| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) |
| UNMIBH denies IPTF’s involvement in prostitution | Center for UPD opened in Banja Luka | HRW on trafficking |
| BiH – Croatia dual citizenship | New BiH government | Kozarac explosion |
| Protests – Sisak mill | Nigeria | Fijuljanin talks to a lawyer |
| Weather tomorrow | 10 HTV editors resign | ICG on arms sale to Iraq |
| Oslobodjenje | SDS should not be in the RS government; Explosion in front of a mosque in Kozarac |
| Dnevni Avaz | Behmen has to stop with appointments; Reconstructed mosque mined; Threatening letter from Pale to Hafizovic; Bijeli Brijeg stadium suspended; Photographs threatening with a law suit at the European Court |
| Dnevni List | Photographs included in price of identity card: Thousands photographers remain without job |
| Vecernji List | Police action: At first Emir Hadzic was brought in because of cars smuggling: Herzegovinian bomber arrested? |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Interview: General Zeljko Glasnovic explains as to why NATO is still far from us: Red Army leads Federation Army and Croatian Army! |
| Glas Srpski | Banja Luka area might be left without TV signal; Swearing in ceremony first, then budget rebalance |
| Nezavisne Novine | Photographers protest over CIPS project – Thousands of photographers to be left out of work; An explosive device thrown at a mosque in Kozarac |
| FRY Nacional | Billionaire Marc Rich buying ‘Sisak’ steel factory |
| Blic | Session of Parliament tomorrow, Cavic stars consultations on Prime Minister designate; General Pandzic still inaccessible |
International community/OHR | |
| UNMIBH on HRW’s report
Clifford Bond
Talks on CoM continue
PDHR Hays on reforms
Hays – RS parties meeting
Commissioner Frederiksen
SFOR – Fiuljanin | Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘More efficient fight against trafficking’ – a statement by UNMIBH Spokesperson, Kirsten Haupt, in a response to the Human Rights Watch report on the involvement of the local and international policemen in organised crime in BiH. Haupt recalled that UNMIBH opened an investigation against 18 IPTF officers who were then return to their home countries. She added that the UN would give more concrete assessments of the report after they analysed it more carefully. Oslobodjenje pg. 1 – a statement by the US Ambassador in BiH, Clifford Bond. He told the daily that he thought the SDS should not take part in the new RS government. As for the SNSD – SPRS – PDP talks, Bond said that he hoped Ivanic and Dodik could take over the initiative at the state level and establish the new government. “That would be an important step towards the RS recognising BiH and its (meaning RS’s) loyalty to the functioning of BiH.” Avaz pg. 3 ‘Talks continue today at OHR’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 6 ‘Consultations on CoM Law continue’ – A short article informing that a meeting of the parliamentary parties on the reconstruction of the CoM would continue today at OHR around 09.00 hours. Kresimir Zubak, a member of the Working Group for the CoM Draft Law, stated that most political parties submitted their remarks and suggestions to the working material. “The Working Group will have their own proposition, which should be discussed at the meeting.” Oslobodjenje pg. 15 ‘The RS authorities have to implement reforms’ – Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, yesterday told a press conference that PDHR Donald Hays would meet the RS leaders to discuss the economic crisis that BiH had been facing, and the necessity to take more aggressive actions for implementing economic reforms. According to Milisic, PDHR Hays will warn the RS officials that BiH could face an economic collapse unless the economic reforms were implemented. Oslobodjenje pg. 46 ‘The adoption of the budget re-balance by December 10’, Dnevni List pg. 2 title “RS meets conditions of International Monetary Fund”), ONASA, Nezavisne Novine pg. ‘Parties agreed on budget re-balancing’ – an agreement was reached during last night’s meeting in Banja Luka between PDHR Donald Hays and the RS parliamentary party members that the RS budget re-balance would be adopted before December 10 and that they would propose the next year’s budget by the same deadline. Hays stated that he was not told during the meeting which parties would form the new government because the parties were still negotiating on the issue. Glas Srpski pg. 3 ‘ Hays visits Banja Luka’ – quotes RS Vice President Dragan Cavic as saying after the meeting with PDHR Donald Hays that it is in the RS’s best interest that those responsible for the Orao affair have to take the responsibility for what they did and that the RS will insist on it. Avaz pg. 3 ‘Commissioner Frederiksen facing huge responsibility’ – a prominent article in Avaz saying that IPTF Commissioner Sven Frederiksen was facing a major responsibility with the police reconstruction especially after the London conference where HR Ashdown made it clear that fight against criminal was only possible with ‘de-politicised police and professional judiciary’. The article asks how successful has the IPTF been, what kind of mistakes they have made and what are the traps that the future EUPM has to avoid. Avaz pg. 5 ‘Fiuljanin did not sign any confession about monitoring SFOR’, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘ Fiuljanin with a lawyer’ – reporting that Sabahudin Fuuljanin, who was arrested a month ago by SFOR under suspicion of monitoring SFOR activities, was finally allowed to meet with his lawyer (Osman Mulahalilovic) yesterday. Mulahalilovic stated that their conversation was audio and video taped, and Fiuljanin said he never confessed to the accusations. |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| SDA warning Behmen | Avaz pg. 1 & 2 – the SDA called on the Federation government and its PM Behmen to stop appointing heads in the Federation institutions because the Alliance’s mandate (which technically had expired after the new elections) no longer authorised them do so. Adnan Terzic, Deputy SDA President, stated that HR’s statement that there would be no removal of appointed officials only stimulated the ruling Alliance to make as many appointments as possible that they had not in the past two years. Commenting on the possible appointment of Zlatko Miletic for the FBiH Police Director at tomorrow’s FBIh government session, Terzic stated that all appointments made during Alliance’s so-called ‘technical mandate’ (since the elections)would be checked once the new government was established. |
| Fight against crime | Oslobodjenje on pg. 6 ‘BiH is not a black hole’ – reported that BiH ministers (FBiH and RS interior ministers Ramiz Maslesa and Dragoljub Jovicic) in London were trying to persuade EU members that ‘things have changed and that so-called transit crime was on a decline’. Maslesa stated that the immigration route no longer goes through BiH, but Hungary and neighbouring countries. Another piece of information he offered was that an overall crime rate has been reduced and only economic crime and drug abuse were so-called ‘dark side’ hard to handle. On pg. 2 the daily carried a comment by Amra Kebo entitled ‘De-criminalisation’ in which she concluded that ‘probably because of people like us, Britain was forming a special unit for fight against crime in Balkan’. Avaz pg. 8 ‘In fight against crime determined and uncorrupted politicians are necessary’ – a statement by FBiH Financial Police Inspector, Zufer Dervisevic, that ‘ it was necessary to adopt a legal frame at the BiH level as well as professional and ethical judiciary’. Finally, on pg. 12 ‘Germany supports BiH police fight against crime’ – that Sarajevo and Banja Luka police academies signed a partnership agreement with a German Police Academy from Verhaim. Also, a report in Nezavisne Novine on pg. 2 ‘Participants of the conference on organised crime signed a joint statement’ – participants of the Conference on Fight Against Organised Crime in South East Europe signed a joint statement, in which they committed to the fight against organised crime in order to get closer to the European integration. Nacional pg. 4 ‘Money from drug smuggling used for terrorism and protection of war criminals’ – quoted Serbian Minister of Interior Affairs, Dusan Mihajlovic, as saying that he was surprised by statements of the RS and Federation officials that Banja Luka and Sarajevo were not centres of organised crime. He added that money obtained through criminal activities was used for financing terrorism and protecting war criminal. Mihajlovic added that the international community knew all this. He sent a message to the authorities in Banja Luka and Sarajevo to find a way to fight crime instead of denying Zoran Djindjic’s statements. |
| SNSD – PDP
SDA on Ivanic-led government
CIPS
Threatening letter to Hafizovic
‘Orao’ affair
Silajdzic
New Social Democracy | Avaz pg. 4 ‘Final agreement not reached’ – reported that during the last night’s meeting between the SNSD and PDP representatives no final agreement was reached. PDP President Ivanic stated they were presented with the SNSD’s request for the government PM. PDP was offered three ministerial posts as well as the post of the entity Parliament president. According to Dodik, there is a possibility of the talks being continued today.Nacional pg. 11 ‘Americans for authority without SDS representatives’ – reports that the RS public wants to know why it was necessary to hold the meeting of political parties’ leaders in Vienna and not in some RS town? The Vienna meeting was organised by several foreign diplomats including former High Representative Wolfgang Petritcsh and the head of Banja Luka’s office of US Embassy. It is well known that Americans are those who put pressure on political leaders to form authority without the SDS. As Nacional reports, due to that pressure, Ivanic, who was in Brussels at the session of the PIC, had to go to Vienna although he should have gone to London where he had some obligations. Apart from Mladen Ivanic, Milorad Dodik and Petar Djokic, high officials of the SPRS Miroslav Mikes and Tihomor Gligoric participated in the Vienna meeting as well. Mikes is well known for his good relations with Americans and he supports a coalition with Dodik’s SNSD. Foreigners and Dodik need the Socialists in order to put additional pressure on Ivanic to form authority without the SDS. However, The SPRS Main Board as well as some high-ranking officials of this party do not support this move of Djokic, Mikes and Gligoric. The SPRS Main Board will hold a session today after which a final stand of the Socialists regarding the formation of authority will be known. Nacional further says that before going to Vienna Petar Djokic was ordered to accept Dodik’s concept. According to Nacional, Djokic has to co-operate with the international community, otherwise he could go to the Hague. Apparently, Goran Jelisic, sentenced by the Hague for the crimes committed in Brcko, during his testimony said that Petar Djokic was one of organisers of crime against Bosniaks and Croats in Brcko. Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘SDA supports Ivanic led RS government’ – quotes the SDA Vice Chairman Elmir Jahic as saying that the SDA support the RS government in which Mladen Ivanic will be the prime minister, because in that case the SDA will get several posts. “During the talks, we were offered a position of RS NA deputy speaker, the position of a chairman in the RS Council of Peoples and three to four ministerial posts in the RS Government and that one of these three to four ministers is also RS deputy prime minister”, said Jahic. He said that the SDA had not had official contacts with the SDS, and added they only had some informal contacts. When asked whether the SDA would form a government with the SDS and PDP, Jahic said that the SDA would support Ivanic if PDP made sure that the SDA participated in the government. “We do not support the parliamentary majority, but the government of Mladen Ivanic. We shall not form a coalition with either the SDS or Ivanic, but we will support the government in which Ivanic is the prime minister”, said Jahic. Avaz pg. 8 ‘A centre in Banja Luka opened’, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘A centre for personal documents opened’ – reported that a centre for the issuing of personal documents, as a part of the CIPS project, was opened last night in Banja Luka. The CoM Chair, Dragan Mikerevic, stated that this represented a step closer for BiH in completing the CIPS project and meeting the necessary requirements in controlling the issuing of personal documents. Avaz on pg. 1 & 12 – that BiH photographers protested yesterday because they were excluded from the ‘job of the century’. The project includes the usage of digital photos only. According to Blic pg. 7 ‘Photographers’ protest’ – this project will make over 1,000 photographers redundant and deny them their basic right to work. Photographers maintain that by this decision only a selected few will be authorised to do this work, while leaving many photographers who have been in that employment for over a decade without a job. ONASA – Following a peaceful protest of photographers from BiH, the management of the Citizens’ Information Protection System (CIPS) project noted that digital technologies were selected in the interest of the citizens and for a number of advantages it offers. The BiH Council of Ministers said in a statement that the advantages of digital technology were cheaper photos, consistent quality of photos and better safety of documents. A computer-processed photography is several times cheaper than a photo made by a photographer in a shop. Avaz pg. 1 & 2 – The Srebrenica municipality Head, Sefket Hafizovic, received a threatening letter. Under a letterhead ‘Ravnogorski Chetnick Movement’ the letter read that ‘it won’t be long before they come’. The letter was sent following Hafizovic’s initiative for bringing down the Potocari Church. Hafizovic said this was not the first time he was threatened. A comment in Avaz on pg. 3 ‘The consequences of non-punishment’ – on the letter. Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Ministers knew nothing’ – That the FRY Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a denial to the ICG report, which claimed that the top Yugoslavia officials, including Kostunica, were informed of the arms sale to Iraq. According to the statement, their government undertook necessary steps to find persons responsible for the breaching of the UN resolution. Vecernje Novosti pg. 15 ‘Weapons trade affair’ – “The FRY Defence Ministry has not been issuing licenses for arms export to countries under the UN embargo,” stated FRY Defence Minister Velimir Radojevic. The representative of the chief of the Yugoslav Army General Staff, Branko Krga, did not want to comment on ICG report according to which top state and military echelons of Yugoslavia knew about arms trade with Iraq (reported by Vecernje Novosti pg. 15 and FRY Nacional pg. 7). Advisor of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, Predrag Simic, said that the claims of IGC that Kostunica refused to stop the weapon trade with Iraq were pure nonsense. (Nacional pg. 7) FRY Minister of Foreign Affairs, Goran Svilanovic, said “it is very important how the IC is going to accept the ICG report”, but “the fact is” that the key international factors “warmly welcomed” all measures Belgrade undertaken in regard to the weapon trade affair. (Nacional pg. 7, Vecernje Novosti pg. 15). RS Radio – The new RS President, Dragan Cavic, stated last night that the RS should solve the issue of the ‘Orao’ Aviation Institute on its own, because it was in the best interest of the RS. Following a meeting with the PDHR Donald Hays in Banja Luka, Cavic called on all representatives of international organisations to participate in the investigation and determine that the RS did not have any secret intentions in the ‘Orao’ case. He pointed out that it was necessary to halt all business dealings with the countries that were subject to UN sanctions. The RS President also said that it was necessary to establish civil control and administration over all companies and institutions involved in trade of military equipment and armament. Vecernji List pg. 15, by Dejan Jazvic ‘Under pressure of International Community powers of BiH Council of Ministers increase: Silajdzic candidate for Prime Minister)’ carries an editorial saying that Haris Siljadzic, the SBiH founder, is the most serious candidate for the position of a Prime Minister. VL says that in order to get consent of Party for BiH for the post-election co-operation both influential groups, that is, the national parties and Social Democrats announce that they are ready to give a mandate for the composition of a new BiH Government to Silajdzic. The article also says that the problems in the process of building of a functional BiH have convinced the influential Western governments and HR Paddy Ashdown that it was necessary to form a new, more efficient and politically stronger state Government. The editorial concludes: “The deadline within which the Parliament parties were supposed to hand over their objections and proposals to a new draft law on the BiH Council of Ministers expired yesterday. Although there will be certainly corrections of that draft law, only a few people believe that Ashdown will give up the plan to extend and strengthen the state Government. It has been estimated in Sarajevo that the HR will especially insist on the establishment of the Ministries of Finances and Defense.” Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1 & 12 by Zlatko Tulic ‘Muratovic does not want Silajdzic at head of Council of Ministers’ – reports on the same issue. Certain SDA members are against the possibility that Silajdzic becomes the future Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers and that the issue has caused a conflicts amongst the SDA top officials. Hasan Muratovic, who is considered to be the most deserving person for a success of SDA at the last elections, has been demanding that someone from the SDA assumes the position. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Komsic and Kljujic agree on political cooperation’ – after Ivo Komsic, Miro Lazovic and their supporters left the SDP they were working on the preparations for an inaugural assembly of a new party with Social Democratic orientation. Also, Ivo Komsic announces that some well-known names from the political and public life of BiH will join this party. In that context, VL carries that Komsic and Stejepan Kljujic from the Republican Party met in Sarajevo café ‘Imperijal” yesterday. “Since it has become practice in BiH to reach political agreements in cafes, it will not be a surprise that some of Komsic and Lazovic’s interlocutors from ‘Imperijal” or some other café find themselves among the participants of the inaugural assembly of a new Social Democratic party.” reads the article. |
Federation BiH | |
| FBiH HoR
HDZ | Avaz pg. 4 ‘New collegial in session on Friday’ – The Federation political parties would decide on Friday on the candidates for the FBiH HoR. SDA appointed Ismet Osmanovic as the caucus president, HDZ appointed Ivan Madunic and SBiH Safet Halilovic. The SDO has not yet appointed their caucus president. Vecernji List pg. 1 & 3, Slobodna Dalmacija last page and Dnevni List pg. 3 – reported that the HDZ Presidency determined names of its candidates for leading positions in 5 cantonal Assemblies, as well as representatives for the House of Peoples of the Federation Parliament. The candidates for the Federation House of Peoples from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton are Ivan Vrankic and Mladen Boskovic from HDZ, Mate Bandur from Croat National Community (HNZ), while the candidates from the West Herzegovina Canton are Andjelko Mikulic, Petar Majic and Ante Boras Candidates from the Livno Canton are Mate Franjicevic from HDZ and Mladen Jankovic from Croat Christian Democrats. Ljubo Zovko has been proposed for the Deputy Speaker of the HNC Assembly. Candidate for the WHC Assembly Speaker is the current Speaker Zoran Vuksic, whilst Dragan Bagaric is the candidate Speaker for the Livno cantonal Assembly. Velimir Valjan is the candidate for the Central Bosnia Canton Assembly Speaker/Deputy Speaker pending talks with SDA, Mijo Matanovic for the Posavina cantonal Assembly, and Pero Jukic has been proposed for the post of Deputy Speaker of Zenica-Doboj Canton Assembly. VL also says that during yesterday’s session, the HDZ Presidency did not discuss the candidates for positions in the executive authority of the BiH Federation or the BiH Council of Ministers due to still uncertain situation with regard to reaching a necessary Parliament majority for the establishment of the state government and its reorganization with a bigger number of ministries and authorities. |
| Republika Srpska | |
| Explosion in Kozarac
RS NA | Avaz pg. 12 ‘Mined mosque in the village of Mijkanovici’, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Explosion in front of a mosque in Kozarusa’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 1 & 13 – That an explosion took place in the returnee settlement of Kozarusa near Prijedor last night around 01.30 a.m. Unknown perpetrators activated an explosive device. No casualties, but significant material damage. The mosque was one of the first reconstructed religious sites in the RS. An investigation is underway. Glas Srpski pg. 1 – reports that right after the inaugural session of the RS NA, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, the RS NA will discuss 2002 budget re-balancing. According to the paper, that the budget re-balancing might be discussed on Friday or Sunday. The paper quotes OHR Spokeswoman Sonja Pastuovic as saying that the High Representative revoked veto that Bosniak and Croat members of the RS NA Constitutional Commission invoked on the 2002 budget re-balancing. “Veto came late and there is no reason for new RS NA not to discuss the item on budget rebalance”, said Pastuovic. |