26.02.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 26/2/2006

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TV news broadcast onFebruary 25, 2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Humphreys presents Kamensko

Serbian media on Mladic surrender

Constitutional changes agreement

Tihic on constitutional agreement

Stojkovic on hand over of Mladic

New Kamensko border crossing

Transparency Int. on corruption

Signing of const. changes agreement

RS Govt to file lawsuit against ITA?

Humphreys visits farmers in SA

Commemoration for Boris Trajkovski

TI on corruption and crime in BiH

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Tihic on HDZ re const. changes

TI on corruption and crime in BiH

Signing of const. changes agreement

Transparency Int. on corruption

Situation in ‘Sipad Export-Import’

Transparency International on BiH

Humphreys presents Kamensko

Tuzla : Lawsuits for tax evasions

Law on RS Special Prosecutor’s Off.

Ceric on EU Muslims’ declaration

New Kamensko border crossing

Kamensko border cross opened

 

Oslobodjenje

BiH expected to keep sending troops to Iraq (interview with general Podzic)

Dnevni Avaz

BiH will get 100 billion dollars! (interview with professor Francis Boyle)

Dnevni List

HDZ will give in (Tihic believes HDZ will not block constitutional changes)

Vecernji List

Drago Josipovic free as of tomorrow (ICTY convict served jail sentence)

Nezavisne Novine

Changes in BiH will continue after constitutional reforms (interview with Amb. Rycroft)

 

Mladic Arrest, BiH lawsuit v SCG

Serbian Justice Minister Stojkovic: Government doing its best to find Mladic

 

Pink By Sanja Nikolic- Serbian Minister of Justice, Zoran Stojkovic, said that responsibility that Serbia has taken upon regarding cooperation with ICTY has to be carried out. Stojkovic said that there should be no talks on deadlines since Serbian authorities do not know where Ratko Mladic hides. According to Stojkovic, Government is doing its best and wants to hand over Mladic as soon as possible. Similar report by FTV, RTRS.

Blic: Mladic under house arrest, to be extradited on Feb 27 or 28

 

Pink – According to Serbian newspaper “Danas”, Ratko Mladic, should be in The Hague by the end of the weekend or latest by Monday. “Danas” cited diplomatic sources, who claim that Mladic will voluntary surrender. According to Serbian newspaper “Blic”, surrender of Mladic is matter of technique since Serbian authorities would be happy if it happens on someone else’s territory. “Blic” reported that countries in the region are not willing to have Mladic on their territories. “Blic” also reported that Mladic is under house arrest and that his hand over to The Hague could be expected on February 27 or 28. BHT, RTRS.

Speculations have it Mladic will be arrested in either Russia or Greece

 

RHB – Presenter stated that Macedonia, BIH and two South-American states have allegedly refused to carry out the arrest of Ratko Mladic and added that the latest speculations are that Mladic will surrender in Russia or Greece (this is probably part of original report from Blic). According to the Sarajevo media, Director of RS Police, Dragomir Andan, has been visiting and talking to Mladic’s family and friends for a few days in Belgrade. According to the daily’s source, Mladic’s arrest is inevitable. According to the daily, a police officer has lost his log containing the locations of Mladic’s hideouts with a circled 1st March in the calendar.

Hayat: Indications that something is happening re Mladic case; no one talks about Karadzic any more

 

HayatBy Senka Hadzovic, from Eagle’ base near Tuzla – Reporter stated that there was no new information regarding the arrest Ratko Mladic. Hadzovic reiterated that EU would discuss on Monday terms of continuation of SAA negotiations with SCG. Reporter confirmed that a CNN reporter Nick Robertson has left to Belgrade which clearly indicates to journalists and diplomats that something is happening regarding the arrest.

HayatBy Medzida Buljubasic – Presenter stated that Ratko Mladic is just a pawn in the political game of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica used for preservation of his Government; tool in the negotiations on stats of Kosovo, and the presenter adds that now no one mentions the arrest of Radovan Karadzic. Report features Mladic’s orders given to Serb military groups around Sarajevo and Srebrenica via radio ordering them to destroy cities and kill all people.

SCG Parliament Speaker Sami: Parliament will discuss freezing of PIFWCs property

FTV – Serbia-Montenegro Assembly Speaker Zoran Sami said that the SCG Parliament would in March discuss proposal of law on freezing the property of ICTY war criminals, who are still at large.

 

Hayat opinion poll: What will happen to Ratko Mladic?

 

Hayat opinion poll:

Citizens were asked to comment: Do you believe that Ratko Mladic is arrested, will be arrested, will never be arrested or he will be killed/commit suicide?

22% believe that Mladic is arrested
12% believe that Mladic will be arrested
18% believe that Mladic will never be arrested
48% believe that Mladic will be killed or commit suicide

BiH representative in lawsuit against SCG: BiH team is ready, verdict should be reached withn 7-10 months

 

HayatBy Senad Hadzifejzovic – In an interview for Centralni Dnevnik (CD), BiH representative in the BiH lawsuit against SiCG, Sakib Softic, stated that the first hearing will start on Monday and that the BIH team is ready because that is something BIH and its citizens have waited for 13 years. Softic noted that BIH and SiCG would have 7 days to present their evidence respectively. “The witnesses’ testimonies start on 17th March ending on 28th March. The hearings should be finished by 9th of May” explained Softic. He added that Drafting Committee should reach a written verdict within next 7 to 10 months. Softic stressed that facts that the ICTY passed the sentence on genocide in BIH and UN passed the resolution on genocide in BIH are not legally biding for International Court of Justice in this case.

SCG’s representative Stojanovic: SCG will prove there was no genocide

RTRSRadoslav Stojanovic, SCG’s Representative in BiH v SCG genocide lawsuit, said that he and his team would prove that there was no genocide in BiH. Stojanovic added that he would propose diplomatic agreement with BiH. SCG team will also ask from International Court of Justice to reconsider its competence in this case.

Serbian Justice Minister Stojkovic: Charges for genocide cannot stand

 

Pink – By Sanja Nikolic- When it comes to BiH lawsuit against SCG for genocide, Serbian Minister of Justice, Zoran Stojkovic, said that the International Court of Justice will have to return to issues of initial process, so-called ‘active identification in proceeding’. According to Stojkovic, Serbia in the same kind of case against NATO did not have identification since it was not a member of the UN, so Serbia as defendant in this case cannot also have the identification now. “I have opinion that I have already stated. The lawsuit for genocide cannot stand. There was a civil war in Bosnia. If there were crimes, they were committed by individuals and I am supportive that individuals answer for what they did”, said Stojkovic. Stojkovic believes that Radoslav Stojanovic, Serbia Representative in Lawsuit with BiH and his team will prove that there was no genocide in BiH.

Professor Boyle: BiH will win lawsuit against SCG, RS will be abolished, BiH will get 100 billion US$ in war reparations

 

Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘BiH will get 100 billion dollars!’, by Sead Numenovic – carries an interview with professor Francis Boyle, the man who wrote the BiH lawsuit against SCG. Boyle is certain BiH will win the lawsuit, saying that there is plenty of evidence that can support his claim, such as the ICTY’s verdict to RS Army’s general Krstic (found guilty for genocide charges). He also notes that all arguments are on BiH’s side and that International Court of Justice must decide that the RS has to be abolished. In that context, he says the court will take a decision on abolishment of the RS, which will go before the UN Security Council for implementation. According to Boyle’s rough estimates, SCG will be forced to par war reparations in amount of 100 billion US$.

 

Constitutional Changes

SDA’s Tihic: SDA not entirely happy constitutional talks agreement, however claims agreement is not about ‘cosmetic’ changes, tells SBiH to stop politicizing, HSS calls on Croat parties to withhold support to agreed changes

 

 

 

 

 

BHTBy Mirela Cosic – Agreement on constitutional changes in BiH between 8 BiH political parties is not going to be singed on Sunday. SDA Chair Sulejman Tihic claims that the agreement does not consist of ‘cosmetic’ but crucial changes in 5 relevant areas. Tihic says that SDA is not satisfied with all solutions, especially the one which refers to rotation in the Presidency and entity voting in the BiH House of Representatives. “In order to reach the agreement, 2/3 majority has to be provided in the BiH Parliament, entity majority has also to be provided, as well as the one in the BiH House of Peoples…these are all restrictions Party for BiH and any other party has to bear in mind instead of giving statements similar to a list of wishes”, says Tihic. Party for BiH finds results of constitutional changes talks completely unacceptable. “Instead of promoting the constitutional-legal situation in BiH, we made small corrections”, said Party for BiH Chair Safet Halilovic. HDZ also disagrees; it requests indirect way of electing Presidency members. “If the direct way of electing Presidency members is to remain, then we will ask for BiH to be a single election unit”, said HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota. “HSS has been introduced with only a part of BiH constitutional changes and we do not support such changes, due to what we are going to call on Croat political parties in BiH not to support such changes”, said HSS Chair Marko Tadic. FTV – carries the bit that agreement will not be signed on Sunday, and Tihic’s statement that changes are not ‘cosmetic’, HSS’ statement. Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘Call to HDZ and HNZ not to sign agreement’, by OnasaHSS statement;

SDA Main Board adopts President Tihic’s report on const. Changes, party unhappy with entity vote in BiH HoR

 

Oslobodjenje, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Constitutional changes harder than peace talks’, by S. Sehercehajic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Call to Party for BiH to stop politicizing’, by N. Jamakovic – carry reports from Saturday’s session of SDA Main Board with similar statement by SDA President Sulejman Tihic (see report above). SDA Main Board adopted Tihic’s report regarding constitutional changes talks and suggested to him (Tihic) to advocate, if possible, the abolishment of entity vote, if not in the first phase of talks, then in later phases. (brief reports also in Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘HDZ will give in’, by Erna Mackic, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘SDA Main Board supported agreement on Constitution’, not signed)

SDA’s Tihic: We are doing best to sign agreement on Sunday, RS PoWs want agreement to be subjected to public debates in RS

 

RTRS“Sunday is one of possible days to sign agreement on constitutional reforms. At this moment I cannot say whether it will be exactly on Sunday, but we do our best in order to make it happen on Sunday”, said SDA President Sulejman Tihic. RTRS did not manage to get more information on Sunday’s meeting from the US Embassy and UK Embassy. According to the RTRS, there are speculations that HDZ obstructs signing of agreement. HDZ reported that Croats in BiH are supportive about new Constitution in order to open talks on lower level of power after the elections. RS Organization of Prisoners of War warned participants in negotiations on constitutional changes, especially those from RS, that agreement that they will sign on their own cannot proceed to BiH Parliament without compliance of RS National Assembly (RSNS) and public discussion in RS.

SDA’s Tihic hopes HDZ will sign agreed changes

 

Hayat – SDA Leader Sulejman Tihic expressed belief that HDZ would not block the constitutional changes and that it would sign the agreement since the request of HDZ Leader Dragan Covic was met and it will be noted in agreement that this was the first phase of the negotiations followed by the second round after the elections. (similar report by RHB, Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘HDZ will not be responsible for blockade’, not signed, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘HDZ will give in’, by Erna Mackic)

VL: Constitutional changes will not be signed on Sunday because of negative reactions to proposals coming from FBiH

 

Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Tihic’s agreement will not happen on Sunday, by Zoran Kresic – According to VL, the real reason why BiH political parties will not meet and sign the agreement on constitutional changes on Sunday is the barrage of negative reactions in the FBiH to the concessions the SDA leader Sulejman Tihic made to the SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and the Serb side, which include, among others issues, the entity vote in the BiH House of Representatives. Instead, VL announces that the next meeting, which will also be attended by a representative of the US State Department, will happen later next week. VL also notes that the recent constitutional changes talks coincide with election of Dodik’s government (RS Govt), which require SDA’s votes, and alleged agreement between the SDA, SNSD and SDP to form a post-election coalition.

HDZ’s Relota: HDZ will not sign agreement without clause on negotiations on lower levels of authority

 

Nezavisne Novine, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Signing of agreement postponed because of HDZ’s request’, by D. Muminovic – Notes that the constitutional changes agreement will not be signed in Sarajevo on Sunday. According to HDZ spokesman, Miso Relota, the HDZ will not sign an agreement as long as the agreement does not include a clause that will say that the talks on lower levels of authority will continue after the elections. Relota also notes that the HDZ is not happy with the direct way of election of members of BiH Presidency, calling it ’discriminatory’. SDA leader Sulejman Tihic notes there is a general consensus to continue the talks on lower levels of authority after the elections, however he says it will be difficult to change the way of election of BiH Presidency members.

HDZ’s Covic with Austrian Ambassador Almhoffer: EU must not allow cosmetic changes

 

Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘EU must not allow cosmetic changes’, by Fena, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Covic and Almhoffer’, not signed – HDZ President Dragan Covic met with the Austrian Ambassador to BiH Werner Almhoffer in Mostar (does not state when). According to a statement issued by the HDZ, the two talked about many issues, including the constitutional changes talks. Covic stressed that the EU must not allow that the changes should deal with only state level authorities, because the Croat people advocate enactment of new Constitution of BiH, and opening of talks about lower levels of authority after the 2006 elections. Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Attempts to eliminate Croats are destined to fail’, by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘HDZ: Croats are for new Constitution’, not signed – HDZ’s statement also says that all attempts to eliminate the smallest people in BiH (Croats) are destined to fail. “BIH must not be turned into a classic civic state, it should be organized as a country of peoples, citizens and national minorities”, reads the statement.

NN interview with UK Ambassador Rycroft: Road to EU is long, requires additional changes

 

Nezavisne Novine, front pg splash and pgs 8-9 ‘Changes in BiH will continue after constitutional reforms’, by Natasa Krsman – carries an interview with the UK Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft, in which he mostly talks about the constitutional changes in BiH and tasks BiH has to carry out en route to EU. As for the constitutional changes talks, Ambassador Rycroft underlines that the recent results of talks of political parties were not products of pressures by the IC, saying the agreed changes are “adequate for this stage BiH is in when it comes to obligations towards the EU”. In that context, the Ambassador says the road to the EU is long, which will require additional changes that do not necessarily have to be called ‘constitutional changes’. Ambassador Rycroft also reiterated the priorities for SAA negotiations with EU, namely the cooperation with the ICTY, police reform, stronger state and PBS.

Journalist Mijovic on constitutional changes: Political elites are bargaining with constitutional changes

 

HayatBy Vlastimir Mijovic – Journalist Mijovic commented on constitutional changes in BIH. He noted that in last four months the BIH “political elite” has been “bargaining” with the constitutional changes Mijovic stressed that “political elite” did less than expected: “So, for their sake, citizens should cheer, expresses thrill and satisfaction regarding the outcome of their political bargain. Please, express satisfaction when you hear that Presidency will not be lead by a Chairman but by a President whose mandate ‘Hooray!’ has been extended to 16 instead of 8 months” ironically stated Mijovic. He ironically noted that some new Terzic will not be “insulted” by the title “Chairman”, instead he will be “proudly” called President. “Nevertheless, when we look around, we cannot but agree with (Sulejman) Tihic, (Zlatko) Lagumdzija, (Milorad) Dodik and (Dragan) Cavic who are urging that this was the step forward. The step forward was indeed made, so meticulously that it resembles no-progress-situation” ironically commented Mijovic. “The real conflict in the soap opera on constitutional changes was never present, they finished what they started. The only difference made is that BIH has lost another chance for progress and that all these so-called victories lead to defeat” concluded Mijovic.

 

Reforms

General Podzic: BiH Armed Forces will have to fire as many as 2070 troops; BiH to send more troops to Iraq?

Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘BiH expected to keep sending troops to Iraq’, by Antonio Prlenda – carries an interview with the Chief of Joint HQ of BiH Armed Forces, Lt-Gen Sifet Podzic, who, whilst commenting the progress in the defence reform, says that he fears that as many as 2070 troops will have to be fired. Apart from this, general Podzic says the BiH Armed Forces are burdened with too many facilities they have to man, and too much obsolete armament and equipment. Questioned whether BiH Armed Forces would send more troops to Iraq, Podzic explains the BiH Presidency took decision on sending two contingents, however Podzic says that it would appear that the coalition forces (in Iraq) expect BiH to send Additional Two contingent. In that context, Podzic says it is down to the BiH Presdency to decide.

 

Judicial Proceedings/Corruption

Will RS authorities sue ITA over 37 million KMs?

 

 

 

 

BHTBy Boris Gagic – BiH Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) could face lawsuit, as the RS Government has announced. The Government is going to propose to the RS National Assembly to launch court process against the ITA. The Government claims that only in this way, the RS could be paid out 37 million KMs due to unjust allocation of incomes from ITA’s single account. “In terms of incomes and allocation, decision cannot be taken if the three Finance Ministers disagree. Any other decision is illegal and it violates basic agreement which has been signed”, said RS Finance Minister Svetlana Cenic. OHR did not want to engage in the issue, by saying that BiH ITA Steering Board should deal with it. The Chair of the ITA Steering Board Joly Dixon claims that the RS budget has not been damaged. The Board states that ITA only implements law regulations, brought by the Steering Board.

Cantonal Prosecution in Tuzla files charges for abuse of office, tax evasions

FTVBy Salih Brkic – Cantonal Prosecution in Tuzla has filed lawsuits against 9 persons, directors and owners of 13 companies from several towns. They are being charged with abuse of positions and tax evasions, by which budgets of Canton Tuzla, District Brcko and the RS were damaged for over 2.7 million KMs.

Transparency International warns of high corruption rate in BiH

 

BHT – Transparency international (TI) finds 2005 as a year in which small progress has been achieved in terms of fight against corruption and organized crime in BiH and adds that BiH is one of the lowest developed countries in the world with high criminal rate. TI furthermore states in its report that political elites are engaged in illegal activities and not interested in fighting corruption. FTV – TI praises work of the BiH Court and (BiH Prosecution’s) Special Department for Organized Crime and Corruption for processing a number of cases dealing with former and current BiH officials, engaged in criminal activities. (also reported by RHB, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 5 ‘Political parties are most corrupted in BiH’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘BiH included in most underdeveloped and corrupt art of world’, by Onasa, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Political parties are den of corruption and crime’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Extreme corruption’, by Eldina Medunjanin)

RS PM designate Dodik announces fight against economic crimes in RS

 

RTRS By Mirsad Kebic- RS PM designate Milorad Dodik said that the RSNA would, right after the election of new RS Government, discuss new Law on Special Prosecutor’s Office that will fight crime in RS. Dodik believes that crime rules in RS institutions. “After the election of Government on Tuesday, we will propose Law on Special Prosecutor’s Office”, said Dodik. Dodik said for Zagreb’s “Jutarnji list” newspaper that priority of new Government will be audit of privatization, establishment of Investment bank and building of Banja Luka- Zagreb highway and that BiH is only acceptable if RS exist within BiH. (Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘Showdown with crime after election of new government’, not signed – Dodik on fight against crime in RS)

Minister Dokic denies FTV’s report regarding investigations within RAK

FTV – BiH Minister of Transport and Communications, Branko Dokic, denied information published in a report that had been originally broadcast on FTV on February 13th, on activities SIPA carries out in BiH Communication Regulatory Agency (RAK). Dokic said that numerous accusations without arguments were published in the report. Dokic said that on February 13, no FTV journalists contacted him or his cabinet. Dokic added that information on the audit report on RAK being positive was false. Dokic also said that the (BiH) Chief Auditor Milenko Sego denied that the report was positive, in an interview for ‘Nezavisne Novine’, on February 16th. There are rumours going on that positive audit reports are being checked; I have to say that these are nothing but speculations. Audit report on CRA is not positive, says Dokic in his letter to FTV. (NB: FTV has been claiming that RAK is being checked by SIPA at orders of a BiH Prosecution’s prosecutor who has strong ties with PDP and that the checks are politically and financially motivated)

 

Miscellaneous

Kamensko border crossing opened, money donated by EC

BHT, RHB, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Kamensko border crossing’, by H. Gr., Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Kamensko border crossing opened’, by NINA, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Kamensko border crossing opened’, by D. Bojanic – The Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, officially handed over to Director to BiH Indirect Taxation Administration, Kemal Causevic, new border crossing at Kamensko (just south of Livno). Project on new Kamensko border crossing, worth 3.5 Millions Euros, was financed by the EU. Humphreys said that BiH as country had to have the ability to efficiently control its borders and that functional border crosses are means that will provide that to BiH.