OHR BiH Media Round-up, 27/8/2004

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA

(18,00 hrs)

(19,00 hrs)

(19,30 hrs)

(19,30)

Custody re HBC priv. age.

Audits of BiH institutions

Sex affair in BH institutions

RS cooperation with ICTY

Finvest working again

Negotiations on gas debt

Negotiations on gas debt

Journalists met w/ Njegus

Azinovic called to testify

Bad quality fuel in BiH

Terzic meets Blair

Charges in Soko housing

Free books for BiH pupils

Meat import ban lifted

FBiH budget reduced

Meat import ban lifted

In Kazani there no body remains of killed Bosniaks?!; War debt towards Pakistan to be invested into BiH’s development?!; IDs under state control 

Dnevni Avaz

We will prevent stealing in public companies; Blair congratulated on reforms; No terrorist threat can arise from BiH

Dnevni List

Bankruptcy of Government because of 44 million deficit

Vecernji List

Law allows foam parties

Slobodna Dalmacija

Pakistan claims 32 million dollars

Terzic in London: Blair congratulated for results in implementation of reforms in BiH; Control over oil quality in RS: Bad oil at six pump stations; Protest in front of RS MoI Building in Banja Luka today: Journalists ask from RS police director to apologise and give answers

Glas Srpske

Sefket Hafizovic announced he would demand change of RS hymn: Thorn in somebody’s side

Vecernje novosti

Serbian related

Foreign interests will arbitrate

Slobodna Bosna

Why did we war – Brotherhood and unity in Scheveningen

Dani

Haris Silajdzic – I would never send our soldiers to Iraq

Political issues

Terzic meets Tony Blair

Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Blair congratulated for reforms’ by S.N. – The Chairman the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, on Thursday held talks with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London. Blair congratulated on the results achieved so far in the implementation of reforms in BiH, especially in the area of legislation. “Prime Minister Blair congratulated on the things done regarding the implementation of reforms from the Feasibility Study and stressed clear UK support to reform process. He said that there is no alternative to the reforms,” stated Terzic for DA. He added that Blair expressed expectations that set of reforms laws will be implemented by the end of year in order to begin with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. “Prime Minister Blair also told me that the international community will not give up on capturing Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, and that he expects from certain established services to contribute to it,” said Terzic.

RHB, FTV, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Britain will continue to support BiH’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Blair congratulated Terzic on implementation of reforms’ by NINA, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Greetings for results in reform implementation in BiH’ mentioned on cover ‘Blair congratulated for results in implementation of reforms in BiH‘ by Fena  – Media informed on the visit by publishing press release issued by Terzic’s cabinet, which carries the same messages as his statements given above. 

Update to Spiric’s accusations regarding employment in state institutions

Glas Srpske cover page report ‘There were no complaints’ by N. Z. – Nikola Spiric, Co-Chair of the BiH House of Representatives, refused to give further details regarding his statement that many female candidates, who applied for positions at BiH joint institutions, complained “they were asked to provide sexual services”. Spiric said: “There is no need to speak about this extremely sensitive issue in detail right now.” He added that it is up on BiH State Service Agency to investigate to what an extent Law on State Service is respected at BiH joint institutions, and how many times it has been violated. Zlatko Aksamija, Head of Rights Protection Department at the BiH State Service Agency, stated that the Agency has not so far obtained a single complaint from any candidate who applied for position at BiH joint institutions, stressing that “if Nikola Spiric or anybody else is aware of such cases, they should report them.”

FTV – Deputy Director of BiH Institutions Common services, Muharem Cero, stated that these are serious allegations and should be investigated, but if they prove to be only a part of Spiric’s election campaign he should take responsibility for them. 

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘State must prevent scandalous behaviour!’ by S. Rozajac – “I did not state this to stir up the public, but to bring attention to the problem that exists,” stressed Tihic.

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Ceman not aware of getting job by sleeping with someone’ by A. Basic – DA brings several reactions to the accusations by Spiric, all of which condemned such practice but also asking for firm evidences.

Domestic and local officials gather in Stolac today to discuss security situation

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Commissioner Carty initiated negotiations on Stolac crisis’ by F. Vele – DA learns that following the initiative of the EUPM Chief of Mission, Kevin Carty, key people of political and religious life in Stolac, as well as the representatives of FBiH authorities and OHR, will hold the meeting today to discuss the current situation in the city. The focus of the discussion will be a solution to the situation following the ‘flag incident’ and failure to hold the session of the City Council. OHR is to chair the meeting, and it will be attended also by the FBiH Urban Planning and Environment Minister Ramiz Mehmedagic, Prime Minister of HNK Miroslav Coric, MoI Tomislav Martinovic, etc.  

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Domestic politicians and foreign policemen to talk about security’ by A.B. – also brings announcement of the meeting.

GS on Hafizovic’s initiative to change RS hymn

Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Thorn in somebody’s side’ by Snj. M. – The author is writing about statement of Sefket Hafizovic, RS NA Deputy Speaker, who agrees with placement of monuments to Turkish Sultan Mehmed II, but disagrees with the RS Hymn “Boze pravde” [also adopted as Serbian hymn] and announced he would demand change of this hymn. Drago Prastalo, President of the Association “Return” from Sanski Most, says that “Hafizovic would like to exterminate centuries old Serb history and culture.” Djuro Koncar, member of the Executive Board of the Serb Radical Party, says that the RS hymn “Boze Pravde” contains not a single insulting element – not a single word that could bother anybody.

SB on systematization of jobs in Mostar City Administration

Slobodna Bosna pg 29 ‘Some 300 people to lose their jobs’ by Danka Savic – According to the author, the new systematization of jobs in the Mostar City Administration that foresees firing of almost a half of the current employees has caused fresh disputes between the ruling national political parties. The decision on the issue was made by the Mostar City Council on Wednesday but without presence of the HDZ deputies, who had demanded that the discussion on the new systematization is prolonged. The HDZ representatives claim that the legal procedure was not respected in the process of making the new systematization of jobs, which also, according to them, doe not contain clear terms of references for individual posts.  

RS Officials meet SCG Ambassador Vukicevic

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Economic cooperation between RS and SICG to improve’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Economy is major concern’ – Dragan Cavic, RS President, and Stanimir Vukicevic, SiCG Ambassador to BiH, yesterday in Banja Luka, stressed that it is necessary to intensify efforts to improve economic cooperation between RS and SiCG. Vukicevic also met with Dusan Stojicic, RS Parliament Speaker, and Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister.

Daniel Server of US politics in BiH

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Establishment of Federation disables creation of Islamic state in BiH’, mentioned on cover ‘Terrorist threat cannot come from BiH’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, Director of US Peace Institute, Daniel Server says that “BiH looks like stabile country and it will stay that way… The overall situation in the Balkans has improved in the past ten years.” Asked to comment the article recently appeared which quoted him as saying that “US presence in BiH is necessary to prevent creation of Islamic state in Central Bosnia”, Server answers that what he told was that US in past 20 years have been trying to prevent creation of the Islamic state in this region, working very hard to reduce Iranian power in BiH especially in years immediately after the war. “Creation of Federation of BiH, which I also supported, played a key role in preventing establishment of Islamic republic, [as] it kept… multiethnic structure of the authorities,” stated Server adding he doesn’t believe that there is a possibility for threat of terrorism to come from BiH.  

Haris Silajdzic: I would never send our troops to Iraq

Dani pgs 12-15 ‘I would never send our soldiers to Iraq’- Interview with Party for BiH founder Haris Silajdzic, who, according to the magazine, although he formally does not hold any political office enjoys significant public support. Silajdzic said that he did not support sending of BiH troops to Iraq. “Our troops could be engaged/deployed only in the framework of the UN missions. We are the UN member and only if we would be officially invited to send our troops to a blue helmets-like mission, such the engagement might be taken into consideration,” said Silajdzic adding that he had anyway publicly expressed his opposition to the war in Iraq launched in such the way. Commenting on the BiH’s European prospects, Silajdzic said the main task of BiH’s politicians (if they want to carry out a wise policy) was to ensure a strong US support to BiH’s integration into Europe. “I believe that the economic effects of our accession to EU are not the most significant thing here. It is rather reaching of a full political stability, which is necessary for us,” said Silajdzic.       

Economic issues

BiH CoM on BiH’s gas debt to Russia

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Negotiations with Russian on return of war gas debt to start’ by A.M., Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘We will negotiate on the debt’ by V.Z., Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Negotiations with Russian Federation on payment of gas debt begin’, by E. Mackic – The BiH Council of Ministers, at a session held Thursday, adopted an initiative to start a procedure related to start of negotiations with the Russian Federation, the aim of which is to determine the BiH’s debt to Russia for the gas that Russia had provided to BiH until 1996 and modalities of return of the debt.

BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, RHB – BiH Treasury Minister, Ljerka Maric stated that before the debt of 104,8 million US dollars is paid, 104 it needs to be established how much does Russia owe to BiH as one the successor countries of former Yugoslavia.

Pakistani businessmen and BiH delegation discuss investment possibilities in BiH

RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Pakistanis showed interest for wood and textile industries’, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Tihic: Great potentials for developing trade relations’, by NINA  – The Conference “Pakistan and BiH – together on the path to prosperity” took place Thursday in Islamabad and was attended by approximately a hundred Pakistani businesspersons and bankers. BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic addressed the conference and briefed them about the possibilities for business in BiH. Tihic particularly noted that simultaneously with reforms, BiH is also conducting the transition from socialist to market economy. He outlined progress achieved in BiH in the past few years, adding that the authorities plan to boost the current rate of realistic economic growth from 3, 5 percent to 6 percent in 2007. FIPA Director Mirza Hajric presented concrete projects and investment possibilities in BiH. Pakistani businesspersons expressed particular interests in the textile and wood industries, information technologies, energetic sector and construction capacities in BiH, was announced by the BiH Presidency Chair’s cabinet.

Media on external debts

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Croats will return loans that Islamic world had sent’, mentioned on front, by Zoran Kresic – VL reflects on the announcement by the BiH Presidency Chairman, Sulejman Tihic, that Pakistan will not be asking any time soon from BiH to return the 32 million US$ loan it took during the war. VL argues that the wartime government in Sarajevo led by the late Alija Izetbegovic with assistance of Haris Silajdzic and Hasan Cengic, had taken many loans that amount to hundreds of millions of US$, whose final destinations are unknown and which will have to be returned, according to the author, by the future generations of BiH citizens. The author concludes that the Croat and Serb representatives should at least request an investigation into the destiny of the loans.

Slobodna Dalmacija, front and pg 17 ‘Pakistan claims 32 million dollars’, by Zlatko Tulic – The author argues that the citizens in the FBiH have not a slightest idea how Silajdzic and the then SDA top spent the money. The author puts the whole story into context of treatment of Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Miroslav Rupcic, who are currently in Kula prison, saying whilst the troika is in the prison because of charges of re-routing of the Croatian assistance to BiH Croats, Silajdzic is still walking freely.

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘War debt to Pakistan to be invested in BiH development?!’, mentioned on cover, by Az. Kalamujic – Daily learns that Pakistan will not demand from BiH to return neither $ 20mil debt or $ 12 mil of interest rates. Apparently, the debt will be transferred to the assistance – meaning that BiH authorities will be obliged to invest into development oriented projects in BiH within Pakistan’s assistance to BiH. However author warns that this debt has not been registered in BiH external debt balance or in the appropriate Law.

CoM lifts meat import ban

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Meat from Serbia as well’ by Srna – Ljerka Maric, BiH Finance and Treasury Minister, confirmed that at Thursday’s session in Sarajevo, BiH Council of Ministers lifted ban on import of meat and meat products from Serbia and Montenegro into BiH. Maric explained that following monthly reports on the health situation of cattle in SCG it was decided that there are not objections to importing the meat any more.

RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Negotiations with Russian on return of war gas debt to start’, inset ‘Ban on meat import from SCG lifted’ by A.M., Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Ban on import of pigs from SCG lifted’ by V.Z. – also reported.

Hadzipasic on Public Companies Law

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 4 ‘We will prevent stealing in public companies’ by Ahmet Hadzipasic – Following audit reports published for 20003 which note a number of irregularities in public companies, FBIH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic writes in DA that in addition, public companies often were prevented to take over their role of initiators of economic development due to institutional lack of efficiency. Hadzipasic informs that following the audits, “my Government has undertaken an obligation to adopt asset of legal regulations which will prevent theft and abuse in public companies, and ensure citizens enjoy all benefits they can expect from efficient public sector.” Prime Minister further gives that one of the main tools to fight this issue is a Law on Public Companies, currently in the parliamentary procedure, and he urged both the Government and the Parliament to adopt it as soon as possible.

BHT 1 – According to BHT 1, the Office of BiH Prosecutor will decide in mid September with regarding to the pressing charges against persons in the State institutions which Audit Office identified as responsible for irregularities in the institutional wrong doings.

FBiH budget: Collection of revenues falls short by 43,8 million

Dnevni List, front and pg 3 ‘Bankruptcy of Government because of 44 million deficit’, by Ivica Glibusic – According to a report on execution of the FBiH budget for first half of 2004 that was prepared by the FBiH Finance Ministry, the collected revenues amounts to 581,2 million KMs, which means that the amount of 43,8 million KMs was not collected. The report also notes that due to poor collection of revenues, all the budget items, such as disability allowances, salaries to administration, servicing of foreign debts etc. could not be funded completely.

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Initiative on free textbooks supported’ – also reported on budget shortcomings. 

Mikerevic says Buk Bijela of great economic interest for RS

Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Buk Bijela is economically important’, by F – RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, believes that the ‘Buk Bijela’ project is of great economic interest for the whole of RS, BiH and the region. Mikerevic told the press in Banja Luka that he “does not know where the resistance to the project comes from” assessing the OHR’s press release about the project as “tactless and overhasty, which does not contribute to development projects of the RS Government”.

EuroBlic, cover ‘Foreign interests will arbitrate’ and pgs. RS2 – RS3 ‘Interests of foreign capital will arbitrate’ by Tijana Veselinovic – Euroblic brings compilation of statements given so far on the Buk Bijela project, including two statements coming from OHR. In addition, it also gives abovementioned Mikerevic’s statement.

Montenegro officials on Buk Bijela project

Vecernje Novosti, pg. 3 ‘Milo will not let go of Tara river’ by Lj. B. – Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has stated that Tara river is a unique ecologic resource and cannot imagine any Government that might make any move that would put it in jeopardy. He told citizens not to have any fear that his Government would make any such moves because it is a constitutional obligation of the authority to develop Montenegro as an ecological country. Djukanovic did not say whether he would sign the petition against the drowning of Tara river because of the construction of “Buk Bijela” dam.

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘There will be no hasty decisions’ by D. R. – Nada Mugosa, Assistant to Minister of Environment and environment protection of Montenegro, stated that the Montenegrin Government has not still reached a single decision regarding the construction of hydro power plant “Buk Bijela”, which would lead to drowning of 12 km long Tara Canyon. In a statement to Radio Free Europe, she said that RS has accelerated the entire procedure, but Montenegro would not make any hasty decision, since it should be an international contract preceded by public debate, ecological assent and parliament verification.

NN op-ed on Buk Bijela project

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Buk Bijela’ by Dragan Risojevic – The author is writing about the latest debate on construction of Buk Bijela noting it has culminated lately with remarks by official Banja Luka and Podgorica on one, OHR and ecologically aware public of Montenegro on the other side. He stresses it is of extreme importance to emphasise that the project is still too far from its realisation, regardless of bombastic announcement on its launch. Risojevic further notes it is hard to believe in statements given by Paddy Ashdown’s spokesperson and potential devastation of ecological balance in the region. He says it is more likely OHR disputes a large amount of money to be involved in this project (if it is to be realised) and also people involved as potential concessionaires. Author notes: “Their experience tells them that the business is not clean where EFT of Vuk Hamovic is doing performing the job.”

Update to probes in Hercegbosanske Sume

Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Mihaljevic, Krezo and Cobanac stay in custody for time being’, mentioned on front, by Nermin Bise – with regards to probes into ‘Hercegbosanske Sume’ and ‘Finvest’ Company that were executed in Kupres and Drvar and the arrests that happened before and after the probes (Ile Krezo, Ivica Cobanac and Mirko Mihaljevic), the President of Cantonal Court in Livno, Nedim Begic, stated that the appeals by defence lawyers, who contested the Court’s decisions to put their clients into a one month custody, had been rejected. DL also learns that a hefty documentation has been recovered in a search that the Police conducted in Cobanac’s house two days ago, which could help the Cantonal Prosecutor, Milorad Barasanin, in collecting evidence. Barasanin noted that he had interviewed four more persons, whose identity will not be revealed, but it would appear that none of them is involved in possible illegalities. Barasanin stressed that one of them was a former senior official of the FBiH Army.

BiH Press Council protests against 17% VAT

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Proposed 17% VAT on printing doesn’t exist anywhere in Europe’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘VAT threatens print media’ not signed – The BiH Press Council is very concerned about the proposal of the Law on Value Added Tax and possibility to introduce a value added tax amounting to 17 % on all products including the press. The BiH Press Council believes that the implementation of the aforementioned law would have direct and very unfavorable influence on publishing in general and it might result in shutting down of many print media in BiH.

Dani: VAT will strangle us out!

Dani pg 26-28 ‘Tax that will strangle us out’ by Jasna Jelisic – According to the author, if the members of the BiH parliament do not realize on time what they have been offered by the BiH Council of Ministers to consider and adopt in for of the draft Law on VAT, they might bring a large number of BiH citizens at the edge of hunger and poverty as well as destroy the entire printing sector in BiH. Wondering why the CoM imposes a system not being applied anywhere in Europe, the magazine’s journalists stands for introduction of the more favorable tax rates for the products such as food, books and press. 

BiH farmers announce protests ‘bigger than ever’

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Next protests will be stronger’- Association of BiH Agriculture workers issued a press statement which reads that “negotiations with the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, have failed because we were given false promises.” Hence, Association scheduled session of this Presidency to decide on holding protests which will start by blocking of Mostar crossroad and will take as long as the implement of the Law on customs tariffs does not start. “Protests will be stronger than all previous ones before, as we have been deceived and manipulated,” reads the statement. 

VL: Elektroprivreda of BiH to take over Elektroprivreda of Herceg Bosna

Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘New idea to extinguish Elektroprivreda of Herceg Bosna’, by Zdenko Jurilj – notes that there will be political battle between the Croat and Bosniak MPs in the FBiH Parliament come autumn, on outcome of which the destiny of the Elektroprivreda of Herceg Bosna (EP HZ HB) depends. According to VL, chances are small that the EP HZ HB will survive because even the IC in BiH wants to see it under the Elektroprivreda of BiH. President of the HDZ Caucus in the FBiH Parliament, Ivan Madunic, comments: “Representatives of the Bosniak majority have made such legal solutions according to which the EP HZ HB would join the Elektroprivreda of BiH. It has been worked on for several months and we will be against voting for such solution”.

Update to transfer of Eronet shares onto HT Mostar

Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Transfer of share in Eronet at next session of Government’, by J. Petrovic – The FBiH Government did not discuss the issue of transfer of HT Zagreb’s share in Eronet onto HT Mostar at yesterday’s session despite earlier announcements that it would do so. According to the FBiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Nedzad Brankovic, the issue was not on the agenda because there needed to be additional consultations amongst the ministers. Brankovic adds that a memorandum on the transfer of the shares has not been completed and adopted, expecting that everything will be wrapped up by the next session of the FBiH Government.

War crimes

RS Government adopts action plan for cooperation with ICTY

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Action plan of cooperation with the ICTY adopted’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Plan on cooperation with ICTY was adopted’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Action Plan for cooperation with The Hague adopted’ by Srna; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘The Hague under one roof’ by G. Dakic, EuroBlic, pg. RS7 ‘Once per month on the Hague’ by M. J. – At the session held in Banja Luka on Thursday, RS Government has adopted the Action Plan for cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, and obligated RS Interior Ministry, Defence Ministry and Secretariat for Cooperation with ICTY to provide reports on implementation of this Action Plan to Government once a month. Goran Radivojac, Spokesperson of RS Prime Minister, could not give any detail related to Action Plan, reminding it was passed on the basis of RS NA Resolution on cooperation with the ICTY. Stressing that Plan contains some “delicate” information, which cannot be made available to the public, he announced the adoption of Action Plan means that “concrete operations would follow in the coming period”.

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Police passed the test’ by M. Dizdar – Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, stated on RS Government Action Plan for cooperation with ICTY, Mikerevic said that this file is still labelled confidential file.

Update to issue of mass graves identified by Srebrenica Commission

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Srebrenica Commission gave wrong information’ by E. Sarac – The Srebrenica Commission Chair, Milan Bogdanic, said he doesn’t believes that Amor Masovic, Chief of FBiH Commission for Missing Persons, will bring decision to halt exhumations of mass graves localities identified by the Srebrenica Commission in its report. Masovic earlier said this would happen after his Commission has not found a single body in Kazani locality, which is one of eight Srebrenica Commission ‘discovered’. In a statement for DA, Bogdanic says he hopes that the cooperation will continue: “Establishing localities and exhumations was done based on information we have received from authorized institutions and witnesses at the terrain.” Bogdanic adds that as for Kazani locality there is a chance that “since it is near river bank, it is possible that water took bodies away or that they were moved to some other location.”  On the other hand, Masovic says he doesn’t believe that FBiH Commission for Missing Persons should continue with the exhumations if the bodies are not found in this location, as the Commission has disturbed its working plan to check allegations of the Srebrenica Commission. “It has been shown that the information they gave us were not valid. I will ask Bogdanic to put me in direct contact with the source of information,” says Masovic. DA brings that no body remains in Kazani were found at the end day of the exhumations.

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘No remains of killed Bosniaks in Kazani?!’ by A. Avdic –  Daily also brings that at the end of third exhumation day, no body was found in Kazani.

ICTY: ‘Indictees were not given an option to chose trial location’

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Indictees were not given an option to chose trial location’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 3 Nobody given choice to indictees’ by Fena – ICTY spokesperson Jim Landale told FENA that “nobody offers indicted war criminals a choice where they would be tried at and claims on this are entirely false.” Landale state this after “Women-Victims of War” Association from Sarajevo, together with several other NGOs, organised a peaceful protest outside the ICTY office in Sarajevo to express dissatisfaction with the decision of the ICTY to change the rules allowing indicted war criminals to choose the country in which they would be tried or the ICTY would select the country that shows interest. “Whether indicted war criminals come here or not is the responsibility of the Prosecutor. She has the responsibility to decide who to investigate and who to indict”, Landale said.

Kostunica: Mladic is not in Serbia

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘It was established Mladic is not in Serbia’ – Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian Premier, stated yesterday that “on the basis of all information available, credible check-ups were conducted and established that Ratko Mladic is not within the territory of Serbia.”

Police and security issues

Njegus meets journalists

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Asking Radomir Njegus to answer’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘They are asking Njegus to answer the questions’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Protest of journalists today’ mentioned on cover ‘Journalists ask from RS police director to apologise and give answers’ by S.G. – P.K. – At Thursday’s meeting with RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus, delegation of the Coordination of the BiH Press Associations demanded from him to hold a press conference in front of RS MOI building at 13:00 hrs today and provide responses to questions journalists would raise on posters. The meeting took place upon initiative of the Police Director and following announcement of the BiH Coordination it would hold a protest in front of RS MOI building at 13:00 hrs today. The Coordination also reiterated its call to its fellow press colleagues to join an hour peace protest today and bring slogans with them with questions they would like to pose to Police Director. The protest will take place under the name “Public has a right to know”.

RTRS – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said that he hopes that the protest will be held in accordance to the law. “I invited all those with objections against the Police Director to show documents [proving] for accusations, but at the same time I invite them to stop these accusations if they have no evidence,” says Mikerevic who visited Public Security Center Banja Luka and stated that security situation in RS is stabile.

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Police passed the test’ by M. Dizdar – Mikerevic noted that RS MoI operates in the best way possible.

Mikerevic on new RS Interior Minister

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Suspicious registration of 100 vehicles’, inset ‘Selection of Minister does not depend on Premier’ by Z. Kusmuk, – Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, stated during Thursday’s visit to PSC Banja Luka that the selection of the new RS interior minister does not solely depend on him, but also on candidates for this position and the OHR as well. He noted talks with potential candidates are ongoing, and selection must be approved by OHR. He reiterated the vacated position of RS interior minister might be filled in by mid September.

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Suspicious registration of 100 vehicles’ by Z. Kusmuk – Dragomir Peric, Spokesperson of PSC Bijeljina, yesterday confirmed that Bijeljina PSC has launched an action of review of all files of vehicles registered within AOR of this PSC over the past few months. This action is a part of the RS MoI action called “Forgery”. He noted action was launched upon order of RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus. It is suspected that around 100 vehicles within this area have been illegally registered, meaning those registered on the basis of falsified documents. NN source claims that some of those illegally registered vehicles belong to some members of the RS MOI. According to NN inset ‘Selection of Minister does not depend on Premier’, Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, stated during yesterday’s visit to PSC Banja Luka that the selection of the new RS interior minister does not solely depend on him, but also on candidates for this position and the OHR as well. He noted talks with potential candidates are ongoing, and selection must be approved by OHR. He reiterated the vacated position of RS interior minister might be filled in by mid September.

VL on security in BiH: There are reasons for concern

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘There are reasons for concern’, by Renata Radic – The author reminds of a warning that the Centre for analysis and reporting from Sarajevo issued earlier, according to which BiH has reasons to be concerned with change of SFOR with EU forces, because of BiH’s bad experience with Europe during the war. The author also notes that the presence of international forces in BiH is of utmost importance because the State institutions, such as joint military command, SIPA and OSA, are “still in their infancy”.

CIPS update

CIPS directorate on allegations of misuses

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘They have no information on abuse’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘BiH documents in hands of criminals again?’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘No official information on abuse’ by Fena – Directorate for CIPS Project implementation issued a press release stating that it has not received official information from any of the authorized institutions regarding the allegations about the eventual misuses within the relevant bodies dealing in affairs of issuing personal documents. The announcement emphasizes that the mentioned “incidents” do not bring into question the security of personal documents, reiterating that the responsibility for all other aspects of issuing personal documents in line with the law lies with the relevant bodies in BiH, i.e. RS Interior Ministry, Cantonal MoIs in Federation BiH and the Civilian Registry of Brcko District.

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘IDs under state control’, mentioned on cover, by V. Zivak, A. Prlenda – CIPS Directorate claims that its staff members are not connected to misuse cases.

Oslobodjenje argues CoM plans to transfer CIPS under state control

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘IDs under state control’, mentioned on cover,  by V. Zivak, A. Prlenda – Daily writes that BiH Council of Ministers seriously considers transferring activities related to CIPS documents from entity to state level. CoM says that the problems is not in CIPS documents themselves, but he people working on the project as state authorities have no control of those workers. “Therefore, the solution is seen in transfer of staff members and administrative procedure to the state level, where everything will be put under one management line,” reads the article. Daily says this initiative is currently being discussed by the rule of law working group and chair of the group, BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak, is very eager to implement it. His deputy Dragan Mektic confirms this adding that “everything related to civil affairs should come out the entities services and be transferred within the state jurisdiction.”