OHR BiH Media Round-up, 26/11/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

BiH and EU open SAA negotiations

SAA officially opened

Start of SAA negotiations

HR on opening of SAA negotiations

Rycroft on SAA talks

Solana at DA discussion

Bad reception

HR on SAA talks

25^th November marked only in FBIH

HDZ presidency held session

Solana on SAA talks

25^th November marked in Mostar

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

SAA officially opened

Start of SAA negotiations

Terrorist suspect arrested in BiH

Working day for Paravac

25^th November marked only in FBIH

BiH and EU open SAA negotiations

HR congratulates the Statehood day

25^th November marked in FBIH cities

HR on opening of SAA negotiations

Public poll on the Statehood day

Ceremony in Mrkonjic Grad

Statehood Day not marked in RS

Oslobodjenje

BiH started negotiations with EU

Dnevni Avaz

Historical challenge

Dnevni List

Vaccine that causes meningitis

Vecernji List

First step towards EU

Nezavisne Novine

Negotiations started

BiH started negotiations on SAAwith EU

BiH’s negotiations with EU on SAA officially opened on Friday (Statements by O. Rehn, M. Rycroft, A. Terzic)

FTV – The official opening of BiH’s negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU was marked on Friday. At the ceremony, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, stated that speed and commitment of the EU to start the negotiations on SAA with BiH does not imply that the conditions set before BIH will be diminished. He said that this will be a test for BiH leaders to cooperate and achieve consensus on all crucial matters regarding the SAA process as well as that it is important that the Chief negotiator is strong enough to build the consensus and to present the unanimous stands. “The pace and the conclusion of the agreement will depend on BiH’s progress in terms of development of legislative frame, administrative capacities. This day presents the transition of BiH form the Dayton to a Brussels era. Welcome” added Rehn. He also welcomed the consensus on the initiative to change the BiH Constitution. The British Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft, stated at the ceremony that this is the historical moment for BiH. He stressed that the pace of BiH’s progress towards the EU would depend on how fast the country adopts and implements the relevant reforms in order to become a functional and sustaining country. “The pace and completion of the negotiations would particularly depend on four things. Firstly, progress in development of the legal framework and administration in BiH, implementation of police reform and adopting all the necessary laws on PBS and full cooperation with the ICTY” explained Rycroft.  BiH Council of Ministers Chairman, Adnan Terzic, said that EU has been waiting for BiH to join it but it requires BiH’s outmost cooperation. “In return our diplomas and experts will be internationally recognised, we will travel to EU without visas, we would remove borders, we would improve the economical situation in BiH, expand the trade market, apply the EU social pattern, join in the fight against terrorism and crime, money of tax payers we will invest in development, apply the ecological standards as well as renew old friendships” stated Terzic. He added that this day BiH can celebrate while day after BiH should focus on meeting the set conditions. Also reported by RHB, TV Pink, BHT 1, NTV Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Historical challenge’ and pg 2 ‘M. Rycroft: You are going in right direction in stabile manner’ and pg 3 ‘Terzic: This is historical challenge for our generation’ by S. Turcalo, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘BiH started negotiations with EU’ by M. Kavaz-Sirucic, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Negotiations started’ by M. Cubro, Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘First step towards EU’, pg 2 ‘Way to Europe’ and pg 3 ‘End of SAA negotiations as early as in September 2006?’ by D. Ja., Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Most important date since end of war’ by D. Polovina-Mandic.

DA interview with O. Rehn

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Oli Rehn: Building of efficient state begins’ by S. Turcalo carries an interview with Oli Rehn in which he says that the constitutional changes are not a condition for the negotiations, however, it is important that BiH is a functional state since the EU wants to have a reliable partner in the negotiations.

Media on Paravac, Spiric’s absence at ceremony marking beginning of SAA negotiations with EU

BHT 1 reporter said that Oli Rehn did not comment the non-attendance of Serb delegates while Adnan Terzic stated that Deputy Chair of BIH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric was ill. “I do not comment on the behaviour of BIH Presidency members” replied Terzic when asked to comment Serb Member of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac’s absence. NTV Hayat says that Paravac did not attend the ceremony of the official opening of negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. For Paravac, November 25^th was just another ordinary day, since he came to work, says the reporter. Paravac did not congratulate the Statehood day to anyone. RTRS commented that there was no Serb representa006tive behind working table in BiH Parliament’s hall, where ceremony took place. Terzic explained this with illness of Nikola Spiric, BiH House of Representatives Chairman, who supposed to participate at the ceremony. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Tihic: Paravac does not wok on holiday’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Paravac did not attend ceremony’ carry similar reports. Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Table without Serb representatives’ carries that according to unofficial information Paravac was not invited at ceremony at all.

Reactions on beginning of negotiations on SAA with BiH by Ivanic, Cavic, Hadzipasic, Davidovic, Tihic, Jovic, Topcagic, Colak

RTRS “Negotiations will last about ten months for sure and this is beginning of one irrepressible road, which will end with a full membership in the EU,” said BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘BiH economy is not at European level’ carries Ivanic as saying that the biggest part of the SAA refers on trade and economy and that this issue should be seriously approached. DL carries Ivanic as saying: ‘This is the beginning of an unstoppable way towards the EU membership, however BiH would have to transform within itself and respond to challenges.’

RTRS– “It is realistic to expect problems in this process and attempts to use it for different political goals that exist in BiH, but the SAA does not really give space for something like that to happen,” stated RS President Dragan Cavic. DL carries Cvaic as saying that this process begins with the SAA and it ends up with full membership in the EU.

RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘BiH economy is not at European level’, Dnevni List – FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, points out that we cannot go to Europe with only newly adopted laws but with their implementation.

RTRS, TV Pink – BiH Chief negotiations on SAA, Igor Davidovic, confirmed that first working meeting will be held in mid January, when BiH negotiating platform should be ready. He also said that the negotiating team will be formed fully during the next several days.

FTV – SDA President Sulejman Tihic stated that 25^th November has the historical significance since it is the day when BiH has officially started the negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. “I wish that all serious and determined patriots from BiH take these negotiations seriously and to honestly work on meeting the set conditions as well as to have less obstructions” added Tihic. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘We have shown EC that we are serious partner’ also carries Tihic as saying that in this way we shall show the IC, that is EC, that we are a serious partner.

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘BiH will not ruin chance it got’ carries Chairman of the BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic as saying: ‘A step towards Europe is the only expected and possible thing. Some people are not glad to hear it, however, BiH has got a chance and BiH will not miss is certainly.’

Dnevni List carries Director of the Directorate for European Integration Osman Topcagic as saying that the era of the post-war BiH ends and the era of the European BiH opens.

Dnevni List pg 5 carries BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak as saying that he expects that it would be optimal for BiH to pass this first phase within one year.

OHR on beginning of negot. on SAA with EU and BiH Statehood Day

RHB, TV Pink, BHT 1, NTV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘So far reforms were thorough and difficult, however hard work is not over yet’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘New phase on way towards EU’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Negotiations with EU step towards sustainable state’ by D.R. carry the OHR’s press release on the BiH Statehood Day and beginning of the negotiations on the SAA with the EU, which among the other things says: ‘It is fitting that the official launch of Stabilisation and Association negotiations between BiH and the European Commission should fall on the Day of BiH Statehood. Stabilisation and Association process is a decisive step forward in creating a viable state that delivers proper services to its citizens.’ The press release also says that congratulating BiH’s citizens on the Day of BiH Statehood the High Representative Paddy Ashdown said: “Today, BiH has achieved a historic milestone: 10 years after the end of the war, BiH has transformed itself; so much so that the EU has endorsed the start of the SAA process which will eventually lead BiH to full EU membership and sovereignty. This inaugurates a long-awaited transition – between a period where political, economic and social energies were focused on creating post-war stability and recovery to a new era in which the focus of these energies will be on securing the prosperity and development that come from full membership of Euro-Atlantic structures.”

Other political issues/Reforms

Dodik on Washington talks

TV Pink – Commenting on the Washington talks on constitutional changes in BiH, SNSD President Milorad Dodik said on Friday that the BiH Council of Ministers should preserve its name, while a change in terms of having the President instead of the Chairman appointed was the reason why SDA Chair Sulejman Tihic left the talks. Namely, Dodik said that Tihic disagreed with the idea of having thethe  CoM deciding by consensus. Dodik added that almost all agreed that there should be BiH President and two Vice Presidents elected in the BiH Presidency. Dodik says that BiH is still not prepared for a single institution and President. “This would present national homogenization, which suits Sulejman Tihic the best, as well as some other persons. They do not show their care for BiH through such requests, but care for functions and solutions by which they could permanently keep their positions”, said Dodik. The Washington statement presents no agreement but readiness to carry out constitutional reforms, says Dodik and points out that the RS could not avoid constitutional talks. Also reported by Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS cannot avoid change of BiH Constitution’ by O.V., Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘RS representatives rejected President and BiH Government’ by V. Popovic.

M. Ivanic on Washington talks

TV Pink – In an interview for INFOTOP, PDP President Mladen Ivanic said that SDA President Sulejman Tihic made a huge mistake when he left the Washington talks. “Tihic proved that he was the one responsible for obstruction in attempts to adjust the BiH Constitution and I think that not only domestic but international public became aware of it. He actually gave more arguments to all those who oppose the idea of a single President. Imagine a single President, whose name is Sulejman Tihic, representing stances he has now”, said Ivanic. Ivanic also said that the RS representatives proved in Washington that they supported changes but that they opposed change of the basis of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

HDZ Presidency on const. changes/HDZ to meet EPP representatives in Sarajevo on Monday

RHB, BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Report from Washington accepted’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Support to elected leadership’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Possible processing of party members’ by A.S., Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Meeting with EPP in Sarajevo on Monday’ by V. Ivankovic,Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Report from Washington adopted’ report on the HDZ Presidency session during which Barisa Colak and Ivo Miro Jovic submitted the report on constitutional reforms talks held in Washington. The report was unanimously adopted and it was decided that very soon a session of the HDZ Presidency and HDZ National Council would take place in order to define further activities with regard to the BiH Constitution. Talking about cooperation with European People’s Party (EPP) it was agreed to improve their cooperation and in this context a meeting with EPP representatives would take place on Monday in Sarajevo.  NN says that the HDZ Presidency is afraid that it might happen soon that all prominent HDZ members were processed ‘because of processes that are being run against Croat and HDZ representatives’.

S. Halilovic on Washington talks

NTV Hayat – In terms of the Washington talks, Party for BiH Chairman Safet Halilovic says that representatives of eight political parties reached no consensus in terms of any issue except the issue of human rights. Halilovic says that the highest consensus has been reached in terms of the BiH Council of Ministers and adds that he finds the fact that the talks were being led independently, positive. But, it was pointed out that the USA were interested in constitutional changes in BiH. “And what is far more important, the USA are going to support BiH in terms of all constitutional changes”, says Halilovic. He added that the changes are necessary. Also reported by Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘It is good that State Department would have monitoring over constitutional changes’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘It is important that there were no international mediators’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘USA will not impose solutions’ by R. Cengic, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Fake dedication to constitutional reforms’ by M. Zorlak.

VL interview with D. Hays on const. changes

Vecernji List pg 39 ‘Croats would not lose national rights’, mentioned on cover ‘Zuzul might help Croats in BiH during negotiations’ by J. Kuresko-Kero carries an interview with Donald Hays who, among the other things says: ‘It should take part in constitutional changes in a responsible manner and I personally want to help Croats to get all they want but also to believe that they will not lose national rights in case that they do not get for instance their Canton.’  Hays also said that HDZ President Dragan Covic was invited to come to Dayton and Washington , but he could not come because of personal reasons.

Reactions on Tihic’s demand to BiH Const. Court to question constitutionality of the RS name by Dodik, Mihajlica, NHI

RHB, TV Pink, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘I will call on people on disobedience’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tihic is pulling down BiH Constitution’ by V.P.,Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Possible call on civil disobedience’ – SNSD President Milorad Dodik said on Friday that the name of the RS was constitutional and that there is no court that can change that. If the BiH Constitutional Court makes a different decision and meets a demand of SDA President Sulejman Tihic for changing the RS name, Dodik says he will call on people in the RS to express civil disobedience. BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Dodik is glad that Holbrooke made mistake’ also carry that Dodik stated “Thanks to Richard Holbrooke’s genial mistake it is stated that BiH is made of the FBIH and the RS. We have nothing to fear.’

BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2‘Futile effort’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tihic is pulling down BiH Constitution’ by V.P.,Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Judging of constitutionality of entity would not enter procedure’ by NINA – RS President Dragan Cavic stated that Tihic’s initiative is legally futile effort while politically it is aimed to complicate things in BiH.

FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2‘Pulling down of BiH Constitution’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tihic is pulling down BiH Constitution’ by V.P. – Member of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac stated that any decision reached in favour of Tihic’s request would violate the BiH Constitution adding that name RS is included in Dayton Peace Agreement.

TV Pink, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Ivanic: Unfavourable political atmosphere is being created in BiH again’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Tihic’s initiative endangers negotiations’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tihic is pulling down BiH Constitution’ by V.P. – BiH Foreign Affairs Minister and PDP Chair Mladen Ivanic finds Tihic’s request as completely wrong.

TV Pink – Chairman of SDS Caucus within the BiH House of Representatives Momcilo Novakovic said that Tihic’s request could make political situation in BiH complicated.

TV Pink – The Chairman of the BiH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric said that it was impossible to abolish the name of the RS since it had not been established in Dayton, since it existed as an entity a long before and it was only introduced to the Dayton Peace Agreement.

BHT 1, FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Inventing of problem’ – Branko Todorovic from THE RS Helsinki Committee stated that IIH citizens are once more hostages of BIH nationalistic parties. “This is another attempt to hide the real problems” added Todorivic. BHT 1 Slobodan Popovic from SDP stated the same.

RTRS – SPRS leader, Petar Djokic, said that eventual acceptance of Tihic’s initiative would mean destroying of Dayton ’s Constitution and destroying of everything that was built in the past 10 years.

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tihic is pulling down BiH Constitution’ by V.P. carries SRS RS President Milanko Mihajlica saying that Tihic’s demand is completely ungrounded.

RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Entity cannot be named after one people’- NHI fully supports a request made by Tihic. This party considers that there should be no talks on constitutional changes until the Constitutional Court decides on this issue.

Tihic on his demand to BiH Const. Court to question constitutionality of the RS name

The Statehood day has been marked in Sarajevo. BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic, Sarajevo Mayor Semiha Borovac, the Chair of Canton Sarajevo Assembly Meliha Alic and representatives of four city municipalities placed flowers on several locations. Tihic gave his comment on the BiH Constitutional Courts procedure on evaluation of adjustment of name of the RS. “I think that this is about a kind of a positive discrimination. Naming an entity after a single nation is not good to BiH and it opposes the Convention on Human Rights. By this I meant no harm to Serbs…I want Serbs to be equal in the whole BiH territory, not only in the part called the RS”, said Tihic.

BiH Statehood Day marked in FBiH only

Almost all media reported that that only the FBiH marked the 25^th November as their Sovereignty Day while in the RS it was another working day.

The EU has no right to make mistakes in the West Balkan, says Solana

TV Pink, BHT 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘EU has no right on mistake on Balkans’  – EU High Representative for Security Policy Javier Solana said on Friday in Brussels that the EU had greater responsibility in the Western Balkan than in any other region in the world and that it has no right to make mistakes.

NN interview with O. Rehn/Rehn on police reform

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Constitutional reforms are not condition for EU’ by M. Cubro carries an interview with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oli Rehn in whih he mostly talks about beginning of SAA negotiations with EU . Asked whether during the SAA negotiations they would exert pressure against the BiH authorities to shorten deadlines for the police reform, Rehn said: ‘We have an agreement of the political forces from BiH on the police reform and we expect its implementation. We shall watch its implementation very closely and we expect respecting of all set deadlines. Naturally, it would be better if the things were done as soon as possible because of citizens who would get much more efficient and professional police.’

J. Durakovic: ‘There is wish to create strong BHT 1 by force’

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Durakovic: There is wish to create strong BHT 1 by force’ by Z. Persic carries General Director of FTV Jasmin Durakovic as saying that the Law on RTV service is sanctioning those who worked best, that is, FTV. He added: ‘I support building of a strong public RTV system in BiH, however, it is not a solution to reduce a programme and influence of FTV by force in order to build BHT 1.’

Croat delegates dissatisfied with Law on RTV Service

Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Protection of rights before BiH Constitutional Court’ by A. Terzic – Croat representatives in the BiH HoP are dissatisfied with the solutions reached after final harmonization of texts of Law on Public RTV Service. Vice President of the Bi HoP Velimir Jukic stated that if harmonized solutions were adopted in both Houses of the Parliament, as soon as the law was published in the Official Gazette they would react before the BiH Constitutional Court.

RS Constitutional Court president says that army and police are being transferred to the state level in an unconstitutional way

RTRS – The President of the RS Constitutional Court Mirko Zovko said that the army and police of the RS are being transferred to the competence of the state of BiH in an unconstitutional way. News agencies report that Zovko stated that army and police of the RS belong to entities according to the Constitution, and that transfer of the authorities at the state level is unconstitutional, meaning that unconstitutional laws are adopted instead of changing the Constitutions.

Please note that RTRS did not mention that Zovko stated this during the expert debate in Belgrade , organized in the premises of the Constitutional Court of Serbia.

Foundation stone for constr. of DGS seat laid

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH and EU flags placed in foundation stone’ by I. Sinanovic carries that a ceremony marking the beginning of construction of the State Border Service seat was held in Sarajevo on Friday.

Terrorism/War crimes

Another persons arrested in BiH suspected of terrorist activities

RTRS – Another BiH citizen has been arrested in Sarajevo as the result of the investigation on preparing terrorist activities. This person is suspected for illegal trade of weapons. Certain amount of explosive is found in the area of the Sarajevo Canton and it is believed to belong to other persons arrested during this investigation. Also reported by NTV Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Another person arrested because of planning terrorist attacks’ , mentioned on cover ‘Another suspect arrested’ by Aj. Delic, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Armorer of terrorist group from Sarajevo arrested?’ by Az.K, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Police found bigger amount of explosive’ by D. Muminovic, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Sarajevo arrests in international action’ by D. Jazvic 

Documents stolen from car owned by RS Commission for Missing persons

RTRS – Documents are stolen on Thursday night from a car owned by the RS Commission for Missing persons.  This is not the first time something like this happens and it happens only on territory of the FBiH, said Slobodan Skrba, a member of the Commission. “I believe that this is a message to all those who are talking about missing persons in Sarajevo that this town is not safe for them,” said Skrba. He expresses satisfaction with fast intervention of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior. The local police is intensively searching for the perpetrators. Skrba underlined that stolen documents are copies of the original documents, meaning that this incident will not interrupt the Commission’s work.