OHR BiH Media Round-up, 27/6/2002

Headlines in Print Media

Oslobodjenje: Federation Defense Ministers Mijo Anic – If dismissed soldiers do not receive severance pays, I will resign

Dnevni Avaz: Money intended for Srebrenica stolen

Jutarnje Novine: Negotiations between the Trade Unions and Steering Board of the Zenica BH Steel Company – The rest depends on the Government

Dnevni List: Interview with Federation Customs Administration Director Zelimir Rebac – Affairs under the patronage of high-ranking political and economic lobbies; Interview with Federation Defense Minister Mijo Anic – Buljubasic is the biggest parallelism in the Ministry

Vecernji List: BiH Republican Party President Stjepan Kljujic on disagreements among the governing political parties – The Alliance has fallen appart

Glas Srpski: Criteria for allocation of housing credits established: Rates without mortgage; New York: What suspicious ones read?

Nezavisne Novine: Floods in Southern Russia: 80 000 people evacuated; Will finance police enter premises of Federation Defense Ministry? – Who sees Mijo Anic as an obstacle?

FRY Nacional: Kostunica runs for a president of Serbia; Labus gave up his candidacy

Blic: Pensioners do not want their pension in installments; Cavic, a candidate for president; Sonja Pastuovic: OHR monitors the Customs, tax administrations and finances

Vecernje Novosti: Lieutenant General Branko Krga: Everything is in place  

Disputes inside the BiH Federation Government, Defense Ministry: Anic to resign if the dismissed soldiers do not receive severance pays

The Federation Defense Minister, Mijo Anic, said in an interview for Oslobodjenje (front-page, pages 4-5) that the irresponsible delaying of presidential decision about the new structure of the BiH federation Army was creating bad atmosphere in the barracks. He aloe reiterated he would resign if the dismissed soldiers do not receive severance pays by the end of this month. “In that case I will immediately offered my resignation to the party, since, in my opinion, it is about moral responsibility,” Anic said.

Dnevni List (front and page 5)carries an interview with the Federation Defence Minister Mijo Anic in which he reiterates the previous statements that there could be not even talks about the abolishment of the components of the Federation Army as recently stated byhis deputy Ferid Buljubasic and Beriz Belkic, the Chair of BiH Presidency. Anic says that the components must remain as long as there is another component in the country. “If we agree to abolish all the components, that’s different, but there has to be a consensus. One cannot go for simple abolishment”. Talking about the issue of his deputy requesting an audit of the Croat component Anic says that the issue illustrates the parallelisms the best. “It cannot happen that my deputy leaves without my knowledge and does what he did”. Regarding the payment of severance pays, when questioned as to who would be responsible if the pays are not paid out by July 1, Anic says that it is the (Federation) Finance Ministry that has to secure the funds for the severance pays. “As far as the army is concerned, we will do what is required from us: people, selection and voluntary discharges. We did it all”. FYI, Slobodna Dalmacija (page 14) under title “After Grabovac, Anic leaves too”,carries an article on the situation in the Federation MoD saying that the SBiH wants to throw a final punch against the Croat cadres in the Alliance thus creating the Federation into a Bosniak exclusivity. The article itself retells reports and quotes published in other Croat(ian) newspapers over the last few days.

The Chief Inspector of the BiH Financial Police, Zufer Dervisevic, expects the authorized prosecution office to, by Friday at the latest, make its stand regarding the Federation President Safet Halilovic’s request for launching an investigation into the financial operations of the BiH Federation Army’s Croat component (Dnevni Avaz – p 9). Commenting on the request, Anic told the newspaper that he did not mind such the financial police action.

Dnevni List (front and page 3) carries short interview with Zeljko Rebac, Director of Customs Administration in Federation BiH. Rebac, who is on this position for less then ten days, after removing or deploying several officials from his office and filing criminal charges against companies that trade with meat and oil, said that he has made a strategic line which should eliminate possibilities that bad things happen again. Rebac reported 71 employee of Customs Administration for misusing their position in importing automobiles. “There are indications that show that economic, financial and political lobbies are on the top of affairs that we open now. Especially from the period of previous SDA-HDZ government”, Rebac said and added: “I have just opened a case in which the amount is three times bigger then what is needed for redundancy pay off for demobilised soldiers. And those are the structures that swear in the name of the Croat thing (cause)”.

Ashdown wants economic reforms to be accelerated: PDHR Hays send letter to Mikerevic, Ivanic and Behmen; Other OHR-related news

According to Dnevni Avaz (p 2, Sead Numanovic), the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, on Wednesday sent a letter to the BiH Council of Ministers Chairman, Dragan Mikerevic, and Entity’s Prime Ministers, Alija Behmen and Mladen Ivanic, in which he expressed OHR’s concern about the State and Entities’ Parliaments failure to pass laws allowing the creation of a single BiH economic space. “A single economic space in BiH is needed to reach prosperity, create new jobs and raise living standard,” Hays said in the letter.

“If he could be nominated even for some of the highest-ranking posts, Paddy Ashdown would have probably won more votes than any Bosniak political leader. But, since the new High representative is not Lord of Bosnia, the things will go under the seen forms: citizens will again vote for failed political projects, and the protectorate syndrome will more and more be a characteristic of their mentality,” Gojko Beric wrote in the Oslobodjenje (p 2) editorial.

At the Wednesday’ session of the BiH Federation House of Representatives, the Federation Minister of Urban Planning, Ramiz Mehmedagic, requested OHR to annul all illegal allocations of plots made from 1992-2002. He also called on High Representative Paddy Ashdown to support an urgent adoption of the restitution law at the state level. (Dnevni Avaz, p 4, Almina Pilav – Adi Hadziarapovic)

Commenting for FENA news agency a Mehmedagic’s statement that OHR had approved allocation of approximately 80,000 plots in the RS, OHR Spokesman Oleg Milisic said there was a general ban of land allocation, except in the cases approved by OHR. He emphasized that the had been some 50 such cases (Dnevni Avaz – p 4, Oslobodjenje – p 6)  

BiH Presidency on the BiH/FRY/Croatia Summit; Mikerevic on Road Map requirements fulfillment

At its session held in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the BiH Presidency concluded that the initiative on the BiH/FRY/Croatia Summit was welcomed not only by the three countries but also by the wider regional and European political circles. Serb member of the Presidency, Zivko Radisic, told journalists following the session it was planned that the Summit takes place in the second half of July in Sarajevo. With this regard, the BiH Council of Ministers has been tasked to intensify preparations for the event (Oslobodjenje – p 6, Dnevni Avaz – p 8)

The Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Dragan Mikerevic, told Dnevni Avaz (p 2) that, by July 5, BiH might fulfill 17 out of 18 Road Map requirements. “I will request the BiH House of Representatives’ Chairman to call an extraordinary session at which the laws imposed by the High Representative would be adopted under the urgent procedure. This would create conditions for fulfillment of the 17 requirements. The remaining one is the law on PBS also imposed by the High Representative,” Mikerevic said.

How was the money provided for Srebrenica by the Dutch Government spent?

 According to Dnevni Avaz (front-page, p 12), a total of 3,630,421 euro was allocated in 1995 and 1996 for the provision of temporary accommodation to the displaced families from Srebrenica. During the same years, almost a half of a million of these funds was spent in the reconstruction of the Tuzla water supplying system. Moreover, in the same years, the Sarajevo-based Helsinki Committee and the Tuzla Civic Forum received from the Dutch Government a financial assistance of up to 197,000 euro.

UN Peacekeeping operation in BiH held hostage to US fears

In an Op-Ed piece titled “Peacekeeping Held Hostage” The New York Times strongly criticizes  the White House for endangering the UN peacekeeping missions in BiH and Kosovo by “bowing to conservatives who have a knee-jerk reaction to any international body that has even the most remote authority to tell the US what to do.” “The Bush Administration should withdraw its dangerous attempt to hold [UN peacekeeping operations across the world] hostage to its paranoia about the International Criminal Court.”

Meanwhile, BBC and The Times report that a coalition of groups supporting the ICC has urged the UN Security Council to reject American demands to exempt US peacekeepers from its jurisdiction. “Approval would have a far-reaching and devastating effect on International Law,” the coalition said in an open letter to the UNSC. A UN source in BiH told The Times that the new High Representative in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, also expressed concern that the dispute could close its operations in the country. “If this led to the IPTF being withdrawn it would be very serious.”

BiH Federation House of Representatives postpones making decision on the appointment of new ministers 

At its session in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the BiH Federation House of Representatives did not consider at all the appointment of the new Federation Ministers, Franjo Franjic (Finance) and Omer Djug (Social Welfare and Refugees). It was announced that the issue will be considerd at the next session in mid July (Oslobodjenje – p 7, Dnevni Avaz – p 4)

Dnevni Avaz reads that acting President of HDZ BiH Barisa Colak sent exact instructions to HDZ members of House of Representative in the Federation Parliament to vote against Franjo Franjic who was proposed as candidate for position of Federation Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finances.

Pre-election news: SDP’s aim is to beat the nationalistic political parties; Sarovic, Kadic run for the Presidency

“Strategic goals of the BiH SDP is to win the October elections and defeat the nationalistic political parties for the second time in the past two years,” the party Vice-president, Ivo Komsic, said at a press conference in Sarajevo on Wednesday (Oslobodjenje – p 8).

At a press conference in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the LDS President Rasim Kadic announced he would possibly run for the Bosniak member of the Presidency in the October elections (Oslobodjenje – p 8).

Both Banja Luka dailies carry reports on yesterday’s session of the SDS Main Board, at which the party decided on its candidates for the upcoming elections (Glas Srpski, page 3, Nezavisne Novine, page 5). Current RS President, Mirko Sarovic, is the candidate for the BiH Presidency and current Vice President of RS,  Dragan Cavic, will run for the RS President. The President of the Party and Speaker of the RS National Assembly, Dragan Kalinic, will be the bearer of the SDS list for electoral unit 5 (Sarajevo – Romanija region).

(Blic –p 2, FRY Nacional – p 8, Oslobodjenje – p 8)

Dnevni avaz (page 4) reads that Slavo Kukic, President of the Steering Board of HPT Mostar and Mostar University professor will be candidate of New Croat Initiative for Croat member of BiH Presidency. The article says that they could not get confirmation of these allegations from Kukic.

The Association of BiH Electronic Media is dissatisfied with the rules and regulations on media presentation of political parties and candidates, during the election period, passed by the BiH Election Commission (Nezavisne Novine, p 4).The Chairman of the Association, Elvir Svrakic, says: “According to their decision we have to give media space to all political parties free of charge. That is really stupid” The Chairwoman of the BiH Election Commission, Lidija Korac, stated that requests of the Association cannot be accepted and that all public media have to act in line with the rules and regulations of the Election Commission, and that is to provide, free of charge, space for all political parties and candidates to address the public. (Oslobodjenje – p 6, Vecernji List – p 3)

Vecernji List (page 4) carries an editorial by Pejo Gasparevic in which he says that one can sense that symptoms of “right-wing climate” are getting bigger among all three peoples in BiH. Example 1, says Gasparevic, an alliance has been formed between former leading BiH communist, namely Nijaz Durakovic, and the politician with undeniable rightist background, namelyHaris Silajdzic. The author says that this alliance might result in a profound homogenisation among the Bosniaks. Example 2: Fierce political opponents NHI and HDZ BiH strike an agreement on not targeting each other during the election campaign which was until recently unimaginable. “The peace between NHI and HDZ says that the danger of possible civil war among the Croats is over (…) Announcements of possible alliance between NHI and HDZ ooze a message on Croat joining ranks”. Example 3: “Unquestionable co-operation of Mladen Ivanic’s PDP and Dragan Klinic’s SDS getting closer is just a repetition of the Serb traditional guard. They include the fight for their (Serb) thing into every ideology”. Gasparovic goes on to say that these three potential homogenisation will not function separately from each other but interactively and that a part of the political spectre will still be covered by parties of the left provenance. The editorial is concluded with a message to the readers: “Whichever policy (be it right, left or centre) neglects the issue of correcting the injustice done to Bosanska Posavina will be considered a mortal sin. Nothing contrary Posavina!”

RS Pensioners rejected Ivanic’s proposal

As Blic (whole p10) and FRY Nacional (p8) report, at yesterday’s meeting with the RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic and President of the RS National Assembly, Dragan Kalinic, the representatives of the Association of RS pensioners rejected proposal to give June’s pensions and 30% of May’s pensions by 10 July to pensioners. President of the Association, Rade Rakulj, said the pensioners insisted on the payment of May’s pensions and 30% of June’s. The pensioners informed the RS leaders they would request a change of the Law on PIO (pension-invalid insurance) imposed by former High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch, and which foresees that amount of pensions is decided in accordance with the incomes to the PIO fund. Pensioners also ask for a change of decision of the IMF blocking the payment of ex-SFRY succession money for pensions. Talks were also held on the initiative that a number of pensioners from the RS, which have earned their pension in Federation BiH, become users of the Federal PIO fund, which would reduce the number of pensioners in the smaller BiH entity.

RS Government’s Public Relations Bureau announced that during talks with Ivanic, the delegation of pensioners insisted on resolving the relations between the RS and FBiH PIO funds, in order to insure payment of pension in the place of paying contributions. In connection with this issue, the RS pensioners expect greater engagement of entities’ governments and international institutions. President of Banja Luka’s Association of pensioners, Nenad Ratkovic, announced protests of pensioners in the RS in July. (Glas Srpski, p 3, Nezavisne Novine, p 8)

Milos Babic case: he returned apartment but kept his position

Glas Srpski reports (page 3) that the Judge of the Appellate Division of BiH Court, Milos Babic, vacated property he used illegally, violating the property laws. The daily says that, upon the OHR request, (which appointed Babic to the BiH Court, and by doing so violated its own laws as Babic was illegal user of someone else’s property), Milos Babic fulfilled his “promise” that he will vacate the property in 20 days. The OHR Spokeswoman, Sonja Pastuovic, stated that IJC recommended the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, to forward this case to the High Judicial Council, which is to be established in September.

Kretschmer opened reconstructed control tower at Mostar Airport

Dnevni List (pages 13-14), Vecernji List (page 3) report on farewell visit of Head of the European Commission in BiH Hansjörg Kretschmer who opened a reconstructed control tower at Mostar Airport, worth 1,35 million Euro. “The project is another job that confirm the European Union’s devotion towards the City of Mostar,” Kretchmer said. He said the control tower today opened at Mostar Airport is one of the most advanced in the Balkans, adding it should be a symbol of the city. Kretschmer expressed hope that the control tower will be fully operative by the beginning of next year after EU donates 1 million Euro for necessary equipment.

New Balkans’ division

Nedeljni Telegraf (p 6, 7 and 8) carries an article on new possible divisions in the Balkans. The Article reads that since 12,000 foreign soldiers (and not only Americans) are going to be withdrawn from BiH and Kosovo by the end of July, the Balkans is being returned to Balkan people. However, it does not mean that the Balkan people will be given a chance to tailor the Balkans. On the contrary, departure of people in uniforms means that the world will try to finish (re)composition of the most unstable part of Europe. Although everything is in the phase of secret diplomacy, a series of small information confirms the most powerful (countries) achieved a consensus to define strategical directions for reshaping “the Balkans of 21st century” next year, and then to implement that in the field in following two-three years. Former CIA agent, Steven Mayer, said “the borders are not everlasting and their changes should not be eliminated”. Mayer’s key proposals: annex eastern RS to Yugoslavia, give independence to Kosovo, divide Macedonia.

The article further reads there are two models for the Balkans’ division: American and European. American model: give independence to Kosovo, with guarantee there will be no merging of Albanian countries into one big, and marginal parts where Serbs live allocate to Serbia. Formally preserve Macedonia as a whole, but divide it by an inside border on ethnic basis. Divide BiH on three parts, with guarantees that Serb and Croat parts will not be annexed to their mother countries immediately. Allow Montenegro to withdraw from the union with Serbia, which (Serbia) should be “pacified” by establishment of several provincial units and reduction of military and police power. The aim of this model is to satisfy all national appetites in the Balkans as much as possible, and with that prevent new wars in the future. European model: introduce Kosovo as third member of confederation of Serbia and Montenegro; it would have enough independence but formally it would be a part of the country that has sovereignty over it. This confederation, as well as other parts of the Balkans, should be maximally regionalised, without changing the borders. This should be a condition for joining the European Union. The aim of this model is to avoid any discussion about state borders in the Balkans, which always results in new wars. By regionalisation weaken every state unit and direct them to cooperate among themselves. Which model would prevail is not sure, but European has a big chance since that Europe has a great argument: it is willing to support its model in material and every other aspect, while Americans, busy with the war against terrorism, cannot do it.                   

Headlines in Electronic Media

BHTV 1 (Wednesday, 1900)

  • BiH Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija and Chinese Deputy Foreign Trade Minister Zhou Keren signed on Wednesday in Beijing an agreement on intensifying cooperation on the economic plan between the two countries. (.3)
  • BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Zlatko Lagumdzija and Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng on Wednesday signed a bilateral agreement that is to provide for a more intensive cooperation in the field of culture between the two countries. (.3)
  • BiH Council of Ministers should tomorrow bring a decision on control of liquid fuels. Some ministers say this decision cannot exist for itself. (1.5)

FTV 1 (1930)

  • Fikret Abdic starts his five-hour defense. He blames the SDA, BiH Army and media for everything. (2)
  • Despite yesterday’s announcement, FBiH House of Representatives did not discuss the appointment of two new FBiH minister, because the House speaker Ismet Briga was “not sure” if the ministers would be supported. (1.5)
  • FBiH House of Representatives today adopted a series of conclusions on the return process and implementation of property laws. (1.5)
  • RS Association of pensioners will demand a termination of decision of former High Representative, according to which the amount of pensions is decided in accordance with the incomes to the Pensions-invalid insurance (PIO) fund. (.3)
  • The department for prevention of suspicious money transactions within the Republika Srpska (RS) Finance Ministry has found out that several legal entities from the BiH Federation, RS and abroad have been carrying out “money laundering” in certain commercial banks. (2)

RTRS (1930)

  • RS Association of pensioners today refused the proposal of RS government to pay out June pensions and 30% of May pensions by July 10th. (2)
  • RS Trade Union is worried because RS prime-minister Ivanic did not answer their call to discuss the material situation of workers, it was stated today. (1)
  • The department for prevention of suspicious money transactions within the Republika Srpska (RS) Finance Ministry has found out that several legal entities from the BiH Federation, RS and abroad have been carrying out “money laundering” in certain commercial banks. (2)
  • Current RS president M. Sarovic will be the SDS candidate for BIH Presidency, while the current RS vice-president D. Cavic will be a candidate for RS president. (2)