| BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BiH Court is base of the new judicial system | Pressures and threats against journalists and editors of the informative/political programme “60 Minutes” | Delegation of Council of Europe to visit BiH next month |
| Possibility that US attack Iraq individually is open | Den Haag: Decision on FRY appeal for reconsideration of court’s competences in the case of BiH against FRY to be made on February 3 | Achievements of State Border Service |
| Phenomena: Every third citizen of BiH has a mobile phone | District Court in Bijeljina terminated more than 1000 contracts for construction of houses in Vranjevo area | Journalist and management of Federation TV under increasing pressure |
| Fiat’s President in Honour Djani Anieli burried |
| Court of BiH to be inaugurated in Sarajevo |
| Oslobodjenje | Students threaten with unrest, victims |
| Dnevni Avaz | Danis Tanovic: I am embittered over shameful robbery; Safet Halilovic: We shall request responsibility for CIPS project |
| Dnevni List | “Interview with Niko Lozancic, President of Federation of BiH: It does not suit anyone that entities and Cantons remain” |
| Vecernji List | “Influence of Iraqi crises on economy and politics: SDP is afraid of new war in BiH” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “Police protects FTV Building from students!” |
| Blic | Prostitutes expelled from Doboj; Dodik: Privatisation of RS Elektroprivreda is deliberately politicised; Bijeljina’s Misdemeanor Court faces closure; Ostoja Kremenovic: We will allow banks to pay pensions |
| Nezavisne Novine | British Military-Political Commentator Paul Beaver: “Karadzic in the Hague by Year’s End”; Attack on Iraq Inevitable – USA Plans Use of Nuclear Weapons; Privatisation – RS to Lose 86 Million Dollars if it Refuses Sale of Elektroprivreda; various sports stories |
Affairs | |
| Pogorelica case
| The students gathered in the Student Movement for Normal BiH joined on Sunday a group of popular folk singers requesting the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, to stop trial of the indictees in the Pogorelica case. The students believe that, actually, those who fabricated this “Stalinist” process should be tried. They threaten they will come out in the streets if necessary. If we are understood properly on time, there will be less number of victims, the students said in their message to Ashdown. The Editorial Staff of the FTV News Program confirmed the media house’s journalists were working under strengthened protection provided by the BiH Federation Special Police Forces. They added that this was not the first time they were working under pressures but that now they were exposed to open threats as well. (Oslobodjenje, front page, p 3, Dnevni Avaz, p 5: Student’s demands – Suspension of trial in Pogrelica case and FTV at citizens’ service”, “FTV Editorial Staff – Editorial policy will not be changed due to the pressures”, Nezavisne Novine, p 3) |
| Oslobodjenje’s Prohic on conflict between students and FTV | “A group of 60 students of the Sarajevo University School of Philosophy entered into a conflict with Bakir Hadziomerovic, the editor of the 60 Minutes political magazine. They are requesting either the suspension of the show or a change of its program policy, which is at the end the same,” Ibrahim Prohic wrote in Oslobodjenje’s In Focums column. Prohic concludes that although the students say they are against the amateurism in the FTV the real motives for their criticism are “the politically-motivated Pogorelica case” and the accusation that Hadziomerovic “has an inferiority complex because he is a Bosniak”. |
| CRO Press: Police securing Federation TV building | All the CRO dailies feature articles reporting that the Federation Ministry of Interior has strengthen its presence in front and within the building of the Federation TV in Sarajevo due to announcement of protests by students of Sarajevo Faculty of Arts in front of the said building. The dailies report the students are unhappy with “dilettantism” in the work of the editor of “60 minutes” political show of the FTV, Bakir Hadziomerovic, requesting either his removal or abolishment of the show. Editor-in-chief of the FTV Information Programming, Marija Topic-Crnoja, says the FTV did not ask for Police to guard the building. All the dailies criticise behaviour of the students saying it is them who are in fact going against freedom of speech by trying to push for dictatorship in the media. Vjesnik (page 10, by Alenko Zornija, “Threats of Islamic conservatives to Sarajevo journalists”) reads that Hadziomerovic is an easy target because he does not hide his political orientation saying that the show is in fact “a televised version of ‘Slobodna Bosna’ political weekly, a papers favouring Lagumdzija’s SDP”. Vjesnik also notes the OHR also requested abolishment of “60 minutes” “because of other reasons”. In that context, Vjesnik says “60 minutes”, same like “Slobodna Bosna”, heavily criticised the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, for removing the Director of Federation Intelligence Service (FOSS), Munir Alibabic. (Vecernji List, front and page 2, “Federation MoI guarding FTV staff”, by rb; Slobodna Dalmacija, front and page 15, by Miroslav Landeka, “Police guards FTV building-from students”; Dnevni List, page 5, by M. Zovak, “Police guards FTV journalists” and Jutarnji List, page 7, by HINA, “Police secures FTV building because of threats”) |
| Danis Tanovic on BiH Cinematography Fund | In an interview with Dnevni Avaz (front page, p 9), Danis Tanovic, the best BiH movie director, commented on the current situation in the BiH Fund for Cinematography and the recent distribution of the funds for this year’s projects. “I am embittered over this. I announced yet a month ago what would happen. They gave a little sum of money to the others and a larger part of the amount they shared among themselves. Shame on them,” Tanovic said. |
International community/OHR | |
| Court of BiH Founded
| The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will today attend the official opening of the premises of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutors Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Solemn Declaration Ceremony of eight newly appointed Court of BiH Judges and four prosecutors of BiH, appointed last week by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH. With these two ceremonies and the legislation in place the Court of BiH is now fully operational. This crime fighting institution, set up in Law in November 2000 now has the Judges, Prosecutors, operational legislation and the premises necessary for it to start work. In October last year the High Representative promised that by January 2003 the State Court would be up, running, and trying criminals”. This Court becoming operational, with its specialised chambers for hearing the most serious cases of organised crime and corruption, is a significant step to ensuring the rule of law in BiH, and that justice is equal for all. (Oslobodjenje, p 4: “Court of BiH inauguration – The foundation of the judicial system”, Dnevni Avaz, p 2: “Premises of the Court of BiH, Prosecution Office to be opened today”) Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 (headline ‘They do not give up on camp’) reports that the BiH Court and BiH Prosecutors Office should be opened today in premises of military barracks ‘Ramiz Salcin’. That is former JNA military barracks ‘Viktor Bubanj’ that used to be a war camp during the war in which Serb civilians were tortured and killed. The decision to place the Court in these premises caused dissatisfaction in the RS. The official RS institutions, parties, association of camp prisoners and individuals asked for giving a special status to the military barracks – to become a memorial centre. However, that was rejected and, as the paper learns, President of BiH Court, Martin Raguz, and BiH Chief Prosecutor, Marinko Jurcevic, have planned official opening of new premises for today. |
| DL: “Highest judicial institution in BiH starts with its work today” | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by D. Vukoja, “Highest judicial institution in BiH starts with its work today”) carries that in spite of the opposition of Serb representatives, Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative, proclaimed 5 laws from the criminal-justice area. DL carries Zoran Pajic, an OHR expert and Head of the OHR Legal Deprartment, as saying: “It is indicative that all Serb representatives, no matter to which party they belong, voted against urgent passing of these laws and the establishment of the BiH Court cannot wait. The laws that the HR imposed come in force on March 1, 2003, in order to give time to judges, lawyers and prosecutors.” The article concludes that regardless of the fact that the OHR members are passing all relevant decisions in BiH, the imposed laws will start the BiH Court and the most important thing is that BiH will get the highest, official judicial institution and it starts to look like the state. The same daily (page 10, “Call for boycott of ceremonial opening of BiH Court”) reports that Association of RS Prisoners of War called on all Serb politicians to boycott the opening of the BiH Court in the former “Viktor Bubanj” barracks because the barracks was used as a prison camp for Serbs during the war. “We beg Serb politicians to, despite pressures from international representatives, not to participate in the opening of the BiH Court, as a sign of respect for Serb victims of that camp”, says President of the Association, Branislav Dukic. |
| Ashdown leaves for Strasbourg | The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will today depart to Strasbourg where he will address the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly. Julian Braithwaite, the Chief OHR Spokesman, told Dnevni Avaz (p 2: “HR leaves for Strasbourg”) that Ashdown would particularly pay attention to the BiH’s post-accession tasks and responsibilities. After Strasbourg, the HR is going to Brussels where he will attend the PIC Steering Board session. |
| Cardinal Puljic criticized Dayton Peace Agreement and International Community | Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Dayton Peace Agreement legalized injustice”), Vecernji List (page 2, “What was taken by weapon legally recognized in BiH”) and Dnevni List (front and page 5, “War was stopped, however, peace was not built”) carry that during a holy mass that took place in the Sarajevo Cathedral yesterday, Vrhbosna Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic criticized the Dayton Peace Agreement claiming that it legalized injustice and he called on the International Community to treat Croats, the people smallest in number, as the people equal to other peoples. He also criticized moves of some IC officials calling on them to allow Croats and Catholics to respect their national and religious symbols. Puljic added: “I am calling on the IC to have equal standards for all and not that it treats stronger ones in a diplomatic manner and weaker ones aggressively.” Puljic also said: “Weapon of hatred is very much present in some media. It is precisely known who controls which media outlet, however, they are all called independent.” (Nezavisne Novine, p 3) |
CIPS | |
| Issuance of ID Cards to Sarajevo citizens to start today | Following a several-day delay, the issuance of the ID Cards for the citizens of Sarajevo in the framework of the CIPS project will start today. (Oslobodjenje, p 3: “CIPS de-blocked – New ID Cards as of today”) |
| Halilovic on CIPS | “CIPS project essentially goes as planned. It is about certain mistakes in technological solution made earlier. We shall certainly request that the circumstances are investigated under which these mistakes were made,” BiH Minister of Civil Affairs and Communications Safet Halilovic said in an interview with Dnevni Avaz (p 5, mentioned on the front page). |
Political affairs | |
| Ivanic’s interview for Tanjug
| The newly-appointed BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, said in an interview with the Yugoslav Tanjug news agency that the priorities of the BiH Foreign Policy included the BiH’s tying-up with the EU and the improvement of the cooperation with the countries in the region, particularly FRY and Croatia. “I believe that this year we all have an additional motive. The European Union is being chaired by Greek and Italy. Their Presidency should be used for the definitive resolution of the issue of the Balkans,” Ivanic said. Commenting on the future of BiH, Ivanic emphasized that the concept of the Dayton’s BiH was the only one possible for the country, especially in the current phase of its development. He added that the genuine conditions for a bit different way of thinking will come once when BiH has become a part of the EU. (Dnevni Avaz, p 3: “Dayton will become non-important once when we become an EU member”) |
| DL: Interview with Niko Lozancic, President of Federation of BiH
| Dnevni List (front and page 7, “It does not suit anyone that entities and Cantons remain”) carries an interview with Niko Lozancic, an HDZ Vice President and President of Federation of BiH. Asked whether the re-organization of BiH will take place down the vertical line as requested by Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative, Lozanicic says: “As far as this question is concerned, I believe that it would be very good that the re-organization of the whole BiH takes place because it would not suit anyone at all that entities and Cantons remain. Namely, the current entities and Cantons are not functional and they do not meet interests and needs of BiH citizens.” Lozancic also said that the implementation of the election results goes very, very slowly. Asked whether the new authority will be able to respond to the International Community’s demands for reforms, Lozancic says that the new authority will have to respond to the needs of BiH peoples and citizens first and he believes that it will be in accordance with the IC demands. Lozanicic also said that the HDZ Central Board will meet on February 1, 2003 and during this session they will decide on the date of the HDZ Convention. Lozancic added that he expects that the HDZ Convention will take place in the next two or three months. Lozancic also stated that, as far as he knows, there are no any conflicts within HDZ over the apportionment of posts as Barisa Colak, an acting HDZ President, has been stating these days. |
| VL: “SDP afraid of new war in BiH” | Vecernji List (front and page 3, by Zdenko Jurilj) carries a member of SDP BiH, Hasan Hadzihasanovic, as saying at a forum called “BiH at cross-roads, challenge to social democracy”: “If the Iraq crisis sucks away NATO forces from BiH, some could achieve their goals through war here”. According to VL, the President of SDP, Zlatko Lagumdzija, joined this prognosis of events in BiH, who allegedly said that BiH would suffer consequences should a war in Iraq take place. “In that case, BiH will be the change for high chips, which will be felt by all its citizens”. VL also carries President of BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, Petar Milanovic, as saying: “Economic consequences are possible, because BiH is anyhow built on fragile foundations. That’s why it has to be prepared to react in every area should a conflict in Iraq happen”. |
| Division in the SRS | The SRS Executive Board decided on Sunday to expel from the party former SRS President Radislav Kanjeric, former President of Executive Board Mirko Blagojevic, former Secretary General Ognjen Tadic and delegate in the RS NA Milan Lazic, because they violated the programme and status of party. Mirko Blagojevic rejected this decision, saying that the current leadership ‘is an ad hoc formed body of SDS’ and he does not accept its decisions. (Blic pg. 2 headline ‘New conflicts within SRS’; Nacional pg. 11 headline ‘Blagojevic, Lazic, Kanjeric and Tadic expelled’) |
| DL: Interview with Zeljko Obradovic, Head of Stolac Municipality | Dnevni List (front and page 9, ” Problem is not in Stolac, but in Sarajevo”) carries an interview with Zeljko Obradovic, Head of Stolac Municipality. Talking about the last year’s results achieved in this Municipality, Obradovic says that they managed to organize Municipal services to a certain extent and the sessions of the Municipal Council were taking place almost on a regular basis. Also, according to Obradovic, they were trying to persuade representatives of the International Community that Stolac is a normal Municipality. Obradovic also stresses very good results achieved with regard to implementation of Property Laws. Obradovic said that since he became the Stolac Mayor he has been trying to change the attitude towards Stolac, which is, in his opinion, utterly incorrect. Obradovic also says: “Of course there were and there are still unresolved issues in Stolac Municipality, but they exist everywhere in BiH organized in this way. The problem is not in Stolac, the problems is somewhere else, perhaps in Sarajevo.” With regard to the reconstruction of religious facilities, Obradovic says: “The Stolac authorities are not against the reconstruction of the religious facilities, because they should be messages of peace and tolerance.” Obradovic added that they only have problems in communications with the Stolac Islamic Community and that it seems to him that it suits individuals from the aforementioned Community. As an HDZ member, Obradovic said that most probably the HDZ Convention would take place in April. |
War crimes | |
| Radovan Karadzic Should be Arrested This Year
| Nezavisne Novine, page 3 – British military-political commentator Paul Beaver claims the international community knows that an RS government support system for Karadzic exists. Paddy Ashdown was completely right when he recently said that there is insufficient political will in the West to arrest Radovan Karadzic, but neverthe less, there are many indications that this is the year in which the former president of the RS will be arrested and sent to the Hauge Tribunal, according to Beaver, editor of “Jane’s Weekly”. Beaver notes that there is “no doubt that the international community knows that there is support for Karadzic by RS authorities” and that there will soon be strong pressure applied on those people assumed to be part of Karadzic’s network. According to Beaver, all available SFOR troops would be used to capture Karadzic, including special forces. “So there is no need to bring in any special units to arrest him. Besides those people who are hiding Karadzic, there are some NATO members and others in the international community who are not doing putting enough effort into this.” |
| Svilanovic on Mladic’s apprehension | FRY Minister of Foreign Affairs, Goran Svilanovic, said that his government was facing several problems regarding Ratko Madic’s apprehension. In an interview to Associated Press, Svilanovic said that “question is whether our forces are able to arrest Mladic without serious incidents”. According to him, the question is whether Yugoslavia has capacities to do it. “If we are convinced that he is Yugoslavia, then we have to also be sure that his arrest would be feasible”, Svilanovic said. (Vecernje Novosti pg. 6 headline ‘Fear of incidents’) |
Economic affairs | |
| Interview with World Bank Country Director for BiH, Joseph Ingram
| “Nezavisne Novine”, page 5 – “The government cannot print money, and if the civil servants want more money then likely the number of employees needs to be reduced so that their demands can be realized during the course of the next few years”. Joseph Ingram is convinced that BiH will not become bankrupt. In an interview to “Nezavisne Novine”, Ingram said that the workers will march in protest because they want reforms, not because of them. He thinks that the establishment of a single Customs and VAT at the state level are the first steps in that direction. “From experience throughout the world, it is clear that a single Customs and VAT can only help the situation in BiH. It is obvious that the establishment of a single Customs Service and a single VAT will eliminate competition which exists in three existing services in the RS, the Federation and the Brcko District. Currently exporters, and moreso importers, are playing a game between the various administrations. It is a universal law – wherever you have several administrations, procedures and obstacles, there is greater room for corruption. And we can see the corruption because it is obvious. It isn’t a theory or speculation, but something for which proof exists. We have to eliminate it and this can be done much better through a single administration for the whole country using the same standards”. Ingram goes on to say that BiH has limited resources yet it spends too much on administration. The governments are probably too big which causes many complications because of the different levels of authority in BiH. When asked if he would agree with a BiH businessman who said that the success of reforms would be measured by the size of the protests, Ingram responded “I don’t agree and I actually think the opposite – the more protests there are, the more willing the governments will be to carry out reform. Protests would show that the people have had enough of what the government is currently doing and that the lack of reform is what would lead to protests and strikes. Paddy Ashdown said a good thing after the elections – that the reason many people didn’t vote wasn’t because there were too many reforms. Young people didn’t vote because of the lack of reforms”. |
| RS Government Will Lose 86 Million Dollars if it Refuses the Sale of Elektroprivreda | “Nezavisne Novine” page 2 – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic confirmed yesterday for “Nezavisne Novine” that Republika Srpska will lose the 86 million dollars US for the international financial institutions’ “Energy III” project if the RS government doesn’t agree to privatize the electric-energy sector. Mikerevic did not want to discuss the decision the RS Government would take on whether 51% or more of entity capital in “Elektroprivreda RS” would be sold. (If it is to take place) the sale must be presented to the RSNA by the end of February. “It is a question of the development and fate of the electro-energy sector in the next few decades as many problems exist in the electricity distribution network. The government will consider documentation upon which earlier conclusions were made and will then make a decision and defend it in the RS parliament. It will be based on the future and not the present, as currently this sector is in a deficit”, said Mikerevic. The RS authorities held a meeting on Friday with representatives of the international organizations in BiH and discussed the future of the electricity system in RS and in BiH. Representatives of the United Energy Workers Union of the RS say that it was the first step towards the sale of the majority capital of “Elektroprivreda”, which would mean the collapse of the sector. Dusko Vrhovac, president of the union, says the interested buyers would be companies from the USA, France and Germany which “are buying up all the electro-energy systems in Europe. |