TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Customs on Good Saturday | HR on visit to the | 126 Prijedor war victims buried |
| Komarica on Croats in BIH | Paravac on BiH Constitution | Commemoration in Sijekovac |
| Ratko Peric on Easter | SDA to start issue of VNI | Requests for FBiH budget re-balance |
| Vinko Puljic on Easter | The World Bank request | Danger of river |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Funeral in Prijedor | 126 Prijedor war victims buried | HR on Covic’s decision |
| Feature on war camps detainees | Paravac on crimes against Serbs | Reactions on Serb War casualties |
| Face to Face | Bishop Komarica on Croats return | Memorial service in Sjekovac |
| Dangerous stories | Land sliding in Zenica | Funeral in Prijedor |
| Oslobodjenje | Prijedor and Srebrenica not to repeat ever again |
| Dnevni Avaz | “Covic” case is a message to corrupt politicians |
| Nezavisne novine | Bodies of 126 victims of war buried |
Note: Owing to celebration of Catholic Easter, Dnevni List and Vecernji List were not published today.
War crimes | |
| Bosniak reactions on Conference “Justice through Truth” are that the numbers presented on it are incorrect
| RTRS – Branka Kusmuk – The Conference “With Truth to Justice” that was held in |
| Serbs in
| RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Truth from the centre of genocide ideology’ – Chairman of Association for BiH endangered peoples Fadila Memisevic said that allegations made by RS Prime Minister, Pero Bukejlovic are irritating. She said that the conference “Justice through Truth” held on Friday was a Bukejlevic’s campaign for assuring popularity. “There were Serbs casualties in |
| Oslobodjenje op-eds on Pale conference: Indications of misfortune | Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 5 ‘Indications of misfortune’ by Gradimir Gojer – The author comments on Pale conference, saying that many lies were stated during the conference, referring to it as ball of vampires. He notes SDS has constructed an unbelievable lie on camps in |
| Kurtovic calls on disclosure of truth
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Pero from this world’ by Senka Kurtovic – Commenting on Pale conference, the author stresses it is of great importance to finally list the truth about the past war, in order to prevent every single Pero (referring to Bukejlovic) to handle with numbers and human lives. |
| Paravac stated that in | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Masovic calls on Serbs who spent life in Sarajevo to speak out’ by M.Kukan – BiH Presidency Chair, Borislav Paravac, stated that war crimes and ethnic cleansing against Serbs in Sarajevo was committed and added that the truth has to be discovered. |
| Conference on Serb War casualties is a campaign to undermine SCG’s guilt for genocide in BIH | RHB – President of BOSS Mirnes Ajanovic stated that the Conference on Serb War casualties is a campaign launched by FTV, magazine Slobodna Bosna and SDS. It is launched in order to undermine SCG’s guilt for genocide in BIH by presenting horrible killings done to Serbs in |
| Reactions on RS PM Pero Bukejlovic’s statement
| NTV Hayat – The OHR Spokesperson, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Masovic calls on Serbs who spent life in |
| “Face to Face” on Pale conference
| NTV Hayat – Senad Hadzifejzovic – Guests of Saturday’s Face to Face were the Chair of the Managing Board of BiH Association of families of killed and imprisoned ones, Taib Pasic and the Chair of Citizens Association “Istina”, Dusan Zurovac. They discussed the recent RS Prime Minister, Pero Bukejlovic’s statement in which he said that genocide which was committed against Serbs in Sarajevo was greater that the one which happened in Srebrenica. Two months ago, Dusan Zurovac stated the same. Zurovac said that it was not him who stated that but that the documents he had could prove it. Zurovac claims that there are 5 856 Serbs, killed in |
| Sidran ridicules Pale conference | NTV Hayat – Abdulah Sidran – Famous BiH writer, Abdulah Sidran comments the RS PM Pero Bukejlovic’s statement on greater genocide committed in Sarajevo against Serbs. Sidran ridicules the whole situation. |
| Stojan Zupljanin could be the next one to surrender to ICTY
| BH TV 1 – ICTY indictee from the RS, Stojan Zupljanin, could be the next one to go to Hague, stated Advisor to Serbian President for the cooperation with the ICTY, Jovan Simic. Zupljanin was Banjaluka Regional Security Centre Head since 1991 and Minister of Interior in the so-called Autonomous Region Krajina and special advisor to the RS President at that time, ICTY indictee, Radovan Karadzic. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Stojan Zupljanin to turn in to The Hague soon’ by E. Sarac – A source close to SIPA Saturday confirmed the statement Jovan Simic (see above) gave to ATV Banja Luka. The source also added that RS MoI and Serbian authorities have been in contact with Zupljanin since New Year. At that time, Zupljanin, who lives in Vojvodina, was visiting |
| Former Serbian justice minister on voluntary surrenders of Hague indictees
| Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9, announced on cover ‘Kostunica paid EURO 2 million to Hague volunteer’ by Goran Djogic – In an interview to NN, Vladan Batic, formerly Serbian Justice Minister at Government of Zoran Djindjic, claims that the chain of voluntary surrenders of Hague suspects to Serbian Government represents a pure farce. Batic is convinced that there is no sort of patriotism behind these surrenders, but instead their financial gain. He adds Vojislav Kostunica’s Government provides Hague suspects with substantial amounts of money (from EURO 500 thousand to EURO 2 million), depending on importance of indictee and what |
International community | |
| Richard Holbrooke on Karadzic: I had no agreement with Karadzic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Radovan Karadzic is a liar and war criminal’ – In a statement broadcast at Banja Luka seated ATV, the former US diplomat, Richard Holbrooke, has stated that BiH will not be stable as long as its citizens fail to provide assistance in arrest of Radovan Karadzic, adding: “It is celar to me there is a network of Bosnian Serbs, and probably Serbs outside BiH who protect Karadzic.” Holbrooke has also denied claims he had signed any sort of Agreement with Karadzic, adding that Ljiljana Zelen Karadzic and Sonja Karadzic were spreading this allegation. He has added Radovan is “liar and war criminal”. |
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| NTV Hayat – Report brings a feature on opinion of the |
| Interview with the HR from
| NTV Hayat – Report brings parts on interview with the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, from |
Political issues | |
| DA claims politics will no longer be a salvation for criminals
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘“Covic” case is a message to corrupt politicians’ and pg 2 ‘Foreigners are sending a message to corrupt politicians through “Covic” case’ by S. Numanovic – The author notes that Tuesday should see resolvement of dilemma whether Dragan Covic would tender resignation or Paddy Ashdown, HR, would remove him from position. The author compares the case of Covic with the case of Branko Dokic, with only one difference – the indictment against Dokic has not been upheld as yet. According to the author, Covic is far too powerful and far too pragmatic to fit in stereotype of “a victim”, adding he is buying time under this veil. The author concludes that by removing Covic from the position at BiH Presidency, the international factor in BiH is sending out the message to all those willing to deal with politics that they have to be morally clean and that their involvement in political activities would make them even more vulnerable. The author concludes elections of 2006 would see parties not repeating the same mistake and also see them appoint non-controversial persons for the most senior positions in the state. |
| Borislav Paravac: entities are not going to be abolished
| TV PINK – BiH Presidency President, Borislav Paravac said that the decisions of the Venice Commission were clear, when it comes to the BiH constitution and relation towards the International Community. Paravac said that the Commission strongly believed that BiH institutions and authorities should takeover all functions and that the HR should have only mediating role. Paravac said that, when talking about constitutional system, it was pointed out that entities were not going to be abolished, since it was the only reality. |
| Chair of the Bosniak Caucus within RS National Assembly, Tarik Sadovic: RS opposes BiH’s entrance to the PfP
| TV PINK –Danijel Vujanovic – The Chair of the Bosniak Caucus within RS National Assembly, Tarik Sadovic says that RS politicians oppose BiH’s entrance to the Partnership for Peace. The Bosniak Caucus is going to start the procedure of protection of vital national interest, due to declaration on strategic RS determinations on BiH defence system, adopted by the RS NA and on decisions the RS Parliament has adopted on 23rd special session, since they suggest the full blockade of defence reform, by which BiH’s entrance to Partnership for Peace (PfP) is being blocked. According to the session, RS NA decided that no further transfer of duties and abolishment of RS Ministry of Defence were needed in order for BiH to be admitted to the PfP. Sadovic claims that by this, RS politicians clearly stated that they were against the PfP by saying that they had met all the terms. Sadovic claims that the idea on demilitarization is not going to be referred to as the serious one. Sadovic said that by this, RS politicians proposed “wolfs to take care of sheep”. The Chair of the Commission in charge of supervising RS defence and security bodies, Velimir Sakan said that the decisions made by the RS Parliament enable possibility for all terms to be meet, in line with BiH Constitution. Military-politics analyser, Ostoja Barasin claims that political issue on whether BiH really wants to be admitted to the PfP has not been clearly defined in BiH. Barasin says that by becoming NATO member, secure and perspective future of a state is not provided. Barasin says that the best thing would be to demilitarize BiH. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Remains of 126 war victims from Prijedor area buried on Saturday
| FTV – Mirza Sadikovic –Joint funeral of 126 war victims, who were exhumed from mass graves in Stari Kevljani and Jakarina Kosa, was held in Prijedor on Saturday. These victims were prisoners of war camps Omarska, Keraterm and Trnopolje. Numerous citizens of Prijedor and Krajina were on the funeral of 126 war victims, from which 125 were Bosniaks and 1 Croat. BiH Presidency member, Sulejman Tihic, has started the initiative for forming the joint commission for establishing the truth on war victims in BiH, said the presenter. “The conscience on crime and criminals has to be changed. It will be necessary for establishing the truth, because here is word about big mass crime” said Tihicand addedthat forming of commission for establishment of the truth at the State level is also necessary in order to establish the real truth according to the methods as it has been done in the others countries in the world. From 94 mass graves, which were discovered in this area up till now, 3000 Bosniaks have been exhumed, while the search for another 1400 persons is still ongoing. RTRS – “The location of all mass-graves should be revealed in order to put this terrible past behind us” said RS Vice President Adil Osmanovic. BH TV 1, NTV Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Mother’s tear should be a prayer for Srebrenica and Prijedor not to repeat’ by M. Zgonjanin, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Bodies of 126 victims of war buried’ and pg 2 ‘Bodies of 125 Bosniaks and 1 Croat buried’ by D. Kovacic, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Prijedor and Srebrenica not to repeat ever again’ by B.Kahrimanovic – also report. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Additional reason for commission for truth’ by B.K. – reports on Tihic’s statement for Commission for Trutj. |
| Commemoration for over 20 murdered Serb civilians in 1992 held in Sijekovac
| BH TV 1 – Zorica Lolic – Commemoration and mass were served for over 20 Serb civilians murdered on RTRS – Sandra Zrnic – The speaker of RSNA Dusan Stojicic said that RS will seek the justice for Serbs killed during the tragic civil war in BIH. The truth must be known for the better co-existence in these parts. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Requiem to murdered Serbs served’ by SRNA |
| Bishop Komarica says there is almost no return of Croats to the RS
| BH TV 1 – Banjaluka’s Bishop, Franjo Komarica, stated that there is almost no return of Croats to the RS, explaining this with lack of political will, legal regulations and economy support. He said that around 6800 Catholics currently live in Banjaluka’s Bishopric, what is lower number than in previous year. “We have the right to request form the international representatives, who decides on our future, to treat us as equal people, we also have all the basic human and citizens rights,” stated Komarica. RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg ‘Return of refugees is a defeat for local politicians’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘There is no political will in RS for return of Croats’ by N. Kremenovic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Undignified behaviour of IC’ -also report. |
| The draft law on BiH PBS again returned to CoM for making agreement with HDZ representatives
| BH TV 1 – Marina Boskovic – The draft law on BiH Public Broadcast System (PBS) is again returned to the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) in order to reach agreement with HDZ representatives on number of PBS channels. HDZ announce that it won’t give up on its request for establishment of Croat channel. Non-adoption of this law could become the main obstacle to BiH association with the EU, reports BHT. HDZ representatives points out that their request on establishment of three national channels on three languages is in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights. “It doesn’t mean that we should gave up on our requests just because there is no understanding for them at this moment,” said HDZ representative, Martin Raguz. It is clearly stated in the conditions, which the European Union put before BiH, that there can only be entities’ services plus one at the State level. “I guess that we will understand that this is important part of the feasibility Study and that it can represents obstacle in the association process,” said CoM’s Chair, Adnan Terzic. |
| The working version of the law on high education provoked negative reactions in both BiH entities
| BH TV 1 – Natalija Trivic – The working version of the law on high education provoked negative reactions in both BiH entities, reports BHT. Subject of discussion is will high education sector be dealt at the State or entities’ level and will BH Universities loose its autonomy after new law is adopted. The BiH Council of Ministers working group made to working versions for this law, but there is still no final solution. The working group didn’t complete its job because there was no agreement on principles of high education reform, issues such as should high education be dealt at the State level or part of it will go to entities’ jurisdiction, said Assistant to BiH Minister of Civil Affairs and Communications, Srdjan Arnaut. Mostar’s University believes that high education should be dealt at the State level because any other solution would endanger vital national interests of Croats in BiH, confirmed Vice Dean of the |
Economy | |
| BiH could loose 200 USD millions if FBiH Government fails to make budget re-balance
| BH TV 1, TV PINK – Sanita Lisica – BiH could loose 200 millions USD of financial means from the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Commission (EC), which are requesting from the FBiH Government to reduce its expenses for the veterans. On another side, veterans and their families could organize big protests if this happen. In spite of of wornings of international finance institutions, the FBiH Government adopted in its budget the 300 millions KM for the veterans protection, what is 14 millions KM more than agreed with the WB suggested. The WB spokesman, Srecko Latal, said that the WB expects from the FBiH Government to respect agreed, to enables reform and to distribute those means to other socially endangered categories too. “A big part of the projects is endangered with the fact that FBiH Government adopted in its budget higher amount that it was greed with the WB, and it should make the budget re-balance,” stated BiH Foreign Affairs Minister, Mladen Ivanic, As reported quoted, FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic no one should make a fuss about this because negotiations are ongoing. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I do not want to further complicate situation, but instead hope for a constructive agreement’ by M.K. – Amhet Hadzipasic, F BiH Premier, in a statement to DA did not want to make any comment to the latest WB demands for budget rebalance, stressing: “I do not want to see situation additionally complicates, but instead to resume talks with WB whose represntetaives will come in April. I hope we will manage to identify a constructive agreement that will not damage any side.” |