| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| CoM Draft Law | BiH got full membership of the European Conference on Civil Aviation | ‘Prime Minister position or SNSD goes to opposition,’ says Dodik |
| Western Herzegovina and Posavina Canton have new parliaments | CoM talks | Hays on reforms |
| Dodik – Ivanic | PDP will decide about RS Assembly | Hague splits trials of Krajisnik and Plavsic |
| Bologna – Paris terrorist arrested | High-ranking federal police officials killed in Belgrade | First inspection of the UN inspectors in Iraq finished |
| Oslobodjenje | Purple grass in Cemernica; Rotation in the CoM abolished; Bolkovac receives 100,000 pounds in damages |
| Dnevni Avaz | An investigation of a big fraud; Another 9,300 soldiers to be dismissed; ‘This won’t be one-face party’ Avdic |
| Dnevni List | Meeting of OHR and parties that entered new composition of House of Representatives of BiH Parliament was held: Ashdown is imposing law on Council of Ministers? |
| Vecernji List | What does law on conflict of interests in authority institutions bring: Politicians must not become businessmen |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Number of donations and profitable places of work in Sarajevo is reducing: International organizations dismiss their employees |
| Glas Srpski | RS Market Inspection cuts illegal trade channel; Bijeljina: New trial for Kerovic |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ivanic ties SDA and SDS flags; Closest associate of Momcilo Mandic murdered; Talks on CoM restructuring continue – Parties agree on 9 ministries |
| Blic | Experts from Vinca in RS Army military barracks in Han Pjesak; Donald Hays: Co-operation with the Hague has not been seriously taken; Geographical maps for border between BiH and FRY prepared; Cavic: Pressures on parties will create a crisis in RS |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| CoM reconstruction
Comment on establishment of new BiH government
Dismissal of 9,300 soldiers
BiH Presidency session
CIPS
Leutar case
Komsic vs. Slobodna Bosna
Meeting with Mesic
Illegal border crossing | Avaz pg. 4 ‘Rotation to be abolished, and a number of ministries increasing’, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘The rotation principle abolished’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘BiH gets nine ministries’, Glas Srpski pg. 3 and SRNA – on continuing talks at OHR in Sarajevo yesterday about the CoM reconstruction. Sefik Dzaferovic from the SDA stated that a progress had been achieved despite the fact that their party disagreed with certain issues. He further pointed out that the Federation and the RS parties had different opinions on how many ministries the new state government should have. Sahbaz Dzihanovic from the Working Group stated that the exact number of ministries would be defined in the next day or two. SDS representative Momir Tosic said that number of ministries and the rotation principle are still contentious issues. BOSS Chairman Mirnes Ajanovic said the parties agreed on nine ministries but did not specify which ministries will exist in the CoM. Mario Brkic, OHR Spokesperson, stated that the talks were held in a very positive and constructive atmosphere. He added that the Draft CoM Law was agreed on and the Working Group was going to devise a final version. Avaz briefly reported that the presidency consultation on the establishment of the new government would continue next Tuesday and Wednesday. Dnevni List pg. 1 & 3 ‘Meeting of OHR and parties that entered new composition of House of Representatives of BiH Parliament was held: Ashdown is imposing law on Council of Ministers?’, Vecernji List pg. 5 ‘Instead of 13, still only 8 Ministries’ – Niko Lozancic from HDZ stated that he was pretty satisfied with the last night’s meeting: “I have to say that there were a lot of identical stands coming from representatives of all three constituent peoples…I have to stress that there is a possibility that HR Paddy Ashdown proclaims this law due to the lack of time because we shall have the constituting of the BiH Parliament Assembly in ten day and also there is a need to constitute the BiH Council of Ministers.” VL reports that after yesterday’s negotiations in the OHR premises, representatives of Parliament (parties from both BiH entities) did not reach an agreement on the future structure and the way of decision-making in the BiH Council of Ministers. It was agreed that the Working Group would consider all proposals again and make a final draft law that would be acceptable for all. Vecernji List pg.5 by Zoran Kresic ‘Serb radicals bring majority to moderate parties’ – reads that formation of the new executive authority will not be possible without both the national parties – i.e. HDZ, SDA and SDS – and moderate parties from the Federation – i.e. Party for BiH and SNSD in RS. Kresic goes on to say that the issue of compensatory mandates resulted in 14 parties making it into the State Parliament, which in turn complicated process of the establishment of authority, and which would hinder the efficiency of the authority in the next four years. The author notes that the HDZ, SDA and SDS together have 20 out of 42 seats in the state Parliament and that the answer to them might come in the form of a democratic opposition that could be called the ‘Alliance for Reforms’. In that context, Kresic says that one could notice that such democratic alternative would need just one vote to gain the majority, and that vote could come from the Radical Party of RS. Kresic adds that both SNSD and PDP from the RS openly offer an alliance to the Radicals and goes on to say that even “such a stretched majority of election losers in the State Parliament’s House of Representatives could easily be put into question because of the division within the SDP”. In that context, the author says that Sead Avdic, one of few who left SDP, did not leave much room to cooperation with SDP. Kresic concludes the piece by saying that there are two options to overcome the situation, a wide coalition or new elections. Avaz pg. 1 & 3 – the Federation and the RS Army will have to dismiss ‘in the coming period’ 9,300 soldiers. The Federation Army will have to be reduced from the current 13,200 soldiers to 7,000, and the RS Army from 6,600 soldiers down to 3,500 soldiers. According to daily’s sources, the reductions are necessary due to constant requests by the NATO and IC officials. Mijo Anic, FBiH Defence Minister, stated that it was up to the new Defence Ministry structures to decide how to dismiss the soldiers – with or without the redundancy pay. RS Radio, Vecernji List pg. 1 & 2, Dnevni List pg. 6 – Although originally scheduled as a part of the agenda, the BiH Presidency did not discuss the CoM conclusions on the violation of the UN resolution on the arms and military equipment export from BiH. The Presidency’s Press Office said that due to other obligations of its members, the Presidency also did not discuss a report on the position of the inmates of the Correction and Penalty Institute Zenica. The Presidency verified a proposed decision on the participation of military monitors from BiH in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo. 6 members of the RS and Federation Armies – 2 Serbs, 2 Bosniaks and 2 Croats – yesterday went to Congo, Boris Kujundzic, the Presidency’s Public Information Officer, said. He announced that on 3rd and 4th of December the Presidency would resume the consultations with representatives of the HDZ, SDS, SNSD and SDP on the forming of the executive authorities in BiH – i.e. the appointment of the CoM designate PM. RS Radio, Avaz pg. 9 ‘Old passports invalid as of midnight’ – The passports with entity insignia expire at midnight, and this will not have negative effects on BiH citizens, the Deputy Minister for Civil Affairs and Communications, Milan Lovric, told Srna. Those who happen to be abroad without a new passport would be issued a travel paper at the nearest BiH consulates in order to travel back home. Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘The court has nothing to do with the Leutar case award, Avaz pg. 37 ‘The court has nothing to do with a prize fir discovering Leutar’s killer’, Federation Radio – President of the Sarajevo cantonal Court, Amir Jaganjac, has rejected allegations by the spokesman for the Federation Ministry of Interior, Nedzad Vejzagic, that the court should have information regarding the spending of funds intended as an award for identifying the assassin of the former Federation Minister of Interior Jozo Leutar. “The court is not involved in this by law because it did not promise to pay the award, and is not involved in the mechanism of its payment. Ethically speaking, one should not even dare to think that the court would give money to someone to help prove someone’s guilt,” stated Judge Jaganjac. The MoI Spokesman today said that the MoI had not yet received any request from the Ministry of Finance to collect information on the funds intended for the payment of an award for the protected witness in the Leutar case. Avaz pg. 9 ‘Slobodna Bosna using their well-known receipt, using lies against people not sharing Lagumdzija’s opinion’ – an open letter by Ivo Komsic in a response to an article in Slobodna Bosna magazine (21 November 2002, issue no. 314), which carried lies about him and his family. He stated that the magazine became long time ago a ‘right fist of Lagumdzija’s propaganda circle’. Avaz pg. 2 ‘A meeting with Mesic’ – that members of the BiH Presidency would meet on December 9 in Croatian Kostajnica with Croatian President Stipe Mesic to discuss the current issues in relations between the two countries. Vecernji List pg. 1 & 2, and Dnevni List pg. 6 – report that during its yesterday’s session, the BiH Presidency accepted the initiative by Stjepan Mesic to organize a working meeting of the BiH and Croatia leaders in Croatian Kostajnica on December 9. Boris Kujundzic, BiH Presidency Spokesperson, stated that this meeting was not substitute for the Inter-State Council, whose next session had been scheduled for the next month. Kujundzic also announced that members of the BiH Presidency would pay a visit to Mostar on December 6. SRNA – Members of the BiH State Borders Administration (SBS) have arrested seven Yugoslav citizens who are Kosovo Albanians and two Bosnia-Herzegovina citizens from Gorazde (eastern Bosnia) for crossing the border illegally. The Cajnice magistrate, Momir Djurdjevic, said that all arrested had said that they had paid unknown persons 2,000-2,500 Euro each for helping them cross the border between Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina illegally. All seven citizens of Yugoslavia who were arrested on the night between 25 and 26 November were sentenced to 15 days in prison with an additional one-year ban to enter Bosnia-Herzegovina and ordered to pay the costs of the court proceedings. Both Bosnia-Herzegovina citizens were sentenced to 20 days in prison for taking part in and aiding illegal entry of foreign nationals in Bosnia-Herzegovina. “An investigation is under way as it is suspected that a number of people have been taking part in aiding foreigners to illegally cross the border,” Djurdjevic said. |
International community/OHR | ||
| DPHR Hays
EUPM
Comment related to the IC’s work
IPTF certification
EU forces instead of SFOR?
Anic – OHR
OHR informed of a threatening letter
Avis Benes
Commentary by Brkic
HR Ashdown to visit Bihac and Drvar
OHR – Tomislavgrad
The Hague
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘ A loss of 1,5 billion on customs and taxes’, Avaz pg. 4. ‘Claims that BiH is becoming more economically stable are not true’, Glas Srpski pg. 3 and Nezavisne Novine pg. 5, Nacional pg. 11 ‘With a joint customs easier against corruption – a warning by PDHR Donald Hays, who was in Banja Luka yesterday, that BiH will be facing serious problems unless immediately embarking on the implementation of economic reforms. “Thos who say that the economic situation in BiH is stabilising are not well informed.” Talking of VAT, PDHR Hays emphasised that a singlerate at the BiH level would ensure the economic improvement and would open door to investments. He further expressed hope that a civil control would soon be established over the armed forces. He repeated at a press conference that the ‘Orao’ affair was a significant breach of the UN sanctions. Blic pg. 7 ‘Reforms should not be imposed’ – carries an interview with PDHR Donald Hays. Hays said that the problem of organised crime could be solved in six months only if the authorities in the RS and the Federation were ready to sit down and agree on VAT state level framework law, which should be ready by the middle of next year. He further said that a new composition of the Council of Ministers should be reformed. According to his words, the IC intention is that all these decisions, necessary for the future of BiH economy, be made by the elected authorities of both entities and not be imposed. Hays said that the problem of organised crime in the BiH customs administrations was really big, and it was necessary to form a joint customs that would bring more money to the entities. He added that Belgrade and Zagreb supported the idea. PDHR said he was not satisfied with the RS co-operation with the Hague Tribunal, because seven years after the war the authorities had not taken the problem seriously. He added that there was a connection between organised crime and non-co-operation with the Hague. Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘Priorities – fight against human trafficking’ – Justin Davis, the EUPM Political Advisor, stated that the EU, upon the take over, would continue providing help to local authorities in fight against human trafficking. He added that the fight against crime and human trafficking were the EUPM’s priorities Oslobodjenje column ‘Today and here’, written by Gojko Beric, pg. 2 ‘”Touch me softly’ – What if the IC is battling wrong battles in BiH, and they are loosing the war without even knowing it? The core of the problem is in rejections by the Serb and Croat political elite to accept BiH as their state, with the full trust in its authority bodies.” Beric tells that he disagrees with HR Ashdown when it comes to nationalism, and adds that HR Ashdown still does not what’s he up against. Beric explains that he recently met with HR Ashdown and that HR described himself as ‘a person who defines goals and then goes for it, even though sometimes it could be dangerous’. The journalist concluded the article with the above description of HR Ashdown saying that ‘he hopes HR would, in accordance with his commando slogan define the goals and start attacking them’. Oslobodjenje pg. 20 ’32 policemen uncertified’ – a short article informing that out of 1,309 police officers in the Zenica-Doboj Canton, 1,277 were certified by the IPTF while 32 police officers remained uncertified. The 32 police officers have been suspended, and their final status will be decided on once the appeal period ends. Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘European forces instead of SFOR?’, Avaz pg. 2 ‘Replace SFOR with European forces’ – the EU might take over next years from SFOR in BiH, as stated by the German Defence Minister Peter Struck. He stated that the possibility was considered with Javier Solana, EU HR for Security and Foreign Politics. So-called ‘European fast reaction forces’ would take over from SFOR and they were still in the process of the establishment. Avaz pg. 4 ‘Followers of self-rule openly threatening to soldiers’ – the Federation Defence Minister, Mijo Anic, issued an announcement yesterday explaining why he wrote to OHR regarding the status of former FBiH Defence Ministry soldiers and members of the Croat component. “My main goal was the protection of soldiers and other FBiH Ministry officials who had been subjected to threats and humiliations by some of the former Ministry members during and after the elections.” Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘An intimidating leaflet for Bosniak returnees’, Avaz pg. 5 ‘Holy warriors threatening to Merhamet and respectable Bosniak returnees’ – a threatening letter that was sent to addresses of around 10 respectable Bosniak returnees and “Merhamet’ members from Bosanska Gradiska. The letter requests from them to ‘keep their head down and keep quite’. “The weekend Turks should not anger holly warriors and the holly Cica (meaning Draza Mihajlovic),’ reads the letter. ‘Merhamet’ members stated that they informed the IPTF, Local police and OHR of the letter. Avaz pg. 12 ‘Mostar OHR condemned vandalism at the Zrinjski – Velez football match’ – OHR Spokesperson, in Mostar, Avis Benes, condemned at yesterday’s press conference in Mostar the provocation, hooliganism and vandalism that took place during the recent Velez – Zrinjski football match. She stated that OHR contacted southwest Mostar Mayor Mladen Margeta and President of the ‘Zrinjski’ football club Miroslav Coric. Vecernji List pg. 4 ‘Alternative – demise in misery’ – features an editorial by a guest commentator Mario Brkic, OHR Spokesperson. Brkic starts the editorial by saying that BiH enters a challenging period – i.e. transitional period which is not an easy task placing a focus on the establishment of the rule of law and moving of the economy in terms of creating new jobs. The author then reminds of the High Representative’s plan set out in six points saying that he would like to focus on three points only. First, the reform of Council of Ministers, which is to enhance the efficiency of the institution. Second, the importance of VAT at the state level, which will attract foreign investors and the third a test in form of the reforms to customs related issues. In relation to the latter, Brkic says that the ‘Orao’ affair is the best remainder of the situation in that area. “Therefore we have a new chapter before us in which we will deal less with security issues and much more with economic reforms, establishment of a cleaner political space and functional structures of authority”, says Mario Brkic. FENA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, accompanied by his wife Jane, will tomorrow, Thursday, 28 November, begin a two-day visit to Bihac and Drvar. The High Representative will meet with the Customs Service and police officers, and visit two schools, a transit center and a health center. There will be a number of media opportunities during the visit, a statement issued by OHR says. Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1 & 15 ‘OHR does not want to hear about Duvno people’ – carries a report from a public forum held in Tomislavgrad which rendered the decision of the High Representative to abolish the Tomislavgrad municipal Court. The daily quotes the Head of Tomislavgrad municipality, Zdravko Prka, as saying: “If the High Representative again turns a deaf ear to our invitation to hold talks about his decision to abolish the court in Tomislavgrad, it is nor ruled out that Duvno people (NB: a common name for residents of Tomislavgrad) head towards OHR Sarajevo without his invitation”. Avaz pg. 8 ‘New trial for crimes in Srebrenica scheduled for May 6’, SRNA – the second trial for the Srebrenica massacre should start on May 6 next years, as stated by the Judge Wolfgang Schaumburg. In the new process, four officers from the Zvornik and Bratunac brigades of the Drina corps – Vidoje Blagojevic, Dragan Obrenovic and Dragan Jokic – have been charged with the participation in ‘a joint act of crime’ with an aim of disallowing further existence of the Bosniak community in Srebrenica. RTRS – The ICTY Trial Chamber officially separated the proceedings against Momcilo Krajisnik and Biljana Plavsic. According to the ICTY liaison office in Sarajevo, one of the reasons for this action is that Plavsic had confessed to charges. The deliberation on the sentence in Plavsic case is announced to take place on 16 and 17 December, after which a verdict will be pronounced. | |
Federation BiH | |
| Federation Police Director
Financial police investigation
Lagumdzija vs. Avaz
Behmen apologises
| Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘The Federation police Director to be appointed today’, Avaz pg. 2 ‘PM Behmen ignoring SDA’s view on Miletic’s appointment’ – responding to a warning by the SDA (see yesterday’s media morning brief), FBiH PM Behmen stated that his government ‘was not acting within a technical mandate’. As for the appointment of the FBiH Police Director, Behmen confirmed that this should be on the agenda of today’s Federation government’s session. Another article in Avaz entitled ‘FBiH government conducted nine appointments and eight removals’ – tells that the Federation government since the new elections and during so-called ‘technical mandate’ made 17 personnel changes. Also, on Avaz pg. 3 Comment of the Day was written by Adi Hadziarapovic and was entitled ‘Hot Mostar session’. The title refers to today’s FBiH government’s session, which is to take place in Mostar. Arapovic claims that the job of any ‘technical government’ is to realise the budget plans and operation tasks related to the law implementation, but in now way should such government make strategic decisions or make personnel changes. ONASA – UNMIBH has noticed the increase over the recent days of comments made in the media by representatives of political parties on police matters. “We are particularly concerned about attempts by political players to obstruct the appointment of the Director of Police in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina,” UNMIBH said in a statement. Avaz pg. 1 & 8, FENA – Under the ‘Exclusive’ column, Avaz reported on its front-page on the FBiH Financial Police, which started yesterday, that has a goal of combating illegal trade of shares from the privatization – investment funds and stocks from companies where citizens’ certificates were invested. The long-prepared action against the above-mentioned illegal actions was apparently sped up by the sudden sale of the large package of shares by the Sarajevo ‘Put’ construction company to the ‘Nasicecement’ company in Croatia. Avaz pg. 37 ‘Lagumdzija failed to appear before the court’ – three-member Court Council of the Sarajevo municipality Court II, presided by Judge Aida Hadzimuratovic, held an initial hearing yesterday in the case of Avaz daily against Zlatko Lagumdzija. Avaz filed a lawsuit against Lagumdzija after a front-page text in Oslobodjenje daily from the SDP Main Board entitled ‘Merciless campaign by Avaz’s tycoons and Mafia’. The article quoted Lagumdzija who insulted Avaz daily. Now Avaz wants 300,000 KM in damages from Lagumdzija for the insulting language and 500,000 KM from Oslobodjenje for reporting the lies. Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Behmen publicly apologized to Avaz’s journalist Faruk Cardzic’ – reports that Alija Behmen opened yesterday’s SDP conference with an apology to Faruk Cardzic, Dnevni Avaz journalist (see OHR Media Round-up from November 25,2002). Dnevni Avaz appreciates such a gesture but thinks that apology offered by a person who was not guilty was not enough. Moreover, the magazine is of the opinion that journalists should be protected at all times. As per Dnevni Avaz, it would be best if Zlatko Lagumdzija himself apologized. Moreover, disciplinary measures could be initiated against Sehic and Dzaferbegovic by the IPTF, who issued Sehic’s certificate. |
Republika Srpska | |
| RS NA constituting session PDP – SNSD Meeting with Amb. Peters | Avaz pg. 8 ‘Cavic, Osmanovic and Tomljenovic to take an oath’, SRNA, FRY Nacional and Blic – briefly informs that the RS NA constituting session is to take place today where the new RS President Cavic and his deputies, Osmanovic and Tomljenovic, were to take an oath. Avaz pg. 10 ‘The participation of the SNSD in the government would allow for more efficient functioning of the RS authorities’, SRNA – Mladen Ivanic, the PDP President, stated yesterday that they would support the election of the Assembly leadership which would allow for the constituting of the RS NA. This means that the PDP would support the SDS, but not necessarily that the PDP would establish a collation with the same. “This way we are ensuring the establishment of the new government,” said Ivanic. The daily also reported that late last night talks began between the PDP President Ivanic and the SNSD President Dodik. Nezavisne Novine pg.3 – quotes member of the SDS Main Board Milenko Stanic as saying that SDS will form a parliamentary majority with the PDP, SPRS and some smaller parties, but if that is not possible then SDS will form a government in the RS with SDA. He told the paper last night that it is obvious that PDP and SNSD failed to reach an agreement and that the SDS and PDP will make a new parliamentary majority. Stanic said he also expected the SPRS’s support, regardless of what SPRS stated, that is, the SPRS will not form a coalition with national parties. The same daily quoted SNSD Chairman Milorad Dodik as saying that by accepting to play the role of a person who is tying the SDA and SDS flags, Mladen Ivanic has put the RS and the whole BiH in a great danger. SRNA news agency also quotes SNSD Chairman Milorad Dodik as saying yesterday afternoon that SNSD will continue to work as an opposition party unless Mladen Ivanic agrees that RS prime minister designate is an SNSD member and that PDP gets four ministerial posts. Dodik said that SNSD would support a PDP candidate for RS NA speaker. According to him, PDP would choose first the position in the CoM and PDP’s members would be allowed to keep their positions in RS public companies. Dodik said that SNSD finds completely unacceptable the PDP’s offer according to which PDP would get the position of RS PM and that each party (SNSD and PDP) gets four ministerial posts. Glas Srpski pg. 2 – quotes SNSD Vice Chairman Nebojsa Radmanovic who said yesterday that the SNSD would, together with the PDP, either form a Dodik-led RS government or become an opposition party along with other parties that joined the Alliance for Changes. Glas Srpski further reported that the SPRS Main Board decided at yesterday session that SPRS could only form a coalition with progressive and moderate parties at all levels, which excludes national parties. SPRS states that if this is not possible then SPRS will become an opposition party. The RS Vice President Dragan Cavic stated yesterday (Glas Srpski, Blic pg. 7) that pressures that some IC representatives exert on political parties do not contribute to creation of a democratic environment and they may cause a serious political and even parliamentary crisis in the RS. Blic pg. 3 – The SDA has said that it will support a government headed by Mladen Ivanic ‘because in that government the SDA will get several ministerial posts”. According to the SDA Vice-President, Elmir Jahic, the SDA has been offered posts of the RS NA Vice-President, the RS Council of People President, and three-four ministerial posts including that one of these ministers is RS Government vice-president. FRY Nacional pg. 11 – The US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, is of the view that SDS should not be part of the RS authorities. “I do not see why SDS should be part of the political equation at all levels of the RS authorities. “ According to Bond’s words, a coalition formed by PDP and SNSD would be an important step toward the BiH recognition by the RS. Blic pg. 7, Nacional pg. 11 – During a meeting with the German Ambassador to BiH, Hans Peters, Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic informed Peters of his party’s stance on the necessity for continuing implementation of economic reforms. Ivanic stated that during the talks on the establishment of new authority in the RS and BiH, his party offered a maximum, in regard to the participation of other political subjects ready to support reforms. President of the RS National Assembly, Dragan Kalinic, and German Ambassador Peters agreed during Wednesday meeting that the respect of election results and the formation of the executive and legislative authority on that (election results) basis would contribute to political stability in the RS and BiH. |