Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 29 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Serbs to block Higher Education Law | HR meets Serbian President Tadic | Stability Pact Table |
| Earthquake in | Mostar city council in session | 1000 persons from |
| Weather | World News | |
TV news broadcast on 28 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| World news: Java earthquake | World news: Java earthquake | World news: Java earthquake |
| Terzic expresses condolences | Softic on BIH lawsuit against | Terzic expresses condolences |
| Terzic initiates change to VAT Law | HR in | Corridor 5-C issue |
| CC rejects complaints on Eronet sale | Signatures for RS referendum | HR Schwarz-Schilling in Podgorica |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Impartial execution of CC rulings | Feature on | HR to visit |
| Interview with Esma Palic | BD Govt. to help pensioners | 3 men arrested in Kozarska Dubica |
| HR visits | Feature on ‘Prohema’ company | Murder suspect arrested in Zvornik |
| RS NGO’s support their government | Delegation from | House in |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH Prosecution started investigation against smugglers |
| Dnevni Avaz | We will soon propose principles for the new constitution [Sejfudin Tokic] |
| Dnevni List | All protagonists of violence released (on fight in front of a cafe in Mostar last Friday) |
| Vecernji List | Covic : I will not put forward my candidacy at elections (Interview with HDZ President Dragan Covic) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Nezavisne Novine | Cooperation between BiH and |
| Glas Srpske | The crown of democracy |
| EuroBlic | BiH cannot be a mother to one, and mother-in-law to another (Dodik’s statement to “Oslobodjenje” Saturday) |
| Vecernje novosti | Half of population celebrates, half does not recognize! ( |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| HR meets Serbian president today in | BH Radio 1 – The High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schillingmet Serbian President Boris Tadic today in |
| Mostar City Council in session discussing budget
| BH Radio 1 by Halil Setka – The Mostar City Council is in session today discussing the budget, which was rejected on May 24. The OHR urged leadership of Mostar to speed up the pace of integration in the city, outlining three key issues that require urgent attention prior to the next meeting of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board at the end of June. Mostar authorities must adopt the city budget for 2006, complete the establishment of the City Administration and establish the single utility company in Mostar. |
| | RTRS – The Head of the Serbian Government delegation for |
Political developments | |
| HR Schwarz-Schilling in two-day visit to
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| HR Schwarz-Schilling meets Montenegrin PM Djukanovic: coop. with BiH and ICTY is necessary
| RTRS – HR Christian Schwarz Schilling is in official visit to |
| Further reactions on RS PM’s statement on referendum: F BiH parties oppose the stance
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘A crown of democracy’ by Z.Markovic – Daily notes that the latest statement of Milorad Dodik, RS Premier, regarding possible organisation of referendum in RS, has caused a real political quake in BiH, adding that F BiH parties criticise and dispute such a stance, while RS parties support it. Daily reminds that the sole thing RS PM did was to state that any people in BiH has a right to democratically decide about its destiny at referendum. |
| RS PoWs, NGO’s and SPONA support RS government’s stance on self-determination
| RTRS – RS Association of Prisoners of War and SPONA support the stance of RS Government and political top of RS regarding final determination of constitutional position of RS. They asked from the international community to respect Serb people and not to use double standards. Hayat, Dnveni List pg 4 ‘Sarajevo will no be deciding on behalf of Serbs’ not signed – RS Association of the NGOs support the RS Government in its battle to preserve their constitutional positions. Commenting statements by the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik on the right of self-determination, the NGOs asked from the International Community (IC) to prevent secession of Kosovo. Otherwise, NGOs would demand from the IC to allow people of RS to democratically vote for the state they want to live in. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Serbs should be allowed to say what kind of state they want’ by Srna – Chair of the RS Association of the Prisoners of War, Slavko Jovicic Slavuj,stated that if International Community (IC) allows the secession of Kosovo, they [RS NGOs association SPONA and RS POW’s Association] would: “… demand IC to set 80% of threshold as a condition for the referendum in which RS would democratically, the only legitimate way, vote for the state they want to live in.” PINK – Members of Serb national movement “Choice is ours” will continue to gather signatures of |
| SDU Tokic: RS PM Dodik’s statement is attack to BiH sovereignty; BiH Institutions and OHR should take legal sanctions
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘We will soon propose principles for the new constitution’, pg 5 ‘We would propose principles for drafting of new constitution’ by Mirela Kukan– Inset ‘Direct attack against the state sovereignty’ – SDU leader Sejfudin Tokic commented on the latest statements of the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik regarding referendum in the RS, stressing that this was the direct attack to state sovereignty. “BiH public is now even more clear about political character of alliance between [SDA leader Sulejman] Tihic and [ |
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| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘ |
| BiH Presidency Chair Tihic in ‘Le Figaro’: admission into the EU and NATO priority for BiH
| FTV by Sanja Bagaric – On the occasion of eleventh anniversary of death of two French soldiers in |
| NN op-ed: either stories on entities’ abolishment and referendum are in violation with Constitution
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A response’ by Dragan Risojevic – Regarding latest developments in BiH in regard to referendum reference, the author notes that when one side speaks of abolishment of entities, then it is referred to as a progression of constitutional order, although they are aware of the fact there is not political will for that. However, when the other side responds to this story and makes reference to referendum, the provocateurs scream at all sides referring to violation of Constitution. The author underlines that nobody, including international community, has a right to be surprised over these development, concluding that either of the two options (entities abolishment and referendum reference) are in violation of the Constitution. The author highlights the fact that political officials should instead focus on improvement of economic situation rather than collecting pre-election bonus. |
| SDU’ Tokic: SDU and parties with similar stances will soon propose principles for new BiH Constitution
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘We will soon propose principles of the new constitution’, pg 5 ‘We would propose principles for drafting new constitution’ by Mirela Kukan – SDU leader Sejfudin Tokic told daily that in next few weeks BiH public would be informed about new principles that BiH Constitution could be based on. He explained that SDU is talking with the parties of similar stances regarding the future establishment of BiH. “I can say that high level of solidarity in basic stances is visible between representatives of HDZ1990, HSS, SBiH, BOSS and some other” said Tokic adding that they would also invite all parties dedicated to EU and NATO membership to draft and make necessary constitutional changes. |
| BiH Directorate’s Topcagic: Progress in reforms has to be made in order to continue with
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘We are aware of stoppage in police reform’, mentioned on cover by T.Lazovic– After the warning that came from Head of EC Delegation Michael Humphreys that reforms must be carried out, Director of BiH Directorate for European Integrations Osman Topcagic said that BiH has made a significant progress six key reforms and informed EC about that. “Something is being done at all fields, but we will offer them what was done already and they would evaluate it” said Topcagic, adding they are preparing information and documents for the next meeting of the Reform Process Monitoring. He stressed that everyone is aware of the stoppage in police reform, which is also one of six priorities. “Passing of amendments to Law on Public Broadcasting Service in FBiH, according to EC demands, is also on hold. When it comes to ICTY cooperation, which is the lasting process, Directorate expects information on that from the Justice Ministry which would be presented at the |
| VL interview with HDZ President Covic: ‘I will not put forward my candidacy at October elections’
| Vecernji List cover pg splash and pgs 10 and 11 ‘Covic: I will not put forward my candidacy at elections’ by Z. Kresic carries an interview with HDZ President Dragan Covic. Asked whether he is concerned about the fact that even 5 Bosniak parties will put forward candidacy for a Croat member of the BiH Presidency, Covic said: ‘This was the crucial reason why I stood for the first part of constitutional changes since they protected us as a constituent people. It is clear now how some parties want to arrange BiH. Putting forward candidacy of SDA, SBiH, |
| HDZ 1990 Vice PresidentRaguz warns of unequal position of Croats in BiH Parliament
| Vecernji List pg 8 ‘ Croats will not be paying price of Kosovo and Montenegro’s independence’ not signed – Talking at the public forum on the topic ‘Croat identity in European BiH’ held in Stolac Co-Chairman of the BiH House of Peoples and HDZ 1990 Vice President Martin Raguz stated: ‘For the first time one global project of the USA and its European satellites did not get support in the BiH Parliament and these days they have been meeting again in some cafes in order to get support for constitutional changes. If Croats paid the price of the Croatian independence they are not going to pay the price of the Kosovo and Montengro’s independence.’ Raguz also said: ‘When Serbs leave the session the whole system in the BiH Parliament falls apart and Bosniaks as well can bring into question each important decision. Only Croats cannot stop any law.’ Slobodna Dalmacija pg 11 ‘Bozo Ljubic: We shall be tsunami to our enemies’ by |
| VL: ‘Serbs to block Law on Higher Education’
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘RS against accrediting of faculty at state level’, mentioned on cover ‘Serbs to block Law on Higher Education’ by D. Jazvic carries that Serb Ministers in the BiH CoM will block tomorrow (on Tuesday) adoption of a new version of the Law on Higher Education. VL learns that RS Education Minister sent to the BiH CoM a letter in which he stated clear opposition to the provision of the Law according to which accrediting of faculties in BiH would be implemented at the state level (by the Agency for development of higher education and securing of quality) and not at the entity level. VL also says that the International Community representatives have been informed about this development of situation. |
| FBiH President Lozancic denied accusations by FBiH Parliament MPs, adding: I do not think about resignation
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘FBiH deputies are not acting serious’ by A.Av. – Following initiative for his removal set by some FBiH Parliament deputies [led by |
| NN op-ed: The sole parameter in BiH is ethnic background | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A spite and good will’ by Sead Fetahagic – The author reiterates his criticism against nationalistic parties, referring at the beginning to the failure of local authorities to adopt Mostar City Budget. He notes that political parties do not want to make any concession to another side (referring to Mostar budget, Sarajevo Commission, nationalism of Haris Silajdzic), adding the only quality and deficiency of a person is ethnic affiliation. According to him, the sole thing now possible is to see entrepreneurs of difference ethnic backgrounds cooperate, while other fields like police and education, health and culture, shares the parameters of national values. |
Security issues and war crimes | |
| House in
| RTRS by Jelena Milosevic – Family house of a citizen, Savo Pandurevic, in |
| NN:
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Four cocktail bombs thrown on the house of Savo Pandurevic’ by A. Djozo – Regarding explosions in East Sarajevo, daily learns fromunofficial sources that Vladimir Pandurevic, the son of Savo, is a good friend of Darko Elez, linked with several recent shootings in E. Sarajevo. Furthermore, Elez claimed in media that Djordje Zdralo, taught to be linked with police leadership and former RS Police Director Dragomir Andan, connected Elez with these shootings. The wife of Savo says that police acted nonchalantly during crime scene investigation as if nothing happened. |
| Osl: BiH Prosecution starts investigation to shut down the drug dealing channels
| Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘BiH Prosecution started investigation against smugglers’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Bijeljina distributional centre for South-East Bosnia’ by A.Avdic – Daily learns the BiH Prosecution launched an extensive investigation into the drugs smuggling which should result with the arrest of fifteen people from Tuzla Canton and the RS. Anonymous source included into the investigation, told daily the main goal is to break down the channel used for smuggling huge amounts of heroin and marihuana through Kosovo and |
| NN learns current leadership of OSA will be re-appointed to same positions by the end of this week
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘New mandate to current leaders of OSA’ by M.Cubro – Daily learns from a collocutor from BiH Council of Ministers that Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, will appoint Almir Dzuvo, Risto Zaric and Ivan Cosis as Director, Vice Director and General Inspector respectively of the BiH OSA (Intelligence and security agency). Collocutor adds that the mandate of the director and vice director expires at the end of May, stressing it is evident the three leading officials will be appointed in one package by the end of this week. Tomislav Limov, Chair of the BiH Parliamentary Commission for supervision of OSA work confirms that Dzuvo, Zaric and Cosic are the sole candidates for the most responsible positions at the state apparatus. |
| Head BiH legal team Softic: Montenegrin independence would not change anything regarding BiH suit vs. | PINK – BiH agent in the BiH lawsuit against |
| Interview with Esma Palic, widow of late missing BiH Army colonel Avdo Palic | Hayat By Semsudin Skejic – In an interview to Hayat, Esma Palic, wife of a wartime BiH Army general from Zepa Avdo Palic whose whereabouts are yet unknown, reminded that under the Human Rights Chamber’s ruling, the RS must hand over all information on Palic’s whereabouts. All the deadlines for the implementation of this decision have passed, however the Government has not yet located the body remains which are most probably buried in the Han Pijesak area. Esma Palic said she also submitted her case to the |
Economic and social issues | |
| CoM Chair Terzic initiates a change to VAT Law
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| RS Finance Minister: Coefficients would change only with corrections of wrong VAT applications
| Dnevni Avaz pg8 ‘Coefficients would change only with corrections of wrong VAT applications’ by T.Lazovic– Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board would hold a session on Tuesday and it is expected to verify coefficients for allocation of means from the single account and open negotiations on long term model. RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic told DA that there should be no problems regarding the allocation for June, adding: “Agreement of entity Prime- Ministers is clear, and if it is respected there would be no problems in allocation of means, regardless to changes of current coefficients”. Dzombic explained that in June the means would be allocated according to how much each entity has paid of VAT, but the allocation would be without stated numerical coefficients. He explained that they would be counted by simple math, but only with enlisted mistakes of wrong VAT applications. |
| DA: CoM, Parliament and ITA responsible for ‘suffocating’ of investments
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Crediting of state vault’ op-ed by Adi Hadziarapovic– Commenting the most recent statement of Council of Ministers’ Chair Adnan Terzic in which he said that would start initiative to change the Law on VAT in order to accelerate VAT turnover, Hadziarapovic notices that Terzic is not the first to propose that and nothing has happened so far. Author underlines that the only reason that authorities can “brag” with hundreds of millions of surplus in the state treasury is only because BiH is the only country in the world where taxpayers don’t have right to turnover on base of over paid taxes. Stressing that all warnings of economists that this would ‘suffocate’ investments were futile, Hadziarapovic says that CoM nor the Parliament and Indirect Taxation Administration are not exempt from the responsibility. “State bureaucratic octopus has satisfied its needs over the expectation and that is most important to it”, concludes Hadziarapovic. |
| Osl: Government has opportunity to prove that wants to be the service for economy
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘VAT turnover’ op-ed by Borivoje Simic – Commenting the most recent statement of Council of Ministers’ Chair Adnan Terzic in which he said that would start initiative to change the Law on VAT in order to accelerate VAT turnover [i.e. change Article 72], Simic stressed that another proof that authorities have made serious mistakes in preparing of tax system reform is the absurd situation that BiH has, where businessmen’ money, which they can’t use, is pilling up in state’s cashiers. Underlining that Terzic has said that MPs are prepared to support this, Simic stressed: “Government has repeated for several times that wants to be service to the economy. This is the opportunity to show it in action”. |
| HoR Deputy Chair Spiric: vacancy notice for BiH auditors will be published soon
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Selection of new BiH auditors soon’ by N. Krsman – Deputy Chair of HoR of BiH Parliament Nikola Spiric confirmed a vacancy notice for selection of Chief Auditor and two deputies at the BiH Office for Audit of Financial Transactions would be published soon. He confirmed that the Parliamentary Commission in charge of publishing of vacancy notices and selection of candidates had held a meeting and reached a decision on launching the procedure for publishing of this vacancy notice. |
| SDA’ Ahmetovic: supports RS CoP invoking VNI on report on carrying out of property laws
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Bosniaks and Croats in RS dissatisfied with the status’- SDA representative in RS National Assembly Sadik Ahmetovic told DA that most of returnees in the RS are dissatisfied with their status, as well as with the implementation of the property laws. Ahmetovic gave his support to the RS Council of Peoples, which invoked vital national interest to the report on carrying out property laws, estimating that basic aspect of this issue is not solved yet. |
| President of Association of Decertified Policemen Sulic: OHR’s team to complete proposal of decertified policemen’ issue solution that should be presented to UN Security Council.
| Dnevni List pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Policemen look for justice in front of UN door’ by D. Pusic President of the Association of Decertified Policemen Ramo Sulic stated that a proposal of the UN Secretariat according to which decertified policemen would be able to apply for certain positions in the police but without a possibility to work in direct application of the law is not acceptable and it leaves in force the IPTF decision on decertification of the policemen. Sulic added that, at the moment, the OHR’ s team of experts works on a proposal of the solution that should be presented to the Security Council. According to Sulic, the proposal should be completed by the end of the week and for the first time representatives of decertified policemen should be invited to the UN. Sulic also said: ‘Between July 8 and 9 the proposal should be presented to the BiH CoM, however, we have already handed over our 3 versions to the OHR.’ |