Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Meeting of parties in | RS MoI delivers war archive to ICTY | RS NA in session |
| FBiH HoR session | Meeting of parties in | Meeting at BiH Presidency ongoing |
| FBiH Govt session | RSNA in session | Documentation sent to |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Croat kidnapped in | Earthquake in | Earthquake in | 26000 killed in |
| BIH citizens in | Elections in | Statement of D. Cavic | SDS&SNSD on new Govt. |
| CRO citizens in | Dragan Cavic’s proposal | Reactions to crisis in BiH | Investigation: Crna Rijeka |
| Mikerevic on MoI&Def.Min. | Meeting in BiH Presidency | IFIMES report | Nationalistic messages |
| Oslobodjenje | No agreement on RS PM designate |
| Dnevni Avaz | Nazi hunters search after war criminals |
| Dnevni List | New wave of emigration of Croats |
| Vecernji List | It is unknown where 15 Croats are |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Tito’s monument in Kumrovec pulled down |
| Glas Srpske | Following latest demands of SDA: You cannot abolish the people |
| Nezavisne Novine | Talks on strongest political parties’ leaders in RS with Dragan Cavic: PM-designate will be the one with 42 MP’s signatures; |
| Blic | New Year’s greeting: Water price doubles in Srpska; Authors of insulting graffiti arrested |
| Vecernje Novosti | New robbery in Modrica |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| RS Army Drina Corps war documents sent to
| BH Radio 1, RS Radio, SRNA – RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic told SRNA that the wartime documents of the Drina Corps of the RS Army this morning was shipped off to |
| Representatives of BiH ruling political parties discussing political crisis in CoM
| BH Radio 1, Herceg Bosna Radio, RS Radio – The meeting between the parties making up the BiH parliamentary majority and the members of the BiH Presidency has started this morning in |
| RSNA in session
| BH Radio 1, RS Radio – RS National Assembly has commenced the session this morning discussing the draft Law on amendments to the Law on financing political parties out of the budget of RS, municipality and city. After this, RSNA will also hold 23rd session to discuss the resignation by RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic. |
| FBiH HoR in session
| BH Radio 1, Herceg Bosna Radio – FBiH House of Representatives has commenced the two-days session. Today, HoR is expected to take stance on the proposal of the Law on FBiH budget for 2005. The budget of approximately one billion and 5 millions KM was proposed by the FBiH Government, and at the session of the HoR representatives filed over 100 amendments to the proposal. Government today will present its stance on the amendments suggested. |
Political developments | |
| Serb political parties failed to agree on new RS PM designate
| RTRS, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘No agreement on RS PM designate’ by Orijana Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SDS proposal that less influential parties form new RS Government rejected’ by J. Stojanovic, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘PM designate must have support of 42 representatives’ by N. Bise, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘PM-designate will be the one with 42 MP’s signatures’ by A. Sekulic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Cards still open’ by N. Diklic, EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘PM-desgnate on Wednesday’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – The representatives of the six Serb political parties failed to reach agreement on the new RS Prime Minister designate at a meeting held in Banja Luka on Monday. RS President Dragan Cavic suggested that the Democratic People’s Alliance (DNS) should propose a candidate for the post of prime minister, and that the government comprise three ministers each from the SDS, the SNSD and the PDP, and two each from the DNS, the SPRS (Socialist Party of the RS) and the SRS (Serb Radical Party). Cavic told journalists that this proposal meant participation of all parties in the government, but was turned down by the SNSD and the SPRS. As chairman of the SDS, Cavic said that he could not accept the concept of the SNSD and the SPRS forming a government, leaving out the SDS. “We remain firm on the concept which we proposed earlier – that the government should consist of six political parties which participated in the talks. We believe that we should coordinate our political principles and manifest them through participation in the government,” Cavic explained. “As RS President I said that I do not accept candidate proposals from individual political parties. I have asked the political parties to obtain qualified majority support for their candidate and if no agreement is reached, they should submit a list of 42 signatures of Assembly deputies who support that candidate, and in line with the constitution I will entrust that candidate with the mandate for prime minister,” Cavic said. Although SPRS leader Petar Djokic said there had been no discussion on concrete names at the meeting there were certain speculations that Mirko Banjac, DNS Vice-president, might be appointed RS Prime Minister designate. Banjac did not want to comment on the issue saying the name would be announced by the RS President. Djokic also said that there was a change in PDP position and that the party was now prepared to support a possible SNSD nominee. PDP representatives did not give any statement to media after the meeting. SNSD leader Milorad Dodik confirmed that the Serb political parties’ representatives had agreed that the issue of the new prime minister would be resolved through the parliamentary procedure. |
| FTV on crisis in RS, BiH/ reactions by politicians
| FTV – RS President Dragan Cavic consults with Serbian Premier Vojislav Kostunica on all names of potential RS Prime ministers. Kostunica still has not agreed with the proposal to nominate Milorad Dodik for new RS Prime minister. Meanwhile, realising that he had brought the decision too rapidly, BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic is trying to withdraw his resignation. Some political parties’ leaders see the agreement between RS leaders and political crisis in BiH as a way for attention to be turned from the real political issues and ethnic homogenisation also through transferring crisis to the state level. SDP Chairman Zlatko Lagumdzija said that the crisis caused homogenisation of all three nations, and that the nationalists were playing this game in order to draw the attention away from the real issues. SDA Vice Chairwoman Seada Palavric said: “It is obvious that RS parties have managed to transfer their problem regarding unfulfilled obligation towards ICTY to BiH Council of Ministers. But I hope that the parties are going to come to Tuesday’s meeting and that they are going to offer its contribution in solving the existing crisis.” Party for BiH Presidency Chairman Safet Halilovic said: “It is obvious that RS is not fulfilling its obligations, regulated by the |
| SDA’s Sadovic on RS political crisis
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Modified version of Croat Self-Rule occurs in RS’, mentioned on cover, by E. Sarac – The Head of SDA Caucus at RS National Assembly, Tarik Sadovic, comments that the series of resignations in CoM and signing of the agreement between six Serb parties appear to be anti-constitutional. Explaining that the crisis in authorities must not follow the legitimate decisions of the HR, Sadovic further underlines decisions were not brought outside of HR powers and authorities. “In the last 10 days, we have modified Croat Self-Rule taking place in RS, and we know were are its leaders now – in Kula [detention], while others playing part in it are currently subject of judicial process due to anti-constitutional and anti-Dayton activities,” stresses Sadovic. “Resignations are certain revenge to [Paddy] Ashdown, because he is the first HR who dared to remove systematic weaknesses and obstacles on the BiH’s path to |
| Srebrenica mayor warns RS leaders not solving their own problems
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘RS leaders close eyes before the problems they themselves created’ by A. Hadzic – The head of the Srebrenica municipality, Abdurahman Malkic, sent a letter to OHR and embassies in BiH on Monday reacting to the latest events in RS and warned of the hypocrisy of RS leaders. “Instead of arresting war crimes suspects, thus showing the readiness to implement and carry out the obligations under the [ |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed says RS against DPA all along
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Not only the Hague’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – The author says that six parties from RS [SDS, SNSD, PDP, SPRS, SRS and DNS] continue with the political war against BiH and the High Rep. Referring to the agreement they have signed, op-ed reads that the most provocative item in the agreement is that stance that time of imposing solutions by HR has passed. Author reminds that while parties try to show that RS only files to fully cooperate with the ICTY, the truth is that “RS has been against all key provisions of the Peace Agreement.” Op-ed outlines the history of DPA and its implementation, giving the instances of RS obstructions. Author notes that ethnic tensions are present in the country concluding: “Important conflict occurs in the inter-party circle – SDS has gave up on SDA, which returned [SDS] to power, and SDA demands SDS’ abolishment. In what way to reach majority in BiH Parliament now? However in this moment, it is more important whether six will [lose] in attack against Paddy Ashdown… After |
| NN op-ed on political situation in BiH
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Limitless games’ by Almedin Sisic – The author is with some reserve critical of the latest events, including contradictory statements of the Russian Embassy regarding HiRep’s measures and somewhat different measures USA on one and HiRep on the other side undertook against RS politicians. He concludes by saying that there is no malice in claiming that BiH “is a political and geographical Frankenstein”, where too much of political crime, individual hypocritical interest of the states building the world order and plunder of people’s money has piled up.” |
| Comments on demands of SDA officials for sanctioning SDS, PDP
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘You cannot abolish the people’ by N.D. – GS brings some comments on the latest statements of SDA officials, Sulejman Tihic and Seada Palavric, requesting ban of work of SDS and PDP and abolishment of RS. Bosko Siljegovic, member of SDS Presidency, is not surprised over SDA stances, adding: “The one demanding ban of SDS and PDP, two of three strongest Serb parties, is actually demanding the abolishment of one people, whom it obviously does not respect. And you just cannot abolish the people.” He notes HiRep turns the silent ear to these demands, as if such demands were not heard. Goran Milojevic, member of PDP Presidency, claims that accusations Seada Palavric stated are ungrounded, since resignations PDP and SDS officials tendered were in accordance with the basic democratic principles, adding: “Anywhere in the world, resignation is regarded as a moral act, only SDA regards it as a reason to ban further work of the party.” Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, says there is no real grounds to penalise PDP and SDS. |
| SRS leader Mihajlica: New CoM or early elections
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘New CoM or early elections’, FENA – Serb Radical Party RS (SRS) President Milanko Mihajlica expects the new RS Government to be established by New Year and that the RS National Assembly accepts the resignation of RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic as early as Tuesday. Mihajlica confirmed at a press conference in |
| Top BiH political leaders to meet over crisis in CoM, resignations by certain ministers
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Discussion on resignations by Ministers’, FENA – The meeting of BiH Presidency members, BiH Council of Ministers Chair and presidents of parties making up the majority in the BiH Parliament should take place in Sarajevo on Tuesday. BiH Presidency Chair Borislav Paravac announced last Thursday that BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic should at that meeting provide a detailed explanation and open a debate on the issue of resignations by certain ministers from the BiH Government. Media advisor for BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, Bojan Zec Filipovic told FENA on Monday that mechanisms for continuing reforms processes in BiH are expected to be defined within the parliamentary majority. He added that it would be known after that meeting whether the BiH Council of Ministers would hold a regular session on Thursday. Filipovic said that resignations were submitted by BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic and Civil Affairs Deputy Minister Zoran Tesanovic, while Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic delivered an envelope to Chairman Terzic, which has not been opened. Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac said that he would resign if all Serb representatives in the Council of Ministers resign. |
| BHT on announced meeting of BiH political leaders on crisis in CoM
| BHT – BiH Presidency members are going to meet with BiH leading parties on Tuesday, in order to discuss future of BiH and its government. All parties agree that there is the crisis at the state level, but that BiH Council of Ministers is going to have legitimacy to hold a session, which is going to be held on Tuesday. SDS expects BiH Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic, and two Deputies from SDS to participate at the meeting, but not BiH Minister of Justice Slobodan Kovac. SDS representative Bosko Siljegovic said that according to RS institutions, Kovac had no legitimacy. SDS confirmed that SDS and PDP representatives were again going to be nominated for ministers. SDA believes that all ministers except BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs in resignation Mladen Ivanic are going to keep their offices. SDA Vice–President Seada Palavric said that everything should stay as it is, if BiH wanted to respect the deadline, by which BiH should start the negotiations on joining European Union. HDZ Spokesperson Pero Pavlovic said that not much had been lost, but if the solutions do not be reached soon, BiH could suffer great damages regarding the issue of negotiations with EU. |
| Terzic on meeting of BiH Presidency and ruling parties | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I expect answer from BiH Presidency with party’s leaders’ by H.O. – In the eve of the meeting between BiH Presidency and the representatives of ruling parties, the Chair of CoM Adnan Terzic expresses his hope that agreement will be reached enabling Council of Ministers to hold session on Thursday. Terzic adds he is not certain that the meeting will take place as BiH Presidency took over the organization. He reminds that this situation in the state government did not occur because of him or CoM Ministers: “All happened after HR [Paddy] Ashdown’s measures. Public knows this. So, I repeat, nothing has happened because of CoM work.” |
| Kovac: I will resign if asked by all Serb parties, not only SDS
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Kovac: I will support every move leading to exit out of the crisis’ by M.K. – The BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac stated for DA that he will stick to his decision to resign if asked to do so by all Serb parties that are actively involved in solving the political crisis in RS, and not only upon SDS’s demand. Kovac is not a member of any party, and SDS asked him to resign explaining they are unsatisfied with his work. “Believe me, I don’t contact with anybody, nobody calls me… I have not asked anybody to explain me why SDS demanded my resignation, because the situation is complicated enough`,” said Kovac adding that he will support any move leading to solution of the crisis. |
| IFIMES report on political situation in BiH following latest HR’s measures
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Stability of BiH possible also without national political parties’ – The Ljubljana-basedInternational Institute for Middle East and Balkans Studies has prepared a report on the current political situation BiH following latest HR’s measures and decisions brought by US Administration. The Institute claims that stability in BiH is possible also without national political parties (in power). The Institute warns International Community that it has to take its part of the the responsibility since it allowed HR to be presented as the cornerstone in the process of BiH reforms, by which domestic politicians and especially democratic political parties suffer great damages. The Institute believes that HR’s measures can lead to serious discussion on problematic BiH Constitution. They are asking HR whether, by his recent decisions, he wants to start new reforms, still having the previous ones unimplemented. The Institute’s report states that BiH’s future cannot be built on the basis of any kind of nationalistic movements, which are being introduced by nationalist parties. The Institute claims that nationalist parties present the cause of BiH’s instability and they prevent BiH from establishing a quality political system. |
| Former Austrian Ambassador on HiRep’s measures
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ashdown’s measures are ‘labour pains” for BiH’ by BETA – Director of the Directorate for SouthEast Europe with the Austrian Foreign Ministry and the former Austrian Ambassador to BiH, Valentin Intzko, described the crisis in BiH following HR Paddy Ashdown’s measures as “labour pains” of the state of BiH, adding: “The former HiRep Wolfgang Petritsch said that RS was the state inside the state and it is not a normal situation. A state inside the state does not exist anywhere in the world. The formula for settlement of situation in BiH is the process of association and admission to EU and acceptance of European standards.” He further stressed: “ |
| VL:
| Vecernji List pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Communist Party was sanctioning on 6 months, Lord sanctions for lifetime!’ by Z. Kresic carries an article in which the author harshly criticizes Bonn’s authorities of the High Representatives in BiH and he says that the sanctions of the High Representatives in BiH are much worse than those which were pronounced during the Communist time. VL also says that according to an anonymous official close to Serb member of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac, Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe Erhard Busek hinted to Paravac at the meeting called ‘Reconciliation for joint future’ (which was held in Tirana at the beginning of this month) that the Bonn’s powers of the HR will be abolished in 2005. Busek also announced that in 2005 the International Community definitely starts with its ‘exit strategy’, while Paravac warned of ‘a danger’ of possible strikes against the RS by the IC, which would like to stay in BiH as long as possible because of privileges its representatives have in this country. |
| DL on consequences for BiH Croats if
| Dnevni List front pg splash and pg 7 ‘New wave of emigration of Croats’ by Z. Jukic – DL argues that the EU might demand abolishment of the Croatian citizenship for BiH citizens when Croatia starts negotiations on joining the EU because of fear that Croatian passports possessed by BiH citizens might be abused by terrorist and criminal organizations during the interim period. According to the article, there are also many people who believe that if |
| CBC HDZ Board sent open letter to International Community officials
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 13, mentioned on front ‘For equality to the last gasp’ by Z. Cilic carries an open letter that Central Bosnia Canton HDZ Board sent to high-ranked officials of the International Community in which they express their dissatisfaction with the work of the ICTY, re-organization of BiH, constant changes of the Dayton Peace Accord ‘mostly to the damage of the Croat people and inequality of the Croat people with other 2 BiH peoples’. |
| Paavac’s advisor Kapetina on defence reform
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Assault against Constitution’ by M. Dzepina – Dragan Kapetina, Military advisor to Borislav Paravac, commented on defence reform by saying: “Under the veil of the defence reform, the goals of political parties from F BiH have been targeted, aiming at transferring the RS authority onto BiH level and changing Constitution.” He notes BiH now has a joint Army under a joint operational and administrative chain of command. |
| UNDP survey on political parties’ rating
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDP ahead of SDA’ by P. Klincov – The December research conducted by the UN DP has shown the rating of the political parties in BiH, according to which the SDP of BiH is leading before SDA. The research has shown that if elections were held tomorrow, 8.8% of electorate would vote for SDP, while 7.7% would vote for SDA. According to this research, the largest number of votes in BiH would be given to SDS (9.4%) and the to SNSD (6.8%). |
War crimes | |
| DA: US nazi hunters to search after war crime suspects possibly hiding in US | Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘Nazi hunters pursuing war criminals’ by Sead Numanovic – DA brings article on the Office of the Special Investigations [OSI], the Justice Department’sNazi hunters, whose mandate has been altered by the intelligence overhaul law signed December 17 by President George Bush to include a provision that directs OSI to root out all manner of war criminals and human rights abusers who try to settle in the USA. OSI will track and arrest war crimes suspects, whether they’re linked to state-sponsored killings in Chile or Cambodia, or to war crimes in Rwanda or Bosnia. |
Economic/social affairs | |
| FBiH Tax Administration Director Arifovic on BiH tax policy
| Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on front, ‘Arifovic: Tax policy stimulates irresponsible tax payers’ by D. Polovina-Mandic says that due to tax evasion BiH loses millions KM every year. Director of the Federation of BiH Tax Administration Midhat Arifovic stated that apart from tax evasion, those who do not pay taxes on time are also a big problem and he added: ‘The current tax policy is very stimulating for those who are not responsible and radical changes must be made with regard to this issue…’Arifovic also believes that the situation will improve after introduction of VAT since then the tax administration will start to deal with the issue of tax evasion, illegal work etc. for the first time. |
| RS PM Mikerevic on economy in 2004
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Progress achieved in economy’ by SRNA; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Successful year’ by M.Mi. – At the New Year’s reception for the members of the press in |
Miscellaneous | |
| VL on affair with DTPr vaccine
| Vecernji List pg 8 ‘Prosecutor McNair and UNHCR are protected by immunity’, mentioned on front ‘McNair and UNHCR untouchable for BiH’ by R. Soldo – Due to his refusal to launch an investigation on mysterious death of a baby from Brcko in the Clinical Centre in Tuzla before the affair with DTPr vaccine broke out in 2002, charges were filed against Prosecutor John McNair with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council. VL says that soon after the charges were filed, the reply arrived which said that McNair enjoys immunity in BiH. VL also says that soon after, before the Cantonal Prosecution in |
| Update to affair at BiH Football Union
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SIPA sized a part of documentation’ by A. Sisic – Dragan Lukac, SIPA Deputy Director, confirmed that the Inspectors of the SIPA Criminal Investigation Department had entered the premises of the BiH Football Union and seized a part of documentation regarding financial business dealings of this Union. This act was in accordance with the Law and order by the BiH Chief Prosecutor, Marinko Jurcevic. |