| BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) |
| Incident in Kalesija | NATO/Russia on BiH |
| Bush’s letter to Congress | War-crime trial of Mrdja |
| Mass grave in Zvornik | FBiH: social contributions |
| CoM on Budget | Croatia on 5c corridor |
| Oslobodjenje | FBiH Government resolving problem of outstanding debts in social contributions by companies: Employees allowed to connect years of service |
| Dnevni Avaz | Who wants to prevent corridor construction through Islamising the project |
| Dnevni List | “Politics hinders development of Aluminij”; “HDZ is proposing three multi-ethnic election units, but without national quota” |
| Vecernji List | “Mila Gadzic is leaving, Jago Lasic is setting conditions”; “Report on uranium in Hadzici rejected” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “Professors and students will boycott Grammar School?”; “Highway must not bypass us” |
| Glas Srpske | Today in Srebrenica: Cross to be removed; Storm in Republika Srpska the night before the last: Storm consequences |
| Nezavisne Novine | New prices of telecom services adopted: Citizens will be paying more expensive impulses; Azra Hadziahmetovic: The law was violated by adoption of Bosmal offer; Banjaluka Clinical Centre: All babies recovered from sepsis; Forest fires in Trebinje and Celinac |
| Blic | Donald Hays: 85% of BiH citizens live on the edge of poverty; Darkness, thirst and infection threaten |
| Slobodna Bosna | Is the 5c corridor continuation of Visoko Airport project in peacetime |
| BH Dani | Role being played by Hasan Cengic in Vc corridor construction – Where does this road lead to? |
| Ljiljan | Minister Branko Dokic: We do not mind Malaysian capital investment in the highway |
BiH/International Community | |
| Bush’s letter to US Congress on BiH
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Americans remain in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, mentioned on the front page ‘Bush sets US priorities in BiH’ – ‘US troops are staying in BiH’ reads the letter sent by US President George Bush to the American Congress. Aims of the continued American engagement in BiH will be the apprehension of all war crimes suspects still at large and fight against global terrorism. There are 138000 SFOR troops currently in BiH, out of who 1800 are Americans. Troops come from 17 NATO member states and 11 other countries. Letter does neither give details on announced actions in regard to the ICTY list of war crimes suspects in hiding, nor mentions specifics on future actions in fight against terrorism. Instead, President Bush reminded that US presence within SFOR troops was particularly important due to the stabilisation process and maintenance of peace in BiH. Even though this was a regular update of Congress on engagement of US troops in BiH, the letters has indicated that notwithstanding recent announcements of withdrawal of US troops, American would still maintain their military presence in the region. |
| US Embassy’s Hoh on situation in BiH | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Problem of BiH is not OHR, but local authorities’, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘RS Government is the only one in the world not cooperating with The Hague’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, Dnevni List page 7, by Fena, “RS Government only one that does not co-operate with UN’s Tribunal for war crimes” – the outgoing Charge d’ Affaires of the American Embassy in BIH, Christopher Hoh, stated that the most important issue of BiH, which will be a priority in the American engagement here, is development of economy, meaning the creation of the environment suitable for investments, that will open new posts. Speaking of the HiRep activities, Hoh said that the crucial issue to be raised is why local authorities do not do more to fulfil their responsibilities. Commenting on initiatives for the change of the DA, he said that DA can be improved without any doubt. At the beginning of next week, How is returning to USA and Tina Kajdanov will replace him in the office. |
| NATO-Russia Council on military reforms in BiH | BH Radio 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Had over the supreme command to the Presidency’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 11 ‘BiH must have state defence ministry and army headquarters’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Single headquarters needed’, Dnevni List page 2, unsigned, “NATO: BiH needs to introduce single ministry of defence and main headquarters” – The Council of NATO and Russia supported further reforms of armed forces in BiH and the efforts to ensure that BiH is established as a peaceful, self-sustainable and multiethnic state, which will become an integral part of the family of Euro-Atlantic countries. In a statement issued following a meeting in Madrid, it is assessed that BiH must secure that the Presidency as the supreme commanding body over all armed forces in the country has at its disposal mechanisms and resources necessary to take over the responsibility related to the issue. This understands formation of the Ministry at the state level that will be authorized for the issues of defence. The NATO and Russia representatives agreed that the military expenditures in BiH must be in compliance with objective financial abilities, which means that the number of troops must be significantly reduced. |
| ICG on SDS | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘SDS will accept anything in order to keep the power’ – Regarding the SDS, ICG report stressed that: “In order to keep on power, SDS will accept anything, even more radical reforms than it actually admits, but only under condition that international community is determined enough to exert the pressure in necessary direction. SDS is more like grumbling in a bad mood that raging. And SDS does not longer make any reference and makes threats with slaughter on the streets.” ICG report further stressed that in spite of changes in politics, SDS is still the biggest obstacle to the creation of a stable state of BiH. |
| Banja Luka University Professor Kunic reacts to ICG report
| Glas Srpske, pg. 5, ‘Against imposition’ – Petar Kunic, Professor at the Banjaluka Law Faculty, is of the view that through the recent publication of the new ICG Report on BiH, the International Crisis Group attempted to create an environment suitable for the change of the BiH Constitution. Speaking of the part of the text referring to the HiRep and saying that “HiRep sometimes needs to exceed the limitations set by the Dayton Peace Agreement in order to implement the Dayton”, Kunic said that: “Noone, including HiRep, cannot change BiH Constitution without an agreement reached amongst three constitutive nations. It is a pure illusion that HiRep has an authority to amend the constitution.” He also said that the Sarajevo media were most likely the only literature and source for ICG report, instead of pure facts. He explained that: “ICG report is a kind of pressure of the Sarajevo lobby against High Representative, who refuses a one-sided change of the Constitution, upon request of one group of people.” |
| Dani praises Brcko International Supervisor’s achievements | BH Dani pg. 6 gave three stars (excellent performance) in its Bosnian Barometer to International Supervisor for Brcko Henry Clarke assessing his appearance in media as fully proportional with his accomplishments including his moves with regard to the privatisation process in the District, implementation of the education law, appointment of a professional candidate as the District Police Chief and other activities aimed at the establishment of Brcko as a multi-ethnic and unified town/district. |
| Dani, Slobodna Bosna on Ashdown’s authorities | BH Dani pgs. 26-27 ‘Ashdown is a soft totalitarian’ – Interview with Zlatko Hadzidedic, a BiH political analyst. “Ashdown’s powers are of king’s kind, and they have been used so far mainly/rather to cement status quo than to reform the current system. When it is about strategy, it would be hard to say that OHR has any strategy,” Hadzidedic claims. Slobodna Bosna 25-27 ‘Citizens of Bosnia are sick of strong hand policy and untouchable leader’ By Danka Savic – The article presents an open letter to Paddy Ashdown published by IWPR in which the European Stability Initiative think-tank, which started the OHR debate in early July, sets out its recommendations for change. “We would like to explain why we think that the extraordinary powers of the High Representative are no longer an appropriate tool for international assistance to Bosnia. We believe that they have become counterproductive – an obstacle to the development of effective institutions and a healthy democratic process,” said the letter signed by Marcus Cox, Senior ESI Editor and Gerald Knaus, ESI Director. “We believe that the development of an effective Bosnian state remains frozen so long as the international protectorate remains in place. We believe that the process of phasing out the direct role of the High Representative in the domestic constitutional sphere should begin immediately,” reads the letter. |
Economic/financial affairs | |
| CoM on state expenditures, Port of Ploce agreement
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘For the first three months in this year, BiH’s foreign debts increased for 80 million’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘BiH’s foreign debts amounting more than four billion KM’ – The BiH Council of Ministers concluded at their session in Sarajevo on Thursday that it was needed to continue with negotiations with IMF on possible increase of BH institutions’ budget. Exceeding budgets and requests for increase of budget CoM justifies with establishment of several new Ministries, whose costs were not envisaged in the current budget. ‘However, it should not be forgotten that BH Presidency overspent their budget and that BH Parliament delegates recently increased their own salaries’. ‘International Monetary Fund placed on us certain limitations general in regard to the increase of spending, they have request for spending in BiH to be cut down. They do approve certain increases of budgets in BiH institutions if total spending was decreased, that is the budgets of entities.’ – stated Barisa Colak, BH Security Minister, following the session. FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘BiH accepts new terms of the agreement before Croatian Parliament’ – Colak also told journalists that the ratification of agreement on free use of the Croatian Port of Ploce and passage through BiH coastal town of Neum had also been discussed at the CoM session. He said that change of some articles as well as adding of annexes was needed and only then the agreement would be ratified by the State Parliament. Vecernji List page 2, by D. Jazvic, “Foreign debt is 4 billion”, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, by Z. Rerig, “Declaration on agreement on Ploce Port postponed” and back page, by F, “BiH is moderately indebted country”, Dnevni List, page 2, by M. R., “BiH foreign debt 4,45 billion KMs” also covered the issue. |
| BiH Central Bank Steering Board member appointment | BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Paravac has still not nominated a candidate’ – Even though the first session of Central Bank Steering Board was scheduled for 11 August to appoint new Governor, it cannot be expected that BH Presidency appoint 5th member of the board by then. Steering Board is authorities to bring decisions despite lack of one member, and it said it would conduct its duties in accordance with BH Presidency’s recommendations. They will ask Peter Nichol, current Central Bank Governor, to continue performing at this duty till the end of 2004. After that, that position would be handed over to Kemal Kozaric, current Deputy Governor. Decision to appoint Kemal Kozaric, Peter Nichol, Manojlo Coric and Mila Gadzic as Steering Board members BH Presidency brought in May this year. Fifth member was supposed to be appointed by Borislav Paravac. Simo Vozalo, Chief of Paravac’s Cabinet, said that ‘the preparation has still not be finalized to appoint Serb member of Steering Board of Central Bank. It has been on going, and I hope this would happen by 15 August.’ Vozalo did not want to mention any names, but said that there are three possible candidates. Previous nomination of Cvjetin Nikic was withdrawn, after – as the Cabinet said back than – consultations with Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays. ‘OHR doesn’t check candidates for Central Bank Steering Board. We expect from BH Presidency to commit to this issue with outmost seriousness, as credibility of BH and Central Bank depends from their activities and members of the Steering Board.’ – stated Vedran Persic, an OHR Spokesperson. ‘Central Bank is the institutions which cannot suffer uncertainties, but I don’t think we have some technical problems, and the first session will be held for sure without some bigger problems.’- said Kemal Kozaric, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank. |
| M. Gadzic is leaving Ministry of Foreign Trade, J. Lasic is coming to her position?
| Vecernji List (front page, “Mila Gadzic is leaving, Jago Lasic is setting conditions” and page 3, “Lasic conditions his coming”, by Milan Sutalo) carries that according to a reliable source from the BiH Council of Ministers Mila Gadzic will be absolved of duty of Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations with abroad. The same source revealed that current President of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Chamber of Economy Jago Lasic is the most serious candidate for Gadzic’s successor. Lasic confirmed that Gadzic is leaving and that she has already passed the OHR vetting procedure for a member of the BiH Central Bank Steering Board. VL says that Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic also indirectly announced Gadzic’s removal. VL says the persons close to Gadzic claim that criticism on her work are not completely justified because she could not chose her assistants and thus she worked with rather incapable persons who were appointed at these positions at the time of the Alliance for Changes. Jago Lasic confirmed that he had a few informal talks about possibility that he comes to Gadzic’s position and added: “In order to take over the Ministry my condition is to take assistants with me, on the contrary I do no want to take over that position.” |
| RS Customs Administration break meat smuggling chain | BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Meat declared as frozen vegetables’ – RS Customs Administration stopped the international chain of meat smuggling, which damaged entity’s budget for 820 000 KM. This came as the results of disclosure of two shipments falsely was declared as frozen vegetables at Gradiska border crossing. Djuro Vulic, director of RS Customs Administration said that the administrations identified companies TR Commerce, MN Simic, Novuskop and Andomax as smugglers of 7600 tons of meat this year. RS Customs Administration filed charges against 23 persons in this case, which also involved corrupted members of the administration. Vulic said that they would intensify the activities in fight against organized crime, including their own officials. |
| Update to possible tax fraud by Kesten in Vitez | BHTV 1 – Delegation of European Commission in BIH confirmed that the inspection of furniture company Kensten from Vitez has been finalized. Inspectors confiscated large amount of materials, documents and computer files. Investigation on the connections between these and RS companies has continued, No deadlines were set up for the finalizing the investigation or to file charges. FBiH Tax Administration started an inspection of Kesten on suspicion of tax fraud amounting up to 5 million KM. One of the largest operations conducted so far was carried out by the FBiH Tax Administration with assistance of the CAFAO, local and international police forces and RS Tax Administration. |
| RS Telecom
| BHTV 1 – Nobody resigned in Telekom Srpske, but the company did announced increase of subscription fee from 3 to 5 KM. Final decision on this will be brought by the Communications Regulatory Agency. At the session held on Thursday, RS government did not discuss MOBI’s. Dragan Kokanovic, Assistant RS Minister for Traffic and Communications said that the ‘government did not discuss this, but this was the matter of the institutions of Telekom and management, who they are going to dismiss. Government will not interfere with this.’ Several days ago, media wrote on irregularities around MOBI’s luck games. At the beginning of June, executive director of Telekom Srpske Zeljko Jungic said that OHR’s audit of the company would certainly show certain irregularities in the work. ‘If that is an accurate statement, than Jungic is at the best position to know what was the situation. That was probably indication of how final findings would be.’ – stated Donald Hays, PDHR. In MOBI’s games of chance, coupons were printed for 10 times higher market price. Internal control showed that number of coupons has been increased without knowledge of company’s management. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Impulses for citizens more expensive’ and Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘External calls cheaper, internal calls more expensive’ also covered the issue. |
| FBiH Government discusses unpaid social contributions, privatisation process | BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 5 ‘Employees allowed to connect broken years of service’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 – At a session held on Thursday, The FBiH Government adopted draft Law on Payment of Unpaid Social Contributions. The Government also discussed intensifying privatisation process in the Federation. The proposed action plan for more efficient privatisation foresees further restructuring of the companies before their sale. Moreover, in the cases where it was decided to abolish selling contract and to return premises to previous owners, the proceedings before the courts will be speeded up. FBIH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said following the session that ‘certain solutions will provide an opportunity to future owners to buy certain companies with discount.’ Vecernji List (page 2, by E. Medunjanin, “Subordinate privatization to interests of buyers”) and Dnevni List (front and page 5, by De.L., “Simun Musa Head of Hrvatske Poste, Vlado Majstorovic is Head of Hrvatske Telekomunikacije”) carry that during its yesterday’s session, among other things, the Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina passed a decision on appointment of temporary Steering Boards in companies in which the State is a majority shareholder. DL apparently managed to find out that the new Chair of HT Mostar’s (Croat Telecommunications) Steering Board is Vlado Majstorovic, while the new President of Steering Board of Hrvatske Poste (Croat Posts) is Simun Musa. DL also says that Majstorovic is the Dean of Mostar College of Mechanical Engineering, while Musa is the Dean of Teacher-Training College also in Mostar, which is in collision with the conditions of the FBiH Government’s vacancy and Law on incompatibility of functions. |
| Croatia on 5c corridor construction
| FTV – Croatia continued to lobby for construction of corridor C5. Croatian construction capacities and highways built have been presented to BH media on Thursday. Croatia still lobbies for International tender and will send proposal to BH authorities in two weeks. Radomir Cacir presented how 3 billion BAM worth works could be given on concession for next 20 years. Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said that tender was a way of dealing with such issues in Europe and that tender criteria are well known. It is surprising that all highways in Croatia belong to Autoceste Hrvatske, 100% state owned company, which owns all concessions as well. |
| Dragan Covic on the corridor | Vecernji List (front “Citizens will build the corridor” and page 4 “Tender for television set, agreement for highway”) – carries the Croat member and Chair of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, commenting on the issue of construction of Corridor Vc. “There are no more delays now, it is certain we are entering the job. Beside that I expect the experts to say what’s the best route for the corridor, because a few days ago I read that the most complex and most expensive construction feat will be a tunnel through Mt. Prenj. Maybe there are other possibilities. I expect the experts to give their answer because it is frivolous that two people talk about everything. Otherwise, we have too much lobbying and too much of a political pressure within (…) If we invite a tender when buying a TV set for the building of BiH Presidency I cannot see how we can let someone construct the road corridor just like that”, says Covic. |
| Hadziahmetovic criticises acceptance of Bosmal offer | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Acceptance of Bosmal offer is in violation of the Law on Concession’ – Azra Hadziahmetovic, delegate to the BiH Parliament and one of authors of Law on Concession, stated that Council of Ministers has violated the Law on Concession by having accepted an offer of Bosmal firm for construction of 5C corridor. She said that: “Law does not regulate the term “initiative”, which CoM has been using to present its talks with Bosmal. The Law clearly regulates and sets the steps, which need to be undertaken to create conditions for the construction of the corridor.” |
| Sarajevo weeklies on 5c corridor | Slobodna Bosna front page, pgs. 5-8 ‘The Sabanovic brothers taken to Malaysia by Head of BiH Islamic Community Mustafa Ceric at the beginning of war in Visoko’ By Adnan Buturovic – Buturovic investigates into the political and business background of BOSMAL Managers Edin and Nijaz Sabanovic and their links with the controversial SDA official Hasan Cengic. He wonders whether it is about an achieved American dream or about another classic story on enrichment with the assistance of SDA and the Islamic Community. BH Dani front page, pgs. 18-20 ‘Where does this road lead to?’ By Senad Pecanin and Esad Hecimovic – “At the end, nothing better could have happened to BiH than is the BOSMAL offer. Thanks to BOSMAL, the long-standing efforts aimed at convincing the public about non-possibility of the highway construction in BiH on the basis of concession model have fallen into water”, the authors claim. Ljiljan front page, pgs. 18-22 ‘Dokic: Nobody in the world cares about the national origin of capital’ – Interview with Branko Dokic, the BiH Minister of Transport and Communications. Dokic emphasized that it should not be a problem if the capital for the highway construction in BiH was coming from Malaysia. “Capital in the world is not any more being recognized by its ethnic/national origin or by a country which it is coming from,” said Dokic assessing the current discussions about the reasons allegedly standing behind the Malaysian capital investment in the highway construction in BiH as prejudices and counter-productive. |
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 9 ‘Who wants to prevent highway construction through Islamising the project’ | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 9 ‘Who wants to prevent highway construction through Islamising the project’ – The newspaper claims that due to enormous strategic-economic importance of the 5c corridor construction the entire story is starting to get propaganda-intelligence dimensions. According to Avaz, some low-circulation magazines (referring to Slobodna Bosna) are trying to obstruct implementation of the project through disseminating misinformation. |
| RS Government on pensions | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Average pension higher for 5KM’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Thicker check in August’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Average 130 KM’ – The Republika Srpska Government on Thursday concluded that the lowest pension for the months of July should be KM 90, whilst the average pension should amount to approximately KM 130. Mico Micic, Republika Srpska Minister of Labour, stated that Government intends to equate the average pension in Republika Srpska with 45% of average salary by the end of this year. |
| Draft law on the indirect taxation | Blic pg. 7 ‘Interests of both entities protected’, Oslobodjenje ‘Customs and VAT on a single account’ – Chairman of the Indirect Taxation Commission Jolly Dixon on Wednesday presented the draft law on the indirect taxation system in BIH to High Representative Paddy Ashdown. The High Representative noted that the Commission had set an example of co-operation, consensus and courage. It is an example that can be followed in resolving the most difficult and demanding challenges still faced by BiH. OHR spokesman Vedran Persic told a press conference that the Commission has ensured that the interests of all BiH citizens are protected, and that two areas of a technical nature have still to be resolved. These are: the location of the headquarters and regional offices of the Indirect Taxation Authority and the means of making decisions on the Governing Board when there is no consensus. “The political parties represented in the BiH Parliament must now debate the outstanding issues, and a conclusion reached before the Law goes into parliamentary procedure. The High Representative has said that the OHR is willing to give all the assistance it can in resolving these outstanding issues, since this legislation is of fundamental importance to prosperity of BiH and it’s citizens,” Persic said. |
Political developments | |
| Visit of FBiH President Niko Lozancic to Mostar
| Dnevni List (front and page 13, by V. Soldo, “HNC must have position that it deserves in FBiH” and in addition on the same page, “Politics hinders development of Aluminij”, by Miso Relota), Vecernji List (page 2, by Z.K., “Constructors from Herzegovina should also participate in construction of highway”) and Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 15, by Zoran Zekic, “Highway must not bypass us”) carry that President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Niko Lozancic held a working meeting with Prime Minister of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Miroslav Coric and his associates in Mostar yesterday. During the meeting they talked about the education reform and activities with regard to the construction of Corridor Vc. Lozancic stated that he supports the HNC Government in its efforts exerted in order that experts from this area be involved in drafting of the project documents for Corridor Vc. Lozancic also expressed hope that the FBiH Government will have understanding for the HNC in the future development activities and thus secure that the HNC has the position that it deserves. With regard to the education reform Lozancic stated that the problem of ‘two schools under one roof’ is not only present in the HNC but also in the Central Bosnia and Zenica-Doboj Canton. Lozancic also paid visit to ‘Aluminij’ company. With regard to the announcements that electricity price for this company will be increased Lozancic stated: “The policy of the current FBiH Government is that it supports domestic economy and secures stimulus so that those who are successful can be even more successful. Stimulus should be secured for Aluminij and similar companies so that they can remain successful.” General Manager of Aluminij Mijo Brajkovic stated on the same issue that one such gaffe of the Elektroprivreda of Bosnia and Herzegovina will echo in the world and every worker in BiH will suffer consequences of it. Brajkovic added that foreign investors will start to withdraw from BiH. Sarajevo media also reported on the visit. |
| Mostar restructuring | Dnevni List (front and page 4, by Zvonimir Jukic, “HDZ proposes three multi-ethnic constituencies, but without national quota) – the daily learns from a source within the HDZ of Mostar that the party has prepared its proposal of a new statute of City of Mostar. The proposal in its preamble says it is consistent with the OHR principles and with the City Council that should have 51 members. Apparently, the proposal takes care of territorial representation and foresees three multi-ethnic constituencies within the city. In this context, the daily says the proposal is consistent with the proposal presented by the returnees to Mostar the other day in most of the parts, the difference being that the HDZ’s proposal does not foresee national quota when it comes to election of councilors to the Mostar City Council (MCC). Namely, the HDZ proposes an election of 51 councilors from the three constituencies, the first being the current municipalities West and North, the second being municipalities Southwest, Old Town and Central Zone and the third one, the municipalities South and Southwest. The first one should provide, 14, the second 27 and the third constituency should provide 10 councilors to the MCC. When it comes to national composition, the proposal only reads that every constituent people must be represented in the MCC by 3 councilors at least, “others” must have at least one representative and the “one person-one vote” principle would be in force. With regards to the latter, DL says it can hardly be accepted by the Bosniaks and Serbs. DL sees the proposal as an HDZ’s tool to get the SDA to accept the unification of Mostar adding the proposal might have been provoked by international representatives because, “the HDZ would, after the pressures coming from, for example, the OHR, through staged negotiations, agree to national quota, and the OHR would in the same time ask a return favour from the SDA, namely to give up advocating the divisions in the city”, says Jukic. Dnevni List (page 8, by Miso Relota, “Appoint new members of Commission without delay”) – reports that a chairperson of the Mostar Commission, Erna Cipra, sent Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic and Ljubo Beslic respectively, a letter on July 15 regarding the filling of the Mostar Commission asking them to fill the Commission with new members from the line of the Bosniak people. Moreover, Deputy Mayor Beslic sent Mayor Jahic a letter on July 16 asking him whether the SDA members of the Mostar Commission are continuing with the work in the Commission. Apparently, Mayor Jahic is yet to respond to both letters. DL goes on to report that the Head of OHR South, Deputy High Representative Jean-Pierre Bercot, yesterday replied to Cipra to her letter dated from July 15. Deputy HR Bercot’s letter, which was forwarded also to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and members of the Commission, says the Mostar Commission was established according to the principles: representation in accordance with the last census, representation of all parties represented in the MCC, representation of all levels of government that may be required to amend their legislation/constitutions, appropriate representation of both experts and politicians and finally that the Commission should have 12 members the most in order not to overburden the Commission. The letter further reads that a party has a right not to participate in the work of the Commission, so the OHR calls on the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mostar to nominate new members to replace the resigning ones and the MCC to appoint new members without delays. Finally, DL says the OHR nevertheless calls on the SDA members to return to the Commission and take up the duty for the benefit of citizens of Mostar. Dnevni List (page 6, by Pejo Gasparevic, “Boycott in Mostar) – an editorial in light of withdrawal of SDA representatives from the work of the Mostar Commission. The author views the whole issue in context of the President of SDA, Sulejman Tihic’s, efforts to have changes to the constitutional set-up carried out in BiH, efforts that, according to Gasparevic, are gunning for withering of the two-entity set-up of BiH. In this context, the author says the connoisseurs claim that such Tihic’s engagement had a tacit support of the IC and “then, out of blue, came the decision of the Mostar board of Tihic’s party to withdraw from the Commission for making of the city’s Statute”. Gasparevic believes the Mostar SDA will need time to realise that by boycotting the Commission, they are doing a disservice to their party and Tihic. The author also draws a parallel between the HDZ’s behaviour from some two years ago, during the time of Croat self-rule, and the current behaviour of SDA in Mostar saying that “the IC removed the then leadership of HDZ BiH, banning it to be involved in politics for good. And because of SDA’s behaviour…?” |
| DL: “Ivan Musa new President of Mostar City Council?” | Dnevni List (page 13, by A.P.) carries that according to a reliable source in the Mostar City Administration the HDZ Caucus submitted yesterday the proposal to place the additional item on the agenda of the 21st session of the Mostar City Council (MCC). This proposal refers to the election of a new President of the MCC. According to the HDZ Caucus decision the candidate for this position is President of HDZ Caucus Ivan Musa. DL says that by submitting this proposal three days before the MCC session the HDZ Caucus respected the MCC Book of Rules and in spite of negative opinion that MCC Vice President Milan Jovicic has about HDZ he should place the HDZ proposal on the agenda. DL says that we shall see whether the new MCC President will be elected on Monday. |
Other issues | |
| Update to sepsis affair at Banjaluka CC
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘All babies recovered from sepsis’ – Sretko Petkovic, Deputy Director of Clinical Centre, yesterday announced that there are no more babies at the Banjaluka Clinical Centre infected with sepsis. However, he could not confirm whether two babies, who were treated for sepsis, were also released home. |
| Fires still raging in Trebinje area | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 9, ‘Forests around Trebinje still in fire’ – In spite of 24 hours attempts of firemen to extinguish the fire, the fires have still been raging in the areas of Alen Dol and Jelen Dol (around 20 km from Trebinje). |
| Cross from Stari Grad to be removed today | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Authority to remove cross today’ – The Municipal Construction Inspector in Srebrenica has issued an order the day before yesterday that the removal of the Serb Orthodox Cross from the Orthodox Graveyard at Stari Grad is to be removed at 11:00 hrs today. |
| Storm update | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Storm consequences’ – The summary of happenings across Republika Srpska on the night before last, when the storm occurred in many parts of the Republika Srpska would be” drought is followed by a storm. Hail and stormy wind have caused enormous damages to orchards and agricultural fields. Electricity was cut off in municipalities like Doboj, Bijeljina, Sekovici, Zvornik, Srebrenica. |
| Mrdja pleaded guilty | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Darko Mrdja pleaded guilty’, Blic pg. 18 – Panel of Judges of the ICTY yesterday accepted the agreement on plea of Darko Mrdja on two counts of indictment, which charge him with the murder and inhuman conduct. Namely, Mrdja pleaded guilty for the murder of 200 civilians at Koricani Rocks and inhuman conduct. Sarajevo media, Guardian, The New York Times also covered the issue. |
| Dodik to testify next week | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Dodik to testify at the end of next week’ – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, will testify in the trial against Radoslav Brdjanin on 31 July and 1 August. |
| Judicial Education Centre opened in Banjaluka
| Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘More solid foundations to judiciary’; Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Centre for Education of Republika Srpska judges and prosecutor’s opened’ – At the premises of the Tunjice Penalty and Correction Centre near Banjaluka, the Education Centre for the judges and prosecutor’s from Republika Srpska was opened yesterday. Saud Filipovic, Republika Srpska Minister of Justice, stated that the opening of the Centre represents an important step towards European integration. Aleksis Huppant, EC official, stated that the opening of such a centre “is a key cornerstone of reforms in judiciary”. |
| Dukic on Keraterm plaque | Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Same standards to apply to all’ – Branislav Dukic, President of the Republika Srpska Association of former inmates, yesterday met the OHR official, Pedro Lacunza. The meeting discussed the request for the placement of the commemorative plaque within the facility of the Prijedor firm of Keraterm. Dukic said that: “Former inmates pledge for reconciliation, but also for the truth. If a plaque is to be placed at Keraterm, than similar plaques should also be placed at 124 locations in Sarajevo, where Serbs were tortured and murdered.” |