Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 25 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| BiH CoM on | CoM discuss Comm. establishment |
| Serb MPs expect Terzic’s resignation | Spiric invites IC to mediate |
| Paravac calls on Terzic’s removal | 11th anniversary of ‘Kapija’ crime |
TV news broadcast on 24 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Vandalism in Stolac | World News | RS representatives boycott BiH HoR |
| SIPA action near Zenica | RS reps leave session of BiH HoR | Presidency to discuss Terzic’s removal |
| Offensive graffiti in | HR addresses BiH Parliament | HR addresses BiH Parliament |
| HR addresses BIH Parliament | Naturalised citizen arrested | GROZD presents its platform in SA |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| World news | SIPA operation in Zenica, Zavidovici | RS reps leave session of BiH HoR |
| SIPA action in Zenica | HR addresses BiH Parliament | Serbs want to leave FBiH? |
| Offensive graffiti in | RS representatives boycott BiH HoR | HR addresses BiH Parliament |
| BIH HoR session cancelled | Presidency to discuss Terzic’s removal | Session of Police Restructuring Dir. |
| Oslobodjenje | Terrorism indictee arrested |
| Dnevni Avaz | [Kosovo PM Agim Ceku] Kosovo – state by end of year |
| Dnevni List | 100 million KM of Croatian assistance to |
| Vecernji List | Omar from Zenica terrorist with worldwide reputation(SIPA arrested one persosn in Zenica suspected of being involved in terrorist activities) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | We shall win Bosna again (On BiH basketball championship) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Two Tunisians and one Algerian arrested [Action of SIPA and Z-D Canton MoI in Zenica and Zavidovici] |
| Glas Srpske | Blockade of Parliamentary Assembly |
| EuroBlic | [CoM Chair Terzic:] I don’t even think about resigning |
| Vecernje novosti | Thousands of votes stolen [Members of the Block for |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BiH CoM discusses Comm. on suffering of
| BH Radio 1, |
| HoR Deputy Speaker Spiric: RS reps did not violate Constitution by walking out from HoR session
| BH Radio 1 by Radmila Grubisa – Deputy Chair of the BiH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric stated in |
| RSNA Speaker Radojicic: CoM without support of any RS party | FENA – The RSNA Speaker, Igor Radojicic, stated today that the BiH CoM does not enjoy trust of any political party from the RS. He also judged as very correct the approach of international representatives towards the Commission for Sufferings of Sarajevo citizens and especially of the OHR since it was giving clear warnings with regard to forming of the Commission, ‘but there was no will from the other side. |
Dispute over Comm. for suffering of | |
| Serb reps in BiH HoR walk out from session; boycott to last until Commission for suffering of Sarajevo citizens is established; Serbs to leave HoP session also?
| BHT1 by Vanja Furtula, Marina Martinovic – Wednesday’s session of the BiH House of Representatives [HoR] was interrupted after Serb representatives walked out boycotting a report on the effects of VAT implementation by the Council of Minister Adnan Terzic because he has refused to carry out a decision on founding the Commission for establishing truth on suffering of Sarajevo citizens during the war [Terzic objects establishing separate Commission for Sarajevo, instead supports founding one for entire country]. Deputy HoR Speaker Nikola Spiric, who on Tuesday urged RS delegates to boycott the session, emphasized Terzic and CoM failed to implement the decision which was passed by the state Parliament in |
| Daily: BiH Presidency,
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Work of the state Parliament blocked until Terzic changes the stance’, mentioned on cover by A.Terzic – Daily carries that unless the BiH HoR Collegium finds a model to solve the newly created Parliamentary crisis in the in an urgent procedure, the BiH Presidency and the Peace Implementation Council would be informed in order for them to find solution. |
| RS Ministers confirm they would attend CoM session announced by CoM Chair Terzic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘RS delegated outside the Parliament until Sarajevo Commission is formed’ by M. Cubro Inset ‘RS Ministers will attend CoM session’ – Serb Ministers at CoM Mladen Ivanic, Branko Dodik and Slobodan Kovac confirmed they would attend today’s [Thursday] session of CoM during which draft decision on forming the Commission for investigation of sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and other people in Sarajevo during the war will be discussed. Commenting on the announcement of CoM Chair Adnan Terzic that the agenda will include discussion on the draft decision forwarded by Ministry for Refugees and DPs in 2004, and not the conclusion of BiH Parliament, RS Ministers stated they would check if the contents were identical. FTV – FTV says Terzic admitted during the session of the BiH HoR he has made a mistake, such as not putting forward to the Parliament a better solution such as establishing Commission entire country. Under the pressure of MPs, Terzic announced that the BiH CoM would discuss this Commission for Sarajevo at the session on Thursday: “I still think that… is not a good solution, because it would lead us into the process which would be hard to stop [Note: Terzic earlier argued this would lead to establishing separate Commissions for all cities]. |
| Newly appointed Chair of BiH HoP Milojevic warns of insulting attitude of CoM Chair Terzic twds BiH Parliament
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Milojevic at the head’ by Agencies, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Milojevic instead of Pamuk’ by Srna, Dnevni List 3 ‘Insulting relation of Terzic towards Parliament’ not signed carries that Goran Milojevic took over position of a Chairman in the BiH House of Peoples on Wednesday and during his address he, among the other things, warned of an insulting attitude of the BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic towards the BiH Parliamentary Assembly which is being reflected in unfulfilling of the Parliamentary Assembly’s decisions, first of all the decision on establishment of the Commission for investigating of crimes committed in Sarajevo. |
| Serb member of Presidency Paravac calls on removal of CoM Chair Terzic
| RTRS, BHT1, FTV – Serb member of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac issued a written statement in which he called upon his colleagues in the Presidency, Chair Sulejman Tihic and Ivo Miro Jovic, to remove the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic. Paravac also demanded this issue to be discussed at the next session of the Presidency. BHT1, FTV – also carried. |
| Presidency member Jovic on Paravac’s request: only pre-election campaign | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Paravac asked for Terzic’s replacement’ by A.M. – Commenting the demands of Serb member of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac to remove Adnan Terzic, Croat member of BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic said that “this is only part of the pre-election campaign”. He stressed that there are only three months until elections the and therefore he is surprised by such demands. Asked how would he determine toward this demand, Jovic said: “We have nothing to determine, because the CoM has worked pretty well so far. I will not say exceptionally well, but well. This is the CoM that opened us the doors of the negotiations with the EU. Before us are the regular elections when this CoM would be replaced anyhow.” Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Issue of Adnan Terzic’s removal at the agenda of next session’ by Fena – also covered. |
| BiH Justice Minister: CoM should establish Sarajevo Commission / Amor Masovic: competent institutions should deal with war crimes
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Cooperation with Prosecutor’s Offices will make the path to justice easier’ by N. Krsman – BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac stated at the round table on war crimes held in Pale on Wednesday that CoM must respect the conclusion of both Houses of BiH Parliamentary Assembly and establish a commission for investigation of sufferings of Serbs, Bosniaks, Croats and other citizens of Sarajevo. Member of Board of Directors of BiH Institute for Missing Persons Amor Masovic said he opposes having such commissions because competent institutions should be dealing with investigation of war crimes and issue of missing persons. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Truth is bothering nobody’ by Srna – also reported. |
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| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘RS delegates outside the Parliament until Sarajevo Commission is formed’ by M. Cubro – |
| DNS critical both of CoM Chair and representatives of RS political parties
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Srpska above all’ by D. Mo. – DNS issued a press release on Wednesday criticising both CoM Chair Adnan Terzic and representatives of RS political parties regarding the issue of Sarajevo Commission. The press release reads that the representatives of the strongest RS political parties are transferring competences of RS onto BiH level while, at the same time, they are trying to present themselves as defenders of the Dayton BiH. They wonder how is it possible they do not see that the aim of most of reforms is to implement SDA’s policy and abolish RS. |
| Serb DPs persons consider collectively to leave FBiH; ask RS to protect their rights and property | RTRS – Association of displaced persons from Bijeljina, Lopar, Ugljevik and Janja living in FBiH warned they would collectively leave this entity because of the atmosphere they live in. They warned that the situation is critical in many municipalities of |
| Serb Civic Council: With help of OHR, BiH should adopt Law on Commission for truth on war | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Truth about all victims in BiH is necessary’ – Responding to frequent “pre-elections politicizing issue of Serbs suffering during the war in Sarajevo” Serb Civic Council [SGV] stated that BiH Parliament and BiH Council of Ministers with help of HR should adopt the Law on forming and work of Commission for truth on war. SGV says that such law would treat all victims equally. |
| NN op-ed: Terzic facing two options – withdrawing of his statement or resigning
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Who is bothered with truth?’ by Aleksandar Sekulic – Following the most recent developments that came after CoM Chair Adnan Terzic’s statement on forming of the Commission for investigation of sufferings of Sarajevo Serbs, the author notes it was not up to Terzic to either comment or debate on the decision that was confirmed by both Houses of BiH Parliament, but it was up to him to implement it. ‘Instead of that, Terzic’s arrogance led to the situation in which RS delegates boycotted [HoR] session, by which he quite successfully transferred the crisis from CoM to the highest legislative body in BiH’, the author notes and concludes Terzic is now facing two options: either to withdraw his statement or to resign, because Parliamentary decisions must be implemented with or without Terzic. |
Reforms and other political developments | |
| HR
| FTV by Blazica Kristo – For the first time after he assumed the office, the High Representative in BiH Christian Schwarz-Schilling addressed BiH Parliamentary Assembly on Wednesday. Even though media announced that Schwarz-Schilling would strongly criticize domestic authorities due to frequent obstructions in the reforms, reporter commented, that did not happen. Although the HR kept his promise not to make decisions instead of those who do not have the courage to make decisions themselves, he warned of a possibility to use his powers in case of any kind of a threat to peace and stability in BiH. Schwarz-Schilling mentioned some interesting examples of BiH successes, says reports, such as ‘Grbavica’ film or 51st Eurovision Song Contest. He also talked about some important reform processes: “Police reform is the key prerequisite to approach the EU, and the one that is directly relevant for the EU ministers deciding on the visa regime [for BiH citizens].” Schwarz-Schilling paid special attention to the economic situation in BiH; unlike domestic politicians, HR said that he had seen a lot of frustrated, poor and hungry BiH citizens: “Pensioners have to survive with 200 KM per month. Do you know what it means to live with 200 KM per month?” He criticized domestic politicians for failure to adopt constitutional reform, and drawn their attention to the laws that should be passed in these last 100 days of their current mandates. At the end, Schwarz-Schilling warned MPs they would face effects of their actions at October elections. BHT1- “During next 100 days you should prove to the citizens of BiH that you are capable of passing the laws that would make a positive impact on the quality of their lives. They would judge you on this when they go to the polls in October”, concluded HR |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Serb representatives blocked the work of House of Representatives’, mentioned on cover ‘Serbs left the Parliament’ by H.Orahovac – Inset ‘Lagumdzija: High Representative acts naïve’- Referring to the speech the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling gave before the BiH HoR, |
| DL op-ed on HR
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Schilling in ‘house of spite’ ‘ by D. Kozina comments on the HR |
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| RTRS by Vesna Stakic – At it Wednesday’s session, Police Reform Directorate Steering Board again did not discuss future model of police restructuring and parameters for establishment of police regions. Instead, SB included to its agenda the recommendation of RS NA on the model of the future police structure, as Chairman of the Steering Board Vinko Dumancic confirmed. They also discussed the letter of Bosniak Caucus at RS Council of Peoples. Dumancic stated that these stances would be forwarded to BiH CoM because the Steering Board is not authorised to change the decision with regard to the way in which decisions are being reached in |
| RS reps in
| Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘RS MoI representatives freeze their functions’ by Az.Kalamujic – Police Reform Directorate [ |
| SNSD’s Suvara: SNSD does not expect sanctions to be imposed on RS over police reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘We do not expect any pressures to be exerted on RS over police reform’ by Agencies – SNSD’s Dubravko Suvara said SNSD does not expect any sanctions to be imposed on RS or its politicians, yet it does expect certain pressures to be exerted with regard to police reform. He commented on HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling’s statement that he would blame RS politicians for stopping the integration of BiH to EU if they continue obstructing police reform by saying there is no reason to do such thing and added RS is being accused of causing troubles with regard to police reform, while nobody was penalised for non-adoption of constitutional changes. EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Clear role of RS MoI’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Schilling’s double standards’ by M. Dz. – also reported. |
| Mostar City Council once again failed to pass the 2006 budget; HR Schwarz-Schilling convened urgent meeting with Mostar parties
| BHT1by Angela Cvitanovic – The Mostar City Council held a session on Wednesday. Representatives discussed the city budget for 2006, but once again failed to adopt it. The HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling convened an urgent meeting with the representatives of ruling parties in Mostar, SDA and HDZ, for 10,00 hrs on Thursday in |
| Mostar Mayor Beslic dissatisfied with decision that Urban Planning Bureau has all authorities over urban planning area in Mostar
| Dnevni List pg 10 ‘There is no agreement, city in chaos’ by E. Milavic also says that SDA, People’s Party Working for Prosperity, SBiH and |
| Public opinion poll: Mostar citizens on responsibility for non-adoption of Mostar budget
| Danas pg 8 ‘Mostarians believe that SDA and HDZ are responsible for postponement when adoption of budget is in question’ not signed carries results of the public opinion poll at Mostar Internet portal Bljeska.info according to which out of 539 questioned persons 36,18 % of them believe that the HDZ-SDA Coalition is responsible for non-adoption of the budget. 33,02 % of interviewed persons believe that SDA alone is responsible for this situation, while 14,66 % believe that HDZ alone is responsible. 3,53 % of interviewed persons believe that the whole Mostar City Council is responsible for this situation, while only 3,15 % believe that Mostar Mayor Ljubo Beslic is responsible. 2,04 % interviewed persons believe that the OHR is responsible. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 12 ‘SDA and HDZ are responsible’ by M. Landeka also carries results of this public opinion poll. |
| SBiH, SDU, HDZ 1990 working on common platform for restructuring of BiH; on constitutional changes after elections
| Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘On constitutional changes after elections’ by A.Omeragic – SDU leader Sejfudin Tokic, SBiH Presidency member Beriz Belkic and HDZ 1990 Presidency member Dubravko Horvat confirmed for daily that their parties are still working on common platform for restructuring of BiH. Tokic explained the nature of this platform: “These are draft principles on which the Constitution should be built upon.” Belkic and Horvat repeated their stances regarding constitutional reform. Horvat and Belkic stated that it would be not realistic to talk about constitutional reform before October elections. |
| HDZ 1990 supports continuance of talks on constitutional changes without any pre-conditions
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| PDP’s Radovanovic, DEPOS: continuation of const. talks after October elections
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Good-bye until October’ by Z. Markovic – carries comment of PDP’s Vinko Radovanovic, following Tuesday’s meeting on constitutional changes, who said all participants of the meeting agreed that only the agreed package of the constitutional amendments can be a base for future talks. ‘We have agreed these amendments will be the issue with which new Parliamentary majority, which will be formed after the elections, will deal’, Radovanovic stated. DEPOS has stated this party pleads for continuation of talks after October elections. |
| SDA leader Tihic: Party will go independently on elections; there are no divisions in the party
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9, mentioned on cover ‘There are no divisions in the party, although some covet that’ by Admir Malagic – On occasion of marking party anniversary, in an interview for DA, SDA leader Sulejman Tihic talks about his party plans for elections: “I expect that SDA will confirm position of the ultimately strongest party in BiH.” Tihic denied that there are any divisions within SDA, although some may covet that. Inset ‘We stay open for cooperation’ – Tihic confirmed that SDA would go independently for elections, adding that party is open for eventual coalitions and partnerships, including SBiH. |
| BiH Civil Affairs Dpt Minister Tesanovic: Why there is no Serbs in BiH Civil Service Agencyleading positions
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Why there is no Serbs in Agency’s leading positions’ by Srna – Responding to the statement of BiH Civil Service Agency Director Jakob Finci [who said that appointment of CIPS Director Sinisa Macan has no legal ground], BiH Civil Affairs Deputy Minister Zoran Tesanovic stated that “instead of commenting decisions of the court, Finci should ask himself why there is no Serbs in leading positions of the Agency.” Board of Civil Service for appeals within Council of Ministers annulled appointment of Mustafa Pasalic for CIPS Director, and appointed Macan. |
| ‘Danas’ publishes EPP’s report on situation in HDZ BiH
| Danas cover pg splash and pgs 14-17 ‘Covic’s HDZ in permanent isolation’ not signed carries that this weekly has come into possession of an English version of the European People’s Party (EPP) report on the situation in HDZ BiH which was preared before the establishment of the HDZ 1990. The report actually carries a chronology of the events and EPP’s thinking about HDZ BiH starting with the EPP Political Board’s decision passed in January 2006 on embargo imposed on HDZ President Dragan Covic and members of the HDZ Presidency, criminal charges against Covic, removing of Covic from the BiH Presidency, HDZ Convention and election of Covic for the HDZ BiH President, Bozo Ljubic’s objections on Covic’s election, expelling of LjUbic, Martin Raguz and Josip Merdzo from HDZ BiH. It is obvious from the report that it had been made before voting on the constitutional changes and before establishment of HDZ 1990. |
| DA int with Kosovo PM Ceku: Kosovo to be state by end of year | Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Kosovo – state by end of year’ by S.Numanovic – In an interview for daily, Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said: “Kosovo is in historical moment of setting its statehood and independence. We hope that this process would end by end of this year.” He denied that Kosovo is willing to join in with |
Security issues | |
| SIPA raids apartments in Zenica canton of suspects for terrorism financing
| FTV By Gordana Ristovic-Muslija – Upon the order of BiH Prosecution, members of State Investigation and Protection Agency [SIPA] raided the apartments of three foreign citizens, suspected of committing numerous crimes including forging and financing terrorist activities, in Zenica and Zavidovici early Wednesday morning. Two of them have been released after the interrogation, while the third person, apprehended in Zavidovici, will be handed over to the Zenica Interior Ministry’s Department for Foreign Citizens, after it was established this person is illegal resident. SIPA raided the house of Munir Silini, aka Abu Fadil, in Gradisce near Zenica and detained him. Silini is a citizen of Tunisia with extended asylum residency in BiH; along with several other foreign citizens, he was under SFOR’s investigation in January 2004. According to SIPA spokesperson Admir Katica, during the raids SIPA members have confiscated audio and video material, which would be forwarded to the Court of BiH. Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Suspect for terrorism apprehended’ pgs ‘Tunisian apprehended, suspected for terrorism’ by M.Dajic-E.Beslic – In addition to Salini, daily carries SIPA also detained Algerian Hasan Brahimi living in Zenica dowtown. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘SIPA members detained Tunisian Mounir Silini’ by A.Dzonlic – According to DA, both Brahimi and Salini were detained following the interrogation. Oslobodjenje inset ‘Abu Malik from Zavidovici submitted a demand for asylum’- Tunisian that lives in Zavidovici and has a nickname Abu Malik was not apprehended nor detained in SIPA action, though his apartment was raided. As daily learns he has already submitted a demand for asylum. |
| AI present annual report; RS cooperation with the ICTY inadequate
| BHT1- Organization for Protection of Human Rights Amnesty International [AI] presented on Tuesday in |
| Dzuvo, Zaric and Cosic four more years in leading positions of BiH Intelligence-Security Agency | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Dzuvo, Zaric and Cosic four more years in leading positions’ by Az.Kalamujic – BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic and his deputies BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic and BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak decided to extend mandate to the present leadership of BiH Intelligence-Security Agency [OSA] – Almir Dzuvo [General Director], Risto Zaric [Deputy Director] and Ivan Cosic [Chief Inspector]. |
Economic and judicial issues | |
| Croatian Government approved 100 million KM of assistance for (re)construction of Mostar University
| Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 11 ‘100 million KM of Croatian assistance to Mostar University’ by V. Bjelica reports on the press conference held on Wednesday during which Head of the Mostar University (the Croat one) Frano Ljubic spoke about the assistance of the Croatian Government amounting to 100 million KM approved for construction of a campus with the Mostar University. During the press conference Ljubic stressed that this is not the donation aimed for this University and Croats only but primarily for Mostar and BiH. Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Changes in spirit of |
| SD op-ed criticising attitude of BiH authorities twds ‘Aluminiij’: Chance for better BiH is being offered to us as early as at October elections
| Slobodna Dalmacija pgs 12 and 13, mentioned on cover ‘ ‘Aluminij’ thorn in authority’s side’ by M. Karacic criticizes the attitude of the BiH authorities when company ‘Aluminij’ is in question with a special stress on recently passed decision (by the FBiH Government) on suspension of the privatization process in this company. The author concludes that instead of empty phrases of politicians we should finally start to listen to those who act concretely and contribute to the whole BiH society in this way (the author refers to the management of ‘Aluminij’) and he added: ‘A chance for better BiH is being offered to us as early as at the October elections.’ |
| VL: Final verdict against former HDZ President Jelavic to be passed on June 15
| Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Verdict against Jelavic to be passed on June 15’ by Z. Kresic – According to the information coming from the BiH Prosecution the Appeals Council with the BiH Court would hold a session on June 15 during which a final verdict against former HDZ President Ante Jelavic for the Hercegovacka Banka case would be passed and it would be officially published by the beginning of July at the latest. VL also says that in case that the verdict against Jelavic was confirmed BiH should submit a demand that Jelavic serves a sentence in Croatia and only then Croatia can decide what to do. |