| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA(18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Mostar Referendum | Death of EUPM Chief | Changes in FBiH Govt. | EUPM Commissioner died |
| Jelavic’s appeal | Changes in FBiH Govnt. | Status of Sarajevo | Yellow File in RS |
| FBIH Govt. reshuffle | Referendum in Mostar | Referendum in Mostar | RSNA last Session |
| Corruption Cases in RS | Government/ Media | Death of EUPM Chief | Referendum in Mostar |
| Oslobodjenje | Mostar’s SDA warns Tihic it will leave the party |
| Dnevni Avaz | Sven Frederiksen died; Del Ponte – Karadzic will not be at large yet too long |
| Dnevni List | Colak: SDA did not hand over written request for removal”; “DL brings new details on Hercegovacka Banka case: Is protected witness telling truth?” |
| Vecernji List | “FBiH Police looks for 15 Croats”; “Removal of Government agreed upon” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | ”99,05 % of voters for unified Mostar”; “Ashdown stronger than Tito” |
| Glas Srpske | Implementation of decision on constitutionality of peoples in Una-Sana Canton: Serbs not even in the sight |
| Nezavisne Novine | EUPM Commissioner died of heart attack: Sven Frederiksen died; Reactions on statement by Zoran Djeric: Opposition demands resignation of RS Interior Minister; Meeting of ruling parties in F BiH: Removals at Government of F BiH postponed; Vujadin Berberovic: Serbs in Mostar do not have leaders |
| Blic | Susan Johnson: The position of the Supervisor of Brcko District will not last long; Police Minister Zoran Djeric: 107 denunciations against former officials |
Mostar | |
| Results of referendum in Mostar;s municipalities with Croat majority
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS – At the Referendum, majority of residents in Municipalities with Croat majority has declared that they want Mostar as one Unit of Local self-management with one Election Unit. Presidents of Commissions of Municipalities West, Southwest and South have published Referendum results. 70% of residents voted at yesterday’s referendum and 99% of them voted for Mostar as one Municipality, one Election Unit, and one election process for Mostar City Council as well as in other units of Local self-management in BIH. Kresimir Jarak, President of Municipal Council Southwest has stated that although IC institutions had been invited to monitor those Elections but they ignore it. People have not created those one-nationality referendums. Other High Representative, Dayton, has created it. Therefore, our Referendum requires one Election, to annul 6 nationalistic Election Units, proposed by HR. This is a goal of this Referendum to cancellation of nationalistic Election Units. Then Mostarians would be fully satisfied. HR asks for one question and gives the other question – said Ante Bugovac, President of Municipal Council South. Mario Brkic, OHR Spokesperson has stated that HR is not of opinion that Referendum is good basis for making decision for Mostar. With regard to the referendum that was held in the Mostar Municipalities with the Croat majority on Sunday, Dnevni List (page 14, “Mostarians for unified Mostar”, by S. Bjelica) carries that over 70 % of registered citizens turned out at the referendum in the Municipalities Southwest and West and over 87 % of voters in the Municipality South. DL says that over 98 % of those who turned out at the referendum supported the referendum question. The dailies also carry that none international or non-government organization monitored the referendum although they were informed about the referendum and invited to monitor it. DL also carries that commenting on the referendum, OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic stated that the stand of High Representative Paddy Ashdown on the referendums is that he will listen with respect everyone who wants to declare oneself on the Mostar re-organization issue, however, he believes that mono-ethnic referendums are not good ground for making decisions for the future of this city. Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 4, “Over 99, 05 % of voters for unified Mostar”, by Z. Zekic), Jutarnji List (page 2, “Even 99 % of voters voted for Mostar organized as one Municipality”, by Hina), Vjesnik (front page, “Referendum in Mostar: Croats for one Municipality and one election unit”, by Hina) and Vecernji List (front and page 4, “Even 99% of votes for unified Mostar”, by I. Barbaric) also covered the results of the referendum. SD (page 4, “OHR: Compromise is necessary”, by D.P.) carries a statement on the referendums given by OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic. VL (page 4, “Referendum without influence for Ashdown”, by dja) carries that OHR Director of Communications Julian Braithwaite condemned Ustasha’s graffiti that appeared on the OHR’s posters. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ’99% of citizens voted for unified Mostar’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Mostar one municipality’ alkso reported on the results of the Sunday’s referendum in Mostar. The NN article also contains the inset with headline “ustaches’ insignia are insult for Croats”, carrying the statement by the OHR Director of Communications, Julian Braithwaite, who gave a statement reacting on graffiti in Mostar. He said that the graffitis are an insult to all those BiH Croats who want a prosperous and democratic future as part of Europe, and who want to leave behind forever the time when the name Croat was associated with the worst excesses of fascism. Another NN inset carries results of the “Partner” agency poll regarding the city of Mostar, according to which 75% of population supports the idea of a unified city of Mostar. |
| Ashdown pleased with results of opinion poll on Mostar | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Majority is for a single town’, Dnevni List page 16, “Citizens of Mostar want unified city with guaranteed power-sharing”, by Nina, Slobodna Dalmacija last page, “Citizens want Mostar without divisions”, by E. Karamatic, FENA – The Office of High Representative om Monday issued a statement noting that an opinion poll had shown that the people of Mostar want a united town with power-sharing guarantees. In response to the recent poll conducted in Mostar by the Partner Agency, High Representative Paddy Ashdown said that the results of the poll published today show that the citizens of Mostar overwhelmingly want a united town that works for them, with guaranteed power sharing to prevent any one group ruling the city on their own. “Unlike the referendum carried out in only three of the six municipalities over the weekend, this poll represents the views of the citizens of Mostar as a whole. The results are categorical – 75 per cent support the idea of a united city, 83 per cent do not believe any one constituent people should rule alone and 81 per cent believe that we have waited too long to solve these problems. This polling shows that the vast majority of Mostar’s citizens are fed up with waiting for a solution to the urgent problems of their city, that they are fed up with their taxes being wasted on bureaucracy instead of being spent on vital public services and that above all they are fed up with politicians putting their own interests above the interests of the citizens. Mostar needs a solution, and the time is now,” the statement said. The polling was carried out by Partner Agency over the course of the last week. The sample size was 1,200, drawn from all the city municipalities. The polling was conducted over the telephone, the statement said. |
| Ashdown again in Mostar
| Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Ashdown in Mostar’ – The OHR announced on Monday that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, would be again visiting Mostar on Tuesday and Wednesday in order to continue dialogue with the citizens and politicians on the status of the town. Dnevni List (page 14, “Ashdown in Mostar because of final consultations”, by Nina) and Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Paddy Ashdown continues consultations”, by E. Karamatic) also carry a media advisory announcing a two-day HR’s visit to Mostar. Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Ashdown to impose decision on Mostar tomorrow (on Wednesday)?’ – If the parties in Mostar do not reach agreement on the Mostar organisation by tomorrow, High Representative Paddy Ashdown will impose a decision on the future town’s structure. The newspaper also learns that Ashdown will appoint his deputy Werner Wnendt (Senior Deputy High Representative) the special coordinator for the implementation of the decision on Mostar. |
| Mostar SDA warns Tihic they might leave the party | Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘Mostar SDA branch threatens Tihic they will leave the party’ – The members of the SDA City Board in Mostar have threatened they would Leave SDA if the international community presses on the party leaders when it is about imposition of decision on Mostar. “We will not implement any imposed decision neither we will participate in the local elections,” they said. Dnevni List (last page, “SDA announced boycott?”, by M.R.) also carries that a source close to SDA confirmed to DL after the meeting that the SDA Headquarters held in Sarajevo yesterday, that the SDA Mostar City Board will not accept imposing of the solution for Mostar by the HR. The source added that in case that an unfavourable solution for SDA is passed, SDA will boycott the solutions imposed by the HR. |
| Mostar Islamic Community says will not support Ashdown | Dnevni List (page 8, “Bosniaks would become victims due to abolishment of Municipalities in Mostar”, by Nina) carries that with regard to the talks had with High Representative Paddy Ashdown and announcement on passing of the decision on Mostar organization, Mostar Mufti, hadzi-Seid effendi Smajkic, issued a press release saying that, for the Islamic Community and Muslims, the solution that would abolish municipalities as integral parts of the City of Mostar, is unacceptable. He particularly points out to the responsibility of the International Community representatives who should make sure that the new solution(s) do not legitimise consequences of awful genocide that was committed in the region and that turned Bosniaks, once a striking majority, into a minority. Effendi Smajkic concludes that each imposed solution contrary to democratic principles stated in his press release the Mostar Mufti’s Office will not support. Oslobodjenje pg. 4 also carried the reaction. |
| Mostar Municipality Stari Grad Trade Union reacts to IC claims | Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, “Ashdown’s people spend much more money”, by Z. Zekic) carries that Trade Union of the Mostar Municipality Stari Grad reacted to the statement given by representatives of the International Community who said that local self-government units in Mostar are too expensive. The Trade Union’s press release says that this Municipality allocates 12 000 KM a month for the salaries its employees. The press release goes on to say that this amount would not be enough for monthly salary of the HR and Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt, ‘only two persons from the whole Army of strangers who persistently work on lies regarding the Mostar Municipalities, spending millions KM for which they are not being held accountable before BiH citizens’. |
| Status of Serbs in Mostar | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 9, ‘Serbs in Mostar do not have leaders’ – In a brief interview to NN, Vujadin Berberovic, the President of the Association of Serb returnees to Mostar, says that Serbs in Mostar do not have proper political leadership, which makes their severe status as minority people in this region even worse. His first project related to Association is the first organised return of Serbs to the Mostar settlement of Ortijes, which commenced in 1998. In the view of many people, Berberovic mainly contributed to returns of Serbs to Mostar. Through his co-operation and permanent contacts with international community, he ensured many donations, which assisted to sustainable returns of Serbs to Mostar region. He assesses the status of Serbs in Mostar as being complicated, since there is no unified political platform. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘All Mostar Serbs on one electoral list’ – Cvijetin Nikic, Vice President of the SDS, is of the view that the best solution for 7000 Serbs in Mostar would be the establishment of the Serb electoral list, on basis of which Serbs would be able to take part in legislative and executive authority in this city. |
| NN editorial on Mostar
| Nezavisne Novine editorial by Josip Blazevic, pg. 7, ‘Third bank in Mostar’ – The author is writing about the Mostar re-structuring, saying that each of three sides (SDA, HDZ and OHR/international community) would persist in their ideas. Accordingly, he says that Paddy Ashdown denies the possibility of imposing the similar solutions in Banjaluka or Sarajevo, where Serbs and Bosniaks respectively are dominating over Croats. And he concludes the article by syaing that Mostar would get its third riverbank, which would make the process of reaching the compromise harder. |
Organised crime/security/war crimes | |
| Jelavic’s attorney appeals to BiH Court
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Ante Jelavic does not recognise the Court and the Prosecution Office in which proceedings are headed by foreigners’, Slobodna Dalmacija (page 2 “Jelavic does not recognize BiH Court”, by Miroslav Landeka), Vecernji List, front “Jelavic from custody writes to Covic, Sanader, Mesic…” and page 5 “Ante Jelavic from prison writes to Sanader and Mesic”, by Zoran Kresic, FENA – Josip Muselimovic, defence attorney of the former BiH Presidency member, Ante Jelavic, on Monday lodged an appeal to the Court of BiH against the order of one-month custody for his client. Muselimovic declared for FENA that in the course of the day he visited his client in the “Kula” jail in Republika Srpska. On the occasion Jelavic ordered that an open letter be forwarded to 4 relevant addresses, because he is not able to accept the fact that he as a general of HVO and Croatian Army can be arrested and put in the prison of Republika Srpska, Muselimovic said. The letter will be sent to the president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Sanader, president of HDZ BiH, Barisa Colak, BiH Presidency and president of the Republic of Croatia, Stipe Mesic. Muselimovic also added that his client does not recognize Court of BiH, which, as Jelavic said, rather served international protectorate in BiH than justice. |
| Mesic on arrest of Jelavic | Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘The truth will be determined by the criminal procedure’ – Commenting on the apprehension of Jelavic, Croatian President Stipe Mesic said that everyone knew something about the issue of Hercegovacka Bank but no one knew everything. “What was crime there will be determined by the criminal procedure and until then I would not blame anyone,” said Mesic. |
| VL, SD, DL on Hercegovacka Bank affair | Vecernji List (page 15 “Investigation spreads onto Ljubo Cesic Rojs”, by Zdenko Jurilj) – reports that the Provisional Administrator for “Hercegovacka bank”, Toby Robinson, accused the former Croatian Government (led by former PM Ivica Racan) of failing to submit information on transactions between the Republic of Croatia and “Hercegovacka bank”, the money that official Zagreb sent to the HVO troops in BiH. Apparently, the audit that was carried out after the bank was closed showed that some 200 million KMs, which had been sent from Zagreb, went missing. According to VL’s information, that was the main reason behind the arrest of Jelavic and the rest. Moreover, VL reports that other suspects in the case include Ljubo Cesic Rojs, Vilim Primorac (manager of Mond-Mostar private company), Ivica Karlovic (former CEO of Hercegovacka Bank) and Ivan Medic (one of Jelavic’s logistics people) Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 13 “New arrests to follow”, by Z. Tulic) – reports that in early January this year, there was an information leak from the FBiH Ministry of Interior according to which there were preparations aimed at arresting of bigger number of Croats, the arrests that were supposed to be carried out prior to a decision on Mostar. In that way, according to SD, the Croats would be again labeled as criminals which should secure a better position to the Bosniak in talks with the IC regarding the Mostar issue, in other words, the HDZ would have to agree to every offer. Furthermore, SD says there are some information that the FBIH MoI will not be stopping, which means there could be new arrests. Dnevni List (page 6 “Call for national HOMOGENIZATION”, by Dr. Slavo Kukic) – the author criticizes senior officials of the HDZ BiH, including the Vice President of HDZ BiH, Dragan Covic, regarding their comments to the Jelavic arrest when the senior officials apparently stated that “there could not be trust into the independence of the judiciary and professionalism of Police forces”. As a respond, Kukic recommends the aforementioned officials to pay attention to a statement by the High Representative when the HR stated: “One of things that we need to learn, if we want to get closer to Europe, is that the politics and rule of law are two separate things”. In that context, Kukic notes: “That’s all there is to the wisdom of functioning of the law-abiding state. Something that Covic and his mates should understand. But, it is obvious that does not suit the gentlemen. Instead of that, they will respond to a referendum with a referendum. And by doing so, they will reach for the intolerance and hatred, which they produced with their partners in the nineties, from their drawers”. |
| Green Berets veterans association appeals to HR to guarantee security in Sarajevo | Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Violence must not be part of our every day life’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 12, SRNA – The association of former Bosniak fighters, the Green Berets, appealed to High Representative Paddy Ashdown on Monday “to use his authority and reputation to ensure that Sarajevo and Bosnia become secure environments for living once again”. In an open letter to Ashdown, the veterans announced that on Friday, 30 January, they will organize a protest walk through the centre of Sarajevo in order to draw the attention of the international and domestic public to the “well-founded fear of the citizens for their own security and the security of their children”. “We appeal to you to use your authority and point out to the relevant authorities and organizations, both domestic and international, that violence cannot and must not be a daily occurrence,” says the letter by the Green Berets. A number of unresolved murders and bomb attacks have taken place in Sarajevo in the past months, and the rumours suggest that this is a result of account-settling between mafia groups. |
| Del Ponte firmly believes SFOR will arrest Karadzic in the course of this year | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Del Ponte firmly believes SFOR will arrest Karadzic in the course of this year’ – “I am confident there is will of the international community to arrest all fugitives wanted by the Hague Tribunal including Radovan Karadzic,” Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte told the newspaper. |
| RS Interior Minister Djeric’s yellow file/media-related statements/reactions | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘Criminal reports against former prime ministers as well’, Blic front page and p 13, ‘Old denunciations but new fear’ – Zoran Djeric, Republika Srpska Interior Minister, yesterday stated that nobody would be amnestied for criminal acts, noting that the names of some former prime ministers, ministers and general managers of some firms from all political parties are on the list of persons against whom criminal reports have been filed from 1998 up to now. On yellow file case, he says it contained the proposed text of the Law on prevention of violence at sports events. Reacting on condemnation of Co-ordination of Press Associations of BiH, he said that its accusation (that Djeric directed narco-mafia on the press) is striking. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Opposition demands resignation of RS Interior Minister’ – Reacting on the most recent statement by Zoran Djeric, Republika Srpska Interior Minister, Zlatko Lagumdzija, President of SDP of BiH, assessed that this year would see brighter days and that the times of yellow file cases and their executors would be part of the past. He is of the view that “the assault of Djeric against Kopanja and NN showed the very bottom of the police state, which functions in order to threat to free thoughts”. Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, has asked resignation of Djeric, stressing that: “If Djeric were objective, he would offer his resignation instead of generating the crime.” Petar Djokic, President of Republika Srpska Socialist Party, is of the view that the statement by Djeric was uncontrolled, noting that if there is grounds for launching criminal responsibility for some deeds, Republika Srpska Interior Ministry, not Djeric himself should investigate into that. According to NN inset, Mladen Ivanic, PDP President, views the statement by Djeric as his insistence on resolving the cases, without favouring any political side. (GS carries this statement as separate article on pg. 2, ‘Affairs to be resolved’.) Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson, said that Djeric acted in an inappropriate manner, noting that anybody who violated the law should be criminally prosecuted. |
| Stockholm conference on genocide | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘International community failed to prevent genocide in former Yugoslavia’ – Opening the Stockholm International Forum preventing genocide, Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, said that the international community failed to prevent genocide in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda during 90’s, although it was its main task. Sarajevo media also reported on the event. |
Political developments | |
| HDZ and S BiH supported SDA initiative for FBiH Government reshuffle
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Parliament to remove FBiH Government?’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, mentioned on the front page ‘SDA initiative for removals in the Government supported’ – Chiefs of HDZ and S BiH have supported SDA initiative about urgent reconstruction of FBiH Government. SDA will send official demand for the reconstruction of the Government to the FBiH President and Vice- Presidents, during the next few days and decide about the new staff candidates. They haven’t spoke about new candidates for the ministerial posts at this meeting. Chiefs of SDA, HDZ and S BiH are united in the judgement that Government must be replaced. “On the bases of today’s discussion it is confirmed that the dissatisfaction with the achievements in carrying out the program’s determinations in FBiH Government, exists and the initiative of SDA was supported in that sense”- said FBiH President Niko Lozancic. “The estimation that we are dissatisfied with the work of the entire Government is correct, because it is about the team work and the individuals are not important here. We want to form a team which will be able to fulfil those sixteen demands of our readiness to join EU”- said Mirsad Kebo the Vice- President of SDA. According to the Constitution it is possible to replace only the entire Government and not the individuals. Even though they haven’t discussed the personal changes it is estimated that the replacement of FBiH Prime- Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic will happen. Dnevni List (front and page 5 “Colak: SDA did not submit written request for removal of Government”, by Miso Relota), Vecernji List (front page, “Removal of Government agreed upon”, and page 3, “Ruling Coalition agreed removal of FBiH Government”, by D. Jazvic), Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Negotiations without results for the time being”, by B. Kristo), Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Removals at Government of F BiH postponed’ also covered the issue. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 13 “Ministry of Defence goes into SDA’s hands?”, by Blanka Magas) – argues that the background of the whole removal/reconstruction of the FBiH Government is the SDA’s plan to install its man into the office of FBiH Minister of Defence. According to SD, there is a powerful group within the SDA, which includes Sulejman Tihic and Seada Palavric, which wants to install a Bosniak as the FBiH Defence Minister, something which could be supported by the HDZ. In that context, the author argues that the HDZ has already “written off” the FBiH MoD, so it is likely possible that the HDZ will in exchange get the Ministry of Interior. Vecernji List (page 2 “Step for democracy”, by Dejan Jazvic) – believes the decision of the ruling coalition to remove or reconstruct the FBiH Government is a proof of responsibility of the ones who got the voters’ support, given the fact that no FBiH Government has been removed before the end of term to date. In that context, the author reckons the removal is even more significant “when it is known that the Government was more efficient and better than majority of previous governments”. Dnevni List (page 2 “Is Brankovic replacing Hadzipasic?”, by Miso Relota) – deals with media speculations about the successor to the FBiH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, since some media reported that Bajazit Jasarevic, Denis Zvizdic, Nedzad Polic and Nedzad Brankovic are the likely candidates. The author gives the edge to Brankovic, “who has the support of the SDA Presidency, and as equally as important, the support of the future leader of the party, Bakir Izetbegovic. Therefore, on top of the support of the Izetbegovic family, there is a critic sent to the SDA Presidency that the party cadres from Sarajevo are not represented enough in the executive authorities”. Vecernji List (page 6 “SDA responsible for fall of government”, by Zoran Kresic) – carries a comment on the work of the FBiH Government by the FBiH Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic. Questioned whether the announcement of the fall of the FBiH Government is a product of bad inter-party relations among the ruling parties, Vrankic says: “There needs to be a consensus among the partners in the functioning of the executive authority, and it is obvious there has not been one. I think the SDA takes the ‘credit’ for it. If we definitively started talking as partners, albeit on the reconstruction of the Government, I welcome the act”, says Vrankic. |
| IHT on Ceric’s warning re position towards Muslims | Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘Europe did not deal with Muslims’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, International Herald Tribune ‘Europe is warned on stance to Muslims By Nicholas Wood , NYT – Bosnian most senior Muslim cleric has warned that European governments must do more to support Islam if they are to curb Islamic extremism. Mustafa Ceric, the grand mufti of the estimated two million Muslims in this former Yugoslav republic, said in a recent interview that Europe was failing to engage with Muslims, allowing militants to step in and create the kinds of groups that have been used to recruit terrorists. He called for European governments to help finance Islamic schools and mosques. Europe, he said, needs to “institutionalize” Islam, to give it “an official voice.” Ceric also criticized countries that gave support to any single religious group. “Any state that claims one religion is a failure and is dangerous,” he said. The grand mufti, who spent five years as an imam in Chicago in the 1980’s, said government involvement in institutions like Islamic schools and mosques would help Muslims feel as if they were part of the larger society, as well as limit the growth of extremism. |
| Prodi: BiH must faster move towards accession to EU | Dnevni Avaz pg. 5 ‘BiH must faster move towards accession to EU’ – Interview with European Commission Chairman Romano Prodi. “The fate/future of BiH is to join EU. The direction taken towards the goal is good but the speed of moving is not. The things are going too slow and BiH must start moving faster towards becoming a part of democratic Europe in which it will enjoy the same rights and share the same values as the rest of the European family,” Prodi said. |
| Status of Serbs in Una Sana Canton | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Serbs not even in the sight’ – GS writes about the implementation of the decision on constitutionality of peoples and representation of Serbs at local and cantonal levels of authority, referring to failure of Cantonal authorities of Una Sana Canton to implement this decision. Namely, there is only one Serb delegate at City Hall, Ratko Dubvajic, who claims that Serbs in this Canton are exposed to various forms of “silent discrimination”, and that they are deprived of their right to use their language and alphabet. There is no Serb representative at Cantonal Parliament, only two are employed at public administration of Bihac and several within police force. |
| NN op-ed on constitutional changes | Nezavisne Novine op-ed by Miroslav Mikes, pg. 7, ‘Bigger fish eats small fish’ – The author is writing about the changes of Constitutions of Republika Srpska and BiH, also referring to the Dayton Peace Agreement, which explicitly stipulated authority of entities and the state. Although critical of changes to Constitution, he admits that the state of BiH should be created on constitutional standards with its authority. However, he emphasises and warns that there is no nor should there ever be any talk regarding the abolishment of Republika Srpska. |
| Supervisor Susan Johnson says international supervision in Brcko should not become permanent | Blic front page and p 16 ‘The supervision to continue’ – Brcko Supervisor Susan Johnson on Monday pointed out that ‘the international supervision of OHR cannot and should not become permanent in Brcko or in BiH’ and she stated that ‘a gradual departure of international representatives from this area should not be expected until they are sure the investment has been successful and the time has come for developing new ways of cooperating in future’. Dnevni Avaz pg. 12 ‘Johnson: The US government pledged a million dollars’ also reported on Johnson’s address to deputies to the Brcko assembly, members of the Brcko administration, representatives of the other District institutions, NGOs and political parties. According to the Supervisor, the priorities for the coming period include further economic development and preparations for the elections in the District. |
| SD’s editorial: “Paddy Ashdown stronger than Tito” | Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 13, by Petar Milos) – argues that the way of ruling in BiH has not changed much since the times of communism, noting that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, has greater authorities than the late leader of socialist Yugoslavia Tito, because the HR, in the author’s opinion, imposes laws and decisions without having legal grounds for it. The author also talks about the arrest of Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Miroslav Rupcic, saying that everything is happening just few days after the HR’s visit to Zagreb and few days prior to decision on Mostar. In that context, Milos says: “Does that mean that he in Zagreb got the green light for that action? (…) And to buffer possible Bosniak protests with the arrest of Croats? It is possible, because there are no objections from Zagreb to this humiliating way of arrest of suspects.” |
Death of EUPM Commissioner | |
| EUPM Commissioner Sven Frederiksen died in Sarajevo | BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 5, mentioned on the front page, Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Sven Frederiksen died’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Sven Frederiksen died’, Dnevni List front and page 2, by R. Radic,FENA – A distinguished official of the international community and the Commissioner of the European Union Police Mission to BiH (EUPM), Sven Frederiksen, passed away in Sarajevo on Monday. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, made this announcement at an extraordinary press conference, stressing that the international community has lost a perseverant, respected, and a dear colleague and associate. “We mourn today because of the death of a great, dedicated and courageous man and a great friend of BiH,” said Ashdown, adding that Frederiksen, during his service in the European Union, has dedicated a great part of his professional life to improving the security of citizens living in the former Yugoslav countries. In the very rich professional biography of Sven Frederiksen, one must accent his conduct as the UN Police Commissioner in Kosovo, his engagement within the UN’s IPTF mission in BiH, and finally within the EUPM in BiH. Brigadier Andree Maier will perform the duty of the EUPM Commissioner in the coming period. |