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| BiH HoP, HoR in session | Terzic addresses BiH HoR |
| FBiH Government in session | RS NA in session |
| RSNA in session | FBiH HoR in session |
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) |
| Puljic&Nikolaj’s Xmas mes. | 50.000 dead in | War crimes suspect arrest | DNS accepts Cavic’s invite |
| Meeting in BIH Presidency | Meeting in BIH Presidency | Meeting in BIH Presidency | 55000 killed in |
| FBIH HoR in session | RS war archive in Hague | Defence Ministry on Mladic | Live from RS NA |
| Ivanic confirms resignation | War crimes suspect arrest | RS war archive in Hague | RSNA session |
| Oslobodjenje | Successors to Ministers after New Year |
| Dnevni Avaz | Minister Radovanovic on apprehension of criminal Mladic: We have requested for US assistance |
| Dnevni List | Authority crisis continues |
| Vecernji List | Family from Croatia disappeared |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Reservations for New Year celebration started as early as of summer |
| Glas Srpske | BiH young liberals demand introduction of Bosnian nation: The pupils of a bad teacher; Was Ratko Mladic hiding at Han Pijesak: No evidence; |
| Nezavisne Novine | Leaders of ruling parties on BiH crisis: Nothing was agreed; Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic announces resignation; Christmas greeting of Bishops and Archbishops: Call for forgiveness and reconciliation addressed; |
| Blic | Cvijic family in search of his son |
| Vecernje Novosti | Refugees in Derventa: Hopes vanished a long time ago |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| RS President Cavic meets with EC’s Humphreys
| SRNA – RS President Dragan Cavic today informed the Head of the European Commission’s Delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, on the attempts of the RS political parties to find a way out of the crisis in RS and BiH in order not to threaten the reform process. A press release from the Office of the RS President says that Humphreys believed it was very important for the started reform processes not to stagnate, considering the results already achieved, especially in the last two years. |
| Terzic addresses BiH HoR
| BH Radio 1 by Musatfa Karahmet – The Chair of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, this morning addresses the BiH House of Representatives stressing that the current political situation in BiH has not endangered the pace of reforms in the country. He stressed that they will be continued in the next year when BiH is expected to commence with the negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement. Terzic underlined htat the Ministries work normally and concluded that the solution to the crisis is the establishment of the new RS Government. “Once the issue of the RS Government is solved, we will have more clear idea whether something has to be changed in CoM,” said Terzic. |
| RSNA in session | BH Radio 1 by Radmila Grubisa – RS National Assembly has continued with its session this morning discussing the RS the economic policies for 2005. The delegates agreed that the priorities are speeding up the privatization, improvement of the business atmosphere, decrease of deficit and reforms in the health and pension sector. RSNA will however not take stance on the defined policies until the new government is elected. In the course of the day, delegate will also discuss the draft RS budget for 2005, estimated to 946 million KM, and resignation of the RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic. |
| FBiH HoR in session
| BH Radio 1 by Nermina Sunj – FBiH House of Representatives has continued with the session this morning, and is expected to the stance on the rebalance of the FBiH budget for 2004. Following the discussion yesterday, it was concluded that the 23 million KM excess of the budget for 2004 was a result of paying off some debts from 2003 and financing the institutions established after the adoption of the budget. Delegates will also discuss the draft Law on FBiH law practice. |
Political developments/Cooperation with ICTY | |
| BiH political leaders to continue debate on political crisis after New Year
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Successors to Ministers after New Year’ by Vedrana Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Terzic: First step should be establishment of RS Government’ by A. Malagic – The BiH Presidency and the Council of Ministers held a joint session in Sarajevo on Wednesday to discuss the current political situation in the country related to the crisis of Government in RS. The draft Budget of the BiH Institutions for the next year was also adopted at the session. Journalists were told after the session that the talks on the stabilization of the political situation in the Council of Ministers caused by resignations submitted by two Ministers from the ranks of the Serb people would be continued after the New Year holydays. Asked that it meant that the crisis in CoM had been overcome, CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic said the yesterday’s meeting was significant to anyone who was well-intentioned. “In order to speak about is the crisis overcome first we should determine did it exist ate all. We had a situation, which made our normal work impossible and we cannot tell this has been resolved. However the start of talks on the issue encourages and speaks for itself that we are going in a direction leading to removal of the causes,” emphasized Terzic. On the other side, Chairman of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac claims that the crisis exists and that it has been even deepening particularly following Defense Minister Nikola Radovanovic’s announcement that he would not participate in work of CoM as long as the two ministerial seats are not filled after resignations by Mladen Ivanic and Branko Dokic. Dnevni List front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Authority crisis continues’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Meeting because of authority crisis’ by dja, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Budget for 2005 amounting to 581,3 million KM’ by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Nothing was agreed’ and pg 3 ‘No solution to the crisis’ by M. Cubro; Glas Srpske cover page report ‘Crisis is deepening’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Paravac: Situation is rather serious’; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘No Agreement’ by N. Z. also covered the issue. |
| DL editorial on BiH Presidency, CoM, political parties meeting
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘In New Year with old crisis’ by D. Polovina-Mandic carries an editorial on the yesterday’s meetings regarding the executive authority crisis and the author says that the only thing that participants of these meetings could agree upon was to prolong resolving of the crisis to the next year. According to the editorial, in this way the politicians sent a clear message to BiH citizens, which says that the next year will not be any better for them (the BiH citizens), while BiH politicians will continue to receive salaries for various political games and resolving of artificial authority crisis. |
| BiH Defence Minister Radovanovic on Mladic, possible resignation, defense reform
| RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘We have requested for US assistance’, pg 2 ‘Investigation related to Ratko Mladic’s hiding launched’ by M. Kukan, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘There is no place in military for those protecting Hague indictees’ by A. Prlenda,Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Investigation on hiding of Ratko Mladic launched’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Investigation on R. Mladic’ by dja, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Investigation on hiding of Ratko Mladic launched in BiH’ by H ,Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘We will know by 10 January whether anybody was hiding Ratko Mladic’ by N. Krsman; Glas Srpske cover page report ‘No evidence’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Radovanovic: No evidence on Mladic’, FENA – BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic publicly warns all members of the BiH Armed Forces (OSBiH) that hiding, providing shelter, withholding information and every other form of helping the persons indicted for war crimes is a criminal act, in accordance with the laws in BiH. “Every member of OSBiH that is engaged in such activities will be subjected to disciplinary procedure, suspension from military duty or criminal prosecution”, Radovanovic on Tuesday told a press conference in Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Possible resignation’ – BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, confirmed that he would resign in case the session of the Council of Ministers is scheduled without reaching political agreement and legitimate composition of CoM. “Nobody asked from me to resign. On the contrary, people from several sides asked me not to resign and I have not offered it. The situation in which I do not belong to any of the parties is sensitive. In the situation when two out of four Serb ministers have resigned, I believe I carry responsibility of a representative of any political option of Serb people in BiH. That is why my participation in CoM is problematic,” said Radovanovic. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Radovanovic did not attend session’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic announces resignation’ by M. Cubro, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Resignation possible’ also carried the statement. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Abolishment of entities’ ministries’ – BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, commented that the decision to abolish the entities’ ministries of the defence, together with Interior Ministries, has lead to current situation of problems in the authorities. He added that the abolishment also requires drafting the new BiH defence law. Radovanovic believes that all this will be preceded by the discussions until consensus reached. Asked whether this included the change to the BiH Constitution, Radovanovic added that this can be concluded especially when talking about abolishing entities’ Interior Ministries. |
| Ivanic denies he will withdraw resignations
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ivanic denied allegations on withdrawing resignation’ by Az. K. – BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic confirmed on Wednesday that his and [Communications and Transport Minister] Branko Dokic’s resignations to the their positions in the Council of Ministers are irrevocable. Denying allegations that he might withdraw his resignation under some conditions, Ivanic stressed: “I will not withdraw my resignation… The first reactions [to my resignation] were that it was the only logical move I could made, which was followed up by the criticism with explanation that I want to obstruct reforms with resignation.” Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Calming down situation depends on key political parties’ by M.Dr. – Ivanic said that the resignations were individual act, adding that calming down situation in the country depends on political parties with parliamentary in both entities. RHB, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Ivanic: I do not have intention to withdraw resignation’ by D. Polovina-Mandic also carried Ivanic’s statement. Oslobodjenje pg 3 inset ‘Eighty diplomats withdrawn’ – At a New Year’s reception for journalists held in Foreign Ministry building in Sarajevo, Ivanic said that in the past year the Ministry has completed a number of tasks, and meeting almost all its conditions leading to beginning of the Stabilization and Association Agreement’s negotiations. He further stressed that his Ministry has significantly improved its internal structure, and replaced 80 diplomats in consular offices and embassies throughout the world. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘A step closer to |
| Former HR Petritsch: The main problem is Serb leadership
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘The main problem is Serb leadership’ by Sead Numanovic – Former High Representatives in BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, comments for DA on the current situation in BiH stating “still the main issue is Serb leadership in BiH.” “I hope that they will, together with Bosniaks and Croats, also understand that entirely sovereign BiH is the best way for speeded progress towards |
| RS Association of Lawyers on HR’s measures
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH on “crutches” of international community’ by N. M.; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Let the people rule’ by M. Dizdar – The RS Association of Lawyers on Tuesday held a debate on the constitutional and legal position of the state. Snezana Savic, the member of the Association, stated that nine years after the Dayton Peace Agreement, BiH was still standing “on crutches” of the international community instead of standing on its feet. The Presidency of the Association called on HR Paddy Ashdown to get back within his powers, and to act as interpreter in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement instead of being framer of constitution and legislation. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Ashdown should return into the framework of his power’ also carried the reaction. |
| DNS to propose RS PM-designate
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘DNS to propose PM-designate’ by V.P. – DNS Presidency accepted the offer of RS President, Dragan Cavic, to propose RS-PM designate. According to NN, DNS officials would today (Wednesday) inform RS President of this and would offer the names of three designate, announced Drago Kalabic, DNS MP. He did not want to disclose the names of potential candidates before consultations with President take place. |
| Update to talks on PM-designate
| EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Agreement as hard as crisis’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – The report ntoes that although no agreement has been reached as yet regarding the nomination of the RS PM-designate and although Dragan Cavic, RS President, said that a third concept, according to which DNS would propose designate, was also rejected, Drago Kalabic, DNS member, on Tuesday told the press that DNS “is seriously considering Cavic’s proposal”. According to him, DNS would give its stance on this after its Presidency session. Kalabic further added that a designate from DNS would be able to collect 42 MP’s votes. While SDS did not want to make any comment on this, PDP official, Nevenka Trifkovic, said that nothing was resolved as yet and that “any option is still open”. She also added that PDP did not dispute the nomination of Milorad Dodik either, adding that MP’s on Tuesday largely speculated on the issue of such an importance. Igor Radojicic, SNSD Secretary General, stated: “We are not collecting the famous 42 votes, neither are we in the phase of proposing the designate, since concept has not been adopted. Neither do we expect proposal that this function should be assigned to somebody from DNS.” Tarik Sadovic, Head of SDA Caucus at RS NA, stated: “Nobody ahs consulted with us, either have we been lobbied, but our support will depend on the position we would hold within new government composition. We find none of the offered concepts acceptable, since it would not brings us any further.” Muharem Murselovic, Party for BiH MP at RS NA, said that this party agreed with the concept, according to which Party for BiH would not be a part of new government composition, stressing that it would not support any option with SDS members within it. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘SNSD for early elections’ also carried statements by Kalabic, Sadovic, Trifkovic and Radojicic. According to the daily Radojicic also said that the early elections were the only way out of the crisis. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘It is unrealistic that a smaller party nominates PM designate’ carried Radojicic’s statement. BHT, RTRS also covered the issue. |
| Dnevni Avaz pg SNSD responds to SDA
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Agreement of parties from RS does not violate BiH Constitution’ by A. S.; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘False comparison’ by N.D. – SNSD on Tuesday released a press statement reacting upon statement of SDA (comparing Agreement six parties in RS signed with the case of “Croat self-rule”), rejecting SDA claims that the Agreement was in violation with the BiH Constitution. The release reads: “The Agreement is aimed towards preserving the RS within BiH…We call on SDA to respect BiH Constitution, the rights of constitutive peoples on protection Constitution is offering to them and the right of political parties to freely act.” |
| Transparency International BiH: Strong ties between political elites and crime
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Strong ties between political elites and crime’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘OHR should accept a part of responsibility as well (should partly be held responsible), Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘OHR also responsible’ by N. Z.; Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘OHR also responsible for the situation in BiH’ by D.R, FENA – The year coming to an end has been marked by a negative trend because key challenges that the country is facing, the establishment of a functional, stabile and self-sustainable system of authority, the bond between organised crime and ruling elites, growing corruption and organised crime will remain a concern in the future, Transparency International BiH (TIBiH) stated in its report to the media for 2004. TI stated that the brunt of the responsibility for this situation lies with the parties and individuals in power, but the responsibility of the international community, especially OHR, can also be brought into question. The institution that entirely or partially performs constitutional, legislative, executive and judicial authority with practically limitless powers should at least accept a part of the responsibility for the situation in BiH. TI global researches clearly show that BiH is joining the part of the world with uncontrollable corruption and the rule of organised crime. BiH has dropped from position 70 in 2003 to 82 in 2004 on the list ranking countries from the “cleanest” to the “most corrupt”. Claims on links between political elites and organised crime have also been confirmed which has a negative impact on the business environment and the influx of foreign investments. At a conference held in |
| NN op-ed on Ashdown
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Ashdown’s settlement of accounts’ by Tanja Topic – The author is comparing the statements given at the end of last year with statement given at the end of this year (including the statement of HR Paddy Ashdown), stressing that BiH has not achieved any progress in 2005 as planned by HR, apart from one and only progress in 2005 – publication of Srebrenica Commission report. On this she stresses that regardless of what somebody may think of Dragan Cavic, we must give him credits for this. |
| A war crime indictee arrested in Brcko
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘New arrests of indictees from The Hague arrest warrants’ by T. Bijelic, Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Chief of concentration camp arrested’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Konstantin Simeunovic arrested’ by SRNA – Brcko Special Police on Tuesday in Brcko arrested Konstantin Simeunovic aka Kole, charged with war crimes committed during the war in the area of Brcko. According to anonymous source at the Prosecutor’s Office, Simeunovic has been placed at Brcko police detention unit. He was arrested at his home. |
Economic/social issues | |
| FBiH HoR adopts 2005 Budget
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘2005 Budget amounting up to KM 1.012 billion’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Budget amounting KM 1.012 billion adopted’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Budget bigger for 7 millions KM’ by J. Petrovic, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Additional 5 millions KM for medical treatment’ by E. Medunjanin,SRNA – Deputies to the FBIH House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted the Federation’s draft budget for 2005 to the amount of KM 1.012 billion. Federation Premier Ahmet Hadzipasic described the budget in his opening speech as “stabilizing and relatively development-oriented”. The deputies asked the Federation Government to increase government revenues and use these funds to facilitate the return of refugees and stimulate agriculture. |
| Maric and Terzic on financing of cultural institutions
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Ministers on financing of cultural institutions’ not signed – Asked whether it was replied to the demand of High Representative Paddy Ashdown to include 7 cultural institutions in the budget for the next year, BiH Treasury Minister Ljerka Maric stated that the proposal of BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic was adopted and that 1 million KM has been envisaged for this purpose for the next year. Chairman of the BiH Council Ministers Adnan Terzic added that the cultural institutions were included in the budget not because of the HR’s demand but at the demand of BiH CoM. |
| Update to Telekom Srpske
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘End to Steering Board’ – At Tuesday’s session in Banja Luka, the shareholders of Telekom Srpske adopted changes to Statute of the company, in order to harmonise it with Law on public companies, which stipulates the abolishment of the Steering Board and introduction of management at public companies. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Joint Christmas message of Catholic and Orthodox Bishops/Puljic and Nikolaj on Inter-religious Council
| RHB, BHT, FTV, Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on front, ‘Just society is not possible without believing in God’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘To build our homeland BiH fairly’, mentioned on front ‘To build fair BiH together’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9, mentioned on front ‘Catholic and Orthodox believers in Christian unity’ by Z. Rerig, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Faith, hope and stimulation’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Call for forgiveness and reconciliation addressed’ and pg 5 ‘Catholic Church and Serb Orthodox Church called on forgiveness and reconciliation’ by N. Krsman; EuroBlic RSpg 5 ‘For peace and good will’ by D.S.; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Faith is stronger than evil’ by N. Zelenovic – Vrhbosna Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic and Metropolitan Dabrobosanski Nikolaj sent a joint Christmas message of Catholic and Orthodox Bishops. On this occasion Metropolitan Nikolaj stated that it is high time that domestic and international representatives do what is necessary in order to make possible for BiH citizens to live on their work and without fear of discrimination and to have a right to return to their pre-war homes. Insets in DL under headline ‘Cooperation of religious communities’ not signed and in SD under headline ‘Inter-religious Council in crisis’ not signed carry that commenting on the suspension in the work of the BiH Inter-Religious Council, Cardinal Puljic reiterated that it is not questionable whether they should look for the way for cooperation or not, however, religious communities in BiH do not want that political structures and the International Community tell them how they should do it. On the same issue Metropolitan Nikolaj stated that the Serb Orthodox Church froze the work of its representatives in this body ‘after Orthodox priest Jeremija Starovlah and his son were brutally beaten up by SFOR members’. |
| Further comments on SDA/liberals demand for creation of Bosnian nation
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘The pupils of a bad teacher’ by Snj. M. – The report brings some more comments on the demand of BiH young liberals regarding the introduction of Bosnian nation in BiH, supported by SDA officials, Sulejman Tihic and Seada Palavric. Braco Kovacevic, sociologist, claims that demand for artificial creation of a nation has no grounds and it would additionally complicate the situation in BiH. He also warns that the demand of liberals may also be interpreted as further pressure against RS. Arandjel Smiljanic, Professor at the Banja Luka Faculty of Philosophy, reminds that Benjamin Kalaj made the similar attempt during the reign of Austro-Hungarians in BiH, and later on gave up on this project having realised it was futile. According to inset ‘It would not be accepted’, the BiH Croat Christian Democratic Union On Tuesday warned that Bosniaks were attempting to “drawn” Serbs and Croats into quasi-nation, stressing that Serbs and Croats have known for years who they are, which makes them and their history, culture and language recognisable. |
| Update to names of towns with Serb prefix
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Law waiting for stance of City Hall’ by S. G. – A joint Commission of the RS NA and RS COP on Tuesday failed to agree on the text of the Law on the city of Serb Sarajevo, since the Assembly of S. Sarajevo had not still taken the stance whether it would accept the name East Sarajevo. Momir Malic, Co-Chairperson of the RS CoP, is convinced that the City Assembly would accept this name. Oslobodjenje pg 6 also covered the issue. |