OHR BiH Media Round-up, 25/9/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

HDZ Presidency on elections 2006

World News

Murder near Ilijas

OHR on Croats’ rejection of PBS law

EUFOR’s action in Prijedor

Abolishment of SDS?

Cath. Church responds to Del Ponte

McElhaney on police reform

HDZ on Law on PBS

Hurricane Rita weakens

Issue of VAT registration

CG Religious leaders in Srebrenica

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

CG Religious leaders in Srebrenica

McElhaney on police reform

Rita struck USA south coast

Burial for victims from Crni Vrh

Old foreign currency savers’ requests

Gen. Subotic appellation accepted

World News

Issue of VAT payers registration

EUFOR searched Hotel “Sherwood”

Suicide in Mostar

VAT payers registration in Tuzla

EUFOR checking Karakaj crossing

Oslobodjenje

Croat delegates were invited to vote against the Law on Public RTV system

Dnevni Avaz

They want to deny genocide with tricks

Dnevni List

Weapons from BiH in Middle East

Vecernji List

Electricity to get more expensive for record 50% (reports on an increase of prices of electricity caused by the application of winter tariffs as of October 1)

Nezavisne Novine

“Rita” devastated coasts of Texas

Political developments

HDZ adopted draft election strategy, called upon Croat representatives not to support PBS Law

RHB, FTV, BHT1, RTRS – BiH HDZ Presidency adopted the draft strategy for general elections 2006, book of rules, and draft regulations on work of courts of honour, at its sixth session held on Saturday in Neum. At the session, six party boards have also been established. Following the Presidency session, a joint session of the HDZ National Council and Central Committee was held, on which elections strategy for 2006 was unanimously adopted.

FTV, BHT1, Hayat – The attempt on prevent establishment of RTV channel in Croatian language was discussed. It was said concluded that BiH Constitutional Court, instead of protecting basic human rights of BiH people, including Croats’ rights, supported a unitary model of BiH constitutional organization. Croat representatives in BiH House of Peoples were asked not to vote for Public Broadcasting System Law.

RTRS – HDZ has called Croat representatives in BiH House of Peoples not to support the PBS draft law. HDZ claim this law would legitimise inequality of Croats in BiH, with regards to public broadcasting.

Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Croat delegates were invited to vote against the Law on PBS’ by V. Z. – F., Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Delegates were ordered not to vote for the Law on PBS’ by F. Vele, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘PBS Law too harmful for Croats’ by Marijan Ivesa, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘HDZ session was held’ by Agencies – also report on HDZ session.

HDZ denies there are rifts within the party

BHT1 – Members of HDZ have stressed that there are no clashes within HDZ, but Bozo Ljubic or any other opponent to Covic haven’t attended this session. Members stated that this is not prove of clashes, stressing that HDZ will come to elections undivided, but they stressed that it might be interesting to hear different stances in this party. Members haven’t discussed constitutional changes, even though it was announced, but their next session will be fully dedicated to this issue.

OHR and EC Delegation to BiH: creating single language channel is against spirit of DA

RHB – In response to Croats’ comments regarding the PBS law, OHR and EC Delegation to BiH state that creating a single-language channel is against the spirit of Dayton Peace Agreement and undermines PBS. OHR says that framework of the PBS law is one of the Feasibility Study requirements and calls upon all three nations to support the law on PBS. OHR reminds that BiH Constitutional Court has decided that PBS law is not violating national interests of BiH Croats.

RS Finances Minister Cenic on new RS Govt’s initiative on police reform, implementation of VAT

Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9, announced on cover ‘I’m panicking, but because of VAT’ by Dragan Jerinic – in a two pages long interview to NN, RS Minister of Finances and a member of RS police reform negotiation team Svetlana Cenic said no person can be amnestied from the responsibility for police reform because ‘we are all merely products of an foreign elements’. She added that the new RS Government’s initiative on police reform is ‘an attempt to do something that would be grounded on three EU principles and would respect stances of all political elements in RS as well. It’s the final time to jointly decide what is the future of BiH, as well as to decide what is the future of RS within BiH’. She also emphasised she pleads for a single VAT rate and she expressed her concern over the implementation of VAT because ITA is slow unprepared and has lots of paper work to deal with.

BHT1 speculates on future of SDS and future steps of IC

BHT1 By Zoran Sarenac – SDS assesses the investigation on their finances as an introduction to abolishment of their party, while SNSD considers that this campaign is prolonging SDS’s time limit. The reporter stated that HR Paddy Ashdown has most certainly introduced SDS with sanctions that he will install due to failure of police reform, while on the other side SDS has started a campaign, searching for sympathies for alleged abolishment of the party.  Analysts consider that HR is acting in accordance with the instructions of International Crisis Group, which recently suggested abolishment of SDS and change of the Constitution, but leader of the strongest BiH Party (Reporter’s words) Milorad Dodik claims that all this is a calculated game. Many speculations have came out regarding this situation and most of them say that if Cavic fails to persuade RS politicians to accept police reform, SDS will cease to exist, Cavic will establish new Party, while International representatives will raise the issue of change of the Dayton Agreement, on its 10^th anniversary.

SDS’s Bosic: HR’s letter creates pre-requisites for abolishment of SDS

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SDS facing abolishment’ by R. Segrt – SDS Board have received copies of a decision of HR Paddy Ashdown, by which the party is practically banned to perform any kind of financial transactions. According to an anonymous source, SDS should hold a session on Monday during which it would decide what kind of policy to conduct following the latest OHR measures. SDS’s Mladen Bosic assessed the letter by saying it practically creates pre-requisites for the abolishment of the party.

RS political parties willing to help RS Government with police reform

Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘Parties are helping the Government with police reform’ by V. Popovic – RS political parties are willing to reply to the invitation of RS Government and offer it their suggestions with regard to police reform. SNSD says they have nothing against RS Government using their proposal on police reform. According to SNSD’s Krstan Simic, the party’s proposal foresees the system of territorial organisation of police that would be compatible with the structure of Prosecutor’s Offices. SDS’s Mladen Bosic said they would support the new initiative of RS Government and they expressed their conviction that, this time, they will find a solution. PDP’s Mladen Ivanic said RS negotiators should consider solutions that would respect the European principles.

OSCE Chairman and Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Rupel to visit BiH, meet domestic and IC representatives on Tuesday

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Rupel in Sarajevo on Tuesday’ by Onasa – OSCE Chairman and Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitrij Rupel will visit Sarajevo on Tuesday to meet with BiH Presidency members, CoM members, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic, HR Paddy Ashdown, Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys and other IC representatives. They will discuss the current political situation in BiH, future distribution of tasks among international institutions in the state and role of OSCE in implementation of reforms in BiH.

Economy/social issues

The Association of Old Foreign Currency Savers demands for suspension of diplomatic relations with Slovenia and SiCG; Omersoftic accuses IC of being involved in the case

TV Pink, RTRS, Hayat, FTV– The Association in charge of protection of old foreign currency savers will submit to BiH Presidency and BiH Council of Ministers a request on suspension of diplomatic relations with Slovenia and Serbia-Montenegro, as well as on prohibition on import of goods from the above mentioned states, due to their rejection to return the savings they had in the states, as decided at the Association’s special session in Sarajevo.

BHT1, Hayat, FTV – The Association of Savers demanded that the Prosecution and Judiciary are included into this issue, because they consider that inability to collect their money is a result of organized crime inside BiH authorities and international structures. Representative of Association Amila Omersoftic stated that they have invited their members to boycott verification, because they see this as attempt of fraud, where savers would accept breach of their contracts, without getting anything for that.

FTV – “International criminal, in which the OHR, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank representatives are involved, is in the background of the issue”, said the Chair of the Association Amila Omersoftic.

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Breaking relations with Slovenia and SiCG!’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘They demand suspension of diplomatic relations with Slovenia and SiCG’ by H. I., Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Savers have no trust in BiH Constitutional Court either’ by Ivica Glibusic – also reported on the Association’s demand.

BiH Constitutional Court postponed discussion on old foreign currency savings

BHT1 – By Boris Grubesic– BiH Constitutional Court (BiH CC) has postponed discussion regarding old foreign exchange savings. The BiH CC will decide whether this issue is the matter for Entities or for the State to deal with at its next session. BiH CC will also discuss the demand of Nikola Spiric on constitutionality of the Law on Internal Debt and verification process. Faris Vahabovic from BiH CC stated that the Court would pass this decision before expiration of deadline for verification.

Terzic and Maric attended IMF and WB sessions

Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Terzic and Maric attended sessions of IMF and World Bank’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Terzic met officials of World Bank and IMF’ by Fena, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘A. Terzic and Lj. Maric in Washington’ by ibc – Chairman of Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and BiH Minister of Finances Ljerka Maric have attended annual session of IMF and World Bank in Washington.

RTRS – Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic and BiH Treasury Minister, Ljerka Maric are attending the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington . BiH Ministers should also meet with officials of The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Minister Halilovic met with World Bank representatives, announced he would send a draft law on high education to parliament

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘The Law is pre-requisite for 24 million dollars’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH might lose a loan amounting 24 million dollars’ by H. Iseric, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘New draft high education law’ by Nina – BIH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic discussed the high education reform with members of World Bank Committee for supervision of Economic Management Structural Adjustments Credits (EMSAC), led by Ardo Hansson. Halilovic announced he would introduce a new Law on high education to the parliament, drafted by local experts in assistance of international organizations. This extremely important reform law still requires help from international organizations, including World Bank, Halilovic told World Bank officials on Friday. The adoption of the high education law on the state level is a pre-requisite for the payment of the second installment of EMSAC loan amounting 24 million dollars.

Trade Union reps attended BiH Government session;

Volas: CoM is doing nothing to remedy difficult economic situation in BiH

Oslobodjenje pg 6, announced on cover ‘CoM is not preventing a disaster’ by V. Z. F. – Chairman of BiH Trade Union Edhem Biber and Chairman of BiH Confederation of Trade Unions Cedo Volas attended a session of BiH alternative Government on Saturday and warned of a difficult economic situation in BiH. Volas said CoM was doing nothing to change the situation. He announced he would demand for an establishment of an economic-social council at BiH level and they will demand for a revision of VAT Law at his next meeting with CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic.

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Terzic and Jovic embarrassed the country in New York’ by Fena – carries a similar report and reads the current political situation was also discussed. It was concluded that the current authorities are leading the country to an even greater crisis, suitable only for those on power. They referred to the speeches of Adnan Terzic and Ivo Miro Jovic before UN General Assembly in New York and said they were ‘using street vocabulary and tried to present the situation in BiH in different ways, which was just another act by which BiH was greatly embarrassed’.

Security issues/legal proceedings

EUFOR conducted a search at “Sherwood” hotel in Prijedor, controlled vehicles at Karakaj border crossing point

TV Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 25 ‘Soldiers searched “Sherwood” hotel’ by M. Zgonjanin, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘They were looking for illegal weapons?!’ by Branka Stevanovic, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Search in “Sherwood” hotel’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘EUFOR searched “Sherwood” hotel’ by D. K. – EUFOR members have carried out a search in hotel ‘Sherwood’ in Prijedor, owned by family of Milorad Milakovic, charged with organized crime and human trafficking. Nothing has been seized during the action, as Spokesperson to RS Police Director Rade Mutic said.

BHT1, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Control of vehicles and passengers’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘EUFOR is controlling the border crossing point’ by De. L. – EUFOR has also conducted a search of vehicles and passengers on border crossing Karakaj, near Zvornik. This action was conducted as form of support to State Border Service, Indirect Taxation Agency and local authorities in fight against organized crime.

European officials investigating report on alleged sale of weapons to Middle East radical groups

FTV – According to BBC , European officials are investigating reports according to which radical groups at the Middle East are receiving ammunition and weapons from former Yugoslav countries. 

RTRS – European officials are investigating a report of an Israeli web site, according to which Al-Qaida, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are purchasing weapons in the ex-Yugoslavia region.

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Weapons for Middle East coming from BiH?!’ by ra, Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Weapons from BiH in Middle East’ by De. L., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘The Balkans arming Middle East’ by Agencies – carry similar reports.

BiH Constitutional Court adopted appeal of former General Subotic against state of BiH

Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘The appellation of General Subotic was accepted’ by D. B. – BiH Constitutional Court has passed the appeal of former General Bogdan Subotic, raised against State of BiH, regarding the arrestment and imprisonment by SFOR and violation of human rights. BiH CC has ordered State to pay 3,000 KM to Subotic on the account of material and immaterial damages that he had suffered. Subotic was arrested by SFOR in March 2004 and released after six days of captivity.

War crimes

Halilovic: Belgrade is trying to deny aggression against BiH and genocide by tricks

Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘They are trying to deny genocide with tricks’ and pg 4 ‘Belgrade is trying to deny aggression against BiH and genocide by tricks’ by H. Orahovic – With regard to a statement of SiCG legal representative Radoslav Stojanovic on an out-of-court settlement in the case of the lawsuit of BiH against SiCG (See OHR BiH Media Round-up, September 24, 2005), BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic says this is just a legislative combination and a trick made with an attempt to case a shadow on the core of the issue. He added the official Belgrade should finally realize they couldn’t deny that Serbia had conducted an act of aggression against BiH, as well as that there was genocide over Bosniaks.

Leaders of three religious communities from Montenegro visited Potocari memorial centre

BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘A tribute to Srebrenica victims’ by A. H., Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Montenegrin religious officials in Potocari’ by Srna– For the first time, leaders of the largest religious communities in Montenegro have visited Srebrenica together. Metropolitan of Serb Orthodox Church Mihajlo Dedejic, Priest of Catholic Church in Kotor Don Branko Sbutega and former Reis of Islamic Community in Montenegro Idriz Demirovic have stressed that this is not an official visit, but that they have came on their own will to pay respect to victims. They stressed that this visit is a human gesture and they hope that paying of their respect to Srebrenica victims and condemning of the crime can contribute to returning of trust among BiH peoples.

Mortal remains of 43 Bosniaks buried in Kalesija

Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘Funeral for 43 killed Bosniaks’ by V. Jahic, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Another 43 innocent victims of Chetnik crimes were buried’, announced on cover ‘Another 43 victims from Zvornik were buried’ by Almasa Hadzic  – Mortal remains of 43 identified Bosniaks, exhumed from mass-graves Crni Vrh and Kazan-Basca were buried on Saturday in Fallen Veterans Cemetery in Memici, near Kalesija.