| RADIO HERCEG BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Macedonian plane crash | Macedonian plane crash | Macedonian plane crash | Macedonian plane crash |
| Investment Conference | IIC- reports | IIC- reports | Situation in Macedonia |
| Sanader’s visit to Mostar | BiH HoP in session | BiH HoP in session | Investment Conference |
| BiH HoP Session | BiH way to Europe – CoE | Issues in Judiciary | CoE Monitor.Team in RS |
| Oslobodjenje | Plane with Macedonian President Trajkovski on board vanished |
| Dnevni Avaz | Macedonian President Trajkovski died in plane crash |
| Dnevni List | Stolac: Search for missing Macedonian airplane continues; Covic: Restore faith in own economic capabilities |
| Vecernji List | Tragedy: Trajkovski got killed because of mechanical failure on plane |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Plane in which Trajkovski got killed fell on mine-sown Mount Hrgud |
| Glas Srpske | Professor at Faculty of Electrical Engineering Aleksandar Iliskovic warns: One third unqualified; Banjaluka: Judges demand truth |
| Nezavisne Novine | Plane crash: Boris Trajkovski killed; First day of Mostar International Investment Conference: Affirmation of positive image of the region; State Department report: Authority of BiH frightens media |
| Blic | Trajkovski died: He went missing in wilderness near Stolac; Judiciary reform: 18 misdemeanor courts will be abolished |
| Vecernje Novosti | Boris Trajkovski died |
| Belgrade Nacional | Boris Trajkovski and eight passengers and crew members died |
| Dani | Address book of Radoncic’s victims – SIMILARITIES OF THE YEAR |
| Slobodna Bosna | Priorities of the Balkans mafia – to destroy Zlatko Miletic; Conflict between Avaz and OHR: The war between High and Low Representative, Ashdown vs. Radoncic |
| Ljiljan | Bond: We have to arrest Karadzic before Istanbul summit; Baton-censorship in Avaz |
Macedonian plane crash | |
| Macedonian president feared killed in plane crash
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 2-3 ‘Plane with Macedonian President Trajkovski on board vanished’, Dnevni Avaz front page, pgs. 2-3 ‘Macedonian President Trajkovski killed in plane crash’, AFP – Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, hailed for efforts to unite the ethnically-divided country, was feared killed Thursday when his plane crashed in thick fog in a mine-littered region of southern BiH. The crash came on the same day Macedonia was to officially present its request to join the European Union, and one of Trajkovski’s last acts as president was to sign the former Yugoslav republic’s application. All nine people on board the King Air 200 plane died when it came down shortly after dawn near the town of Stolac, 32 kilometres (20 miles) southeast of Mostar, a Macedonian official said. Among them were some of Trajkovski’s closest aides and security officers. “All nine are dead. It is confirmed that all nine are dead,” said the official from Trajkovski’s office, who did not want to be named. Trajkovski, 47, had been on his way to attend an investment conference in Mostar, the historic city which symbolised the ethnic divide during the BiH war, when the nine-seater plane disappeared from radar screens. BiH police quickly claimed that the wreckage of the plane and human remains had been found, but later back-tracked and said the search was continuing in extremely rough terrain and heavy fog. The crash site is in an area that is littered with landmines from Bosnia’s 1992-95 war, hampering recovery efforts, NATO officers said. “The area is mountainous and heavily mined with few roads and when you couple this with weather and the size of the search area it makes the operation incredibly challenging and difficult,” NATO mission spokesman Dave Sullivan said. Shortly after the crash, the Macedonian defence ministry said security has been stepped up on the former Yugoslav republic’s borders and around key official institutions including army sites. Expressions of sympathy flowed in from across Europe for the man widely hailed as having helped to broker peace with ethnic Albanian rebels after an uprising in 2001.”President Trajkovski was a great man, a man of passion, a man who moved his country forward, not only (on the path of) reform but also to get it as close as possible to Europe,” EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said. Serbia-Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic mourned the loss of a man who he said “devotedly worked on strengthening peace, stability and cooperation in the Balkans.” Trajkovski was elected president in 1999 and had been a fervent supporter of Macedonia’s efforts to join the European Union. He had been due to join a senior Macedonian delegation later Thursday in Dublin, where Macedonia’s application for EU membership was to be formally submitted. Ireland holds the rotating EU presidency. But Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski dashed back to Skopje and the application ceremony — seen as a great achievement for a country on the verge of civil war only three years ago — was abruptly cancelled. Police in Stolac said heavy fog might have contributed to the crash but officials in Trajkovski’s VMRO-DPMNE party also complained that the plane was old and should have been replaced. Skopje sent a team of 20 experts to the site to investigate the crash, while the Bosnian civil aviation authorities set up an inquiry. Macedonian officials identified the eight other dead as chief press officer Dimka Ilkova Boskovic, advisors Risto Blazevski and Anita Lozanovska, foreign affairs ministry official Mile Krstevski, security officers Ace Bozinovski and Boris Velinovski, plus pilots Mirko Markovski and Branko Ivanovski. Trajkovski’s term in office encompassed the seven-month uprising by ethnic-Albanian guerrillas in 2001, the EU-brokered Ohrid peace agreement and general elections the following year which saw former rebels enter parliament. Macedonian officials said Trajkovski would be replaced by Macedonian parliament speaker Ljubco Jordanovski until presidential elections could be held within 40 days. Vecernji List (front page, “Tragedy: Trajkovski got killed because of mechanical failure on plane” and pages 2 and 3, “Trajkovski got killed in plane accident”, by R. Bubalo, D. Jazvic, E. Medunjanin), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 3, “Last news: Search stopped”, by I. S.), Vecernji List (page 4, “Day of Mourning today”, by D. Jazvic), Slobodna Dalmacija (front and pages 2 and 3, “Plane in which Trajkovski got killed fell on mine-sown Mount Hrgud”, by B. Kristo, A. Macanovic), Dnevni List (front and pages 4 and 5, “Stolac: Search for missing Macedonian airplane continues, by V. Leto), Nezavisne Novine, cover and pgs. 2, 3, & 4, ‘Boris Trajkovski killed’, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Boris Trajkovski killed’, ‘Search without results’ also covered the accident. |
| BiH blames NATO for erroneous report of finding plane wreck | BHTV, AFP – Bosnian leaders Thursday criticized NATO forces over an erroneous report that rescue workers had found the wreckage of a plane that is thought to have carried Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski to his death. “Over the day we received reports … with the names of at least two SFOR (the NATO-led Stabilisation Force) officials saying that the wreckage of the plane as well as the bodies of the people aboard had been found,” said Dragan Covic, chairman of BiH Presidency. Forty-seven-year-old Trajkovski, a staunch advocate of European Union membership, was feared dead after the plane reportedly crashed in a mountainous area in southern Bosnia in heavy fog en route to Mostar. BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic said late Thursday that his government was “unhappy” over SFOR’s cooperation in search and rescue efforts. “The BiH authorities are not satisfied with SFOR’s cooperation. Until late in the day, the helicopters of the Bosnian army were not allowed to take part in the search,” Terzic said. BiH police early Thursday said wreckage had been found as well as nine bodies including those of Trajkovski, his close aides and two crew members in an area between the southern towns of Ljubinje and Stolac. They retracted the report later in the day. “The initial report was not confirmed by our search on the ground,” said FBiH police spokesman Nedzad Vejzagic, adding: “The plane is still considered missing.” SFOR spokesman Dave Sullivan, for his part, confirmed that the wreckage has not yet been found, noting that the area is heavily forested and access is difficult. But he said: “In such a large operation like this, there will always be ome small problems with coordination and planning. However SFOR is doing everything it can to support the local police in this operation.” |
| Covic and Ashdown convey condolences to the families of Macedonian officials | FENA – BiH Presidency Chair Dragan Covic and the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, conveyed their condolences to the families of the Macedonian delegation, whose plane crashed on Thursday near Stolac in BiH. “I must say that today we have lost great friends who were supposed to be here with us in Mostar, so the least we can do on behalf of everybody is to convey the expressions of condolence and sympathies to the families of the deceased”, said Covic. “I declare that President Trajkovski and all others in the aircraft had served their country with honour. He and his associates worked tirelessly on establishing peace and have taken all the steps necessary in order to take his government towards democracy and Europe”, said Ashdown. |
| Terzic extends condolences to Macedonia | FENA – Following the tragic death of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and his colleagues in a plane crash near Stolac, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic sent his condolences to Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and to the families of the other victims, the BiH Council of Ministers has said. “President Trajkovski led his country with dignity and wisdom of a statesman at times of great challenges for both Macedonia and the whole region. His strong commitment to Macedonia’s European integration will be remembered. Out of respect for President Trajkovski’s efforts, the processes which he spearheaded must be continued,” Terzic said. |
| Letters of condolences by some of the most prominent world politicians | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Europe lost a friend’ – This article carries letter expressing condolences to the family of Boris Trajkovski. The letters were addressed by Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, EU leaders, Javier Solana, EU Representative for foreign affairs and security, Jaap de Hoop Shhaefer, NATO Secretary General, Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, Benita Ferrero Waldner, Austrian Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer. |
Investment Conference in Mostar | |
| Two-day international conference on investing in BiH opened in Mostar
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 4, mentioned on the front page ‘BiH’s doors opened to investors’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, mentioned on the front page ‘Investors called to invest in BiH economy’, ‘Direction in which BiH moves is very clear’ (pg. 4 – HR’s address) – BiH is intending to do all what is necessary to initiate a new stage of its development and post-war reconstruction, and would like to encourage foreign investors to think of this country as a serious partner, the BiH Presidency Chairman, Dragan Covic, said opening on Thursday morning a two-day international conference on investments in BiH. Addressing politicians and business people who gathered in Mostar for the two-day conference, the international community’s High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, said that it was important that this event was taking place in Mostar, as this city had recently began implementing significant changes such as the adoption of its new statute which should strengthen the stability and co-existence in the city. This indicates that peaceful coexistence can attract foreign investments, the British diplomat said. He went on to say that thanks to joint efforts of local authorities and the international community, important prerequisites had been created for the recovery of the economy. There is still much to be done in reforms, but this country has left the past behind itself, Ashdown said, adding that BiH was becoming an inseparable part of the large market of south-eastern Europe with 50 million people. The chairman of Bosnia’s Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, said his country had ambitions about entering the regional market, and added that there were possibilities for cooperation and investments in the tourist, power and transport sectors. During the first plenary session, BiH Foreign Investments Promotion Agency Director Mirza Hajric presented investment opportunities in BiH as the attendees were also addressed by EC Head of the Mission to BiH Michael Humphreys, WB Director Dirk Reirnerman, BiH Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic, heads of BiH Central Bank, USAID, EBRD… Dnevni List (front page and pages 6 and 7 “Covic: Restore faith in own economic capabilities”, not signed), (Vecernji List, page 5 “BiH opens door to foreign investments”, by Zoran Kresic, Robert Soldo), Dnevni List (page 6 “Direction BiH has taken is very clear”, HR’s speech), Dnevni List (page 7 “BiH is worth investing into”, Terzic’s speech), Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Affirmation of positive image of the region’; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Fight for investors’, Blic p 13 ‘BiH expects money’also reported on the conference opening/first plenary session. |
| International conference on investment in BiH adopts declaration | The international conference on investment in BiH ended the first day of its work in Mostar with the adoption of a declaration of seven countries in the region, welcoming BiH’s progress in creating an economic environment which would attract foreign investment. The declaration points out the need to work towards the stabilization of the political situation and the affirmation of the whole region’s image through political dialogue at the state and regional level, attracting bigger foreign investment. The declaration reiterates the commitment towards further strengthening of economic cooperation in the sphere of trade and promotion of foreign investment. It points out the importance of economic progress for the long-term stability of the region and its prosperity, as one of the key conditions for the EU membership. The declaration was adopted by prime ministers of BiH, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia-Montenegro. The conference resumes its work at 0900 on Friday, with five round tables at which economic delegations will present various projects to potential investors. (All media) |
Political developments | |
| BiH House of Peoples session
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 5, mentioned on the front page ‘Bosniaks called on vital national interest’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 10 ‘Federation will be paying pensions to the residents of RS?’, Blic p 12 ‘The Law on Production of Weapon was adopted’, FENA – During Thursday’s discussion on the Bill amending the BiH Law on Refugees and DPs in the BiH House of Peoples, the Bosniak caucus submitted a statement saying the Bill jeopardized vital national interests of the Bosniak people. Amendments to the Law envisage the refugees from BiH that exchanged their properties with persons from the neighbouring countries cannot repossess their properties in BiH unless it is determined that the properties had been exchanged forcibly. The Bosniak caicus’ statement says that the Proposal contributes to maintaining the consequences of ethnic cleansing in BiH, derogates the entire set of property laws that are vital for implementation of Annex 7, and that it cannot be implemented because it presumes involvement of the institutions of other countries. Further, the House of Peoples adopted the Bill on Production of Weapons and Military Equipment, the Bill on Offences in BiH and the Bills amending the Law on Use and Protection of Name BiH, the Law on the Administrative Procedure, and the Law on the Official Gazette BiH, |
| Nikola Spiric: I will not withdraw the draft law on restitution
| Oslobodjenje pg. 9, mentioned on the front page ‘Nikola Spiric: I will not withdraw the draft law on restitution’ – Nikola Spriric, the chairman of the BiH House of Representatives, told the newspaper he would not withdraw the draft framework law on restitution from the parliamentary procedure as requested by the BiH Council of Ministers. The CoM did not specify reasons why the draft should be withdrawn. |
| Ashdown meets with members of the alternative BiH Presidency | Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Support by the opposition’, Vecernji List page 8 “Ashdown with Alternative presidency” Dnevni List page 12 “To foreign investments through strengthening of economic space”, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 9 “By consensus to faster reforms in BiH”, by M. Landeka – The High Representatives, Paddy Ashdown, received in Mostar on Thursday members of the alternative BiH Presidency (shadow presidency) Mladen Ivankovic Lijanovic, Mersad Serifovic and Ranko Bakic. Lijanovic said the alternative body had already gotten support by a few opposition political parties in BiH. Ashdown expressed hope the alternative presidency would contribute to strengthening of the BiH constitutional structure. |
| DL: “SNSD unhappy with position of Serbs in Mostar”
| Dnevni List (page 21, by S. Bjelica) – reports that a delegation of the SNSD visited Mostar yesterday and that a Vice President of SNSD, Velimir Kunic, stated at a press conference yesterday that the main activity of the party in the period to come would be focused on preparations for the local elections in October. “We have adopted the platform for the forthcoming elections, and the election campaign will be run under a slogan ‘Da Mostar bude I Srpski’”, said Kunic. (“May Mostar be Serb Mostar too”). According to DL, the SNSD is unhappy with the status of Serb returnees to Mostar, namely with reconstruction of Serb returnees’ houses and lack of jobs for them. Kunic notes that the SNSD will push for national parity when it comes to representation in the City administration of Mostar. SNSD also called on all unregistered voters to register themselves for the October elections by June 20, 2004. |
| Bond on Mostar Statute implementation | Ljiljan cover page story, pgs 18-22 ‘Bond: We have to arrest Karadzic before Istanbul summit’ by Mirsad Sinanovic – In an interview to Ljiljan magazine, US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond said he was satisfied with the implementation of the HR’s decision on Mostar: “I think that IC is also satisfied with the process itself. The High Representative did everything that was possible in his powers to have decision made on the local level. However, when that failed, he undertook activities to have decision implemented. We already have said to both major Jahic and deputy major Beslic that we would do everything in our power to help Statute’s implementation. I think that Statute itself and its implementation will create much better situation for all citizens. We hope that that will be Administration who will known which are general interests of all Mostar citizens, and not interests of only one municipality or ethnic community.” |
| SB on visit of CoE Monitoring Team to Mostar | Slobodna Bosna pgs 11&12 ‘CoE experts estimated the situation in Mostar worse than ever!’ by D.S.– SB claims it unofficially learned that “members of the Council of Europe’s Monitoring Team, who are in five-days visit to BiH, were given impression that the situation in Mostar was worse than a year ago!” Apparently, Monitoring Team visited Mostar and met with chair and co-chair of the City Council, as well as with the representatives of the parliamentary parties in the Council. One of the counsellors, Radmilo Braca Andric, independent candidate of the Coalition for unified and independent BiH, used this opportunity to criticise international community calling behaviour of IC in Mostar dictatorial, and “High Representatives and his individual officials arrogant.” Andric also informed CoE officials that there is a large dissatisfaction with the imposed Mostar Statute, and “established that the agreement between parties in City Council would be surely reached is given more time. [Statute’s] imposition, he claimed, brought biggest damage to Mostar’s Serbs, as they stayed without representative… however Andric forgot to mention that these counsellors did not represent interests of small Serb returnee population in Mostar, nor their elected them” |
| Statement of Day: Elmir Jahic, SDA Vice President | Dnevni List (page 2) carries in its “Statement of Day”, a Vice President of SDA, Elmir Jahic, as saying: “Izetbegovic does not want to be President of SDA”. |
| Croatian Block reacts to Sanader’s message to HDZ BiH
| Dnevni List (page 9, “HDZ Croatia has political monopoly among Croats in BiH”, not signed) – reacting to the fact that HDZ of Croatia President, Ivo Sanader, called on HDZ BiH members not to follow Ivic Pasalic and the Croatian Block in BiH, the Croatian Block issued a press release saying that this message to the BiH Croats is interesting because it represents “interference in internal matters of a neighboring country”. |
Judiciary/investigations | |
| US government on political pressures on judiciary, media in BiH
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 7, ‘Authority of BiH frightens media’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 11 ‘Judiciary is under influence of the politics’, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Discrimination against minorities, abuse of media’ – The US State Department has issued its annual report on human rights in certain states in 2003, according to which the human rights status in BiH is still bad, because the rights of minority peoples are violated, judiciary is under the influence of political parties and Republika Srpska still refuses to fully co-operate with The Hague. Department of State also warns that authorities and main political parties in BiH are exerting pressure against media, mistreat and frighten them. |
| Avaz postpones protest rally | Dnevni Avaz pgs. 8-9 – The daily continued writing on the alleged introduction of censorship in BiH. However, the editors and journalists of Avaz decided to postponed a protest rally in front of the OHR building scheduled for Friday due to the declared day of mourning with regard to the Macedonian plane crash near Stolac on Thursday. At a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday, SDU Vice President Sejfudin Tokic said HR Paddy Ashdown should explain to the public how had happened that he had been sitting below the Karadzic photo hanging on the wall (pg. 9 ‘Tokic: Ashdown should explain how he found himself below the Karadzic’s photo’). |
| Sarajevo magazines on Avaz campaign against OHR and judiciary | Slobodna Bosna cover ‘Conflict between Avaz and OHR: The war between High and Low Representative, Ashdown vs. Radoncic’, pgs 5-7 ‘Radoncic asks from competition [‘low-circulation’] Sarajevo media 5 million KM, and he whines in front of OHR over 10 thousands lost!’ by Mirsad Fazlic and Senad Avdic – Article refers to media campaign carried out lately by Sarajevo daily ‘Dnevni Avaz’ against OHR and judiciary regarding the decision by Sarajevo court to ban Avaz from writing false information about Zlatko Lagumdzija and order to compensate Lagumdzija 10.000 KM for defamation. Outlining brief story of success of Avaz’s owner Fahrudin Radoncic and noting he changed political orientation in line with change of the authorities, article reads: “Radoncic and his journalists are not worried over the ‘censorship’ due to which they cannot write about some personalities… but 10.000 KM that he has to pay to Lagumdzija’s account. Maybe Radoncic would settle with that little loss, but that verdict indicates that in near future Avaz could continue to loose litigations worth millions of KM… That is the only explanation for protesting and nationalistic reaction of Radoncic’s Avaz and all of its publications.” Authors further list a number of charges filed against Dnevni Avaz, whose dozens of plaintiffs ask for compensations as high as 500.000 KM [by Hilmo Selimovic, Sarajevo Brewery director]. Article also notes that recently poll on website www.sarajevo-x.com forum was held on asking citizens to say whether they supported Avaz or OHR in “this conflict”. Out of 297 votes, 51% support OHR, 20% votes were in Radoncic’s support, while 20% of citizens said they did not decide. Ljiljan pg 7 ‘Till when?!’ op-ed by Mensur Brdar – “Following the verdict against Avaz in Lagumdzija’s process, and after the decision of the Court to ban Avaz from writing about Lagumdzija, we got institutional introduction of censorship in media… Public was intruded with wrong impression of Avaz making noise about 10.000 KM,… However the problem is in altogether different decision of the Court which bans Avaz from writing about Zlatko Lagumdzija. And that is the essence of the problem… The ban to write about a politician doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. Just like nowhere in the world there is just distorted police, prosecutorial and judicial system… The example of verdict against Avaz is a trial to scare off Bosniaks and to show them they are nothing. If Avaz can be silenced, who will than speak?… At the end there is only one question left: Till when?!”, reads Ljiljan editorial. Ljiljan brings another article on pg 25 ‘Bosnia in front of Rubicon’ by Mustafa Borovic which harshly criticises court’s verdict against Avaz, claiming that they were examples of censorship and were directed against Bosniaks. Dani cover page story ‘Address book of Radoncic’s victims – SIMILARTIES OF THE YEAR’, pgs 18-23 ‘Similarities of the year’ by Senad Pecanin – “Notwithstanding that conflict between Fahrudin Radoncic and Paddy Ashdown at first sight suggest undoubted power of the biggest Bosniak publisher, strategy of ‘Avaz’ indicates panic which shakes ‘little dragon’ [note: dragon is Avaz’s symbol]. In comparison, the story on problematic photography from May last year loses its significance”, reads introduction to the article. Author in details writes about Radoncic’s background, and noting that Radoncic’s campaign against OHR was of the same pattern alike those lead against his former friends-turned-enemies Sefer Halilovic, Edhem Bicakcic and Zlatko Lagumdzija. Also critical of HR Paddy Ashdown for estimating that Avaz was a model of a perspective company and newspaper in BiH, however notes “the background of the entire case is … another reply of Radoncic’s relations with all people at power who he uses for some time and rejects as soon as they first time refuse to fulfil demand.” Article concludes: “The defence strategy of empire proves Radoncic’s panic – till yesterday, he defended his business with the fairy tales on the western professionalism, and today with defence of Bosniak’s interests. Nobody works better for SDP and Lagumdzija at this moment than Radoncic’s harangues… The majority of those who till yesterday pushed for a place close to Radoncic while privately they did not hide their disgust at him. But, they also got bit more courageous, so today they did not send even polite letter of support.” |
| Bond on Avaz, OHR, judiciary | Ljiljan cover page story, pgs 18-22 ‘Bond: We have to arrest Karadzic before Istanbul summit’ by Mirsad Sinanovic – In an interview to Ljiljan magazine, US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond was asked to comment the “Avaz vs. Lagumdzija” case, and whether the court’s decision meant censorship: “Of course media have right, even obligation, to write critically about politics and politicians, but that criticism must be based on facts, not rumours or a personal opinion by an individual.” Answering journalist’s comment that BiH judiciary “was full of UDBA’s associates” [note: UDBA – communist police], Bond noted that immediately after the war the international community did not see a need to aggressively check judiciary, however “at the very beginning of his mandate, the current High Rep took concrete steps to improve that situation.” Dani magazine cover page story, pgs 18-23 ‘Address book of Radoncic’s victims – SIMILARTIES OF THE YEAR’ – Dani also bring reaction from US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, on above mentioned photo published in Avaz: “US Embassy cooperates with High Rep in many efforts to ensure arrest of persons indicted for war crimes. No serious person can doubt his determination on this issue.” |
| Banjaluka judges address letter to Krstan Simic | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Judges demand truth’ – Several judges from Banjaluka Basic and District Courts have addressed a letter to Krstan Simic, President of RS Parliament Commission for Judiciary, in which they asked him to provide an answer to the following question: why their mandate ended? They further claim verification material, which each judge took over at HJPC in Sarajevo does not contain a single reason for termination of their service. They actually do not question the selection process, but just want to know reasons for termination of their service. |
| Dzuvo under investigation | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘Almir Dzuvo suspected of illegal dismissals and appointments’ – NN interlocutor from Sarajevo Canronal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the PO of Sarajevo Canton is investigating into possible criminal responsibility of Almir Dzuvo, former Sarajevo Canton Interior Minister, for illegal signing of dismissals and appointments’ decisions within police force. According to NN source, Dzuvo was not supposed to sign these decisions, because Police Commissioner is in charge of that. Oleg Cavka, Spokesperson of Cantonal PO confirmed that the PO is investigating this case. |
| Kostunica on Karadzic | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘Radovan Karadzic is in BiH’ – Vojislav Kostunic, PM designate in Serbia and Montenegro, yesterday stated that the extradition of Radovan Karadzic to The Hague Tribunal would represent an interference into other states’ affairs. Also according to information he has, former leader of BiH Serbs is in BiH. he also said that: “Disharmony can be observed if we look at the number of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks or Albanians sitting in The Hague.” |
| Update to acetic acid anhydride | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 7, ‘Extension of detention for Raja Krsmanovic filed’ – Jasmina Gafic, BiH State Prosecutor, yesterday filed with BiH Court a motion for extension of detention against Raja Ksrmanovic from Bijeljina, suspected of production of synthetic heroin. Request was filed for further 60 days. BiH Court Council is expected to pass the ruling during the course of today. |
Education | |
| Professor’s licences at Banjaluka university | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘One third unqualified’ – Professor at the Banjaluka Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Aleksandar Iliskovic, warns that over one third of extraordinary professors, docents and assistant professors working at the Banjaluka Faculty of Electrical Engineering, do not have authority to perform duties, for which they are paid. He says that many of them do not have proper licence of professor, owing to which reason students, who go abroad, will face the following problem – exams, which they passed with these professors, will not be recognised to them. |
War crimes/terrorism | |
| Kostunica: Karadzic is in Bosnia
| Vecernje Novosti p 5 ‘Karadzic is in Bosnia’ – Serbia’s Premier-Designate Vojislav Kostunica has said on that according to the latest information available to him, the former RS President and ICTY-indictee, Radovan Karadzic, was hiding somewhere in Bosnia. In an interview with the German newspaper Neue Ruhr/Rhein Zeitung, Kostunica said Karadzic’s extradition to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia would therefore constitute an interference of one country with the affairs of another. The leader of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), added that Serbia still had problems with ICTY’s impartiality and equitability. “If we take into account the number of indicted Serbs, Croats, Albanians or Bosniaks, we can immediately spot the discrepancy,” Kostunica said, adding that the matter in question did only include national pride, but also a manipulation with facts, which ultimately contributed to a large extent to the success of the Serbian radicals at the latest elections. |
| Bond on arrest of war crimes suspects
| Ljiljan cover page story, pgs 18-22 ‘Bond: We have to arrest Karadzic before Istanbul summit’ by Mirsad Sinanovic – In an interview to Ljiljan magazine, US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond said about the arrest of war crimes suspects: “I cannot tell you the exact date when [arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic] would happen, but I can tell you that will happen, and that it is our intention to have it happen before the NATOs summit in Istanbul in June, because we don’t want that issue to be an obstacle for membership of BiH to Partnership for Peace.” Answering why it took US troops arrested former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in short time, but cannot find Karadzic and Mladic for years, Bond said: “Arrest of Saddam Hussein happened not because of technical, but human resources. We obtained information we missed. But, the lack of such cooperation by RS officials is evident. All that makes arrest of war crime suspect more difficult, therefore we have to hold responsible also those supporting war criminals in their intention to hide.” Asked to comment the photo of the High Rep Paddy Ashdown sitting with the wall picture of Karadzic behind his back that was published in Dnevni Avaz, Bond said: “Everything we did with the High Representative bring us to the conclusion that he is entirely committed to arrest of all war criminals. I don’t think any serious person should doubt that.” |
| Darko Trifunovic upon the Conference on Terrorism | Blic p 18 ‘Hiding of the real truth on BiH’ – The Deputy Director of the Center for Safety and Research of Terrorism, Darko Trifunovic, is of belief that the Conference on Fight Against Terrorism, organized in Sarajevo at the beginning of this week, was planned with an aim to cover up crimes and truth on BiH. Trifunovic explains that no recognized expert in fight against terrorism from RS has been invited to attend the Conference, nor the organizers have invited lawyers of families of September 11 victims, who are investigating the connection between former Bosniak officials and Al-Q’aida organization. |
| SB claims Zlatko Miletic is assassination target | Slobodna Bosna cover pg story ‘Priorities of the Balkans mafia – to destroy Zlatko Miletic’, pgs 10&11 ‘Following media preparations in ‘Express’ and ‘Dani’, criminals hired paid assassin to liquidate Miletic!’ – Article reminds of wide-spread media campaign led against late Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic just before his assassination, noting that “the similarity of that situation, … of the media atmosphere, with present one in local media in the past 15 days following arrest of Zijad Turkovic and… INTERPOL Deputy Director Asim Fazlic, [against] FBiH Police Director Zlatko Miletic is just unbelievable.” SB furthermore accuses Avaz’s weekly publication ‘Express’, but also ‘Dani’ magazine, and claims that following these reports Interior Ministry of Croatia informed authorized Ministry in BiH that one of the most dangerous assassins arrived to Sarajevo to “liquidate one of the high-ranking police official in FBiH… It is clear, media disqualifications of Miletic would serve to, following Miletic’s execution, create impression that Chief of FBiH Police was killed in conflict between mafia groups, close to or favoured by Miletic.” |