Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 28 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| EUFOR operation in Mostar | EUFOR probes security services firms | EUFOR action |
| BiH House of Peoples session | BiH HoP in session | RS NA in session |
| World anti-terrorism fight | RSNA in session | Terzic on BiH CoM |
TV news broadcast on 27 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| BIH HoR in session | CoM pass the Law on Audit | BiH HoR on BiH Draft Law on traffic |
| CoM in session | Rotation in BiH HoR | BiH HoR didn’t approve new Auditors |
| Colak on police reform talks | RSNA on Law on University Educat. | 2004 Audit Reports presented |
| RHB comment on police reform talks | FBiH- EUFOR memo/reconstruction | Celebration of July 27th |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Farmers’ issue in BiH HoR | BiH HoR didn’t approve new Auditors | Sub-group on Srebrenica formed |
| BiH HoR- Law on Traffic Security | CoM pass the Law on Audit | RS NA in session |
| Preventing of VAT tsunami | Farmers continue protests | RS NA session live |
| CoM pass the Law on Audit | Speculations against FBiH MoI | BIH HoR in session |
| Oslobodjenje | Ljerka Maric illegally transferred half million KM to Dragan Covic?! |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic: Some from SDA are debilitating and destroying me |
| Dnevni List | Government wants to tax scholarships and pensions |
| Vecernji List | Leutar case: Creator of indictment in Justice Ministry |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Unsuccessful police operation at Misi near Livno: Looking for Gotovina among roofers |
| Nezavisne Novine | Adventure on Una |
| Glas Srpske | Miracle in Bijeljina? |
| EuroBlic | Presidents are squandering |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Oslobodjenje | Ljerka Maric illegally transferred half million KM to Dragan Covic?! |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| EUFOR searches companies providing security services in several cities of BiH
| BH Radio 1 by Emil Karamatic – This morning, the EUFOR has started with the search of the private companies providing security services in several cities in BiH. In search of complex owned by “Puma Security” company in Mostar, EUFOR has blocked their building which also seats a number of other organizations. Reporter says that the similar actions have been carried out in companies in Siroki Brijeg and Capljina, and according to the anonymous sources from EUFOR in a number of other locations throughout the country. The same source said that searches are focused at possible financial manipulations. BH Radio learns that the action is being carried out with support by the local authorities. The spokesperson for the |
| BiH HoP in session
| RHB, RTRS,BH Radio 1 By Mirsad Bajraktarevic – BiH House of Peoples holds the last session before the summer recess. It has decided not to discuss the appointments to the Deputy Chief Auditor positions, as the nominations were rejected by the House of Representatives yesterday. Delegates will discuss changes laws on elections, public procurement and security of confidential information. |
| RSNA continues session, laws on territorial organizatoin and decrease of official holidays adopted
| RTRS, BH Radio 1 by Brana Markovic – RS National Assembly is in session discussing the draft law on inspection which foresees the establishment of the RS Inspection Administration with seat in Banja Luka and 9 regional seats for inspections. Late last night, the RSNA also adopted the changes and amendments to the Law on RS territorial organization and on City of |
Political issues / audits | |
| BiH HoR rejects to appoint Presidency’s candidates for Deputies of Chief Auditor
| RTRS, FTV, RHB, Hayat, PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘The suggested deputies of the Chief Auditor not approved’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Leadership of the Audit Office in technical mandate’ by M. Cubro and N. Krsman, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Incomes from fines and issuance of licences will stay in cantons’, by Nermin Bise – The BiH House of Representatives did not endorse appointments of the deputies of Chief BiH Auditor, Munevera Baftic and Dragoljub Kovincic, stating that not all conditions have been met for giving such approval. The House concluded that the appointment of the Chief Auditor and deputies should be carried out after the adoption of the new law on auditing BiH institutions, currently before the BiH CoM. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘BiH Presidency’s proposal rejected’ by A. Terzic – SDP delegate, Zlatko Lagumdzija, criticized the fact that the BiH Presidency completely ignored previous HoR’s conclusion that these appointments are to be discussed by the Parliament and after the CoM adopts the relevant law. Nikola Spiric of SNSD also harshly criticized Presidency to keep non-qualified person to the position of Chief Auditor only replacing the Deputies. BHT 1 by Vanja Filipovic –After the BiH HoR’s rejected Baftic/Kovincic, the current BiH Deputy Chief Auditors Samir Musovic and Dragan Kulina will remain in technical mandates for next six months. After 6 months, new Auditors should be elected through the vacancy announcement. BiH HoR also demanded that the mandate of all three Chief Auditors must expire on the same day. |
| BiH CoM establishes draft law on audits of BiH institutions
| FTV, RTRS, Hayat, BHT1, PINK, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Draft law on audits established’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Broader authorities for state auditors’ by Fena – The BiH Council of Ministers on Wednesday defined the Law on Audits of the BiH institutions. “The jurisdiction of the Audit Office encompasses all public institutions, including the Parliament, Presidency, Council of Ministers and budgetary institutions, as well as the extra-budgetary funds that could be established by law,” BiH Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury, Jusuf Kumalic, stated at the press conference adding that the Office will also carry out audits in the companies of at least 51% state share. The Audit Office is headed by the General Auditor and two deputies and they are appointed by the Parliament at proposal of the Presidency. CoM has also established a program of public investments of BiH, whose value in 2005/07 has marked growth for 6,8%. |
| Details of the audits of 34 institutions
| BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Paravac spent 474.324, Covic 446.058 and Tihic spent 388.815 KM’ by M. Kukan, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘One car for two employees’ by Az. Kalamujic, EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Presidents are squandering’ and pg RS1 ‘They were buying what they didn’t need’ by Tijana Veselinovic, Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘State institutions blowing away millions’, by Anja Vrebac – carries details from the Audit Report on expenditures of BiH Presidency and says the office of Borislav Paravac spent the most (approximately 470,000 KM), while the office of Dragan Covic spent approximately 446,000 KM and the office of Sulejman Tihic spent some 388,000 KM. The total amount of expenditures of the BiH Presidency was 2,3 million KM. |
| Ljerka Maric illegally transferred BAM half a million to Dragan Covic?!
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Ljerka Maric illegally transferred BAM half a million to Dragan Covic?!’ by Azhar Kalamujic – The findings of BiH Audit Office on implementation of budget of FIPA [Federal Agency for Promotion of Investment] for Mostar Conference in February 2004 states that the conference may have been used for financial manipulations. Namely, the auditors established that upon decision of the BiH Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Ljerka Maric, half a million KM was attributed to FIPA account in Mostar, although its leadership neither planed nor demanded this amount from the BiH CoM at the time of preparations. However, allegedly three months after the conference, FIPA had learnt of these resources. Auditors also suspect that apart from the fact FIPA was not aware of this large amount of money at its account, it had no influence on how those resources would be spent. Furthermore, the FIPA disassociated from actions of BiH Ministry of Finance but also from responsibility for expenditure of money. Mostar Investment Conference was organized under auspices of Dragan Covic. |
| Audit report at BiH Foreign Ministry
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Embassies keep money from fees on their accounts’ by N.Krsman – During the audit into financial dealings of BiH Foreign Ministry for 2004, the auditors concluded that some diplomatic-consular missions (DKM) of the BiH Foreign Ministry kept the money collected from fees longer than stipulated time-period. The audit report notes that the amount of almost BAM 12 million was collected in 2004 during activities of DKM, which represents a significant income of BiH institutions. |
| BiH HoR rejects traffics security law, adopts changes to election law
| FTV, BHT1, RTRS, PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘The suggested deputies of the Chief Auditor not approved’ by Onasa, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Spiric promised stabilization’ by D. S., Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Incomes from fines and issuance of licences will stay in cantons’, by Nermin Bise, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Changes and amendments to Election Law adopted’, by F – BiH HoR on BiH Election Law; Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Spiric heads House of Representatives’, by ra – The BIH House of Representatives adopted the report on the implementation of the BiH Budget for 2004, however after a lengthy debate they postponed the vote on the draft law on basics of traffic security on BiH roads until next session, after about 170 amendments were proposed. HoR also adopted the changes to the BiH Election Law, under which the mandate of three international members of the Election Commission expired on 30 June. The duty of the BiH HoR Speaker as of August 8 will be performed by the current Deputy Speaker, Nikola Spiric, who will take over from Sefik Dzaferovic. |
| RSNA adopts changes to Law on
| FTV, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘ |
| VL: BiH CoM, state institutions became shelter for compromised officials
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Leutar case: Creator of indictment in Justice Ministry’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Reward instead of punishment’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL notes that the BiH Council of Ministers and other state institutions have become “shelters” for compromised political and other officials. In that context, the daily says the latest in the series of controversial appointments is the appointment of former Sarajevo cantonal prosecutor, Mustafa Bisic, as the Assistant Justice Ministry (in BiH CoM), which was insisted on by the SDA. VL labels Bisic as the creator of the “disgraceful” indictment in the ‘Leutar’ case. Inset entitled ‘Ashdown’s silence’ notes that despite having the power to put an end to irregularities in appointments of officials, the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, is staying silent to the fact that the state government is “accommodating” compromised officials. On top of this, VL says the OHR does not even see anything disputable in Minister Branko Dokic continuing to work despite the verdict that was recently passed against him. |
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| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘SDA and SNSD representative leave session of Parliament’, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Representatives of SDA and SNSD leave session of HBC Assembly’, by F – Representatives of the SDA and SNSD left yesterday’s (Thursday) session of the Canton 10 Assembly, which resulted in interruption of the session. The MPs walked out after they were outvoted on the 1st proposal of amendment to the cantonal constitution, in which the word ‘zupanija’ (word that Croats use for canton) was to be replaced by the word ‘kanton’. The word ‘kanton’ did not receive the necessary support. The session will resume in September, after summer holidays. |
| DL: Serbs would not accept German HR, Croats and Bosniaks would not accept a French HR | Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Serbs do not want German, Croats and Bosniaks do not want French’, by Z. Jukic – Talking about a possible successor to the current High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, the author says that connoisseurs in BiH, taking into account historic events/circumstances in BiH, believe that a possible new HR from Germany would not be accepted among the Serbs, and the same applies for a possible French HR, who would not be fully accepted by the Croats and Bosniaks. |
Police and defence reforms / security | |
| Terzic: Some people from SDA are debilitating me
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Terzic: Some people from SDA are debilitating and destroying me’, pg 2 ‘Some people from SDA are destroying me’ by S.Numanovic – In an interview to DA, Adnan Terzic, the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, says he heard the media speculations that SDA prepares to remove him adding: “The situation at the SDA has reduced my influence at the BiH CoM, and not vice versa. Some people at SDA have now realized they could get hold of the position of the BiH CoM Chair.” He also denies speculations there is conflict between him and party’s leader, Sulejman Tihic.He does not think that police reform talks of two days ago failed. He welcomes stances of parties from F BiH that have demonstrated will to resume police reform talks, but also dissatisfaction over the conduct of political aprties from RS, especially SDS that has initiated the continuation of talks and proposed those should be run within system institutions. He stresses it is good that all the political subjects have waken up from languour, adding: “High representative and myself are determined to continue this process. The institutions will, in the meantime make a plan of reform in detail.” He explains he will do all he can to make sure agreement on police reform is reached until 5 September, adding that agreement should ground on Vlasic agreement. |
| Dodik: Ashdown is not my homeroom teacher’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Let Ashdown think what he wants’, announced on cover ‘Ashdown is not my homeroom teacher’ by S.Numanovic – SNSD assesses new meetings of political leaders regarding police reform are not necessary, while Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, says in a statement to DA that: “We have been advocating for some time now that authority bodies should carry out police reform, we strongly support Vlasic agreement and talks should move further from this point and resolve remaining two outstanding issues. It is impossible to expect that political leaders should decide on technical issues of organization, including regions and uniforms.” Referring to HR, Paddy Ashdown’s reaction, Dodik says that HR should direct an evident anger towards a failed authority concept at the level of BiH and RS he has been supporting. Dodik says SNSD will not provide an alibi for the failure of this concept, adding: “My non-attendance of a single meeting cannot be a ground for accusations I oppose the European path. However, let Ashdown think what he wants, we will continue to do what we have been doing so far.” Responding to press question whether he would write a letter as HR demanded, Dodik says: “Ashdown is not a my homeroom teacher to dictate what I should write. However, out of courtesy, we will write a letter the way we think we should and hand it one of these days. We will not act upon dictate.” He says he “is not certain” he would attend 5th September meeting on police reform. According to inset ‘We will support defence reform’ Dodik expresses SNSD satisfaction over the offered solutions for defence reform. Adding this party would support it. |
| RS Minister of Interior Matijasevic: RS MoI should remain even after police reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘RS MoI should remain even after police reform’ by V. Popovic – RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic supports the continuation of police reform talks at the level of BiH authorities’ institutions, and he says he would plead for preservation of RS MoI. In an interview to NN, Matijasevic says: ‘Reaching an agreement is possible, however we will be very critical if there is any politicizing with regard to our approach because we want to have an open dialogue’. Inset ‘We are ready to arrest Karadzic and Mladic’ – Matijasevic said RS MoI is ready to arrest Karadzic and Mladic, as well as other Hague indictees. ‘Nevertheless, we have no information that would indicate any of Hague indictees is residing in the territory of RS, including Karadzic and Mladic’, Matijasevic said. |
| Colak on police talks
| RHB – BIH Minister of Security Barisa Colak stated for RHB that police talks on Tuesday failed since many political leaders refused to come. “If political leaders of PDP, SNSD and SDS send their written guarantees that they will participate than the institutional discussion could begin” said Colak. |
| RHB feature on police reform: politicians again trick BiH citizens
| RHB by Milan Vego – RHB comments the police talks held in Sarajevo on Tuesday describing them as manipulation carried out by certain political figures in BIH, especially since it is know that this is the last condition for launch of SAA negotiations. From |
| SDS, SNSD and DNS sent a letter of support re continuation of police talks to OHR
| Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘Meeting of Prime Ministers possible’, announced on cover ‘Meeting of Prime Ministers is possible today’ by M. Cubro – Leaders of SDS, SNSD and DNS confirmed in letters sent to OHR that these parties support the continuation of police reform talks. OHR Spokesperson |
| RS oppositions says rulings structures should solve police reform issues
| RTRS by Nada Arlov – RS opposition believes that the crises created by the failure of the police reform talks should be solved by those who are paid to that: that is the BiH Council of Ministers, BIH Presidency and the Entity Governments. Igor Radojcic from SNSD stated that SNSD will be productive concerning the police reform but they expect the “responsible” ones to come out with a concrete proposition. RS opposition even justified their non-attendance at the Tuesday’s meeting with their “firm attitude” regarding the responsibility noted that author. Drago Kalabic from DNS stated that High Representative Paddy Ashdown did not invite them at the secret meetings with RS president and SDS Chairman Dragan Cavic. “We cannot take the responsibility for arrangements created on the secret meetings” said Kalabic. Ruling parties, as SDS, do not agree, they think that all parties, including the opposition, should cooperate in solving the police reform issue. Club Centre stated that they were provoked by the statements of representatives of International Community and Chairman of Council of Minister that the transition of budget from entity level to state level was agreed on Vlasic, when RS NA has the exclusive right to decide upon that. RS opposition agreed that “Vlasic excursions” should end and the negotiations should be continued entirely within the institutions. |
| 11 NGOs from RS: police talks should continue in frame of institutions
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Against ultimatum’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Jovicic: Negotiations on police in institutions only’ by Srna – The Coordination Board of 11 NGOs from the RS thinks the talks on the police reform in BiH should continue only within the institutions and at the level of Entities’ Governments and Parliaments, as the Deputy President of the Board, Slavko Jovicic, stated Wednesday. Jovicic condemned in the sharpest terms possible the ultimatums and exclusive requests that the HR in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, had addressed to the political leaders. |
| Centre Club: only RS NA can decide on transfer of authorities from RS police to state level
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Nothing aside the Assembly’ by Z. Ma. – Centre Club of RS NA thinks police reform negotiations should be transferred back to BiH and entities’ institutions. A press statement of the Centre Club warns, with regard to statements of some international representatives and CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic who claim transfer of authorities from RS Police onto BiH level was agreed upon on Vlasic, that such a decision can only be reached at RS NA. |
| European Integrations Director urges police reform
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘The condition is police reform’ – Director of BiH Directorate for European Integration, Osman Topcagic, stated for FENA on Wednesday commented the failed meeting on police reform stating that his Office is working under the presumption that the relevant parties would reach an agreement and that BiH could receive EC consent to launch negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement by the anniversary of Dayton Peace Agreement. “This would be the best message on BiH transiting to a new phase, from the post-conflict period into the period of real transition and preparations for EU membership”, said Topcagic. |
| SD on police talks: RS will ask for additional concessions
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘RS will look for new concessions’, by Zlatko Tulic – Commenting on the failure of police talks from the other day, the author is criticizing the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, and High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, saying that the two are deluding the public with their stories on successful reforms in BiH, despite the fact that the BiH CoM has not properly worked since December last year. SD notes that, according to some information close to political circles in the RS, following the recent failure of the talks, Dragan Cavic, Mladen Ivanic and Milorad Dodik, will indeed send letters to the HR about their dedication to continuation of talks, however they will ask for additional concessions, despite already receiving a few concessions from the IC and FBiH-based parties. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on police reform
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Madness that lasts’ by Gojko Beric – the author expresses suspicion in capability of political parties to reach an agreement on police reform and also refers to HR’s statement that politicians in BiH have been caught in “summer madness” by commenting the HR surely waits for fall to “cool things down” and to have politicians up to their tasks again. “Unfortunately, political madness here lasts for 15 years now’, the author says. |
| NN op-ed: politicians afraid of losing control over the police | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Fear from reforms’ by M. Cubro – the author says it is obvious fear of politicians from police reform derives from fear from a police that would do their job in a professional and honest manner. ‘It is not secret many of those currently on power want to keep the control over the police’, the author notes. |
| SD op-ed: Police talks are HR Ashdown’s failure
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘And what is Ashdown doing?’, by B. Kristo – Carries an op-ed, which comments on the failure of police talks, saying the failure only confirmed the fact that the current authorities are in a “deep political blind alley”. Commenting on the role of the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in the reform processes, SD says the HR did nothing about the PDP blocking the work of the BiH CoM and about the SDS blocking the police reform. SD goes on to say that “his (Ashdown’s) reformers” cannot and do not want to carry out the police reform, which is in reality another failure by HR Ashdown. |
| Schook and Gregorian: Defence laws should be adopted by September the latest
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Adopt Law on defence as soon as possible’, by ra – Reports that the commander of NATO HQ in Sarajevo, general Steven Schook, and co-chairman of Defence Reform Commission, Raffi Gregorian, stressed, contrary to some reports that the new Law on Defence and Law on Army Service should be adopted by November, that the laws should in fact be adopted in a reasonable time frame, namely either in August or September the latest. |
| RS MoD will not carry out conscription in August | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Without an invitation to conscription in RS’ – RS Defence Minister, Milovan Stankovic, said that the Ministry will not carry out conscription of recruits in August. |
| Oslobodjenje: Moratorium only with new Laws
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Moratorium only with new Laws’, announced on cover ‘First Law, then moratorium’ by A.P. – Daily claims that the Bosniak side would accept introduction of the moratorium on conscription at defence service for this year only if Parliaments adopt new draft defence law and draft law on service at BiH Armed Forces. The source from Sulejman Tihic’s Cabinet also confirmed this. Slavko Marin, military advisor of Ivo Miro Jovic, stated that as far as Jovic is concerned, he could sign moratorium immediately. |
| VL wonders why IC, OHR tolerates that SBS has not legitimate leadership
| Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Border ser ice without legitimate leadership’, by Dejan Jazvic – Noting that the State Border Service is working without a legitimate leadership for exactly ten days, the author says it is incredible that the IC, especially the OHR, is tolerating such a situation, not showing the determination and resolute attitude the way it acted when appointing Sredoje Novic the SIPA Director. |
| Mektic on Al Qaeda threats
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Bosnians and Herzegovinians targets of Al Qaeda’, by Mensud Zorlak – Reports that the BiH Security Ministry has taken the recent announcement by ‘Al Qaeda’ very seriously (Al Qaeda announced it would attack every country that has troops in Iraq). According to BiH Deputy Security Minister, Dragan Mektic, certain information were gathered and the Ministry will carry out an analysis of the information. “Depending on the outcome of the analysis, we will take certain measures”, says Mektic. |
Economic, social and judicial issues | |
| Farmers continue protests
| FTV by Nadina Salijevic – BiH Farmers Association announced that they would continue their protests started 33 days ago. Some officials claim that the protests have been organized by Lijanovic company, Dragan Covic and Mato Tadic, accused of economic crime, in order to distract the attention of the public. Reuf Sokolovic, Head of Tuzla Canton Association of farmers agrees with these accusation. Head of BiH Farmers Association Ranko Bakic denied the accusations, claiming that the farmers are only trying to protect their own rights. BHT 1, Hayat, PINK, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Farmers waiting for politicians’, by M. B– also report. |
| BiH HoR adopts two contradictory conclusions regarding customs law
| FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘The Law on Customs Rates got several firms rich’ by N. Krsman,Oslobodjenje pg 3, announced on cover ‘Terzic claims domestic producers are protected’ by A.T. – The delegates at the BiH House of Representatives rejected conclusion of Zlatko Lagumdzija that BiH Parliament should be in continuous session without taking summer leave and that same provision should apply to Ministers at BiH Council of Ministers. At the session, delegates adopted two contradictory information by the BiH COM and the HoR’s Commission in charge. Namely, the information of CoM says that implementation of the amendments to the Law on custom tariffs bore satisfactory fruit, while Commission concluded that domestic producers are not protected and its report demands urgent enactment of the new Law on customs tariffs. |
| Opposition warns no social care prepared to tackle VAT consequences
| Hayat by Elma Kazagic– Report states that the BiH has no Law regulating the social protection for vulnerable categories of population despite the fact that there are about 324.000 people depending on that social care, and a number of others living on less then 185 KM per month. Discussing this issue, the opposition parties in the BiH House of Representatives stressed that situation will become worse after introduction of the VAT, as no ground work has been carried out by the authorities in this regard, claiming that the price of basic living costs will rise. “Unfortunately, beginning of the next year in winter period, the most poorest citizens of this country will be submitted to completely new, unseen, [raise in] pricing, … which will devastate the most vulnerable citizens,” commented Zlatko Lagumdzija, SDP delegate in the BiH HoR. Lagumdzija also slammed the BiH Council of Ministers for dedicating about 40 million KM to fight consequences of the VAT introduction: “Their social program foresees for all social problems to be solved for 40 million KM. Our calculation from last year estimated that only basic goods will cost BiH citizens additional 400 million KM due to VAT, and only health sector in Sarajevo will need more money the this social program planned for entire FBiH,” added Lagumdzija. |
| OHR says judiciary salaries need to be reduced
| BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Judges worth more than 10 average citizens’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH justices have better salaries than their counterparts in France?’ by F. Vele – OHR spokeswoman, |
| FBiH Association of Judges denies OHR claims on judicial salaries
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Justices and prosecutors against decrease of salaries’ by F.V. – The Chair of the FBiH Association of Judge, Aleksandra Martinovic, stated for DA that justices in FBiH oppose any kind of decrease of their salaries adding that “neither they can nor they will support any kind of reduction, as there is an constitutional category forbidding something like that.” She adds it is not necessary to reduce the salaries, denying situation is alike OHR has described it. “Salaries of a judge of lower stance,… the salary is about 4,5 times higher than the average in FBiH, while for the judge of higher stance this raises to 1 to 10,” says Martinovic. |
| DL: Scandalous draft law on income tax to tax scholarships and pensions
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Government wants to tax scholarships and pensions’, by Mensud Zorlak – The article notes that the MPs in the FBiH Parliament received copies of “immoral and scandalous” Draft law on income tax, which envisages taxing of scholarships that amount to more than 50% of average salary in the FBiH and taxing of pensions that amount to more than 300 KMs. SDP’s Svetozar Pudaric says it is sending a bad message to all BiH students to go and study abroad, stressing that the Draft law is unacceptable. Dnevni Avaz also reports on page 10. |
| Nicolle on Law on debt and guarantees
| EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Interest rates would be lower’ by Tijana Veselinovic – Peter Nicolle, member of the Steering Board of the BiH Central Bank, told daily that the Law on debt and guarantees (recently adopted by the BiH Parliament) will ensure the market of government’s securities in BiH is established, of which both, the state and citizens would benefit. According to him, more efficient way for investments will be available for the banks and other financial institutions. |
| BiH CoM allocating money for severance packages to intelligence staff | EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Severance pays for 305 intelligence officers’ by D.S., Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Severance pays for 305 dismissed workers’, by E. Mackic – BiH CoM Wednesday released a press statement saying that the BiH CoM Wednesday reached decision regarding payment of severance pays to 305 former intelligence staff (employed at entities’ intelligence agencies). |
War crimes | |
| Investigative sub-group for Srebrenica established
| FTV, FTV, BHT1, RTRS, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Cekic at the head of subgroup for Srebrenica’ by D. Risojevic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Investigative subgroup was established’ by G. K., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Investigative sub-group to estimate MoD, Army RS HQ- The Taskforce for implementing the conclusions from the Srebrenica Commission’s Final Report on Wednesday formed an investigative subgroup headed by Smail Cekic, Director of the Institute for researching crimes against humanity and international law. The subgroup will make an independent assessment of the methodology used by the RS Defense Ministry in identifying the perpetrators of events in Srebrenica in July 1995, the Taskforce for Srebrenica Chair, Jovan Spaic, told Fena. He confirmed that subgroup would hold talks with representatives of RS MoD, Army and General Staff. Spaic confirmed that the High Representative Paddy Ashdown sent two letters, one to RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic and another to the Taskforce, in which he expressed his disappointment by the slow pace of MoD’s delivery of information with the names of persons who took part in the Srebrenica massacre, and requested forming of the said subgroup. |
| Reactions to establishment of Srebrenica sub-group
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Why they don’t publish names of criminals and move on’ by A. Hadzic – DA brings reactions to the establishment of the Srebrenica sub-group, stating that the news that Paddy Ashdown has asked for another body to work on establishing the truth about Srebrenica was received in Podrinje with disappointment. According to DA, the majority deems that Ashdown’s contribution is in “hiding and not revealing the names of perpetrators of the crimes.” FBiH Commission for Missing Persons, Sadik Selimovic, said these establishments of commissions/task forces/ working groups were “a circus”, adding it fills in Ashdown’s time before his leaves the country. DA also comments that appointment of Smail Cekic to lead the sub-group could also mean that he is to be held responsible for everything that Srebrenica Working Group has initially failed to do. RS National Assembly’s Speaker, Sefket Hafizovic comments that this is just “waste of time”. |
| RS MoI submits information on VI company of Zvornik PSC to Srebrenica Task Force
| BHT 1,Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Information on VI company of Zvornik PSC’ – The Chair of the Task Force for the implementation of Srebrenica Commission conclusions, Jovan Spaic, told FENA on Wednesday that the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) has submitted information on members of the 6th Company of the Zvornik Public Security Centre suspected of involvement in crimes in Srebrenica during July 1995, as well as information on members of 12 police stations within the Zvornik PSC. “In terms of these 12 stations that task has also been brought to an end and the matter only remains to be closed”, Spaic said. He stressed that the issue of identifying members of two companies from Jahorina still needs to be resolved. |
| SD: Livno police reacts to information that general Gotovina is in the area | Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 13 ‘Looking for Gotovina among roofers’, by F. Mioc – EUPM received an information that a man similar to an ICTY-wanted general Ante Gotovina was working on a roof at a place called Misi near Livno. The information was passed on to the local police, which inspected the place and did not find the general. |