Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 27 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) |
| Canton 10 Assembly session | BiH HoR in session |
| BiH CoM, BiH HoR in sessions | RSNA in session |
| Glamoc:10th anniversary of liberation | World news |
TV news broadcast on 26 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Talks on police reform failed | Police reform talks failed | BiH Auditors report |
| FBIH HoR in session | FBiH HoR in session | Talks on police reform failed |
| Terzic on police reform talks | RS NA in session | |
| HSP reactions on BIH CC on PBS | EU donates 450.000 Euros to SBS | BiH SBS works without management |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Police reform talks failed | Talks on police reform failed | Talks on police reform failed |
| Taskforce for police reform issues | SNSD on police reform | Fire in Foca update |
| Feature story on police regions | EUFOR Commander on police reform | SBS receive funds from German MoI |
| Group for fighting terrorism | FBiH HoR in session | RS NA in session |
| Oslobodjenje | Dragan Cavic tricks Terzic and Ashdown |
| Dnevni Avaz | Cavic again tricked Ashdown |
| Dnevni List | Bosniak ordered attack on Croat (investigation in Zenica prison completed) |
| Vecernji List | Serb aggression became civil war (history textbooks dispute in |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Spare-parts for Audi and Volkswagen from Mostar |
| Glas Srpske | Placing a bud of break-up [disputes in “Potkozarje” Farmers’ Association] |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ashdown accused SDS and SNSD of failure |
| Blic | 50 million KM missing |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| Srpski Nacional | Features |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BiH HoR in session
| BH Radio 1 Mirsad Bajtarevic, RHB – BiH House of Representatives have commenced the session this morning discussing the draft Law on Traffic Security. After the delegates filed over 70 amendments to the law, the authorized Commission has rejected them all which caused the heated discussion being led current in the Hour. The representatives are also expected to discuss the social measures to protect vulnerable population categories following the introduction of the VAT. |
| RSNA in session
| BH Radio 1 Radmila Grubisa – RS National Assembly holds session discussing the changes to the RS Law on University, which should be in force until the new Law on Higher Education is adopted at the state level. Earlier today RSNA adopted the RS law on national parks in urgent procedure. |
Political Developments/Reforms | |
| Meeting on police reform failed
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Dragan Cavic tricks Terzic and Ashdown’, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pgs 3-5 ‘Cavic again tricked Ashdown’, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘SDS representatives late for meeting’, mentioned on front ‘SDS late – talks on police reform fail’, by Erna Mackic Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Talks on police reform fail’, by dj, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Talks on police reform fail’, by F, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Ashdown accused SDS and SNSD of failure’ by A. Sisic, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Talks in Sarajevo failed’ by D. S., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘End at the beginning’ by V. Bugarin and Z. Markovic – A Tuesday meeting on police reform in BiH initiated by BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic and HR Paddy Ashdown failed because authorized representatives of all relevant political parties from RS did not show up. SDS and PDP were represented by Borislav Paravac and Zoran Tesanovic, who were not authorized to decide on continuation of talks as SNSD did not participated at the meeting at all. Party representatives who did discussed police reforms at the meeting agreed that further talks will be held next month within the institutions, Terzic and Ashdown said. At a news conference following the meeting, Terzic and Ashdown pointed out that agreement has been made on holding a new meeting of 11 political party leaders on 5 September in order for the final proposal on police reform in BiH to be put into parliamentary procedure. Terzic and Ashdown stressed that the institutional negotiations could only begin if SDS, SNSD and PDP chairmen gave a written statement of their intention to participate in the negotiations. “We are ready to begin institutional discussions on Thursday 28 July provided we receive written guarantees,” Terzic said, adding that if this did not occur, then it would be clear who was standing in the way of BiH’s path to |
| Ashdown: Cavic/Dodik/Pavic must send letters taking upon obligations re police reform
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Strong criticism of Cavic, Dodik and Pavic’ by S. Numanovic – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, estimated that the meeting on police reform held in |
| DA op-ed: Dodik, Cavic mocked Ashdown by not showing up on police reform mtg
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Serbs again mocked Ashdown’ by Admir Malagic – Referring to the meeting on police reform held in Sarajevo on Tuesday, the editorial reads that the gathering was fiasco, for which the HR Paddy Ashdown blamed SDS and SNSD whose leaders have rejected to attend. Author notes that these parties will now feel even stronger and focus at slowing down reforms even further. Noting that being named as chief culprit for obstructing BiH’s progress towards Europe is of no concern for Milorad Dodik and Dragan Cavic, editorial emphasizes they have mocked both the citizens and the HR Ashdown not showing up and instead going for vacation. |
| SD: Ashdown asked Kostunica to ‘break’ Serb resistance to police reform
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Police seat from Tuzla moves to Bijeljina?’, by Zlatko Tulic – Apart from re-telling yesterday’s media reports about alleged ‘trades’ on future police regions (changing of seats of police regions, Lagumdzija getting approached by SDA and IC, see OHR Media Round-up, July 26, 2005), SD also writes that all political parties from the RS have rejected the earlier proposal on existence of 9+1 regions, and in that context, SD says that the rejection came even after the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, directly asked from the Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, to ‘break’ the Serb resistance to police reform in BiH. |
| DL op-ed: Future of BiH in hands of three leaders from RS; criticizes Terzic’s behaviour
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Over and over again’, by Erna Mackic – Carries an op-ed commenting on the failure of police reform talks. The author argues that the future of BiH is now in hands of three leaders of strongest parties from the RS, stressing that BiH is in for bleak future since one of the leaders (Milorad Dodik) does not recognize the Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, as the authority. “His position is not a surprise when Terzic, only half an hour into yesterday’s meeting on police reform, goes to the opening of the Gazi-Husref-begova library, for which his government did not even donate money. He returns at the end of the meeting when an SDS representative shows up”, says Mackic. |
| Terzic: SDS commitment to reforms is very questionable | Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘SDS delays police reform’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Terzic: SDS commitment to reforms is very questionable’ – BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic said on Tuesday that the SDS behavior with regard to the police reform in BiH showed that their commitment to reforms was very questionable. |
| EC Humhreys disappointed by police reform meeting failure
| FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘BiH far from talks on Stabilization and Association’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Humhreys disappointed by the meeting’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Humphreys disappointed with the meeting on police reform’ by N. N., Glas srpske pg 3 ‘Michael Humphreys’ not signed, FENA – Following Tuesday’s meeting on police reform, Head of the European Commission Delegation, Ambassador Michael Humphreys said he was very disappointed by the failure of the meeting, especially by the lack of responsibility and seriousness shown by those political parties who did not even attend the meeting. “It is clear that |
| Ivanic says political agreement/talks on police a failed concept
| FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Agreement amongst political parties a failed concept’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ivanic requests return to the beginning’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Mladen Ivanic’ not signed – “I think that everything should be done from the beginning, since political agreement failed as concept… This should go through institutions, parliaments, governments,” said PDP leader, Mladen Ivanic. He added that he had not attended the meeting on police reform in |
| SDP’s Komsic says meeting on police a farce
| Hayat – “I think that a modified concept, we have already had a chance to see on Vlasic and Konak, is going to be presented, and I believe that Terzic and the HR are going to make concessions to RS politicians this time in terms of regions”, said SDP representative Zeljko Komsic. BHT – “Regardless their presentation of need for more negotiations, for me it looks like a farce”, said Komsic. FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Ashdown accused SDS and SNSD of failure’ by A. Sisic inset ‘SDP and SPRS think organizers were not serious’also carried Komsic’s statement. |
| SPRS Gligoric says meeting on police poorly prepared
| FTV, RTRS, – “This was absolutely poorly prepared meeting and it ended in depressive atmosphere,” stated SPRS representative, Tihomir Gligoric. Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Ashdown accused SDS and SNSD of failure’ by A. Sisic inset ‘SDP and SPRS think organizers were not serious’ also carried the statement. |
| SNSD says ruling parties should propose solution to police reform
| FTV – SNSD representatives didn’t participate in the talks on police reform on Tuesday in Sarajevo because they believe that it is up to representatives of ruling coalition to propose solution for police reform, said SNSD Secretary General, Igor Radojcic. He also explained that the meeting was convened by the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) Chair, Adnan Terzic, who can convene the Council’s session or meeting of parties that are participating in the Council’s work, but he can’t convene the meeting of opposition parties. Radojcic concluded that the High Representative should call on the CoM or the ruling parties to make proposals and perform their duties. |
| Dodik rejected Ashdown’s accusations: political meetings are not the best way to conduct a reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Dodik rejected Ashdown’s accusations’ by R. S. – SNSD President Milorad Dodik rejected accusations of HR Paddy Ashdown that the party was blocking the continuation of the negotiations on police reform. Dodik reminded that the stance of SNSD is that political meetings are not the best way to conduct a reform. ‘We have supported the Vlasic Agreement and we thought unresolved issues should be dealt with in frame of institutions, which was, according to my understanding, agreed during the meeting in Sarajevo as well’, Dodik has stated. He emphasized SNSD would not send any kind of a letter of support to continuation of the process because ‘if anything was confirmed during the |
| SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj”: RS faces the greatest pressures since signing of the Dayton Agreement
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘The hardest since |
| EUFOR Commander Leakey comments on police reform
| FTV – EUFOR Commander in BiH, David Leakey, stated that police forces in BiH are efficient in certain parts of their work, but not when it comes to the fight against organized crime. Leakey said for FTV that consequences for BiH will be society handicapped with corruption, frauds and organized crime if police standards, in terms of structure and de-politicisation, are not introduced. “The biggest sanction for BiH would be to not fulfil its ambition to become EU member,” said Leakey. |
| Ivo Miro Jovic considers possibility to send an appeal to UN against
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We will appeal to UN’, Glas srpske pg 2 ‘Croats are endangered’ not signed – Chairman of BIH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic announced that he would do all that is in his power to correct damage done to the BIH Croats by the recent decision of BIH Constitutional Court on Public Broadcasting System. Jovic stated that in this way the essential national rights of Croats have been endangered and he even considers sending an appeal to UN. Ivo Miro Jovic commented the statements of certain HDZ officials, that their response to BIH CC decision on PBS should be the resurgence of idea to establish the third entity, as statements of people who don’t like them. Jovic said that if two entities are going to be annulled then there is no point in establishing the third one, but, he added, if these two entities remain existing ,than why not establishing another one. |
| Croat Block wants
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 15 ‘HB: Zagreb needs to help the Croat TV channel’, by D. I. – The Croat Block (HB) says it is not surprised with the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court regarding the Law on RTV system, arguing that powers that be in BiH and abroad want to determine the future of BiH Croats before the process of constitutional changes in BiH has even started. HB also notes that |
| Puls agency: Serbs and Croats in favour of peoples having their own channels | Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Appeal over violation of rights of Croats in BiH’, by Hina – DL reports that according to the latest opinion poll conducted by the ‘Puls’ agency, 78% of Bosniaks are against national channels in BiH, whilst 77% of Croats and 82% of Serbs are in favour of peoples having their own channels. (article also carries Ivo Miro Jovic statement) |
| Stolac update: SDA expects action from
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Removal of head of municipality Boskovic requested’, by Zvonko Peric – Reports that the authorities in Stolac are waiting for a reply from the OHR and US Embassy following a letter that was sent to them by the Bosniak Caucus in the Stolac Municipal Council (MC). Namely, the letter says that all democratic principles in Stolac are being denied by HDZ’s Stjepan Boskovic (Head of Municipality), Mladen Boskovic and Zeljko Raguz, which resulted in organizing of the last session of the MC, which was carried out by the MC Deputy President, Zeljko Babic, who is allegedly not authorized to do so. DL notes the word is that the aforementioned municipal officials could be removed from respective offices. |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| FBiH HoR extended deadline for registration/verification of old foreign currency savings
| Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Verification of old foreign currency savings by December 31’, Oslobodjenje pg 4, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘New deadline for verification of old foreign currency savings’, by Nermin Bise, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Verification of old foreign currency savings as of September 12’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘Old savings to be verified until January 12’, by B. Kristo – As FBiH House of Representatives decided at its extraordinary session in Sarajevo on Tuesday, citizens will be able to register/verify their old foreign currency savings in period from 12 September to 31 December. FBiH HoR representatives have adopted amendments to law on internal debt, which postpones deadline for registration of the old foreign currency savings for 120 days. Namely, FBiH Government should have registered all old foreign currency savers by August 28, but the process has not started yet. |
| Mostar: Feal and Aluminij lay foundation stone for new factory
| RHB, FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 14 ‘Spare-parts for Audi and Volkswagen from Mostar’, by Zoran Zekic, Dnevni List, pgs 12-13, mentioned on front ‘Foundation stone for new factory’, by V. Soldo, Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Herzegovina is region of aluminium’, by Zoran Kresic – Mostar company ‘Aluminij’ and ‘FEAL’ company from Siroki Brijeg on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the new joint factory for aluminium processing in Mostar. The new factory, which is to be completed by mid-2006, is to cost 32 million KM and is to employ one hundred workers. Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 11 ‘Investment in aluminium of future’ also covered the issue. |
| RS Minister of Traffic and Communications: Another 50 million KM needed to complete construction of the first part of
| EuroBlic cover pg splash, pg RS1 ‘Approximately 50 million KM are missing’ by Tijana Veselinovic – RS Minister of Traffic and Communications Dragoja Lajic has stated approximately 50 million KM are needed to finish the construction of the first part of Banja Luka – Gradiska highway. Lajic says no additional funds were foreseen by the budget because of which the Ministry would, most probably, ask for a consent to get a loan. The Ministry signed the contract in the amount of 43,4 million KM on the construction of this part of the highway with “Integral inzinjering” in December 2003. The Minister says the greatest responsibility lies in the fact the project was developed too fast and added: ‘We all were to eager to have the construction of the highway start as soon as possible’. However, an additional audit of the project had showed details were not included in the project. |
| RS NA adopted Information on RS Foreign Debt
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Law counts – damage’ by G.Dakic/Z.Markovic – At its Tuesday session, the RS National Assembly adopted Information on RS foreign debt (concluded with Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Sarajevo dailies, EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘RS owes 1,6 billion’ by T. Veselinovic – also reported on RS NA session. |
Audits | |
| BiH Auditors’ Office make a report on 34 State institutions
| Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘ BHT – Major expenses are registered in travelling activities. The Office of Bosnjak member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, spent over 102.000 KM while the Office of Borislav Paravac spent 84.000 KM. Croat member of the Presidency (in the period that report covers – Dragan Covic) was most luxurious. For representation, his Office spent 48.000 KM. BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent 870.000 KM on meal and beverages, while more than eight million KM was spent for accommodation and rent of apartments. The phone bill in this ministry amounts to almost two million KM. FTV Sanjin Beciragic – BiH Auditors report on BiH institutions expenses in 2003 is still in the phase of investigation in BiH Prosecutors’ Office. As FTV learns, BiH Chief Auditor Deputy, Samir Musovic, refused to sign report on BiH Presidency expenses in the period from January 2004 until March this year, because he suspect in its credibility. On another side, delegates in BiH Parliament will vote on Wednesday on appointment of two new deputies to BiH Chief Auditor, which would replace deputies Musovic and Dragan Kulina. BiH Presidency nominated Dragoljub Kovincic and Munevera Baftic. FTV comments that wise moves of HDZ leader, Dragan Covic, resulted in exclusion of BiH Chief Auditor, Miljenko Sego, from the re-election process. Why Musovic and Kulina are trouble is completely clear, as well as it is clear why Kovincic is new Presidency candidate for this position. Kovincic worked on audit in presidency for 2004 and he is now Presidency candidate for Deputy Auditor position. Still, Kovincic’s audit report on Presidency still didn’t pass internal control. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, stays quite on this issue. FTV reminded that Ashdown was the one who supported Musovic’s and Kulina’s work a lot, naming them as the knights of democracy. “Frankly, in any normal country what would follow now is resignations,” said Ashdown on Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ’32 audit reports were forwarded’ by N. K. reports that BiH Parliamentary Commission for Budget and Finances received 32 audit reports on BiH institutions. Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ’12 million KM for travels, vehicle pool and representation’ by |
Miscellaneous | |
| British Ambassador Rycroft visits ICMP facilities in
| RHB, BHT, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Matthew Rycroft visited ICMP identification centre Podrinje’, Oslobodjenje pg 4, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Donation amounting 1,1 million KM to ICMP will soon follow’ by J. Sarac, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A million from Britain’ by G. K.– The British Ambassador in BiH, Matthew Rycroft, visited forensic facilities of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) in Tuzla on Tuesday. On this occasion, he announced that the British Government will donate more than 1.1 million KM this year as part of their continual commitment to ICMP. Talking to journalists, Rycroft stated that it is high time to arrest and prosecute all war criminals. He also expressed his belief that there won’t be wrong identification of victims with modern technologies that are used now in identification process, underlining that DNA analyses indicated mistakes in the previous identifications, before ICMP has started to work on identifications. |
| HR sent a letter to RS PM Bukejlovic demanding for establishing of a sub-group of Srebrenica Task Force
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Ashdown demands for an investigative sub-task force for Srebrenica’ by R. Segrt – HR Paddy Ashdown has asked from RS PM Pero Bukejlovic to establish an investigative sub-group of Srebrenica Task Force, the taks of which would be to accelerate forwarding of names of persons responsible for Srebrenica crimes. In a letter sent to Bukejlovic, HR has stated he was disappointed with a slow work of Srebrenica Task Force, especially with regard to forwarding of data of Defense Ministry that include names of those who were involved in Srebrenica crimes. The task of the sub-group would be to forward to the Task Force and OHR an independent assessment of the methodology the Defense Ministry is applying. The Chairman of Srebrenica TF, Jovan Spajic, says he was informed on the HR’s demand for establishing the sub-group and said its primary task will be to check methods of work of Defense Ministry. |
| Zenica: Attack on non-Bosniak prisoners ordered by Bosniak inmate
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Bosniak ordered attack on Croat’, by Zeda – The investigation, which was launched after prisoners in the Zenica prison, namely Vlastimir Pusara and Ivan Bakovic, got attacked, has established that two Roma prisoners, namely Jasmin Herceglic and Nedzad Ferhatovic, were promised money for the ‘favour’. Apparently, the attack was ordered by another prisoner Muradif Hamzabegovic Hadzija. According to the Chief Warden, Hidajet Jabandzic, all the evidence will be forwarded to the Interior Ministry. Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Roma were offered money to attack inmates Pusara and Bakovic’ also covered the issue. |
| MP Pekanovic: Bosniak inmates in much better position
| Vecernji List, back pg ‘Prisoners want death sentence’, by Valentina Rupcic, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Zenica prisoners want death sentence’, by Arijana Beus – According to an MP in the BiH House of Representatives, Marija Pekanovic (SDS), who recently visited the four non-Bosniak prisoners in the Zenica prisoners who are serving sentences for war crimes (Pusara, Bajkovic, Zoran Knezevic and Milorad Rodic), the prisoners will ask that they are executed unless the decision of the BiH Justice Minister, Slobodan Kovac, on the transfer to another prison, is carried out. Pekanovic notes that the Bosniak inmates, who are also doing time for the war crimes, are in much better position than prisoners of other nationality. |
| Training of SBS staff, Twinning project completed
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Europeans successfully educated border service’, by Mensud Zorlak – The Twinning project that had lasted for past 14 months, whose aim was to educate police forces in BiH, especially the State Border Service, was successfully completed at a ceremony held in Sarajevo yesterday. The project was funded from the CARDS programme in amount of 450.000 Euros and was carried out by the German state border service. According to the BiH Deputy Security Minister, Dragan Mektic, the knowledge gathered during the training will be used to protect the borders and fight crime. Other BiH media also covered the issue. |
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| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Germany donates SBS equipment worth 200.000 Euros’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘SBS receives equipment worth 200.000 Euros’, by mbm – Representatives of the German Interior Ministry donated the State Border Service a donation worth 200.000 Euros, which includes IT equipment, equipment for detection of forged documents, patrol boats and generators. Other BiH media also covered the issue. |
| Spahic: SBS might experience difficulties in its work unless new leadership is appointed soon | Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Nobody is reaching decisions in SBS’ by D. Muminovic and S. Lemo – Former Acting Deputy Director of SBS, Nijaz Spahic, has stated there could be difficulties in the work of SBS unless a new leadership of this institution is appointed soon. According to unofficial information, the election of SBS Director was blocked because of failure to reach an agreement on leadership of the three state security agencies. |