR to remove Covic/ Croat cadre to cause crisis

Vjesnik pg 2 ‘HDZ BiH will cause authority crisis?’ by A. Zornija carries an editorial, which says that according to diplomatic circles in Sarajevo High Representative Paddy Ashdown will remove Dragan Covic next week. Vjesnik says that many people within HDZ believe that after Covic’s removal relations with the International Community should strain, that is, Croat cadres should withdraw from joint institutions and thus cause the authority crisis.

Feral’s Lovrenovic comments on Covic case

Feral pgs 11 and 12 ‘Covic case’ by I. Lovrenovic carries an editorial on the indictment against Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic and, among the other things, the author says: ‘Significant sign of ‘failed expectations’ is the very fact that ‘the Covic case’ was not the topic of the BiH Bishops’ Conference at all. The Bishops used to talk about it individually replying to journalists’ questions, however, it can always be qualified as a personal opinion. However, the things they said were not too strong. Only Cardinal Vinko Puljic used one clumsy and tragically wrong parallel, asking from the International Community to behave in a principled manner in this case and treats Covic as Sivio Berlusconi was treated.’  

Dani op-ed say parties support Covic fearing examination of their own deeds

Dani ‘P[l]acenik’ [title is a play of words ‘mercenary/’sufferer’] op-ed by Senad Pecanin – The editorial refers to the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court not to suspend Mato Tadic and stance of the ruling political parties to ‘respect’ the HDZ stand on Dragan Covic; it reads that such “support” is a result of concern “for their own Covics that each of these parties – enjoying the years of misuses of their positions… – multiplied in their own circles… The logic is clear” giving up on justice Tadic would mean accepting to start examining their own deeds.”  

Dani says HDZ ‘breaks downs’ over Covic, Mostar City Board election

Dani pgs 20-22 by Snjezana Mulic – The article reads that on a day of sessions of HDZ Presidency and HDZ Mostar Board, 21 March, the party was “breaking down into pieces” adding that despite the fact Dragan Covic stated that the party supported him, he “also broke apart.” Author notes that the most evident example of the rift inside the HDZ is Mostar, where the party broke into two fractions – one lead by Covic and another lead by former Mostar Mayor, Ivica Prskalo. Apparently, scheduling both session the same day was intended at achieving two goals at once – providing support for Covic and electing HDZ Mostar Board members loyal to him. However, Dani say that party had problems even gathering the voters to attend the session, and that Covic’s followers had to pressure them “threatening they will lose jobs”. Apparently, the police was securing the building where sessions took place. On the Presidency’s session, Dani note that at the occasion HDZ only “acted as untied” party supporting Covic, while it is indicative that Presidency members left the building immediately after the session giving no statements for journalists. Covic, says article, was isolated in the building during only 20 minutes long press conference held by Barisa Colak and Niko Lozancic. 

Dani, Slobodna Bosna on BiH CC’s decision not to suspend Tadic

Dani pgs 24-27 ‘Like President, like judges’ by Dzenana Karup-Drusko – On the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court not to suspend its Chair, Mato Tadic, Dani says that the justices of the court “showed they are above the other laws in BiH” criticizing their rule of conduct according to which a judge can be removed in case of a verdict sentencing him/her to prison. Calling this decision of the Court “scandalous”, magazine further claims Tadic is a subject of several other accusations, beside the Lijanovici case, that he is close to HDZ, and that presents in detail allegations according to which Tadic is partly responsible in a case when FBiH lost the case against two companies from Capljina and Ljubuski with resulted also with the loss of 6 million KM. Slobodna Bosna pgs 20-22 ‘Ashdown defeated before the Constitutional Court’ – On the same CC’s decision, SB notes that the judges brought it in accordance with its rule of conduct. SB speculate that the decision was a result of the OHR’s intention to interfere in the judiciary by pressuring judges to suspend Tadic. 

Ester message by Herzegovinian Provincial Soldo: Easter specially symbolic to those being persecuted on ground of false testimonies

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 12, mentioned on cover ‘Staged processes will bring about Easter’ by M. Sivric carries an Ester message of Herzegovinian Provincial Father Slavko Soldo who, among the other things, says: ‘Easter is especially symbolic holiday to brothers and sisters who are suffering: to innocent ones who are detained. To those who are persecuted and humiliated on ground of false testimonies and hypocrisy.’

HNZ President on Covic: Issue of resignation is personal matter

Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Issue of resignation is personal matter’ not signed carries HNZ President Milenko Brkic as saying that the issue of resignation is a personal matter of Dragan Covic.

HSS President: Covic has right to decide by his own

Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Covic has right on his decision’ not signed carries HSS President Marko Tadic as saying that it is legitimate right of Dragan Covic to decide whether he would submit resignation or not.

NN op-ed critical of Covic

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘We are lost without Dragan’ by Slavo Kukic – The author writes about indictment against Dragan Covic, noting that OHR leaves no space for hope it may have mercy on Covic. He is sarcastically stressing that Covic should not transfer the responsibility for his deeds onto the entire Croat people. He does not dispute Covic’s right to prove his innocence, but instead only his will to interfere the entire people in affair. He calls on him to leave the people alone, because they have enough trouble without him.

Ashdown on his visit to US: ‘There is a reason for sustained optimism re: RS coop. w/ ICTY

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Colak abused his address at the Security Council’ by S. Numanovic – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown on Thursday completed his visit to the United Stated, and will return to Sarajevo today. Ashdown met with a number of officials in the UN, World Bank, IMF and US Administration. Addressing the UN Security Council, Ashdown talked about the progress in implementing reforms on the path to EU. He also stressed there are two main obstacles: cooperation with the ICTY and police reform. “When it comes to cooperation RS has with ICTY, we have a reason for sustained optimism,” commented Ashdown. He also met with the Pierre Prosper, US Ambassador-at-large for war crimes to discuss this issue. As for the meetings with WB and IMF, Ashdown noted that FBiH Government also jeopardizes BiH future through its refusal to respect the agreement it reached with these institutions regarding the issue of benefits for veterans by refusing the decrease their coefficient.  

Ashdown commended progress RS achieved in cooperation with the Hague

Pink, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Paddy Ashdown commended progress RS achieved in cooperation with the Hague’ – Paddy Ashdown, High Representative to BiH, in his address to UN SC commended the latest progress RS has achieved in cooperation with the ICTY, warning that solely the full cooperation can open the BiH road to EU and NATO, OHR Spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic told journalists in Banja Luka on Thursday.

BiH Security Minister Colak addresses UN Security Council: Bosnia ready to fulfill all international obligations

RHB, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘We want BiH without the High Representative’, Dnevni List pg 4 ’38 new laws have been passed’ by NINA, SRNA – BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak has said in New York that BiH is ready to invest further efforts in fulfilling the remaining obligations needed for the start of negotiations on the EU and Stabilization and Association Agreement. Addressing the UN Security Council, Colak said that he expected the European Commission to conclude in May that BiH had made significant progress, thus receiving a positive recommendation for the start of negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the BiH Council of Ministers said in a statement. “We are prepared to invest further efforts to be able to fulfil all of our international obligations, and I would emphasize in any case fulfilling our obligations to the Hague tribunal,” Colak stressed and added that since the establishment of a war crimes departments within the BiH Court and Bih Prosecutor’s Office the judicial bodies in the country are ready to try war criminals. Colak pointed out that significant moves in transferring war crimes suspects to The Hague had been made recently. He said that BiH was in the final stages of completing the recommendations for the Feasibility Study, stressing in particular the progress made in legislation, bearing in mind that 38 new laws had come into force. The security minister said that significant progress had been made in reforming the financial, customs and tax system, as well as the defence and security system, and in the area of the rule of law and border control. “A state commission for combating crime has been formed, while the number of illegal immigrants has been significantly reduced,” Colak said. According to him, efforts have currently been made to reach consensus in BiH in order to fulfil one the most important conditions of the Feasibility Study, creating a legal framework and a single, modern and efficient police force which is in BiH’s interest and Europe as a whole. Colak said that successes had been registered in the return process of refugees and displaced persons and in handing back property, pointing out that to date about one million out of 2.2m refugees and displaced persons had returned, while 250,000 still wished to return. “We are particularly concerned by the fact that an exodus has been registered in some parts of BiH during the last five years. Just in the Banja Luka diocese about 10,000 Croats have left since 1999 and there are areas with a very small level of return,” Colak said. Colak expressed his opinion that by signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with EU BiH would enter a new phase in its development in which the High Representative’s Bonn’s powers would not be needed any more.

PDHR Hays: Ten years after Dayton there is only the façade of a Bosnian state

RHB, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘There is only the façade of a Bosnian state’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Hays: OHR without real partner in BiH’ by NINA,Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They do not know what they are doing’, VOA – The U.S. Institute of Peace, funded by the U.S. government to promote conflict resolution, has delivered a mixed report on progress in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The outgoing Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, has delivered a gloomy assessment of BiH’s progress on its march toward statehood. He said 10 years after the Dayton peace accord ended the Bosnian war there is only the façade of a Bosnian state. There is no constitution and the population remains divided among three quarrelling groups, Croats, Muslims and Serbs. The educational system in particular, he says, is a failure. “Education is the fundamental problem in Bosnia. The schools are separated. They are teaching separation in the schools. They are teaching cultural separation and linguistic separation. And therefore they are not building a state concept,” said Hays. “The three religions are doing the same. The three ethnic parties are doing the same. So basically you have three groups of people all through the culture that are pushing people apart not bringing them together.” On the economy, Hays says BiH is ten years behind the rest of Europe in economic reform. One of the reasons for this, he says, is that most Bosnians remain as apathetic as they were during communism and do not demand accountability from their politicians.

NN interview with US Ambassador to BiH: RS authorities must implement defence reform

Nezavisne Novine pgs 4-5 , cover pg splash ‘RS authorities must implement defence reform’ by Dragan Jerinic – In interview to NN, Douglas McElchany, US Ambassador to BiH, expresses his confusion and concern over last week’s developments at RS NA, adding: “Unfortunately, the regression of defence reform process has taken place, which I find surprising, weird and concerning. We find those events at RS NA unacceptable.” He adds that armed force in BiH need to go through the process of professionalisation, since NATO no longer has large land forces.  He further notes that US Government adheres to its policy and three priorities: cooperation with the ICTY, defence reform and police reform. According to him, police reform is a priority for BiH admission to EU.

DA says Kesic will not be issued credentials in Zagreb

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Zagreb doesn’t want Ivanic’s candidate Branko Kesic?’ by E. Sarac – DA brings that unless the official Zagreb issues credentials for Branko Kesic, a candidate for BiH Ambassador to Croatia, BiH diplomacy will go through “second embarrassment” for the BiH diplomacy under Mladen Ivanic. Sources in BiH Presidency told Avaz that judging from the fact that it has been three months since the official request for credentials was forwarded to Zagreb, Kesic would not receive necessary approval. In that case, current Ambassador in Croatia, Zlatko Dizdarevic, will stay in the country for next 15 days. The Spokeswoman for Foreign Ministry, Lepa Babic, says Kesic was appointment Amabssador-at-large in the Ministry. She adds that Ministry believes that current political situation in Croatia – i.e. elections and activities around beginning of negotiations for joining EU – influenced delays in issuing credentials for Kesic.  

NN: Reactions to IFIMES criticism against Ashdown

Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘OHR: Reforms, not party programmes, in focus’ by V. Popovic – The article carries several comments on IFIMES assessment that HR Paddy Ashdown has stricken the greatest blow to development of democracy in BiH. Ljiljana Radetic, Regional OHR Spokesperson, stated that OHR focus is on reforms, not party programmes. Robert Boucher, Dutch Ambassador to BiH, disagrees with IFIMES assessment that Ashdown supports destructive political forces in BiH, adding that the political environment is determined by the will of voters, not HR. SDS rejects IFIMES accusations it is obstructing reforms, claiming it has instead contributed pro-European reforms and bringing BiH closer to EU. Sefket Hafizovic, SDA Main Board member, is of the view that “HR has not associated with nationalistic parties”. Petar Djokic, President of RS Socialist Party, says that “Ashdown obtained support of some pro-democratic parties serving nationalistic parties.”

American Professor: Peoples of BiH should determine their future at referendum

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Peoples to decide’ by N. Diklic – The Professor with the US University for National Defence, Political sciences’ department, Stephen Mayer, has told GS that the Dayton Peace Agreement has created an artificial state, which does not meet the interests of the peoples in BiH. He notes that it is now hard for USA and other western states to give up on it. He expresses belief that the political leaders of BiH would agree Dayton is useless and should be rejected. He has also said: “Referendum should be organised amongst each people and let them decide about theyir future. If Serbs and Croats want to secede from BiH, which should be their full right, they must be let to do so. The Bosniak state could later on be formed with international guarantees.” On HR, he says: “Ten years passed since war had ended, and HR is still the one making the most important decisions in BiH. This proves BiH with three peoples and two federal units was a big mistake.”

Dani interview with BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic: ‘I accept changes, but not centralization’

Dani pgs 12-15 ‘BiH is my country’ by Senad Pecanin – In an interview to Dani, BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, says he believes that BiH institutions have qualified enough for independent ruling of the country, thus HR’s powers should be reduced. Asked about the Constitution, Ivanic says that it is clear that some changes would have to be made noting he is supportive of this would, however “lobbying for new constitution without RS is unacceptable.” “I care about BiH’s further progress, I live here, this is my country, but I am not going to accept the thesis that it should be centralized… And I will never accept [BiH] without entities,” said Ivanic.  On police reforms, Ivanic stresses he supports reforms, but not proposed maps: “Nowhere you can find decentralized state with police organized in different manner… It seems to me that the goal is to differently organize police, then judiciary, and then the state… Well, I am against that.”   

War crimes/cooperation with ICTY

Special War Crimes Court in Belgrade freezes accounts of Ratko Mladic, other war crime indictees

RHB, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 7‘Ratko Mladic’s bank account frozen’, FENA – The Investigative Judge of the Special Court for War Crimes in Belgrade on Thursday has ordered banks and the other financial organizations to temporary freeze financial transactions from the accounts of those indicted war criminals, which are still unavailable to the courts. The accounts of 13 indicted persons whose transfer is requested by the ICTY from Serbia have been frozen, it was announced by the Special Court for War Crimes. In the meantime, the Serbia-Montenegro (SCG) National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal has launched the procedure for passing a law on freezing the assets of indictees, who are still at large. The list of 13 persons includes the former president of the so-called republic Serb Krajina, Goran Hadzic, RS Army general Zdravko Tolimir and the former RS Army commander, Ratko Mladic.  The list also includes the three police and military generals: Sreten Lukic, Nebojsa Pavkovic and Vlastimir Djordjevic.

A public debate on BiH lawsuit against SCG for aggression and genocide opened in Sarajevo

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘US, Britain, France and Holland against linking SCG-NATO case with BiH’s lawsuit’ Az. Kalamujic, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Softic said that the entire BiH is behind lawsuit’ by A. Sisic – A public debate on the occasion of 12^th anniversary since lawsuit against the former Yugoslavia had been filed was opened in Sarajevo on Thursday. BiH legal representative in the case Sakib Softic claims that all BiH citizens are supporting the indictment, and that there are no greater difficulties regarding realization of it. Softic said that her hoped that, during discussion before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, appointed for February 27, it was going to be proved that SCG had committed genocide in BiH. SCG attorneys have once against started the issue of what was the ICJ in charge of. They asked for a discussion to be held regarding the issue. Softic said that the request of SCG attorney was senseless, since the ICJ had twice declared that it was in charge of the case.

WCC presented in Banja Luka

Pink, BHT, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH Court, Prosecution will process the most difficult war crime cases’, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Law on protection of witness’ identity is being implemented with difficulties’ by I. Rozic, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH Prosecutor’s Office needs evidence on war crimes’ by N. Moraca, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Fear from politics’ by G. Klepic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Little Hague in Sarajevo’ by M. Soja – According to the Chief of Special Department for war crimes within BiH Prosecution, Vaso Marinkovic, BiH Court and Prosecution are going to process only the most difficult war crime cases, while district and Cantonal prosecutions are going to be in charge of other cases. There are 10.000 persons whose names are being brought into connection with war crimes in BiH. “We should not compare the BiH Court with the ICTY, which was and is an ad hoc court; these are constant BiH institutions which are going to function as long as necessary”, said Refik Hodzic. PoW Association welcomes work of BiH Court, since any activity directed towards punishing those who committed war crimes is welcomed. Vice Chair of the RS PoW Association Slavko Jovicic warned that the BiH Court should not copy the work of the ICTY, since it had numerous failures. 

NN op-ed comments on RS Govt. campaign “Them or us”: Who will go to The Hague?

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Who will go to The Hague?’ by Almedin Sisic – The author refers to the RS Government campaign “Either they go to the Hague or we go to the Hell”, presenting necessity for surrender of war crime suspects. The author notes it was high time RS authorities realised the level of necessity to cooperate with the ICTY. He refers to the latter part of the slogan, raising the question as to whom it relates – the entire state or just RS authorities, who have managed to remain on power for ten years.

Economic/social issues

BiH HoR discusses suspension of certain FTAs’ provisions

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Selective protection of import lobbies’, Dnevni Avaz pg 13, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘BiH’s relations with SCiG have not been aggravated’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘3-month test of strictness towards neighbours’ by D. Jazvic – BiH Parliament Assembly House of Representatives on Thursday adopted the BiH Council of Ministers’ information on suspension of certain provisions of the free trade agreements with Croatia and SCG, and asked for the information on the implementation of the measures to be presented within next 30 days. The Chair of the BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic said that measures on suspension were brought in order to protect domestic agricultural production. Terzic added that he expected that the annex to the agreements with Croatia and SCG to be signed. The HoR has also adopted conclusion that the HoR should be presented with analysis of effects which implementation of amendments to law on custom rates had caused. The HoR asks the BiH CoM to, within 2 months, prepare information on trade deficit, together with programme of urgent measures by which it would be decreased.

FBiH Govt to discuss new draft law on privatization review in April

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘FBiH Government will discuss the privatization revision at beginning of April’ by M.K. – The FBiH Government should discuss the new working version of the law on privatization revision at the beginning of April. According to FBiH Industry, Mining and Energy Minister, Izet Zigic, this version, drafted after the FBiH House of Peoples rejected to adopt the original version of the draft law, is currently being assessed by the BiH Trade Unions, FBiH ministers of finances, transports, communications, agriculture and the officials of the Privatization Agency.

Chair of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic finds HR’s decision to ban usage over state property bad

TV Hayat Denis Zaimovic – Recently, the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown decided to temporary ban usage over state property. The Chair of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic says that the decision brings no use/benefits, but causes new problems. “All available military premises are destroyed, and the state has no possibility or money to reconstruct it, and that is why they should be sold”, said Terzic. The OHR asked BiH CoM to react immediately, in order for the Commission in charge of state property to become operative. Terzic said that the Commission still had not started its work, due to the fact that RS Government still had not proposed the two its members. BiH CoM is about to discuss on the way in which means, received by selling part of Marsal barracks, are going to be spent. Terzic said that the means should be returned to the Canton. Terzic said that if Sarajevo Canton decided to allocate the means to the University in order for Student Campus to be constructed, BiH CoM would have nothing against it. Terzic also mentioned Jajce barracks, which Arabian investors should buy, but due to the HR’s decision, it was impossible to happen. Terzic said that FBiH Government and FBiH Ministry of Defence should act immediately, since he believes that now it is too late,

B. Brod Oil Refinery staff announce protest

EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Refinery waiting for partner’ and RSpg 3 ’30 days deadline to Government’ by Tijana Veselinovic – Slavko Vidic, President of the Syndicate of Bosanski Bord Refinery, has stated that if RS Government failed to fulfil its promise and failed to provide conditions for continuous production process at Refinery in a month time, the staff would organise protests. He claims that RS Government can identify strategic partner, if it really wanted to do so.

Legal proceedings

SD carries parts of McNair demand for extension of detention for Jelavic

Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 7 ‘Companionship of Jelavic and Bishop Peric dangerous for society!’ by Z. Tulic quotes prosecutor John McNair in his demand for extension of detention for former HZD President Ante Jelavic for the Croat self-rule case and, among the other things, the demand says that Jelavic should remain in detention because his friendship with nationalist Mostar Bishop Ratko Peric is dangerous for the society.  

BiH Court could not confirm that Mattson left BiH Court/Muselimovic: We have evidence that denies indictment against Covic

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Mattson against indictment’ by T. Kvesic – With regard to the information that due to his disagreement with the indictment for the Lijanovic case judge Mat Mattson left his job in the BiH Court, spokesperson of the BiH Court Edita Pejovic stated: ‘It is true that Mr. Mattson is not here at the moment, however, we do not have information that he left his duty in BiH.’ VL also carries Dragan Covic’s lawyer Josip Muselimovic as saying that Covic’s defence has come in possession of the evidence that completely denies claims from the indictment.

Lijanovici lawyers to lodge complaint on indictment

Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Defence lodges complaint and waits for release’ by ra carries that a team of lawyers of brothers Lijanovici will lodge a complaint on the indictment for the Lijanovic case on March 30, when entering of pleas for this case has been scheduled. According to lawyer Nada Dalipagic the complaint will be lodged because of formal shortcomings of the indictment and disputing legality of the evidence. Also, according to Dalipagic, the team of lawyers will present the defence’ evidence.

SD comments on Lijanovici case

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 12 ‘Statistics does not lie’ by D. Marijanovic carries an editorial which says that regardless of what prosecutors say regarding the Lijanovici case it is not coincidence that in this case indictments were issued against leading Coats officials, businismen and intellectuals.

Ratel: British authorities investigating EFT business dealings

Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Indictments against several persons and firms announced’ by A. Sisic – Jonathan Ratel, Prosecutor with the BiH Prosecutor’s Office (PO), confirmed to NN that the Serious Fraud Unit of British Government has involved in the investigation on the business dealings of “RS Elektroprivreda” and the British Firm “EFT”, which the Special Department with BiH PO is conducting. Ratel explained: “They run their own investigation after they inspected the premises of the EFT in London and confiscated some documents on business dealings of EFT, which is the subject of our investigation. They did so acting upon our demand for mutual legal aid.”. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 also covered the issue.

SB speculates on charges against Dokic

Slobodna Bosna pgs 18-19 ‘Judicial nightmare of BiH minister, Branko Dokic’ by Suzana Mijatovic – SB claims that the indictment brought against Branko Dokic, BiH Transport and Communications Minister, by the Banja Luka District Prosecution was based on anonymous report on his alleged misconduct when he was RS Transport Minister. According to the source from Prosecution, Dokic was reported to allegedly illegally collecting cash from truck owners in RS for their transport licences. Apparently, they mad these payments in cash in the Ministry, and “while RS truck drivers received a confirmation of paying every licence, those means were never directed to the entity’s budget, but Minister Dokic, reads the report, shared it with his associates.” Investigation was also further broadened focusing at allegations that Dokic, together with Mirko Pavic, damaged RS budget for 200.000 KM and in the state Ministry for over 700.000 KM.