Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 26 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Rugova funeral today at 1500 | Negotiations on | RS NA to hold session |
| | RSNA session to commence | Ashdown’s interview to NN |
| BiH CoM on VAT law | RS Budget executed in whole | |
TV news broadcast on 25 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| BiH to reduce use of electricity, gas | First round of negotiations with EU | |
| BiH starts | Tihic called for consultative meeting | Priebe and Davidovic on |
| Mtg of Croat pol. Parties on Const. | Session of RS Government | Update on “Scorpions” trial |
| Public discussion in Mostar | Paddy Ashdown on his work | Commission on Palic case formed |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BiH starts | | Paravac’s request |
| Davidovic on | Three men indicted of tax evasion | First round of negotiations with EU |
| Situation with gas supplies in BiH | BiH citizen arrested in | Ivanic regarding visa regime |
| Sarajevo Canton Govt in session | Ashdown visits Srebrenica | Regional News |
| Oslobodjenje | |
| Dnevni Avaz | Priebe: Well started |
| Dnevni List | BiH citizen arrested because of falsifying |
| Vecernji List | Those who were singled out : Mesic is inventing stories |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | After increase of salaries bankruptcy in October (on strike of |
| Nezavisne Novine | [ |
| Glas Srpske | Vanja in the world of icons (gift of primary school pupil from Visegrad) |
| EuroBlic | 19 funerals in one day (funerals of victims of train accident in |
| Vecernje novosti | Even the hills are mourning (funerals of victims of train accident in |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| RS NA holds session on RS Government
| |
| RS Fin. Minister Cenic: RS budget fully executed w/out foreign loans/aids, proving Govt’s competence
| RTRS – Svetlana Cenic, RS Finance Minister, stated that the RS budget for 2005 (of BAM 945 million) has been fully executed without foreign loans and aids. At today’s press conference in |
| BH CC: Paravac’ motion gives no reason for priority status | RTRS – The motion filed by Borislav Paravac regarding assessment on constitutionality of BH suit against SiCG gives no specific reason owing to which BH Constitutional Court should discuss this issue as a priority, stated the BH CC’ Registrar, Haris Vehabovic. |
Beginning of | |
| Negotiations on
| BHT1– First round of negotiations with the EU on Stabilisation and Association Agreement started in |
| EC Chief Negotiator Priebe hopes that
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Talks started’, pg 3 ‘Talks between BiH and EU start’ by M.Cubro – Chief |
| Chief BiH negotiator Davidovic: negotiations constructive; Chief EU negotiator Priebe: EU financial aid to depend on reforms
| RTRS – Igor Davidovic, Chief |
| OHR on
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH leaders have to show responsibility’- OHR Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic stated that High Representative Paddy Ashdown has invited BiH leaders to show responsibility and take initiative, in order to maintain the |
| Tihic welcomes beginning of
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘EU monitors reform processes’ by D. Polovina Mandic – Commenting the beginning of |
| DL op-ed questions whether BiH is ready to join Euro-Atlantic integration
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Numerous BiH negotiations’ by I. Rozic comments on the beginning of the negotiations on |
Const. changes; turmoil in RS/FBIH Govts; other political stories | |
| SDA leader Tihic invites ‘smaller’ parties for consultations on const. changes
| PINK by Aida Hasanbegovic – SDA leader Sulejman Tihic invited leaders of “smaller parties” – BOSS, LSD, BiH Free Democrats, E5, Pensioners Party, GDS and BPS – on consultation on constitutional changes. “I would like to inform them on situation regarding negotiations; I would like to hear their opinions, positions and to share dilemmas that I have, so the finishing part of the negotiations would bring the best decisions. Negotiations are formally in break, but leaders of political parties talk. I expect that talks will be continued and that we will, as we agreed, have one more meeting” said Tihic. BHT1– Mirnes Ajanovic from BOSS urged talks to take place in BiH Parliament. Lamija Tanovic from LDS stated that any decisions made quickly and under pressure in the year of elections are unacceptable. Miro Grabovac from “Croat Coalition for Changes” stated that the talks on Constitution should return to the state institutions. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Ajanovic left the meeting, because it was held behind closed doors’ by A.M. – SDU representatives announced earlier that they would not participate in the meeting. Ajanovicleft the meeting because it was held behind closed doors. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Support to continuance of talks on constitutional changes’ by A. O. – also reports on consultations. |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Ajanovic left the meeting, because it was held behind closed doors’ by A.M. inset ‘Covic for bilateral harmonization’ – HDZ, SDA and SBiH leaders met [not specified when] to discuss a possibility for continuation of talks on constitutional changes. HDZ leader Dragan Covic deems that such option is sensible but under certain conditions. “That is, if there is a good will that in regard to 2-3 remaining issues, which we did not solve, everyone comes with it own proposal, which we would try to harmonize bilaterally” said Covic. He stressed that it would not be productive to sit again and talk for hours, same stories that were told. PINK by Aida Hasanbegovic – Safet Halilovic of Party for BiH believes that BiH is on the way to |
| Cro parties mtg on const. changes: Croat Block proposed Croat referendum on BiH organization
| Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Organizing of Croat referendum possible’ by |
| VL: Hays set up commission for constitutional amendments that will be detrimental for Croats | Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘L. Topic for amendments’, not signed – According to VL, “the American envoy for negotiations on failed constitutional changes in BiH”, Donald Hays, has set up a special expert commission whose task is to make constitutional amendments. VL comments, given that the commission has 4 Bosniak, 3 Serb and 1 Croat representative (Lidija Topic), one can expect the amendments to be detrimental to the Croats. |
| RSNA holds session on possible no confidence vote to RS Govt; RTRS: SNSD, PDP, DNS, SDA, SBiH,
| RTRS by Marina Marijanovic- As it was previously announced by the RSNA Speaker Dusan Stojicic, RS National Assembly on Thursday holds the session on initiative to vote no confidence to the RS Government. According to RTRS, SNSD, PDP, DNS, SDA, SBiH, |
| Both SNSD leader Dodik and PM Bukejlovic claim to have majority in RSNA
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Both Dodik and Bukejlovic claim they have 42 representatives’ by O.Vukovic – |
| GS: SDA not to support Govt; NN: 45 votes against the Govt
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Who will get majority?’ by Z. Markovic – SDA Caucus announced it would not support the Government. GS reads that the fact SDA Caucus Head Tarik Sadovic would not attend the RS NA session might be crucial in preserving the RS Government in its current composition. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Majority for overthrowing of the Government is ready’ announced on cover ‘On trust in Government today’ by V. Popovic – NN reads 45 delegates (without Sadovic) would support overthrowing of the Government and it carries a statement of SDA’s Sefket Hafizovic who confirmed Sadovic’s absence would not affect voting of other 5 SDA delegates. |
| | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Know that secret talks have been held’ by N.D. – |
| FBiH Vice PM Grahovac: PM Hadzipasic would suffer consequences; MOL-INA not changing offer
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ahmet Hadzipasic will suffer consequences’, mentioned on cover by M.Kukan – Commenting statement of the FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic that Government would continue talks on co-capitalization of ‘Energopetrol’ with MOL-INA, FBiH Vice PM Gavrilo Grahovac said that Hadzipasic would suffer consequences or take all the credit. Grahovac also stated that Hadzipasic is either way responsible as entire year has been lost since the tender has been announced. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Don’t offer another bid’ M.K. – Denis Mohorovic, manager of Consortium MOL-INA said for DA that they would not change their offer for co-capitalization of ‘Energopetrol’. FBiH Government offered MOL-INA to pay additional 19 million KM for covering additional debt and for hotel ‘Marsal’ to be exempted from the tender offer. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘INA-MOL don’t accept conditions of the Energopetrol Commission’ by A.Av – also carried the information. |
| FBiH Vice President Dzihanovic warns Hadzipasic; VL: anti-Croat campaign in
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Hadzipasic is acting as if he owns Energopetrol’, by Mensud Zorlak – The FBiH Vice President, Sahbaz Dzihanovic, recommends to Hadzipasic to stop acting as if he owns the company and start solving the problematic issues. Hadzipasic on the other hand is carried as saying that he will not include the ‘Energopetrol’ issue in the FBiH budget (means for recovery of the company), ruling out a possibility that he will resign from the office. Vecernji List, pg 12 ‘Energopetrol in bankruptcy because of new debts’, by Dejan Jazvic – carries an overview of the case, saying that ‘an anti-Croat’ campaign in part of the Sarajevo media gave concrete results, namely the FBiH HoR voted against the Governments proposal regarding the co-capitalization. (similar article also in Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 18, mentioned on front ‘1059 workers will end up on street because of MPs’ spite’, by Dinko Pasic) |
| FBiH Deputy PM Grahovac: No session of Govt before two new ministers appointed; HDZ leader Covic: Heco not to be appointed before Govt restructuring
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Work of FBiH Government blocked’ by A.Terzic – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic informed his ministers that there would be no session of FBiH Government on Thursday, due to the fact that Vahid Heco has not been appointed for FBiH Minister of Energy instead of Izet Zigic who resigned over Energopetrol issue. FBiH still lacks minister without portfolio that should replace FBiH Defence Minister. FBiH Deputy PM Gavrilo Grahovac stated that there would be no sessions of Government until FBiH House of Representatives appoints new ministers. Grahovac said: “At this moment, Government has no two ministers which distort national composition.” Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Party leaders have not reached agreement on new ministers’ by A.M. -M.K. – HDZ leader Dragan Covic said that they wouldn’t allow Vahid Heco to be appointed, before the restructuring within the FBiH Government. |
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| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘ |
| VL: Lozancic to accept Zigic’s resignation today; similar thing to happen to Nikolic?
| Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Lozancic accepts Zigic’s resignation’, by zk – according to VL, the FBiH President Niko Lozancic will today (Thursday) accept the resignation filed by the FBiH Minister for Energy and Industry, Izet Zigic. VL also notes a similar thing could happen with former FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, whose ministry was abolished on |
| Danas; B. Ljubic had mtg with W. Martens last week, Ljubic’s further moves agreed
| Danas cover pg splash ‘New HDZ Convention in March?’ and pgs 18-21 ‘Schwarz-Schilling will ban Covic’s HDZ’ by Z. Jukic – Bozo Ljubic was in the seat of the European People’s Party (EPP) in Brussels last week where he talked about his further political steps with EPP President Wilfred Martens and it was agreed to try once again to pull down HDZ President Dragan Covic and his supporters from inside. Within this action Ljubic’s supporters hope that they would get considerable help from new High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling who has legal power to ban participation of HDZ led by Covic at the next elections. It was also agreed that if the aforementioned attempt fails they would start with establishment of a new party that would be called HDZ BiH 1990 or something similar. Danas also says that it has been believed that the Covic issue could be resolved more efficiently after the departure of ‘Covic’s protector’ HR Paddy Ashdown. |
| SD: | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20, mentioned on cover ‘Granic is ‘rising’ rightists in BiH’ by M. Karacic carries that last week at the session of the HDZ Croatia Presidency HDZ Croatia President Ivo Sanader proposed Mato Granic for the Croatian Government’s representative in the constitutional changes talks in BiH. SD says that Sanader decided to appoint such representative after he had received a warning from the Croatian Embassy in |
| Interview with Austrian Ambassador Almhofer on const. changes, negotiations on
| Vecernji List pg 8 ‘We shall consider liberalization of visas in March’, mentioned on cover ‘ |
| Gregorian: BH will be mature for NATO in 5 yrs
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH will be “mature” for NATO in five years’ by S. Ca. – Co-Chairman of Defense Reform Commission Raffi Gregorian attended “Safety in BiH – BiH in NATO membership” round table discussion, on which occasion he stated BiH might, in five or six years, be in a situation of a serious candidate for NATO membership. He also noted BiH might submit its Action Plan on membership in NATO in summer of 2008, but BiH Armed Forces should be fully transformed by then. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Through the Hague to Brussels’ by S. Puhalo – carries Gregorian’s statement and reads he especially warned on the unresolved issue of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, i.e. arrest of Karadzic, Mladic and Zupljanin. |
End of HR mandate | |
| HR Ashdown visits Srebrenica: I am still ashamed because Mladic and Karadzic are still at large
| BHT1 by Hatka Hamidovic – Outgoing High Representative Paddy Ashdown visited Srebrenica and Potocari Memorial Centre, where he met with the Srebrenica Mayor and “Mothers of Srebrenica”. Talking about his work in BiH, Ashdown said that cooperation with the association on building the Memorial Centre was a great satisfaction for him. “But I am still ashamed because of one thing, the fact that the authors of this crime are still at large. If this place was able to provide comfort for some, it cannot provide satisfaction for anyone until Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are brought to justice”, said Ashdown. Mothers of Srebrenica asked Ashdown to hand over their request for special status for Srebrenica to his successor. Head of association Hatidza Mehmedovic said Srebrenica doesn’t “deserve” to be part of something called “Republika Srpska”, as the entity was “founded on blood and genocide”. Srebrenica Mayor Abdurahman Malkic praised Ashdown’s efforts to improve situation in Srebrenica. Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘I would never forget the courage of Srebrenica mothers’ by S. Smajlovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 11‘I am proud because of the centre in Potocari’ by E. Huremovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ashdown paid respect to Srebrenica victims’ by V.Ra., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘New foundations placed’ by K.C., Vecernje Novosti pg 17 ‘Proud of Potocari’ by P.V., Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Ashdown assessed his work as successful’, not signed – all covered the visit. |
| NN int with HR Ashdown: ‘We are close to reaching goals, but there is still a lot to do’
| Nezavisne Novine pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘I am sorry I did not go to Jasenovac on time’ by Dragan Risojevic – In a lengthy interview to daily, the outgoing HR Paddy Ashdown speaks about his mandate, and daily notes that “regardless of whether we love him or not, you cannot simply be indifferent towards him. The British Lord has left the strongest trace in the seat of the HR. The others should decide whether he would be remembered for good or evil, as he says.” On his goals which included removing a danger of seeing BiH become a black hole in the Balkans, placing BiH on the course to statehood and brining it in situation in which it no longer needed HR, Ashdown comments: “We are close to reaching all three goals, but there are still many things to do.” He also expresses regret over the fact he had failed to attend the commemoration in Jasenovac. He underlined strong regret for the fact Karadzic and Mladic are still at large. Adding he doesn’t regret decisions he had to reach, making special reference of removals of officials from RS, since it was the only way to brake the Serb obstructionism. On BiH as a state, he stresses it must change a mental composition and view that human rights are protected collectively, not individually. On nationalistic parties, he says: “Although we have made some nationalistic parties to reform in order to meet reforms, these parties can never lead this state towards the final destination…They should either change or they would disappear.” |
| Schwarz Schilling: BiH must become a normal state without foreign protectionist-like presence
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Destiny is in your hands’ by |
| CEIS announced publication: ‘Plan for last HR in BiH’
| Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Plan for High Representative’ by Fena – The Centre for European Integration Strategies (CEIS) is announcing publication of its “Agenda for the Next High Representative”, a brief prepared by its staff in Sarajevo for Christian Schwarz-Schilling. As Fena has learned, the brief calls on new HR to fully commit to his new position as BiH is facing a decisive year, with the talks on |
| VL op-ed: HR Ashdown was not good for Croats
| Vecernji List pg 8 ‘Paddy and napkins’ by J. Renic comments on the mandate of High Representative Paddy Ashdown and the author concludes that from the beginning to the end of his mandate Ashdown was not good for Croats and the author says that what Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte was for Croatia that was Ashdown for BiH Croats. |
War crimes | |
| RS Govt establishes Commission to investigate fate of disappeared Zepa commander Avdo Palic
| FTV – RS Government established a commission tasked to investigate the fate of RBiH Army Colonel Avdo Palic and to report to the relevant authorities. Commission members are: RS Legal Representative Milan Dupor, RS Inspector for Justice Ranko Bakic, representative of RS Ministry of Interior Dragi Milosevic and Milorad Bukva from BiH Ministry of Defence. RS Prosecution still needs to appoint its representative. Palic’s wife Esma Palic appointed Jasmin Odobasic from FBiH Commission for Missing Persons as her representative in the investigation commission. Odobasic will monitor work of the commission, which has to end its work by April 21. BiH Army colonel Palic has gone missing in Zepa in 1995 and last week High Rperesentative Paddy Ashdown has tasked the RS Government to establish this Commission. |
| BiH Presidency member Paravac urges
| EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Paravac: priority to lawsuit against SiCG’ by D. S. – Serb member of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac on Wednesday sent open letters to BiH Constitutional Court and BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac. He demanded from Chairman of BiH Constitutional Court Mato Tadic to inform him in writing on intentions with regard to his initiatives on assessment of constitutionality he had sent to the Court last year (referring to laws FBiH Parliament had adopted despite to the fact it had not established F BiH HoP and referring to the lawsuit of BiH against SiCG). Paravac claims he still had not been informed in writing whether or when these initiatives would be taken into consideration. He reminded Chairman Tadic that an assessment of constitutionality of the lawsuit would make sense only if it was made before the process commenced in |
| Cro President Mesic comments on removing label ‘secret’ from his testimony given before the ICTY
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Those who were singled out: Mesic is inventing stories’ and pgs 2 and 3 ‘I am standing behind all things I said’ by M. Kukas, Z. Bajt – Commenting on removing the label ‘secret’ from his testimony given before the ICTY in 1997 Croatian President Stjepan Mesic stated that he sent this demand as early as in August last year because he believes that outwitting about the things he said before the ICTY should be removed from the agenda. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 2 ‘Mesic helps The Hague in process against Herceg-Bosna leaders’ by T. Klauski also carries that in this way Mesic helped the ICTY since they can use his testimony in the process against former Herceg Bosna leaders (Mesic talked in his testimony about the involvement of late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and his associates in the attempts to divide BiH). |
| NN op-ed: Andan carried out performance in Zepa
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Adnan’s performance’ by Pero SImic – The author is critical of the latest RS police action in Zepa, especially of Dragomir Andan, RS Police Director, saying that this performance has ended without an epilogue, which will most likely be the case with similar actions, likely to follow. |
Judicial issues, security | |
| RS Govt to file charges against RS Posts management; Director accuses Chief Auditor of corruption
| RTRS – Audit’s report on “Srpske Poste” showed many irregularities and deficits. However, dismissed general manager of “Srpske Poste” Milutin Pejic denied audit’s report calling main auditor Bosko Ceko corrupted. RTRS did not get in touch with Ceko but his statement is known from before, where Ceko said that Pejic broke Law on public procurement many time. Pejic said that political membership in |
| BiH citizen arrested in
| BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Hayat, Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘BiH citizen arrested because of falsifying’ by A. Beus, Vecernji List pg 7 ‘BiH citizen arrested in Bangkok’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘BiH citizen arrested with falsified passport’ by D.Muminovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH citizen Mohamed Mehdaoui arrested’ by S.T., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH citizen arrested with 120 false passports’ – The BiH citizen Muhamed Mehdaoui was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday for possession of falsified documents. The police found 120 falsified passports and other personal documents from the Western European countries with him. The Thailand Police believes that Mehdaoui is a member of an international criminal group that smuggles falsified passports, which are being sold in the |
| PB ES case: Robinson complains against Judge at E.Sarajevo District Court / investigation launched
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Investigation on the role of Judge Bozovic’ by A.Sisic – The Disciplinary Prosecutor of the HJPC (High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council) has launched an investigation regarding the role of Mirko Bozovic, the Judge of East Sarajevo District Court, in registration of the firm “Spekta” in 1997, owned by |
| VL: Jelavic’s appeal to be considered, objection of Judge Engel rejected
| Vecernji List pg 9 ‘Jelavic’s appeal would be considered’ by Z. Kresic carries that according to a source close to the BiH Court, the Appellate Council with the BiH Court rejected an objection by Prosecutor Drew Engel according to which indictee in the Hercegovacka Banka case Ante Jelavic does not have a right on an appeal until he reports himself to the BiH authorities. The source stated for VL that the appeal of the Jelavic’s lawyer would be considered soon. It has been expected that the Appellate Council that would decide on the Jelavic’s appeal would be formed in February at the latest. |
| First mtg of Police Reform Directorate to be held today
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| SIPA moves to
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘SIPA moves to Lukavica?’ by E. Sarac– As the decision on SIPA permanent HQ should be passed at Thursday’s session of the BiH Council of Ministers, DA unofficially learns that CoM would chose location in Lukavica, because Eastern Sarajevo municipality made better offer than one for usage of former FBiH Army barracks in Nedjarici. As DA learns, |