| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| PBS law | Strikes in education sector | Incident in Zepce | New school year |
| Education in HN Canton | PBS | HN Canton | OHR on PBS |
| Weather | Iraq | Bosmal | Cavic |
| Norac |
| Zitoprerada | Kosovo |
| Oslobodjenje | Parents of Croat children bodily attacked the Minister |
| Dnevni Avaz | Lagumdzija and Munja were preparing coup d’ etat |
| Dnevni List | Dayton set-up of BiH – cause of deterioration of economic situation; Interview with Cardinal Vinko Puljic: I am worried about position of Croat Catholics in Sarajevo; Hercegovacka bank trials: Vrankic: I could not reach SFOR commander |
| Vecernji List | Millions for RTV for Croats went missing; School and strike commence; Politicians wanted to remove Cardinal |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Prijedor: In search for weapons, they broke the furnace |
| Nezavisne Novine | The Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, on 5C corridor: Croatia may finance study on construction of BiH highway; School year commences in BiH: Classes postponed in five Cantons; Paddy Ashdown on reform of three public broadcasters in BiH: Reforms or collapse; OHR letter to the Republika Srpska Government : Elektroprivreda still delivers false information |
| Blic | New school year: temptations of reforms for pupils and teachers; Replacements in the Government: six ministers are leaving, Mikerevic to be checked |
Education | |
| Novi Seher school-related protest
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 5 ‘Minister Tomasevic, OSCE representatives attacked’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 13, Dnevni List pg. 13 – About 300 BiH Croat parents and children gathered on Monday in front of the Maglaj municipality elementary school in Novi Seher, to protest against the administrative unification of the two schools in the village. According to the decision on administrative unification, the two schools in Novi Seher – where classes were carried out in two languages and which used two syllabuses – have been unified into one school, with one administrative board and one head teacher. Parents had demanded that the Novi Seher school be pronounced as a branch of the Fra Grga Martic elementary school in Ozimica in Zepce municipality. The Zenica Doboj Canton education, science, culture and sports minister, Sreto Tomasevic, said that such a demand was unfounded, as the municipality borders of Zepce and Maglaj were drawn-up previously by (former) High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch. Disgruntled parents from Novi Seher went to Ozimica where they carried on their protest. |
| HNC teachers on strike | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Strike in the entire Canton as of today’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 13,, Dnevni list p 14, “Milic: Unions consider calling people to the streets”, by Vesna Leto, Slobodna Dalmacija p 14, “Strikes in schools”, by Darko Juka, Vecernji List, page 2, by f, “Start of classes followed by strike of teachers”, FENA – Primary and secondary schools in Canton 7 (Herzegovina-Neretva Canton), working according to the Croatian curriculum, will go on strike Tuesday, September 2 – confirmed the presidents of Primary and Secondary Education Trade Unions, Slavko Laus and Josip Milic respectively. As Laus said at a press conference in Mostar on Monday, the Conciliation Council failed to find a common language (solution) between the Trade Unions and the Government, since the Government had refused to meet any of teachers’ demands, so what now lies ahead are direct negotiations of the Strikers’ Committee and the Cantonal Government. The schools in Canton 7 working under Bosnian curriculum have already gone on strike as of Monday. Croat Radio Herceg Bosna – HN Canton Education Minister Jago Musa says strike is not in accordance with law. Ministry has organised work of the peace council upon announcement of strike but it was disregarded by the unions. Unions’ decisions were too quick and not in accordance with the Law on Strike. Government unfortunately could not fulfil demand for payment of salaries for June, July and August due to the budget filling dynamics. Musa claims collective contract is ready for signature and unions refuse to sign it. Resort collective contract cannot be signed before collective contract. |
| RS media on the beginning of the school year | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2. ‘School year commences in Republika Srpska; Classes postponed in five Cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Run for A’s’ – The school bell yesterday marked the beginning of the new school year of 20203/04 in all primary and secondary schools across Republika Srpska. The classes have not commenced in five Cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Namely the classes have been postponed for 8 September in West Herzegovina, Herceg Bosnia, Posavina and Tuzla Cantons, owing to high temperatures and lack of water. The classes in Herzegovina Neretva Canton have not commenced, owing to the ongoing strike of educational personnel. Blic pg. 6 ‘Temptations of reform’ also reported on the beginning of school year in BiH. |
Media; info campaigns | |
| Ashdown presents model for public broadcasting system to BiH leaders
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Three public broadcasters to remain’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8, mentioned on the front page ‘Public broadcasters in BiH facing collapse’, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5. ‘Reforms or collapse’, Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Screen swallows millions’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Services are too expensive, they are facing collapse’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, presented on Monday to the Council of Ministers chairman and the entity prime ministers a model by which a legal framework should be prepared for functioning of the radio-television system in BiH according to European standards. “Public broadcasting in BiH is under threat of a financial collapse, because close to 10 million KM was lost by irresponsible management last year,” Ashdown told reporters at a press conference in Sarajevo. He said the BiH authorities will take the responsibility for creating a legislative and regulatory framework that will protect the editorial and financial independence of the public RTV system. “This will be a long and hard process, which will last by the end of the year,” Ashdown said. The model proposed by the OHR is not available to public for now. Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic said that consultations will be made on the model and a suitable decision passed in the parliamentary procedure afterwards. Connecting the three broadcasters in one system with joint infrastructure would rationalize the present capacities and lower costs. The OHR has posted requests that a single system must have three broadcasters with joint infrastructure, a reform to ensure functionality of the system that must be settled by European standards and that the process ends as soon as possible. “I requested the governments to consult the European Commission in order to ensure the reforms to respect the standards necessary for further European integration,” Ashdown said. Terzic said that the competence of the Communication Regulatory Agency should be regulated inside the legal regulations towards the public broadcasting. Vecernji List (p 4, “Domestic authorities save public TV stations”, by D. Jazvic), Dnevni List (front & p 3, “Public RTV system in BiH faces financial collapse”, by H., E. Mackic) and Vjesnik (p 10, “Public RTV system in BiH faces financial collapse”, by Hina) also reported on the issue. |
| VL on Croat Public Broadcaster | In its attempt to investigate what happened to 10 million KMs, which the Croatian Government donated as assistance to BiH Croats in the realm of media some 9 years ago, Vecernji List (front page: “Millions meant for Croat RTV went missing” and p 4-5, “10 million KMs disappeared in private programmes”, by Zdenko Jurilj) reads that, apart from the court registration of the Public Company of Croat TV Herzeg-Bosnia, the public has not felt any benefit. Politicians of the then Croat Republic of Herzeg-Bosna, as well as of the Croatian Government, have never asked why BiH Croats are even nowadays left without the most capital media project. Vladimir Soljic and Jadranko Prlic, once high-ranking Herzeg-Bosna officials, have both stated for VL that they do not know what happened with either the money or the project. VL also adds that, through a sophisticated media war, the non-establishment of the RTV was justified with pressures and resistance by the International Community, which later proved to be absolutely wrong. |
| EUPM public-info campaign presented | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Police restructuring is necessary’ – By unveiling a bill-board in Osijek on the old road between Ilidza and Blazuj, High Representative Paddy Ashdown and the EUPM Commissioner Sven Frederiksen marked the beginning of a public-information campaign explaining the steps it is taking in order to help BiH police forces attain European operational and ethical standards. This primary goal of the EUPM is to develop policing in BiH that is free of political influence, financially sound and oriented in a fundamental way towards serving the needs of the community and enhancing the security of all BiH citizens. A core element of modern European policing is transparency in the way officers carry out their duties, public accountability, and efficient supervision. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Bosmal company secures 300m euros for Bosnian highway from Malaysian bank
| BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7, mentioned on the front page ‘Bosmal secures 300m euros’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, Dnevni Listpage 5, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 6, by Dinko Pasic, “’Bosmal secures initial 300 million Euros for Corridor 5c” – The Bosmal company said in a statement on Monday that it has secured a 300m euro bank guarantee for the expenses of the feasibility study, project documentation and compensation to owners of real estate in the close vicinity of the Vc Corridor. The Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad guarantee document was signed last Friday in Kuala Lampur by Edin Sabanovic, Bosmal director general, and Raja Zainal Alam Shah, director of the bank’s business and investments department. The Bosmal company has hereby fulfilled its obligations three months before the deadline. Sabanovic said that the bank’s guarantee and the documents on Bosmal’s financial competency will be forwarded to the BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic and Minister of Communications and Transport Branko Dokic. Dato Ahmad Tajudin Abdul Rahman, director of the Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, will visit Sarajevo on 3-6 September to personally confirm the bank’s plans to finance Bosmal in the project. The BiH Council of Ministers accepted Bosmal’s construction bid on July 23, declaring that the company must provide evidence of secured finances in the amount of 300m euro within four months. The BiH section of the Budapest-Osijek-Sarajevo-Ploce Vc Corridor stretches over 330 km, and will be the most significant road through BiH and shortest route from Central Europe to the Adriatic Coast. The expected construction expenses will amount to 3bn euro. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Terzic: It is encouraging that the project is being implemented in accordance to our plans’ – “I am encouraged by promptness of the people from Bosmal, given that they have provided necessary funds three months before expiration of the deadline’,” said Adnan Terzic, the BiH CoM Chairman. Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dok,ic said that a session of the coordination team for the construction of Vc corridor through BiH might be held as soon as next week. All activities related to the project that have been carried out so far will be discussed at the session, according to Dokic. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Tihic: CoM made a correct decision’ – “The success of Bosmal proves that the BiH Council of Ministers made a correct decision and I believe that we have to continue this way,” Bosniak member of the Presidency Sulejman Tihic told the newspaper. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3. ‘Croatia may finance study on construction of BiH highway’ – The Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, stated that the offer made by Croatia to finance the study on the construction of 5C corridor will be taken into consideration. He added that BiH Council of Ministers will discuss the letter of intent received from Croatian Government on this mater. According to NN inset (reported on Nezavisne Novine cover as separate article), Bosmal provided EURO 300 million in Malaysia for construction of 5C corridor. |
| Zitoprerada affair
| FTV, BHTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 8, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4- Una-Sana Cantonal Government brought decision to fully execute the Federation Prime Minister Ahmed Hadzipasic’s order regarding protection of Zitoprerada properties. This afternoon, the Bihac Court’s decision appeared accepting demand from the cantonal privatisation on introduction of extraordinary measure. Though, company’s production cannot be stopped. By this decision, commission for registration of properties has a mandate to enter the company’s premises with police assistance if necessary. 29 workers continued their hunger strike and workers that are still working held a 1-hour warning strike. Dnevni List (front and page 4, by Miso Relota, “Biber: Government of Una-Sana canton does not observe laws of BiH”) – an interview with the President of BiH Unions, Edhem Biber, about the situation regarding the “Zitoprerada” Company. Asked whether he believes that the Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) would react to the current situation since the Una-Sana canton Government is not sealing the company as ordered by the FBiH Government, Biber says: “Prime Minister Hadzipasic promised that he would try, through competent institutions and within his constitutional authorities, to implement the decision we reached and made public on Friday, August 29. We expect that to happen. It is obvious that the authorities in the Una-Sana Canton have lost their heads and are not on top of the situation”. |
| Appointment of Director of Indirect Taxation Administration | Dnevni List (page 2, by D. L., “Federation MoI send documented negative opinion on Kasumovic”) – the daily learns from “a source in the OHR” that the OHR received a reply from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Interior (FBiH MoI) on vetting of candidates for the office of Director of Indirect Taxation Administration. The same source confirms that the OHR received the opinion of the BiH Minister of Treasury, Ljerka Maric. DL learns that the FBiH MoI submitted documentation that heavily discredits one of the candidates, namely Fuad Kasumovic. DL tried and failed to contact the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, to get his comment. However, the daily “relied” on its source who said that the OHR was considering a possibility to annul the vacancy for the said office. |
| Appointment of BiH Minister of Foreign Trade | Vecernji List (page 2, by D. Jazvic, “OHR doubts D. Doko’s expertise”) – the daily notes that the office of BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations has been vacated for half a month already since the former Minister Mila Gadzic left for the BiH Central Bank. After that the HDZ nominated its candidate for the office, Dragan Doko, who is being vetted by the OHR. VL unofficially learns that the OHR signaled the Council of Ministers that there were no “formal” obstacles to the Doko candidacy, however the OHR allegedly believes that the office of Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations should be assumed by a person with better qualifications than Doko. OHR did not want to comment on that saying the practice is not to publish details on vetting of candidates. |
| Nezavisne Novine: OHR letter to RS Elektroprivreda | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4. ‘Elektroprivreda still delivers false information’ – The OHR letter addressed to the Republika Srpska Government , inter alia, reads as follows: “Leadership of RS Elektroprivreda still gives empty talks delivering false responses to our questions. The fact is that not much things have changed at Republika Srpska EP since new leadership assumed the position.” OHR also expressed concern “over the possibility that the Republika Srpska Government would succumb to threats of one bidder, who applied to tender for Buk Bijela Plant.” Pantelija Dakic, Director of Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda, did not want to give any comment on claims presented in OHR report. He just said that: “We have reduced the deficit in the past period for KM 44 million. And this piece of information should not be neglected. Accordingly, OHR should pay more attention to our reports.” |
| Workers of EP BiH to go on strike too? | Vecernji List (front “Darkness in Federation because of reduced salaries” and page 3 “Federation in darkness because of salaries for electricians?”, by E. Medunjanin) – reports that Union of workers of Elektroprivreda of BiH (SEER) yesterday announced it would go on general strike sometime in the next 20 days unless the Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not start talks with the Union on restructuring and privatization of energy sector and withdraw its decision on reduction of salaries in public companies by 10%. Members of SEER Main Board are primarily not happy with the Action plan on restructuring and privatization of energy sector which, if implemented, could result in 23% workers in energy sector losing jobs. Regarding the salaries, President of the SEER, Mesud Krljes, stresses that the FBiH Government’s decision is not based on positive legal provisions. Krljes adds that the OHR confirmed to the SEER that the Government’s decision was illegal which was sufficient enough for the SEER leaders to seek help from the Constitutional Court and Ombudsman’s Office of the Federation of BiH. Krljes says that the average salary in EP BiH is 585 KMs. (Slobodna Dalmacija, page 6, by D. Pasic, “Workers of Elektroprivreda BiH announce general strike”, Oslobodjenje also covered the issue) |
Political developments | |
| RS President calls meeting of ruling party leaders for Tuesday
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Cavic attempting to secure Serb parliamentary majority in RS?’ – Republika Srpska (RS) President Dragan Cavic convened a consultative meeting with presidents of representatives of the political parties that constitute the majority in the RS National Assembly for Tuesday. Head of the office of president of the Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) Sinisa Djordjevic told ONASA on Monday that only presidents and representatives of the parties that constitute the Serb majority in the RS National Assembly will attend the meeting. He added that PDP President Mladen Ivanic will attend the meeting. The meeting is one in a series of meetings at which the priorities in the work of the RS government, which will be supported by the assembly majority, will be determined. According to Djordjevic, Sulejman Tihic, the president of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), which constitutes the assembly majority together with the PDP, Serb Democratic Party (SDS), Democratic Party (DS), Pensioners’ Party (PS), Democratic Patriot Party (DPS) and three delegates of the Serb Radical Party (SRS), is not invited at the meeting. Cavic earlier announced that a meeting will be held with presidents of the parties in order to be determined whether this kind of the assembly majority is sustainable and whether it supports the RS government. Secretary General of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) Igor Radojic confirmed that leader of this party Milorad Dodik was also not invited at the meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 1000 hrs in Cavic’s office in Banja Luka. Blic pg. 7 ‘Report to the President’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 21 ‘Talks on the Government’, Dnevni List pg. 10 – The aim of the meeting is to see whether the current parliamentary majority and the RS Government could function. Spokesman of the SDS, Dusan Stojicic, says that the SDS’s strategic goal is the strengthening of Serb parliamentary majority and possible expansion of it. “We are ready for all options when it comes to the functioning of executive authority – from minor changes to big ones. Even personnel changes within the Government will be taken into consideration,” Stojicic says. He adds that his party will say that the opposition’s request for early elections do not have any real basis nor political need and that after today’s meeting the party expects a higher level of political stability in the Republika Srpska. The SDS will seriously consider the SDA participation in the RS executive and legislative authority if the party continues with ‘tactic of ethnic radicalism’. The PDP welcomes this Cavic’s initiative. According to the words of PDP spokesman, Igor Crnadak, the PDP expects that the meeting will precisely identify all key tasks that the executive authority needs to realise. “There will be no discussion about personnel changes within the Government,” Crnadak claims. He says that the parliamentary majority functions and that after today’s meeting it would be even better. Vice-president of the SDA, Seada Palavric, says that the aim of the meeting is to see how the parliamentary majority is going to function in the future and nothing else. She claims the SDA will not give up its programme goals – first of all, equality of all constitutive people in BiH. Palavric says that the RS Government has support from the SDA and that ministers from this party in the RS executive authority have task to implement the laws and Constitution. “We will say to President Cavic that we are not satisfied with the Government’s work in the part that refers to the national / ethnic representation in the executive authority, especially in the police and other security services,” Palavric says. Commenting on the SDS’s initiative to replace the SDA’s ministers from the Government, Palavric says it would not be a wise move, because the SDA is the strongest Bosniak party in BiH and RS and it is quite logical that representatives of the party participate in the authority. |
| SDHR Wnendt to visit Zepa today | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Urgently construct road to Zepa’, FENA – Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt and RRTF Head Richard Williams will visit Zepa today, OHR stated. This visit will focus on the urgent need of constructing a road to Zepa in order to integrate this place with the rest of the region. Due to poor infrastructure in and around Zepa efforts to strengthen the local economy showed only limited success. This has put at risk the sustainability of return to Zepa. Wnendt and Williams are planned to meet Enver Stitkovac, a businessman from Zepa, who is interested in investing in the construction of the road. |
| Partner research: Citizens trust Ashdown | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Citizens trust Ashdown most’ – One third of BiH population does not trust any politician, and those who have trust in politicians, trust Paddy Ashdown the most. This is the finding of research performed by agency “Partner”, the Banjaluka seated agency engaged in public opinion research. |
| SDS’ Nikic on IFIMES report | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Any issue can be discussed within SDS, even removal of Kalinic’ – Cvjetin Nikic, member of the SDS Main Board, expressed his opinion that eventual placement of Mirko Sarovic as SDS president instead of Dragan Kalinic can be discussed, noting that there is no rift amongst party members. Commenting on IFIMES report on SDS, Nikic said that: “SDS is reformist and open party, and there is no issue that it cannot discuss.” |
| PDP: Replacement of six ministers, Mikerevic to be checked? | Blic pg. 7 Replacement of six ministers, Mikerevic to be checked? – As Blic unofficially learns the PDP is thinking about personnel changes within six ministries. If after that there are no results, it is possible that Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic will be replaced after New Year. |
| Initiative for change of Constitution of BiH | Front page story of today’s Dnevni List (continued on page 8, by Miso Relota, “Dayton set-up of BiH – cause of deterioration of economic situation”) – is an announcement that the Draft declaration on necessity of changes to Constitution of BiH and establishment of “Federal Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina” will be discussed at a round table in Sarajevo on September 10. The Draft, which has been signed by Professors Mesud Sabitovic, Arif Tanovic, Ljubomir Berberovic, Luka Markesic, Jakob Finci, Sadudin Musabegovic and Petar Jovic, says the current, Dayton organizational set-up of BiH, is partly causing worsening of economic situation, which could lead to social unrest. The signatories of the Draft believe there is an even bigger danger of this “destruction process” – an “implosion of hopelessness”, as they put it, in form of suicides, more frequent murders, growing prostitution and white slavery. Dnevni List (page 2), Statement of Day: “Political consensus of key factors in BiH is necessary for new solutions”, by Marko Brkic, an OHR spokesperson. |
| Interview with Croatian Deputy PM Goran Granic | In his interview for Vecernji List (p 6, “We help BiH Croats better than HDZ did”, by Ivan Kaleb), Goran Granic, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister, refutes allegations that the current Croatian authorities are not interested in the position of Croats in BiH and that they assist them in a shy way, being afraid of the International Community. Granic says the current Croatian authorities assist BiH Croats in a higher quality and more transparent way and have offered assistance in the fields of return and strengthening of Croat institutions, unlike the former authorities which did it through unofficial institutions. He goes on to say that they will cooperate with any authority that is elected by BiH Croats and will not interfere in what BiH Croats have to solve among themselves. As for the difficult position of Croats, Granic says the situation is changing for the better. Granic also says that survival of Croats cannot be imagined without Croat high education institutions and believes it would be one of Croatian Government’s priorities. As for fears that Croats might “lose” their mother tongue, Granic says any such possible attempt would face failure as no one can deprive Croats of the right to their language. “International Community sometimes tends to complete its job by means of a simplified logic”, Granic says adding that, if necessary, the Croatian Government will officially declare itself on the issue. |
Affairs/investigations | |
| VL says foreign and domestic politicians wanted to remove Cardinal Puljic
| Vecernji List (front and page 3, by Jozo Pavkovic, “Politicians wanted to remove Cardinal”) – the daily claims that last year a group of senior domestic and foreign politicians was preparing a plan whose aim was to remove the Archbishop of Vrhbosnia, Cardinal Vinko Puljic. Reportedly, the “world powers-that- be” tried to have Vatican to do it, but Vatican was shocked with the interference. According to VL, the disappointment was even greater knowing that Cardinal Puljic is one three Cardinals with the biggest authority in Vatican. This information was confirmed for VL by many civilian and Church sources. According to VL, the reason behind the plan is that Puljic, in his public addresses, points out to injustice the IC doing, especially against the Catholics. |
| Interview with Cardinal Puljic | Dnevni List (front and page 7, by Ivica Glibusic, “I am worried about position of Croat Catholics in Sarajevo”) – in an introduction of the interview with the Archbishop of Vrhbosnia, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, the author says it is only the Catholic Church in BiH that fights for the rights of Croats since the Croat representatives in BiH authorities are afraid of removals by the OHR. Asked to comment on the recent attacks on Croats in Sarajevo and whether there are attempts to turn Sarajevo into a single-ethnic city, Cardinal Puljic says it is hard to know what the real aim of the attacks is, adding that, when it comes to Sarajevo, it is very hard to speak of it as a multi-national city since it is only one people which is represented in the authorities and other structures. Cardinal Puljic goes on to say that he is tired of sending appeals believing that the people in power should build a structure that would provide protection to ever citizen. “It would be wrong to think that I speak only when it comes to endangering of Croat Catholics. It is necessary to realize that, if we want a country in which peace and stability rule, every person has to be protected in his/her identity”, says Cardinal Puljic. |
| Kukic to Ellen Ralph | Dnevni List (page 7, “Non-denied, as a rule, is perceived as truth”) – The President of HT Mostar (Croat Telecommunications) Steering Board, Slavo Kukic, replied to a recently issued open letter of the special auditor for FBiH and RS, Dale Ellen Ralph. Kukic says that Ellen Ralph got the things all mixed up since his column in Dnevni List and statement in Dani was signed by Slavo Kukic and not the President of HT Steering Board, and in light of that, Kukic suggests to Ellen Ralph to send all the replies either to Dnevni List or his personal address. Saying that, when writing his column in Dnevni List on August 26, he called upon some media reports that she (Ellen Ralph) did not deny not even after five days since the publishing, Kukic says that he actually wrote that a member of her team was in company of Mr. Covic (Dragan, Chair of BiH Presidency) on a “Makarska yacht of a Mostar tycoon”. In that context, Kukic says it is Ellen Ralph who said it was about Mr. Slezak not him. |
| Dnevni Avaz: Lagumdzija and Munja were preparing coup d’ etate | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘Lagumdzija and Munja were preparing coup d’ etate’ – Zlatko Lagumdzija, the BiH SDP leader and the removed FOSS (Federation Intelligence-Security Service) Director Munir Munja Alibabic have been accused of heading an organised group that had been working on disturbing the constitutional order and creating a crisis in order for the state of emergency to be imposed in the country. The report on these activities has been submitted to the FBiH Prosecution Office, according to the newspaper. |
| BiH Prosecutor’s Office investigating drugs smuggling case | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘BiH Prosecutor’s Office investigating case of drugs smuggling from Montenegro’ – Jasmina Gafic, BiH State Prosecutor, yesterday stated that BiH Prosecutor’s Office is trying to link several cases of drugs smuggling from Montenegro to BiH, in order to establish whether organised net of smuggling in narcotics does exist. |
| Paravac demands listing of bills | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Bills should be displayed’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Paravac requests checking of Softic’s expenditures in The Hague’ – Borislav Paravac, Serb member to BiH Presidency, sought from the Presidency Secretariat to provide details about a trip to The Hague by Sakib Softic, BiH agent in lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro . He namely sought the list of all the expenses incurred during trips Softic made. |
| Wiretapping of family house of Karadzic in Niksic | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘House brimming with bugs’ – Luka Karadzic, brother of Radovan Karadzic, in a public letter, stressed that Montenegrin police last weekend placed bugs (wiretapping devices) at his family house near Niksic. Dnevni List p 9, “Wire-tapping device discovered in Luka Karadzic’s house”, by D. Vukoja also reported on the issue. |
| SFOR inspections in Prijedor | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘In search for weapons, they broke the furnace’; Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘SFOR searched “Prijedorka” and “Mozaik” – SFOR yesterday searched the premises of the Factory for production of bricks “Prijedorka” from Prijedor. SFOR was in search for illegal weapons. Ostoja Marjanovic, Factory Director, said that in the inspection, which lasted ‘til 15:00 hrs, SFOR made great material damage of KM 200 thousand. The damage caused includes the breaking of the production furnace. Marjanovic refused to sign the inspection report, because it was not translated in Serbian language. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
Potocari Memorial | |
| BiH Presidency prepared to provide logistical support for Potocari Memorial opening | Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Only logistical support to Potocari Center’, Oslobodjenje pg. 7, FENA – The BiH Presidency is prepared to logistically support activities on opening the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial, but is unable to provide any financial funds. At its last session the BiH Presidency discussed the letter sent by High Representative Paddy Ashdown requesting the Presidency to provide funds and all other necessary support for the opening of the Memorial. The Presidency is unable to financially support this project, but is prepared to provide logistical support through technical and other services, a source in the Presidency told FENA. Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Everything ready for burial of Srebrenica victims’ – “Opening of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Centre is one of the most significant events for BiH. For this reason, the representatives of all state bodies, citizens and international officials should by their attendance pay tributes to the killed Srebrenica citizens,” Abdurahman Malkic, the Srebrenica Mayor said. |