| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| FBiH HoR in session | Mortgage on oil refinery | ICTY indicted Norac | RSNA on economy in RS |
| Beecroft leaves BiH | FBiH Army dismissals | Ombudsmen dissatisfied | BiH Central Bank’s report |
| Meeting in Portoroz | RSNA on economy in RS | FBiH HoR in session | Incident in Banja Luka |
| Defence reforms in BiH | Americans will stay in Iraq | UNMIK head resigns | Journalist’s rights |
| Oslobodjenje | The biggest Balkans arms smuggler wants refinery; on Belgrade meeting: First agreement on borders, than exchange of territory; BiH Central Bank: Investments larges 700 million KM from official ones; Travelling last year: Ivanic and Topic spent 200.000 KM |
| Dnevni Avaz | Deadline for personal documents extended; Cikotic and Sarics retired; Paravac’s car stolen |
| Dnevni List | Escape: 4 prisoners ran away from prison |
| Vecernji List | Bridge: Scaffold completely removed |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Herzegovina was shaking again |
| Glas Srpske | Ivan Tomljenovic claims: No list of informers |
| Nezavisne Novine | Eviction of Crnkovic family in Banja Luka postponed: They poured the oil on bailiff; How does Tribunal in The Hague collects information on war crime suspects: The Hague investigators pay information which they do not get; Dragan Kalinic: I do not have power to place people on “black list” |
| Blic | Again drama because of eviction: by fuel against court executor; Mikerevic on RS economy: 5 exits from crisis |
Economic and social issues | |
| RSNA discusses economy report
| FTV, BHTV 1, Glas Srpske carries a separate article on pg 2 ‘Urgent measures’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Concept of privatisation was wrong’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Patience for recovery’ – The RS Government report on economy, discussed by RS National Assembly on Tuesday, reads that the concept of the mass privatisation was wrong and did not have good results. Government further assessed that the key problems of the privatisation process were: non-competitive firms whose capital was subject to privatisation, bad business and investment environment in RS and BiH, weaknesses of the institutions in charge of privatisation process and inefficiency of the officials of the international community. Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, said that Government is supporting “more aggressive approach to privatisation, instead of placement of moratorium to this process, as some people propose”. Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, proposed that the process of a complete liberalisation should be abandoned, custom fees on raw materials should be abolished, loan interest rates should be decreased and a fund for stimulating small firms should be established. He recommended audit of the entire process of privatisation. RTRS – The RS Trade Union was also dissatisfied with the Government’s report. “Since RS Government cannot deal with such problems, we ask for transfer of its management and obligations to local institutions,” said Cedo Volas, President of the Union. Mikerevic argued that there were evidences that certain progresses had been made. |
| RS officials on economy in the entity | Blic pg 13 ‘5 exits from crisis’ – Minister of Economy Milan Bogicevic believes the biggest problem of RS economy is that the great majority of firms is not prepared for market competition. He said the Government believes strategic firms should be taken care of first, in order for their development to help developing small and medium sized companies. The President of RS chamber of Commerce, Mladen Micic, thinks the biggest problem is poor personnel policy, inefficient privatization and lack of incentive measures. The President of RS Trade Union, Cedo Volas, requested accepting of the Trade Union demands on increasing industrial production from 10% to 20%, accelerating the privatization process, putting a moratorium on privatization of public firms and establishing of an agency for a revision of certain cases of the privatization. The President of the RS Association of Employers, Damir Miljevic, has suggested the RS NA to oblige the Government to create an action plan on short-term measures in order to improve the situation in economy. |
| Mikerevic proposes five economic measures | Blic pg 13 ‘5 exits from crisis’, mentioned on cover ‘Mikerevic on RS economy: 5 exits from crisis’ by Tijana Veselinovic – Recovering of RS economy is possible and the Government sees five chances and ways to exits crisis of firms in RS, as RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic stated yesterday. The first chance is a project of IMF on restructuring of firms in BiH in the following four years. The second way to exit crisis is a bankruptcy process for firms that cannot be restructured. The third way is more aggressive approach to the privatization process and the fourth chance is the protection of domestic production. Finally, the fifth chance is in public works through approving concessions. |
| Central Bank present poll on foreign investments in BiH | FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Each BiH citizen owes 100 KM’ by R. Radic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘BiH foreign debt amounts to 4,13 billion KM’ by Z. Rerig – Results of the first poll on foreign investments in BiH carried out by the BiH Central Bank show that total foreign investments in BiH with 30 June 2003 reached 3,4 billion KM, and that the biggest direct investor in Croatia. CBBH Governor Peter Nicholl told at the press conference held in Sarajevo that 2,7 billion KM out of that amount are direct investments, which are almost 40 percent higher than those shown by other sources. Nicholl described these figures as positive, especially because they are based on international statistical standards. The poll covered 720 large companies and companies known of having foreign investments exceeding 100.000 KM. According to information mainly from the BiH Ministry of Finance and Treasury database the unsettled Government debt totalled 4,13 billion KM in late March 2004, Nicholl said, adding that the servicing of that debt should not present a problem in the future. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Foreign investments 700 million KM higher from official ones’ by A. Omeragic – Nicholl also stressed need to appoint Director of the BiH Statistic Agency, which would be in charge of providing reliable statistics. “I don’t know what this appointments has been this much delayed,” said Nicholl. |
| Update to Oil Refinery Brod | BHTV 1, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Federation will not get oil from Serb Brod’, mentioned on cover, by Branka Stevandic – notes that the Oil refinery from the Serb (Bosanski) Brod in the Republika Srpska will not be selling oil and oil derivatives to the buyers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as of today, despite the plan to start with the application of the Agreement on abolishment of the double taxation in inter-entity trading of excise goods, which should enable the refinery to sell its goods to the FBiH, since the Agreement is not coming into effect today as planned earlier. According to the RS Prime Minister’s spokesman, Goran Radivojac, the RS Government is ready to start with the application of the Agreement immediately, but since an agreement with the FBiH cannot be reached, there will be no application of the Agreement in the set deadline. According to the Assistant to the CEO of the refinery in Serb Brod, Dusko Bogdanovic, the refinery has lost 60 million KMs this year alone because it cannot sell its products in the FBIH. VL also carries that the RS-based oil distributors claim that the products from the Serb Brod refinery are cheaper that the ones imported from Croatia and Hungary. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Refinery management says it is not aware of the 60 million credit’ by E. Plecic – DA carries that Bogdanovic said to the journalists did not have any knowledge of the credit. |
| Oslobodjenje says owner of company demanding mortgage to Refinery is arms smuggler
| Oslobodjenje cover page story ‘Biggest Balkans’ arms smuggler wants refinery’, pgs 4-5 ‘The biggest Balkans’ arms smuggler Oman wants Refinery’ by Azhar Kalamujic – According to daily, the ‘Orbal marketing service’ company – that asked mortgage on Brod Oil Refinery to be activated saying that RS Government did not pay out the debt of 60 million dollars from 1995 – has been headed by Slovenian Nikolas Aleksander Oman, the biggest arms smuggler in this part of Europe. Apparently, in 1995 RS Govt signed an agreement with the company placing Refinery under mortgage, and daily says that at the time there were speculations that Radovan Karadzic gave Refinery to Oman in exchange for weapons. Author further claims that even though RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic claims that Govt was not aware of the mortgage, daily says Milan Bogicevic, RS Minister for Minding, Industry and Energy, that the Government was informed in January on the demand to pay out the debt. RS Justice Minister Suad Filipovic says that the Government has already started a probe into this alleged contract between Orbal Marketing Service and RS in 1995, and he confirmed that he met with three company’s representatives who told him that Orbal imported fruits in a value of 60 million for RS in 1995. |
| Evictions in Banja Luka | Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 8 ‘They poured the oil on bailiff’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Sparks in the courtyard’, Blic, pg. 12 ‘They were pouring petroleum on court executor’ by Nedeljka Breberina mentioned on cover ‘Again drama because of eviction: by fuel against court executor’, Vecernje novosti, pg. 21 ‘Balcony of refugees was on fire’ by M. L. – The eviction of the family of Crnkovic in Banja Luka was yesterday postponed for 11th time until Friday. The family of Crnkovic, originally from Karlovac does not want to leave the house they exchanged with Ekrem Varjaca in Banja Luka, claiming that the Croatian authorities would not give them back their house. Crankovic’s need to comply with the decision of the Banja Luka District Court, which annulled the property exchange contract and ordered them to vacate the house. |
| Mikerevic meets IMF representative in BiH | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘On the path of stability’ – Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, and Valeria Fickera, Resident Representative of the IMF in BiH, concluded during yesterday’s meeting in Banja Luka that the expenditures at the RS budget were in accordance with the incomes. They stressed that the policy of stability within this field needs to continue. |
| Eronet official on banking guarantees for 3rd GSM licence | Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘State does not need guarantees for payment of GSM licence’, by Jurislav Petrovic – President of ‘Eronet’ Supervisory Board, Robert Gavran, says the ‘Eronet’ is still in negotiations regarding acquiring of banking guarantees, which should offer the guarantees for payment of 140 million KMs, the amount that every mobile phone operator in BiH has to pay for the GSM licence. According to Gavranovic’s knowledge, the BiH Telekom, Mobilna Srpske and HT Mostar are in similar situations since they too are looking for the banking guarantees. Gavranovic is of opinion that the guarantees are not necessary at the moment, because BiH has the mechanisms to exclude anyone who is even one day late regarding the payment. |
| Basic says Eronet makes pressure in CoM re 3rd GSM licence | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Eronet management makes pressure on certain CoM ministers’ by A. Delic – Deputy BiH Minister of Transport and Communications, Haris Basic, says that some Ministers in the Council of Ministers have been under pressure of Eronet management. Namely, on 24 May, deadline to apply for third GSM licence expired, and one of the criteria is to submit bank guarantee for 140 million KM, which is a licence fee established by CoM. Basic says Eronet tries to compel some ministers to get different decision on giving guarantees. |
| FBiH HoR adopts Proposal of changes to Law on Electricity | FTV, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Lasic: Cantons became ‘logistic’ support’ by E. Mackic – the House of Representatives of the Federation of BiH Parliament adopted Proposal of changes and amendments to Law on Electricity without a consent of HDZ-CCD-HNZ Coalition. |
Political developments | |
| CIPS deadline extended
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Deadline extended for two months’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg “Deadline for personal documents extended’ by E. Karamatic, Glas Srpske cover pg ‘New deadline for ID csrd’; Nezavisne Novine pg 12 ‘Deadline for issuance of documents extended for two months’– BiH Civil Affairs Ministry has extended the deadline for two months for issuing new ID card and driving licences at 24 locations. This is a second extension in a period of a year. Dnevni Avaz cover page story ‘Deadline for personal documents extended’, pg 3 ‘Deadline for personal documents extended for two months’ by Sa. R. – BiH Civil Affairs Minister Safet Halilovic appeal to all citizens to timely submit request for new documents, thus avoiding further delays. |
| Education: Constitutional Court rejects HDZ’s remarks
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘OHR: HDZ responsible for undermining of constitutional set-up’, mentioned on cover, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – BiH Constitutional Court has rejected remarks of the HDZ BiH, which invoked the vital national interests in the Central Bosnia Canton in the process of harmonization of the law on elementary and secondary education to the State Framework law on education. The explanation reads that the Central Bosnia Canton has no excuse not to bring its cantonal education law in harmony with the State law and if it does not achieve it, it will collide with the State of BiH and its international obligations. DL also carries a spokesman of the OHR, Vedran Persic, as saying that unless the cantons do not abide by the laws and BiH Constitution and if they keep undermining the constitutional set-up, the OHR will be forced to hold accountable the authorities in the Posavina, Central Bosnia, Herzegovina-Neretva and Herzeg-Bosnia Canton. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘OHR warned Central Bosnia Canton to harmonise Laws on education’ – also brings Persic’s statement. |
| Halilovic on today session of BiH-SCG Interstate Council in Belgrade | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Halilovic: there cannot be exchange of territory with SCG’ by H. Orhanovac – In light of the today’s session of the Interstate Council of BiH and Serbia and Monte Negro in Belgrade, BiH Civil Affairs Minsiter Safet Halilovic talks about speculations that topics will include exchange of the territory: “There cannot be exchange of territory with SCG now, as there are no legal framework for something lie that. We can talk about exchange of territory only after signing and ratifying agreement on borders between BiH and SCG. That contract has not yet been singed, and official Belgrade is to be blamed for that, as we are currently being pushed to accept the exchange of territories as pre-condition for signing border agreement.” Mugdim Cukle, Chairman of the Interstate diplomatic mission for border between BiH and SCG, also says that there cannot be talk about exchange of territories. Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘First agreement on borders, that exchange of territories’ – carries statement by Cukle who raised the same point. |
| Beecroft holds farewell press conference in Mostar | RHB – The Chief of OSCE Mission in BiH, Robert Beecroft, held farewell press conference in Mostar where he said he would not lose a contact with BiH. RHB comments that Beecroft will stay be remembered for controversial proposals of a future organization of BiH education system. “In a country which is as complex as BiH, there has to be a single standard of respect for all. There could be no double standards. And to anyone who accuses the International Community of a double standard, my response would be that your problem is to have a single standard. And this also holds for Croat people, as the smallest of 3 constituent people, we understand very well their sensitivity,” said Beecroft. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Robert Beecroft promised he will continue to help Mostar’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘A lot of time spent to heal the wounds’ by onasa, Dnevni List pg 12 ‘I will keep helping Mostar’ by S. Bjelica, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘Budget is ground for development of Mostar’ by M. Landeka – also covered. |
| Terzic on meeting with Patten | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Abolishment of visa for BiH citizens is not anymore impossible’ by S. Numanovic – BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic on Tuesday met with the EC High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Chris Patten. On the meeting, Terzic stated for DA: “EC and Commissioner Patten believe that BiH Government is on the good way. They were worried with the fact that in the first few months of this year there was a delay in reforms, but in the past few weeks they acknowledged significant progress in that way.” He added that Patten encourage BiH authorities to complete the reforms started. “We specifically raised the issue of visa regime for BiH citizens. Commission Patten told us that he believes BiH carried out a lot of institutional solutions, which encourages members of Schengen regime and the Commission itself. My impression is that the visa regime for BiH is not a taboo anymore,” announces Terzic. |
| Oslobodjenje criticise Ivanic, Topic expenditures
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Ivanic and Topic spent 200.000 KM’, mentioned on cover, by Vedrana Zivak – The Sarajevo based daily published an article outlining the details of 200.000 KM spent for travels of BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and his Deputy Lidija Topic during the past year. Namely, article, marked with ‘Scandalous’, is a critical overview of these costs: “At the end, let us note that we have asked from Foreign Ministry to answer us an say what are the results of these visits, what was done for BiH during these visits. Responds, of course, we did not receive.” |
| Putin to visit BiH | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Vladimir Put will visit BiH’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Putin accepted invitation to visit BiH’ by dja, Dnevni List ‘Russian President Putin to visit BiH soon’ by De.L. – Russian Ambassador to BiH Aleksandar Grschenko conveyed a message coming from the Russian President Vladimir Putin to Chairman of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic. The dailies say that in this message Putin expressed readiness to visit BiH and continue a dialogue on all issues that are currently important for BiH and Russia. |
| DL: ‘Pajic operationally oversees Wnendt?!’ | Dnevni List, pg 11 ‘Pajic operationally oversees Wnendt?!’, by Zvonimir Jukic – claiming that the issue of Mostar has been rested with the Germans ever since the signing of the Washington agreement, although there is no official documents to back it up, the author claims to have learned from a ‘senior diplomat in our country’ that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, has sent his close associate Zoran Pajic to Mostar in order to achieve the British influence in Mostar and control ‘Germans’ actions’ in the integration of the city. According to the anonymous diplomat, Pajic has very close ties with the British Government and is the man HR Ashdown trusts the most, who on the other hand regularly informs him about the course of implementation of the new Statute and behaviour of a numerous German delegation in the city. The diplomat says that HR Ashdown, in order to disguise the real reasons for Pajic’s presence in Mostar, has formed the ‘unnecessary’ Confidence Building Measures Committee as an excuse that should enable Pajic to be operational in Mostar. |
| FBiH HoR in session | RHB – The FBiH House of Representatives confirmed today amendments 56 through 63 to the FBiH Constitution that were declared by the High Representative two years ago. These amendments ensure full independence and impartiality of judicial and prosecutorial functions in the Federation. |
Defence, security and judiciary issues | |
| Austrian Ambassador invites Austrians to visit BiH
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘The estimate is outdated’ by N.C.,– Following the news that the Austrian Foreign Affairs has blacklisted BiH as the country with a low level of security, and therefore not recommending its citizens to travel to Bosnia, the Austrian Consul in Sarajevo Herbert Gutschi already initiated changes to this statement. The Embassy explains that the estimate on BiH was outdated. “As the Austrian Ambassador I wish to use this opportunity and especially appeal on Austrian investors and businesspersons to travel to BiH, and to the RS, where I think there are many interesting and lucrative business opportunities. The Embassy’s Economic Department and I are available for mediation in establishing certain contacts”, Austrian Ambassador to BiH Gerhard Jandl said. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Jandl: I appeal to Austrian businessmen to travel to BiH’ by M.Dr. – Asked by Avaz as to what caused such estimate at the first place, Ambassador Jandl explained that it was published on 8 April, several days after SFOR action in Pale with an aim to arrest war crimes suspects. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘An old news’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘BiH safe country for Austrians’, mentioned on cover, by Nina and Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Austrian Consul for change of information on security in BiH’ by F – also reported on the statement. |
| Radovanovic meets SCG, Croatia Defence Ministers | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘BiH and Croatia have similar problems in defence reform’ – Nikola Radovanovic, BIH Defence Minister, upon his return from Brussels yesterday, visited Zagreb, where he met Defence Ministers of Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro respectively, Berislav Roncevic and Prvoslav Davinic. This is the first official meeting of the defence ministers of these three states. The Ministers spoke about the so far experiences in the field of defence reform and further cooperation involving preparations for the entry into EuroAtlantic relations. According to press release issued by BiH Defence Ministry, Roncevic and Radovanovic concluded there are numerous similar activities and problems with which BiH and Croatia are facing during the defence reform. During his visit to Zagreb, Radovanovic also visited RACVIAC – Regional Assistance Centre for Verification and Control of armament. RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH and Croati have similar problems in defence reforms’ Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Cooperation in area of defense reform’ by F – cover only meeting between Radovanovic and Roncevic. |
| Reactions to the NATO SG statement | Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘OHR: The BiH progress obstructed over RS’ – OHR yesterday assessed that the entire progress of the state of BiH “is obstructed over the failure of the RS to support the state and its duties towards the Hague Tribunal”. Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, stated on Tuesday that: “Whether and when BiH would be admitted into PfP is an issue to be addressed to NATO. The defence reform was a big success. However, progress of BiH has been obstructed over the failure of the RS to support the BiH in its cooperation with The Hague.” Commenting on statement of NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, (who said that BiH will not, most likely, be invited to join PfP at the Istanbul Summit) Nikola Radovanovic BIH Defence Minister, said that the decision on BIH admission into PfP has not been reached as yet, noting that this issue will remain open until the Istanbul Summit. Martin Raguz, Chairperson of the BiH House of Representatives, is also of the view that its is still too early to make any definite assessment into this issue. Sefik Dzaferovic, Raguz’s deputy, concluded that the obstructionists of the entire process are known, stressing that this situation can easily be settled through political arrangements. Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, is of the view that the RS authorities will not be able of fulfilling the most important pre-requisite to ensure BiH is invited into PfP. |
| Generals Cikotic and Sarics retired
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Selmo Cikotic, Jasmin and Haris Saric retired’, mentioned on cover ‘Cikotic and Sarics retired’ by M.K. – After FBiH Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic on 15 March, following request by SFOR, signed dismissals of generals Selmo Cikotic, Jasmin Saric and Haris Saric, they have been retired. Avaz learns that Slemo Cikotic, as the Commander of First VF Corpus, will be replaced by brigadier Fahrudin Agic. |
| On FBiH Army dismissals | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘2100 soldiers that do not fulfil conditions and 559 volunteers on the list’ by E.S. – On Monday, 31 May, the final list with the names of 8000 members of the FBiH Army will be completed. According to Himzo Visco, Chief of VF Joint Command Press Office, this week there will be proposals for termination of the contract with 2100 professional soldiers that do not fulfil conditions, and 524 that do fulfil conditions for the service, however were not in the top. In addition, he said that there are 559 volunteers to leave the service and receive 6000 KM of severance pay. BHTV 1 – also features restructuring of VF. |
| SFOR confirms reducing of forces | Vecernji List pg 3 ‘500 SFOR’s soldiers less as of June 1’ by dja, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Only 7000 soldiers remain as of June 1’ by D.P.M., Blic pg 15 ‘Only 7,000 soldiers as of June’ by J. D. – Domestic authority is more and more contributing to safe and stabile environment in BiH, therefore SFOR has decided to reduce the number of its troops down to 7,000 as of June 1. SFOR Spokesperson Robert Lapreze said that the troops will function within operative groups, each consisting of approx 1,800 soldiers. |
| DA editorial says IC also responsible for BiH failure on road to European integrations
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Rejection in Istanbul’ editorial by Sead Numanovic – Author says that lack of cooperation with ICTY has become the most serious obstruction on the path of BiH integration into Europe, and asserts that Chair of BiH CoM Adnan Terzic has been right to say that a cease of further BiH integration to the democratic community is a reward for war criminals. “BiH and its bigger entity cannot do anything change situation. Obviously, everything is in the hands of IC and RS authorities,” reads editorial adding that the international community, which recognized RS legitimacy, is also responsible for the failure of BiH in further progressing to Europe. The question is, says author, what will OHR and IC do to remove that obstacle to BiH road to European institutions. Listing some possible sanctions – such as banning RS, removal of some officials, taking part of RS authorities away and loss of its financial power, editorial concludes that everything else below that would be ‘throwing dust in the eyes’ but also “complicity in enabling BiH to became a part of normal world.” |
| Oslobodjenje editorial argues on consequences of negative answer to BiH re membership to PfP | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘One Karadzic’s victories?’ by Antonio Prlenda – Noting that it is almost certain that BiH will not be invited to join Partnership for Peace during the NATO summit to be held in Istanbul in June, author says that, however, it appears as NATO is very willing to have BiH “under its auspices”. He also believes that this is also case with State and Montenegro, arguing that NATO set very low technical conditions for PfP membership in both cases. Concluding that Radovan Karadzic has once again stop and delayed this country on a path of recovery, author says failure to be invited for PfP in June could be a strong setback to successful defence reforms, but also reformatory forces in BiH. Noting that cooperation with the ICTY is not only an issue of RS, editorial concludes that “perhaps Federation authorities would also wake up on this issue and in a bit more ‘quarrelling’ manner talk to their counterparts in RS. Reforms are being implemented because of BiH, and perhaps tempo of other reforms could be delayed after announcing this failure. But, that is a separate test… It should be proven that Karadzic, after all, did not win.” |
War crimes | |
| OHR remind of obligation to apprehend war crimes suspects
| RTRS, FTV, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Arrests are main obligation’, Blic, pg. 15 ‘New warning from OHR to the authority’ by J. D. – OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic stated at the press conference on Tuesday that recent comments that appeared in some media that cooperation with ICTY will be empty talk until SFOR establishes joint operations with BiH authorities, sounds like just another excuse for not doing anything. Persic reminded that BiH is under an international obligation to arrest PIFWCS, and stressed that the RS in particular is failing to uphold that obligation. He further underlined that RS authorities will need to demonstrate that they are serious about carrying out operations to detain war crimes suspects before the Istanbul summit at the end of June if BiH is to have any chance of changing the perception that BiH is not serious about upholding its international obligations. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Djeric and Njegus have to continue with actions of apprehending war crimes suspects’ – Persic stressed that OHR expects the RS Minister of Police Zoran Djeric, and the RS Director of Police, to continue to authorise and undertake operations against PIFWCS as a matter of urgency, adding that unless the RS shows a dramatic change in their attitude and delivers results instead of excuses, they are putting this country’s future in Europe at risk. |
| RS MoI issues warrants against 15 ICTY suspects
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘RS MoI published 15 arrest warrants for Hague suspects’ by E.S. – “The novelty on their web site could mean that RS Interior Ministry has finally, it appears, started to grasp the seriousness of the critics directed against this institution when it comes to the (lack of) cooperation with the Hague and (un)arrests of the suspects for war crimes,” reads the introduction to the article which says that RS MoI for the first time published and issued arrest warrants for 15 persons indicted for war crimes by the ICTY. The list also includes Radovan Karadzic. |
| Bjelica case update | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘We are waiting for response’ – Slobodan Kovac, BIH Justice Minister, yesterday confirmed that the Justice Ministry of BiH has received the motion of Veljko Civsa, legal representative of Milovan Cicko Bjelica. The motion points at violation of international humanitarian law in the case of Bjelica. Kovac said that the Ministry has forwarded this motion to SFOR Command. He also said that more details on this will be released after a response from SFOR arrives. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Milovan Bjelic’s wife engaged lawyer’ – Meanwhile, SFOR says that the investigation on possible connection between Bjelic and war crimes suspect is still on going and he confirmed that ICRC delegation visited detainee last week. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Handcuffs click illegally’ – Krstan Simic, attorney from Banja Luka, told GS that The Hague Rules of the Road do not give legal basis for SFOR to arrest or detain persons suspected of aiding war crime suspects. |
| FBiH NN int with BiH Justice Minister Kovac | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘I do not know whether Carla del Ponte will bring indictments’ – In an interview to NN, Slobodan Kovac, BiH Justice Minister, says that it is most likely there were some omissions in the cooperation with The Hague, since RS President, Dragan Cavic, said something about it. He stresses that BIH Justice Minister cannot think otherwise, if RS President holds such information and makes a public announcement. He also says he was unofficially informed Carla del Ponte, ICTY Chief Prosecutor, would visit Sarajevo on 2nd and 3rd June. However, he cannot confirm whether she would bring some new bills of indictment. On the establishment of the Special Criminal Department at the BiH State Court and Prosecutor’s Office in charge of processing war crimes, he says that many pre-requisites need to be met in order to make it functioning, such as financing, construction of business premises, harmonisation of regulations and election of judges. However, this all needs to be completed by the end of this year, so the Unit can start operating as of January next year (2005). |
| RS MoI denies Osmanovic allegations | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘There are former special policemen among the people from the list’ – RS Ministry of Interior on Tuesday announced that it did not receive a note from the Hague Tribunal on compliance for prosecuting before domestic courts of any member of the police force. As a reaction of RS MoI to the statement given by RS Vice-president Adil Osmanovic on Tuesday to “Dnevni Avaz” daily titled “Compliance A from the Hague Tribunal has arrived for 12 police officers working in RS MoI”, the announcement states that among the people from the “list” there are those who are no longer employed by the police, and thus, cannot be identified as personnel of the Ministry. |
| Mothers of Srebrenica will ask OHR to extend Srebrenica Commission mandate | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Mothers of Srebrenica demand word ‘genocide’ to be included in the report’ by J.S. – Association Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa met on Tuesday with the representatives of the Srebrenica Commission demanding word ‘genocide’ to be included in the report on events that happened in Srebrenica in July 1995. Otherwise, said Association, they would not allow Commission members Gordon Bacon or its Vice President Smail Cekic to sign off report on behalf of families of missing persons. In addition, Association will send a request to OHR to extend deadline by when Commission has to complete its works. “We believe that the results only appeared. Fourteen mass graves have been discovered, a vast number of people were intorrigated, and we also gave to Commission some names of people to be interview. All this needs to be done for report to be comprehensive. That is why we will ask for Commissions’ extensions,” stated president of the Association, Munira Subasic. Commission Chair, Milan Bogdanic, expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, and commented on request to use word genocide saying that the Commission’s mandate has been specifically limited to locating mass graves and to establish a number on missing persons. “That legal qualification has been given by the ICT… Hence, it is not up to us to give legal qualification. At the same time, nobody denies or can deny qualification given by ICT,” says Bogdanic. |
Human rights | |
| BiH Parliament commissions to issue reports on Jelavic, Prce, Rupcic arrests
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Commission members differently see engagement of special police’ by H.O., Dnevni List pg 4 ‘During Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic’s arrests human righst were violated’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Siljegovic: There was violation of human rights during arrest’ by F, FENA – Investigative Commissions of both chambers of the BiH Parliament, which are looking into circumstances of arrest of Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Miroslav Rupcic, concluded at a joint meeting held yesterday that the FBiH Police Administration and Special Police violated the fundamental rights and freedoms during the arrests. According to Bosko Siljegovic, the Chairman of Investigative Commission of House of Peoples, only two members of the Commission were of opinion that there were no violations of human rights. “Apart from that, majority of members of both commissions believe that the Special Police was used illegally, and that there were no synchronization in activities between the Director of Police Administration and FBiH Interior Minister”, said Siljegovic. SD notes that the Commissions should finalize their reports and submit them to the BiH Parliament by May 31. RHB – Chair of BiH HoR Commission Filip Andric said that the Commission would demand sanctions to be imposed against those responsible, and added that if the authorities don’t do anything about this he would ask personally FBiH Police Administration Director Zlatko Miletic to admit his responsibility. |
| FBiH Ombudsman pessimistic about state of human rights in FBiH | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘National division the highest in BiH history’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘All three peoples discriminated because of lack of respect for Constitution’, by Vedran Vujovic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Rift between peoples in BiH bigger than ever’, by Eldina Medunjanin – FBiH Ombudsman have warned in their annual report on state of human rights that the citizenry in FBiH have in the last ten years lived in conditions that lacks perspective and that the chance of seeing changes to that are minimal. According to the FBiH Ombudsman, all the three constituent peoples are psychologically and nationally apart as never seen in BiH history. In that context, the Ombudsman note that the political forces are yet to find efficient measures that would combat the war during the peace, saying that the political leaders want to preserve the situation, which is a product of war. Furthermore, the Ombudsman warn of negative political ambiance that prevents the return of refugees and DPs and discrimination of returnees at places of return, and of bad work of judiciary and administration. |
| Minorities ask HR Ashdown to intervene re Election Law | Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Romanies demand Ashdown’s help’ by f – On behalf of BiH ethnic minorities, the Association of the Romanies, ‘Euro Romany’, sent an open letter to High Representative Paddy Ashdown regarding the decision passed by the BiH Election Commission on non-implementation of the Election Law. VL says that members of this Association believe that a change to the BiH Election Law on participation of ethnic minorities could not be a reason to deprive ethnic minorities to finally participate in creating of their state. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Representatives of national minorities ask for Ashdown’s intervention’ by E. Huremovic – DA brings comment by the Chair of BiH Election Commission, Vehid Sehic: “I am sorry this happened, but Election Commission cannot do anything about it.” He added that the only chance is to demand for High Rep’s intervention. |