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| 9th Mostar International economy fair opened today in Mostar | Is Brussels preparing removal of Mirko Sarovic? | Serbian police arrests Zvezdan Jovanovic, the murderer of Zoran Djindjic | Assassin of Serbian Prime Minister arrested |
| Baghdad was target of today’s alliance’s bombardment | Zoran Djindjic’s assassin arrested | Alliance’s forces are 80 km far from Baghdad | USAID provided electric supply for returnees in Kotorsko |
| Serbian Police arrested Zoran Djindjic’s assassin | Bombardment of Baghdad continues | UN Experts team found traces of depleted uranium at two sites in BiH | Very low contamination of depleted uranium in Hadzici and Han Pijesak |
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| Vojislav Seselj pleaded not guilty! | Vojislav Seselj pleads not guilty before the ICTY | HR orders transfer of ownership of factory in Potocari |
| Oslobodjenje | Murderer of Premier Djindjic arrested |
| Dnevni Avaz | Sacirbegovic arrested yesterday |
| Dnevni List | Memorandum of Understanding worth 1.000.000.000 dollars signed with DaimlerChrysler Services; Djindjic assassin Zvezdan Zveki Jovanovic arrested; Catholic Church requests protection of Catholics in Sarajevo |
| Vecernji List | Battle for Baghdad started; Mirko Sarovic: We are a hopeless case; Depleted uranium threatens water |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Dragan Covic announces new business project: Airbus in Soko starts businesses: OHR bodyguards use rifle against journalists; DaimlerChrysler invests over a billion dollars |
| Glas Srpski | Assistant to Commander of Red Berets, Zvezdan Jovanovic, arrested: Special policemen murdered Djindjic!?; Sarajevo: Ashdown preparing dismissals; Zvornik: Knife versus eviction |
| Nezavisne Novine | Serbian special police in action: Suspected assassin of Serbian Premier arrested; Nezavisne publish an order of General Momir Zec related to Orao affair: Authority attempted to transfer responsibility onto Plavsic; James Lyon, Director of International Crisis Group in Serbia and Montenegro: RS looks like a playground for criminals |
| Nedeljni Telegraf | Terrible findings yet to come; Secret negotiations: the Hague withdraws indictments against several Serbs; Brake down of Serbian Mafia |
| Blic | Different taxes for petroleum- a paradise for smugglers in Bosnia; Djindjic’s assassin and accomplices arrested; Goran Svilanovic: Seven Hague’s indictments soon; Refugee wanted to kill with knife Zvornik OMI’s head |
| Vecernje Novosti | Assassin captured; Red Berets disbanded |
| Blic News (Belgrade weekly) | Battle with Mafia: War the state must win; CIA analysis: Saddam Hussein will not surrender |
Crimes | |
| The assassin of Zoran Djindjic arrested
| Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 12 ‘Murderer of Premier Djindjic arrested’, Dnevni Avaz pg 20 the same headline – Zvezdan Zveki Jovanovic, the Assistant Commander of the unit for special operations called Red Berets, was arrested under suspicion he had killed by sniper the Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic on March 12 in Belgrade. Jutarnji List (front and page 3, “Murderer arrested”), Vjesnik (front and page 1 and 7, “Zivkovic: Djindjic assassin arrested”) and Dnevni List (front and page 48, “Djindjic assassin Zvezdan Zveki Jovanovic arrested”), Nezavisne Novine, page 2/also cover page, ‘Suspected assassin of Serbian Premier arrested’; Glas Srpski, cover page story, ‘Special policemen murdered Djindjic!?’ also report on yesterday’s arrest of Zvezdan Jovanovic nicknamed Zveki. Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Zivkovic, yesterday also announced that the police found the sniper gun of Heckler Koh G3 type, which is believed to be used during the assassination of Djindjic. It was also confirmed that Serbian police filed criminal report against Djordje Mirkovic, President of 4th Basic Court in Belgrade for the misuse of official position and authority. |
| Sacirbegovic apprehended yesterday | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘Sacirbegovic apprehended yesterday’ – The former BiH Ambassador to the United Nations, Muhamed Sacirbegovic, was arrested in New York Yesterday on the basis of the international warrant issued by the authorized BiH bodies, according to Fena. Sacirbegoovic, who was also performing the duty of the BiH Foreign Minister from 1996 to 1998, has been accused of embezzling 2.5 million US dollars from the account of the BiH Missing in the UN. |
| ICG’s James Lyon interview for Nezavisne Novine | Nezavisne Novine, page 7, “RS looks like a playground for criminals’ – NN carries an interview with James Lyon, Head of ICG in Serbia and Montenegro, who said that: “RS looks like a playground for criminals at all levels. It is visible from the economic situation in the RS, which has been deteriorating on a daily basis. The RS authority is responsible for that, because it constantly finds the way how to bypass the law and deceive the people.” He further stressed that the links between “Bosnian lobby” in Belgrade and the so called patriotic nationalistic parties in the RS are extremely strong. Although he was rather open during the interview, he still did not want to say the names of persons and firms linked with criminal groups and The Hague lobby, neither was he willing to disclose whose bank accounts would be blocked in the near future. On arrest of Radovan Karadzic, he expressed his uncertainty into eventual political willingness and commitment of the international community to arrest Karadzic and Mladic. Vecernje Novosti pg. 5 headline ‘Nacional is Momcilo Mandic’s paper’ – Head of ICG for Serbia and Montenegro James Lyon say that the ICG supports the introduction of the state of emergency in Serbia and all actions undertaken by the Serbian Government, including those referring to the media. “Identitet was a screen for Milorad Lukovic Legija, and we all know that Nacional is Momcilo Mandic’s paper – therefore the ban of these two papers is not a surprise at all. Dani (Podgorica’s daily) is financed by political group that supported Milosevic until the very end”, Lyon says. “Such papers did not supported the Government in its efforts to clear Serbia of the crime. Instead they were at disposal to the criminal groups,” Lyon says. |
| NT on secret negotiation between Hague and Belgrade | Nedeljni Telegraf pg. 2&3 (headline ‘Tribunal withdraws several indictments against Serbs’) learns from a source close to the Serbian Government that after Zoran Djindjic’s assassination the Hague and Belgrade held secret negotiations during which Belgrade proposed that if it proves that they are innocent the Hague Tribunal will withdraw indictments against several Serbs. According to the source there are people for whom there are proofs they were not involved in the crimes the Tribunal indicted them for. These people are Serbia and Montenegro’s citizens and they live in the country. According to Dog Bondou, analyst of Cato Institute in Washington, the Hague was not so willing to accept such a trade, but it would accept it because the Hague realised that its policy of pressures had significant role in Djindjic’s assassination. This analyst does not reject as impossible the speculation that in exchange for this Tribunal’s concession, Serbian authorities have promised Ratko Mladic’s apprehension. “Mladic’s arrest would be less controversial in Serbia then arrest of some Serbian politician, and therefore such a compromise is possible for the Belgrade’s authorities. On the other side, the Hague wants Mladic desperately and it is possible that they would accept this Belgrade’s proposal”, Bondau says, adding that recent dismissal of head of the directorate for security of the Serbian and Montenegro Army General Staff General Aca Tomic, who is believed to be protecting Mladic, fits into this scheme. |
Humanitarian issues | |
| Remains of 600 Srebrenica victims to be buried in Potocari
| Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘600 Srebrenica victims to be buried in Potocari’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Funeral will show what kind of genocide was committed in Srebrenica’ – Remains of the six hundreds of Srebrenica victims will be buried on March 31 in the Potocari Memorial Centre, the President of the State Commission for Missing Persons Amor Masovic confirmed at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. He said that a total of 850 of the Srebrenica victims had been identified so far an that the funeral of the rest of 250 victims would probably take place on July 11. |
| HR Transfers Battery Factory to the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Battery Factory transferred to Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Batery Factory became ownership of the Srebrenica-Potocari Foundation’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, following consultations with the Republika Srpska (RS) authorities, today issued a Decision transferring the ownership of the Battery Factory “A.S.” a.d. Srebrenica to the Foundation of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial and Cemetery. The High Representatives Decision also establishes a Commission, which is to determine the compensation to be paid by the RS to the current owners and users of the Battery Factory before September of this year. Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Battery Factory owned by Foundation Srebrenica-Potocari; Glas Srpski, page 2, ‘Foundation got factory’, Blic pg. 7 headline ‘Battery factory to the Foundation’ also carry press release. NN also reports that the personnel of funeral home “Visoko” completed the digging of 600 graves in Potocari. |
Affairs | |
| PIC to remove both Sarovic and Covic?
| Slobodna Dalmacija (page 6, by HINA, “Sarovic being removed over Iraq?”) carries a report that was yesterday aired by the BHTV1 which reported that the Peace Implementation Council that is to hold sessions on March 28 and 29, will probably take a decision to remove the Chair of BiH Presidency, Mirko Sarovic. An anonymous source close to the PIC said Sarovic would be removed because of political responsibility for export of arms and military equipment to Iraq. BHTV1 also said there was a possibility that the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, could be removed too because his name has been often linked to corruption scandals. Vecernji List (front “Mirko Sarovic: We are a hopeless case” and page 11“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a hopeless case”, by Zoran Kresic) carries an interview with Sarovic. Questioned to comment on requests that he steps down because of the “Orao” affair, Sarovic says: “I do not know the background of these requests. I have executed the office of the President of RS and office of Serb member of BiH Presidency in a best possible way – responsibly and honorably. All those who have such claims should show and prove my involvement in illegal and anti-constitutional issues. I would not deal with speculations. I think the desires to remove a representative who has been elected by one of the peoples speaks a lot about us. I’d say we are obviously a hopeless case” Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, mentioned on the front page ‘SDS searching for Sarovic’s replacement’ – The newspaper also speculates about the possibility that PIC removes Sarovic from the office over the Orao affair. “If Sarovic is removed, he might be replaced with Borislav Paravac, the Deputy Speaker of the BiH House of Representative,” according to Avaz. Glas Srpski, cover page story, ‘Ashdown preparing dismissals’ also carried the BHTV 1 report on possible removal of Sarovic and Covic. According to report, HIRep is to pronounce this decision after the session of the PIC in Brussels, scheduled for 28 March. According to BHTV 1, two options for their replacements are possible: they are to be replaced by Nebojsa Radmanovic and Mladen Ivankovic respectively, or BIH Parliamentary Assembly would be in charge of electing new members to BiH Presidency. |
| Nezavisne Novine on Orao affair | Nezavisne Novine, page 3/also cover page, ‘Authority attempted to transfer responsibility onto Plavsic’ – According to NN source close to the RS Supreme Defence Council, the removed Chief of the RS General Staff, Momir Zec, addressed a fax to the military repair centres of Orao and Kosmos on 18 December 2002. The fax clearly shows that RS authorities attempted to transfer all responsibility for arm trades with Iraq onto Biljana Plavsic, former president of RS. According to fax content, Zec demanded the following from Centres in Bijeljina and Banja Luka: “Deliver me the list of states, with which trades were supposed to be done, and which was presented to former president Biljana Plavsic in the period from May to August 1997. Also deliver me a copy of a detailed proposal carried upon order of president Plavsic.” NN source raises the question as to why the period in 1997 was the only time mentioned, since the arm trades with Iraq lasted until last year. The source further claims that “It is not by pure chance that the fax order was made only a couple of days after OHR and SFOR requested from RS President, Dragan Cavic, to establish the political responsibility in Orao affair.” NN yesterday failed to get any comment by SFOR, as to whether it is satisfied with the latest supplemented report on Orao affair. According to some unofficial sources, decisions will be passed following the meeting in Brussels as to whether any sanction would be imposed against those that OHR and SFOR find politically responsible for the affair. |
| Mirnes Ajanovic on Ashdown’s request for withdrawal of Tuka from the Parliament | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Parliament cannot annul the mandate of Mijat Tuka’ – The FBiH Parliament cannot remove the deputy Mijat Tuka on the basis of a letter sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the NHI by High Representative Paddy Ashdowvn, Mirnes Ajanovic, BOSS leader and the President of the Federation Parliamentary Commission for the Verification of Mandates and Immunity, told the newspaper. “The Election Law stipulates that the mandate belongs to the deputy, and a pre-condition that we as the commission launch a procedure for a deputy’s removal is the existence of a valid court’s verdict against the particular deputy sentencing him/her to at least six months in prison,” said Ajanovic. |
Political developments | |
| Federation HoR drops constitutional amendments from the agenda
| Dnevni List (page 5, by M. R., “Proposal of Law on State Service adopted”) carries a report from yesterday’s session of the Federation Parliament’s House of Representatives. DL says the amendments to the Federation Constitution that were enacted by the High Representative last year were removed from the agenda at the proposal of the SDA Caucus because the Caucus believed the amendments should not be discussed at the yesterday’s session because of lack of symmetric solutions in the RS when it comes to realization of vital national interests. The amendments were removed from the agenda at the request of SDA and HDZ. BOSS was also in favor of the removal. Federation HoR also adopted a proposal of Law on Civil Service together with many amendments, some of them, according to DL, changing the original proposal made together with the OHR and domestic experts and representatives. One of the changes is reportedly related to establishment of cantonal agencies for civil service together with the Federation agency. (Vecernji List, page 8, by E. Me, “Petritsch’s amendments removed”, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Federation with 11 Civil Service Agencies’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘SDA, HDZ and BOSS want new Constitution of BiH’) |
| Bulldozer Committee meeting with BiH parliamentarians | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Meeting of BiH parliamentarians with Bulldozer Committee: There is no task which is more important than the economic reforms’ – A meeting of the BiH parliamentarians with the members of the Bulldozer Committee was held in the National Theater building in Sarajevo on Tuesday. “The aim of the meeting is to inform members of the BiH and Entity’s parliaments on the Bulldozer Committee recommendations and 50 measures for the improvement of the business environment in BiH,” said Sefik Dzaferovic, the Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives. Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Bulldozer for better environment’; Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Bulldozer in jump-off’ – Both dailies report on yesterday’s meeting between Bulldozer Commission and MP’s at the parliaments of BiH, RS, BiH Federation and Brcko District. The meeting agreed that it is necessary to urgently implement 50 reforms recommended for the improvement of business environment, in order to remove the existing administrative barriers. In the opening arguments of the session, which was attended by approximately 250 MP’s, businessmen and IC officials, Sefik Dzaferovic, Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, stressed that the recommended 50 reforms represent “a link between legislation and practise”. RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, stressed that economic reforms demand courage and legislative and executive authority, stressing that international community should start being more partner and less mentor in this process. |
| BiH delegation met in Brussels with EU Commissioner for Foreign Policy
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Patten promised the EU would be a BiH’s partner on its way towards Europe’ – A BiH delegation headed by Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic met on Tuesday in Brussels with Chris Patten, the EU Commissioner for Foreign Policy, and Pite Cox, the Chairman of the EU Parliament. “Commissioner Patten expressed his full support to a reform course taken by the BiH Council of Ministers. He emphasized that the EU would be a partner to our country on each millimetre of its way towards Europe,” Terzic told the newspaper. |
| SDS spokesperson: “SDS and PDP reconsidering inter-party relations” | Dnevni List (page 11, by ONASA) carries an SDS spokesperson, Dusan Stojicic, as saying that SDS and PDP leaderships are in a phase of reconsidering relationships stressing the final position in the matter would be reached at a session of SDS Main Board soon. “Our interest is not that the relations be destroyed, but there have been situations that should have not taken place regarding the appointment of Director of Elektroprivreda of RS. The main goal of inter-party talks is to find a way for a more productive political co-ordination of the parties, with the aim to have a better functioning RS Government”, says Stojicic. |
| SNS Bijeljina joins SNSD | Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘SNS Bijeljina joins SNSD’ – Jezdimir Spasojevic, President of the Bijeljina Regional Board of SNS, confirmed that five municipal Boards of the SNS from the north-east RS have joined SNSD led by Milorad Dodik. He added that the Banja Luka SNS is still uncertain whether to join the SNSD or not. |
| RS Prime Minister’s visit to Srbinje/Foca | RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic has said in Srbinje that there is no question of any more one-off financial injections into companies and the solution was to start bankruptcy proceedings. The Prime Minister explained that through bankruptcy proceedings healthy production lines could be separated and with added investment be able to start production again. Mikerevic pointed out that the RS government would pass six new laws related to the economy and privatisation by the end of April. Speaking about hydro-power plant Buk Bijela, Mikerevic said that due to the international audit of the RS Elektroprivreda the RS Government had prolonged the deadline for tender for building that plant until the end of June. He said that only the RS Elektroprivreda should decide about destiny of the plant, and not someone else, adding that he hoped that newly-elected leadership and management team within the RS Elektroprivreda would soon presented their proposals. (Blic pg. 7 headline ‘Solution in bankruptcy’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 19 headline ‘Less talk, more work’) |
| RS Minister Samardzic meets with Ostanak representatives | RS Minister of Refugees and DPs Jasmin Samardzic met on Tuesday with representatives of the Association of Refugees Ostanak and discussed the possibility for helping of refugees through budget revision. President of Ostanak office in Doboj Mirko Nikic said that Samardzic had told him that the budget currently does not foresee any financial assistance to this population. (Blic pg. 6 headline ‘Ostanak without the budget’s help’) |
| DL: “Ratko Pejanovic again at head of City Council of Mostar???”
| Dnevni List (page 6, by S. Kuzman) says that one of leaders of SDU Mostar and former (Deputy) President of City Council of Mostar (CCM), Ratko Pejanovic, could be returning to the office(s), as DL learns from SDU Mostar. According to DL, Pejanovic was a very successful official of the CCM during the second half of the 90s during the times the west part of the city was governed by radical fractions of HDZ BiH. In this context, DL says Pejanovic enjoyed a support from all normal citizens of the city, majority of Mostar Serbs and the IC adding that the CCM became a source of conflicts when Pejanovic left and Milan Jovicic, the current Deputy President of CCM, occupied his position. Furthermore, allegedly sources from SDU Mostar say the SDU councilors in the CCM intend to withdraw from the CD Coalition. Regarding the position of Milan Jovicic, DL says it is clear Jovicic is not supported by the IC and some liberal members of SDA as illustrated by the High Representative for BiH, during his last visit to Mostar, when the HR addressed journalists in presence of the President of CCM, without Jovicic at his side. “It is obvious Jovicic is not suitable for Ashdown’s company, and his removal is becoming more evident’, says the author. |
Other issues | |
| Mostar Fair 2003
| Vecernji List (page 8, by Misijana Brkic, “Over 350 exhibitors from 20 countries”), Dnevni List (front page, “Memorandum of Understanding worth 1 billion dollars signed with Daimler Chrysler Services” and page 12 “Unique market on territory of whole BiH”, by Valerija Coric) and Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 15, by Marijan Sivric, “20 countries at Mostar fair”) carry that the Chair of BiH Presidency, Mirko Sarovic, opened the Mostar Fair 2003 yesterday. Sarovic stated: “Our most important economic partners are our neighbors. Through development of the economic cooperation with them we are launching a process of the development of the regional cooperation and that is the best way towards European integration, that BiH aspires to.” The dailies also carry that the Memorandum of Understanding for the economic cooperation between DaimlerChrysler and BiH Presidency was signed. VL says that the project is worth 1,5 billion US$ for the next ten years and the signed document contains proposals of the projects that should be realized in the next ten years (investments in the production of electricity, Mostar Aluminij, hydro-electric power plants, thermo-electric power plants, and the oil refinery in Brod was also mentioned). (Vecernje Novosti pg. 12 headline ‘Serbia is important partner’) |
| SD: Two PDHR Hays’ bodyguards attack journalists | Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 18, by Ana Maric, “OHR bodyguards use rifle against journalists”) reports that two journalists of an Islamic youth magazine “Saff” were attacked and threatened with weapons by two members of security team of PDHR Donald Hays at Grbavica, Sarajevo, last Friday around 1330 hours. Two journalists, Ezher Beganovic and Jasin Jez, claim the incident occurred when they tried to find out the reason why the secretary of “Saff”, Salahudin Kovacevic, was followed. Moreover, Beganovic and Jez say two Hays’ bodyguards took photos of Kovacevic when he was entering the magazine’s premises. Beganovic also says the two bodyguards left the scene in a car, registration plates 37-A-026. The daily says the OHR could not give any explanation whilst the Sarajevo Canton MoI says the case was not reported. |
| Zvornik incident | Glas Srpski, cover page story, ‘Knife versus eviction’; Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘Female municipal clerk stabbed over eviction’ – Both dailies report on yesterday’s incident in Zvornik, when Vladimir M. (33), refugee from Sarajevo, assaulted and stabbed Angelina Tomic, Head of the RS Ministry of Refugees and DP’s Department in Zvornik at her work. She has been hospitalised in Zvornik and her life is no longer in danger. Zvornik police arrested Vladimir M. and the criminal proceedings are currently ongoing. Vladimir M. , who is living with his brother in the house owned by Sadeta Pasalic-Dautovic, was supposed to be evicted yesterday. However, Ms. Dautovic did not show up, eviction was cancelled, but Vladimir went to Ministry Department and wanted to speak with Tomic about eventual temporary accommodation and payment of rent. However, what happened inside her office, no one knows as yet. (Blic pg. 7 headline ‘Attacked with knife, wounded in chest’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3) |
| EFT statement on Montenegro EP | Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘Montenegro owes EFT EURO 5 million’ – Svetislav Bulatovic, EFT Executive Director, yesterday stated that Montenegrin Power Utility owes the amount of EURO 5 million to the EFT. At the presser in Podgorica, he said that James Nigh, EFT Director General, met officials of Montenegrin EP two days ago and discussed possibility of settling the debt. Bulatovic further denied media claims that EFT controls the market and electricity supply in the region, stressing that his firm makes best offers on electricity supply to consumers. Nigh stressed that Montenegrin EP is an old business partner of his firm, noting that it is currently faced with two problems: “One of which is to collect money for the used power, and the second one is the fact that Aluminium Plant, as the biggest power consumer, pays only two thirds of the used power.” |
| RS Pensioners’ Association to sue RS Government | The RS Pensioners’ Association of said on Tuesday that it would sue the RS Government and Pension-Disability Insurance Fund for the 45% reduction of pensions. The Association Steering Board agreed on Monday in Brcko that the lawsuit will be filed before the RS Supreme Court. “With the average pension of 120 KM, the pensioners cannot pay for suitable health protection or food. We are in a hopeless situation, and pensioners demand from us to undertake all measures. If the RS National Assembly does not resolve the pensioners’ problems at its session in April, in a manner similar to how they have been resolved in BiH Federation, where an average pension is 190 KM, nobody will be able to prevent the lawsuit,” Steering Board Chairman Rade Rakulj said. (Vecernje Novosti pg. 19) |
| UN presents report on presence of depleted uranium in Bosnia | UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme] experts have confirmed presence of depleted uranium at two of 15 controlled locations on the BiH territory. Contamination with depleted uranium has been registered in Hadzici and Han Pijesak, but according to UNEP experts it poses no danger to the lives of the residents. The head of the UNEP expert team, Pekka Haavista, told journalists on Tuesday that the quantity of depleted uranium at in the contaminated areas was too small to cause any radiological or chemical problems now or in the future. (Blic pg. 7 headline ‘Uranium does not threaten BiH citizens’, Oslobodjenje pg. 8, Dnevni Avaz pg. 10, Vecernji List front and page 10, by E. Medunjanin, “Depleted uranium threatens water”, Dnevni List, page 3, by D. L., “Depleted uranium did not significantly contaminate environment in BiH” and Slobodna Dalmacija, page 6, by HINA, “Depleted uranium did not cause diseases in BiH”) |
| Unions of three Elektroprivredas discuss Action plan on energy sector in BiH | Dnevni List (page 5, by Blazica Kristo, “Privatization of energy sector YES, blackmails NO”) carries that three Unions of three Elektroprivredas in BiH discussed the Action plan on restructuring and privatization of energy sector in BiH when the Unions reached a conclusion that they were not against the restructuring that would result in profit, but against a faulty privatization. Unions say the processes of privatization and restructuring must be carried out separately and Unions must be actively involved in the processes. DL carries the President of Union of Elektroprivreda BiH workers, Mensur Krljes, as saying that the Unions will organize a general strike if talks with the BiH authorities and IC are not successful. Unions also advocate defining of a State-level energy sector strategy. |
| SD says US Embassy trying to save “Lijanovici” | Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 15, by Hrvoje Maric, “Americans saving Lijanovici”) reports that the Head of US Embassy’s office in Mostar, Steven Fagin, met with the Prime Minister and Speaker of the Parliament of West Herzegovina Canton, Viktor Lasic and Zoran Vuksic respectively, when they talked about the problems that the “Lijanovici” meat industry is facing. The journalist says there was no usual statement following the meeting, however the daily learns from a source close to the WHC Government that Fagin was trying to suggest Lasic and Vuksic what sort of measures they should implement in order to help the “Lijanovici”. Apparently, the instructions, prepared by the US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, are pressuring the municipal authorities of Siroki Brijeg to reschedule debts and even write off debts that the company owes to the municipality. |