| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Law on refugees and DPs | EU – BH negotiations | HR on defence reform | Threats to RS Poste Direc. |
| Brcko Assembly crisis | Law on refugees amended | Credits for municipalities | Potocary Battery factory |
| EC warns Croatia | OHR abuses human rights | Decertified policemen | Banja Luka health workers |
| Cup UEFA started | Bush – Schroeder meeting | BiH House of Reps | HoR held session |
| Oslobodjenje | Lorries bypassed Alijagic |
| Dnevni Avaz | Dragan Covic: Bush promised me he would visit BiH |
| Dnevni List | 25 million dollars for strengthening of municipalities; Meeting on “Third GSM licence – how and when”: Decision on licence next week; Bruce McLane: Compromise must be found due to importance of defence reform |
| Vecernji List | Covic invites Bush to BiH; Introduction of VAT by 2006 |
| Glas Srpske | Srebrenica: Workers without a factory; Strike Committee of the Banja Luka Clinical Centre: Situation is worse than ever |
| Nezavisne Novine | Report of the Special Auditor hired by RS Elektroprivreda on collection of charges for electric energy: RS Government and SDS do not pay for electricity; BiH Minister for Communications, Branko Dokic: BiH should finance feasibility study for 5C Corridor |
| Blic | No money for child’s allowance in Brcko; Clinical Centre: they threaten to break Hippocrates’s oath |
Defence reform | |
| Ashdown urges BiH leaders ahead of PIC meeting not to miss the opportunity
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘The next few days crucial for future of BiH’, FTV – “The next few days, even hours, will be crucial for BiH’s future. The eyes of Europe and the world are on BiH as its leaders decide whether to seize the opportunity to take the first historic steps into NATO and European security structures. Today all the EU ambassadors are meeting the BiH Presidency to urge them not to miss this opportunity to put BiH’s armed forces under state control, and put all its soldiers in one uniform, and march them towards NATO. Tomorrow, the political directors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) are coming to Sarajevo to be briefed on the defence reforms, and the other reform processes under way. NATO’s Military Committee, made up of some of the most senior military officers from NATO’s 19 members, is also arriving in BiH tomorrow and will be briefed on the defence reform process,” said OHR in a press release issued on Wednesday. “The High Representative passionately believes that membership of first PfP (Partnership for Peace) and then NATO offers BiH the best guarantee of long-term peace and stability. He will tell the PIC that it would be a tragedy if BiH rejected this historic opportunity to give the citizens of this country a peaceful future. But he will underline that the choice lies in the hands of BiH’s political leaders. NATO is looking to the BiH authorities to do this themselves. He will tell the PIC that these defence reforms, and after them the ITA and intelligence reforms, represent the greatest test of BiH’s international credibility since he became High Representative,” according to the release. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 6, “OHR: Next few days crucial for future of BiH”, by D. Pasic), Dnevni List (page 3, “Eyes of Europe and world are on BiH”, by De.L), Nezavisne Novine pg. 6 also covered the OHR press release. Vecernje Novosti pg. 5 ‘Everyone needs to get something’ carries OHR, General Ward and EU Javier Solana’s statements on the defence reform. |
| EU ambassadors call on BiH authorities to launch defence reform | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Defence reform as soon as possible’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Commission found the best solution’, FENA – Ambassadors of the European Union member states in BiH called on BiH authorities not to miss the opportunity to launch reform in the defence system. The EU ambassadors made this call on Wednesday at the meeting with members of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic and Borislav Paravac, and the advisor for military matters of Dragan Covic, was announced by the Italian Embassy in BiH. The EU Ambassadors reminded about what BiH gains by adopting and implementing of reform proposed by the Defence Reform Commission, which will make BiH a credible candidate for the Partnership for Peace. They stressed that, if BiH politicians should consider and accept the package of reform prepared by the Commission and insure their democratic and parliamentary passage, BiH will send a strong political message. They also stressed that BiH Parliament must be given an opportunity to consider these proposals. Vecernji List (page 2, “Last chance for European integration”, by Fena), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 6, “A lot have been expected from new reforms”, by D.P.) also covered this press release. |
| Party for BiH supports draft defence law, defence reform
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘The proposed law ensures establishment of a single defence structure’, FENA – At its session on Wednesday, the Presidency of the Party for BiH concluded that the draft BiH defence law, despite some shortcomings, still guarantees the establishment of a single defence structure at the state level. The Party’s statement says that the law establishes a system of institutions and their jurisdictions with a clear single chain of command and the control over all of the armed structures in the country. The Party also believes that the draft law establishes a defence system in BiH which makes it possible for the country to join the Partnership for Peace. This is why, in addition to the bill, a report should be adopted on the work of the commission in charge of the defence reform, stipulating that the adoption of the law is one of the key steps on BiH’s path to joining NATO. |
| Slobodna Dalmacija editorial on defence reform | With regard to the defense reform, Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, “Bosniak radicals are working in favor of Serb radicals”, by Marin Erceg) carries an editorial saying that according to well-informed persons close to the SDA top, SDA president Sulejman Tihic is ready for compromises, however, his closest advisors are not. The editorial also says: “By well known methods, the International Community will sooner or later probably get the consent of the Bosniak side for the existing or slightly modified proposal of the defense reform. However, the battle for the first position among Bosniaks and a big influence of Serb circles through ‘their people’ who practice the Bosniak radicalism in public and who actually work against Bosniaks will slow down the process and leave enough space for new secret and public negotiations on recognizing and re-tailoring of borders in Balkans.” |
| Dnevni List interview with McLane
| Dnevni List (front and page 7, “Compromise must be found due to importance of defense reform”, conducted by E. Mackic) carries an interview with member of the Defense Reform Commission and NATO representative Bruce McLane. Asked as to what is the next step if SDA does not accept the reform, McLane says: “It is sad that these concrete issues were a subject of such harsh discussion in media. We, members of the Commission, have discussed a few thousand issues which were resolved through compromise and for this reason I am certain that we shall find a proper compromise for this issue as well. If it happens that we cannot resolve it by the end of the week we shall try to continue with our work in order to find a satisfactory solution for all sides. I am saying this because I believe that the thing that we are proposing is too important for the future of BiH to leave it unresolved.” |
| Nezavisne Novine interview with Locher
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 – ‘The Draft Law on Defence goes to the Parliament even without consensus’ – in an interview to Nezavisne Novine, the Chairman of the Defence Reform Commission, James Locher, stated that he believes a solution would be found for issues contested by the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic. He emphasised that the report of the Defence Reform Commission will be forwarded to the Peace Implementation Council and NATO Military Committee, even without the consensus of all Commission members. Also, said Locher, the report will be forwarded to the Parliament, even without the consent of the Bosniak representatives. |
| SDA believes the solution will be reached | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 – ‘The SDA believes that an agreement will be reached on Defence reform’- the Deputy President of SDA, Seada Palavric confirmed yesterday that her party believes a consensus will be reached by the members of the Defence Reform Commission, before today’s presentation of the Commission’s report to the Peace Implementation Council. NN quote Palavric: ‘Discussions are still ongoing and we expect Mr. Locher and other members of the Commission to have the same approach to the objections from the Bosniak side as they had towards the objections of the other two sides involved.’ Secretary General of the BiH Standing Military Committee and Bosniak member of the Defence Reform Commission, Enes Becirbasic stated yesterday he believes that a consensus will be reached. |
| Paravac on defence reform | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 – ‘With reforms to Partnership for Peace’- Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac said that, with the concept of defence reform at the state level, BiH fulfils all the conditions necessary for admission to Partnership for Peace program. According to Paravac, the Defence Reform Commission was working with respect to equal position of all BiH members and with professional assistance from the representatives of the international community and under the authority of the Chairman, James Locher. When it comes to the transfer of authorisation from RS institutions to the state level institutions, Paravac said that the RS National Assembly will have the final say. |
| SDP BiH does not accept proposed defence reform concept | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6- ‘Zeljko Komsic, Vice President of SDP BiH: We do not accept the defence reform concept’- the Vice President of the SDP BiH, Zeljko Komsic stated yesterday that SDP does not accept the proposal of the Defence Reform Commission, which preserves national division in the armed forces units. However, Komsic said, his party did not receive the full report of the Defence Reform Commission. |
| Oslobodjenje interview with Ward | Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Do not miss the only way towards NATO’ – “This is a process that is evolving. What is valid now does not have to be valid in two or three years,” said SFOR Commander William Ward in an interview for the newspaper referring to the proposed defence reform. |
| George Robertson for Dnevni Avaz on defence reform | Dnevni Avaz pg. 5, mentioned on the front page ‘Defence reform of crucial importance’ – “The defence reforms are of crucial importance for BiH and they are not something that can be used as subject in daily political games,” NATO Secretary General George Robertson told the newspaper. |
| Nikolic sees proposed defence reform as the only realistic one at the moment | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘The Commission’s report is our ticket for NATO’ – In a statement for the newspaper, the FBiH Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic, said that he saw the proposed Defence Reform Commission’s solutions as the only ones, which could be realized at the moment. |
| Vecernje Novosti on defence reform from the Serb’s angle | Vecernje Novosti pg. 5 ‘Against imposition’ – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said in London that demilitarisation would be the most acceptable solution for BiH. Nikola Spiric said that the IC had found the best way to establish a joint army in BiH. “On that road, RS politicians has given important concessions by accepting the bases of defence reforms and a joint army instead of the current two.” Spokesman of the SDS, Dusan Stojicic, said that the party would support these solutions that meant the preservation of RS army and other bodies in the defence system that would participate in the future BiH defence system. He expressed hope that a final stand of RS authority on the defence reforms would be finalised at the RS National Assembly’s session. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Potocari Battery Factory workers protest
| RTRS – Potocari Battery Factory workers continues with strike, dissatisfied with compensation paid by the RS Government. Ownership of the Battery Factory should be transferred on Thursday to the Foundation of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery, following decision of the High Representative. Factory workers demands compensation in amount of km 10 000 and threatening with setting fire to themselfs if their demands are not fulfiled. RS Government ensured km155 000 for compensations, so factory workers received amounts between 1200 to 4000, depending on their working experience and average salaries. With this compensation, workers received decisions on breaking of working agreements. they sent message that they will not leave factory premises until thier demands are fulfiled. |
| HR replies to Potocari Battery factory occupants, owner
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘The obligation of RS is to pay compensation’, FENA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on Wednesday sent a letter to Radomir Zekic, the director, and the shareholders and tenants of the Battery Factory “AS” in Potocari near Srebrenica. In his letter, the High Representative reminds Mr. Zekic that the Decision transferring ownership of the Battery Factory to the Foundation of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery was issued following full consultation with the Republika Srpska (RS) authorities, who agreed with this course of action. The RS authorities appointed the Commission, which is to determine the compensation to be paid by the RS to the current owners and users of the Battery Factory. The failure of the Compensation Commission to reach a conclusion within the stipulated period would not affect the right of the Foundation of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery to take possession of the site, according to OHR. Glas Srpske, cover page – ‘Workers without a factory’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘A deadline for moving out of the Factory expires today’ – Also reported on the issue. GS carries yesterday’s press release from the OHR, saying that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, informed the Director of the Battery Factory ‘As’ in Potocari, Radomir Zekic, that the ownership of the Factory should be transferred to the Srebrenica Potocari Memorial and Cemetery. According to Director Zekic, representatives of the Memorial should take over the factory today at 15:00 hrs. On the other hand, one of the workers, Milenko Popovic, said that if an RS Government representative does not address the workers, the workers will close the gates and will not allow anyone to access the Factory. |
| PDHR Hays meets with senior management of Metro South East Europe | Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘Fiscal system represents an obstacle to investment in BiH’, FENA – The Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, met Dr Damir First, President of the Board of Metro South East Europe, at the OHR on Wednesday. Metro is the largest wholesale chain in Europe, with a presence in 26 European countries. The company has recently expanded into Central and Eastern Europe. It specialises in developing domestic food and non-food production markets by buying domestically produced products. Metro is exploring the possibility of establishing a presence in BiH, Dr First told Ambassador Hays, but he said the present fiscal system is a serious disincentive to investing in this country. “We are impressed by the potential of the BiH market,” Dr First said. “But we will not start doing business here until an effective Value Added Tax system has been introduced. The sales tax is inefficient and the disparity between Entity tax systems would make it difficult for us to run our business profitably here.” Dr First said the tax-reform proposals drawn up by the Dixon Commission and presented to the BiH Council of Ministers at the start of August would give BiH a modern fiscal system of the sort that businesses all over Europe are accustomed to. “Before we can start to introduce VAT, we need the Law on the Indirect Taxation System of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be passed by the BiH Parliament,” said Ambassador Hays. “This has to be done by November if we are to start the very complex implementation process at the beginning of 2004. Enacting this legislation is one of the keys to getting companies like Metro to invest in BiH – and that is the key to creating jobs. It’s time the Council of Ministers adopted the ITA law and sent it to parliament for enactment.” (Dnevni List pg. 4) |
| Srpske Poste Affair: Pejic versus Kalinic | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 9 – ‘Pejic: If something happens to me, Kalinic and Ivanic are the ones responsible’- current Director of Srpske Poste, Milutin Pejic said yesterday that he will attend the meeting of the shareholders, scheduled to take place in Sokolac, in spite of the threats he received and added ‘if something happens to me, only Presidents of SDS and PDP, Dragan Kalinic and Mladen Ivanic, can be the ones who ordered it.’ Pejic recalled that the reasons for his dismissal are purely political and added that some ten days ago, he received a threatening phone call, warning him that he will be ‘blown away’ if he does not withdraw from his current post. The Chairman of the Board of Governors of Srpske Poste, Milorad Zrnic, accused, as he said, a group of undisciplined shareholders and Syndicate representatives, for undermining the appointment of the new Director General. The SDS President, Dragan Kalinic, rejected Pejic’s allegations and denied that he stands behind threatening calls that Pejic received. Kalinic said that he will press charges against Pejic, if Pejic does not withdraw his allegations. |
| Banja Luka Clinical Centre continues with strike | Glas Srpske, cover page – ‘Situation worse than ever’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 11- ‘Medical workers threaten to stop working’, Blic pg. 9 ‘They threaten to break Hippocrates’s oath’ – the strike committee of the Banja Luka Clinical Centre sent a written warning to the RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic and RS Health Minister, Marin Kvaternik, that if their requests are not met, they will call the employees for a total break in the work of Clinical Centre, from October 1. The strike committee requests the following: appointment of the Clinical Centre leadership, defining of concrete and acceptable solutions for solving of catastrophic situation in the Clinical Centre. If this is not fulfilled by September 30, only those patients in critical condition will be admitted to the hospital, other should go to medical facilities in other municipalities. |
| Update on RS Telekom Affair | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5 – ‘Vujanovic has no Faculty degree’- the daily reports that the Chairman of the RS Telekom Board of Governors, Zoran Vujanovic, does not have a Faculty degree from Tuzla University, as he claims. The Electric-Technical Faculty in Tuzla confirmed that Vujanovic left the Faculty at his second year. NN tried to contact Vujanovic yesterday, but he was not available. |
| 5c Corridor | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 – ‘BiH should finance project documentation study on 5c Corridor’- The BiH Communications Minister, Branko Dokic said that his Ministry will request BiH Council of Ministers to finance project documentation for 5c Corridor. Dokic explained that his Ministry has not yet identified ways to collect necessary financial means but believes that a solution will be found soon. |
| FBiH Customs Administration investigation
| Oslobodjenje front page ‘Lorries bypassed Alijagic’ – The Bihac Customs Office was in 2000, at the time when more than 2,800 lorries with goods ‘disappeared’, managed by Adnan Alijagic who was afterwards appointed Head of the Bihac Municipality. The FBiH Customs Administration has continued with the investigation into the affair. |
| Maggle owner visits BiH, meet with Ashdown | Oslobodjenje pg. 19 (business section) ‘The Bihac milk factory to be the first company in BiH with EU certificate’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 12 – The economic development of a country is in the first place reflected in the development of agriculture, which is one of the basic segments in further development of other industries, Toni Meggle, the founder of the world-famous milk industry, emphasized at a press conference in Sarajevo on Wednesday. In the course of his visit to BiH, Meggle met with FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic and High Representative Paddy Ashdown. |
| Terzic meets WB, IMF officials in Dubai | Oslobodjenje pg. 19 ‘Credit line for SMEs of 20 million dollars’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, FENA – Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, who is heading the BiH delegation at the meeting of annual Assembly of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, met on Wednesday in Dubai with senior officials of these international financial institutions, was announced by the Council of Ministers. Managing Director of the World Bank Shengman Zhang and WB Vice-president for Central and Eastern Europe Shigeo Katsu expressed satisfaction with the activities on designing of the BiH Development Strategy (PRSP). On basis of this document the international community will continue supporting BiH. WB officials expressed readiness to, in co-operation with the European Union, organise a consultative meeting of donors and foreign investors in the beginning of next year for the purpose of supporting BiH in the next mid term. |
| RS Government and SDS do not pay their electricity bills | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3 – ‘RS Government and SDS do not pay their electricity bills’- the daily reports that, according to the Special auditor’s report [hired by RS Elektroprivreda] on collection of charges for power, the debt of the budget users increased for 4,3 million KM, since the end of last year. The report which was completed on August 15, says that at this point, the overall debt of RS Government Ministries to RS Elektroprivreda is 10,7 million KM. Also, the auditor found out that SDS offices in Doboj and Sokolac owe significant amounts to Elektroprivreda and that even when the payment is made, it was done from the municipal budget, not from the party budget. |
| RS Elektroprivreda rejects Hays’ claims | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘RS Elektroprivreda rejects Hays’ claims’ – the Board of Governors of the RS Elektroprivreda yesterday rejected objections addressed by the representatives of the international community, including PDHR Donald Hays, which concern selling of power for price lower than the market value and also rejected doubts as to where the money collected from selling of the power goes to. The BoG release says it is a ‘known fact that ES Elektroprivreda has market surplus of power and that the energy is exported. In last few years, RS Elektroprivreda is exporting around one quarter or one third of the energy it produces’… |
Political developments | |
| BiH-EU talks on feasibility study
| BHTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Report on the feasibility study will be completed by the end of the year’ – BiH and EU representatives completed final round of negotiations on feasibility study. After considering 346 answers Brussels will determine if BiH may enter next stage of accession. If answer is negative it would be back forward of two years. EC representative David Dely said: “it is not possible to predict what will happen, we completed technical part of job and further consideration in Brussels is next stage”. Head of BiH Office for European Integration Topcagic: “We have done everything possible to provide positive answer from Brussels. Negotiations will happen, only question is when”. Progress on reforms will be most important criteria for determining if BiH is eligible for further integration with the EU. |
| Winterstein to address journalists in Mostar today | FENA – On Thursday, Chairman of the Commission for the Reform of the City of Mostar, Norbert Winterstein is to hold a press conference in Mostar prior to the first session of the Commission. At the press conference he will be joined by the Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt, Mayor of Mostar Hamdija Jahic and Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 carried a statement on the issue by OHR South Spokersperson Avis Benes. |
| Tihic, Lozancic, Halilovic meet with Winterstein | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Vecernji List pg. 2, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Mostar Statute to be drafted by the end of the year’, FENA – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic received on Wednesday the Chairman of the Commission for designing the permanent statute of the City of Mostar, Norbert Winterstein. They talked about progress of the Commission, which respectively comprises one representative of every relevant political party in Mostar, was announced by BiH Presidency. They expressed hope that political consensus of all parties would result in finding a solution for Mostar until the end of the year. In this context Tihic emphasised that the best solution for Mostar is the unified city with strong authorisations and established city institutions. In the course of the day, Winterstein also met with President of Federation of BiH Niko Lozancic. The meetings were also attended by the Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt. FENA- Party for BiH Presidency Chair Safet Halilovic held talks with Mostar Commission Chair Norbert Winterstein in Sarajevo on Wednesday about ways how to resolve the issue of this city, the Party for BiH stated.They stressed that the recently established Commission would try to find the best possible solutions and equal rights for all citizens and peoples who would live in a united Mostar. |
| Vecernji List on Mostar restructuring | Vecernji List (page 2, “Restructured Mostar centre of Herzegovina again”, by Z. Kresic) – announces that the new Mostar Commission starts its work today, the Commission which would “abolish the division in the city determined by the Dayton agreements”. VL carries one of members of the Commission, Josip Merdzo (HDZ), as saying that he is optimistic when it comes to the Commission, expecting that positions regarding the important issues in Mostar will get closer. He further explained that the most important thing is that the principles regarding the Mostar restructuring remain the same. Commenting on the fact that the Mostar Commitment envisages that the Mostar Commission has big possibilities in sense of changing the FBiH and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton constitutions, the author says the political circles in Mostar already calls the Commission the “Mini-High Representative”. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, “Commission starts working”, by M. Landeka) also announces that the Commission will start working today. |
| NHI slams OHR’s stand on constituent status of nations | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Croat rights abused in Brcko’, FENA – The New Croat Initiative (NHI) regards as unacceptable the position of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) on issues of rights and freedoms, or rather pertaining to the equality and the constituent status of nations in BiH. Based on the views and decisions declared so far by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown on the cities of Mostar, Travnik, Brcko and Sarajevo, it is impossible to resist the impression that some peoples are less equal than others, it says in a statement by the NHI. The OHR’s initiatives for the preparation of principles for restructuring Mostar, which would safeguard the national interests and representation in the government structures from 1991, unfortunately do not follow the same or similar decisions regarding Brcko. Under the full patronage and inappropriate threat of Brcko District supervisor Henry Clarke, the rights of one nation – guaranteed in the arbitration decision on the status of Brcko – are systematically being trampled and the results of ethnic cleansing in Brcko are being legalized. The NHI is of the view that such an attitude benefits those forces which advocate radicalization of the political situation in BiH, or rather those who, under the pretext of the systematic oppression of one nation’s rights, are actually advocating the ethnic division of the country. “The OHR activities give way to enough arguments and encourage all those activities aimed at this objective (of ethnic division),” the NHI statement says. (Dnevni List front and page 6) |
| BiH HoR adopts framework document on return of refugees | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Support to refugees under state control’ – At a session held in Sarajevo on Wednesday, BiH House of Representatives endorsed the decisions on the BiH strategy for the implementation of Annex Seven to the Dayton Peace Accords. This is BiH’s first document that deals with the issue of returns at the level of the state. The discussion on the return strategy held at the session represents a continuation of the discussion held in July, in the course of which the representatives had authorized the Commission for Human Rights, Refugees and Asylum to prepare the decisions which would be incorporated in the strategy. This is the first framework document that deals with the return issue at the level of BiH, which was earlier endorsed by the relevant Entities’ institutions and by representatives of the international community. The strategy says that about a million people have returned to their prewar residences, adding that there are as many displaced persons and refugees whose status has not yet been resolved. Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Changes in the Law on Concessions without support’ also reported on the session. |
| DL on political, social situation in BiH, Constitution change initiatives | Dnevni List (page 6, “More play, less bread”, by Anica Tomic-Babic) – the author criticizes the BiH authorities of not caring for BiH citizens, for not providing the necessary bread, and instead of that taking care of their own affairs. In that context, the author says that leaders of both ruling and opposition parties simply do not have the vision how to use the resources, which makes Lagumdzija and Dodik’s requests for early elections pointless. “Then both the authority and opposition blame Ashdown. He disturbs them, so they say, ruling. As if we had not seen how they ruled before Ashdown. As if we do not know how they’d rule even after him! All that shows that they do not know that the essence of governance is serving the citizenry”, says Tomic-Babic. The author also notes that the “International Crisis Group” claims that Ashdown does not administrate efficiently enough, that he administrates like a 19th century raj in India. In that context, the author says both India and BiH have less than 60% of urban population and less than 6.000 US$ per capita, meaning there are no basic pre-requisites for functioning of democracy whoever the administrator is, be it Ashdown, the ICG, a raj or someone similar. The author’s final message is that the BiH leaders are having tough time with the OHR, assessing that things would be even worse without it. “Therefore, leaders, stop accusing the OHR. Get the ‘Jobs and Justice’ in front of you, and take the ‘Bulldozer’ to work”, concludes the author. Dnevni List (page 2, “Change of Dayton with painful compromises”, by Ivica Glibusic) – amid many requests aimed at changing of the Dayton Peace Accord, the author argues that the IC will not take it upon itself to impose a new agreement, but transfers the responsibility to BiH officials, as recently stated by the High Representative, who stated that the DPA would be changed with consent of BiH peoples, probably with “painful compromises”. In that context, Glibusic argues the changes have already begun, fearing that these silent changes might cause even greater injustice than the ones in the DPA. Glibusic says the defence reforms is one of examples that the changes will not go easy given the reactions of the Bosniak member of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic. |
| Covic met with Bush | Vecernji List (front and page 3, “Covic invites Bush to BiH”, by J. Pavkovic) carries that Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, met with the US President, George Bush, yesterday. VL says that on this occasion Covic thanked Bush for everything that the USA did for BiH and invited him to visit BiH, especially if it is possible during the opening ceremony of the Mostar’s Old Bridge. According to VL, Covic also met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and informed him about the current situation in BiH, first of all, about the reforms of the army and tax system. Dnevni Avaz front page pg. 3 ‘Bush promised me he would visit BiH’ also covered the issue. |
| New Head of OHR South introduced to journalists | Dnevni List (page 17, “Medic: OSCE is not involved in negotiations on ending of strike”, by D. Kozina) – a report from regular press conference of international organizations seated in Mostar during which the new Head of OHR South, Deputy High Representative, Ambassador Jacques Andrieu, presented himself to the journalists. Andrieu said that most of his professional career is behind him and that he did not arrive to BiH to build his career but to offer his knowledge and experience. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, “New head – Andrieu”, by Zoran Zekic) – the author notes that Ambassador Andrieu is well-experienced with regards to issues pertaining to local authority. |
| BiH Election Commission: 49 officials should resign | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 – ’49 officials facing resignation’- BiH Election Commission set a five days deadline to 49 officials in BiH to, in line with the Law on conflict of interest, resign to one of the posts they obtain. Nezavisne Novine carries the list of 49 officials. Even though it was announced, the BiH Election Commission, did not consider the case of BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, whether his appointment for the member of EBRD Board of Governors is in line with the Law or represents a violation of its provisions. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
Security/incidents/legal proceedings | |
| Decertified Sarajevo special police officers issue
| BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5, mentioned on the front page ‘Ashdown creates police state’ – Sarajevo lawyers (representing the decertified Sarajevo special policemen) and League for Protection of Endangered Peoples expressed serious concerns over the letter from OHR saying that decisions of IPTF on de-certification of police officers including the Sarajevo special police officers are binding and should not be undermined or further considered by the courts in BiH. Fadila Memisevic from the League said: “It is an explicit violations of human rights of citizens in BiH who are denied from having fair treatment before the courts.” Lawyer Asim Kadribasic commented: “It looks like introduction of police state, because chief policemen, regardless he is foreigner, is above judicial institutions”. Lawyer Senka Nozica recommended international community to implement Dayton Accord and not exert pressure on judges. |
| RS police arrest two people in Prijedor for inciting national hatred | Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Leaflets about the truth considered a crime?’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘The authorities disturbed by a leaflet reminding of 1992 murders’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 20 ‘They distributed leaflets’, SRNA – Members of the Prijedor public security station have arrested Zlatan Krkic (born in 1978) from Prijedor and Emsud Mujagic (born in 1952) from Kozarac for distributing leaflets which incite national hatred and intolerance between the Serb and Bosniak people, a statement issued by the RS Interior Ministry says. Krkic and Mujagic distributed leaflets to foreigners during the forum of cities and regions of South Eastern Europe, which was held in Prijedor over the past two days. Both were released after questioning. The police report will be forwarded to a public prosecutor who will decide what course of action to take. The leaflets have a picture of a skull on grass and accuse the local authorities of knowing about “the fate of victims but do not want to reveal locations of mass and individual graves because they helped fill them up and cover them up”. |
| RS Helsinki Committee: There is no interest to investigate crimes | Blic pg. 7 ‘There is no interest to investigate crimes’ – “The courts and prosecutions in RS do not show any interest to investigate war crimes. What worries the most is the fact that institutions that should work independently are under pressure from politicians, who do not whish to say publicly that crimes were committed,” president of RS Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Branko Todorovic, said. He added that the RS Helsinki Committee has information that certain individuals who are directly responsible for war crimes are at large and participating in public life, but refused to give names. |
| Kalinic on Bocinja issue | Vecernje Novosti pg. 5 ‘Foreigners at their own land’ – Speaker of the RS National Assembly, Dragan Kalinic, has stated that if the international community do not react on and sanction the act of Mujahedeens in Bocinja, a clear message will be sent to Serbs that they do not have to seek their future in BiH. Reacting on Mujahedeens’ statement that Serbs from Bocinja, if they want to live there, need to convert into Islam, Kalinic asked what happened with all these non-governmental organisations for protection of human rights and why OHR had not removed Maglaj’s Mayor and Chief of Police yet. |