Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 27 April
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| BiH HoR rejects const. chgs amend. | BiH HoR rejects amendments | BiH HoR fails to adopt con. amend. |
| Hays on const. chgs in | US IfP debate on const. changes | RS Chief Audit staff under pressure |
| ICTY: Trial agst 6 Croats continues | Strike in ‘Zina’ factory – | NATO Ministers in session in |
TV news broadcast on 26 April
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| No Transmission | BIH HoR session | Live report from BiH HoR session |
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| EU and US officials on amendments | Comments on BiH HoR session |
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| Trial to Prlic and others | HR on BiH HoR session |
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| SIPA arrests 2 war crime suspects | BiH HoP session postponed |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BIH HoR on const. amendments | Live report from BiH HoR session | Agreement on ITA funds reached |
| IC on BIH HoR’s session on amend. |
| Police Reform Directorate session |
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| BIH HoR session |
| OSCE on constitutional reforms |
| SIPA arrests 2 war crime suspects |
| Oslobodjenje | Parliament declined change of BiH Constitution |
| Dnevni Avaz | Constitutional changes failed in the Parliament |
| Dnevni List | Three reports on conflict of interest per day (feature on Law on conflict of interest) |
| Vecernji List | Quarrels about Constitution (BiH HoR session) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | People of |
| Nezavisne Novine | Drama in the Parliament [delegates did not vote for const. changes] |
| Glas Srpske | Rolling in the same mud [fate of const. changes still unknown] |
| EuroBlic | People do not know what they are eating [RS still without law on genetically modified products] |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| HDZ 1990’ Zoric said no one could be blamed for failure to adopt const. changes
| BH Radio 1 by Mirsad Bajtarevic – Commenting the failure of the BiH House of Representative to endorse the constitutional changes, the Head of HDZ 1990 Caucus Vinko Zoric, whose party voted against the amendments, said that no one could be accused because the changes haven’t passed. “If two of us have voted for and there would be 28 [votes] no one would be for crediting nor anyone is too blame here. MPs are voting by their own conscious” said Zoric. Radio news broadcast by |
| RS Independent Board issues vacancy for RS police director
| RTRS – The RS Independent Board for selection of RS police director has today issued a vacancy for selection of Director. Apart from general requirements stipulated by the Laws, candidates must meet special requirements: faculty diploma from Law or Security Faculty, state exam passed, at least 8 years of experience in police force (5 on management positions), not a member of any political party. The deadline for submission of applications is 15 days following publication of vacancy. |
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| FENA – The |
| HSS regrets HoR’s failure to adopt const. changes | FENA – HSS also issued a press release expressing its regret due to absence of progress with regard to the constitutional changes, adding the amendments would have received the support if negotiators and the International Community had more understanding for objective concern of the Croat people and their representatives in the Parliament since a proposal of the amendment that preserves entity way of voting damages the Croat people. |
Constitutional reform | |
| BiH HoR fails to adopt amendments to Constitution – 26 MPs voted in favour, 16 against; main objection: entity voting
| BHT1 and RTRS late news reports – The session of BiH House of Representatives on the amendments to the BiH Constitution ended on Wednesday night at |
| List of MPs who voted against the proposed amendments
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash and pg 2 ‘Constitutional changes failed in the Parliament’ by H.Orahovac– BiH HoR MPs who voted against proposed constitutional amendments are: SBiH Caucus [Beriz Belkic, Nijaz Durakovic, Mehmed Suljkanovic, Adem Huskic, Azra Hadziahmetovic and Senija Kapetanovic], Croat Caucus [Vinko Zoric, Martin Raguz, Ruza Sopta, Filip Andric and Ivo Lozancic], independent MP Sead Avdic, Republican Mladen Potocnik, |
| Media on debate in HoR: pre-election campaign, changing opinions all the time
| Hayat by Alem Karamesic – Commenting the debate in the BiH House of Representatives on the constitutional reform, Hayat criticized MPs for their “carelessness” toward this issue, ironically adding if debate had been present at the session as much as they spent time on breaks, the amendments would have been adopted so far. FTV Sinan Saric – FTV commented the debate was led in very harsh manner, adding that none of the deputies are willing to give in. BHT 1 says that a number of deputies were changing their opinion the times. PINK by Jovanka Nina Stevanovic – PINK comments that deputies were more into their pre-election campaigns than the constitutional reforms. Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Quarrels about Constitution’ and pg 3 ‘Unseen lobbying and pressure on Constitution’, by Dejan Jazvic, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Numerous lobbying in order to exit stalemate’, by D. P. Mandic – both VL and DL articles’ main message was that the session of BiH HoR was marked with lobbying with MPs, foremost by the IC, the aim of which was to secure the necessary majority. Both articles carry statements by McElhaney, Almhofer and Humphreys. |
| IC officials do not hide disappointment with outcome of the BiH HoR’s session; EC’s Humphreys: We still have to talk about this if BiH is to move on
| Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Parliament declined change of BiH Constitution’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Amendments to BiH Constitution declined’ by Aldijana Omeragic and Sanita Rozajac– After the BiH House of Representatives rejected proposed amendments to BiH Constitution, daily says that signatories of the Agreement and IC officials weren’t able to hide the disappointment. “On behalf of the |
| HR
| BHT1 – High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schillingstated that he is disappointed because BiH House of Representatives deputies did not use the opportunity and adopted the proposed amendments to BiH Constitution on Tuesday. “The EU is observing if BiH can make a progress here or not. The failure of this progress will send out a negative signal to the EU, but also to the citizens of BiH”, stated HR. FTV, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘EU monitors if BiH can make a step forward’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 inset ‘To Europe now or in four years’ by |
| SD: OHR has reservations towards proposed solutions
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Support to constitutional changes’, by Zlatko Tulic – the author notices that many ambassadors accredited in Sarajevo attended the BiH HoR’s session, however it was not the case with “numerous senior officials of the OHR”. SD goes on to say that some information have it that the OHR has substantial reservations towards the proposed solutions, which has been evident in last one year since they (OHR) distanced themselves from the talks on constitutional reforms. |
| SDA officials: BiH missed great opportunity
| Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Parliament declined change of BiH Constitution’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Amendments to BiH Constitution declined’ by Aldijana Omeragic and Sanita Rozajac – SDA leader Sulejman Tihic said: “Those who were against changes, who are for preserving of the current status have won. And what next- ask them”. SDA Vice-President Sefik Dzaferovic said, “BIH has missed a great opportunity”. |
| SDA’s Zilic: I told Sulejman Tihic he should not go for const. changes before abolishment of RS insignia
| BHT1 Vanja Filipovic – Covering the debate in the BiH House of Representatives held, BHT 1 says SDA deputy Muhamed Zilic decided to oppose the official stance of his party and vote against the proposed amendments, which was the great surprise. He was reported as stating that he was under great pressure from the IC officials. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Parliament rejected amendments to BiH Constitution’ by Aldijana Omeragic and Sanita Rozajac – Zilic also commented: “A year ago I told [SDA leader Sulejman] Tihic that he should not go for constitutional changes, but for abolishment of RS insignia… and to wait outcome of lawsuit against |
| DL: SDA’s Zilic refused proposed changes in order to get even with Tihic who sacked him from his office
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Zilic’s revenge against party colleagues’, by R. Dautefendic – according to DL, reasons why Mehmed Zilic (SDA) refused to support the changes lie in the fact that he could not forgive his party boss (Tihic) for not supporting him to become a member of SDA Presidency (Zilic was member of SDA Presidency in its last composition) and because he removed him from the office of advisor to (Bosniak) member of BiH Presidency over some bad advices Zilic had given. Finally, DL says that SDA suspect that Zilic has been promised something by the ‘Patriotic Block’, which is led by SBIH. |
| Fokus source at SDA claims Zilic voted against constitutional changes owing to his agreed transfer to SDU
| Fokus pg 3, announced on cover ‘Grab the necks!’ by B.Gagula – Daily’s source from SDA claims that Muhamed Zilic, SDA delegate at the BiH Parliament, has agreed on his transfer from SDA to SDU of BiH, owing to which reason he has failed to obey SDA policy discipline. The source also adds that Zilic failed to support constitutional changes because a denunciation has been filed against him in relation with assassination against Jozo Leutar, and his party leader, Sulejman Tihic, failed to provide protection to ZIlic, as he expected. |
| HDZ 1990’ Raguz proposed continuation of debate
| BHT1 Marina Martinovic – Commenting the BiH HoR’s session, the Speaker Martin Raguz from HDZ 1990 stated the best solution of the present situation would be to postpone the vote and continue with debate: “The Constitution is obviously much more complicated and complex issue that assumed by those who were preparing it”. SBiH leader Safet Halilovic stated he feels someone is trying to exhaust the HoR deputies in order to ensure a positive decision. Hayat Alem Karamesic – Hayat carries Zilic saying he was under the pressure in the last 24 hrs, but adding he considers those to be well intentioned. |
| RS President Cavic: worst message that could be heard from BiH; deems that there is no alternative in some time soon
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘The worst message’ not signed– RS President Dragan Cavic stimated that rejection of amendments to BiH Constitution as the worst possible message that could be heard from the BiH. “This was the chance that after 11 years in very specific circle the agreement is reached on solutions that are first of all domestic, and not a decision of the IC. I do not believe that alternative could be seek in some time soon and the only thing that remains is for those that voted against to gather and find common language that would satisfy everyone” emphasized Cavic. |
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| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘They have stopped the progress’ not signed– |
| PDP Ivanic: in next few years there will be no chance for reaching of the consensus
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘New chance questionable’ not signed– PDP leader and BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic said that BiH would be in far worst situation then it was. “Solutions that were proposed were better from what we had so far. Because of that I do not understand why some MPs have voted against. One is certain, new chance to enter the process of talks no longer exists. It is certain that in next couple of years there will be no chances for the compromise to be reached in BiH” said Ivanic. |
| SNSD Spiric: Debate in Parliament shows relations in country
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Rolling in mud’ by Z.D. – Daily says the words of SNSD’ Nikola Spiric describe the best the atmosphere at BiH HoR regarding discussion on constitution amendments. Spiric has stated: “During the first day of session, Serbs could have left it since it was told – inter alia – that even a Serb may be a president if he is honest. This speaks enough of current relations, but I think there is no need to again roll in the mud.” Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Amendments rejected’ by M.Cubro – also carries the statement. |
| RTRS: IC officials held consultations with parties during the Parliament’s debate
| RTRS by Branka Kusmuk – RTRS unofficially learns that the |
| SNSD’s Dodik: Signatories of Agreement on Constitutional Changes offered solution to annul fears from entity voting / Raguz and Belkic opposed
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Drama in the Parliament’ by M. Cubro – SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated, after consultations on constitutional changes the signatories of the Agreement on Constitutional Changes have held with Croat delegates and delegates of the Party for BiH on Wednesday, it was obvious there is an obstruction to the adoption of amendments to BiH Constitution. He explained that the signatories have offered compromise solution that would annul fears from entity voting and HoR and explained the solution foresaw that, in case all delegates of one of the Caucuses at HoP voted against a law adopted at HoR, the law would be considered as rejected without any need to proclaim it as detrimental for the vital national interest and without the need to forward it to the Constitutional Court. Dodik confirmed delegate of Croat Caucus Martin Raguz and Party for BiH’s Beriz Belkic have rejected this proposal. Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Rolling in the same mud’ by Z. D. Inset ‘Additional offer’ – Referring to the above-mentioned solution, |
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| Hayat – According to |
| Croat Caucus reject
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Constitutional changes failed in Parliament’ by H.Orahovac – Article carries that in order to find solution to protect Croat from outvoting, |
| Media note MPs under great pressure from IC officials
| BHT 1 said that the pressure of the International Community officials on the deputies to adopt the constitutional changes was great. PINK reports that the |
| IC press conference prior HoR session: NO second phase before the first one is completed
| FTV Zeljko Tica – At the joint press conference held on Wednesday prior to the BiH HoR session, |
| OSCE Chair notes importance of const. reform
| FTV by Nikolina Veljovic – The Chair of OSCE and Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht visited BiH on Wednesday, and he met the Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and members of the BiH Presidency. De Gucht stressed that the constitutional changes in BiH represent an important step forward. He emphasized a need for full cooperation with the ICTY, and implementation of police, education and judicial reforms. De Gucht stated that, with the closure of the OHR, the role of OSCE in promoting democratic values would become even stronger. Hayat by Zumra Arnautovic – Chair of the BIH Presidency Sulejman Tihic told press conference after the meting they discussed the constitutional changes in a context of “the positive signal showing that BIH Authorities are ready to take the control in their hands”. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH is on the crossroad’, mentioned on cover ‘Entities’ authorities have to decrease’ By S.Skuletic– In a statement for DA, De Gucht emphasised that in further reforms BiH authorities have to work on strengthening of state and local levels of power: “Entities by themselves do not represent any obstacle if the state level has authorities to decide on main issues…But, result of entities existence cannot be ethnical divisions…” BHT1, PINK, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Head of OSCE calls on adoption of amendments’ by A.S, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘OSCE Mission still necessary’ not signed– also reported. |
| Hays: Proposed changes are not sufficient enough in long run; BiH needs functional state authorities
| Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Hays: changes are not sufficient in long run’, not signed – carries one of initiators of constitutional changes and former PDHR, Donald Hays, as saying that the proposed solutions are not sufficient enough in the long run, arguing that the proposed changes are about start of a long process. He argues BiH, if it wants to move forward, has to build functional state authorities. [The discussion on respecting of human rights, return of refuges and constitutional changes was held in the US Peace Institute in |
| Osl. op-ed: People grew old waiting for constitutional changes
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Life is not in the Constitution’ op-ed by Gojko Beric– Commenting on process of constitutional reform, as well as debate that was lead in BiH House of Representatives regarding the proposed amendments, Beric comments disputes of politicians can be seen as democratic process, since “it is lead in name of some principles”. But, as Beric noted “not even the most perfect Constitution would make BiH a state if its society is sick”, emphasising that it is of great importance for citizens to identify with the country, which seems to be the problem that BiH cannot solve. “Life is not in the Constitution. Stalin’s Constitution was believed to be the best in the world and darker life then it was in Stalin’s |
Economic and other political issues | |
| BiH Fiscal Council unblocks ITA single account; RS PM Dodik says he would not withdraw lawsuit vs.
| RTRS by Radan Skipina – The BiH Fiscal Council – in attendance of the three Prime Ministers – on Wednesday reached an agreement on temporary allocation of public revenues from Indirect Taxation Administration’s single account which will unblock the payments to the FBiH, RS and Brcko District. The agreement has been verified by the ITA’s Steering Board. Final decision on allocation coefficients should be reached by 20 June, until when 2005 coefficients would be in use. RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated the final decision will be made on a base of the VAT returns and would be implemented as of July 1. The BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic said the agreement was reached by a consensus. FBIH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic also said that everything could be completed by June 30 and added that no one would be damaged in the process. Reporter comments the revenues from the single account should be available as of Thursday. ITA Director Kemal Causevic confirmed that there is around 225 million KM on the account. RTRS says that despite the agreement Dodik confirmed that he would not revoke the lawsuit against Chair of ITA’s Steering Board Joly |
| ITA SB Chair
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dixon: Dodik can go to the court but all decisions are legal’ by M.K.– Chair of Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board Joly Dixon stated that he is satisfied with the compromise that was reached, but that he will be even more satisfied in June when the final decision is passed. He stated that it is necessary to hire independent audit house to determine real situation and whether someone was damaged in distribution of coefficients. Commenting statement of RS Prime- Minister Milorad Dodik who said that he will not withdrawn the lawsuit against Dixon- Dixon said that he is “pretty certain” that he hasn’t assed any illegal decisions. “If PM Dodik wants to go to the court, he can do that, but all decisions that ITA SB has passed were passed unanimously or by voting that includes votes of Finance Ministers” said |
| FBiH HoR rejects law on financial police
| BHT1 – FBiH House of Representatives rejected the Draft amendments of the Law on FBIH Financial Police. According to this draft proposed by FBiH Government, the authorities of FBiH financial police would be significantly decreased. FBiH HoR postponed the voting on proposed amendments to law on civil victims of war. The amendments were proposed by FBiH Government, but FBiH HoR deputies submitted a certain number of addenda. Main subject of dispute is the basis of financial support to civil victims of war, camp prisoners and victims of raping. Associations of civil war victims and some HoR deputies demand that the basis for this support should be 70% of the financial support paid to the disabled war veterans. Hayat By Nebojsa Hadzibajric – Reporter stated that FBIH Minister of Labour and Social Policy Radovan Vignjevic was visibly enraged by the fact that the law on victims that would for first time include civilians, was not adopted. SDA deputy Nermina Kapetanovic stated this law stipulated the equal treatment of all victims of the war. Reporter stressed that status of the civil victims of war varies from canton to canton. It was concluded that supporters of this law should organise the discussion in order to propose amendments that would be sent in parliamentary procedure. FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Amendments to Law on financial police refuzed’ Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Adoption of law on social policy postponed’ by S.Se. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Raped women and inmates still without legal rights’ by A.Hadziarapovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Law on financial police rejected’ by R.C., Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Government does not have additional 18 millions KM’ by M. Zorlak – also reported. |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Eight out of nine local members supports single police’ by E.Sarac – Daily learns that the Steering Board of the Police Reform Directorate ( |
| BiH
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Delegates voted non-confidence in F BiH Government’ by Fena – BiH |
| DA op-ed: FBiH Government still in power only thanks to the fact that there are only 5 months left before general elections
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Government in minority’ by A. Hadziarapovic criticizes the FBiH Government and says that the FBiH Government exists on paper only because it does not have the majority support not only in the FBiH House of Representatives but also in the public. The author also believes that the FBiH Parliament is also responsible for the current situation in the FBiH since it has been tolerating idleness of the FBiH Government and it did not sanction violation of legislative authorities’ stands. The author concludes that the FBiH Government is still in power only thanks to the fact that none serious person would agree to assume a ministerial position in the FBiH Government 5 months before the general elections. |
| DL: 396 officials had to resign due to conflict of interest
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 8 ‘Three reports on conflict of interest per day’, by Danijela Kozina – carries a feature story on application of Law on conflict of interest, which is being carried out by the BiH Central Election Commission. The Commission’s spokeswoman, Maksida Bajramovic, notes that so far 396 officials resigned on basis of the law, of which 217 self-willingly and 179 at order of the Commission. Bajramovic also noted that the Commission had been receiving numerous reports on existence of conflict of interest, some 2-3 reports per day. |
| Bishop Nikolaj: Serb Orthodox Church supports RS authorities re entity insignia
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Support to RS authorities from Belgrade’, not signed – In an statement for Belgrade-based ‘Politika’, the Bishop Dabrobosanski Nikolaj, stated that he was taken aback by the BiH Constitutional Court’s decision that contested the constitutionality of entity symbols. The bishop stressed that the Serb Orthodox Church supported the RS authorities to preserve the (RS) insignia. |
| SD: Revived Croat political scene could improve low turnout of Croat electorate
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17, mentioned on front ‘Capljina and central Bosnia turned back on Covic’, by Marko Karacic – comments on situation pertaining to the Croat political scene in BiH following the establishment of the HDZ 1990, saying that the HDZ BiH cannot count on blank support of the Croat electorate any more. Karacic reminds that the HDZ BiH of Capljina and central |
| European Parliaments’ Pack asks visa relaxations for western Balkans states | Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Visa relaxations for Western Balkans’ by |
War crimes and security issues | |
| NATO Commander, Advisor meet RS President/RSNA Speaker: Karadzic, Mladic’s extraditions a condition for BiH’s PfP membership
| RTRS by Momcilo Ostojic – The Commander of the NATO in BIH, General Louis Weber, and NATO Advisor Raffi Gregorian met the RS President Dragan Cavic and RS National Assembly Speaker Igor Radojicic in Banja Luka on Wednesday.They discussed NATO’s role in restructuring of the BiH Armed Forces, police reform and constitutional amendments. Radojicic stated that RS NA Security and Defence Board would hold a session in May to discuss the course of the defence reform discussed. Weber stressed that Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic must be arrested for BIH to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme. He also stated that that there is no clear evidence on Mladic and Karadzic’s whereabouts and added that until the evidence is conclusive PfP will not be offered to BIH. Dnevni List pg 6 ‘NATO concerned about terrorists’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Without information about indictees’ by F also carries that Weber stated that he receives the information on the ground of which he should be concerned about possible terrorist activities that might represent a threat to NATO, EUFOR and other representatives of the International Community. PINK, BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘NATO has no precise evidences that Karadzic and Mladic are not in BiH’ Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘NATO has no information that Karadzic and Mladic are in BiH’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Evidence is not firm’ by Z.M., Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘NATO does not know whether Karadzic and Maldic are in BiH’ by V.Popovic, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘NATO does not know where Karadzic and Mladic are’ by R.R.– also covered. |
| ICTY Prosecutor’s Spokesperson Nikiforov: deadline for extradition of Mladic is end of April
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Deadline for extradition of Ratko Mladic had not been changed’ by Agencies, Vecernje Novosti pg 3 ‘Kostunica knows the date’ by M. V. Inset ‘Promise – end of April’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Del Ponte insists for Mladic to be in The Hague by end of April’ by Sense – carry statement of Antun Nikiforov, the Spokesperson of Chief ICTY Prosecutor, who said the deadline for extradition of Ratko Mladic remains the end of April. At the same time, Nikiforov denied media speculations saying the deadline might be postponed for the beginning or mid May [Belgrade daily ‘Danas’ reported that Mladic is to be arrested by May 11, as EU would postpone deadline for arrest]. |
| SiCG Defence Minister Stankovic: Mladic and other indictees are not hiding in military facilities
| Vecernje Novosti pg 3 ‘Kostunica knows the date’ by M. V.,Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Pursuit for Mladic is in process’ by B.Boskov – SiCG Defence Minister Zoran Stankovic on Wednesday denied Ratko Mladic or any other Hague indictee is hiding in military facilities, nor members of SiCG Defence Ministry and Army are helping them. Asked about the date on which the arrest of Mladic could be expected, Stankovic shortly stated ‘many dates are being mentioned, but PM Vojislav Kostunica, who had made the promise, knows it [the date]’. |
| Trial to Prlic and others; Prosecutor says that goal is to prove Tudjamn’s intention to annex parts of BiH to
| PINK – The trial of six ex Bosnian Croat political/military leaders [Bruno Stojic, Valentin Coric, Slobodan Praljak, Milivoj Petkovic, Berislav Pusic and Jadranko Prlic] charged with crimes against humanity committed against non-Croats in areas of so called Herceg-Bosna started before the ICTY on Wednesday [26 April]. BHT1 –The Court Council limited presentations of both defence and prosecution arguments to one year each. Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Prosecutor announced proving connection between Tudjman and Herceg-Bosna’ by A.Beslija – In his opening statement, prosecutor Kenneth Scott said there was a connection between late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Herceg-Bosna leadership to annex some parts of BiH to Croatia.Dnevni List, back pg ‘Muslims do not give up Croat provinces’, by V. Soldo – DL says prosecutor Scott noted he would prove HVO wanted to place BiH Army under its command, “which was unacceptable to Muslims”. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Scott: Criminal act intended to make Franjo Tudjman’s dream of Greater Croatia come true’ by F.Vele Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Indictment tailored in accordance with transcripts’, by Goran Jungwirth– also covered. |
| SIPA arrests two war crimes suspects upon BiH Prosecution warrant
| RTRS by Dejana Radovanovic – Sarenac – The members of SIPA arrested Goran and Zoran Damjanovic in |
| Pasko Ljubicic’s defence objects to the trial in BiH
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Ljubicic doesn’t want trial in BiH’ by Onasa Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Pasko Ljubicic’s defence appealed’ by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Ljubicic appealed because of transfer of case’, by HINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘Ljubicic does not want to go court in BiH’, by H, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Ljubicic appealed because of trials in BiH’, by H – Pasko Ljubicic, a former member of HVO charged with war crimes committed against Bosniaks in central Bosnia in 1993, appealed against ICTY’s decision to refer his case onto the BiH judiciary. He claims the BiH judiciary cannot guarantee him a fair, swift and safe trial. |
| DA:
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Blagojevic interesting to SIPA for war crimes in Bijeljina’ by H.O– As DA learned MP of Serb Radical Party in BiH House of Representatives Mirko Blagojevic arrived late to the session on Tuesday, because he was on “informative interview with officials of SIPA War Crime Department”. “It is true that agents, if they are called like that, from the War Crime Department have announced to come to Bijeljina and conduct informative interview. As I was told, they are interested for war crimes conducted in Bijeljina” said Blagojevic. However, Blagojevic denies that he was with SIPA agents in time of the session, but didn’t want to explain why he was late. |
| Commission for Defence and Security Policy: EUFOR breached its mandate while arresting Dragomir Abazovic
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘EUFOR breached its mandate’ by Srna – The joint Commission for defence and security policy of both Houses of BiH Parliament on Wednesday assessed the case of arrest of Dragomir Abazovic [war crimes indictee, who was wounded in the arrest action of EUFOR in Rogatica on January 5 this year. Dragomir’s son was wounded too, while his wife was killed in the action] was not in accordance with EUFOR mandate. Commission Chair Bosko Siljegovic stated the Commission members concluded during the session that no police action participated in the arrest of Abazovic. |
| EU Parliament condemns BiH authorities for handing over Algerian group to US
| International Herald Tribune ‘EU inquiry links 1,000 flights to |