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| 120 died in | Sacirbegovic out on bail | Beer affair | Tihic’s initiative rejected |
| Trial to Tihomir Blaskic | Reactions: Tihic’s initiative | | Reactions: Tihic’s initiative |
| Reactions: Tihic’s initiative | Analysis of situation in BIH | Sarajevo Uni appointments | Dodik summoned to police |
| Tihic’s initiative rejected | Robbery in Mostar | 120 died in | New victims in |
| Oslobodjenje | Sacirbegovic released on 6 million KM bail; Ratko Mladic is a primary target; Armed robbers stole 20.000 KM |
| Dnevni Avaz | Sacirbegovic released from detention; Three scenarios for Mladic’s extradition; Bank in Mostar robbed |
| Dnevni List | Decision on transfer of share in Eronet today |
| Vecernji List | BiH buying new trains |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Classes in Croatian fully guaranteed |
| Nezavisne Novine | Bloody day in |
| Glas Srpske | BiH House of Representatives: Starovlah’s were beaten up after all; Banja Luka: Dodik will not go to police |
| Blic | Features Serbian related stories |
Political issues | |
| RSNA discusses Tihic’s initiative; 11 parties sign statement rejecting it | RHB, BHTV1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Tihic’s initiative rejected’ by Fena, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Defence and referendum’ by G. Dakic and G. Klepic; Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Tihic’s initiative may cause crisis’ by V.P. – The representatives of 11 political parties in RS National Assmbly on Wednesday signed a joint statement rejecting the initiative of the Sulejman Tihic for the changes to the RS symbols, including the anthem, coat of arms and flag [GS comments that statement rejects intention of Tihic to destroy legitimacy of RS through various political initiatives.] The signatories of the statement claim that Tihic’s initiative for the change of Laws on symbol and holidays in RS is grounded on unconvincing and insulting arguments, which insinuate these symbols violate rights of the citizens of non-Serb nationality. The signatories say that they are ready to use all legal and political means, including the right to a referendum of RS citizens, in order to protect legitimate Serb interests and to preserve the identity acknowledged by the Dayton Accord. The joint statement was signed by representatives of: SDS, PDP, SRS, DPS, SNS, SPS, RS Pensioners Party, People’s Democratic Party, Democratic Party of RS, Serb Radical Movement Dr Vojislav Seselj. SNSD, SPRS and DNS did not sign the joint statement. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Tihic asked to withdraw initiative for changes of RS symbols’ by M. Vidovic – RSNA adopted the conclusion authorizing legal commission of the Parliament to establish the final text of the response to Tihic’s initiative which would be sent to BiH Constitutional Court. RS Government was instructed to analyse the Law on flag, coat of arms and hymn, and other relevant laws and legal documents, and in case of need to suggest RSNA with some changes and amendments in September. Vecernji List, pg 3, ‘Serbs ready for secession from BiH’, mentioned on cover, by Branka Stevandic – Signatories also demand full implementation of constitutional principles on constituency of peoples in the FBiH and immediate adoption of amendments to Constitutions of the FBiH and cantons thanks to which Serb constituency in entire FBIH would be established. They also ask for formation of the full delegation of the Serb people in the FBiH Parliament’s House of Peoples, and they demand from the Serb people representatives in the BiH Presidency and BiH Parliamentary Assembly to launch assessment of constitutionality of all the decisions passed in the rump FBiH Parliament. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Defence and referendum’ inset ‘Dodik’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Dodik: SDA, SDS and PDP stay together’ – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, stated that this Party did not sign the joint statement, since SNSD request to SDS and PDP to abandon coalition with SDA was not included into it. He said it is obvious SDA, SDS and PDP do not want to do that. |
| Mikerevic: RS Govt hired expert team to dispute Tihic’s initiative
| RHB, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 20, ‘Tihic’s initiative makes political atmosphere in country worse’, not signed – Commenting on Sulejman Tihic’s initiative on assessment of constitutionality of the Law on RS insignia, the RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic has said that the RS Government has hired a team of legal experts who are to find a response in the BiH Constitution by which Tihic’s demand would be disputed. He has added that the political content of the initiative is absolutely unacceptable and that as such it can only deteriorate the political atmosphere in BiH which is significant for further reforms and getting closer to Euro Atlantic integration. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Defence and referendum’ by G. Dakic and G. Klepic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS Government will challenge Tihic’s initiative’ by Fena – “The opinion on the RS seal should be given by law experts, historians and philosophers, and the RS should not defend anything that is not based on history, science and expertise,” Mikerevic said. BHTV 1 – “This isn’t just an issue for lawyers, but also for historians, and all the others,” said Mikerevic. |
| Sadovic: This is not anti-Serb initiative
| BHTV 1, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SDA: Initiative is not anti-Serb’ – Tarik Sadovic, Head of SDA Caucus at RS NA, stated that the initiative of Sulejman Tihic is not anti-Serb oriented, but instead aimed at ensuring equality of all peoples in BiH. He is of the view that unnecessary fuss and tensions are raised about this issue. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Tihic asked to withdraw initiative for changes of RS symbols’ by M. Vidovic – Sadovic added that everybody has a right to initiative the procedure before the BiH Constitutional Court. “Disputing Presidency members its constitutional right is not argumented at all. SDA caucus completely rejects all claims from this initiative. The statement is also an attack against the constituency of peoples,” said Sadovic. |
| Reactions by SNSD, SDS, DNS
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Everybody opposes SDA initiative’ by Srna – During the discussion on the issue in RSNA, Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, proposed to RS NA to forward a request to BiH Court, which would ban any further anti-Dayton and anti-constitutional activities of the SDA. Borislav Bojic, Head of SDS Caucus at RS NA, assessed that Tihic “was encouraged following decision of the BiH Constitutional Court to erase prefix Serb from names of cities in RS, and rushed into launching this initiative… Tihic wants to create a unitary BiH, where Serbs would be second class citizens.” Discussion was still on at 23:30 hrs last night. EuroBlic RSpgs 2-3 ‘Bosniaks want to live in Sarajevo by Rajna Radosavljevic – Dusan Stojicic, RS NA Speaker, told EuroBlic that regardless of the fact that some opposition parties have not signed a joint statement of Serb parties at RS NA (as a response to initiative of Sulejman Tihic), parties will reach unity during the adoption of this document. He added: “I regret the strongest opposition parties in RS did not sign the statement, but we could not accept their demand regarding SDA since that demand is used for daily political purposes.” Milan Pavic, DNS President, stated that the joint statement is just a pamphlet, by which the ruling parties are ingratiating with the voters. According to this report, MP’s also discussed Proposed law on territorial organisation and local self-governance, which amends the names of Serb Sarajevo and 12 other municipalities in RS. |
| NN on BiH Presidency
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Tihic, Paravac and Covic on annual leave’ by A. Sisic – NN learnt at the BiH Parliament and BiH Council of Ministers that the members of the Collective Head of State, Sulejman Tihic, Borislav Paravac and Dragan Covic, have all gone on annual leave without passing on their constitutional powers onto any institution of executive authority in BiH. Accordingly, it remains unknown what would happen if any internal or external crisis occurred. Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, said: “I really do not know anything about their leave. I have almost zero contact with the members of BiH Presidency, neither am I aware of their plans. They have not called me for consultations since Mirko Sarovic, former Presidency member, was removed.” Terzic also does not know who is in charge of BiH Presidency duties now. He noted: “As the highest body of executive power, BiH Council of Ministers is responsible for its powers.” |
| Canton 7 and 8 Education Ministers on education laws
| Slobodna Dalmacija, cover page & pg 15, ‘Classes in Croatian fully guaranteed’, by Darko Juka – reacting to the article titled “School Trade Unions: No classes in September”, which was published in an earlier edition of the paper, Jago Musa, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Minister of Education, refutes allegations by the Teachers’ Unions adding that the Law on Amendments to the Laws on Primary and Secondary Education fully guarantee the right to Croat curriculum and classes in Croatian language. He adds that preparations for the new academic year are underway and he finds announcements of teachers’ strikes to be an attempt to bring chaos for certain reasons. On the other hand, Jozo Maric, the Minister of Education of the West Herzegovina Canton, finds the Laws imposed in 3 Cantons to be contrary to State Constitution and democratic educational standards as they put the rights of teachers above the rights of pupils. Maric hopes the Laws will not be in effect in the long run as that could have very bad consequences and the Croat people might lose their language so he hopes for the changes to the Law either by means of lawsuit or in some other way. |
| Border issues between BiH and Croatia
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Croatian policemen on the right bank of Una River’ – Following yesterday’s crossing onto right river bank of River by Croatian policemen, Dragao Bundalo, Kostajnica Mayor, addressed a letter to Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, in which he notes this part of the territory is the territory, where inter-state border between BiH and Croatia has not been marked. He further notes that “this move of the Croatian side represents a continuity of the one-sided activities aimed at destabilising relations in the area of Una River.” |
| DL on reforms process in BiH | Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘One step forward, two steps back’, by Miso Relota – Noting that BiH cannot enter a stable political period, first with failure to join the Partnership for Peace, followed by removals of 59 officials from the RS, and recently with the Tihic initiative to contest the RS insignia, the author argues that nobody is working on implementation of necessary reforms anymore, apart from Croat officials at the FBiH and State levels. However, the author reckons that the Bosniak and Serb sides do not take the Croat side seriously, and that one must not forget representatives of the IC, who are responsible for violation of the BiH Constitution and depriving of Croats of their guaranteed rights. The author continues: “The aim has been known for quite some time already, and it is being implemented for several years (…) The aim is to cement the current situation in the Republika Srpska, and to deprive Croats of their rights in the FBiH, thus forcing them to kneel, accept the position of national minority or emigrate from country which belongs equally to them as to the Bosniaks and the Serbs”. |
Security and legal issues | |
| Ex BiH Ambassador to UN out on bail | RHB, Dnevni Avaz cover page story, pg 2 ‘Sacirbegovic released from prison’ by M. Drinjakovic, Oslobodjenje cover page story, pg 3 ‘Sacirbegovic released on 6 million US dollars bail’ by Az. Kalamujic – A former BiH Ambassador to UN, Muhamed Sacirbegovic, has been released from a New York City prison on bail of 6 million US dollars. He had been held in the Metropolitan Detention Center since March 25, 2003, when he was arrested after BiH authorities asked for his extradition for questioning in an investigation of money believed to have been stolen from its United Nations mission when he was the ambassador. In total, Sacirbegovic is accused of embezzlement of 2,4 million US dollars. FTV – Sacirgbegovic is now under house detention at his New York City home while the judge rules on his extradition, and he must wear a monitoring bracelet. RTRS, BHTV 1 – After leaving the prison he accused “people in the United States government” of participating in a politically motivated “smear campaign” against him. He suggested that the prosecution was intended to stop him from exposing the “acquiescence” of Serbian and U.S. officials in the July 1995 massacre in Srebrenica. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH Justice Ministry does not know whether Sacirbegovic was released’ – Slobodan Kovac, BiH Minister of Justice, said that this Ministry is not aware as to Sacirbegovic has been released, adding that if this information proved to be true, the extradition request, which BiH authorities have handed to USA is still valid. |
| Armed robbery of Bank in Mostar
| BHTV 1, RHB, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 55, mentioned on cover, ‘Armed thieves took 20.000 KM’, Dnevni Avaz pg 29 ‘50.000 KM taken away form UniCredit of Zagrebacka bank branch office’, mentioned on cover ‘Bank in Mostar robbed’ by F. Vele, Dnevni List, pg 49 ‘Ran away with 20 thousand KMs in stolen Audi’, mentioned on front, by Nevres Dedic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘They took away 30.000 KMs by threatening with guns’, mentioned on front, by A. Vlaho, Vecernji List, pg 36 ‘Trode on clerks and stole more than 50.000 KMs’, mentioned on front, by Robert Soldo, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Armed thieves stole over BAM 20 thousand from the bank’ mentioned on cover ‘Over 20 thousand KM robbed‘ by V. Coric – Two unknown persons robbed a branch office of Unicredit Zagrebacka bank in Mostar district of Balinovac on Wednesday morning. According to Cantonal Prosecutor, Ibro Bulic, they stole approximately 20.000 KM. Investigation is ongoing. NOTE: SD notes that the robbers stole between 20.000-30.000 KMs, whilst VL and DA says 50.000 KM were stolen. |
| Dodik rejects to go to police for interrogation
| Glas Srpske cover page report ‘Dodik will not go to police’; Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘I will not go to interrogation’ by V.P. & Sn. K – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, said he would not respond to interrogation summons of Banja Luka Public Security Centre today (Thursday) at 10:00 hrs. He also added he would neither refer to his diplomatic immunity, which he holds as MP. He confirmed he received a summons for interrogation, where he should elaborate on his statements that Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director, is engaged in criminal activities. [He made this statement at BN TV show “Stav and kontrastav’]. Dodik said that Njegus has a great opportunity at his hand to learn more about his statement, if he filed a lawsuit against him. Dodik also said that this marks the “inadmissible use of police with an aim to protect any individual”. Rade Mutic, Spokesperson of the Banja Luka PSC, confirmed that police has summoned Dodik for interrogation, noting that summons is grounded on order of the Bijeljina District Prosecutor’s Office. Also covered by Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘I will not be detained’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘We will see who is stronger, but they will not detain me’ by M.V. RTRS – “Mr. Njegus has great opportunity to find out what this is about and to bring private charges against Milorad Dodik. I will explain the information related to crimes but I think this is use of police to protect of any individual is not acceptable,” stated Milorad Dodik. |
| Mikerevic on appointment of RS Interior Minister
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘It would not be a precedent for Bosniak to be Interior Minister’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Election of RS MoI minister in August’ by Fena, EuroBlic RSpgs 2-3 ‘Bosniaks want to live in Sarajevo by Rajna Radosavljevic – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic believes that appointment of Djordje Lajsic to new RS Ministry of Agriculture, Energy and Development would bring credibility to RS, as Lajsic is a prominent expert in the field. He also expressed the hope that new RS Interior Minister will be chosen in the course of August. “I hope we will find an adequate person. I will not bring quick decisions, even more since the person has to go through OHR vetting and to receive appropriate approval,” said Mikerevic adding that this appointment was also important having in mind that the police reform has started recently. Asked whether it is possible to have Bosniak appointed to the MoI position, Mikerevic reminded of PDP attitude that this person should not be from parties’ lines: “It has to be a professional, but I cannot now talk about solution in a sense that someone from Bosniak people is that person, which for me doesn’t present any kind of precedent. On the contrary, every person which would bring results with its professional qualities deserve to be on that place.” |
| BiH Prosecutor’s Office investigates recruitment of BiH young men for AL Q’Aeda
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Prosecutor’s Office is investigating whether BiH is a centre for recruitment for AL Q’Aeda’ by M. Cubro – NN collocutor close to the BiH State Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the BiH Prosecutor’s Office has been investigating for months now whether AL Q’Aeda has been recruiting young men in our state for terrorist activities. The NN collocutor further noted: “After media published at the beginning of this year that young men from BiH are going to battle fields in Chechnya, Afghanistan and Iraq, Marinko Jurcevic, BiH State Prosecutor, has ordered investigation be launched. The investigation is on for months now and has focused on manner, in which young men are leaving this state, as to whether they are leaving via some organisations or cells of some global terrorist nets in BiH.” The source further notes that entity police forces and other security agencies have been involved in this investigation as well. |
| Threats against Tihic, Ashdown | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Tihic and Ashdown threatened with beheading’ by AJ. D. – According to DA, the BiH Presidency has received a letter sent from Chicago which carries threats against the Chairman of the Presidency Sulejman Tihic and the High Representatives Paddy Ashdown. “Written to appear as if war criminal Radovan Karadzic wrote it, the letter is in lyrics, and in addition to threats against Tihic and Ashdown, there is also a photo of criminal Karadzic who also ‘signed’ it,” reads the article. The letter in question is said to be extremely offensive regarding both Ashdown and Tihic. According to Tihic’s Cabinet, it was submitted to the authorized state and entities’ security services. The threat letters from Chicago directed against Tihic had occurred several times before. |
| Slovenian to lead intelligence reform in BiH
| FTV, Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Slovenian to reform BiH intelligence service’, not signed – according to Slovenia-based ‘Dnevnik’ newspapers, Drago Fress, a former director of Slovenian security-intelligence service (SOVA), has taken over the position of Head of Commission in charge of reform to intelligence sector in BiH. According to ‘Dnevnik’, Fress has “impossible mission to unify the current intelligence service of the Republika Srpska and the Bosniak intelligence agency”. ‘Dnevnik’ also could not find out whose idea it was to hire Fress, who was believed to be enjoying his pension, but apparently “the Slovenian Government agreed with that, and the decision was taken by the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown”. |
| NN interview with Miletic | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg 6 ‘The police will find out who killed Torlakovic’ by A. Sisic – In a page long interview to NN, the Head of Police Administration of the Federation of BiH Ministry of Interior, Zlatko Miletic, claims that persons from neighbouring countries were involved in a number of bomb explosions and murders committed in Sarajevo since August last year. Miletic brings certain persons from Croatia in indirect connection with the murder of Taib Torlakovic. He comments on securing of the Old Bridge opening ceremony and allowances promised to members of the Special Police Department, who were securing the ceremony. He claims that the expenses of securing the ceremony amounted approximately 800,000 KM, out of which approximately 700,000 KM should have been paid to the police structures. Nevertheless, only approximately 150,000 KM have been paid to the Subcommittee for Safety. In the meantime, the Federation of BiH Government has reduced the budget of its beneficiaries, including the Police Administration whose budget was reduced for 700,000 KM. According to Miletic, this would mean that the police would pay for its own expenditures in Mostar. The article carries the inset ‘760,000 KM vanished’, in which Miletic says: ‘It is interesting to know that the Police Administration has received only 35,000 KM for sports equipment, which was a subject to various investigations, out of the total amount of 800,000 KM that were earmarked for police operations and equipping of police forces in 2003. Nobody has ever determined what has happened with the remaining 760,000 KM that was earmarked for the police nor it was determined who has spent this money!’. He claims that the money has “vanished” and he emphasizes he would be glad if the Audit Service investigated on what has happened with this money. |
| VL interview with Defence Minister Radovanovic | Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘We do not need to hurry to new peace mission in the world’, by Dejan Jazvic – carries an interview with the BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, in which he, commenting on the NATO’s decision not to invite BiH to the Partnership for Peace programme, says: “If we got anything from it, than it is a clear message that the IC is not ready to give up the established criteria, and that the obligations need to be honored”. Asked to give an update to the story on sending of a BiH mine-sweeping team to Iraq, Minister Radovanovic says the BiH MoD is participating in making of a law that would regulate the issue of sending BiH armed forces to mission abroad. Furthermore, Minister Radovanovic says BiH has already prepared its liaison officers, who could be sent to the US, and list of troops, who volunteered to go to Iraq. When it comes to other peace operations in the world, Radovanovic notes that BiH already participates in missions in Ethiopia and Democratic Republic of Congo, noting that when a state goes through such thorough reforms, it is more rational not to be “too present” in international missions. |
Economic and social issues | |
| PDHR Hays urges parliament to adopt Laws on VAT and customs policy before holidays
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Adopt Law on VAT before holidays’ by E. Plecic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Grey economy gone black’; Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Law on VAT by the end of August’ – Principle Deputy High Representative Donald Hays thinks that the BiH Parliament should adopt the Law on the Value Added Tax and the Law on BiH customs policy. At the meeting with the journalist in Sarajevo promoting the OHR Economic Bulletin, Hays expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that parliamentarians have postponed discussion on VAT Law till September: “This must be done before the vacations.” Hays stressed that “grey economy” makes up more than 40 percent of the GDP in BiH and that an institution that would work in the interest of the business community needs to be established as soon as possible. He stressed that BiH needs an economic strategy at the state level that would be based on sustainable industry and fiscal policy, and added that a tax balance on imported and domestic products needs to be established. Hays said that OHR is trying together with the BiH Council of Ministers to establish a social-economic council at the state level that would, once it becomes operational, make proposals to the state government. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘On holidays with laws adopted’ by H. Arifagic – PDHR Hays also criticised authorities in FBiH for failing to adopt the laws on public investment funds, public corporations and internal debt. |
| Update to military apartments law in FBiH
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Law on military apartments rejected’ by A. Terzic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Changes to the Law referring to the military apartments rejected’ by A. Basic, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Uncertain destiny of 1.500 apartment of former JNA officers’, by Erna Mackic – The House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament did not adopt a Proposal of law on sale of apartments on which there are tenancy rights, the proponent of which was the Bosniak Caucus. The President of the said Caucus, Semiha Borovac, claims the law was not adopted because of lack of quorum, and that the law will remain in the procedure and voted on during one of future sessions. Borovac explains the law envisages that former JNA officers, who used their tenancy rights in countries whose citizens they are now, will be banned to buy their apartments (in FBiH). Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘Session of House of People of Federation of BiH Parliament’, by F – an MP in the FBiH Parliament’s House of Peoples, Dragan Puzigaca, announced a possibility of invoking of vital national interest clause because of law that envisions that former JNA staff, who have tenancy rights on apartments in former Yugoslav states, cannot register ownership on the apartments in the FBiH. Puzigaca notes the law represents a grave violation of property rights that are a part of fundamental human rights. |
| Update to transfer of Eronet shares onto HT Mostar
| Dnevni List, front and pg 2 ‘Decision on transfer of share in Eronet today’, by J. P. – announces that the FBiH Government should be discussing the issue of transfer of HT Zagreb’s share in Eronet onto HT Mostar at its session scheduled for today. As a reminder, DL notes it is about 49% of share in Eronet, which should be transferred onto HT Mostar, and in exchange, HT Zagreb’s share in HT Mostar increases. Unofficially, HT Zagreb’s share in HT Mostar should increase by between 7-8%, meaning HT Zagreb would still not be a majority owner of HT Mostar, something which was one of pre-requisites of the FBiH Government. |
| VL on social situation in BiH
| BHTV 1, Vecernji List, pg 4, ‘Every fifth citizen in BiH on verge of starvation’, by Renata Radic – The study prepared for the needs of the national development strategy (PRSP) shows that every fifth citizen in BiH lives on edge of starvation, i.e. on income up to 2200 KM a year. The study also notes a thin line between poverty and disrespect of human rights. |
| Audit of BiH Treasury Ministry
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5 ‘Purchases of fuel and separation allowances are disputable’ by N. Krsman – Although approximately 900,000 KM from the budget of BiH Ministry of Treasury and Finances were left unspent, the Audit Service has found some irregularities in spending of public funds. These omissions are mainly in connection with travel allowances, separation allowances, accommodation allowances, representation and fuel expenditures. The article carries the inset ‘“Pierre Cardin” as a minister’s uniform’, which reads that the Ministry has spent approximately 46,000 KM for representation, while a part of this amount was spent to purchase clothes for Minister Ljerka Maric, her Deputy Jusuf Kumalic, six associates and driver. Apart from the bill proving a purchase of shirts and ties in the amount of 1,637 KM, the auditors have not received an explanation on the purpose of purchase of these clothes, which include “Pierre Cardin” labelled clothes as well. |
| NN op-ed following HR visit to BL | Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘Is there hope’ op-ed by Aleksandar Sekulic – The author refers to the most recent statement by HR, Paddy Ashdown, during his visit to ER Banja Luka, when he called on RS authorities to identify resources to help this Service. One of ways to identify these resources would be to stamp out crime and corruption. Author says “Ashdown, came, Ashdown said it and eventually left. It is not known to us whether any officials of RS has heard his message, and whether anybody would stand trial over the mentioned crime and corruption cases.” |
War crimes | |
| BiH Parliament Commission says Starovlahs were beaten by SFOR
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Starovlah’s were beaten up after all’ by R.S. – The Report of the BiH Parliament House of Representative’s Investigating Commission in charge of investigating into SFOR action of 1st April in Pale was adopted the night before the last – without a single vote against its adoption – before BiH House of Representatives. The report can be summoned in the following wording, according to GS: SFOR soldiers beat up on Priests Jeremija Starovlah and his son Aleksandar during 1st April operation in Pale. The Straovlah’s injuries were not caused by explosive, as SFOR claimed. According to Ljiljana Milicevic, Commission member. House also decided to forward Report with conclusions to the Parliaments of States, whose soldiers took part in SFOR operation. She noted: “We wills end Report to USA, England, Germany and Slovenia, in order to inform their Parliaments of what their soldiers do here.. we will demand from them to launch procedure against those responsible.” |
| DW says US gave 3 options to SiCG on Ratko Mladic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘If it fails to extradite the war criminal, Serbia is threatened with political and economic isolation’, mentioned on cover ‘Three scenarios for Mladic’ – DA bring information, carried by Tanjug news agency and broadcast by radio Deutsche Welle, that US, who applies the strongest pressure against the authorities in Belgrade to arrest and extradite Ratko Mladic to the Hague Tribunal, presented the three possible scenarios. According to the first one, if Mladic is in the Hague soon, then the normalisation of the relations with US is completely guaranteed for SCG, as well as quick admission to Partnership for Peace, quick admission to Euro-Atlantic integrations and prosecuting war crimes suspects in SCG. German radio says that second option gives Belgrade authorities another 6 months to solve the issue if generals Pavkovic, Lazarevic and Lukic are extradited to the Hague by the end of summer. And finally, the third scenario – if SCG fails to meet any of the conditions – will mean both economic and political isolation of Serbia. According to the broadcast, this scenario has been presented by US official Mark Grossman, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, to Serbian President Boris Tadic, SCG President Svetozar Marovic and Vojislav Kostunica. |
| US Ambassador to SiCG on Mladic
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Ratko Mladic is primary target’, mentioned on cover, by B.Boskov – Article refers to the meeting between US Ambassador to SiCG Michael Polt and Serbian Interior Minister Dragan Jocic. After the meeting, Polt stated that was “assured that Serbia has undertook aggressive steps to fulfil its obligations towards the Hague Tribunal.” Jocic added that search for Mladic has been on going on daily basis, however concluded that until now there was no firm evidence that Mladic resides in SCG. |
| Nacional: US $ 200 million spent to arrest Mladic/Karadzic | Nacional pg 3 ‘150 failed attempted arrests of Radovan Karadzic’ – The article refers to world media reports that over the past nine years, the total of 150 attempted arrests of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic were carried out, on which approximately US $ 200 million were spent. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on search for Karadzic
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Are we all bulls?’ op-ed by Gojko Beric – “It seems that only Carla Del Ponte and journalists are obsessed with the search for Radovan Karadzic and general Mladic… The story on hunt of these two fugitives… has become shameful, ridiculous and finally boring,” reads the editorial which argues that Karadzic will not be arrested. |
| Two ICTY indictees to be released from detention | Jutarnji List, cover page ‘Markac and Cermak coming back home’ & pg 2-3, ‘Cermak and Markac to be released from detention’, by Boris Vlasic – the daily learns from reliable sources from the ICTY that the Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte,has given her consent to pre-trial release for Croatian Army generals Mladen Markac and Ivan Cermak. The official decision is to be made either end of this week or after August 20 when judges are back from leave. |
Public Broadcasting | |
| BiH HoR adopts proposals of laws on RTV system and service
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘No Croat channel on TV’, by Dejan Jazvic – The daily notes that an attempt of HDZ MPs to build into the State Law on RTV system provisions, that would guarantee broadcasting of programming in three official BiH languages, failed. Instead, The House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament adopted in the first reading Proposals of law on public RTV system and public RTV service of BiH, which does not envisage three national channels. BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Branko Dokic, says HDZ’s amendment could not be adopted because it seriously endangers the concept of reform laws in the area of public broadcasters. RHB, BHTV 1, and Sarajevo print media also reported on the adoption of the Law. |
| Raguz on PBS Law
| Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Croats claim their rights before Strasbourg Court’, by Miso Relota – DL carries the Speaker of BiH Parliament’s House of Representatives, Martin Raguz, as saying that, when it comes to Proposals of laws on RTV system and service, the MPs were only declaring themselves about principles i.e. it was the first reading. “The MPs accepted not to declare themselves about the amendments, and for us, the amendment submitted by Filip Andric was the most important one (…) If this request of the Croat people in BiH is not recognized, which is the most likely option, the Croats will certainly go with their requests before the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg”, said Raguz. Deputy Speaker of BiH House of Peoples, Velimir Jukic, agrees with Raguz. |
| HDZ Central Bosnia reacts to adopted Law
| RHB, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16, ‘Constitution-wise just: TV with three entity programmes’, by Z. Cilic – HDZ Central Bosnia Board issued a press release of support to the initiative for establishment of three separate channels and programmes in the languages of the 3 constituent peoples in BiH. The release, signed by the President of HDZ Central Bosnia Board, Anto Spajic, also reads that the idea contained in the initiative is the only way of observing the BiH Constitution and equal access to information to each of the constituent peoples. |
| VL comment to the adopted Law
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Constitutional Court restores Croats their rights’, by Zoran Kresic – VL carries an op-ed in which the author reminds that the BiH Constitutional Court earlier concluded that the Law on higher education in BiH was “destructive to vital interests of the Croat people”, and the author is certain that the same would happen when the Croat MPs invoke the same clause with regard to passing of RTV laws. The author claims that the Constitutional Court has clearly sided with the Constitution and ever-so-frequently mentioned constituent status of peoples in whole of BiH. |