Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 27 April
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| What’s aim of police reform | Vlasic talks on police reform | Vlasic mtg resumes |
| UHSP on organization of BiH | World news | Doris Pack int w/ Vecernji list |
| Ljajic on Mladic arrest | Sports | Tomic on El Mujaheed unit |
TV news broadcast on 26 April
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Delic’s temporary release | Vlasic meeting continues | Meeting on Vlasic |
| Ammunition confiscated by NATO | SECPA meeting | Cooperation between police forces |
| Pavkovic in ICTY | 2nd phase of SUTRA project | Arrests in Banjaluka rape-case |
| Regional news | | Two buses collide |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Vlasic meeting continues | Two buses collide near Fojnica | Galyak on SAA |
| Galyak on BiH-SAA negotiations | Meeting on Vlasic | Report on Vlasic meeting |
| Delic’s temporary release | Women protest | SNSD on Police reform |
| Pavkovic to enter plea | Attempted bank robbery | Workgroup on organised crime |
| Oslobodjenje | Bruce Hitcher: |
| Dnevni Avaz | Rasim Ljajic: Next to go to |
| Dnevni List | Jelavic remains in detention |
| Vecernji List | Doris Pack: ‘To abolish FBiH, and make |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Maniacs ‘ordered’ police to let them go through Mostar [follow up to football match incident] |
| Nezavisne Novine | 26 children injured in collision of two busses |
| Glas Srpske | An import oil circle [on Brod Oil Refinery] |
| EuroBlic | Floods and infections [in SiCG] |
| Vecernje novosti | Serbian related topics |
| Srpski Nacional | Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BH Radio: Discussion on police regions most disputed
| BH Radio 1Vanja Ilicic – Leaders of 11 political parties today continued talks on police reform on the |
| RTRS on Vlasic meeting
| RTRS by Branka Veleusic – Like first two days, Vlasic meeting is taking place far away from public eye. Prior to today’s session, Milorad Dodik, briefly commented that negotiations are hard and conducted according to principle “nothing is agreed until we reach an agreement” and alternative solutions, that are to be presented to Parliament, are being searched for. On the contrary, the information remains unconfirmed that everything has already been agreed on and talks on Police Board are ongoing. Hence all options are possible, and more details should be available later on today. |
| HNZ says discussion on police on Vlasic sends wrong message | RHB – HNZ issued a press release expressing its belief that the way of negotiations on the future of police in BiH at Vlasic is sending wrong signals to the public. HNZ notes that although in principle it is requested that politicians should be prevented from influencing the police, the gathered politicians are defending their political positions and taking political decisions, thus deciding on the future of police in a narrow-political way. |
Vlasic talks on police reform, day 2 | |
| OHR: Negotiations to end of 27th, possibly run into morning of 28th
| PINK, BHT1, Hayat, RTRS, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘OHR: solution with 3 EU principles’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Assistants to BiH police director conditionally agreed’ by V.Popovic/S.Gojkovic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘As if they are electing pope’ by Rajna Radosavljevic– OHR Spokesperson, |
| Official statement: single structure of policing in BiH considered
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Commissioner and entities Assistants to command’ by Az. Kalamujic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘They keep refusing’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Talks on functioning of police’ – The statement agreed by the delegates following the second day of negotiations on police reform in Vlasic reads: “The second day’s discussions focused on how BiH future police structure might function. The means of providing real democratic accountability and oversight within the single structure of policing in BiH were considered. Participants reviewed proposals on how police policy will be formulated and how the operational control of policing can be co-ordinated. The delegations assessed various proposals on these topics.” Hayat – According to Hayat, one of the participants at Valsic was leaking information to media, after which was warned and said he was going to be removed if continues to do so. |
| Media speculate on Vlasic talks: Conditional agreement on State Police Director, two Assistants in charge of entities reached
| BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Police Director at the state level with entities’ assistants’ – According to BHT 1, the conditional agreement on transfer of authorities to the state level and single financial control of the police has been reached at Vlasic. DA learns that there is a overall agreement to have the Police Director at the state level with Assistants in charge of entities. Participants also agreed to establish the police board which will include entities Interior Ministers and Security Minister. BHT1 byZoran Sarenac – The negotiators from FBiH agree with this proposal, but they want that the name of that post is “Commissioner of the police regions from RS” Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Commissioner and entities Assistants to command’ by Az. Kalamujic – Daily learns that Paddy Ashdown offered this compromise solution. According to this proposal, the entities Interior Ministries would not be abolished but their authorities would be significantly decreased. The plan also says that the police would be financed from the state budget alike State Border Service. Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Assistants to BiH police director conditionally agreed’ by V.Popovic/S.Gojkovic– NN also reports on the proposal. PINK,Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Cavic against reform’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Serbs leave negotiations?’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘They keep refusing’ also report on the proposal carrying SRNA’s report which says that the Bosniak side opposes as the solution leaves possibility for RS MoI survival. EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘As if they are electing pope’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Daily learns from sources close to negotiators that RS officials offered alternative solution to police reform, which HR Ashdown rejected. |
| DA, FTV say participants discuss police regions, PDP proposes 5 regions [RS,
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown: Negotiations will take as long as it is needed’, mentioned on cover, by E. Sarac – DA says that the second day of the negotiations at Vlasic mountain was once again marked by uncertainty over the final agreement, no official statements and high level of security. The HR Paddy Ashdown told journalists that the negotiations will take as long as needed. Author learns from credible source that on the second day of talks on police reform there were discussed various solutions of police division into regions acceptable even to RS President Dragan Cavic. Apparently, under such solution, RS would be one of the regions, while other 4 would be |
| Dodik: RSNA/RS Govt has to decide on police reform; participants discuss budgetary issues
| FTV Nadja Ridzic – According to FTV reporter, no significant progress has been achieved at the negotiations and the main problem is the status of the RS police. SNSD President Milorad Dodik told FTV reporter that at the end the RS Parliament and the Government will have to decide on all. On the other hand, leaders of political parties from FBiH support the police reform process. “The unified police structure in BiH must be organized on the principle – the worse, the better: the worse for the criminals and war crimes suspects, the better for this country”, said SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija. After two days of negotiations, Lagumdzija suspects the sincerity of some of the participants at Vlasic meeting. “No one at this table is ready to say that he wants to politicise the police. They all swear in the de-politicisedpolice, but in fact some of them want something completely different”, added Lagumdzija. EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘As if they are electing pope’ by Rajna Radosavljevic also carries Lagumdzija. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Dodik” Basic problem is related to RS police’ – inset carries that SNSD leader, Milorad Dodik, is another politician who left the negotiations, beside Zlatko Lagumdzija, because of previously arranged obligations. Upon departure, he stated for journalists: “I think we still did not move from first topic – the legal budgetary framework which demands the constitutional changes. Basically, the basic problem is related to RS police and some solutions on this are being searched.” RTRS also carries that the participants still negotiate single budget. |
| SNSD Vice President Simic: RS politicians should’ve prepared for Vlasic talks
| RTRS, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘As if they are electing pope’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Imposition is not good’ by N.D.– The SNSD Vice-President, Krstan Simic, on Tuesday declared that the RS officials should have prepared a possible model of police organization in BiH, which they could have presented in talks at mount Vlasic. Simic told a press conference that unlike them, the SNSD had previously presented its police model in BiH. He stressed that the negotiations at Vlasic have come late, and that the political agreement on this matter should have been reached earlier, and that the European principles are not questionable, but the modalities for reaching these principles. He added that in this phase the talks on existence or abolition of RS MoI are unnecessary. Hayat – Simic said that at this point there was no need for discussion on whether RS Interior Ministry was going to exist or not, since tensions were being created, which made negotiations impossible. |
| FBiH Police Director urges police reform
| BHT1 Boris Grubesic – “I must say that sometimes I have better cooperation with the Serbian or Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs, than with the domestic agencies, which is absurd…Therefore the Police reform process in BiH is absolutely necessary, because this way we cannot fight the organized crime”, said Zlatko Miletic, the FBiH Police Director, taking part in the 2nd working meeting of the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association [SEPCA] held in Sarajevo on Tuesday. PINK also reported on Miletic’s statement. |
| GS brings comments on police reform: ‘Ambush for Constitution!’ | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Ambush for Constitution’ by N.Diklic – carries comments of Momo Sevarika, military and political analyst, Veselin Poljasevic, PDP, Zivko Marjanac, SP RS SG and Stanko Pivasevic, SDS, sharing the view police reform proposed by Martens encroaches constitutional framework. |
| EU: BiH could start negotiations on SAA at end 2005 if FS receives positive evaluation in May
| Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘In case of positive evaluation n May, BiH would be in the situation of SCG’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Galyak: Everything depends on assessment in May for BiH’ by SRNA – Christina Gallach, the spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Javier Solana, stated that if BIH receives positive evaluation of the Feasibility Study in May, the negotiations on Stabilization and Accession Agreement (SAA) could start at the end of this year. She added that BIH still has to accomplish the full cooperation with ICTY and police reform. |
| Int. with Olli Rehn: EU would not make concessions about police reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘EU would not make concessions about police reform’ by M.Cubro – This is a page long interview with Olli Rehn, EU Commissioner for Expansion, where he reiterates three EU principles for police reform. He notes EU gives a special attention to issue of police reform, stressing that proposals presented by Wilfred Martens represent a good basis for detailed negotiations. He emphasizes it is up to politicians of BiH to agree on details of police model implementation, adding that EU will be satisfied with any solution, which fully respects EU demands. On PBS Law, he adds that solution to this issue should have been found over past four years. He adds a visible progress has been achieved in cooperation with the ICTY urging intensification of this trend towards full cooperation. |
Other police issues | |
| SEE police chiefs agree on cooperation in fight against organized crimes
| BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Police to cross border going after criminals’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Regional cooperation of police leads to EU membership’ by A.Sisic, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘To act together against organized crime’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘There should be no borders in fight against organized crime’ – The 2nd working meeting of the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association [SEPCA] was held in Sarajevo on Tuesday resulting in an agreement that the official unification of Southeast Europe police forces in the struggle against organized crime should be agreed upon at the at their next meeting in Macedonia. Police representatives from PINK – “General assumption is that 90 % of heroin, which is being used in the EU states comes from |
| VL: Croat Dragan Lukac to lead SIPA | Vecernji List, pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Croat Dragan Lukac to lead SIPA agency’, by Miso Relota – VL notes that the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, indirectly announced before the start of the Vlasic meeting that Dragan Lukac, a Croat, will be appointed the Director of SIPA (BiH Agency for Investigation and Protection). VL also notes that the OHR and EUPM wanted to see Sredoje Novic, a Serb, as the SIPA Director, despite the political agreement among the ruling parties that a Croat should lead the SIPA. |
Economic, return and judicial issues | |
| Farmers to hold protests on 28 April
| PINK byAdriana Domazet – BiH Farmers Association will hold protests on April 28 which will gather over 5.000 producers and manufacturers from BiH blocking the road between Sarajevo and Tuzla. One of farmers’ requests is for BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Dragan Doko to be dismissed. “We trust Doko no longer and we are going to ask for his dismissal. The main request is protection of domestic production”, said the Chair of the BiH Farmers Association, Ranko Bakic. Farmers also demand establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture at BiH level. BHT1, FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 22 ‘New mass protests’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Blockade of road Sarajevo-Tuzla announced’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘About 500 farmers on streets tomorrow’ – also announce the protests. |
| RS pensioners announce protests
| RTRS, PINK – The Chair of RS Pensioners Association, Rade Rakulj, announced protests against the failure to implement the decision of RS National Assembly on increase of pensions. After a session the Governing Board of the Association held in Brcko, Rakulj said that pensions were the same for three months, even though RS NA decided that they should be increased starting from January. |
| Agreement on joint funds for return process in 2005 not signed
| PINK by Dragica Tojagic – The State Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons on Tuesday debated the Entity reports on budgetary expenditures for the requirements of return and housing reconstruction in 2004. Although it was planned, the agreement on joining funds for this year was not signed at the session due to problems with the representatives from RS. This may cause BiH to lose the credit from the CoE’s Development Bank in amount of 16 million KM. FBiH is ready to allocate 4 million, while RS Government suggests to allocate 2.6 million KM, since – according to RS Minister in charge, Jasmin Samardzic, – RS budget for 2005 is able to allocate only that amount. “We are not ready to sign the agreement, since we are restricted by the budget and we can allocate only 2.6 million, while the rest, namely 1.4 million, can be claimed through annex of the agreement in period to follow”, said Samardzic. BiH Deputy Minister in charge, Ivica Marinovic said that RS had reserves, which could be used for this purpose. He suggests RS Government to reallocate necessary means from Alternative Accommodation Fund, since Development Bank loan is directed to the most endangered categories. RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Loan of 24 million KM brought into question’, EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘No BAM 13 million over BAM 1.4 million of RS’ by Mirna Sojaalso reported. |
| Brod Oil Refinery and duties of investor-to-come
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘An import oil circle’ by D.V.M. – The daily writes about Bosanski Brod Oil Refinery, wondering into reasons why BiH authorities do not identify investor in order to re-commence production at this only refinery of BiH. Daily criticises the fact that Croatian INA is the firm, which exports 700 thousand tons of oil to BiH, which makes over a half of BiH needs. It further writes abut duties of investor-to-come. |
| VL: Dutch to purchase Hercegovacka Bank
| Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Dutch want to buy Hercegovacka bank’, by MS – VL learns from an anonymous (female) employee of the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ that the Dutch ‘Poteza’ financial-investment group is interested in possibility of buying the bank. Apparently, representatives of ‘Poteza’ and Bijeljina’s ‘Nova bank’ (owned by Poteza) talked with the bank’s Provisional Administrator, Toby Robinson, and visited the bank’s administration in Mostar on Thursday. They were interested in various aspects of the bank’s operations. |
War crimes | |
| ICMP Chair Kimsey in visit to BiH
| FTV, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘There are yet 22 mass graves in Srebrenica’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Against misuse for political purposes’, Euro Blic RSpg 3 ‘Search without politicization’ by SRNA, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Working group’- The International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP) Chairman James Kimsey visited Tuzla on Tuesday, where he announced the beginning of work of the Missing Persons Institute in BiH. The representatives of the Entity Commissions for missing persons supported the idea of establishing the Institute. Hayat – While addressing at the reception party at the U.S. Embassy to BiH, Kimsey said that the protocol on establishment of institute was above his expectations. US Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney said that, now, after BIH got the best technique for identification of victims, there was possibility for persons to finally find out and tell families what happened to their beloved ones. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Cooperation in resolving of missing persons’ issue’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘SIPA, Prosecution and Police look for missing ones’ by vr covered the meeting that Kimsey had with EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty and they discussed the ways on improving the cooperation between competent BiH agencies for implementation of law and ICMP and they agreed to establish a working group whose task would be coordination in signing of the memorandum on understanding. |
| Both RS and FBiH support the state Institute for Missing Persons
| RTRS – RS Association of Families of Missing Persons welcomed the establishment of the BiH Missing Persons Institute. They demanded that that the director is a person without any political involvement. President of the FBiH Commission for Missing Persons Amor Masovic stated that this institution will halt speculations on number of missing persons and the places were they were reported missing. “It will abolish entity commissions and everything will be put on state level” said Masovic. |
| Decision on pre-trial release for Delic to be taken soon
| FTV, Hayat, Dnevni List pg 3‘Decision on temporary release of Delic soon’by NINA- FBiH Justice Minister Borjana Kristo explained before the ICTY Panel of Judges guarantees given by the FBiH Government for General Rasim Delic and she expects that the court will decide on this issue soon. “I expressed conviction that Rasim Delic will appear before the Tribunal whenever it is required, and I also reminded of past cooperation with our authorities”, said Kristo. |
| Police files report against Danilo Maljukan
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Report field against Danilo and Zeljko Maljukan with Prosecutor’s Office’ by M.C., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Maljukan released’ by D.S. – RS police has filed a report with the Prosecutor’s Office in charge against Danilo Maljukan, the father of Zeljko Maljukan suspected of having been a part of network supporting Radovan Karadzic’s network. Danilo, who has been released from detention after interrogation, has been suspected of committing criminal act of illicit production and trade in arms or explosive devices. According to NN, on the contrary to NATO claims, East Sarajevo PSC inspectors claim they have not found a single counterfeit bank note. |
| RS MoI to present preliminary lists of missing/murdered Serbs from
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Sarajevo list’s turn’ by V.J., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Preliminary list of killed and missing Sarajevo Serbs to be made public today’ – The RS Government Public Affairs Office has announced Tuesday that the representatives of the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs will Wednesday publish the pre-liminary lists of the murdered and missing Serbs from Sarajevo in the period from 1992 to 1995. At the press conference at RS Government Press Centre scheduled for |
| Tolbert from ICTY announces transfer of material to BiH PO
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘The Hague at home’, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Material on crimes against Sarajevo Serbs will be handed to BiH Prosecutor’s Office’ by SRNA, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Prosecutor’s Office also disappointed’ by SRNA, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Matarials on crimes against Serbs in Sarajevo will be forwarded to BiH Prosecution’ – David Tolbert, ICTY Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Tuesday in Belgrade stated that material related to crimes committed against Serbs in Sarajevo during the war will be handed to BiH Prosecutor’s Office, which is in accordance with pull-out strategy of ICTY. On Srebrenica, he said that the Hague Tribunal has determined genocide was committed in Srebrenica, noting that RS Govt. Commission, not |
| RS Government to decide on extension of Srebrenica Task Force on Thursday
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Extension of mandate to be discussed on Thursday’ – At its session scheduled for Thursday, the RS Government is expected to discuss on continuation of work/extension of the mandate of the Task Force for the implementation of the Srebrenica Commission’s conclusions. Head of the Task Force Jovan Spaic told the daily on Tuesday he had still not talk about the issue with RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic and that he would have more precise information on extension of the mandate after the Thursday’s session of the Government. |
| SCG Minister Ljajic: Next to go to the Hague is Mladic | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Next to go to the Hague is Ratko Mladic’, pg 5 ‘We have directed all our strength to arrest Ratko Mladic’ by Indira Catic – SCG Minister for Human Rights and minorities, Rasim Ljajic, in a statement for daily announces the intensifying the search after Ratko Mladic and his extradition to ICTY to ensure SCG is on the path to EU. He adds that SCG expects the assistance from BiH and other countries in this search. Ljajic added that the SCG’s goal is to avoid the situation in which |
Political issues | |
| DL: ‘BiH Presidency getting Croat member on May 4’; SRNA says no name put forward
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘BiH Presidency getting Croat member on May 4’, by D. P. M. – Announces that the BiH House of Representatives has scheduled a session for May 4, at which the issue of filling of the post of Croat member of BiH Presidency should be discussed. Although it is unknown whether the HDZ Presidency will nominate a candidate for the post, the President of HDZ Caucus in the HoR, Vinko Zoric, believes the issue will be solved by May 4. “I am not a member of HDZ Presidency and I do not have an information whether a session (of HDZ Presidency) has been scheduled, but I do not see a reason why it should not be held by May 4. Even if it is not held by then, I think we will elect a new member of BiH Presidency, because the extended Collegium concluded that we would not be prolonging the process any more”, says Zoric. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Still no candidates for Covic’s successor’ – According to Srna news agency, no candidate name has been yet submitted to the BiH Parliament. The HDZ spokesperson, Pero Pavlovic confirmed that the Presidency of the party has not decided on the replacement adding he could not say whether this would be done by 4 May. RHB also reports in the BiH HoR session. |
| VL interview: Doris Pack on internal organization of BiH
| Vecernji List, cover pg splash and pg 5 ‘Abolish the Federation, make canton out of the RS!’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries an interview with the leader of delegation of European parliament for southeastern Europe, Doris pack, in which she talks, among other issues, about the internal organization of BiH. “The so-called cantonization is, in my opinion, most probably the most appropriate solution: the Republika Srpska as a canton, Brcko as the second (canton) and several more (not ten) cantons in the Federation. In any case, it means the Federation of BiH as such disappears. That would help save a lot of money that could be used for better and bigger investments and creation of new jobs. That would in every case strengthen the vertical structure (…) Representatives of the three people must find that solution. Otherwise, it will simply not go. However, one has to say that joining the EU will not happen without changing the internal structure of BiH. Everyone must be clear about this”, says Pack. |
| Oslobodjenje int with Bruce Hitcher: Dayton is not long term solution
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Dayton is an agreement that people should not have actually agreed on’ by Marina Kavaz – Sirucic – In an interview to daily, the representative of the International Peace Institute from Washington, professor Bruce Hitcher who visited BiH together with |
| Paravac: ‘We have to improve relations with Croatia’
| Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘We have to improve relations with Croatia’ by D. Polovina-Mandic carries Serb member of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac who says that there has been an estrangement in the relations between BiH and Croatia and according to Paravac the reasons for such situation are unresolved issue of the Ploce port, Free Trade Agreement and failed attempt to appoint Branko Kvesic a BiH Ambassador to Croatia. Paravac also says that after the cooperation with the EU the biggest BiH priority is extremely good cooperation with neighbors. Paravac added that further estrangement of the relations with Croatia should be stopped as soon as possible and the whole situation should improve. |
| BHT 1 on demands to establish Croat channel
| BHT 1 bySusana Stambol, Martina Kristo-Antelj – The Croat representatives in BiH Parliament and The Association of Croat journalists in BiH demand establishment of the of the Croat-language program as a part of Public Broadcasting System (PBS). This demand is the main reason the law on PBS has been withdrawn from the parliamentary procedure last week, although it is one of the three main conditions from the EU Feasibility Study. On the other hand, Head of the EC delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys believes that it is not the time for separate language programs. OHR and the BiH Ministry of Communications and Transport suggested a compromise solution: the production, editing and broadcasting of the program will be equally carried out in three centres – in Sarajevo , Banjaluka and Mostar. |
| DL op-ed: Croats getting assimilated in BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Assimilation’, by I. Rozic – Commenting on the estimation of the CIA, which says there are around 4 million people currently living in BiH (48% Bosniaks, 37,1% Serbs and 14,3% of Croats), the author says the data shows the decrease in number of the Croats in comparison to the last census. The author notes that many analysis believe that the plan is to decrease the number of Croats in central parts of BiH, whilst in the same time the Serbs and Bosniaks have managed to return to areas once held by the Croats. This triggers the author to say that the powers that be are using all kinds of methods to assimilate the Croats, including the prevention from the right to education in the mother tongue and right to (own) TV channel. |
| SD op-ed: Croat politicians are bad negotiators
| Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Successful ones sweat only when they make deals’ by P. Milos carries an editorial which says that throughout the history Croats have not had successful negotiators and for this reason they used to make bad agreements and the last is the one reached in Dayton. The author says that by signing the Dayton Peace Accord, Croats recognized the RS, which is the result of ethnic cleansing, and they (Croats) eliminated Herceg Bosna ‘which was a framework for the survival of the Croats under such circumstances’. According to the editorial, RS politicians behave like spoiled children, unlike the Croat politicians who fulfill wishes of international officials hoping that someone will notice their loyalty and concessions they make at their own damage, however, is spite of all this, the Serb politicians are being treated more favorably. |
| DA: ‘Ombudsmen’s salaries to postpone beginning of SAA negotiations?’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Ombudsmen’s salaries to postpone beginning of SAA negotiations with EU?’ by H. Orahovac – DA writes that one of the conditions under the Feasibility Study is adoption of the law on state Ombudsmen institution. However, “there is realistic danger that existing institution will be shut down,” reads the article further adding that according to the BiH Ombudsmen, Mariofil Ljubic, CoM has somewhat ignorant stance towards this institution. Ljubic says that the essence of the problem is disagreement between the institution and CoM Chair Adnan Terzic over regulations of the salaries. |
| Petition against Paravac’s attendance on ceremony marking victory over fascism | BHT 1 Armela Subasic – Approximately 5.000 citizens signed the petition against the departure of the BiH Presidency Chairman Borislav Paravac to Moscow to attend the 60th anniversary of victory over fascism on May 9th. This way, citizens expressed their protest because of Paravac’s statement in which he said that he is proud of his chetnik’s origin. Nevertheless, Paravac see no reason for not going to Moscow. “All presidents have been invited, so I, as the Chair of the BiH Presidency see no reason not to go where everybody else will go”, said Paravac. |
Judicial issues | |
| Jelavic remains in custody
| Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Jelavic remains in detention’ by N. Dedic – The Special Appellate Council of the BiH Court accepted the appeal of the BiH Prosecution for extension of the detention for former HDZ President Ante Jelavic for the Croat self-rule case and it returned the subject to the Panel of Judges deciding on procedural matters. An inset in DL ‘Detention has been demanded although bill of indictment has been halved’ ‘ carries Jelavic’s lawyer Josip Muselimovic as saying that the detention for Jelavic was not demanded at the time when the bill of indictment for the Croat self-rule case was whole, and Muselimovic does not understand as to why there is such demand now when the bill of indictment has been halved. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Decision on Jelavic’s pre-trial release abolished’ by Z. Kresic also covered this issue and the article says that persons close to Jelavic believe that the aforementioned decision has been politically motivated. Hayat, FTV – also reports on decision. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14, mentioned on cover ‘Jelavic to be released in 20 days?’ by Z. Tulic According to the article it is not very possible that the verdict for the Hercegovacka Banka case will be passed in the next two weeks and this means that Jelavic might be on pre-trail release as of May 19. FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Request for Jelavic’s detention to be reconsidered (Appeal Council rejected Jelavic’s complaint)’also report. |
| Bjeljina District Court annuls verdicts in ‘Orao affair’ case
| RTRS by Tihomir Joksimovic – Upon the appeal by the accused, the District Court in Bijeljina annulled previously passed verdict at Bijeljina Basic Court in the case of “Orao” affair. Previously, five indictees from Orao Institute and an RS Army General were sentenced from five to seventeen months of imprisonment after being accused of illegal production, transport and sale of arms to Iraq during UN embargo. Six customs employees were imprisoned from four to six months. The RS Defence Ministry’s Commission on the work of Orao Institute was acquitted of any responsibility by the verdict of first degree. The entire case will be transferred to the First Degree Court unless Court reaches a different decision. BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Re-trial of 17 indictees’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Orao case to go on re-trial’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Orao” again before the Court’ by Z.Kusmuk -also reported. |
| BiH Prosecution to investigate spending of int. donations to BiH
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Investigation on spending of BAM 12 billion of donation demanded’ by M.Cubro – Jozo Krizanovic, member of the BiH Parliament Commission investigating spending of international donations to BiH stated that BiH Parliament has demanded from the BiH Prosecutor’s Office to open investigation on these expenditures. Edita Pejovic, Spokesperson of the BiH Prosecution, is not aware as to |
| Update to SDS-PDP dispute over “Srpske Sume” | Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘PDP: SDS has not chosen a right path in “forest” case” by V.P. – Vinko Radovanovic, member of PDP Presidency, in reaction to recent demand of SDS Ribnik officials regarding appointment of SDS official at Ribnik Forest Unit of “Srpske Sume” stated that SDS has failed to choose a right manner of taking over leading positions at “Srpske Sume” from PDP. He stated: “The political interference in appointment of personnel issues is inadmissible, bearing in mind there is an institution of vacancy announcement, which must be respected.” |