Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 29 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) |
| BiH CoM’s session | Parliaments discuss budget |
| FBiH HoR’s session | World news |
| FBiH HoP’s session | Weather |
TV news broadcast on 28 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK(18,00 hrs) | BHT 1(19,00 hrs) |
| | Search for Mladic continues | RSNA on RS budget |
| RS transferred defence authorities | Tadic on search for Mladic | FBiH HoR not adopted budget |
| Military cooperation with | Radovanovic on Mladic’s supporters | SIPA arrested one for war crimes |
| Croatian help to G. Vakuf-Uskoplje | Terzic meets Davidovic | Mladic receiving |
NTV Hayat(19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS(19,30 hrs) |
| Passing of FBiH Budget postponed | FBiH HoR on budget | Suspected war criminal arrested |
| RSNA still hasn’t passed Budget | RSNA on budget | RS NA on proposed RS budget |
| No increases of bread prices | State budget adopted | RS NA on RS budget, update |
| Successes of “Milkos” company | FBiH unemployment rate increases | RS transferred defence authorities |
Oslobodjenje | |
| Dnevni Avaz | [SBS] We have arrested 386 persons from arrest warrants |
| Dnevni List | Weapon obtained in Ukraina and Albania?! |
| Vecernji List | 6 years old boy charged with robbery |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Authority ‘moves’ Posusje and Grude to Siroki Brijeg |
Nezavisne Novine | Customs for goods from EU will be abolished in ten years |
| Glas Srpske | Troubles at table [feature story on beneficiaries of public kitchen in Vlasenica] |
| EuroBlic | More money to Hague indictees than to families of killed soldiers |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| LATEST NEWS OF TODAY |
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| RSNA discusses budget; Govt adopted amendments to budget | BH Radio 1 – RS National Assembly is in session today to discuss the RS proposed budget. | |
| BiH CoM in session | BH Radio1, | |
| FBiH HoP in session | BH Radio1, | |
| FBiH Govt adopts VAT social program | FENA – FBiH Government today adopted the measures to alleviate consequences of the VAT introduction for the most vulnerable categories of population. | |
| Budgetary issues/ VAT |
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| RSNA to continue session on budget today; media speculate SDA to provide key votes | PINK, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Millions ensure votes in favour of budget’ by O. Vukovic – Following the discussion on the RS proposed budget for 2006 which lasted until the evening, the RS National Assembly Speaker Dusan Stojicic interrupted the session scheduling its continuation for Thursday morning when the representatives are expected to vote on the issue. RS Minister of Finance Svetlana Cenic presented the new proposal of 2006 budget to the RSNA on Wednesday morning in amount of 1,059 billion KM. It includes increased funds for support of return, construction of apartments for war disabled person, high schools, airports, prisons and RS Ministry of Interior. On request of RSNA members, the finances for the parliament have been increased too. A number of amendments to the budget were filed. To date, the only support to the budget comes from the | |
| RSNA discusses budget without looking into economic policy; Jakovljevic expelled from SBiH over budget issue | Hayat by ATV– Reporter notes that the RSNA refused to discuss the RS Economic Policy for 2006, which was peculiar for newly turned opposition party, PDP. “I simply do not know based on what, if there is no economic policy, the Government could propose the Budget. Only at random,” said Veselin Poljasevic, Head of PDP Caucus. “Government will not improve its capacity even if the Budget is passed, being that objectively it has no support and can bare such shame as it was during the last two sessions,” said Milorad Dodik, President of SNSD. ATV says that example of such ‘shameful’ events was the case of Milosava Jakovljevic, who was expelled form the Party for BiH and moved to independent reps after she decided to support the Government, nothing this is the best Government RS ever had. Reporter mentioned that radical change of stances is frequent in RSNA, stressing that while it was never proved many speculate that money is a reason. Jakovljevic denied this was her case, but head of SBiH Caucus Dzevad Osmancevic is not rejecting this possibility, stressing that this would not the first time. | |
| NN: Terzic appealed on SDA to vote in favour of RS budget | Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘SDA to reach a final decision’, announced on cover ‘Neither | |
| Budgetary users demand increased funds | BHT1 by Tanja Alavuk – RS Trade Union President Ranka Misic said she has been disappointed with the proposed budget, since there is not enough money in the social program for the workers fired in the course of the privatisation process. RTRS by Nada Arlov – Report by Gordana Cimesa – Representative of RS PoWs Association Savo Cvjetinovic stressed that disability pensions must be increased. Obrad Belenzada from the RS Federation of Trade Unions called on RS Government to reduce all the budget items for five percent, and to transfer surplus money to the account of RS Pension Disability-Insurance Fund for workers who lost their job. | |
| DL: ‘Milorad Dodik has concept of new RS Government’ | Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Milorad Dodik has concept of new RS Government’ SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated on Wednesday that when the RS Government led by Pero Bukejlovic gets a vote of no-confidence SNSD would come up with a concept for forming the new RS Government. He added: ‘If we get the support for this initiative we shall take over the Government and if we do not get the support we shall not.’ He also said that SNSD does not want the authority but changes. | |
| FBIH HoR without vote on budget; continuation of session today | BHT1, RTRS, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Decision on the budget today’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Decision on budget today’, ‘Vote [on Energopetrol] postponed’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘New way of distribution of incomes accepted’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘New way of distribution of incomes in FBiH’ by E. Medunjanin – FBiH House of Representatives postponed for Thursday the discussion on the discussion on the report filed by the FBiH Parliamentary Commission for harmonizing the laws, which on Wednesday harmonized the final text of the FBiH budget for 2006. The Commission has rejected the amendments previously adopted by the HoR and HoP, endorsing the FBiH Govt’s proposal. FBiH Government proposed the budget in total amount of one billion and 136 millions, but previously adopted amendments require additional 15 millions KM. The HoR also asked the FBIH Government to prepare the decision on temporary financing in case the representatives do not adopt the proposed budget at the session today. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic warned HoR that in that case those there would be no money to finance those who are to become the budgetary beneficiaries next years, such as civilian invalids and victims of the war. The voting on Government’s proposal on renouncing 67 percent of Energopetrol to the Croatian-Hungarian consortium INA-MOL has been postponed as well. FTV – SDA’s Irfan Ajanovic expressed his hopes that FBiH will get its budget after the New Year, since, as he claimed, BiH Finance and Treasury Minister Ljerka Maricsaid there is a possibility for budget to be adopted by January 15. Ajanovic added that RS has also not adopted the budget adding this wouldn’t influence the VAT instalment. Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Without budget in 2006?’ by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Joint commission rejected all amendments’ by R. Cengic – also report. | |
| FBiH HoR postpones discussion on Energopetrol | Hayat by Elma Kazagic– FBiH Parliament’s House of Representatives has postponed the discussion on “Energopetrol”, whereas at the time of agenda item discussion majority of HDZ members weren’t present and majority of SDA Representatives have left the session. However, quorum was provided but the HoR nevertheless postponed discussion. Ruling parties asked for more information and additional documents and FBiH HoR delegate Irfan Ajanovic stressed that more time should be given in order to pass the right decision. Hayat says that it was peculiar for the initiator of this session BOSS’ Mirnes Ajanovic to also ask for delay in vote justifying requesting with a need to obtain additional documents to determine the legality of FBiH Government’s decision. HoR representatives also expect that name of new FBiH Minister of Industry, Energetic and Mining to be known soon, and they have instructed FBiH President and two Vice Presidents to fulfil their constitutional obligation and submit the decision on appointment of previously nominated candidate. Party for BiH has nominated Vahid Heco, but that FBiH President Niko Lozancic has never submitted this proposal to the Parliament. | |
| Oslobodjenje: VAT fear and euphoria without reason; press/books to be exempted; VL: prices can go up by 5 % | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Fear and euphoria without reason’, mentioned on cover, A. Omeragic – According to the daily, the prices in shops have started being increased even before official introduction of VAT. As traders blame suppliers for increased prices, suppliers are saying that the traders and their intention to gain extra profit are to be blamed for such a trend. Inset ‘Press and books without VAT’ – The Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board approved exemption of final products in printing sector (press, books…) from VAT. Qs and As were collected during a number of seminars on VAT. Vecernji List pgs 4 and 5 ‘Prices can go up by 5 %’ by D. Jazvic carries on the same issue that prices of most products should not go higher than 5 %. HayatBy Semsudin Skejic– In an interview to Hayat, Klas Executive Director Alija Sabanovic, confirmed they would not increase the price of bread due to VAT. Glas Srpske published a special inset on 12 pages containing questions and answers about VAT. | |
| RS Minister of Trades and Tourism Gaspar: increases in prices up to 5% after VAT introduction | Glas Srpske pg 6 ‘Increases in prices up to 5%’ by D. Vrhovac-Mihajlovic – RS Minister of Trade and Tourism and member of RS Team for monitoring of prices after VAT introduction, Boris Gaspar, stated prognosis saying VAT would cause a chaos in prices of goods and services are exaggerated, because increases in prices would not be higher than 5%. | |
| ITA: prices increases due to VAT that happened so far unjustified | Dnevni List pg 9, mentioned on cover ‘Teams start with control of prices the first working day’ by T. Primorac – ITA Spokesperson Ratko Kovacevic stated that all increases of prices due to the VAT introduction that have happened so far are not justified. He added: ‘Citizens should report increase of prices that the ITA would register so that teams formed at the entity level can start with the control of prices the first working day.’ | |
| FBiH | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Today in banks, postmen arriving tomorrow’ by A.T. – Announcing the payment of the pensions in FBiH in December, the spokesperson for the FBiH Pension and Disability Fund [ | |
| Osl: ‘ | Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘Belgrade wants to sell all Embassies and residences’ by A. Kalamujic carries that the SCiG Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed in mid December the sale of all Embassies, residences and flats succeeded from former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. According to an informal proposal from | |
| Other political issues/ reforms |
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| Davidovic submits proposal of | PINK by Zeljko Mandic – The Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic on Wednesday met with the state delegation for negotiations with the EC on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. They debated on the issues that would be discussed at the first | |
| BiH Presidency in session: agreement on dual citizenship with | RHB, PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Agreement on dual citizenship with Croatia’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Agreement on Double Citizenship between BiH and Croatia accepted’ by B. Kristo, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Agreement on double citizenship with Croatia adopted’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Agreement with Croatia as with SCiG’ by D. Jazvic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Defence reform is the most important event’ by A. Sisic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘From negotiators to fight of football fans’ by Fena – BiH Presidency has held its last session in this year, during which they discussed issues of BiH Central Bank and agreement on dual-citizenship. By decision of BiH Presidency, all members of BiH CB Steering Board are domestic staff, where current member Peter Nichol will be replaced by Mehmed Jahic. Member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said that this is a good example and guideline for other Institutions. During this session agreement on dual-citizenship with | |
| RSNA transfers defence authorities to the state level | RTRS by Biljana Knezevic – Representatives in the RS National Assembly have adopted on Wednesday the amendments to the Constitution, which means that this entity no longer has the authorities in the field of defence. Constitutional authorities in the field of defence will be officially transferred to the state level on | |
| RS CoP accepts defence amendments to RS Constitution, but urges RSNA to respect procedures in future | RTRS by Sanja Popovic – RS Council of Peoples (CoP) has adopted the amendments to the RS Constitution, which transfer the authorities in the field of defence to the state level. By adopting those amendments, RS President lost the right to command over RS armed forces. Delegates in the RS CoP urged representatives in the RSNA to obey the constitutional procedure in the future, and to adopt the amendments before discussing some higher acts. “In this particular case everything has been agreed and changed before constitutional amendments were adopted. We believe that this is irresponsible… If RS NA does not obey its own regulations and the Constitution, than who will?” stated RS Council of Peoples Co-chair Miroslav Mikes. | |
| Radovanovic: Next year is crucial for BiH | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Next year is crucial for BiH’ – BiH Defense Minister Nikola Radovanovic declared that 2005 will be one of the crucial years. “2006 is defined through the Law on Defense in the segment that speaks about transition. We have clear deadlines and commitments. There are several important dates, and the first one is | |
| Draft law on higher education sent to procedure | BHT1, Hayat, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Draft law on higher education sent to procedure’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Law on higher education in procedure’ by ra, Nezavisne novine pg 6 ‘The Law before delegates in January’ by M. R., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘A framework for high education’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘The law in procedure’ not signed– BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs has submitted proposal of Law on High Education, which was drafted by working group, stated the Cabinet of BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic. It is expected that CoM will pass the proposal of this Law at its next session. | |
| DA interview with A. Terzic on property relations with | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Stamps on flour are being introduced’, mentioned on cover ‘We shall prevent smuggling of flour in BiH’ by S. Numanovic – DA learns that during the next year BiH will introduce a special kind of stamps on imported flour in order to help domestic producers of flour and bread and in order to protect the BiH market of the flour of poor quality coming from abroad. In an interview given to DA Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic confirmed this intention and announced similar measures in other segments although he could not say precisely as to when these measures would come into force. Talking about the issue of property relations with Croatia Terzic, among the other things, says: ‘If the change in the RS Government takes place then the reform processes in BiH as well as the issue of the property relations between BiH and | |
| Tihic on BiH’s membership in EU, NATO: BiH should sign | Dnevni List pg 2 ‘To become candidate for membership in EU’ not signed – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic expects BiH in 2006 to sign a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and become a candidate for membership in this European association. ‘In 2006, we expect to see the apprehensions of the remaining indicted war criminals in the run and for BiH to join the Partnership for Peace, and continuation of implementation of other segments of defence reform so that we could join NATO in 2008, which is realistic if we keep up the current pace’, Tihic told a press conference after the BiH Presidency session. | |
| BHT 1 on PB laws: Deadline for entities’ adoption 5 January | BHT1 Mediha Adrovic – European Commission will overview the adoption and implementation the last condition from the Feasibility Study – Law on PBS, said the presenter, adding that the deadline for adoption of this law at the entity level is January 6. FBiH Government has fulfilled its obligation by adopting draft law on FBiH PBS. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said that the FBiH Government wants the founder of FBiH PBS to be the FBiH House of Representatives. FBiH HoR has still not voted on this issue, though the deadline is very close, comments the reporter. RS Government has adopted draft law on RS PBS; it still has to be adopted in RSNA. State and entity laws on PBS have to be harmonized within sixty days from the day it takes effects. | |
| SDP on defense, police and tax system reforms: police reform complete failure | Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Unsuccessful efforts to implement reforms marked 2005’, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Armed forces cannot guarantee security of country’ by M. Zorlak carries that Karlo Filipovic from | |
| Candidates for Police Reform Directorate’s Executive Board not yet selected | Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Candidates for the Executive Board still not elected’ – Member of the BiH Council of Minister’s Commission, Mehmed Zilic, stated that this body has not yet selected 10 candidates for the positions in the Executive Board of the Police Reform Directorate as several cantons are still expected to submit their proposals. Zilic deems that the CoM will receive the proposals before its session today. The deadline to appoint the members of the Executive Board, which is to be in charge of drafting the laws related to the police reform, is 31 December. | |
| VN op-ed comparing reforms in RS and Kosovo: two armies, two directions | Vecernje Novosti op-ed pg 2 ‘Two armies, two directions’ by Djuro Bilbija – the author refers to the transfer of competences from RS onto BiH level, which he believes to be a result of pressures of the international community, and notes that, at the same time, the international community authorised Albanian authorities in Pristine (Kosovo) to establish a temporary Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice of Kosovo. The author wonders why no official representative from | |
| Danas: ‘US-German agreement on BiH: We want new authority’ | Danas cover pg splash ‘US-German agreement on BiH: We want new authority’ and pgs 14-17 ‘Unified state with new authority with withering away of entities’ by Z. Jukic – Sources close to the British and German Embassies in BiH reveal that diplomacies of these two countries have reached a full consensus on BiH. Danas believes that new High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling and | |
| Danas: ‘Christian Schwarz-Schilling will carry out thorough purges in OHR’
| Danas pg 8 ‘Christian Schwarz-Schilling will carry out thorough purges in OHR’ – Danas sources reveal that new High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling will make through purges in the OHR Sarajevo. The same sources say that HR Paddy Ashdown installed in the OHR Sarajevo domestic and foreign cadres of suspicious past and suspicious behavior who are involved in various espionage, corruption and criminal affairs. The sources added that in order to get the support of domestic officials for ‘his shameful deeds’ Ashdown was hiring close associates of some political parties’ leaders. | |
| War crimes |
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| SIPA arrests war crimes suspect in Konjic | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Huso Soko Alic arrested under the BiH Prosecution order’ – SIPA have arrested one person suspected for committing war crimes against the civilians at the | |
| Families of killed soldiers, pensioners criticize the RS Govt’s decision to financially help Hague indictees who have surrendered or have been arrested | EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘More money to Hague indictees than to families of killed soldiers’ and pgs RS2-3 ‘Hague indictee four times more valuable than a killed soldier’ by Mirna Soja – The Chairman of the RS Association of Families of Killed Soldiers and Missing Civilians, Zarko Radic, Head of “Pomoc” Foundation Milorad Kalamanda and Chairman of RS Association of Pensioners Rade Rakulj all agree that the decision of RS Government with regard to payments to Hague indictees from RS who have surrender or have been arrested was unrealistic. Radic and Rakulj especially pointed on the fact such payments would be considerably higher than payments to families of killed and missing persons or payments to pensioners. | |
| AP: Mladic in | EuroBlic pgs 4-5 ‘Mladic’s safety net cracked’, announced on cover ‘Mladic in Glas srpske pg 3 ‘A call from | |
| Serbian President Tadic: I have no information saying we are close to resolving “Mladic” case | RHB, PINK, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘I have no information saying we are close to resolving “Mladic” case’ by Beta – Serbian President Boris Tadic denied the media speculations that Serbian authorities know where ICTY indictee Ratko Mladic is currently, saying that intelligence information does not indicate that this case would be closed soon. Tadic added that so-called international intelligence community should be established in order to arrest Ratko Mladic, just like | |
| B92 Radio: Mladic’s pensions were being collected on regular basis | FTV, Nezavisne novine pg 6 ‘Mladic pension was collected on regular basis’ by B92 – Belgrade’s B92 Radio reported that Ratko Mladic’s pension was being collected until the last month. According to unofficial sources, two active | |
| Matijasevic: There is no evidences that Mladic and Karadzic are in RS | | |
| Judicial issues, arrests, crime |
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| SBS Deputy Director Alagic on SBS results achieved in 2005: 386 persons from arrest warrants arrested in 9 months of this year | Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘We have arrested 386 persons from arrest warrants’ and pg 3 ‘386 persons from arrest warrants arrested in 9 months of this year’ by Aj. Delic carries Deputy Director of the State Border Service (SBS) Vahid Alagic who talks about the results that SBS has achieved during this year. According to Alagic, during the first 9 months of this year the SBS has arrested 386 persons, 502 persons have been prevented in illegal crossing of borders. Also 285 vehicles have been confiscated and 286 falsified documents. Alagic also said that currently they work in disastrous conditions and he says that 500 employees are necessary for more efficient work of the SBS. | |
| Follow up to | Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 5 ‘Weapon obtained in Ukraine and Albania’ by A. Vrebac – With regard to two smugglers of weapon from Mostar who were arrested in Croatia, DL learns unofficially that the weapon was obtained either in Ukraine or Albania. | |
| SIPA raided premises of FBiH Ministry of Trade in Mostar | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Investigators took away huge documentation about ‘Sipad’, mentioned on cover ‘SIPA raided Ministry of Trade’ by F. Vele – According to the BiH Prosecution’s order SIPA members raided premises of the FBiH Ministry of Trade and Tourism in Mostar on Wednesday. According to DA information they took away from this Ministry huge documentation with regard to company ‘Sipad Export Import. | |
| PBES case: Indictment being worked out by domestic prosecutors; witnesses to include Paravac, Cavic, Bosic, etc. | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Indictment being worked out by domestic prosecutors; witnesses to include Paravac, Cavic, Bosic…’ S. Turcalo – After | |
| Lawyers criticize | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Following the Hague recipe?’ by N. Zelenovic – Referring to PBES trial, lawyers Dusko Tomic, Marko Arsovic and Rajko Bojat have warned that, despite to domestic laws, BiH Court is gradually introducing the practice exercised in Hague Tribunal, according to which suspects are first arrested and collecting of evidence for raising and confirming an indictment follows only after this, while suspects are kept in detention. | |
| OHR welcomes land allocation to state prison | BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Welcoming decision on allocating the land for state prison’, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Decision to allocate land to prison welcomed’ by NINA – The OHR welcomes the Decision of the Municipal Assembly of East Ilidza, by which 120 acres of land were given for the construction of the BiH State Prison. | |
| R. Sulic: ‘OHR influenced court verdicts against policemen’ | Dnevni List pg 8 ‘OHR influenced court verdicts against policemen’ by D. Kozina carries President of the FBiH Association of De-certified Policemen Ramo Sulic who says that when some of de-certified policemen started to win the cases before domestic courts the OHR exerted pressure against the courts to suspend the trial in favor of the decertified policemen or to pass the verdict that is not in their favor. | |