OHR BiH Media Morning Brief
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
BiH HoR, FBiH HoP in session | Trial to Mandic started | BIH HoR session |
HoP condemns communist crimes | Serbian Action Plan came into effect | BIH citizens working in |
OHR on changes to Law on Elections | ITA SB in session | ITA Steering Board session |
| BiH HoR in session | BIH HoR session |
NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
BiH HoR in session | 16 year old drowns | Incident in Konjevic Polje |
BiH ITA SB in session | Hail in Ljubuski | ITA Single Account de-blocked |
BiH HoR discusses VAT Law | Fires in | BiH HoR in session |
FBiH HoP in session | Pigâs plague in | Dodik visits |
Oslobodjenje | Panic among officials of 1997 RS Government [Klickovic case] |
Dnevni Avaz | Draconian penalties in traffic are being installed [new traffic law] |
Dnevni List | Bravely against Hearts (football story) |
Vecernji List | EUFOR was target of terrorist attack? (VL on âBektasevic et allâ case) |
Slobodna Dalmacija | Explosives blew up BMW 7, police stays mute (car blown up in Posusje) |
Nezavisne Novine | BAM 240 million de-blocked |
Glas Srpske | They are bothered with cross and three-fingers |
EuroBlic | If Serbs reject, Bosniak to chair |
Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related cover splash |
Security, war crimes and trials | |
Media report clash between 50 Bosniaks and Zvornik
| RTRS â Over 50 Bosniaks from Konjevic Polje near Bratunac clashed on Monday night with support team of Zvornik Public Security Centre. As official police statement reads, the incident occurred when three Bosniaks stopped their car in front of the car of police officers who were returning from duty and started insulting them on ethnical basis. One of the Bosniaks grabbed a police officer, and the police officer pushed him away. A Bosniak police officer who was off duty reacted. After that, some fifty Bosniaks came out of a nearby restaurant and got involved in the incident. The situation was put under control in early morning hours of Tuesday, after involvement of support troops of Zvornik Public Security Centre, Bratunac Police and EUFOR. BHT1 â Each party blames the other for the incident that occurred at a gas station. Bosniak returnees who were involved claim that the members of the unit started hitting them without an obvious reason whilst unit members claim that they were insulted. EUPM and EUFOR were notified on the incident whose representatives participated in a special session of Bratunac municipality. Deputy head of Bratunac municipality Mustafa Golic stated that the members of special unit will no longer be present in Konjevic polje and stressed that investigation on the incident is an imperative at the moment. FTV by Salih Brkic â Local imam Muzafer Effendi Muminovic who was called to calm the situation stresses that the incident was caused on purpose. Reporter comments that it is still unclear why where the members of the support unit even present at the gas station at such hour. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Putting out ethnic passions’ by Robert Soldo – Article refers to police and EUFOR activities related to this incident. No numbers of people involved in the incident is provided in the article. Hayat – also covered. |
DA: Witnesses claims police attacked Bosniak returnees
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 âZvornik Special Unit attacked usâ by A.Hadzic, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 âIt is a lie that policemen came incidentallyâ by A.H. â Local official Cazim Jusufovic told daily that 47 RS policemen attacked 35 Bosniak returnees. He also denied statement of Public Security Center Bijeljina who claimed that Zvornik Special Unit came incidentally on the spot of incident. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover âGeneral fight or police attack on Bosniak returneesâ â Eye-witness Adem Muminovic claims that more than 40 RS policemen took part in fight, adding that surveillance cameras recorded everything, but police took records away. |
GS on K. Polje incident: assaults of Bosniaks against Serb returnees in area of Bratunac and Srebrenica in increase; NN says Bosniaks assaulted police
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash âThey are bothered with cross and three-fingersâ by K.Cirkovic â Referring to the incident in Koljevic polje [GS claims two occurred, see blow], daily observes that the release of Naser Oric, The Hague convict, did not just disturb Serb people in the area of Bratunac and Srebrenica (saying they are witnesses of his war crimes), but also encouraged a large number of Bosniaks, returnees to these municipalities âto clash with Serbs and everything called Serb in this areaâ. Daily notes this claim is substantiated with several physical assaults of Bosniaks against Serbs in the area of Bratunac â of which public was not informed at all, according to daily â the destruction of Orthodox cross at Stari Grad near Konjevic Polje [which allegedly occurs for the fifth time] and assault of Bosniaks against policemen from Zvornik police station on night of Monday to Tuesday. As for latter, GS says that the incident occurred when three Bosniaks parked a vehicle at the gas station provoking the policemen and guests of the restaurant at the station by playing extremely loud music and insulting people at the ethnic grounds. Policeman has reportedly came up to Bosniaks to warn them, on which they have reacted by violence, says GS. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 âBosniaks assaulted policemenâ by Z.Kusmuk â NN also reports that the police was assaulted, and that they reacted to violence [account of events published in NN was close to one given by the GS]. In addition, NN carries that Bosniak policeman from Zvornik |
Wartime RS MoI Assistant Momcilo Mandic pleads not guilty for war crimes
| |
Commission on suffering of
| RTRS by Zorica Rulj â The Commission tasked to investigate truth on sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and others in Sarajevo [in 1992/95] agreed on the draft task agenda which should be adopted at the session scheduled for Thursday. However, the members of the Commission are most concerned with the financing. Head of Commission Ivica Marinovic explained that the body was established long after adoption of 2006 budget, thus this year it would completely rely on the budget reserves and would have means at its disposal only in 2007. Marinovic also said that Commission might face serious financial problems as some organisations and individuals demand money for providing information. He claims that the Director of the Investigation-Documentary Centre, Mirsad Tokaca, was one of those and Tokaca denied this, claiming that he hasnât even been contacted by Sarajevo Commission. Reporter said that the Commission is supposed to complete its work in a year, but this deadline seems to be too short. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 âMarinovic doesnât believe that job would be done in yearâ not signed – Marinovic stressed that they foresee that about 700, 000KM would be necessary for Commissionâs work. In regard to recent resignation of Commissionâs member Zeljko Rasevic, Marinovic said that they have sent a memo to the CoM, asking for urgent appointment of new member. FTV, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 âProgramme of work by the end of weekâ by N.Krsmanalso covered. |
Explosion destroys car in Posusje, owner suspected of ties with auto mafia
| Slobodna Dalmacija cover splash pg 9 ‘Explosive blows up BMW, police remains silent’ by T. Zoric – SD reports on an incident that took place in the town of Posusje on Monday morning at 02.20 a. m., when an explosive device completely destroyed a BMW vehicle. Canton 8 MoI issued a brief release without stating the car ownerâs name. Nobody was injured. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Bomb in Posusje’, mentioned on front ‘Posusje like Lebanon’ by Dalibor Ravlic – VL reveals the car belonged to one Ivan Manduric from Posusje whose weekend cottage was also blown up late last year. Article states that there is a thick file on Manduric in Posusje police department related to car thefts and that the police tie him to ‘car mafia which, allegedly, organized the attack because Manduric was in the way of their operations in Posusje.’ Dnevni List pg 19 ‘Explosive blows up Ivica Manduric’s BMW’ mentioned on cover ‘Ivica Manduric’s BMW blown up’ by N. Popovac and I. Culina |
VL: âBektasevic et allâ were planning attack on EUFOR?
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pgs 6-7 âEUFOR was target of terrorist attack?â, by Dejan Jazvic â Writing about the âBektasevic et allâ case (group of terrorist suspects arrested in Sarajevo in late 2005 under suspicion they were planning terrorist attacks in BiH), VL says EUFOR facilities and staff could have been possible targets of attacks. However, according to legal experts VL has contacted, it will be very difficult to prove what true intentions of the suspects were unless one of the suspects (excluding Amir Bajric, who admitted to providing explosives, cut a deal with Prosecution, got sentenced to 2 years) comes forward and reveals true plans. (Inset âPossible targets of attacksâ â reminds that the Sarajevo weekly âSlobodna Bosnaâ carried Bajricâs statement, who noted that Bajro Ikanovic (one of suspects) once told him whilst they were passing by a line of German EUFOR vehicles units that âJihaad must be carried out and all of them must be killedâ. |
Extradition of former RS PM Klickovic would upset plans of many high ranked members of
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 âPanic among members of the RS Government in 1997â by E.Kamenica – Serbian Supreme Court still hasnât discussed an appeal of former RS Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic regarding a decision of Serbian authorities to extradite him to BiH. But, as was confirmed by the BiH Court Spokesperson Boris Grubesic, decision on this could be expected soon, adding that deadline is a month. Klickovic has been indicted for war crimes and economic crimes [Note: Klickovic is suspected of being involved in intrusion of RS authorities in monetary system of former |
| Dnevni List, pg 4 âSolve destiny of Avdo Palicâ, not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 âBehaviour of RS authorities is cynicalâ by Onasa– Netherlands Ambassador to BiH Karel Voskuehler met on Tuesday Esma Palic, widow of late Colonel Avdo Palic. Palic gone missing in 1995, during the negotiations with RS Army on evacuation of Zepa and no one heard of his since. Ambassador and Mrs. Palic talked about failure to implement the decision of BiH Human Right Chamber passed on |
MPs duties and rights; ITA and VAT issues; | |
BiH HoR rejects draft Law on Rights and Obligations of MPs
| BHT1, Late news â On Tuesday, BIH House of Representatives failed to adopt draft Law on Rights and Obligations of MPs. 17 deputies voted for, 9 were against, whilst 5 abstained from voting. Deputies who voted against stressed that the current economic situation in BIH does not allow for adoption of such law. |
BiH draft Law on Rights and Obligations of MPs causes fierce reactions
| BHT1 By Marina Boskovic â Reporter comments that BiH draft Law on Rights and Obligations of MPs has caused fierce reactions of BIH public, international community and some deputies. [The Law was being discussed in BIH House of Representatives during the broadcast of Tuesdayâs BHT1 central news.] HDZ deputy Vinko Zoric feels that the proposal law is good and adds that BIH deputies should have good pensions. Reporter comments that RS National Assembly deputies might also acquire increased rights despite the fact that the law on their rights has been declined by RS President Dragan Cavic. Reporter concludes that parliamentarians came in power by votes of BIH citizens who are unemployed, have low pensions and generally live in hard conditions. Hayat By Elma Kazagic â Reporter comments that regardless of numerous warnings, BiH HoR discussed the draft Law on Rights and Obligations of MPs, according to which an average MPâs salary would be 1,500 KM. âYou are not solving a thing by limiting an MPâs pension⌠We will solve a problem if we manage to create conditions in which anyone would receive pension in amount of at least 500 KM and salary in amount of 700 KMâ, said independent deputy Mladen Potocnik. âThese are not privileges but regulated duties and it is a normal thing for an MP to have certain rights, making an MPâs position clearer to comparison to the one we use to haveâŚI find this a good proposalâ, said BiH HoR MP Ivo Lozancic [ |
BiH HoR rejects urgent procedure for debate on changes to Law on VAT
| PINK by Zeljko Mandic â At the session held on Tuesday, BiH House of Representatives rejected to discuss the amendments to law on VAT in urgent procedure, thus the |
NN op-ed notes VAT regulations need to be changed
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 âAgreementâ by Predrag Klincov â Writing about Tuesdayâs session of Steering Board of ITA (Indirect Taxation Administration), the author observes since it was not possible to reach permanent solution regarding distribution of ITA revenues from single accounts, the issue of launching procedure for altering existing legal regulations treating this issue imposes itself as inevitability. Until this is identified, common citizens will face consequences, according to author. |
Reached agreement on temporary coefficients for distribution of ITA single account assets
| PINK by Dragica Tojagic â At the session of Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board (ITA SB) held on Tuesday in Banja Luka, the agreement on setting temporary or provisional coefficient for distribution of funds from ITA single account has been reached [to date 240 million KM have been blocked on the account]. The adopted coefficient will be implemented only in July and August when the decision on setting permanent coefficient is expected. According to provisional coefficient, 65,9% of assets from ITA single account will be allocated to FBIH, 31.2% to RS and 2.9% to District Brcko. Chair of ITA SB Peter Nicholl stated after the session, that SB will discus possibility of setting permanent coefficient for District Brcko. âWe have also agreed that, in forthcoming period, we will again revise the entire system of distribution. At the moment I cannot tell you whether the system will be changed but I can tell you for sure that all options will be discussedâ added Nicholl. Finance Ministers of RS and F BiH, Aleksandar Dzombic and Dragan Vrankic respectively, expressed satisfaction with the adopted agreement hoping that at the next session of ITA SB, they will reach the agreement on distribution of resources for the rest of the year. Dzombic said that coefficient is satisfactory since it is provisional. Vrankic noted that no mistake was made by adopting the set coefficients. IT SB members have also reached agreement on VAT rebate according to which the first rebate should start on |
BD Major Djapo: we will not reconcile with such decision, since the law was violated
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 âDjapo: We will not reconcile with such decisionâ by E.R.– Commenting decision that ITA Steering Board passed on allocation of revenues from single account, according to which Brcko District gets only 2.9%, BD Major Mirsad Djapo told DA that Law is violated with this decision. âIn following period I will consult with associates, MPs in BD Assembly and BD Supervisor. In any case I will not reconcile with this decision, because with its implementation the sustainability of BD would be questioned,â said Djapo. He didnât want to confirm, but he didnât denied that would raise criminal charges against ITA, because of such decision. âI expect from state institutions to protect us from such behaviour,â said Djapo. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 Inset âBasic was againstâ- Haris Basic [FIPA Director] voted against the decision.âWith this BD is significantly harmed and the solution, which would provide a permanent quality, wasnât passed. Everything showed that temporary decisions give no results,â said Basic. |
ITA SB Chair Nicholl: passed decision is the best we could get; it is temporary, but there is no will for anything else
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 âI have not yielded to RS demandsâ by T.Lazovic– ITA SB Chair Peter Nicholl commented for DA that the âdecision p[assed by the ITA Steering Board on allocating of revenues from single account is temporary, as there was no will for establishing coefficients until the end of the yearâ. He argued that the decision on temporary coefficients passed was the âbest we could get [Tuesday].â He underlines it doesnât mean he agrees with stances of the RS representatives who asked for fixed coefficients. âBe fair, I havenât agreed with RS demands. They asked 31.5% of the revenues from single account and they got 31.2%. Everyone moved from they positions at the beginning,â said Nicholl. FBiH asked for 66% and got 65.9% and Nicholl deems that decision is in accordance with the Law âexcept in the part which refers to Brcko Districtâ, to which the fixed coefficients until end of the year were promised, stressing that they would deal with that in August. Asked what after August, Nicholl said that all possibilities should be reviewed until then, âbut there will be no time to change the approachâ. |
FBiH HoP adopts changes to the Law on Privatisation, rejects Bill on Pardons | |
Police and other reforms | |
| FTV by Zeljko Tica â Police Reform Directorateâs Steering Board will hold a session on Wednesday. Chair of |
| Glas Srpske pg 4 âGauntlet thrown down to Srpskaâ by D.Momic â In regard to todayâs (Wednesday) session of Polcie Reform Directorate ( |
RS PM Dodik met with British officials: police reform and constitutional changes on agenda: regret over failure re. const. changes talks expressed
| Glas Srpske pg 2 âSupport to reform processâ by D.Momic – During his visit to London, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik met with British Minister for EU issues Geoff Hoon and General Political Director at British Ministry of Foreign Affairs John Sawers. In a statement to daily, Dodik said: âWe all expressed regret over failure in talks on constitutional changes. RS Government obtained support for the reform course it follows, and we have agreed that it is necessary to resume talks on constitutional changes after elections.â He stressed that âthe federal principle of constitutional order already exists in BiH, and this should be legalised in the upcoming period through BiH Constitutionâ. According to him, âin this manner BiH would get a frame of federal state, and RS would get clear authorities, rights and duties as federal unit.â Regarding police reform, Dodik said he reiterated stance it needs to be restored to frame of previously reached political agreement, saying âit is possible to reach final solution only through talks, not dictate.â According to inset âReferendumâ, Dodik stated in regard to referendum that the British have agreed it is necessary to stop stories about abolishment of RS, since constant insistence on this can only cause damage.RTRS, zavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover âEuropean principles are wide frame for police reformâ by D.R., Dnevni List, pg 5 âDodik in Great Britainâ, not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 âDodik visits Great Britainâ by FENA, â also reports |
DL,
| Dnevni List, pg 2 âSilent sanctions by ICâ, by R. Dautefendic â following reports that the EU ministers of justice and interior postponed discussion on easing of visa regime for west Balkans states (for details see OHR Media Round-up, July 25), DL comments it is clear Europe is imposing silent sanctions against BiH âbecause they (Europeans) cannot convince our politicians any more to form a state policeâ. DL also carries a comment by |
| Dnevni List, pgs 6-7 âYou cannot go to Europe without state policeâ, by Resad Dautefendic â carries an interview with the UK Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft, in which he mostly talks about processes related to BiH getting closer to the EU, foremost the police reform. Asked as to when BiH citizens can expect easing of visa regime with EU, Rycroft says: â(âŚ) In case police reform is implemented, the |
Political and other issues | |
OHR: Amendments to BiH Electoral Law would produce chaos
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 âBrkic: Reinstalling of old voter registration system would produce chaosâ by Agencies â OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic told press conference that OHR urges BiH parliamentarians to reject amendments to the Law on Election: âTreating invalid documents as valid for voter registration purposes, by allowing citizens without CIPS cards to vote, as the amendments propose, would undermine the Election Law itself and indeed the whole concept of the Rule of Law.â Brkic stated that adopting amendments would actually reinstate the old system of voter registration and cause chaos. Hayat, |
Serb officials say no decision on new ministries at BiH CoM without assent of entities
| Glas Srpske pg 5 âConstitution impedes Terzicâ by D.Momic â Regarding statement of Adnan Terzic, BiH Council of Ministersâ Chair, that Serb ministers have deadline until Thursday to consult on two new ministries at BiH CoM or otherwise decision will be reached through two thirds majority. |
PDPâs Nagradic contests Agreement BiH signed with
| Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front âSerbs blocked agreement with Holy Seaâ, by Zoran Kresic â notes that the âSerb sideâ on Tuesday opposed to ratification of the General Agreement BiH and Vatican had signed earlier (Agreement was signed in April 2006, foresees among other issues return of property confiscated from the Catholic Church by the then communist authorities in BiH). Namely, Slobodan Nagradic of the PDP, who currently works in the BiH Foreign Ministry (also a candidate for RS President in October elections), argued that giving special status to the Holy Sea would be discriminatory for the other religions in BiH, underlining it would endanger Serb vital national interests. Inset âSchilling too had objections to Agreementâ notes that the OHR too raised concerns regarding some provisions of the Agreement, claiming it would be a big burden for BiH as a state. Namely, it was requested to change the provision according to which the Catholic Church would get back its nationalized property within 10 years. Dnevni List, pg 2 âPDP against agreement with |
Daily: SBiH Silajdzic supports mufti Cericâs criticism
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 âUseful initiativeâ by S.Hodzic â SBiH leader Haris Silajdzic supported Leader of Islamic Community in BiH Mustafa effendi Ceric and his statements at the opening ceremony of Glamoc mosque on Saturday, when he criticized Bosniaks political leadership [who called on politicians “not to sell our honour for petty benefits“]. Silajdzic said that his support to Ceric does not mean he wants to gain any political points for his party or himself, adding though that there is a certain similarity between Ceric condemning politicians and Silajdzic refusing constitutional changes. |
New BiH Law on Traffic Security; large fines for traffic violates
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash âDraconian penalties in traffic are being installedâ, pg 10 âYounger then 23 cannot drive alone from 23 to five hoursâ by S.Skuletic– Article carries on the new BiH Law on Traffic Security, which would come into force on August 8. This Law precisely defined regulations of the driving and foresees high financial penalties for every violation of the law. Dnevni List, pg 8 âCitizens are again targets of politicsâ, by D. P. Mandic â the author notes that the Law of Traffic Security, as suggested by many MPs, in the BiH parliament, is full of shortcomings, which should have been overcome by enacting of 22 by-laws, which the BiH CoM failed to provide. |
OHR BiH Media Round-up
Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 26 July
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
Bosniak to chair | | RS PM in |
ITA SB decides on coefficients | | |
New BiH traffic law strict | 22% in RS lives in poverty | Weather |
TV news broadcast on 25 July
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
BiH HoR, FBiH HoP in session | Trial to Mandic started | BIH HoR session |
HoP condemns communist crimes | Serbian Action Plan came into effect | BIH citizens working in |
OHR on changes to Law on Elections | ITA SB in session | ITA Steering Board session |
| BiH HoR in session | BIH HoR session |
NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
BiH HoR in session | 16 year old drowns | Incident in Konjevic Polje |
BiH ITA SB in session | Hail in Ljubuski | ITA Single Account de-blocked |
BiH HoR discusses VAT Law | Fires in | BiH HoR in session |
FBiH HoP in session | Pigâs plague in | Dodik visits |
Oslobodjenje | Panic among officials of 1997 RS Government [Klickovic case] |
Dnevni Avaz | Draconian penalties in traffic are being installed [new traffic law] |
Dnevni List | Bravely against Hearts (football story) |
Vecernji List | EUFOR was target of terrorist attack? (VL on âBektasevic et allâ case) |
Slobodna Dalmacija | Explosives blew up BMW 7, police stays mute (car blown up in Posusje) |
Nezavisne Novine | BAM 240 million de-blocked |
Glas Srpske | They are bothered with cross and three-fingers |
EuroBlic | If Serbs reject, Bosniak to chair |
Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related cover splash |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BH Radio 1 by Vanja Ilicic– Police Reform Directorate Steering Board is in session today, and it is expected to appoint new |
RS PM Dodik in a statement to RTRS: issue of const. changes is one of the most important issues we in BiH must deal with
| RTRS – At meetings with the British officials in |
FBiH CC VNI Council to decide on FBiH PBS law today | |
Economic and judicial issues | |
BiH HoR rejects changes of law on old foreign currency saving deposits
| RTRS by Branka Kusmuk â At the session held on Tuesday, BiH House of Representatives rejected the proposal of independent deputy Tihomir Gligoric for changes of law on old foreign currency saving deposits. According to this proposal, the repayment period for holders of frozen foreign currency accounts would be reduced from 13 to 5 years. Head of Association for repayment of foreign currency saving deposits Ale Lizalovic criticized the BiH Council of Ministers, claiming that it doesnât take this problem seriously. BiH HoR deputy Speaker Sefket Dzaferovic [SDA] said that he couldnât vote for a law, which might lead the country into bankruptcy. Gligoric stated that the decision made by BiH HoR is an attempt to gain additional time. Members of associations of foreign currency depositors say that they canât wait any longer. They announced filing of lawsuit before the International Tribunal in Strasburg. They are convinced that they would win such lawsuit. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 âRejected proposed privileges for BiH Parliament Membersâ by H.Orahovac â BiH Deputy Finance Minister Jusuf Kumalic stated that the proposed deadline of five years would be impossible to fulfil. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Savers entitled to press charges’ by D. P. M. – Article reports that FBiH HoR adopted the proposal by MP Filip Andric to delete from the Law on settling debts from old foreign currency saving the clause according to which savers would sign a statement waiving their right to press charges after receiving a symbolic cash payment in exchange for their savings. |
BiH Minister of Transport and Communications Dokic: We will schedule pre-qualification tender for selection of concessionaire for highway on 5-C Corridor
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 âPre-qualifications for selection of concessionaire in Octoberâ by Az.Kalamujic â On Tuesday, BiH Minister of Transport and Communications Branko Dokic confirmed this Ministry would schedule pre-qualification tender for selection of concessionaire for Vc corridor: âPre-qualification tender would help us to shortlist investors [usually 4-6 investors], that would be then directly provided with tender for selection of concessionaire.â Dokic also announced soon start of creating bidding documentation for the highway on Vc corridor. World Bank promised to pay foreign consultants that would help local experts in creation of bidding documentation. Just recently published, Feasibility study estimates that the highway would be cheaper by 200 million KM, compared to anticipations from 2005. |
Oslob op-ed slams BiH authorities for not being more agile in project of 5-C Corridor
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 âCorridor of improvisationâ op-ed by Borivoje Simic â Commenting publicising the feasibility study on Vc Corridor, editorial reads that if local and not world experiences would be applied âit is not likely that we will have highway to Sava river by 2012 as estimated.â Slamming BiH authorities for being too slow, influenced by daily-based politics and different stances of entities, author concludes: âSuch behaviour can only cool down the investors, that still show interest for this project.â |
DA: In
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 âEU asks for faster abolishment of customs to agriculture productsâ by T.L.– BiH and European Commission on Thursday are continuing negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement. This round would be focused on free trade issues and as DA learns BiH team has sent its proposal with the list of products on which wants to preserve customs until membership in the EU. Chief of BiH Team for Free Trade, Dragisa Mekic told DA that he expects EC to present its stances on this proposal in Thursdayâs round. Negotiating EC team, which would be lead by Head of Department for BiH and Albania in European Directorate for Enlargement, Dirk Lange, as DA learns would ask for shorter deadlines in which BiH would have right to customs during the import from the EU. Mekic explains that this refers mostly to agriculture and refined agriculture and industrial products, such as waffles, beer, even mineral water. |
Model-Courts to improve efficiency of BiH Courts | RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 âModel-Courts should speed up solving of casesâ not signed- The BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), USAIDâs Justice Sector Development Project and seven BiH courts signed on Tuesday the Memorandum of Understanding named âInitiative of Model-Courtsâ. The key objectives of IMS are introduction of lasting improvements in the model-courts in the sector of judicial administration, achieving better case management in appellate procedures, as well as allowing the representatives of model-courts to become intercessors of reforms in the sector of judicial administration. By signing the Memo, HJPC will take over the overall coordination of projects in model-courts, as the leading institution for supporting reformatory activities in the entire judicial sector in order to ensure development of strategies for expanding the successful reformatory activities to other courts. On behalf of HJPC, Chair Branko Peric signed Memorandum. |
Political issues | |
ECâs Humphreys criticizes the decision of BiH Parliament to cease employment process in all ministries until after elections
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 âPolitical elite takes care of itself and not the reformsâ not signed- At Tuesdayâs session the BiH Parliament adopted a conclusion to stop all employment of new officials and employees in all ministries until the process of the establishment of government following the October elections is completed. Commenting this decision Head of EC Mission to BiH, Michael Humphreys said: âThis decision is a clear sign of political involvement in appointment of civil servants. It is very disappointing that the last session of the BiH Parliament was not dedicated to the reform agenda, which would bring this country closer to |
Head of RS Helsinki Committee Todorovic condemns attacks of
| RTRS by Lidija Beslic â Head of RS Helsinki Committee Branko Todorovic condemned he attacks of |
Final date for Telekom Srpske privatisation tender to be announced next week
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 âTender for âTelekom Srpskeâ soonâ by R.Segrt â Nedeljko Cubrilovic, RS Minister of Traffic and Communication, has announced that final date when tender for privatisation of âTelekom Srpskeâ will be known next week. He assessed that after Bosniak Caucus at RS Parliament withdrew motion for protection of vital national interest in sale of âTelekomâ, âpolitical gamesâ ended. Daily notes that any interested company that has at least 800 thousand subscribers in land telephony and 1.5 million in mobile telephony, with annual profit of EURO 500 million can apply. |
DA: CoM Resolution urging precise definition of VNI is justified
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 âPolitical trading in RSâ op-ed by Edina Sarac– Commenting the vital national interest that Bosniak Caucus in RS Council of People launched on plans for privatization of âTelecom Srpskeâ and how they withdrawn their initiative; Sarac stressed that main issue in this story is minimising of VNI significance. Therefore, Sarac justifies the fact that Council of Europe discussed VNI in its recently passed Resolution, urging for more precise definition, âwhich, in any case would leave less space for political games on harm of those whose interests are being protected. This way, we will get into situations such as this, where in finish of solving of major issue it turns out that dust was risen for no reason,â concludes Sarac. |
RS Helsinki Committee Chair Todorovic invited politicians to be responsible in their pre-election speeches
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 âThink, then electâ by V.Du.– At the press conference in Bijeljina, and in regard to upcoming elections, Head of RS Helsinki Committee, Branko Todorovic warned politicians that encouraging of ethnical, religious and race hatred is a criminal act. Therefore, he called upon BiH politicians to act responsibly in pre-election campaigns. He looked back to previous years, in which hatred was encouraged in political speeches. âWhat may concern us is that in the introduction to the pre-lection campaign, we were the witnesses of totally unmeasured invitations of BiH politicians, starting with already seen on disappearance of entities, to those suggesting that entities should become independent states,â said Todorovic. He invited citizens âto think wisely and chose political forces that would lead this country in following periodâ. He also condemned |
| Glas Srpske pg 5 âFutile effort about visasâ by D.Mo. â Mladen Bosic, |
GS op-ed critical of Muftiâ Ceric speech at opening of mosque in Glamoc
| Glas Srpske op-ed pg 2 âReligion as politicsâ by Goran Barac â The author says that the Head of Islamic Religious Community in BiH Reis-ulâulema Mustafa Effendi Ceric has against placed his political engagements over religious one. The author refers to Saturday speech Effendi held at the opening of mosque in Glamoc, when he called on Mostar Mufti and representatives of Catholic Church in |
War crimes and security issues | |
Serbian Minister Jocic: Action plan re cooperation with ICTY has begun
| Dnevni List, pg 15 âAction for arrest of war criminals beginsâ, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 20 âHunt for Ratko Mladic has begunâ, by H – Serbian Interior Minister, Dragan Jocic, stated on Tuesday that the implementation of the (Serbian Governmentâs) Action plan on cooperation with the ICTY has begun, stressing that operative bodies were to be formed by the end of the week. Jocic also noted that the cooperation with the ICTY was âour obligation towards the state and peopleâ. (NB: Serbian PM Kostunica recently presented the Action plan to |
DL editorial notes new incident in Mostar, concludes authorities must do away with âspoils of warâ
| Dnevni List pg 2 âMostarâs realityâ op-ed by Sanja Bjelica â Bjelica reminds of recent incidents in Mostar which she says the authorities took lightly, the result being that delinquents and thugs are still in control of Mostarâs destiny. She brings up a new incident related to an exhibition of about 60 valuable paintings donated by Serb family Neimarevic to the City of Mostar which, however, were on display for one day only (last Sunday) because a local thug occupying commercial spaces in the Old Town has threatened that âthe gallery would be set on fire if Serb paintings are found in itâ. The result, she notes, was that the Mostar authorities did not react and the gallery was simply closed. Bjelica comments that âprimitive people and thugs are bothered by the very mention of a Serb name in the |
EUFOR: we will look into the claim of BOSS officials Ajanovic and Alispahic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 12 âWe will look into claims of Alispahic and Ajanovicâ, mentioned on cover, by L.S. â In statement for DA, EUFOR Spokesperson Karen Halsey stated that EUFOR is familiar with the letter that BOSS candidate for BiH Presidency Mirnes Ajanovic and list leader in front of Patriotic Block [BOSS, SDU] for BiH Parliament, Fatmir Alispahic have sent to SIPA and EUFOR. Ajanovic and Alispahic sent this letter on Monday, asking EUFOR and SIPA to investigate and neutralize activity of paramilitary formations in the RS, claiming these were responsible for frequent attacks on returnees. Halsey said that EUFOR would look into this matter and would not ignore the claim. |
SIPA says it has not received BOSS officials Ajanovic and Alispahicâs letter | Dnevni Avaz pg 12 âWe are conducting investigations that can be brought into relation with that letterâ by E.Sarac â Deputy Director of SIPA Dragan Lukac told DA that SIPA has not received the letter that BOSS officials Mirnes Ajanovic and Fatmic Alispahic have sent to SIPA and EUFOR warning about existence of paramilitary formations in the RS. According to information he obtained from media, Lukac says that these are only allegations, without concrete information on when, where and who is doing that. âNaturally, we are interested in such information and if found credible, we would carry out certain measures in accordance with our authorities. I can say that we are doing other things, related to something that can be brought into connection with this letter, whose part I have read in the papers,â said Lukac. |