Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 28 October
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| Declaration of position of Croats | BL mtg on |
| Ivanic on DPA | Brucellosis in Zepce |
| Covic does not have to pay bail | Wrodl news |
TV news broadcast on 27 October
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Croat symposium in Neum | Venice Commission on decertification | Issue of decertified police officers |
| HDK about symposium in Neum | Palavric meets NATO delegation | Covic and others case, update |
| BiH CoM considered bird flu info | Talks on chief BiH negotiator | Pajic meets BiH Prosecution rep. |
| Croatian Prosecutor in visit to BiH | SNSD, | Davidovic on |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Scorpions unit member stands trial | BiH CoM on bird flu | Appointment of |
| Role of | Brcko harbour starts working | Croat symposium in Neum |
| Discussions on Jelavic’s case | Employment fair held in | BiH in PfP by the end of 2005 |
| Lijanovic case | Mostar city civil servants took oath | OHR on |
| Oslobodjenje | |
| Dnevni Avaz | Decision on “Energopetrol” to be annulled? |
| Dnevni List | Two new investigations against Covic confirmed |
| Vecernji List | Freedom without bail |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Striking fear into bones (feature on situation in HDZ BiH) |
| Glas Srpske | Profiting on misery (salaries of civil servants, state officials) |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH in Partnership for Peace by the end of the year |
| Blic | Davidovic chief negotiator with EU |
| Vecernje Novosti | |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Meeting on
| BH Radio 1 – The RS President, Dragan Cavic,scheduled the consultative meeting on appointing the RS members of the BiH |
| Declaration on Croat position to be signed
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| Ivanic on DPA
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Political Developments/Reforms | |
| RS President Cavic announces meeting with RS political parties’ leaders on
| Pink, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Igor Davidovic the most appropriate person’, FENA – RS President Dragan Cavic on Thursday announced that a meeting with leaders of all key political parties in the RS on the establishment of team that will negotiate on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement on behalf of BiH would take place in Banja Luka on Friday. Cavic said that the meeting is aimed at reaching an agreement on a common approach in the process of negotiations between BiH and the EU. He repeated that he would prefer to see a representative of the strongest RS opposition party (SNSD) head the BiH negotiating team and added that this decision would be reached at a meeting with the leaders of RS political parties. Cavic reiterated that this is not a daily political issue, but that everyone should put forward their best candidates in order to complete the process of negotiations with the EU as soon as possible. Cavic said that he has still not nominated a candidate for the chief negotiator, including Igor Davidovic, whose name is being mentioned as the possible head of the BiH negotiating team. He said that there are two candidates within his cabinet who he thinks could be members of the negotiating team, but refused to reveal their names. EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Davidovic chief negotiator with EU’ and pg RS1 ‘Igor Davidovic has the most serious chances’ by Nedeljka Breberina carries Dragan Cavic’s statement re appointment of chief negotiator on Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Too early for president’ by M. Filipovic inset ‘Serious candidate’ also carries Cavic’s statement. |
| BiH needs depoliticised team for
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘To adopt strategy for talks with EU’, ONASA – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Party for Democratic Progress (PDP) Mladen Ivanic said on Thursday that it is important for BiH to adopt a strategy for negotiations on stabilization and association with the European Union as soon as possible. Commenting on some announcements from the BiH Council of Ministers that he would be the best person for the head of the BiH negotiations team, Ivanic said that he has not yet received such an offer. He said that it is very important for BiH to define its exact goals in the negotiations and that the goals will have a direct effect on the standard [of living] and jobs of many people in BiH. The BiH economy will have to be subject to no-customs trade with the EU, thus competitiveness will be increased as a result of that. Ivanic said that BiH needs a serious, depoliticized team of people who will work on creation of a strategy of negotiations with the EU. |
| Davidovic: ‘I am ready to take over position of the chief negotiator’
| BHT, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘I have developed a strategy for negotiations’ by V. P. – Former BiH Ambassador in USA, Igor Davidovic, expressed readiness to accept the role of chief negotiator with the EU on |
| SB op-ed: There are no more than 3 or 4 persons in BiH competent to negotiate with EU
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 3-5 ‘BiH and European integrations: Absence of brains a main culprit for BiH’s darkness today’ op-ed by Senad Avdic – Commenting the EC’s recommendation on opening the |
| SDA: | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Procedure was violated’ by Srna – SDA Presidency on Thursday assessed that the way in which the appointment of a chief negotiator on |
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| HR for ‘Presse’: Replacement of RS for Kososvo is not possible
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Replacement of RS for Kosovo is complete nonsense’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Cavic believes that the exchange of Kosovo for RS is absolute nonsense’, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Reform to BiH Constitution necessary’, by ra, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘People will decide’ by Beta, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘RS can be abolished by its citizens only’ by Beta – In an interview to Vienna daily ‘Presse’ High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that a reform of the BiH Constitution is necessary and that this issue is going to be the biggest challenge to his successor. Asked as to what would happen with BiH entities during this reform, the HR said that BiH citizens should decide on this issue and not the International Community. Asked if there is a danger that |
| BiH Presidency member Tihic: BiH’s integrity not in question
| BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘State interests must be before the party’s ones’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Another Dayton is coming’ by Agencies – A two-day conference entitled ‘10 years after (the Dayton Agreement signing)’ which gathered great number of persons from political, religious, scientific and cultural life, was opened in Sarajevo on Thursday. The aim of the conference organized by the Sarajevo-based Bosniak Institute is to review events, which took place in BiH after Dayton Agreement signing. Member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic pointed out that BiH was stronger and stronger every day and that there were no forces, which now could endanger BiH’s integrity. Tihic said that abolishment of entity armies, return processes, and macroeconomic stability presented positive examples, while great unemployment rate was a negative one. Tihic said that he believed in BiH being prosperous and democratic. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Take Srebrenica away from them’ not signed – apart from carrying a statement of Sulejman Tihic at “10 years later” conference, the article also carries the inset ‘Priority task’ – Reiss Mustafa Ceric has stated that excluding of Srebrenica from RS administration should be a priority political task, for which one could expect a support of the international community. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Succession of Srebrenica from RS is the top assignment’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 also carried Ceric’s statement. |
| RS President Cavic on constitutional changes: Too early for one president
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘We do not want BiH without RS’, by A. Macanovic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Too early for president’ by M. Filipovic – RS President Dragan Cavic assessed Thursday that the idea of having one president for BiH was “too ambitious, too early and unrealistic“. Cavic told journalists in Nezavisne novine pg 4 ‘BiH acceptable for Serbs only if RS exists within it’ by V. P. – carries a similar statement. |
| First round of constitutional talks ended in
| Dnevni List, pg 9, mentioned on front ‘Authorities of cantons are being abolished’, by Ivica Glibusic – Commenting on the first round of talks between the BiH political parties, which was held in Washington under auspices of the US Institute for Peace, DL says the meeting was semi-successful because representatives of the parties did not have the authority to adopt a proposal (of constitutional changes), therefore the parties’ leaderships were given some ten days to declare themselves by the next meeting that is to be held somewhere in Europe. When it comes to the meeting itself, DL notes participants reached a consensus on human rights and vital national interest, furthermore, majority of parties are in favour of keeping the institution of BiH Presidency instead of introducing a BiH President, and finally all participants agreed that changes to the Constitution should be carried out by spring 2006. DL goes on to say that the team gathered around Donald Hays has prepared draft changes to the BiH Constitution that are related to election of one BiH President, formation of a bigger Parliament, formation of few new ministries at BiH level, decrease of authorities of the current BiH House of Peoples, which were rejected by the negotiators. DL also reports that according to Hays, the current two entities will remain, whilst authorities of cantons would be reduced, which leads the author to say that the Bosniaks and Serbs would be able to adopt everything without participation of the Croats. Inset ‘Division of BiH into four regions’ notes that according to information that leaked from international circles, a division of BiH into four regions will be proposed. Namely, two regions would be formed out of the RS, the eastern and western RS, whilst the FBiH would be divided into the northern and southern FBiH. The end result would be BiH with three levels of authority: state, regions and municipalities. Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Issue of RS abolishment was not raised directly’ by A.M. also covered the issue. |
| DA op-ed: Constitutional changes or complete isolation
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Constitutional changes or complete isolation’ op-ed by Husein Orahovac – Noting that it is entirely clear that constitutional changes are a certain thing, the author underlines BiH is in position to choose to either change the current discriminating constitutional structure or to stay in complete indefinite isolation. “The stories on a need to change the BiH Constitution is not anymore a story to get cheap political points. The constitution has become an obstacle to enter Euro-Atlantic integrations. One who fights against the changes of the Constitution actually fights against well being of the BiH citizens. But, the world will not allow such people to have a decision making power,” concludes the editorial. |
| Conference on position of Croats in BiH takes place in Neum
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| BiH Bishop Conference session: Cardinal Puljic says Catholics cannot celebrate 10th anniversary of DPA
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Dayton legalized injustice’, Dnevni List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Half of Catholics from pre-war BiH disappeared because of Dayton’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Double standards deprived Croat Catholics of their rights in BiH’, mentioned on front ;’International Community deprives Croats’, by Dejan Jazvic – According to the Archbishop of Vrhbosnia, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, many will mark the 10th anniversary of the DPA, however the BiH Catholics cannot celebrate it because the DPA legalized demise of half of pre-war BiH Catholics. According to Puljic, the BiH Catholics do not have the same rights because of double standards by the IC. |
| DL op-ed on Puljic’s statement
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Constitutional injustices’, by Ivica Glibusic – Commenting on the statement by Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Glibusic says the words should be warning the Croats’ representatives when it comes to a new BiH Constitution. According to Glibusic, if the current division of BiH into two entities gets legalized, the Croats will suffer a destiny of a national minority. |
| BiH parliamentarian Palavric meets NATO officials, expects BiH to join PfP by end of year
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘BiH in the Partnership for Peace by the end of the year’ by M. Cubro – The representatives Political Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation visiting BiH met with the members of the BiH Parliament’s Commission on defense and security issues. The head of the NATO delegation, Karl Lamers welcomed the progress made in both police and defense reforms. “In a few days the fall session of the NATO Assembly, i.e. NATO member states, in |
| HDZ’s Raguz: Through its disciplinary measures HDZ top is trying to discipline different opinion
| Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘HDZ top ‘disciplines’ different opinion’ by A. Omeragic – Member of the HDZ Presidency Martin Raguz, who together with Bozo Ljubic and Josip Merdzo is going to be a subject to the disciplinary procedure after they publicly criticized the HDZ leadership and the last HDZ Convention, stated that in this way the HDZ top is trying to ‘discipline’ a different opinion. He added that the disciplinary procedure against the 3 of them has been proposed by HDZ President Dragan Covic without any explanation, while commenting on the same issue HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota stated that Raguz, Ljubic and Merdzo have been the most exposed persons in the anti-statuary acting after the HDZ Convention. |
| DA on HDZ internal conflicts
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Merdzo: This is classic elimination of those who do not think the same’ by F. Vele – The members of the HDZ Presidency Martin Raguz, HDZ Main Board Josip Merdzo and official Bozo Ljubic “have practically been excluded from this party even before the procedure before the Court of Honour.” DA explains that according to the Statute of the party, when the proceeding before this Court is launched the membership of persons in question “rest.” HDZ spokesperson, Miso Relota, did not commented, while Merdzo said this is just an effort to “eliminate” all those who do not think like from the party. Ljubic added that this is an effort to intimidate them. DA also says that the procedures launched against these three officials have finally divided the party, and that there is even a possibility to establish the new one. |
| Bozo Ljubic: Covic wants to strike fear into HDZ Main Board
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 10 ‘Striking fear into bones’, by E. Karamatic – Carries Bozo Ljubic as commenting on the decision of the HDZ Presidency to start disciplinary measures against him and Martin Raguz and Josip Merdzo. Ljubic says he and other members of the HDZ who signed the disputable ‘Promemoria’ never breached the HDZ Statute, instead it was ‘the other side’ that breached it. Ljubic stresses the aims of the measures is to strike fear into members of the HDZ Main Board, which is the only body that can discuss ask for annulment of the 9th HDZ Convention, and to eliminate (Covic’s) biggest political opponents. “Covic and people around him are aware the convention must be repeated”, says Ljubic. |
| DL: Is Vinko Zoric Covic’s ‘mole’?
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Is Vinko Zoric mole among Ljubic’s supporters?’, by Zvonimir Jukic – Commenting on the decision of the HDZ Presidency to start disciplinary procedure against prominent HDZ officials, namely Bozo Ljubic, Martin Raguz and Josip Merdzo, the author notices that the HDZ Presidency did not apply the same treatment to Vinko Zoric, who has been publicly supporting Ljubic. According to Jukic, it is either that Zoric is Covic’s ‘mole’ within Ljubic’s ranks or Covic wants to cause a rift among Ljubic and his supporters, thus decreasing their influence in the party. |
| SD: Covic preserving his control over HDZ
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 10, mentioned on front ‘Covic shot down three ‘aces’’, by Zlatko Tulic – The author notices that Dragan Covic decided to take the measures against only three members of the HDZ, who signed the ‘Promemoria’ although the disputable document was signed by majority of HDZ MPs. Tulic argues that the reason Covic failed to apply the same treatment onto others is simple, they do not pose a real threat to his status in the HDZ i.e. they cannot endanger his presidency in the HDZ. |
| VL: All expelled HDZ officials are now politically dead
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Dissatisfied people from HDZ BiH are history’, by Zoran Kresic – Commenting on possible expulsion of Ljubic, Raguz and Merdzo from the HDZ, Kresic notices that all former HDZ officials, who were forces to leave the party in the past, became politically dead after they had left the HDZ. Kresic argues that the Croats vote for the party (HDZ), stressing that whoever is in control of the HDZ, he/she has the monopoly over the Croat electorate. |
| CoM discussed Law on Citizenship, adopted report on bird flu
| Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Virus under observation’ by N. Z., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘200.000 KM for equipment’ by R. Rakic – BiH Council of Ministers adopted on Thursday information on undertaken and planned activities in relation to prevention of bird flu, prepared by the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and BiH Office of the Veterinary Medicine. There are no reported cases of bird flu in BiH. |
| HR’s visit to Mostar/HR at oath-taking ceremony in Mostar City Administration/HR visited ‘Los Rosales’
| BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni List pg 12, mentioned on cover ‘OHR is reducing its competence in Mostar’ by E. Milavic – During his visit to Mostar on Thursday, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown announced abolishment of the Unit for Implementation of the City of Mostar Statute and final moving of 5 FBiH Ministries from Sarajevo to Mostar. The HR stated: ‘I have informed the Mostar Mayor, Ljubo Beslic, that 3 big issues must be resolved by the end of December in order to start with drafting the budget for 2006. These issues are a TV channel in Croatian language, cultural institutions and names of streets and I have stressed once again that the OHR will not interfere in resolving of these issues and I expect that domestic authorities will take care of it.’ Dnevni List pg 16 ‘First administration organized according to law’ by E.M., Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Oath-taking ceremony of Mostar City Administration civil servants’ by ib, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Civil servants took oath’ by M. Landeka carry that the HR also attended the oath-taking ceremony in the Mostar City Administration when 144 civil servants took oath and in this way the Mostar City Administration has got for the first time the civil servants appointed according to the Law on Civil Servants. Dnevni List pg 16 ‘Ashdown delighted by children in Los Rosales’ by S. Djuderija, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Mostar: Ashdown visited Centre for Children with Special Needs’ by F report on the HR’s visit to ‘Los Rosales’, the center for children with special needs. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘New deadline for Mostar authorities the end of November’ by |
Crime/Legal Proceedings | |
| Ex-HVO commander Rajic confirms in Hague plea deal
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| BiH CoM Chair Terzic: UN is to form a body to review the de-certification of police officers in BiH
| Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘To review de-certification of policemen’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘UN must review de-certification process’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘De-certification of police officers and appeals will be reviewed’, by Mensud Zorlak, FENA – The UN have the responsibility to form a commission that would review the process of decertifying police officers in BiH and review every single appeal filed by decertified police officers. This is the position of the Venice Commission on how the issue of decertified police should be resolved. BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic presented this position at a press conference in |
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| BiH, Croatian prosecutors meet to review evidences in ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case
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| German expert: Al-Q’Aida sleepers in BiH
| Vecernje novosti pg 14 ‘Al-Q’Aida sleepers in BiH’ by Tanjug – A German expert for the Balkans, Frantz Lottar Hartmann, has stated there are certain indications that the recently arrested persons suspected of preparing terrorist attacks in BiH might have been connected with Al-Q’Aida. |
| SB reveals names/details of FBiH police’s arrests of suspects for terrorism
| Slobodna Bosna cover splash, pgs 6-9 ‘In last minute, police prevented atrocious massacre in Sarajevo?!’ by Senad Avdic – SB reveals the details of the last week’s case in which the FBiH police arrested three persons [of Swedish, Turkish and BiH nationalities] suspected of planning terrorism activities in Sarajevo. Magazine learns from its “well-informed sources in BiH Prosecutor’s Office” that the arrested BiH citizen was Abdulkadir Bislim, released after it was established that he only rented an apartment to two other suspects. According to SB [same] sources, those are Swedish citizen of |
| OHR:
| Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘ |
Economic/Social Affairs/Education | |
| DA: Zigic to annul decision of Energopetrol sale?
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Decision on “Energopetrol” to be annulled?’, pg 2 ‘Zigic to demand the annulment of decision on Energopetrol’ by M. Kukan – Several sources close to the FBiH Government confirmed to DA that the FBiH Industry Minister, Izet Zigic, will demand the annulment of the decision on choosing INA-MOL consortium for the strategic partners in co-capitalization of Energopetrol company. The discussion will take place at the extraordinary session of the Government scheduled for Monday. DA learns that the Consortium sent another offer demanding the control over “Marshal” hotel at Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Great test for FBiH Government’ by M.K. – The FBiH Vice President, Sahbaz Dzihanovic, commented it is not clear why the Government is “being this irresponsible in deciding on the fate of the public companies… the Govt can made terrible misstate which can and has to be fixed. If decision on Energopetrol co-capitalization is not annulled, than this Government doesn’t deserve further trust. I am certain that a year before elections such privatization process makes no sense.” BOSS leader Mirnes Ajanovic, Chair of SDA Caucus Semsudin Mehmedovic, and SDU leader Miro Lazovic all strongly object the decision making INA-MOL consortium a strategic partner in privatization process. |
| GS on salaries of public employees, expenses of establishing joint institutions
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Profiting on misery’ by G. D. – The article reminds IMF representatives have recently warned that the establishing of ITA and uniting of Customs Services has turned out to be an expensive task, since public employees are receiving 2-3 times higher salaries for same jobs they were working at before the establishment. Director of Banja Luka Institute for Economics Dusko Jaksic and Chairman of RS Chambers of Commerce share similar views and say establishing of new joint institutions would only cost taxpayers more, while only bureaucrats would gain use from it. On the other hand, an associate at Banja Luka Faculty of Laws criticizes IMF representatives by saying they should be concerned more over low salaries of majority of citizens. |
| RS PM Bukejlovic: RS demands payment of 25 million KM from ITA single account
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Srpska demands for its rights’ not signed – RS PM Pero Bukejlovic warned on Thursday that the prescribed formulas on distribution of indirect taxes must be respected and stated: ‘any behavior opposite to this might cause lack of trust in BiH laws and, consequently, more difficulties after VAT is introduced’. He stated that RS demands for 25 million KM that, due to lack of respect towards the prescribed formula and inconsistent implementation of the Law on indirect taxation, were not paid to RS but to CoM instead. |
| OHR: Pecelj brought into question legality of the RS Government
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Pecelj brought into question legality of the RS Government’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Pecelj must explain why Lukic was not removed’ by G. M. – OHR has set a deadline by today (Friday) at 16:00 for RS Minister of Education Milovan Pecelj to explain why East Sarajevo Faculty of Laws Dean Radomir Lukic was not removed. OHR Spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic said Pecelj’s job is not to ask Lukic to withdraw but to inform him he was removed. |
| East Sarajevo Faculty of Laws sued RS Govt and Ministry of Finances over Lukic case | Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Faculty sued the Government’ by M. D. – East Sarajevo Faculty of Laws filed a lawsuit before the RS Supreme Court against RS Government and RS Ministry of Finances. They demand by this lawsuit that the decision on dismissal of Professor Radomir Lukic be annulled and they also dispute the decision of the Ministry to stop payments of salaries to Lukic. |