Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 26 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| Mtg of SIPA, Croatian, Serbian Police | 20 years in prison for Paunovic |
| HR welcomes Sarajevo Com. forming | Milojica indicted for war crimes |
| Weather forecast | Conference on Slovenian war |
TV news broadcast on 25 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| HR on Processes in Mostar | CoM will establish Commission | CoM will establish Commission |
| CoM session | Paravac calls on removal of Terzic | Anniversary of |
| Raguz on next BIH HoR session | Spiric and Novakovic at press conf. | Memorial for Bradina victims |
| FBIH Government session | Avdic, Zilic & Potocnik reg. Serb Rep. | Trial against Dusi commencing |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| CoM session | Anniversary of | CoM will establish Commission |
| Dodik on | RS Government in session | Paravac calls on removal of Terzic |
| BIH deputies re Sarajevo Comm. | CoM will establish Commission | Association “Istina” to sue Terzic |
| Commemoration in | SDA on boycott of BiH HoR work | RS Government had session |
| Oslobodjenje | Formed Commission for investigation of truth on sufferings in |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic: I decided to breach my word |
| Dnevni List | Mostar bloacking whole of state (HR with Mostar leaders) |
| Vecernji List | Pope over |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Municipality does not know it builds on some else’s land (construction works in Livno) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Sarajevo Commission was formed; They are neither being born nor they are getting married [position of Sarajevo Serbs] |
| Glas Srpske |
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| EuroBlic | Divac ready to invest in Srpska [former basketball player V. Divac visited |
| Vecernje novosti | Everything on the list suspicious [Referendum Commission considering complaints] |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BiH courts sentences war crimes accused to 20 yrs | BH Radio 1, |
| SNSD welcomes establishment of Commission on suffering of | Srna – SNSD welcomed forming of the Commission on sufferings of |
| Authorized Board nominates Uros Pena for RS Police Director
| Srna – Chairman of the Independent Board for Selection of RS Police Director Ilija Lukic today stated the Board nominated Uros Pena for the position. Lukic told journalists all 7 members of the Board unanimously supported Pena, who was the only candidate for this position that had met the vacancy terms. Lukic added the Board will, either in the course of the day or tomorrow, ask from RS Minister of Interior Stanislav Cadjo to present his stance on this candidate. |
| Pale municipality asks EC Chief in BIH to help in abolishing US sanctions against the town
| Srna – EC Delegation Head Michael Humphreys today attended “European integrations and BiH” public tribune on which occasion Pale Mayor Slobodan Savic asked from EC Delegation Head to make an influence on US Congress to abolish sanctions imposed to Pale. Upon presentation of the achievements in this municipality, Humphreys said he was impressed and added the EC would support economic development of this town. He noted EU had imposed no sanctions to Pale but he will deliver Mayor Savic’s message to his colleagues from US Embassy. |
CoM approves Comm. on suffering of | |
| CoM approves establishment of ten members Commission for suffering of
| BHT1- At the session on Thursday, the BiH Council of Ministers adopted a decision on establishing of Commission for investigating truth about sufferings of all citizens of |
| HR welcomes decision on Commission
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Schwarz-Schilling greeted the decision’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘OHR welcomed establishing of the Commission’ by N. N. – The HR, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, welcomed the decision of the Council of Ministers to establish a State Commission for truth on suffering of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and Others in |
| BiH HoR Speaker Raguz: next session in June
| FTV – Commenting interruption of Wednesday’s session of the BiH House of Representatives, the HoR Speaker Martin Raguz stated that he is going to insist on full implementation of the BiH Constitution, a rulebook of the BiH HoR and responsibility of all deputies not to disrupt the work of the House. He announced the BiH HoR is going to continue its work, stressing all problematic issues should be discussed during the sessions. The session which was interrupted should be resumed by the end of May or on June 9. |
| Serb delegates still reluctant to return to the Parliament: we first need to see how realisation of Decision on forming of Commission will go
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘It is too early for final decision on return to Parliament’ by V. Popovic – RS delegates at HoR welcomed the decision of CoM to establish a commission for determining the truth on sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and other citizens in Sarajevo from 1992 – 1995, but their return to the Parliament would depend on the realisation of the Decision on establishing of the Commission. |
| BiH HoR Deputy Chair Spiric and
| RTRS by Momcilo Ostojic – BiH House of Representatives’ Deputy Chair Nikola Spiric and BiH HoR deputy Momcilo Novakovic [ |
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| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Commission for Sarajevo and then return to the Parliament’ by A.T.– Commenting the walkout of the Serb MPs from the session of the BiH House of Representatives, HoR deputy Tihomir Gligoric [ |
| Deputies who voted vs. const. reform – Avdic, Potocnik, Zilic – deem recent events in BiH HoR prove them right about a danger of entity vote in Parliament
| Hayat –Independent deputies in BiH House of Representatives Sead Avdic, Mladen Potocnik and Mehmed Zilic, who voted against proposed amendments to BiH Constitution, told press conference on Thursday that a request to establish the Commission on suffering of |
| SDA condemns behaviour of RS reps in BiH HoR and demands establishment of the Commission
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Condemned boycott of Serb deputies in BiH Parliament’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Action of RS representatives is Anti-Dayton act’ by Onasa, Nezavisne novine pg 2 ‘They appealed on OHR to act’ by N. K. – SDA Main Board condemned the boycott of work of BiH House of Representatives by RS deputies, stating that this was an “anti-Dayton” act. SDA called on the Peace Implementation Council and OHR to stop such behaviour. SDA also demands urgent establishing of commission tasked to investigate truth about sufferings of all citizens in the entire BiH. RTRS – also carried. |
| CoM Chair Terzic claims he never said
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Terzic: I would consider legal actions against Lagumdzija’- After the CoM session, Chair Adnan Terzic underlined he hasn’t said during the session of the BiH House of Representatives that Sarajevo citizens are wartime profiteers as |
| RS MPs: CoM Chair has no confidence of RS parties
| RTRS – Commenting the events in the BiH House of Representatives of RS MPs walking out from the Wednesday’s session, PDP representative in BiH HoR Jelina Djurkovic said: “[CoM Chair Adnan] Terzic rules in accordance with his own parameters outside of modern and democratic concept of a modern country. It is really necessary for him to leave [his position].” Borislav Paravac, BiH Presidency member, asked the Presidency to discuss Terzic’s dismissal. “We should not forget that HoR just few days ago discussed confidence to CoM. We know the result. I do not believe that Presidency should dispute competence that Parliament stated. Issue is justified but the moment for dismissal and talks in this regard would go hard”, said Ivo Miro Jovic, BiH Presidency member. Igor Radojicic, RS National Assembly Speaker, said that CoM has been dying out for 1,5 years and has no confidence of the RS political parties. PINK – carried Paravac’s demand. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘CoM does not enjoy trust of RS’ by Agencies – Radojicic. |
| Association ‘Istina’ asks for rising of charges against CoM Chair Terzic for office abuse | RTRS– Association “Istina” [The Truth] from |
| GS warns of difficult position of Sarajevo Serbs
| Glas Srpske op-ed pg 2 ‘Adnan vs. Terzic’ by Goran Barac – the author reminds of the most recent developments, starting with CoM Chair Adnan Terzic’s statement re establishment of Commission for Sarajevo Serbs, walkout of HoR delegates from the session and, finally, proposal on establishment of the Commission that was reached during CoM session held on Thursday. The author notes the yesterday’s move still cannot improve a general image on Terzic as a person who needs nobody and who lives only for himself and concludes by saying: ‘Adnan, unfortunately, stood up against Terzic and, as it seems, defeated him. Nevertheless, both Adnan and Terzic need to know one thing – they might run away from the truth and even from themselves but the truth will see the daylight. With or without them, sooner or later…’ |
| Oslob op-ed: Condemning crimes,
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Sarajevo victims’ op-ed by Daniel Omeragic – Criticizing BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic for refusing to form a Commission for investigation of truth on sufferings in Sarajevo, editorial reads that he made favour neither to BiH, Sarajevo or to his party [SDA]. Author notes that there is no citizen of Sarajevo who would be against such investigation, except those who committed or supported crimes. Editorial underlines that there is no evidence that official Sarajevo organized or planed terror, adding that the authorities were informed about crimes against non-Bosniaks. Author concludes that all citizens of |
| Dani op-ed critical of CoM Chair: Obstruction of Commission an effort to cover up for crimes of
| Dani pg 3 ‘Shame of Sarajevo Kazani’ op-ed by Vildana Selimbegovic – Commenting the issue of forming Commission for determining the truth of sufferings of Sarajevo citizens in period 1992-1995, editorial reads: “Obstruction and discriminating relation towards the [late BiH Army commander Musan Topalovic] Caco’s and other’s victims and their families are true witnesses to the efforts of Sarajevo authorities to silently and ignorantly cover up for the fact that domestic war criminals were killing civilians and even defenders of Sarajevo, only because they were of other ethnicity… As long as he is protecting Caco by protecting [late BiH Presidency Chair Alija] Izetbegovic, [BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan] Terzic in the most direct way helps enraged [RS PM Milorad] Dodik, and those similar to him, who would to make Srebrenica out of Sarajevo for cheap political reasons.” |
| SB op-ed: Truth about crimes in
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 4-5 ‘Who is afraid of truth about crimes in Sarajevo?’ op-ed by Senad Avdic – Referring to the latest dispute over the Commission on sufferings of Serbs, Bosniaks, Croats, Jews and others in Sarajevo during the war, Avdic harshly criticizes CoM Chair Adnan Terzic for refusing to establish the Commission and calls such stance “unacceptable and tendentious”. Noting Terzic constantly tries to persuade citizens that BiH is closer to EU, Avdic notices: “It is strange that no one… informed Terzic that in the parliamentary democracy the executive power [CoM] should act obediently and loyally toward its legislative divinity – Parliament… It is not Terzic’s job or task to like or dislike what the Parliament adopts: only thing up to him is to carry decisions efficiently and truthfully” concluded editorial. Strongly lobbying for establishment of the Commission, author stressed: “Truth about wartime suffering in Sarajevo is not necessary to please the ultimatums of Nikola Spitic [Deputy Chair of BiH HoR]: the truth is necessary so that Spiric would have to be ashamed each time he steps the foot in Sarajevo! And also so that |
| GS op-ed: proposal to establish Sarajevo Commission cannot improve Terzic’s general image | Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘They are neither being born nor they are getting married’ by Z. Domazet – the article reiterates the statement of RS PM Milorad Dodik [who warned of extremely difficult position of Serbs in Sarajevo and noted there is a list with names of 1.000 Serbs who live in Sarajevo and who wish to collectively move out from it due to difficult living conditions]. |
Defence, police and other reforms | |
| BiH Armed Forces gets single uniforms and symbols
| Hayat – BIH Armed Forces have joint uniforms and markings as of Thursday. Members of BIH Armed Forces participated in creation of symbols whilst US Government donated the uniforms. BIH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic stated that the joint uniform represents another step forward from the painful past. US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney stated that the uniforms represent continuous firm relations between USA and BIH. BHT1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Introduced new uniforms and symbols of BiH Armed Forces’ by L.Sinanovic, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Symbols of single armed forces’ by A.P., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘New uniforms, ranks and symbols’ by A. Susnjar, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘BiH military in new uniforms’ by D. Jazvic – covered. |
| RS officials meet EC monitoring team; RS PM Dodik said that they agree with education and PBS reform, but cannot accept police reform and imposing of EU standards
| RTRS – EC Monitoring Team and RS Officials met in |
| Osl: ‘Unacceptable demand of RS MoI for division of police’
| Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Unacceptable demand of RS MoI for division of police’ by Az. Kalamujic says that the decision of 5 RS MoI representatives to freeze their status and become observers in the Police Reform Directorate Steering Board ( |
| OHR: RS withdrew from police reform process / EC Delegation: progress in police reform not achieved yet
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘OHR: RS withdrew from the process’ by M. Cubro – OHR Spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic on Thursday stated OHR is of the view RS had withdrew from the police reform, following the decision of RS representatives to attend sessions of |
| EUPM spokesperson Ilaria:
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Directorate cannot suspend work because of political pressure’ by E. Sarac EUPM spokesperson Zinaida Ilaria stated that the Police Reform Directorate ( |
| RSNA Speaker meets French Ambassador: First reforms, then
| Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘First reforms, then Europe’ by G. D., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Continue reforms of Constitution, police and education’ by Onasa – Following his meeting with RS National Assembly Speaker Igor Radojicic in Banja Luka on Thursday, French Ambassador Henry Zipper de Fabiani told press that BiH authorities should take over more responsibility in order to consolidate state and its institution, as a preparation for EU integrations. He stressed importance of reform of Constitution, police and education. |
| Head of EC in BiH Humphreys: Additional VAT rate would be damaging; without implementing necessary reforms talks on
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Additional VAT rate would be damaging’ by S.Numanovic – In an interview for daily, Head of European Commission Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys warned that additional VAT rate would be “very negative for whole the process”. Humphreys stressed: “Introducing VAT in BiH was one of the most successful examples of implementing reforms in this country. Indirect Taxation Administration [ITA] did an excellent job, but if the Law on VAT would be changed in this phase, system of [tax] collection would get more complicated… all the budgets would be suffering the consequences and it is possible that it would endanger financing of already taken responsibilities.” He also warned that police reform does not have necessary dynamics, pointing out problems in reforms of education and public administration. EC expects that |
| DA op-ed: ‘Reforms in shadow of elections’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Reforms in shadow of elections’ op-ed by Edina Sarac – Heavily criticizing BiH politicians for putting pre-elections campaigns before the necessary reforms in their priority-list, editorial reads that “they either did not have good translation or they did not listen to the HR Christian Schwarz-Schillingwho invited them to do as much as possible in police reform, Public Broadcasting Service [PBS], economy in next hundred days.” |
Other political issues | |
| HR Schwarz-Schilling warns Mostar officials that he would name those responsible for obstruction of integration process
| FTV- In the press – release issued on Thursday the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling urged top officials from Mostar to speed up the pace of integration in the city, outlining three key issues that require urgent attention prior to the next meeting of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board towards the end of June. Mostar authorities must adopt the City Budget for 2006 and complete the establishment of the City Administration. This includes the adoption of the systemization plan in order to allow opening of 45 Civil Service vacancies. Also, a single utility company in Mostar must be established. Schwarz-Schilling warned that he is going to publicly name those who are responsible, should there be no significant results by the next session of |
| HDZ’s Soldo concerned HR did not act yet, SDA’s Hasandedic says budget proposal unacceptable
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 10 ‘Mostar blocking whole of state’, by Arijana Beus, Sanja Bjelica – apart from carrying OHR’s statement on Mostar, DL noted that in case the |
| DL:
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Big love between SDA and |
| RS PM Dodik: Kosovo should held referendum on independence; others would also get legal right to decide on their destiny | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Others would get right to decide on their destiny’ – RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated on Thursday that it would be good if Kosovo would held referendum which would be basis for making decision on status of this region, expressing hope that after that others would also get legal right to decide on their destiny. Commenting statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku that Kosovo will gain independence by end of this year, Dodik stated that universal right of every people is right to self-determination. |
| DA op-ed on RS PM’s statement on Kosovo: People like him cannot lead BiH to
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Reforms in shadow of elections’ op-ed by Edina Sarac – Accusing the RS politicians of blocking the work of legislative authorities and police reform, author is especially critical of the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik for advocating a referendum on self-determination of the RS. Editorial carries that Dodik invited IC to let referendum decide issue of Kosovo and expressed hope that “others would also be legally allowed to use referendum and decide on their destiny”. Author concludes that such people cannot lead BiH to |
| VL: It is hard to expect Serbs from BiH will be allowed to separate from BiH
| Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Serbs could leave BiH but without territories’, by Dejan Jazvic – commenting on some initiatives coming from the RS, according to which the RS should be in position to organize referendum the way Montenegro did, VL argues one cannot compare statuses of Montenegro and RS since the former had its sovereignty during former Yugoslavia, which is not the case with the RS that is a part of BiH. VL reckons that advocators of separation of the RS are counting on outcome of the status of Kosovo (which seeks independence), which was never a sovereign state. In that context, VL reckons it is highly unlikely the Serb people in BiH could separate from BiH, because at least formally, the RS is an entity of Serbs as well as Bosniaks and Croats, and finally approving Serb separation from BiH would open ‘Pandora’s box’, such as status of the Basques, Catalans etc, which is something Europe does not need. |
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| Slobodna Bosna pgs 26-28 ‘Separation of Montenegro and Serbia was civilized and democratic’ – In light of separation of Montenegro from Serbia, the |
| FBiH Govt passes decision that police salaries would not be decreased
| FTV By Zlata Behram – At the session held on Thursday, FBiH Government annulled its previous decision and decided that the salaries of police officers are not going to be decreased. The new decision will be valid until the adoption of draft amendments to the FBiH law on police officers. The draft amendments need to be prepared by FBiH Ministry of Interior within 30 days. FBiH Government voted on three amendments to FBiH law on privatisation of public companies proposed by SDA Caucus of FBiH House of Representatives and adopted two amendments entirely and one partially. According to these amendments, FBiH Government can solve the problem of capital share with approval of FBiH Parliament in process of privatisation in order to speed up the process. Also, part of state-owned capital above 51% can be sold at the stock exchange. FBiH Government determined the coefficient of support to the veterans in May. The May pensions will be paid out based on coefficient 1. |
| BiH MPs answer HR SDA’s Dzaferovic: HR did great job detecting situation in BiH; SBiH’s Hadziahmetovic: It is mystery for economists
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Krizanovic: It is impossible to live from 200 km’ by S.Skuletic – Responding to address of High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling when he asked BiH parliamentarians “Do you know what it means to live from 200 km a month?” |
| HDZ 1990 to form coalition with Croat Coalition for Changes? | Vecernji List pg 4 ‘HDZ 1990 together with Croat Coalition for Changes’ by zk – HDZ 1990 has reached a framework agreement on coalition with the Croat Coalition for Changes made of HSS, HKDU, HDU and HD. |
| NN int with
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Dragan Cavic was creating black lists’ by V. Popovic – In an interview to NN, one of founders of |
| Feral Tribune: Reis Ceric and Cardinal Puljic will renew their spat sooner or later
| Feral Tribune, pgs 28-29 ‘Who is afraid of fear?’, by Ivan Lovrenovic – comments on recent polemics in the media between leaders of Islamic and Catholic communities in BiH, reis-ul-ulema Mustafa eff. Ceric and cardinal Vinko Puljic, saying the High Representative for BiH, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, had to intervene in order to prevent escalation of the polemics into something worse by convening a session of Inter-religious council and ironing out the issue. Lovrenovic goes on to say that the differences between the two will surface sooner or later i.e. they will “continue the temporarily disrupted polemics”, adding that both Ceric and Puljic have no sensitivity for problems of other religious groups. |
War crimes: Cooperation with ICTY, Palic case | |
| RS Govt adopts quarterly report on cooperation with ICTY
| RTRS, |
| RS PM Dodik: Some individuals ask for large sums of money to say where is Palic’s body
| RTRS – Commenting the case of late BiH Army Colonel Avdo Palic [who went missing during the war when he negotiated evacuation of Zepa in 1995 with the RS Army and BiH Human Rights Chamber at BiH Constitutional Court obligated RS Government to find his remains] the RS Prime Minister Milord Dodik said that RS Government is doing its best in this regard. “We have a problem. We have individuals that allegedly know the location where colonel is buried. They ask for enormous amount of money for the information. And it should be paid in cash, illegally of course”, said Dodik. Palic disappeared in 1995 in Zepa. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘They are asking for money for information on Avdo Palic’ by Srna – “RS Government is making huge efforts to reach the truth, and I am personally advocating for this truth to be determined, but no one will take me in the position of being a gravedigger, for I will not dig in order to find anyone.”Hayat– reminded that deadline set by the OHR is expiring on Friday i.e. on |
| Oslobodjenje: RS police to arrest Pecanac, Mijatovic who were last to see Palic?
| Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Dragomir Pecanac actual again’ by E.K. – Oslobodjenje comments it is clear that the RS Government was only buying time through its Commission in the case of Avdo Palic. As anonymous high-ranking RS officials said for daily: “It seems that we would have to ask for signing of the warrant after [Dragomir] Pecanac and [Zeljko] Mijatovic”. Daily outlines excuses the RS Govt’s Commission has used to justify to the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling why Palic’s body remains have not yet been exhumed, which include inability to precisely locate remains or that severe whether conditions prevent them of doing so. Daily also says that Mijatovic and Pecanac were members of RS Army who last saw Palic. Oslobodjenje stressed that recent statement of the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik in which he said he was sorry about Palic being murdered underlying however “we weren’t those that controlled Zepa so that we would be able to say something more and yet again we have made the report…” went unnoticed and concludes this was the first time the RS official actually confirmed destiny of Palic is known. |
| Chief of investigation on Palic case: people are trying to earn money by offering information; investigation spread to Vlasenica | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Profit-makers are obstructing the investigation’ by Se.M.-N.D.– Head of RS Police’s Crime-Service Gojko Vasic said that his team is encountering many problems in the investigation of this case, adding the police has questioned about dozen people: “Even some mediators called claiming they know people who would give information for money”. However, Vasic specified that the area being investigated doesn’t include only Han Pijesak but Vlasenica also. Nevertheless, he was not able to say when the investigation would be finally completed: “I cannot set deadline to complete this. Soon yes. Whether that is already today, we’ll see. I am expecting the report from my team in the field and I hope we will be more concrete soon.” OHR Spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic reminded that the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling, as well as his predecessor Paddy Ashdown, have been very clear about this issue. “RS authorities have a legal responsibility to honor the demands of Human Rights Chamber i.e. the Commission” said Radetic. |
Judicial issues and investigations | |
| RS President Cavic asked from EUFOR Commander to launch objective investigation on Abazovic case
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Truth on Abazovic case is needed’ by A. S., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘RS President demanded investigation on the Abazovics’ by M. S. – RS President Dragan Cavic asked from EUFOR Commander Gianmarco Chiarini to launch an objective investigation on sufferings of the Abazovic family in the action EUFOR conducted in Rogatica on January 5 in order to determine a complete truth and responsibility of persons that led to tragic consequences of the action [war crimes suspect Dragomir and his son were wounded during the action, while Dragomir’s wife died of injuries she sustained during the action]. |
| HDZ leader Covic says indictment against him is politically motivated
| Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘Indictment is politically motivated’, by Erna Mackic – During continuation of trials to ‘Covic and others’ (among others HDZ leader Dragan Covic is charged with tax-related illegalities) held before BiH Court on Thursday, Covic insisted that the indictment against him had political background, arguing that the prosecution is yet to prove a single claim from the indictment. Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Rigged process is carried out against me’, by Zoran Kresic – Covic noted that former High Representative, namely Wolfgang Petritsch, offered him to leave the HDZ BiH and join the ‘Alliance for changes’, warning him of possible consequence if he decided to ‘stay on the other side’. Covic also said he declined offer from another HR, Paddy Ashdown, to leave the BiH Presidency, when allegedly Ashdown offered him to keep benefits of a member of BiH Presidency. Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Covic: Process is politically grounded’ by N.J., Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘This is typically political process’ by A.S. – also reported. |
| Feral Tribune: Croatian Prosecution preparing indictment against ex BiH Pres. member Jelavic
| Feral Tribune, pg 13 ‘Investigation against Ante Jelavic upped’, by I. Djikic – According to Feral Tribune’s sources in Croatian state authorities, a selected group of Croatian State Prosecution’s prosecutors spent several weeks in BiH, namely at the BiH Prosecution collecting evidence against former member of BiH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, who is charged with embezzlement of money donated from Croatian to the then HVO. The weekly reckons the Croatian State Prosecution is planning to raise an indictment of its own against Jelavic. |
| SB: State commission auditing naturalized citizens – 15,000 citizenships issued in period 1992-2006
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 46-47 ’15,000 citizenships issued in period 1992-2006’ by Suzana Mijatovic – Article carries information from the first quarterly report of the State Commission for audit of naturalized citizenships submitted to the BiH Council of Ministers, according to which Commission reported that situation is much worse than expected. SB claims that 15,000 citizenships were issued in the period 1992-2006, 1,500 of which to naturalized BiH citizens originating outside of former SFR Yugoslavia. Author concludes that Commission will finish their job not even in a year, for it only audited 300 controversial citizenships. |
| British Ambassador Rycroft: | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Great Britain continues with support’ by N. K., Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Help to BiH Court will continue’ – A press statement of British Embassy to BiH reads British Ambassador to BiH Mathew Rycroft visited BiH Court and met with BiH Court President Meddzida Kreso on Thursday. The press statement reads Ambassador Rycroft announced during his visit that the |