| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| FBIH HoP in session | Police Reform Comm. mtg | Ivanic on deminers in | ICTY indictees asset freeze |
| Final election results | RS and police restructuring | Police Reform Comm. mtg | Vital national interest |
| Ivanic on terrorists in BIH | Ivanic on current issues | FBIH HoP in session | Ivanic on terrorists in BIH |
| Guardian on Karadzic book | Property issues on courts | Constitutional changes | RS Government’s session |
| Oslobodjenje | Dragan Covic a step away from defendants bench?; Ivanic: The biggest problem is cooperation with ICTY; Introduction of zero and 17% rate of VAT; No negotiations on Ploce port currently |
| Dnevni Avaz | Bozanic doesn’t go to |
| Dnevni List | Single VAT rate |
| Vecernji List | Medical treatment with obsolete equipment |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Ashdown ‘fixes’ officials new posts |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH Parliament Commission for Finances proposed two-rated value added tax: No VAT on food; State Department denies claims of “The Washington Times”: No turnabout towards Tribunal; Update to Makroprom: Gladovic has not still surrendered |
| Glas Srpske | BiH Election Commission decided: Elections annulled |
| EuroBlic | Exhumation at Kevljani: 400 bodies in the grave; |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Nacional | Where is the summer-house of “Pasha Ashdown of |
Security, police and war crimes issues | |
| Mladen Ivanic on claims of terrorism network and training centre in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘There are no signs of FBI’s presence in BiH’, mentioned on cover, by M. Drinjakovic – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic said in Sarajevo on Tuesday that he has no information on FBI agents carrying out investigations in BiH. “I have no indications that the FBI is present in BiH. The issue of cooperation with the FBI falls under the remit of the BiH Security Ministry,” Ivanic told a news conference commenting to the statements by US Congress security advisor Yossef Bodansky made in media which said that group of FBI agents arrived to BiH with the task to investigate the presence on Al-Qaeda in BiH. Ivanic recalled the BiH Presidency’s stance on this issue which is that every specific case must be properly investigated by the relevant bodies such as SIPA and entities police forces, adding that the BiH institutions cannot accept by default that something like that does exist. “Objectively, the biggest BiH’s problem is the issue of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. As for BiH’s image in general, it is rather problematic to have article [mentioning BiH]… which refer to Al’Qaeda, terrorism,” said Ivanic. FTV – Ivanic believes that BiH institutions cannot accept that someone is talking on terrorism in BiH without any evidences. RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Terrorists in the neighbourhood’ by N. Zelenovic; – Ivanic said that objectively speaking, apart from the issue of non-cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, occasional claims on presence of Al Q’Aeda’s and other terrorists organisations presence in BiH represent the biggest problem. Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Claims on presence of Al Q’Aeda are harmful for BiH’ by A. Sisic – On this he added: “Our investigative bodies must investigate every single case, because we cannot ignore such possibilities.” RHB, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘The biggest BiH’s problem is the cooperation with Tribunal’, mentioned on cover, inset ‘I have no indications of FBI in BiH’, by Az. Kalamujic, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Nobody knows about coming of FBI agents’, mentioned on cover, by D.P. Mandic, Vecernji List pg 3 Allegations about acting of Al-Qa’id in BiH are being checked’, mentioned on cover, by E. Medunjanin and Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Stories about Al-Qa-id are only dadamging us’, mentioned on cover, by B. Magas – also covered. |
| SFOR: No evidences of terrorism in BiH
| RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘No evidences of terrorism in BiH’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz inset on pg 4 ‘Americans estimate situation in BiH is good’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Nobody knows about coming of FBI agents’, mentioned on cover, by D.P. Mandic, Vecernji List pg 3 inset ‘No evidence about terrorism’, Slobodna Dalmacija inset pg 9 ‘SFOR has no evidence about terrorists’ – SFOR does not have hard evidence that any terrorist organization is either operating or conducting training in BiH, SFOR spokesperson Mark Hope told a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Regarding allegations made by councillors in USA Congress that Islamic terrorists trained in Zenica are now active in Baghdad, Hope said that SFOR does not wish to comment on statements or speculation by individuals and cited the website of the US Embassy which presents the official US position that the security situation in BiH is good and does not match with comments of individuals made in the media. |
| FBiH MoI, ZeDo Govt deny FBI contact them for re: investigation on terrorism
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘FBI has not contact us!’ by A.P. – The Spokesperson of the FBiH Police Administration, Robert Cvrtak, stated on Tuesday that the FBiH MoI has no information of the terrorism or related training activities taking place in BiH. Commenting to the statement by Yossef Bodansky, Crvtak said: “We cooperate with different services, including Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘There are no terrorist camps’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘We do not have schools of terrorists’ by I. Milesic carries a press release issued by the Zenica-Doboj Canton Government reacting against the article published in Washington Times. The press release says that the things stated in the aforementioned article are not correct and true and they damage future of this |
| PRC’s
| RHB, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Few days session of Police Reform Commission’ not signed – BiH Police Reform Commission [PRC] has started with the four-day session in Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Police with five regional centres proposed’ by M. Cubro – NN collocutor from Police Restructuring Commission confirmed to NN that the Commission would propose the establishment of a single police force, which will – in territorial regard – be divided in five regional centres: Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Zenica and Mostar. During Tuesday’s session in Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Unified police will be organize din five regions?’ – DA brings the same claims as NN [from a source close to the commission], and adds that Radomir Njegus and Darko Matijasevic again oppose the proposal by the European Union. They both believe that better police forces do not necessarily require big changes in the structure. BHT 1 by Elvir Bucalo – Commission Chair Wilfred Martens said that preparations for this meeting were long, and included analyses of practices from |
| RS parties oppose unification of the police forces in BiH
| BHT 1 by Mirela Cosic – Political parties in RS believe that police reform will include unification of the police forces at the state level, announcing they will not support that.On the other side, FBiH politicianssupport state level coordination of police forces. “I don’t think that we can reach consensus on unified police structures at the moment, even though I personally… and my party would like that,” said SDA representative Irfan Ajanovic. HDZ representative Velimir Jukic stated that he personally supports the idea of establishing the police forces at the state level. “I believe that at these talks in Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Both authorities and opposition against unification’ by O. Vukovic – RS Government spokesperson, Goran Radivojac, stressed that despite the reforms, RS Interior Ministry will exist “whether some like it or not.” “There are three persons talking about the changes of the Constitution – Haris Silajdzic, Sulejman Tihic, and Nikola Spiric. We expect from Spirici to explain in whose interests he promotes the changes to the BiH Constitution,” added Radivojac. SNSD Leader Milorad Dodik also opposes the concept of unified police forces, adding that existing MoI should be made more successful. “Unified MoI would stipulate constitutional changes, and we do not accept that,” stressed Doddik. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Special structures for arrest of war crimes’ by Onasa, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Abolishment of RS MoI is unacceptable’ by De.L., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Strike to Constitution’ by M. Mi – Dodik met with OSCE Head Douglas Davidson and said on the issue of police restructuring: “It is illogical to have RS police working on arresting of war crimes indictees, while others are working on abolishing it. This is not a reform. This is desecrating of the constitutional organisation of BiH.” Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘One police established in BiH through establishment of SIPA’ by V. Popovic – Borislav Bojic, SDS Vice President, claims that RS MoI would not be abolished, noting that police reforms needs to be implemented on the sample of defence reform. Tarik Sadovic, Head of SDA Caucus at the RS NA, is of the view that police reform is a necessity, and also that there is a constitutional grounds for existence of SIPA at BiH level and police forces at entity levels. Slobodan Popovic, SDP Vice President, is of the view that police force in BiH would be unified. FTV – OHR Spokespersons |
| DA claims EU rejects Dragan Bozanic’s appointment
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Bozanic is not going to Strasbourg after all’by S.N.–The EU Ambassadors have decided not to accept the decision of the BiH presidency to appoint Dragan Bozanic to the position of BiH Ambassador to CoE. According to ‘credible diplomatic source’, at the meeting held two days ago in Sarajevo, ambassadors decided to demand from Presidency to change the decision and to send someone more appropriate. US also support this stance. |
| Ivanic claims no reaction from CoE on Bozanic’s appointment received
| BHT 1 by Lejla Redzovic – BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic stated on Tuesday that the Ministry hitherto has not receive any reaction from the Council of Europe regarding the appointment of former Radovan Karadzic’s Information Minister Dragan Bozanic to position of the BIH Ambassador to CoE. Ivanic added that BiH Presidency is fully responsible for this appointment. Ivanic also said that the Presidency will discuss the appointments of 11 new ambassadors in the coming days. Speaking about the most important activities of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the past period Ivanic said that political dialogue between BiH and the EU for the first time was the most important and resulted in the decision that the BiH is direct contact with the High Commissioner for EU expansion. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘There are no signs of FBI’s presence in BiH’, mentioned on cover, by M. Drinjakovic, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Nobody knows about coming of FBI agents’, mentioned on cover, by D.P. Mandic, Vecernji List pg 3 Allegations about acting of Al-Qa’id in BiH are being checked’, mentioned on cover, by E. Medunjanin and Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Stories about Al-Qa-id are only damaging us’, mentioned on cover, by B. Magas – also covered. |
| State Department denies WT article: Bush will not change policy towards ICTY
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘No change of US policy towards the Tribunal’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Bush is not closing ICTY down’ by S.N., Glas Srpske pg Support to The Hague’ – State Department officials claim that there will be no change of policies of the US President George Bush towards the ICTY. Reacting to the article which appeared in the Washington Times, State Department’s spokesperson Adam Earley stated that “there will be no changes in policies on that issue.” WT published that Bush intends to dramatically shift the policy also requesting the abolishment of the ICTY. “I saw the reports on that article… I repeat, USA intensively support the work of the ICTY and its efforts to bring before the justice persons who violated the international and humanitarian law,” said Earley. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Prison camp inmates are expecting Prosecutor and bills of indictment, official The Hague keeps silent’, mentioned on cover, by A. Beus and N. Bise – The US Embassy in BiH denied on Tuesday the information published in ‘Washington Times’ (see Cropress summary Oct. 26, 2004) and their denial says: ‘The USA strongly supports ICTY efforts to bring to justice all the persons who violated international, humanitarian law. The Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘No turnabout towards Tribunal’ by VOA, BBC – Early pointed out that the USA would continue to provide financial and diplomatic support to ICTY, calling on BiH, Croatia and SiCG to fully cooperate with the Tribunal. According to NN, in an interview to BBC, Geoffrey Kuchner, reiterated his claim that the closure of the Hague Tribunal is an issue about which both US leading parties – republicans and democrats – agree. |
| Nacional follow up to WT article
| Nacional pgs 2-3 ‘Is Carla the main cause of Djindjic’s murder?’ mentioned on cover ‘Djindjic was killed because of Carla too’ by Vladimir-Valter Mihailovic – The owner of Nacional daily, Vladimir-Walter Mihailovic, has interviewed Geoffrey Kuchner, a reporter who has recently published an article in the Washington Times claiming George Bush intends to abolish the Hague Tribunal. As a follow-up to this article, Kuchner claims Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte was the main reason why late Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was killed. He emphasised this was not his personal view, but ‘this is a fundamental conclusion that was reached in |
| Maroevic on freezing PWIFCs’ assets
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Each state must decide by itself on freezing of property of Hague indictees’ by SRNA – The spokesman of European Commission Delegation in BIH Frane Marojevic stated that every member of EU will decide how to implement the decision of EU Council of Ministers regarding the freezing of assets Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Ante Gotovina. He added that this decision doesn’t relate to resources necessary for basic life needs. |
| DL on contradictory information about alleged del Ponte’s coming to
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Prison camp inmates are expecting Prosecutor and bills of indictment, official The Hague keeps silent’, mentioned on cover, by A. Beus and N. Bise – DL says there are contradictory information about the alleged visit of Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte to Banja Luka. According to the article President of the Association of RS Prison Camp Inmates Branilsav Dukic gives statements, which say that during their last meeting with del Ponte she announced that she would visit |
Economic issues | |
| FBiH HoP postpones voting on FBiH Internal Debt Law
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ’14 million KMs of former MIO Fund awaiting pensioners’, mentioned on front, by Nermin Bise, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Voting on internal debt postponed again’, by f – The House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament, at its session held on Tuesday did not adopt the law that would define the way of settling of internal debts in FBiH, which includes debts to pre-war old foreign currency savers. The session was adjourned after five new amendments were submitted to the HoP. “Prime Minister [Ahmet] Hadzipasic requested additional time so the FBiH Government could declare itself about the amendments”, says the Speaker of the FBiH HoP, Slavko Matic. Matic notes that Zdenko Antunovic and Velimir Valjan from the Croat Caucus submitted two amendments each, whilst Meliha Alic from the Bosniak Caucus submitted one amendment. Amendments talk about the issue of old foreign currency savings, overdue salaries and compensations for the FBiH Ministry of Defence and 14 million KMs, which were blocked in the accounts of the Hercegovacka bank that had been deposited by the then MIO Mostar (Pension Fund Mostar) RHB, BHT 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Vote on Internal law postponed’ by S. Sehercehajic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Vote on Internal Debt Law postponed’ by A. Basic – also covered. |
| BiH HoR Commission for Finances and budget adopted single VAT rate
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Zero and 17% rates to be introduced’, mentioned on cover, by V. Zivak, Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Single VAT rate’ and pg 9 ‘Single VAT rate adopted’ by D. Polovina-Mandic – During its session held on Tuesday the Commission for Finances and Budget of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament confirmed all misgivings that a single value added tax (VAT) rate will be introduced after the end of the local elections. DL goes on to say that almost unanimously (apart from SNSD and SDP representatives) members of the Commission rejected amendments, which were adopted at the session of the HoR 2 months ago and thus the initial proposal of the BiH CoM about a single VAT rate amounting to 17 % has been returned on the scene. The article carries President of the SDA Caucus in the HoR Seada Palavric as saying: ‘The Commission adopted suggestions of the BiH Council of Ministers and the International Community, however, it has made a small difference compared with the first text of the Law in a way that a zero VAT rate has been envisaged for bread, oil, medicines and books.’ Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘No VAT on food’ by M. Cubro – Nikola Kragulj, Commission President, said: “0 Rate of VAT would include export and import food products, and publications apart from printed media (covered under 17% rate). In this manner, we have brought stances by BiH Parliament and international community closer.” Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Zero VAT rate for bread, milk, oil, books and medicaments’ by F. Cardzic – also covered. |
| SD on HR’s decision to enact amendments to Law on Indirect Taxation System in BiH
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Ashdown ‘fixes’ officials new posts’, by Blazica Kristo – Commenting on the recent decision by the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, which enables appointment of officials in executive offices with necessary expertise to the Steering Board of Indirect Taxation Authority, the author says the decision is to say the least confusing, given the previous practice regarding amassing of lucrative posts by officials and the HR’s decision to impose the Law on conflict of interest from May 23, 2002, which was to combat such practice. SD notes that irrespective of explanations coming from the OHR about the necessity of the decision in question, one has to wonder if there are only few advisors who know the area that good to deserve posts in the ITA Steering Board, is it possible that there is nobody outside state institutions who is good enough to become a member of the Steering Board too. On top of this, the author notes that the decision comes during the visit of members of the Venice Commission, which leads SD to say that HR Ashdown is reluctant to hand over the authorities to BiH officials, so by awarding them with new posts, he is in fact trying to prolong his mandate of the High Representative for BiH. |
| Ivanic says BiH and
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘No negotiations on Ploce port at the moment’, mentioned on cover, by Fena, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Nobody knows about coming of FBI agents’, mentioned on cover, by D.P. Mandic, Vecernji List pg 3 Allegations about acting of Al-Qa’id in BiH are being checked’, mentioned on cover, by E. Medunjanin and Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Stories about Al-Qa-id are only damaging us’, mentioned on cover, by B. Magas – BiH and Croatian authorities in this moment to not negotiate on Ploce Port issues, stated BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic. He added that previous stance of the BiH Presidency [first the agreement be ratified in |
| VL, DL on return of non-Croat workers to Aluminij
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘New pressure of Aluminij’, by Zoran Kresic – The author argues that Aluminij is always being exposed to various pressures, be it by the issue of electricity supplies or reinstating of former non-Croat employees to the company. Regarding the latter, VL notes that the Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic, used the good old “trump card” i.e. the issue of return of Bosniak and Serb workers, two days ago during the visit of the British Ambassador to BiH, Ian Cliff, to Mostar. The author argues that Mayor Jahic is forgetting that ‘Aluminij’ is in fact the only company in Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Counting of blood cells’, by Ivica Glibusic – Like VL, DL agrees Jahic has no interest in destiny of Croat who used to work in companies in east part of Mostar. The author is also critical of Ambassador Cliff, “who only sees problems in the composition of blood cells in Mostar’s Aluminij”. The author concludes: “Considering that this is all happening during the time of election of new Mostar Mayor, it is possible that Mostar again becomes town case”. |
Political issues | |
| Election results in Zvornik annulled | RHB, FTV, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Repeated elections in Zvornik on 7 November’ by A.T., Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Elections in Zvornik annulled!’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘New elections in Zvornik’ by NINA, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Turnout was 106% at some locations’ by A.S. – BIH Election Commission annulled the election results in all 59 polling stations in Zvornik. Commission stated that the results were annulled due to a great number of same signatures on voting lists – namely the turnout of voters at some polling stations was 106%. New elections for this municipality are scheduled for 7th November. Lidija Korac, Deputy Chair of BiH Election Commission, claimed that the responsibility for this vastly rests with the members of the election boards at polling stations. Korac also announced possible sanctions against those responsible. Jovan Milovanovic, President of Zvornik Election Commission, said that Commission has not been informed of this decision of BiH Election Commission so far. Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Elections annulled’ by S.S. – Namely, the seven parties supportive of Budimir Acimovic strongly opposed to this decision (Dusko Vukotic, President of Joitn Election Board of Acimovic, Lazar Prodanovic from SNSD, Milos Jovanovic from SDS) while Hadzi Jovan Mitrovic, DNS candidate, seemingly approves of this decision. According to GS inset “I will win again”, Budimir Acimovic expressed conviction he would win again. |
| Reports and reactions on possible constitutional changes
| FTV by Dzenana Zolota – FTV comments that it appears that the international community became aware of fact that that current BiH structure isn’t self-sustainable. Venice Commission’s visit to BiH was not accidental: journalist comments they came to BiH to check the stances of current authorities on the issue of constitutional changes and now it is only a question of how changes will happen – through consensus or will they be imposed. Opinions on this subject are quite different, but there never was this much talk on constitutional changes as now. “It seems to me that time has come for certain changes in the Constitution in order to open further ways to establish normal state. Everything needs to be done slowly and smartly,” said Ismet Briga from Party for BiH. “Constitutional changes in BIH are needed because of expensive and unbearable public administration system. Off course, these changes need to be agreed between three constitutive peoples,” stated Zdenko Antunovic from HDZ. “I am against any constitutional changes which include abolishment of the RS. I am for the changes from which citizens will benefit and which will bring us closer to the Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Terrorists in the neighbourhood’ by N. Zelenovic; Nezavisne Novine pg 8 inset ‘Ivanic: For the change of Dayton, but in the interest of all’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Nobody knows about coming of FBI agents’, mentioned on cover, by D.P. Mandic,Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Stories about Al-Qa-id are only damaging us’, mentioned on cover, by B. Magas – covered Ivanic’s statement. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Special structures for arrest of war crimes’ by Onasa, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Abolishment of RS MoI is unacceptable’ by De.L., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Strike to Constitution’ by M. Mi. – Meeting with the head of OSCE Douglas Davidson, SNSD President Milorad Dodik said SNSD does not accept any initiative on change of BiH Constitution. |
| Gligoric, Novakovic on visit of Venice Commission to BiH | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Checking on constitutional pulse’ by S. Milankovic – Tihomir Gligoric, a member of BiH Parliament’s Constitution-Legal Commission, claims that due to differences in stances of RS and Federation of BiH regarding the constitutional changes, CoE’s Venice Commission will deal with this issue, adding: “The Venice Commission made it clear to us that it is an advisory body of the CoE and that it is here to listen only. However, it is interesting that they have raised the question of decentralization because they wanted to hear an opinion of RS representatives on this.” Momcilo Novakovic, a member of the BiH Constitution and Legal Commission, says the Venice Commission came here to check on “the constitutional pulse” and determine whether there is a will in BiH to implement constitutional changes, as well as to determine the stance in relation to HR’s decision-making. According to Novakovic, the Venice Commission wanted to know whether de-powering the High Representative, without any constitutional changes, would slow down the admission of BiH to European and Euor-Atlantic integrations. He added: ‘The |
| VL on election of Mostar Mayor
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘HDZ could stay without mayor’, by Miso Relota – Commenting on results of local elections in Mostar i.e. results for the Mostar City Council (MCC) that is to elect a new Mayor of Mostar, the author claims that the HDZ-led coalition, which won most seats in the MCC (15), would in any normal, democracy-observing country, appoint its mayor, however when it comes to Mostar, it is not certain that the HDZ will be appointing the Mayor. Criticizing the election rules for Mostar, the author claims that “political back-stage games of the IC have the priority”, which leads the author to say that everything is possible in Mostar, including the joint action of the SDP, SBiH and SDA, despite their leaders denying possible coalitions. The author argues that the key to the issue is the SDA-SBiH rapport, and the author’s latest information have it that there has been a forcible reconciliation between the SDA and SBiH, since the Bosniaks cannot strategically afford that a Croat leads Mostar in next four years. |
| DL on problem of extra workers from former Mostar Municipal Administrations
| Dnevni List pg 12 ‘250 employees ‘on ice’ ‘, mentioned on cover, by V. Soldo – DL says that the Commission in charge of drafting a program for taking care of 250 extra workers from former Mostar Municipal Administrations was supposed to come up with its proposal for resolving of this issue, however, nothing has been done since the Commission has not been formed yet. According to the article, they were informed by employees in one of Mostar city areas that chaos rules in their offices since citizens still demand services that these offices are no longer authorized to provide them with. DL concludes the article by saying that, by all accounts, this issue, as well as, the issue of appointment of Heads of Departments in the Mostar City Administration are tasks that Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic and his Deputy Ljubo Beslic will leave to a new Mostar Mayor. |
| RTRS feature on protection of vital national interests
| RTRS by Nada Arlov – Legal solutions in RS and BIH are often blocked by representatives who call upon protection of vital national interests. This protection has been used everywhere and, according to SDS, even in the fields where there was no reason for it. Desanka Radjevic from SDS says such was the case of the Law on buying business premises and garages in which in her opinion asking for protection of VNI was “ridiculous”. SDA claims that they call upon this only when necessary. Remzija Kadric from SDA says that more laws were passed then stopped. Mladen Ivanic from PDP thinks that when it comes to calling on the vital national interests it is more in the party’s interest than national. In the opinion of SNSD, protection of VNI has the only goal to destabilise institutions and delay initiated processes. Milorad Dodik from SNSD says that a consensus should be reached and further move matters to the level of BIH House of Peoples. He adds that it would be good to define fields in which protection of VNI can be asked for. RTRS reporter concludes asking the representatives what would be the most vital Serb national interests. Most of them answered: RS as permanent and unchangeable category. |
| SD says the conference on change of DPA to be held in
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘Conference on change of Dayton in US in May’’, mentioned on front, by Josko Celan – The author is commenting on the recently held conference entitled ‘Lessons learnt from the Balkan conflicts’, which was held at the Boston College in the US on October 16 and 17. SD notes that one of participants of the conference, professor Bruce Hitchner, who is the president of a project called ‘Dayton peace agreements’, announced that a new, big Balkans conference would be held in May next year at one of leading universities in the US (the venue was not revealed). The conference itself was organized by the Centre for Balkans Development, formerly known as Friends of Bosnia, and the keynote speaker was the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays. Other participants included, among others, former |
| HR Ashdown in | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Strategic for economic reconstruction’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown to talk about BiH experiences’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘HR at conference in Berlin’ not signed, – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown today addresses a conference organised by the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin entitled “Beyond Cold Peace: Strategies for Economic Reconstruction and Post-Conflict Management”. HR is to speak of the lessons to be learned in democratisation, functional governance, reconciliation, institution-building, economic development and community-building efforts. |
Legal issues | |
| RS Government in session: on Elektroprivreda RS, Srpske sume
| BHT 1, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Steering Board of “Srpske Sume” removed’ by Z.K.; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘BAM 63 million written off’ by S. Radjen-Todoric – At Tuesday’s session in Ugljevik, RS Government discharged of duties the members of the Steering Board of “Srpske Sume” company and appointed new Steering Board members for a period of 60 days. RS Government also made a deliberation to write off debts towards RS Elektroprivreda in the amount of BAM 63 million. Director of RS Elektroprivreda Pantelija Dakic stated that this decision is for debts that cannot be claimed since they were made by companies which no longer exist or are declared bankrupt. Government accepted the report on Elektroprivreda’ for the first 6 months. RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, stated that according to the Action Plan of RS Elektroprivreda for next year, there would be 12% more of electricity at disposal. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘”SB SOFT” lawsuit against RS Elektorprivreda”; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Politics behind the suit?’ by S.R.T. – Pantelija Dakic, General Manager of RS Elektroprivreda (ERS) said that the Trebinje Court in charge of the lawsuit filed by the Belgrade firm “SB SOFT” against ERS should give final word on this case. [Note: SB Soft has accused RS Elektroprivreda of damaging this firm for BAM 70 million by illegally using SB Soft’s software for 5 years.] Dakic expressed his conviction that the entire issue has a political note as well, since officials of “SB SOFT” firm did not respond to invitations for table discussions with ERS officials. |
| Oslobodjenje on session of
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Dragan Covic a step away from defendant bench?’ by Alma Nezirovic – Daily writes that this week, and the latest on Saturday, the BiH Constitutional Court will bring decision with the regard to appeals on the status immunity of several former and current high-ranking politicians against whom charges were filed, including the member of BiH Presidency Dragan Covic. If the judges decide that some of their have breached constitutional rights that is if concluded that they have misuses their positions and jurisdictions, the immunity will be revoke. In addition to Covic, the politicians involved are former FBiH Prime Minister Edhmen Bicakcic, former FBiH Minister for Welfare Sulejman Garib, Ante Jelavic and Miroslav Prce. The article lists charges field against Covic. |
| BHT 1 on illegally gained property
| BHT 1 by Boris Grubesic – In the past two months, several pleads of guilt to the charges of embezzlement worth millions of KM were filed in the process lead before BiH courts, nevertheless while those persons have been sentenced to years of prison a question of confiscating their illegally gained property has never been raised. BHT 1 stresses that legislation allows confiscating illegally gained property, however the Law which would regulate this issue has not yet been adopted. SDP representatives send to BiH Parliament the draft Law on illegally gained property on two occasions, and the law is currently in the parliamentary procedure. Also, both Parliament’s joint constitutional and legal commission is considering it. BHT 1 also speculates that after question of immunity is solved in several coming days at the session of the BiH Constitutional Court, the BiH Court proceedings against Dragan Covic, Edhem Bicakcic and Sulejman Garib, accused of financial frauds, are very much possible. |
| SD says Ivan Lovrenovic to testify for prosecution in Croat self-rule case trials
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Ivan Lovrenovic a prosecution witness against Jelavic’, by Zlatko Tulic – The daily carries a highly negative article about the role of a Sarajevo-based writer/journalist, Ivan Lovrenovic, who is, according to SD, to appear in the Croat self-rule trials in capacity of prosecution witness. SD notes that despite Lovrenovic’s efforts in which he tries to deny that he will be a prosecution witness in the said trials, the last page of the indictment against seven Croat officials (Jelavic and others) lists him as one of prosecution witnesses. SD goes on to say that Lovrenovic found himself on the list because the OHR recommended so, since Lovrenovic is a “worthy critic of the HDZ and Cardinal Vinko Puljic”, and the daily claims that Lovrenovic was recently spotted in a pub in company of Prosecutor John McNair, which leads the daily to say “it becomes clear how one becomes a witness in BiH”. |
| NN op-ed on forgery affairs | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘All of our forgeries’ by Predrag Klincov – The author is wring about all the forgery affairs taking place in BiH, saying that “BiH has become a safe-house for forgers. Not a single day can pass without news on new forgery affairs – ID cards, passports, money, diplomas, customs clearance papers… The most frequent occurrence on forgeries might mean that an environment subject to such illegal affairs has been created in BiH.” The author further notes that many BiH officials have grounded their career on “forged” papers, which makes them accomplice to criminals. Moreover, he commends the most recent launch of investigation by BiH Prosecutor’s Office and law enforcement agencies following CIPS affair, which ahs so far resulted with dismissals of several police members. He is full of appraise of the RS police action “Forgery”. |