| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Zvornik mass grave | Zvornik mass grave | Replacement of Cegar | Orao case |
| Aluminij | Pensioners’ protests | Fed. tax administration | Dodik/Cavic talks |
| Orao case | Elektroprivreda BiH | EP BiH/Debis deal | Criticism against Govt. |
| Health situation in BiH | Property issue in Kotorsko | Mass grave in Zvornik | Zvornik mass grave |
| Oslobodjenje | Mirsad Vilic replacing Zoran Cegar |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ahmet Hadzipasic on pensioner’s protests – Prime Minister advocates for gradual payment (of debt to the pensioners) |
| Dnevni List | “Donald Hays: Summer battle against unemployment”; “Milan Jovicic: SDA against joint waste dump and airport”; “Political motifs stopped construction of hydro-electric power plant?!” |
| Vecernji List | “Debis and Aluminij remain without electricity”; “Sea breaks into Neretva” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “It is best to get to Dubrovnik through BiH”; “Asphalt towards Zagreb” |
| Glas Srpske | Kozarac near Prijedor: Church stoned |
| Nezavisne Novine | At the locality of Crni Vrh near Zvornik: The exhumation of the biggest mass grave in East Bosnia commences; Disputable agreement between Telekom Srpske and the owner of Department Store “Kastel” from Banja Luka: Telekom pays the monthly rent of KM 8356 for 40 square metres; Slobodan Praljak, retired general of HVO: “If I had torn Stari Most (Old Bridge) down, I would have done it in a minute”; Report of the Republika Srpska Government on Srebrenica: Remains of 2082 bodies found; Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic: Mila Gadzic to resign by the end of this week |
| Blic | Families of killed soldiers request removal of Prime Minister |
International community/OHR | |
| Ashdown to visit Croatia on Wednesday
| Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Ashdown to visit Croatia tomorrow’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 – High Representative Paddy Ashdown is to officially visit Croatia on Wednesday. He will be hosted by Croatian President Stipe Mesic, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. Ashdown is also scheduled to meet with Croatian PM Ivica Racan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tonino Picula and deputy speaker of the Croatian assembly Zdravko Tomac. |
| Important diplomatic meeting in Ashdown’s weekend-house
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Big diplomatic gathering in Ashdown’s weekend-house’ – Members of the Peace Implementation Council’s Steering Board meet on Monday near Jablanica (in a house owned by High Representative Paddy Ashdown) to resume OHR activities done so far and plans for the upcoming autumn. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Heads of Missions in BiH on reform strategy’ – A source close to international organisations confirmed to NN that the Heads of the international missions to BiH held an informal meeting at Jablanica with High Representative Paddy Ashdown. The meeting discussed further steps in the implementation of reforms in BiH. |
| SDS on ICG report | Blic pg. 7 ‘Resistance to unitarisation’ – Spokesman for the SDS Dusan Stojicic said that the latest report of the International Crisis Group was more realistic than previous ones in parts where it is recognised necessity to transfer competences from the IC to the domestic authorities. According to Stojicic, the report also recognised the International Community made mistakes when they cooperated only with their political “pets” and not with parties which had real power. Stojicic told the press conference the SDS was opened for all Serb parties for forming an Alliance for RS, in order to resist unitarisation of BiH. |
| ‘What after Ashdown?’ | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘What after Ashdown’ Editorial by Zija Dizdarevic – Dizdarevic claims that there is no way out of the international interventionism without growing up a BiH own political being, and no one is currently working on this. |
War crimes | |
| Preparations for opening mass grave start
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Crni Vrh is the biggest grave in BiH’, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘The exhumation of the biggest mass grave in East Bosnia commences’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 17 ‘Opening of graves’, Dnevni List page 2, “Exhumations from a mass grave started”, by Hina, Vecernji list page 17, “Unearthing of the biggest mass grave in BiH”, by Dejan Jazvic – Preparations for opening a secondary mass grave on the Crni Vrh locality near Zvornik, eastern Bosnia, started on Monday, the head of the Tuzla team of the BiH Federation commission for missing persons, Murat Hurtic, has told a news conference. Hurtic said that it was assumed that the grave contained the remains of several hundred Srebrenica victims killed in 1992, which were moved to this locality from the Sahbegovic cemetery in September or October 1995. “These are our suspicions and we shall know whether we are right or not in a few days time,” Hurtic said, adding that exhumation works would last about two months. Hurtic said that the grave’s parameters had been marked and that the entire investigative work was being done by Tuzla cantonal court investigative magistrate Silva Stankovic, a deputy cantonal prosecutor, the Tuzla commemoration and clinical centre, the Tuzla cantonal interior ministry, an international commission for missing persons and Hague tribunal representatives, who were there in the capacity of monitors. The RS police officers are guarding the site 24 hours a day. |
| Dodik to testify at the Hague Tribunal today | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Witness in case of Radoslav Brdjanin’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Dodik leaves for the Hague today’, Blic pg. 6 ‘Dodik travells to the Hague’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 17 ‘Brdjanin’s witness’ – The chairman of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Milorad Dodik, has confirmed at a news conference that he is going to The Hague on Tuesday to appear as a witness at the trial of (former RS deputy prime minister) Radoslav Brdjanin. He said that the summons was mandatory and that if not observed, he would incur either a seven-year jail sentence or a 100,000 euro fine. “Tribunal representatives demanded that I appear as a voluntary witness, which I refused, but now that I have received the mandatory summons, I have to act accordingly,” Dodik said. |
| RS Government report on Srebrenica | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Remains of 2082 bodies found’ – The preliminary report of the Republika Srpska Government on Srebrenica says that the Republika Srpska Government were prevented from conducting a full and thorough investigation ordered by decision of BiH Human Rights Chamber of 7 March this year. According to report, the investigation was disabled owing to several factors; those are: entire documentation of Drina Corps and Zvornik and Bratunac Brigade was confiscated by SFOR; then ICTY conducted investigation into Srebrenica events of July 1995 (that is still ongoing); order by SFOR HQ to Republika Srpska Army to perform any activity related to the investigation. “Rules of Road” also represent a restricting factor. Furthermore, the report stresses that the documentation was destroyed, which was also proved by the statement of ICTY defendant, Momir Nikolic. The report further says that: “According to information publicised by Zoran Stankovic, pathologist, the remains of 2083 bodies were found. Out of this number, 325 were murdered from close range.” Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘The truth about Srebrenica’ Commentary of the Day by Edina Sarac – Sarac claims that the RS authorities have been skilfully avoiding to announce the truth about the Srebrenica victims thereby throwing dust in the face both of the victims’ families and the world’s public. She wonders when will the three most responsible leaders: RS President Dragan Cavic, Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and RSNA Speaker Dragan Kalinic break their silence on the issue. In Oslobodjenje’s In Focus column, pg. 2, Mirko Sagolj writes that a joint OHR/OSCE letter regarding the need for honouring the BiH Human Rights Chamber decisions was obviously sent to a wrong address, because the RS authorities/leaders would have long time ago implement these decisions if they wanted to do so. |
| Slobodan Praljak on Mostar Old Bridge destruction
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 6, “If I had torn Stari Most (Old Bridge) down, I would have done it in a minute” – In an interview to NN, Slobodan Praljak, the retired general of Croatian Army and HVO, said that: “If I had torn Stari Most (Old Bridge) down, I would have done it in a minute.” At the trial against Mladen Neletilic Tuta and Vinko Martinovic Stela, Slobodan Praljak as witness of defence spoke of events from 1993 in Herzegovina. He reiterated that “there had been no order, nor HVO commanders had known anything about demolishment of Old Bridge on 9 November 1993. I do have information, but I do not want to reveal the names of those, who demolished the bridge.” |
| Mladic case | Blic pg. 2&3 ‘Zivkovic invite US intelligence officers to check Mladic’s whereabouts’ – During his visit to US, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic met with John Halsman, analyst of Heritage Foundation in Washington. Among other things, they discussed Ratko Mladic case. As Halsman says the problem with Mladic is lasting for to long. “Serbia needs to prove it really does everything possible to arrest him. If he is in Serbia then he should be arrested, and if he is out of Serbia then intelligence information need to be offered. I think that cooperation with American intelligence service and exchange of information might be very useful,” Halsman says. During his meeting with Colin Powell, Zivkovic offered that American intelligence officers come to Belgrade and see that Belgrade does not have a reason to hide information and it is doing everything to arrest Mladic. |
Economic/social affairs | |
| FBiH finance police charge former defence minister, president with fraud
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5, mentioned on the front page ‘Covic, Prce, Coric and Tokic suspected for robbery’, Dnevni list front & p 5, “11 suspects in case of “Mondo” Co., by De. L – The BiH Federation Financial Police have filed charges with the Mostar Canton prosecution against 11 persons, including BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic. The charges were filed with regard to illegal activities in which the Mondo company of Mostar, the Herceg-Bosnia power distribution company and the Hercegovacka Bank, based in Mostar, were involved. The plaintiffs are accused of embezzlement, falsifying official documentation, unprofessional conduct while in service, i.e. the criminal act of abuse of office. Media have learnt that Branko Rajic, the director of the Mondo company, is concealed behind the initials B.R. Together with the general director of the Herceg-Bosna Elektroprivreda (power distribution), Matan Zaric, and the director of Croat Association of Herceg-Bosna Department for Economic and Legal Matters, Milo Bula, he enabled the printing of fake invoices with the intent of financial gain. This enabled the Mondo company to create illegal profits totalling 1.5m convertible marks. Rajic also financed the settling of the HDZ from the accounts of the Mondo company. The funds were used to finance advertising material for the election campaign. Former HNC Interior Minister Valentin Coric will have to explain the gift of a company car and how he registered the vehicle. The explanation on how cars were being gifted and registered under dubious circumstances, thus damaging the Mondo company, will have to come from former Federation Defence Minister Miroslav Prce, but also former HDZ secretary Marko Tokic. Coric has jointly been charged with the former Mostar inland revenue chief, a certain Z.D. for evading tax on a Daimler-Benz car he was gifted, by misrepresenting the value of the vehicle. Current BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic will also have to testify regarding illegal practices in the Mondo company. Charges against him have also been filed for failing to examine business plans, to dismiss the acting director for failing to do his duty and for failing to prevent abuse, embezzlement and the defrauding of the Mondo company of funds and property. The Mostar Canton prosecution charges read that by failing to do his duty, Covic has caused damage of almost 2 million KM, and the direct gain for Branko Rajic of almost 450,000 KM, direct gain for the HDZ totalling 715,000 KM and certain other persons. He also enabled Valentin Coric to make financial gains of 228,000 KM. |
| Hadzipasic on pensioner’s demands | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘Hadzipasic on pensioner’s protests – Prime Minister stands for gradual payments’ – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic told the newspaper he was prepared to receive a delegation of pensioners who are expected to hold a protest rally in front of the FBiH Government building today. He emphasized that regardless of a fact the Government was not cause of the problem, the debts had to be paid to the pensioners. |
| Cropress on hunger strike in front of OHR South building | Dnevni List (front and page 15, by M. Maslac, “Political motifs stopped construction of hydro-electric power plant?!”) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, by Darko Juka, “OHR does not allow me to build hydro electric power plant”) carry that Drago Lukenda from Siroki Brijeg has started a hunger strike in front of the OHR South building yesterday. Lukenda said that the reason of the strike is the fact that is was not made possible for him to start the construction of a small hydro electric power plant in Duge, near Prozor. Lukenda brings a chronology of the whole case and says that the OHR Sarajevo involved in this case after the residents of Duge had involved in the case and through its expert the OHR instructed Head of the Prozor Municipality Dragan Meter to suspend the whole project until all permits are checked. Lukenda says that checking lasted three months. Lukenda also says that the whole campaign against the construction of the power plant would not be successful if those who oppose the construction do not have the OHR support and for this reason Lukenda believes that the OHR is the most responsible. SD says that Lukenda stated that none has come to talk to him and that he met Head of the OHR South Political Department in front of the OHR South building and explained his situation to him. Lukenda says that the Head of the OHR South Political Department just said ‘good’ and left. Lukenda says that he will continue with the hunger strike until the OHR forces authority bodies to respect law and resolve his problem. He also said that Austrians, who used to be his partners, gave up this project, but that he found new investors whose names he does not want to reveal. |
| Issue of electricity price increase for Aluminij | Coat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni List (front and page 3, by Fena, “Aluminij remains without electricity as of August 16”), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, by Blanka Magas, Ana Maric, “Electric shock of Aluminij”) and Vecernji List (front and page 2, by Eldina Medunjanin, “Debis and Aluminij remain without electricity”) carry that Elektroprivreda of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced that in case that the contract on the sale of electricity signed with German company ‘Debis International Trading’ is terminated, EP BiH will offer its surplus of energy to the market through the tender, whose preparation has been underway. The dailies says that during the last negotiations none side was ready to correct its offer and thus the final agreement was not reached. General Manager of EP BiH Enver Kreso stated that these two sides defined their stands and in case that an arbitrator does not appear the contract will be terminated by mid August. Asked whether this will endanger production in ‘Aluminij’ Kreso stated that EP BiH has an obligation to distribute electricity to ‘Debis’ and that he does not know at which price ‘Debis’ distributes electricity to ‘Aluminij’. SD and DL carry that according to one of ‘Aluminij’ leaders’ who wanted to stay anonymous’ the meeting of the Aluminij Steering and Supervisory Boards should take place today and they will discuss the possible increase of the electricity price. The same source stated: “In case that the electricity price is increased, Aluminij will most probably have to introduce restrictions and this might result in dismissing of workers.” Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue. |
| FBiH Army debts to Elektroprivreda BiH | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by Fena, “Aluminij remains without electricity as of August 16”), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, by Blanka Magas, Ana Maric, “Electric shock of Aluminij”) and Vecernji List (p 3, “FBiH Army debts would be re-programmed”, by Eldina Medunjanin) carry that, at this moment, FBiH Army owes Elektroprivreda BiH the amount of 2 669 272 KM. According to Enver Kreso, EPBiH Director General, the debt in 2002 amounted to 5.5 million KM, 3 million of which were written off whereas the remaining amount of 2.5 million was split into 2 items. Elektroprivreda and Elektrodistribucija representatives recently agreed with the FBiH Ministers of Defense and Energy to prepare a plan of re-programming of debts and to jointly ask FBiH Government to exempt budget beneficiaries in its decision that defines re-payment deadlines. Also, it is suggested that the deadline be extended from 36 to 60 months. Kreso is also quoted as saying that disconnecting electricity to FBiH Army facilities would be the last measure they would resort to. Sarajevo media also reported on the issue. |
| VL on filling temporary Steering Boards | Vecernji List (page 3, by Zoran Kresic, “HDZ submitted all names, and it has been waited that SDA and Party for BiH do the same”) carries that the names of all members and Heads of temporary Steering Boards that the Coalition led by HDZ proposed are known and it has been expected that SDA and Party for BiH, who could not agree upon the names of the candidates, will present their names today. VL says that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government decided to appoint temporary Steering Boards in order to prevent very damaging business policy of the old structures. VL also says that these structures tried to protect themselves by signing four-year contracts and they were using companies in which they were representing the state capital as cash machines at the cost of citizens for whose interests they were standing for only through some media. |
| Editorial: “Summer battle against unemployment”
| Dnevni List (front and page 9) carries an editorial written by Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays. The editorial says that the BiH authority bodies are engaged in the program ‘summer offensive against unemployment’ and this program is focused on arranging of the situation in the business environment, promotion of export and speeding up of the real privatization of state owned companies. The editorial states the laws that authority bodies should pass and the plans and activities that will be demanded them. With regard to the privatization process the editorial says: “Taking a long-term view, the privatization means more and not less places of work. It means creating of wealth for majority and not large and undeserved profit for dishonest minority.” At the end of the editorial Hays appeals on media and citizens of this country to follow this process carefully because their future depends on the success of this process. |
| RS Telecom affair | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Telecom pays the monthly rent of KM 8356 for 40 square metres’ – As of 1 December 2001, Telecom of Srpska has been renting less than 40 square metres of the business premier at the Department Store “Kastel” in Banjaluka Centre. The monthly rent amounts KM 8000, plus tax and costs for maintenance. Accordingly, the total of 8356 KM is to be paid on a monthly basis. However, the rent of business premise in Banjaluka centre amounts to approximately 35 KM per metre, whilst the renting of this premise at Kastel amounts to 200 KM. According to NN source close to international organisations, the contract on lease was signed without a tender announced for that. As such, it represents one of disputable contracts of Telecom, covered in audit report on Telecom of Srpska of international auditors. According to NN inset, new Director of MOBI’s, who replaced Bozidar Janackovic on this position (he resigned owing to last weeks’ affair on MOBI’s lottery) is Slavisa Krunic, former deputy minister of energy at Mladen Ivanic Cabinet. |
| 5th August protest in RS | Nevisne Novine, pg. 8, ‘Everybody to join the protest on 5th August’ – The Syndicate of the Republika Srpska Health Care Service sent a warning to all health care services in Republika Srpska, seeking from them to cease with their regular activities and join the protest on 5 August from 09:00 to 10:00 hrs. this is in sign of support with the striking board of the Banjaluka Clinical Centre. |
| Orao case
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Trial for Orao affair commences’, Blic pg. 8 ‘Beginning of trial for Orao affair’ – The trial against those charged with violation of UN ban on arm trade with Iraq at Aviation Centre “Orao” from Bijeljina has commenced at the Bijeljina Basic Court yesterday. The first trial hearing lasted for an hour, because no legal conditions for trial were met. Namely, two of 17 defendants failed to appear at the trial. The trial is to resume on 15 September this year. Sarajevo media also reported on the issue. |
| RS Association of Killed, Missing Soldiers request removal of Mikerevic | RTRS, Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘They request Mikerevic’s removal’, Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘To get the rights on the street’, Sarajevo media – RS Association of killed and imprisoned soldiers and missing civilians are satisfied with the organization of recent protests, which however did not achieve goal of better living conditions. They announced new blockages of the roads on 7 locations. Association also started an action of collecting citizens’ signatures for removal of RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic. So far, about 3000 signatures were collected. Following this action, Association will demand to meet with RS President Dragan Cavic. President of the Association Radojka Boric said that this action was not political act, but a result of disrespect of Law on rights of war invalids and killed soldiers’ families. She added that Government did not express any will to improve living conditions of this population category. Assistant RS Minister for Labour and Veterans’ Issues, Radomir Graonic said that the budget for this year was already determined, but this Ministry would offer to solve this issue through new Law on rights of war invalids and killed soldiers’ families. |
| VL: “Fiscal sovereignty of RS is being abolished” | Vecernji List (page 4, by Z. Kresic) carries that through presentation of Law on Indirect Taxing to High Representative Paddy Ashdown only a less considerable part of job regarding the re-organization of fiscal system of BiH was completed while the most important issues remained unresolved. VL says that according to their source, who wanted to stay anonymous, the agreement on three crucial issues, that is, customs areas, the way of decision-making and seat of Indirect Customs Administration, was not reached. The same source concluded that the details on the tax reform will be agreed upon at the highest level during the next few days. |
Political developments | |
| SDS: Cavic did not secretly meet Dodik
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘There were no talks between Cavic and Dodik’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘SDS does not negotiate with SNSD’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘SDS supports the Republika Srpska Government’, Blic, FENA – Serb Democratic Party (SDS) spokesperson Dusan Stojicic denied in Banja Luka on Monday claims that RS President and SDS Vice President Dragan Cavic started secret talks with Alliance of Independent Social-Democrats (SNSD) President Milorad Dodik on the reconstruction of the current RS Government. “Cavic did not meet Dodik, not public ally and not secretly and especially not on this issue”, Stojicic said commenting on the report presented by the Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies from Ljubljana. |
| Mikerevic – Dodik meeting | RTRS, Blic pg. 7 ‘PM under pressure of anti-reform forces’ – Leader of the SNSD Milorad Dodik confirmed on Monday that he met with Republika Srpska Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic in Laktasi. According to Dodik, the meeting is not that important, since there are a lot of problems in RS. Dodik said that Mikerevic had complained that relations between the Government and SDS reached critical point and it was impossible to negotiate with the party. Mikerevic had not asked for neither Dodik’s nor SNSD’s support, but understanding for the situation – on one side there are reforms that should be implemented, while on the other side, there are SDS’s pressures, which is a big problem. Dodik said they also had talked about reconstruction of the Government. He said that early elections were the only solution to the crisis in the RS, because the work of the present authorities cannot yield good results, adding that an initiative for early elections would be launched in September. Dodik said the stances of the SNSD and PDP, which “produces problems,” had not been harmonised during the meeting. “Problem is PDP president Mladen Ivanic, with whom is impossible to talk. He has left behind many unsolved issues and during his Government many criminal acts had been committed, especially in the privatisation, and everything in cooperation with the SDS,” Dodik said. Mikerevic confirmed he had met with Dodik, saying they had been talking about current political issues, especially reforms in the filed of finances and defence, as well as introduction of VAT on the state level. He said there were attempts of some forces to stop changes. “There are different opinions among the position, but the Government is strong and has the support of Parliament. Individual conflicts and disagreements are normal in democratic processes, because every individual within a party has the right to have its own opinion. I am not surprised with attacks on the Government by the position or the parties that participate in the authority, because right now we are faced with changes that are not that pleasant,” Mikerevic said. He denied that he discussed with Dodik the Government’s reorganisation. Spokesman of SDS, Dusan Stojicic, told a press conference on Monday he did not see nothing wrong with that, referring to the meeting between Dodik and Mikerevic. According to him, it is quite normal that the PM hears the opinion of the leader of strongest opposition party on the current problems. “The SDS fully upholds the RS Government. It is constructive criticism,” said Stojicic. |
| DL on marginalizing of Mostar and Herzegovina | Dnevni list (p 8, “SDA and HDZ repeat Alliance’s mistakes”, by Zvonimir Jukic) reports that one of the reasons of the electoral defeat of the Alliance for Changes in Mostar and Herzegovina is unfulfilled promises with respect to a number of capital projects in the region. However, the coalition partners in the new authority, the SDA, HDZ and Party for BiH have not made any progress in this respect and the projects are still waiting to be implemented. The projects are: rehabilitation of waste dump at the coal-mine; assistance in returns process in Mostar (construction material for 182 houses in Mostar region that was promised by BiH Federation(FBiH)authorities was never delivered); SDA and HDZ during the 1990-ies did not implement the FBiH Constitution which they created – they particularly failed to implement the provision on moving of 5 FBiH Ministries to Mostar (the exception is the Minister of Trade, Andrija Jurkovic of the SDP). Although the OHR ordered urgent moving of the 5 Ministries, it is uncertain when that could happen. The new FBiH authorities have also quarreled over the Luka Bridge reconstruction and the reason is financial interests. Jukic says the authorities seem to persevere in further marginalisation of Mostar, deliberately or not, but additional reason for concern is that Mostar and Cantonal officials do not mention the unfulfilled promises. The article also reads that Mostar is becoming less and less attractive in every way substantiating it with the fact that some powerful financial institutions, banks and companies have moved from Mostar. |
| Mostar City Council session | Reporting on yesterday’s Mostar City Council session, Dnevni list (front & p 16, “SDA against joint waste disposal and airport”, by V. Soldo) says that Ivan Musa (HDZ) was appointed the new City Council president and that the mandate of councilor Goran Bilic was verified. Four-hour debate was dedicated to the issue of taking over of founders rights over “Komos” Public Utility Company. Mostar Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic is said to have underlined that the World Bank (WB) clearly demands that, on the City Council level, a new corporation be formed that would exclusively deal with maintenance of solid waste disposal, which is the WB’s condition for signing of subsidiary loan meant for solving the issue of waste in Mostar, whereas collecting and transporting waste is not in the focus of the WB’s interest. Over a number of contradictions on the number of employees in the future single public utility company, on the scope of activities and the fact that 49% of “Komos” Co. is privatised, HDZ councilors declared the issue to be the vital national interest. Jadranko Lovric, HDZ caucus representative, regrets the fact that unilateral decision, giving exclusive rights to “Komos” Co., was prepared and he referred to the letter from the OHR in which concern over the decision prepared in such a way was expressed. Lovric adds that Croat caucus supports establishment of a single public utility company, but only in line with the OHR and the WB’s conditions. Despite fear for survival of Mostar Airport after SFOR laves it on December 31, the councilors also failed to adopt the Decision on Transitional Business Plan of Mostar Airport, as CD Coalition (Party for BiH and SDA) said no decision could be made on the basis of scarce reports. |
| Gadzic to resign this week | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Mila Gadzic to resign by the end of this week’ – The Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, on Monday confirmed that Mila Gadzic will file her resignation from the position of the BIH minister of foreign trade and economic affairs. |
| Dodik demands early elections | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Early elections is the only solution’ – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, yesterday stated that the early elections represent the sole solution to the current situation in the Republika Srpska, because the current structure on reign cannot make any good result. |
| DL editorial on HDZ attitude towards Croats | In his editorial in Dnevni List (page 6, “Chair for the Pope”, by Slavo Kukic), Slavo Kukic says that the change of HDZ’s position on organisation of Mostar, which happened almost overnight and thanks to which the HDZ won International Community’s sympathies, obviously lies in the change of the national structure which took the direction suitable for that party. Yet, Kukic says that the HDZ’s Draft Statute of Mostar proves how much HDZ cares for the city: according to the Draft, Mostar should be organised as a single Municipality with 3 electoral units. The electoral units would be organised according to the “one man – one vote” principle, the very same principle that the SDA was reproached for on the FBiH level. If the principle would on the FBiH level turn Croats into a national minority, the HDZ should then, as an exclusive representatives of Croats, be sensitive to a similar fear of others on lower levels. Kukic believes HDZ is not burdened with principles but with an attempt to impose the logic of supremacy wherever possible and wonders what about Croats in other parts of the country. He illustrates this with the fact that the chair, which was especially made for the Pope during his visit to Banja Luka, was, following the visit, given to neither Banja Luka Bishop nor to Vrhbosna Archbishop (in either case, it would have been an encouragement to Croats to return): the chair was, on the contrary, given to Mostar Bishop. “By taking the Pope’s chair to Mostar, Covic’s people showed what matters to them in the national sense: Mostar and the region between Stolac and Livno. In other words, that is the only region where they should persist in protecting the national and religions, i.e. Croat and Catholic interests. All the rest matters less or does not matter at all”, Kukic concludes. |
Other issues | |
| Mirsad Vilic to replace Zoran Cegar
| FTV, Oslobodjenje front page ‘Mirsad Vilic replacing Zoran Cegar’ – Zlatko Miletic, the FBiH Federation Police Director, on Monday appointed Jozo Andjic as the acting Chief of the Special Police Unit in place of Zoran Cegar. Andjic will perform the duties until the return from annual leave of Cegar’s deputy Mirsad Vilic. Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Halilovic received Miletic’s decision on Cegar case/suspension’ also covers the issue. |
| Orthodox Church stoned in Kozarac | BHTV, Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Church stoned’, Blic pg. 6 – On the night between Saturday and Sunday, the newly built Serb Orthodox Church in Kozarac near Prijedor was stoned. The police detained three males, Jasmin J. (22), Emir E. (20) and Edin J. (20) for criminal act of destruction of religious property. After several incidents, when an old Orthodox Church in Kozarac was stoned, the perpetrators have now targeted the newly built church. Sarajevo media also reported on the incident. |
| Seminar on land allocation | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘My house, my land’ – GS reports on yesterday’s seminar on the new law on construction land, imposed by HiRep, Paddy Ashdown, and adopted by RS NA last week. One of the conclusions of yesterday’s seminar was that the Law on construction land may be implemented with certain difficulties, owing to which reasons some new solutions are being prepared. |