Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 28 February
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) |
| Cardinal Puljic on EU-BiH relations | Delic departed to |
| Delic departs for | 32 killed in |
| 35 dead in | Weather |
TV news broadcast on 27 February
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Pope’s health condition | Round table on ‘BiH after DPA’ | Terzic on constitutional changes |
| Terzic on constitutional changes | | PDP members remain in CoM |
| SNSD campaign on demilitarization | BL citizens on constitutional changes | Commemoration in Strpci |
| Lagumdzija meets Gregorian | Initiative to draft text of BiH anthem | Delic goes to Hague on Monday |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Situation in Maglic company | ICTY to sentence crimes in Omarska | RS MoI on Karadzic and Mladic |
| Feature on vulnerable citizens | Jelavic helped war crimes indictee | Miletic, Delic in Hague on Monday |
| March 1, BiH independency day | | PDP Main Board in session |
| Initiative to draft text of BiH anthem | Parliament’s Forum in session | Dodik on Ivanic |
| Oslobodjenje | RS railways damaged for 100 million KM?; General Rasim Delic departs for |
| Dnevni Avaz | Indictment against Covic; Ian Cliff: I will advice my successor to be patient |
| Dnevni List | Adnan Terzic: BiH is SCG’s hostage |
| Vecernji List | Hungarians stop transportation workers from BiH |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Dominic Erulin: Mitterand’s Gendarmerie rigged indictment against Ante Gotovina |
| Nezavisne Novine | Patients were evacuated, agony of employees is still ongoing |
| Glas Srpske | Winter related story |
| EuroBlic | Winter related story |
| Vecernje novosti | Serbian related titles |
| Nacional | Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Delic left to
| RHB, BH Radio 1 at 12.00 by Mirela Hodzic – The former commander of the BiH Army, Rasim Delic, left for |
| PDP still without decision on CoM
| FENA news agency –The agency reports that PDP Presidency at the session on Sunday night did not bring final decision whether this party will be represented by new or the same ministers in the Council of Ministers. Gavrilo Antonic, the secretary general of the party, state for Fena that PDP will bring the final decision in this week. He added that the main topic of the meeting was the situation in Trebinje. |
| Doris Pack calls on Balkans countries to cooperate with ICTY
| SRNA news agency – The president of a delegation of the European Parliament for cooperation with the countries of South East Europe, Doris Pack, today called on the participants in the Cetinje Parliamentary Forum to convince their governments to create a better environment for cooperation with the ICTY. On her part, she promised full support for accession to the EU. |
| Cardinal Puljic: EU must have bigger responsibility towards BiH | RHB at 12.00 – Archbishop of Vrhbosnia, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, stated following a meeting of presidents of Bishops’ Conferences of countries of |
Political issues | |
| Terzic: BiH is a hostage of non-democratic process in BiH
| FTV, NTV Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BiH entities are long-term reality’, mentioned on cover, by Nagorka Idrizovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH is still the hostage of neighbouring SCG’ by H.H., Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Adnan Terzic: BiH is SCG’s hostage’ and pg 2 ‘Terzic: BiH is held hostage by undemocratic processes in SCG’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Terzic: BiH is a hostage of non-democratic SiCG’ by D. Muminovic –On Sunday, the Forum of 1990 BiH Parliamentarians held the round-table ‘BiH before and after the Dayton – how to go forward?’ on the occasion of the 1 March, the Independence Day. The participants were addressed by the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, who said that the Dayton Peace Agreement stopped the war. He added that its signatories were divided in two groups – those who believed DPA was a ground to build a state and another group of those who did not intend to respect it. This, says Terzic, is the reason this agreement did not serve its purpose entirely. Terzic also said that the number of delegates in the Parliament should be increased due to a number of assignments, however did not explain how this could be done without the constitutional changes. Talking about European perspective, CoM Chair stressed BiH’s main problem is non cooperation with the ICTY underlying that BiH is a hostage of non-democratic processes in SCG. RHB – “In BHT1 – Terzic said 15 out of 18 war crimes indictees are in currently in SCG. On the constitutional changes, BiH PM said they are necessary: “If we don’t take advantage of DPA, which gives us possibility to change Constitution, the IC and the OHR in BiH will certainly do it,” said Terzic. PINK – Chair of CoM also said that BiH was going to be admitted to the Partnership for Peace and that negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement were going to start soon. Stressing that the most important thing was to continue with reforms, Terzic said: “I think that by the end of our mandate, we can expect SAA signed and ratified by all 25 states.” |
| SNSD says PDP’s decision to return to CoM ‘hypocritical and corrup’
| RTRS, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘PDP ministers fight only for their seats’ by Fena, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘PDP’s Ministers are hypocrites’, by B. S. – On Sunday SNSD accused PDP ministers in the Council of Ministers of bringing decision to stay in the CoM for their own personal interest and to preserve their seats. At a press conference in PINK – also bring announcement of the RSNA discussion on the mentioned draft law. |
| PDP decides who will participate in CoM
| RTRS – At the time of broadcasting the main news, the PDP Main Board was holding the session in BHT 1 – also reports on the session. |
| DA int with Ian Cliff: ‘I will advise my successor Matthew Raycroft to be patient’
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘I will advise my successor Matthew Raycroft to be patient’, by Mersiha Drinjakovic – Carries an interview with the outgoing British Ambassador to BiH, Ian Cliff, in which he reveals that his successor will be a young British diplomat, Matthew Raycroft. Ambassador Cliff notes his advice to Raycroft will be not to lose patience and repeat the same message several times. Whilst talking about the issue of start of SAA talks, Ambassador Cliff says:”There has been certain progress, especially in the context of cooperation with |
| DL: Dragan Covic wants to take over HDZ BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Covic to formally take over HDZ’, by Nermin Bise – The author notes that although nobody inside and outside the HDZ is ready to confirm the rumours, it is highly likely that the current Vice President of HDZ, Dragan Covic, will be trying to become a new HDZ President at the forthcoming HDZ Congress, which should take place in May 2005. According to people who know the situation in the HDZ, the only worthy counter-candidate could be Martin Raguz. DL also notes that several criminal charges against Covic are hanging like a sword over his neck, stressing that the fact that he is a member of BiH Presidency has saved him until present days. |
| NN op-ed on HR Paddy Ashdown, possible measures against RS
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Who has anything new to say?’ by Josip Blazevic – the author refers to the most recent warning of High Representative Paddy Ashdown to RS authority and says the High Representative has three options at his disposal should BiH fail to be accepted to PfP in April. First option is to severely punish RS as he had announced he would, but the author doubts this would be the case. The second option is to impose mild sanctions to RS that, according to author, would be nothing new. The third option is to do nothing and to diplomatically make a distance from the issue. The author concludes by saying: ‘he (Ashdown) has nothing new to say and the sooner he leaves this country the better it would be both for him and for us’. |
| Limov submits initiative on text of BH anthem | PINK, Hayat – The Representative of the BiH House of Peoples, Tomislav Limov, has submitted an initiative to establish the Parliamentary Commission which would be tasked for bringing the decision on the text of the BiH anthem. |
War crimes | |
| Delic to voluntarily surrender today
| FTV, RHB, RTRS, BHT 1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘General Rasim Delic departs to the Hague today’, mentioned on cover, by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Veterans to escort its war commander with dignity’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Delic voluntarily goes to The Hague today’, by De. L., Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘One of worst slaughters in the war’, mentioned on front ‘Rasim Delic goes to The Hague today’, by Miroslav Vasilj, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Delic and Miletic at the Hague today’ by Lj. T. – The former commander of BiH Army Rasim Delic will voluntarily depart to the Hague on Monday, following the 23 February unsealing of the indictment charging him for war crimes. The indictment, consisting of four charges, charges Delic by individual and command responsibility for breaching the laws and customs of war. Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Trip to The Hague’, by Ivica Glibusic – Commenting on the departure of former BiH Army commander, general Rasim Delic, to The Hague, the author says it is yet another confirmation that the BiH Army committed crimes too. “Glorification of Rasim Delic by a part of state authorities is to say the least an insult for every honest man and woman in BiH”, argues the author. |
| Miletic to voluntarily surrender today; Gvero to plea on charges soon
| RTRS, RHB, FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Delic and Miletic at the Hague today’ by Lj. T., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Continuation of Momcilo Krajisnik’s trail’ by Sense – The RS Army General Radivoje Miletic should also depart for the Hague on Monday in order to voluntarily surrender to the ICTY. Miletic has been accused of war crime committed in Srebrenica in 1995, together with Zdravko Tolimir and Milan Gvero. Gvero is expected to appear before the ICTY court in the next two weeks in order to plea on the charges of the indictment. |
| ICTY hands sentences against 4 persons for crimes in concentration camps
| FTV, RHB, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Continuation of Momcilo Krajisnik’s trail’ by Sense– ICTY Appeal Chamber will publicise a sentence against four Bosnian Serbs regarding the crimes committed against prisoners in Omarska, Keraterm and Trnopolje concentration camps in 1992. These are: Miroslav Kvocka and Dragoljub Kvrcac, former deputies of the camp, Mladjo Radic, guard commander in Omarska, and Zoran Zigic, who used to came to Omarska only to commit the crimes. |
| Advisor to Serbian President for ICTY issues denies Stojkovic
| RTRS by Aida Halilovic – RS Ministry of Interior refused to comment the statement of Serbian Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic, who said that the ICTY indictee Radovan Karadzic “most probably” has been hiding in BIH. RS MoI assured that they would immediately arrest Karadzic if they had any information on his whereabouts. Advisor to the Serbian President on ICTY related issues, Jovan Simic, said that the Stojkovic’s statement was unfounded, as there are no strong evidences on current Karadzic and Mladic location. In his statement for RTRS, Simic said that it would be best if Karadzic and Mladic were hiding in a third country, and if someone could prove this: “ All stories can be interesting only if someone can provide evidence, or if there would be some valid investigation with participation of certain international factors. No one trusts us anymore, that is the basic story, and that is the end.” |
| NN int w/ ICTY rep in BiH: ‘BiH Courts are facing lots of work’
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘BiH Courts are facing lots of work’ by R. Cengic – carries an interview with representative of the Hague Tribunal to BiH Mattias Helmann and quotes him as saying ICTY Prosecutor’s Office has suggested that 12 war crimes cases should be transferred to BiH Courts. Among other, the Prosecutor’s Office has suggested transferring of the following cases: “Mejakic and others” (war crimes committed at Omarka and Keraterm), case against Radovan Stankovic accused of rapes in Foca, Milan and Sredoje Lukic (accused of war crimes committed in Visegrad), Dragomir Milosevic (accused of sniper-shooting in Sarajevo) and case against Savo Todovic, Mitar Rasevic, Gojko Jankovic and Dragan Zelenovic accused of war crimes in Foca. Asked to comment the statement of Chief BiH Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic who has recently state there are approximately 10,000 persons in BiH who are either accused or suspected of war crimes, Helmann has stated consents issued by the Tribunal by October 1 last year referred to approximately 800 people and he said the mentioned number of 10,000 should be explained by BiH Prosecutor’s Office. ‘In any case, these numbers just show how extensive war crimes processing is…’, Helmann said and added it was very important that BiH Courts have the support they need, especially entities’ courts that will process the most part of these cases. |
| ICTY DL: Croat war crimes indictees do not want to be tried in BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Croats do not want trials in BiH’, by Jurislav Petrovic – Following announcements that BiH could soon take over some war crimes cases from the ICTY, DL carries an article in which Tomislav Jonjic, a lawyer of two Croat ICTY indictees (Pasko Ljubicic and Valentin Coric), says that in case there is a decision to transfer the cases onto the BiH judiciary, he will request that his clients be tried in Croatia, since they surrendered to Croatian authorities and since they are Croatian citizens. According to DL’s sources, the similar mood is among other Croat indictees. |
| Prosper welcomes processing war crimes cases in BiH | Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘First step of return of justice to the region’ by VOA – Deputy US State Secretary for War Crimes Issues Pierre Richard Prosper, as a comment on the announced start of the work of a |
Defence, police and security issues | |
| Lagumdzija meets Gregorian: ‘NATO requests one army at BiH level’
| RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 inset ‘NATO standards demand one army’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘NATO requests one army at level of BiH’, by NINA, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Existing defense structure is not economically sustainable’ by Srna – The President of SDP BiH, Zlatko Lagumdzija, received the Co-Chairman of Defence Reform Commission, Raffi Gregorian, who informed him about principles regarding future reform to defence structures in BiH. Both Lagumdzija and Gregorian agreed that the current defence structure in BiH was economically not viable nor in accordance with NATO standards. That means that BiH must reform the current structure of armed forces into professional armed forces that is trained, organized and equipped in order to meet BiH’s security demands and requests that all NATO members have to meet. |
| SNSD continues campaign for demilitarisation of BiH
| RTSR, PINK, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Campaign for demilitarisation of BiH to be continued’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dodik: Interest of the individual cannot block the life and work of a municipality’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SNSD pleads for a professional army of BiH’ by S. Gojkovic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘We do not need the Army’ by M. Mi. – SNSD announces on Sunday at the press conference that they will continue with the campaign to carry out the demilitarisation in BiH. The party said that 36.000 citizens, whose signatures they have collected, supported this initiative. “Having in mind that the second stage of defence reforms is being carried out, SNSD continues with the reform to demilitarise BiH,” stated SNSD officials, Nikola Spiric. |
| Oslobodjenje int with Gregorian on professional army and defence reforms
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Conscription could be abolished through an agreement’ by Antonio Prlenda – Article reads that judging on the interview daily made with the Chair of the Defence Reform Commission, Raffi Gregorian, one of the focuses is to create the fully professional army without conscription and reserve. He said he is optimistic there will be an agreement on this issue among domestic members of DRC. Asked whether HQs of RS and FBiH armies will continue to exist after the defence reform, Gregorian said that the Commission’s mandate in that regard is very clear, however added that the timeframe for this is very ambitious. “I think we can have a decision on [professionalisation of the army] this year, maybe even decision written in the law. But, the implementation will really need more time… Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic and I talked with the High Representative last month and told him we are worried about some deadlines… He told us to try to meet 1 April deadline for adopting the legal solutions, and that to set deadlines for concrete implementation of those provisions,” explained Gregorian. He said that if there is political will and resources, BiH could join NATO in five years time. |
| Italian Intelligence Service: danger comes from sleeping cells | Glas Srpske cover pg ‘“Sleepers” from BiH’ by Tanjug – The Italian National Intelligence Service has stated in its latest report that the security of the country might be put in jeopardy by “sleeping cells” of Islamic terrorists that might arrive to Italy from abroad. The Intelligence Service has stated these extremists mostly come from BiH and |
| DA: FBiH HoP Croat Caucus will reject FBiH Internal Affairs Law
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘HDZ will demand annulling the Law before the Constitutional Court’ by A. Terzic – Daily learns that the Croat Caucus in the FBiH House of Peoples will vote against the Law on Internal Affairs and will demand from the FBiH Constitutional Court to question the constituency of this document. Commenting to the Law which also includes the amendments on decertified police officers, the Deputy Chair of HDZ Caucus in FBIH HoP, Ivan Madunic says: “I think that FBiH President Niko Lozancic will also ask from |
Investigations / judicial issues | |
| Dodik certain RSNA will pass draft law temporarily suspending payment in Alijagic case
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dodik: Interest of the individual cannot block the life and work of a municipality’ – The leader of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, says he is sure that the RS National Assembly will today [Monday] adopt in urgent procedure the amendments to the law on executive procedure to temporarily postpone the payment of the millions KM of war compensation from Trebinje municipal account to Alijagic family. He adds that “there is a possibility for Bosniak Caucus in RS Council of Peoples to initiate the issue of protection of vital national interests.” At the press conference in PINK – “The law would enable court decisions to be taken off the municipalities, until the final solution of the issue does not be reached. Peace Implementation Council pointed out that, even though the damage had to be paid, an individual could not block work of a municipality,” Dodik stated. RTRS, Hayat – bring announcement of the RSNA session on the abovementioned law. |
| DA: Charges against Dragan Covic to be pressed in next few days
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Indictment against Covic’, pg 3 ‘BiH Prosecution will raise indictment against Covic’ – DA learns that international prosecutors in the BiH Prosecutor’s Special Department for organized crime, economic crime and corruption will press charges against Dragan Covic in next few days. The source from the IC in BiH confirmed to DA that the charges should be pressed latest by 4 March, however refused to discuss the details. DA speculates that Covic could be accused of crimes related to Lijanovici meat producers suspected of tax evasion. Daily concludes that if the indictment is filed against Covic, this would be very ‘unpleasant’ for HDZ which would have to replace it Vice-President. Most obvious candidate, says DA, would be Martin Raguz. |
| Doboj district prosecutor investigates 100 mil KM fraud in RA Railways?
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 ‘RS Railways damaged for 100 million KM?’ by V. Zivak – The Prosecutor of the Doboj District Prosecution, Izudin Berberovic, has confirmed to daily that this Office has carried out the investigation against Sreten Telebak, current director of RS Railways, Srecko Saran, director of client services in the company, and Mirko Arsenic, director of railways infrastructure. Berberovic further explains that the directors of RS Railways have been under the investigation since the June last year, following the report filed against them by Milan Kikovic, RS Government’s inspector for this industry and several other workers. Prosecutor did not want to disclose the reason for the investigation, however Oslobodjenje learns that they have signed contracts with damaged the company for 100 million KM. The workers of the company accuse the current directors and RS authorities of carrying out the false estimate of the resources. The estimate was allegedly conducted by Pero Bukejlovic, Mladen Ivanic and Nikola Spiric [which he denies in the same article]. Article concludes that the audit OHR demanded from RS Auditor, Bosko Ceko, in December will show whether wrongdoings were committed. |
| NTV Hayat on irregularities in Maglic company
| NTV Hayat by Asim Beslija– Hayat brings a feature on Maglic company from Foca which currently faces numerous problems. Its workers have not received wages for 2 years, and aparently almost a million KM of aid RS allocated to the company has been missing. Bankruptcy manager, Blazo Jokanovic, determined to solve the situation, says that after being appointed to this position he found out a number of irregularities. Jokanovic said that the Government allocated 700 000 KM to Maglic, but the company worked for three months and even managed to fall in debt. In 2003, the Government allocated 250 000 KM and the municipality gave additional 50 000 KM to enable company to start with the production, but the attempt presents another failure. Jokanovic announces that he is going to ask for the audit, and will invite OHR anti-corruption team and RS Ministry of Interior Department for economy crime to further investigate. |
| BiH CC assesses FBiH HoP violated the constitution | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘New judge must be a Bosniak but this does not need to be stated at the vacancy’ by R. Cengic – BiH Constitutional Court has assessed that the F BiH HoP has violated BiH Constitution through vacancy for a judge at the Constitutional Court. One the other hand, F BiH HoP delegates think BiH Constitution must be respected and the elected judge should be a Bosniak, but the nationality does not need to be pointed out at the vacancy. |
Economic and health sector issues | |
| Association of old foreign currency savers holds first regular session of its assembly
| Hayat, PINK, BHT 1, FTV, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘The Strasbourg Court wants additional information from savers’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – The Association for protection of old foreign currency savers in BiH held the first regular session of its assembly at Sarajevo on Sunday in order to inform its members about the status of lawsuits the Association is currently engaged in. According to the President of the Association’s Steering Board, Amila Omersoftic, the most important information for the Association members right now is that the (European Human Rights) Court in |
| Hungarian Govt imposes restriction to BiH truck drivers
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Hungarians stop transportation workers from BiH’ and pg 2 ‘BiH transportation workers punished by Hungarians for no reason’, by Miro Bosnjak – reports that the Hungarian Government has limited the entrance of BiH transportation workers (read trucks) to Hungary, which present a violation of agreements that the two states signed. According to the President of Association of transportation workers of BiH, Milan Ivankovic, the Hungarian Government’s excuse is that many trucks from |
| VL int. w/ PDHR Hays on revision of privatization
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Foreign investors are being repelled by this revision of privatization’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries an interview with the outgoing Principal Deputy High Representative, |
| DL: FBiH Taxation Admin to check incomes of citizens
| Dnevni List, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Citizens’ incomes to be checked by inspectors’, by Ivica Glibusic – Inspectors of the FBiH Tax Administration (FBiH TA) will in the future be allowed to check into incomes of citizens, who have several sources of incomes. The aim is to not have people who have several jobs/sources of incomes and who in the same time pay taxes on only one source of incomes. According to the Director of FBiH TA, Midhat Arifovic, the inspectors are entitled, even on basis of indications that a taxpayer is understating incomes, to carry out a control. |
| VL says BiH citizens more eager to report corruption cases
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Ten reports on corruption a day’, by Eldina Medunjanin – VL notes that citizens in BiH are nowadays more eager to report cases of corruption than it was the case before, reminding that the Transparency International received some 3.500 telephone calls in 2004 alone. However, the daily warns that only every seventh case resulted in removals, criminal reports or serious investigations, which leads the daily to say that either the relevant institutions did not seriously get the citizens’ report or citizens were submitting false reports. |
| Cenic, Komljenovic launch initiative for help to Banja Luka Psychiatric Clinic | Nezavisne novine cover pg splash, pg 5 ‘Patients were evacuated, agony of employees is still ongoing’ by S. Gojkovic – reports on a difficult situation at the Banja Luka psychiatric clinic where, due to leaking roof and poor heating, patients had to be evacuated. RS Minister of finances Svetlana Cenic and RS Minister for Social Issues Ivo Komljenovic Saturday called upon all employees of the Government to earmark a part of their incomes to help this institution. They have announced they would suggest the same to RS NA delegates. EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘The end of agony is at sight’ by S. V., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Help to Psychiatric department’ by M. Ms. – also report on the issue. |