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| OHR fines HDZ | OHR fines HDZ | OHR fines HDZ | Lawsuit against SCG |
| Bomb in Tesanj | Explosions in Bangkok | Strike in Bihac | OHR sanctions HDZ |
| Regional news | Zitoprerada | Bomb attacks in Bombay | RS Government |
| World news |
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| Explosion in Bombay |
| Oslobodjenje | Paddy Ashdown fined HDZ with 40,000 KM |
| Dnevni Avaz | General Wesley Clarke for Avaz: I am thinking about whether I will compete Bush; HDZ fined with 40,000 KM |
| Dnevni List | “HR Paddy Ashdown sanctioned HDZ BiH: Fine of 40 000 KMs because of obstructions of unification of schools”; “Ashdown refused to attend traditional dives from Old Bridge”; “Del Ponte: We want to hear Gotovina” |
| Vecernji List | “HDZ fined 40 000 KM”; “One month long military exercise as of today” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “Ivica Racan on construction of Corridor through BiH: Obviously we touched already done deal”; Other headlines are Croatia related |
| Glas Srpske | RS Agriculture Ministry: Money for crops; The appointment of Srpske Poste Director General: A story with no beginning and no end |
| Nezavisne Novine | Decision of Paddy Ashdown and Robert Beecroft re obstruction in education reform process: HDZ fined with 40 000 KM; Employees of ‘Zitoprerada’ on strike for four weeks: Children join their parents who are on strike |
| Blic | Textbooks are late because of inflammatory words |
Education | |
| High Representative fines HDZ for obstructing unification of schools
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, mentioned on the front page ‘Ashdown fined HDZ with 40,000 KM’, Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5, Dnevni List front and page 3, by H, Erna Mackic, “Fine of 40.000 KMs because of obstruction of unification of schools”, Vecernji List front “HDZ fined 40.000 marks” and page 3 “Ashdown punishes HDZ”, by E. Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine, cover and page 3 – ‘HDZ fined with 40 000 KM’, Glas Srpske, pg.3 – ‘Ashdown fines HDZ’, Blic pg. 7 ‘HDZ fined with 40,000 KM’- High Representative Paddy Ashdown made a decision on Monday by which five per cent of the funds that belong to the BiH Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) at the state, Federation level and at the level of the Central Bosnia Canton will be abolished as of the next year, because it did not issue instructions on unification of the so-called “two schools under one roof” within the deadline. According to Ashdown, approximately 40,000 KM will be taken from the funds for the HDZ. He added he would make efforts on allocation of these funds for schools. Ashdown said the HDZ is sanctioned because its leaders did not meet obligations towards the Council of Europe and because they have brought the feasibility study into question. At midnight on Monday, additional five per cent will be taken from the funds for the HDZ. Five per cent of the funds will be taken from the HDZ every day if there is no progress in fulfillment of obligations of the Central Bosnia Canton in the education reform. Several minutes before a press conference, a letter on instructions on administrative unification of schools in Travnik arrived in the Office of the High Representative (OHR), which the OHR has not yet analyzed. The High Representative said he will reconsider further measures if the reforms are not implemented by Friday, 29 August, adding he hopes the progress will be made. Ashdown said that schools in Mostar have not been yet unified because the municipal council of the Mostar’s municipality Jugozapad has been blocking the instructions. He added this blockade must be abolished as soon as possible. Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Beecroft and Ashdown explained at the press conference in Sarajevo on Monday that the unification of schools foresees establishing one school administration (one school director, one school board, one administrative staff) and that it is not related to the curriculum or work within the classroom. BHTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Unify schools in the Cantyon’ – The Hercegovina-Neretva Canton Education Minister Jago Musa has issued the instructions on legal and administrative unification of “two schools under one roof”. Dnevni List (page 14, by Z. Skoko) – the daily interviewed 5 people who were asked to comment on the HR’s decision to fine the HDZ. Out of 5, 3 support the decision and 2 were against it. Vecernji List (page 2, by Zoran Kresic, “HDZ’s immaturity and segregation”) – says the situation shows all the lack of political seriousness of the Central Bosnia HDZ, which issues the instruction only a few minutes before the HR’s press conference thus wasting thousands of KMs of the party money. However, the author draws a parallel between this and situation surrounding the establishment of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton saying the HR fined Bosniak parties only after eight months of paralysis in the HNC whilst in this case and education talks that have intensified in the last month or two, he promptly reacted. Kresic also says there has not been a reported case of segregation and that the HR with this decision improves the rating of OSCE’s mission to BiH. |
| HDZ says OHR sanctions result of “poor communication”
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘I believed there would be no sanctions’, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Sanctions faster than instructions’, Dnevni List – HDZ leader Barisa Colak on Monday told the Federation TV that the sanctions imposed earlier in the day on his party by the Office of the High Representative came as a consequence of poor communication between the HDZ and the OHR. “On Saturday morning, the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton delivered an instruction for the school unification, while the Central Bosnia Canton did the same today (Monday). I assume that because of the delay it was impossible for the OSCE to review the instruction,” Colak said. According to the leader of the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ), it is now most important to “remedy the situation in order to prevent such a thing from repeating” and so that the school year could go on. Colak added the HDZ was prepared to carry out the administrative unification of schools in the Central Bosnia Canton. |
| Trade Unions leader on unification of Mostar Grammar Schools | With regard to the issue of unification of two Mostar Grammar Schools, Dnevni List (page 15, “They were calling on students to defend Hercegovacka Bank, and now they are leaving them without Croatian language”, by Z. Skoko) carries the President of Trade Union of Secondary School Teachers who work according to the Croat curriculum, Josip Milic, as saying that during the yesterday’s session of the School Board (probably of “Fra Dominik Mandic” grammar school), the Board reached a clear position that there will be no unification of the Grammar Schools. Milic added that the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Minister of Education, Jago Musa, issued the instruction on unification of the Grammar Schools, however, according to Milic, it refers to “two schools under one roof” and not to the said grammar schools since these two are separate schools. Milic also accuses Croat politicians that they decided to sell Croatian language and Croat curriculum and added: “When Hercegovacka Bank was robbed they called on children in schools to come out to the streets in front of machine guns and tanks, and now when the Croatian language is in question, that is, the Croat essence and survival, they do not want to take people to the streets. When it was about the money they robbed from people, they called on people to come out to streets, and now they do not want to do it.” Milic stressed that in case that the building of Grammar School (“Fra Dominik Mandic”) is entered by force, the Trade Union will call on people to take it to the streets |
| Joint classes in Novi Seher as of September 1 | Dnevni List (page 4, “Joint classes as of September”, by Fena) – reports that during a session of temporary Steering Board of Novi Seher Elementary School that was appointed by the Government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, it was agreed that 800 students from the area of Novi Seher, Municipality of Maglaj, who used to attend classes in two schools under one roof, will start to attend joint classes as of September 1. |
| Another strike of education workers in HNC in sight | Dnevni List (page 16, by F, “If requests are not observed, general strike on September 4”)- employees of secondary schools in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton that work according to the Bosnian curriculum will go on general strike on September 4 unless their requests are not met by September 3, it has been announced by the Cantonal Board of Independent Union of Secondary Education. The requests include signing of a collective agreement, adoption of a programme of taking care of possible surplus workers caused by education reforms, payment of overdue debts to the workers and harmonization of salaries for every school in the Canton. Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue. |
Economic/social issues | |
| PDHR Hays, FBiH Prime Minister Hadzipasic visit Livno
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Privatisation process needs to be stimulated’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Stimulating privatisation’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 – ‘OHR stimulating return’ – Federation Prime Minister Ahmed Hadzipasic and Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays visited Livno on Monday. Officials met with HB Cantonal Prime Minister Stipe Pelivan, cantonal ministers, Director of the Cantonal Privatisation Agency and municipal mayors. They have also visited successful companies. PDHR Hays: “We are, like government, also concern about establishment of economic environment in this area and we will analyse situation and put the things in the way of creating such an economic conditions every part of BiH can compete with others in the world”. Slobodna Dalmacija page 6, “Privatization is only way out”, by F. Mioc, Dnevni List page 4, “Resolving of internal claims of companies”, by Fena and Vecernji List (page 2, “Return is more complicated without places of work”, by Z. Mihaljevic) also covered this visit. |
| Strikes in Bihac | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 13, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 – ‘Children join their parents who are on strike’ – Workers of the Zitoprerada Company are having hunger strike for last 20 days. In the meantime, workers of the Federal Tax Administration have entered Zitoprerada premises. They are going to revise company’s tax payments and court decision in this case is expected to take place in several days. Cantonal assembly demands revision of privatisation contracts and determination of responsibility of the privatisation agency. Workers of Novitet and Polietilenka factories in Bihac also continue with their strike demanding termination of privatisation contract. |
| Vc corridor | Dnevni List (front and page 2, “Racan: Unreasonable anger at expense of Croatian Government”, not signed) carries that Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan stated that he expects that relations between Croatia and BiH will be developing normally and that the obstacles, which currently exists with regard to the Corridor Vc, should not be dramatized. Racan added that by its offer, Croatia obviously touched already done deal and this caused unreasonable anger at his expense and expense of the Croatian Government. Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 64, “Obviously we touched already done deal”, by A. Malenica), Sarajevo dailies also covered this statement. On the same issue Jutarnji List (page 6, “Because of wish for political points Racan caused confusion with regard to highway”, by Marina Borovac) carries an interview with Head of BiH Foreign Investment Agency Mirza Hajric who says that in order to score political points Racan caused confusion in BiH media with regard to the letter of intention because it turned out afterwards that consortium of companies from Croatia and not the Croatian Government sent the letter of intention because BiH Law on Concessions does not envisage giving of concessions to foreign Governments. |
| DL’s editorial on alleged corruption in BiH | Dnevni List (page 6, by Slavo Kukic, “Internationalhug of Mafia people”) – editorial that deals with alleged ties between domestic and international officials in BiH in which Kukic cites two examples to back his claims up. The first case deals with media reports that the Chair of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, was on a cruise with the OHR’s special auditor, John Taylor. Kukic notes it was Taylor who revealed the “dirty laundry” in the Elektroprivredas and he is suppose to do the same in the telecommunications companies. According to Kukic, there are no doubts that Covic tried to persuade Taylor not to stir things up in the “Eronet” case. The other case deals with the appointment of Director of Indirect Taxation Administration and alleged reports that Fuad Kasumovic has been chosen for the job. Kukic objects against the Kasumovic appointment questioning how it can be possible that a man who has criminal reports on his back, be appointed to such an important office. In that context, Kukic says all this matters not to Joly Dixon because he made a deal with “nationalists”. Kukic wonders what will the High Representative Paddy Ashdown’s reaction like saying “if he opts to persuade us that nothing happened, it will be a signal to Mafia people to finish off the things”. The things being the purges in every institution in BiH including the judiciary. |
| Appointment of Srpske Poste Director General | Glas Srpske, cover page – ‘A story with no beginning and no end’ – the daily claims it is quite uncertain whether Milijana Dakic, who was appointed new Director of Srpske Poste, on August 15, would take over her duty. According to GS, Milutin Pejic, still clams that he is the Director General. On the other hand, the Chairman of Srpske Poste Board of Governors, Milorad Zrnic, said that Dakic will assume her duties within following 15 days, when the decision on her appointment is published in the RS Official Gazette and when the appeals period expires. According to Zrnic, Dakic will take over the duty, not from Pejic, but from the Acting Director, Andrija Skiljevic. Zrnic added that Pejic was dismissed two months ago, and since that day, the RS Government, RS Ministry for Transport and Communications, and the Board of Governors of Srpske Poste, do not consider him to be the director of the company. GS says that the acting director Skiljevic had never really entered the premises of the company, as Pejic did not allow him to. Pejic told the daily that the Board of Governors made a foolish act by appointing Milijana Dakic to the post. According to Pejic, all decisions of the Board of Governors cannot be respected, as they are illegal. The daily has learnt in the Banja Luka Primary Court that Milutin Pejic, for as long as his name is in the Court’s Register, is the Director of Srpske Poste. Also, the vacancy cannot be announced until Pejic is properly dismissed. |
| Update on RS Telekom Affair | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5 – ‘Telekom used mediators for purchase of PCM equipment’- the daily has learnt from its source close to RS Telekom that the Company hired a mediator (Banja Luka company Hi-tel) to purchase 2000 PCM machines from the Hungarian producer ’77 Elektronika Kft’ in spite of the fact that it was able to negotiate and sign the contract directly with the manufacturer. The Director of ‘Hi-tel’ company is Nikola Vuksan and according to the NN source, it is still unclear why the Telecom decided not to deal directly with Hungarian company, but through mediator. |
| RS Government on General Collective Agreement
| Blic pg. 7 ‘Collective agreement by the end of September’ – The RS Government, the Trade Union and employers are to appoint by the end of the week a working group tasked to offer a working version of the new general collective agreement to the Economic-Social Council by 8 September. This was concluded at a meeting between RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and Head of the RS Chamber of Commerce Mladen Micic on Monday. The parties agreed that the partners in the social dialogue harmonize their stands linked to the proposed text by 20 September. Mikerevic said the new collective agreement is to harmonize the social needs with the economic possibilities of RS, as well as settle the state in the field of wages and earnings. |
| FBiH Tax Administration reacts to DL’s story
| Dnevni List (page 8, “Arifovic started 16 disciplinary procedures over violation of official duty”) – carries a reaction by the Tax Administration of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) to an article published in Dnevni List from yesterday about the compromised position of the Director of Tax Administration, Midhat Arifovic. The reaction reads that all activities of the FBiH Tax Administration are done in accordance with the law and uniformly throughout the FBiH. It also says that upon arrival of Arifovic to the office of Director, 16 disciplinary measures have been initiated because of grave violation of official duty and that “Energopetrol” was forced to pay 709.430 KMs and that the Tobacco Factor in Mostar and the Deputy Director of FBiH Tax Administration signed an agreement, according to which the Factory obliged itself to honour its financial obligation through payment by instalments. |
Legal affairs | |
| BiH will not withdraw lawsuit against SCG
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 8, Blic pg. 5 ‘BiH will never give up the lawsuit’, Dnevni List page 2, unsigned, “BiH will never give up lawsuit against S&M” – “BiH will not withdraw the lawsuit against Serbia and Monte Negro (SCG) for aggression and genocide filed in 1993,” stated BiH Agent before the Hague-based International Court of Justice Sakib Softic responding to the statement of Serbian Minister of Justice Vladan Batic. “Withdrawing the lawsuit would mean betraying over 200 thousand BiH citizens killed during the war,” said Softic. Softic also stressed that his interview for Radio Free Europe was misinterpreted when he said that SCG needed to approach to the court and admitted the charges the way they are written, adding that he was not referring to lawsuit’s withdrawal, but to speeding up the proceedings. “BiH has defined the charges in the indictment. The only verdict acceptable for us is the one referring to the indictment, or SCG pleading guilty on the charges that were defined.” The question of the lawsuit for Softic is more legal and historical and not political, and should not be used for any political purposes. On the reporter’s question regarding Batic’s statement on presenting the new evidences, Softic said he was not opposing for all the individuals to be punished if they deserved it. Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘We do not withdraw lawsuit’, Blic pg. 18 ‘BiH lawsuit remains’ carried a statement by Sulejman Tihic’s office also denying BiH will withdraw the lawsuit. Vecernji List (page 4, by G. K., “Sarajevo for settlement after all?”) – reports that diplomatic sources in Belgrade are making a possibility that Sarajevo reaches a settlement with Belgrade on its lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro topical once again. According to VL, unofficial information from Belgrade say there have been a few offers to settle things out of court. There are mentions of Belgrade funding the reconstruction of the Ferhat Pasa’s mosque in Banja Luka and lately of Belgrade building a part of the Corridor Vc (free of charge), which have been reportedly declined by Sarajevo. |
| Mehmedagic on return of nationalized land | FENA, Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘OHR has made the first step’, Dnevni Avaz – FBiH Urban Planning and Environment Minister Ramiz Mehmedagic told FENA on Monday that by returning property that was once made socially owned, OHR made the first step towards opening the issue of restitution of state owned (nationalized) urban construction land. |
| Update on Bijelic case | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 – ‘The police investigation at the very beginning’, Glas Srpske, pg.5 – ‘Was there a mistake in the telegram?’ – public prosecutor from Teslic, Nedjo Djuric stated that the investigation into killing of Predrag Bijelic in Teslic on August 19, is at the very beginning and it will take quite a while to complete it. Predrag Bijelic was killed and two more people wounded in the showdown of police and drug dealers in Teslic. The family of Predrag Bijelic claims that he had no connections with the drug dealers. The RS Interior Ministry Spokesman, Zoran Glusac, said that this Ministry does not want to exchange words with Bijelic’s family through the media and that family members can come to the Ministry and ask all the questions they have. Glas Srpske reports that Bijelic was buried yesterday and his family claims that it was not officially informed on his death by the RS police. |
| Ombudsman Frank Orton on unification of Ombudsman’s Offices in BiH | Vecernji List (page 4, “Talks on unification of Ombudsman Offices”, by Fena) – reports that during an informal meeting with journalists that took place in Mostar on Monday, Human Rights Ombudsman, Frank Orton, announced that soon he would talk with members of the BiH Presidency about unification of 3 Ombudsman’s Offices at the level of BiH and entities into a unified organization for human rights protection at the State level. Orton stressed that the current organization of the institution of Ombudsman does not meet needs of citizens. Dnevni List (page 4, “Efficient public administration prerequisite for economic development of BiH”, by I. Glibusic) and Sarajevo dailies also covered this issue. |
Political developments/statements | |
| BiH HoP Speaker meets with PBS leadership
| BHTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘New law should ensure editorial and financial independence of PBS’ – Bosnia and Hercegovina House of Representatives Speaker Nikola Spiric held talks on Monday with the leadership of the Public Broadcasting Service of BiH about the current situation in that media house and the fulfillment of the necessary legal and financial conditions for realizing its mission as a public media outlet at the level of BiH. The general director of the Public Service, Drago Maric, and the directors of BH Radio 1 and BHTV1, Senada Cumurovic and Lazar Petrovic respectively, informed the senior parliamentary official about the new programs and ratings of the two media houses at the level of the country. They pointed to the fact that the establishment and further development of public broadcasters in BiH is one of the 18 conditions of the Road Map for our country. |
| SDHR Wnendt meets political representatives to discuss restructuring of Mostar | Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Wnendt also to talk to Orucevic, Grebo, Tomic and Gojer’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Former mayors to arrange Mostar as well’, Dnevni List page 9, by Zvonimir Jukic, “OHR will talk to many prominent Mostarians about set-up of Mostar” – Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt met on Friday with representatives of political parties, which participate in the work of Mostar City Council, ONASA learned from sources in the international community. The meetings lasted about 45 minutes respectively, and during the meetings, Wnendt wanted to hear the positions of the parties on the restructuring of Mostar. He also met with Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic and Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic. The Party for BiH (SBiH) confirmed to ONASA that Wnendt met their representatives on Friday and discussed these issues. According to the agency sources, Wnendt intends to meet with representatives of returnees’ associations from Mostar on Tuesday, who have created their own proposal for restructuring of the City, and he also considers the possibility to meet with distinguished public, political and cultural workers from Mostar. Among persons Wnendt plans to meet with are Zdravko Grebo, Gradimir Gojer, Zoran Mandelbaum, Vujadin Berberovic, Ibrahim Rahimic, Sefkija Dziho, Ratko Pejanovic, former mayors of Mostar Safet Orucevic, Neven Tomic and Milivoj Gagro, as well as a group of university professors from Mostar, and some other persons from both sides of the city. The Regional Office of the High Representative in Mostar could not officially comment on these information. Asked about these meetings of Senior Deputy High Representative Wnendt, OHR Spokesman Vedran Persic said on Thursday that the OHR did not release information on meetings which were not announced in advance. |
| DL: “Ashdown refused to attend traditional dives from Old Bridge” | Dnevni List (front and page 9, by M. Malic) carries that although High Representative Paddy Ashdown was in Mostar on the day when traditional dives from the Old Bridge took place he refused to attend this manifestation and DL says that in this way the HR expressed his disagreement with policy of Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic, but also with certain things from the protocol of the manifestation, which caused disapproval of Croats and Serbs in Mostar. According DL, the traditional dives were supposed to be the future manifestation for all Mostarians, regardless of their ethnic and religious affiliation, however, organizers privatized this event for one people only. DL says that before the dives started a minute silent tribute was given to sehids (killed Bosniak soldiers) and this was followed by Islamic religious customs. DL says that none disputes paying of tribute to killed soldiers, however, this was not the time and place to do something like that. The article goes on to say that many people believe that the HR did not attend this manifestation exactly for this reason. According to DL, this slap to the Jahic’s face is a clear sign that the international officials will not allow that Jahic is the Mayor of one part of the city only. DL also says that his Deputy Ljubo Beslic did not protest against aforementioned events and it can be interpreted as his agreement with preservation of the divisions in Mostar. DL concludes that this policy started to lose ground during 2000 and 2002, however, now it has strengthened and it goes through real revival. DL says that we shall se as to what the OHR will do in this situation. |