| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| HR’s press conference | BBC proposal rejected | Unions reject BBC proposal | RS NA on Telecom |
| Defence Law | OHR warns SDA on police | OHR warns SDA | HR on SDA influence |
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| Trial of Milosevic | House of people on | Donor conference |
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| New victims in Iraq | Corridor Vc |
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| Oslobodjenje | High Rep: SDA interferes police with the politics; RTV BiH: Workers against firing and sell of building; Prosper: There is no Partnership for Peace without cooperation with the Hague Tribunal |
| Dnevni Avaz | Hays: Privatisation in BiH failed; Prosper: US will help BiH War Crimes Court; RTV BiH: Syndicate unanimously against firing 500 people |
| Dnevni List | BiH CoM: Decision on third GSM licence today; Municipality North organizes referendum; Ashdown: SDA interferes in Police work |
| Vecernji List | Hercegovacka bank to go on sale without Eronet; Visit to Orasje: Presidency sailing down the blue border |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Bosniak Municipality North seceding from Mostar; RTV building to be bought by NATO?; Tomislavgrad: Head of Municipality’s Mercedes burnt down |
| Glas Srpske | Ministry of Refugees and DP’s; 300 resignations prepared |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ashdown, Prosper and Bond: EURO 38 million necessary for War Crimes Chamber; RS NA : Parliament majority defends crime at Telekom; Ashdown: SDA excels in pressures against police; Hasan Cengic: It is still too early to speak about my ambition for SDA leader |
| Blic | Premier Mikerevic on agreement with IMF: increase of pensions and labour cost; Paddy Ashdown: Chamber for war crimes needs 28 million euros |
Media issues | |
| Unions of BH TV and FTV reject BBC plan
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 4&5 ‘Workers against firing and sell of building’, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Union unanimously against firing 500 workers’, pg 10 ‘Workers rejected BBC consultants’ plan’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘FTV and PBS demand breaking of contract with BBC’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Brits, go home’ – At a meeting in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the independent trade union of workers in JPR TVBiH in transition and of the independent trade union of RTV FBiH fully rejected the proposal of a BBC consultancy team on the transformation of the Radio-TV system in BiH, considering it to be totally unclear and superficial. The TU organization said the BBC plan does not contain a clear strategy for the development of the public Radio-TV system and there is nothing to suggest on what basis the dismissal of about 500 employees was proposed. Unions have requested that General Directors, their collegiums and management bodies reject that plan and cancel contract on co-operation with BBC consultant team. Also, it has been decided to re-establish a working group, consisting from the experts from this media, to prepare normative documents necessary for the work. Unions also asked the PBS Steering Board and RTV FBH, to within 7 days answer to their requests warning that unless this happens they will for calling for the general strike. The Steering Board, who also refused the proposal, said it would require reconsideration of the responsible persons who allowed uncontrolled process of drafting this proposal. This proposal envisages job cuts for 500 workers. |
| Heavy critics against BBC plan | FTV – Employees asserted that BBC’s 1500-page plan did not offer any concrete answers how future TV would work, but just proposed destruction of all existing structure. They found plan was prepared without acknowledging existing education level of employees. Director of the Federation radio Esad Cerovic commented: ‘Our management also rejected the plan as unfeasible and unrealistic.’ Maja Anzulovic from children and youth program: ‘We know how to prepare program for children and youth, but what they proposed will not improve it at all.’ Nagorka Idrizovic from Journalists’ Union: ‘They think they need to teach us basic literacy…this is colonial approach and we will not accept it.’ |
| Maroevic on BBC’s plan | BHTV 1 – EC assistance of 3 million Euros is conditioned with passing of the Law on Public Broadcasting system by November 7, otherwise assistance will be cancelled. EC spokesman in Sarajevo Frano Maroevic commented that ‘the new technologies provide that less people can do more job more then 15 years ago, so employment in new institutions need to be realistic, not to create institutions for the unemployed.’ FTV Management faces debt of 20 million KM. |
| SD on broadcasting, IC and OHR | Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 15 ‘RTV building to be bought by NATO?’ by Zlatko Tulic – SD reads the key issue that is pressuring the employees in the public broadcasting sector in Sarajevo is whether the IC, to be exact the OHR, will sell the RTV building in Sarajevo to NATO. SD says that according to the Model of law on Public broadcasting of RTV system in BiH, which has been prepared in the OHR, the OHR has a right to order the sale of the RTV building, and the employees fear that the buyer is in fact NATO. SD notes that, when you consider the circumstances, since the building is the safest facility in the country, with an atomic shelter and loads of space, it is clear why NATO wants to buy the building. |
| Hadzipasic: boost authorities’ role in media regulation | FTV – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic commented on the discussion on future of electronic media stressing that broadcasters need to be independent and self-sustainable finances-wise. He added: ‘Nobody can be above the Parliament, so CRA should be brought into the system…we need to apply European standards in this area, but also to include public media’s regular reports to the Parliament …Ministry of Communication should be in charge of regulating and proposing solutions in this area … Conditions for self-financing is of special importance for independence of media, but it does not exclude accountability.’ |
| Helsinki Committee writes to Hays on FTV | FTV – BiH Helsinki Committee sent a letter to Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays regarding the changes to the broadcasting Law. Letter reads: ‘You are not doing anything to prevent amendments of the FTV Law on even though you wrote to the Parliament against passing amendments on mandatory TV coverage of parliament session. This amendment will bring Fed TV to unbearable financial problems. Objections of representatives about biased reporting of Parliament are not founded and present violation of human rights.’ |
| Ibrahimovic: authorities will not oversee media | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Parliament will not oversee TV’, Dnevni Avaz pg – The Chairman of FBiH House of Representatives Muhamed Ibrahimovic send a letter to FBiH Ombudsmen stressing that delegates of FBiH HoR would not interfere with the editorial policy of FTV. He also said that the decision to broadcast live sessions of both Houses was on the other hand an important information tool, as citizens have not been informed enough of the important decisions Houses make especially in regard to the reforms. |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown on politicians’ influence over police
| CRHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 5 ‘SDA interferes police with the politics’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ashdown warned SDA’, Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘Ashdown: SDA interferes in Police work’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘We shall not tolerate pressures exerted against Police’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Politics interferes in police work’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘SDA excels in pressures against police’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Keep your hands away from police’, Blic pg 13 ‘SDA wants to control police’ – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown warned all political parties, especially SDA, in BiH to cease all efforts to impose their influence over the local police forces, adding this must stop because it brings in question the rule of law and prevents the introduction of European standards in police work. On Wednesday, together with EUPM Commissioner Sven Frederiksen, he addressed the journalists in Sarajevo saying that political interfering of political parties in police work also hampers the work of the international community and brings into question the right of citizens to lean on good, professional and objective police. ‘In past few months we have been witnessed some members of the Party of Democratic Action [SDA] are trying to bring into question the professionalism of police in the Una-Sana, Podrinje and Sarajevo cantons.’ Asked whether this is only related to SDA members, Ashdown said that ‘all parties in power make the influence.’ Asked to comment on the letter sent to him by FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, in which FBiH PM asks for OHR help to improve the situation in F Interior Ministry, Ashdown said that OHR analyses the letter and that the answer will probably be sent on Thursday. BHTV – Paddy Ashdown said: ‘Those who are interfering in the police matters should be aware that I am ready to undertake whatever is needed to prevent such behaviour. No party or politician are authorised to influence police authorities. EUPM commissioner Sven Frederikson will continue to monitor all new events in this regard.’ |
| VL editorial on Ashdown’s remarks re police and politicians
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Who will rescue police?’ by E. Medunjanin – Editorial regarding Paddy Ashdown’s remark on the political interfering in the work of the local police reads that in order to get a complete picture of this problem the HR has to be aware that the former authority in BiH was also in favor of interfering when the police work is in question. The author says: ‘This country will not have good and reliable Police as long as the Police is under the influence of politics. It does not matter whether that influence comes form the parties that are currently in power or from those that represent the opposition… Possible sanctioning of only those who are currently exerting pressure against the Police would only prolong professional agony of the BiH Police.’ |
| BiH HoP postpones adoption of Defence Law | RTRS, BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Defence Law after HoP’ – At its session on Wednesday, BH House of People rejected to discuss, in urgent procedure, draft BiH Defence Law, the draft Law on Changes and Amendments to the Law on Ministries and other administrative bodies of BH and the Law on Council of Ministers. Postponements to the discussions followed after Serb delegates said that they could not bring a decision on important issues without previous consultation with the RS institutions. It has been decided that these draft Laws will go through normal procedure, with the possibility o shortening certain deadlines usually applied, in order to accommodate adoption of these Laws till December 15. BiH House of Peoples passed in an emergency procedure a set of laws in the field of judiciary, which were earlier imposed by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown as an interim measure. Some of the adopted laws include the Law on BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Law on Amendments to the Law on the BiH Court and the Law on BiH Prosecution Service. The parliament also adopted a rebalance of the budget for the BiH institutions for 2003 and the law on its implementation. |
| OHR on announced Referendum in Mostar North | CRHB, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Initiative by Municipality North is inappropriate and leads to division’, Dnevni List pg 17 ‘Implementation laws must be implemented by end of year’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 15 ‘Divisions again’ – ‘The Mostar Statute Commission is the only place where all issues concerning the future of this city should be discussed’, stated OHR South spokesperson Avis Benes after being asked to comment on organisation of the referendum in Mostar North Municipality. Authorities in Mostar North Municipality announced that there would be elections for citizens to express their wishes concerning future status of this municipality. Majority of the dwellers of the North Municipality are Bosniacs. Benes underlined that all actions regarding Mostar restructuring outside the Commission would be unacceptable and leading to divisions. |
| Head of Mostar North on referendum initiative | Dnevni List front, pg 18 ‘Municipality North organizes referendum’ by Vesna Leto – DL carries an interview with the Head of Municipality North, Salem Bubalo, in which he talks about the issue of referendum of the future of the municipality that is going to be held in mid-November. Bubalo says the decision on referendum is in line with legal provisions, and that the main reason to organize the referendum is that the municipality does not want to lose its current status because it would be detrimental to it, saying that in past times, all the revenues were spent in Mostar centre whilst the Mostar North was neglected. “We never wanted to break away from the city of Mostar. There has been a lot of media speculations about illegal activities of Municipality Mostar North”, says Bubalo. Bubalo also notes that the Municipality North formed a commission that was to talk about the Mostar restructuring with a former Head of OHR South, Ambassador Jean-Pierre Bercot, but Ambassador Bercot did not want to see them. It is worth to note that Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 15 ‘Bosniak Municipality North seceding from Mostar’ by M. Landeka – SD carries a recapitulation, sort of a summary of articles published in the press yesterday together with the OHR statement from the press conference in Mostar. |
| Orucevic and Tomic to join Mostar Commission | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Orucevic and Tomic to be included in the Statute Commission’s work’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Orucevic and Tomic in Statute Commission?’ – According to Onasa, some opposition parties will official demand for the former mayors of Mostar Safet Orucevic and Neven Tomic to be included in the work of Mostar Commission. The chairman of the Commission Norbert Witnerstein will also be asked to include Mijo Brajkovic, who together with Orucevic worked on tehd raft of current interim city’s Statute. |
| Helsinki Committee opposes to BH Presidency to select BiH Ombudsmen | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH Presidency: Today appointment of BiH Ombudsmen’, pg 3 ‘To postpone selection of the BiH Ombudsmen’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Selection of Ombudsmen questionable’, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Helsinki Committee requests reaction by High Representative’, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Helsinki board wants postponement of appointment of BiH Ombudsmen’ – BiH Presidency members are expected to bring decision on the appointment of the BiH Ombudsmen, and to forward proposals to the BiH parliament. President of the Helsinki Human Rights Committee Srdjan Dizdarevic sent an open letter to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown in this regard, propose for High Rep to change the article 9 of the Law on BiH Ombudsmen and to ask BiH Presidency members to postpone appointments. Dizdarevic opposes this way of selection as it represents direct political interference with the position that is to be entirely politically independent. |
War crimes | |
| Ashdown and Prosper on war crimes
| RTRS, BHTV 1, CRHB, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 8 ‘No PfP without cooperation wit the Hague’, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘US will help BiH Court for War Crimes’, pg 2 ‘Without full cooperation with the Hague, BiH cannot access PfP’, Blic pg 13 ‘Chamber needs 28 million euros’, Vecernji List front page ‘USA gives one third of amount for mini-The Hague’, pg 3 ‘USA gives one third of amount for Sarajevo mini-The Hague’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘38 million Euros are necessary for trials to war criminals in BiH’, Vecernje Novosti pg 11 ‘Mladic in the Hague, trials in Belgrade’ – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown and US Ambassador for War Crimes issues Pierre Richard Prosper said the objective of donors conference in Den Haag to be held on Thursday is to raise the funds needed for the establishment of the Council for War Crimes on the state level, which should, in the next 5 years, work as part of BH State Court. Ashdown stated that some 28 million Euros is expected to be collected during this conference, whereas – as Prosper announced – US have promised to donate third of that sum. Ashdown repeated that BH cannot join Partnership for the Peace if it does not give clear and concreter evidence that it is prepared to actively, and constructively engage in the work of international crime court for former Yugoslavia. Prosper said that following the establishment of the Council in BiH, The Hague Tribunal will decide to transfer some of the cases to BH. Serbia, in the case it arrests and extradites Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, will in return be granted with ability to process some of the cases in the Belgrade. In the case domestic judiciary can take some cases, ICTY hopes to finalize its in the period 2008 – 2010. As key argument for donors, he stated necessity of creating rule of law and democratic institutions in BH. It is in the interest of everybody for BH to have strong judicial system. Talking about Srebrenica, Paddy Ashdown said at the beginning of November he will announce the members of the Commission tasked to draft report on the genocide committed in Srebrenica. RS Government will also appoint several members for the Commission, while High Representative is to nominate a representative of Srebrenica people, ICTY, the international community and a monitor on behalf of OHR. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘EURO 38 million necessary for War Crimes Chamber’, Glas Srpske pg. 3 ‘The Hague at home’ – Florence Hartmann, Spokesperson of ICTY Chief Prosecutor, announced that 48 cases, on which investigations have been completed, may be forwarded to the War Crimes Chamber of BiH, which should then press charges for these cases. |
| Donor conference in the Hague for BiH Council for War Crimes | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Council for War Crimes needs 38 million Euros’ – Organized by the Office of the High Representative, the donor conference to raise money for the BiH Council for War Crimes has started in the Hague on Thursday morning. OHR announced it expected representatives of about 30 countries to be present, and they would contribute to 38 million KM sum needed for the Council’s five years work. As ICTY and OHR work together for years to enable local institutions to process war crimes’ cases, before that Council must be fully equipped, have qualified staff, prosecutor, witness protection programme, detention centre, etc. |
| DA editorial on lack of RS cooperation with ICTY | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Mikerevic’s new excuse’ editorial by Edina Sarac – US Ambassador for War Crimes issues Pierre Prosper was more than clear in his statement made on Wednesday in Sarajevo in which he said that the war crimes’ suspects must be arrested and RS must cooperate with the ICTY. However, as editorial read, only two days earlier RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said that RS police forces were not equipped to carry out arrests. ‘Simply, leaders of Republika Srpska, where for years most wanted war criminals Radovan Karadzic hides [following these kinds of statements, it is questionable whether he hides at all], are running out of the excuses to justify failure to arrest all those who committed crimes.’ The author further says that Mikerevic’s statement clearly indicated that he was protecting RS Interior Minister Zoran Djeric, but also himself and others. ‘RS will not arrest those who created it and put so much effort in creating ‘Srpska’ through politics of genocide and aggression.’ Article concludes that Mikerevic better start working on the arrest because: ‘Prosper was more than clear. He did not say ‘should’ but ‘must’. There is a huge difference.’ |
| Oslobodjenje editorial on ICTY / SCG compromises | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Trade’ editorial by Edin Krehic – The editorial refers to the statement by US Ambassador for War Crimes issues Pierre Richard Prosper given in Sarajevo on Wednesday in which he commented possible arrest of Ratko Mladic by SCG authorities: ‘One of results of such action would be to start thinking of Serbia and Montenegro to process such cases in their country.’ Author says that, having in mind similar statement made by Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte recently, this clearly shows that these statements were not cases of individuals giving their estimates, but the part of well-coordinated attitude. ‘Trade at markets, in sport and politics, and than in the Hague as well, is nothing new or surprising. The guideline of the international community in ending the war was not justice. Rough compromise had been made which lead to peace. Therefore, new compromises in the Hague should not be surprising. [Even though it is made] damaging justice. Just like the verdict in the case of Bosnian Serb Predrag Banovic, former guard from Keraterm [concetration camp] who was sentenced to ridiculous 8 years of prison for killing 5 and beating 27 Bosniaks and Croats.’ – concludes the editorial. |
| DL: Ganic, Delic, Alispahic, Delimustafic, Mahmuljin under investigation | Dnevni list front, pg 2 ‘Ganic, Delic, Alispahic, Delimustafic and Mahmuljin under investigation’ by Irfan Mujkic – With regard to The Hague investigation on late honorary SDA President Alija Izetbegovic, DL carries that according to reliable sources from The Hague the investigation will continue. Apart from Izetbegovic the investigation also included former member of the war BiH Presidency Ejup Ganic, war Commander of the BiH Army General Rasim Delic, war Minister of Interior Alija Delimustafic, Head of secret Bosniak Police AID Bakir Alispahic and General and Commander of the Third Corps Sakib Mahmuljin. The investigation against them are being led on the ground of documents that the Serb sand Croat sides handed over against these people. DL also says that it has been expected that first bills of indictment will be issued during the first two months of the next year. |
Economic and social issues | |
| RS NA session on Telekom Srpske
| BHTV 1, RTRS, FTV, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Audit at sift’ Blic pg .13 ‘Tenders need to be checked’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 21 ‘Hallo reverberated through the assembly room’ – At its yesterday’s session the RS National Assembly discussed the audit report on business operation of Telekom Srpske. Prior to the parliamentary debate, the Economy and Finance Board of the RS Parliament proposed that relevant body conduct a control of the audit report and in accordance with results of the control to launch a process to determine the possible responsibility. Economy and Finance Board Chairman Branislav Stojanovic said that the audit report did not comprise any specifications about 38 million KM of losses, the amount Telekom Srpske lost because of “weak governance and bad tender practice.” Stojanovic said that the Telekom Srpske management had successfully refuted before the Board most of the findings made by the special auditor, believing that the audit had been tendentious and without arguments as well as that it would inflict a lot of damage on Telekom Srpske, since 95 percent of findings were not correct. “The board calls on the Chief Audit Service for the RS public sector to conduct its own audit of Telekom Srpske for the period prior to the time when the special audit was carried out, 1999 and 2000,” Stojanovic said. The Economy and Finance Board has determined that the “statements and findings made by the special auditor and the Telekom Srpske management were conflicting and contradictory, especially in their respective explanations of tender procedures.” They also advised Telekom Srpske to reexamine the mutual accounting and tariffs for consumed impulses agreed on with neighboring countries, especially with Serbia and Montenegro. The Board called for adequate accountancy control system to be set up at Telekom Srpske as well as for forming of an efficient and independent internal audit and control service.– At the session of RS National Assembly session, the representatives of the opposition parties, mainly SNSD, demanded resignations of the Telekom Srpske management officials, whilst the MP’s of the ruling political parties, SDS and PDP, took the side of Telekom. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘Parliament majority defends crime at Telekom’; According to NN inset, Bosko Ceko, Republika Srpska Chief Auditor, commented on demands by ruling coalition for another revision. He said that “it is not practise to perform audit into an audit”. Zeljko Jungic, Telekom General Manager, yesterday reiterated his stance that 95% of audit report is false, which will be proved. |
| Hays visits Association of BiH Unions | CRHB, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Public wealth robbed by political parties’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 14 ‘Politics can get out of firms’, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Political parties destroyed economy’ – ‘The problem of economic development in BiH lies in the fact that political parties thinks that they can run this country and companies and that they can run the economy without competing with its neighbours. This is an absurd approach to reality’ Principle Deputy High Representative Donald Hays said in Sarajevo on Wednesday after visiting the Association of BiH Unions. Together with Association President Edhem Biber and presidents of branch unions he discussed the current economic situation in BiH and the role of unions in the privatisation process and attracting foreign investments. ‘BiH will not succeed economically if unions do not take an active role in running the economic police. Voices of both those with jobs and those without jobs need to be heard in this country’, Hays said. Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Hays: Privatisation in BiH failed’ – PDHR Hays stated: ‘Workers in BiH must know what is going on in this moment… Privatisation is basically failed process. You know that better than I do. Companies in BiH are being managed by the politicians, despite them being aware of the fact that communism failed that way. The investments in the economy are in rapid decrease. If this keeps going on, many workers will stay without their jobs.’ He also suggested new approach to the privatisation, which foresees the first step to be adoption of the Law which would cancel all privatisation processes where it has been established it was illegal or damaging for the workers. |
| Basic on Vc corridor
| FTV, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Law on BiH defence to regular procedure’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Drafting of plan on construction of Corridor Vc in one month’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Parliament on Corridor Vc’, Oslobodjenje ‘Project documentation with our own money’ – At its regular session BiH House of People also discussed the construction of Vc corridor. Deputies agreed to require from the Council of Ministers to prepare action plan on the corridor Deputy BiH Minister for Transport and Communication Haris Basic said: ‘We proposed the names for members of the Commission on Concessions and it is likely the commission will be established pretty soon…ways for financing of corridor Vc still need to be defined, but budget for 2004 has already included 20 million KM for this purpose.’ |
| Dokic to meet Bosmal to negotiate on Vc | Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Dokic: I was suspicios that some bank would given Bosmal guarantees we asked for’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Dokic will begin negotiations with Bosmal’ – BH Minsiter of Transport and Communication Branko Dokic will invite Bosmal company for negotiations in which they would jointly try to remove all problems caused by the lack of proper banking guarantee for 300 million Euros. According to Oslobodjenje, Bosmal will not be able to offer anything more than the letter it already submitted from the Malaysian bank which says that it would provide with the money only after the contract is signed between Bosmal and CoM. Dokic announced that Bosmal had a deadline to 23 November to fulfil all the demands posed. |
| CoM to appoint Kasumovic; declare Jensen persona non grata | Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Today, Kasumovic to be appointed’ by V. Jahic – According to the daily, Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic will appoint Fuad Kasumovic as the Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration on Thursday, as all legal pre-conditions have been met. It is also expected that BH authorities proclaim CAFAO Director Alen Jensen personae non gratae, and to request from the international community to remove him from IC. Oslobodjenje claims that all this was confirmed by their reliable source from the leadership of SDA. |
| Kasumovic denies OHR’s allegations | FTV – The candidate for director of ITA Fuad Kasumovic denied OHR allegations made about him. He said he did not give up his candidacy and would ask legal protection from he Ombudsman. OHR reported was not eligible candidate due to ongoing criminal investigation against him. Kasumovic claimed he had all documents from the court proving his eligibility. |
| NN editorial on ITA | Nezavisne Novine editorial pg. 7 by Branko Todorovic, ‘Crime at Telekom’ – The author starts the article by saying that the future of BIH would, to a great extent, depend upon an outcome of numerous political battles between IC and local politicians, led by war-time coalition SDS-SDA-HDZ. As an example of this, he refers to recent warning by the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, to Joly Dixon (regarding selection of ITA director). The question author raises is to whether it is possible to establish democracy through undemocratic means and also whether HIRep is only a cover for inadmissible improvisation, corruption, absence of work and obstruction by local politicians. The concludes the article by saying that the people of BiH expect from HiRep to bring these affairs to their ends, meaning that those responsible will be brought to justice. Because if local politicians do not want to do that, HiRep still holds the major power in the state and accordingly responsibility for this. |
| DL on 3rd GSM licence RS | Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘Decision on third GSM license today’ – DL carries that the Prague-based company “PriceWaterHouse” assessed the value of the third GSM license over six months ago (according to them the price was 22 million KM) and goes on to say that due to numerous comments on this price, an evaluation of the price of the third GSM license, as prepared by the “PriceWaterHouse”, was made. CRA spokesperson Amela Odobasic stated that the evaluation was done by the Institute of Economy from Sarajevo and this evaluation will be discussed today during the session of the BiH Council of Ministers. DL says that according to the sources close to the BiH CoM, the evaluation of the price and the assessment of the price were done pro forma. DL also notesthat it had reported before that the Eronet would get the license and be in a better position when compared to other two mobile operators in BiH, because two big telecommunications companies, Deutsche Telekom and HT Mostar, will stand behind it. |
| Toby Robinson on sale of Herzegovacka Bank and issue of Eronet | Vecernji List front, pg 3 ‘Hercegovacka Bank on sale without Eronet’ by Z. Kresic – VL carries that Provisional Administrator of Hercegovacka Bank Toby Robinson attended the opening of a cars showroom in Mostar yesterday, as well as, the ceremony during which the foundation stone for the construction of a new building of ‘Hercegovina Osiguranje’ was laid. On this occasion Robinson expressed pleasure over the fact that these two companies will serve people of Herzegovina. Talking about the international tender for the sale of Hercegovacka Bank, Robinson stated that she is very satisfied with the offers that they have received so far. She also said that they are trying to resolve the Eronet issue separately from the Hercegovacka Bank issue. |
| Government vs. IMF | Blic pg. 13 ‘Pensioners to get increase, the lowest labour cost 82 KM’ – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said at RS NA session that the RS Government stands by its proposal about solving pensioners problems, despite the risk to stay without the last installment of credit from IMF in amount of five million dollars. Mikerevic said that positions of Government and IMF about the issue of rising pensions are different. He said that the Government supports the proposal to increase pensions and that the lowest labour cost is 82 KM. “We stand by our proposal, although the IMF says it does not fit in signed stand-by arrangement and memorandum,” Mikerevic said. |
| DA: Director of BH Telecom to be dismissed | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Decision made on Amir Spahic’s dimissal’ – According to daily, new temporary Steering Board of BH Telecom held its first session on Wednesday and officials started with their work. In accordance with the clear demands of the FBiH Government and the recommendations of OHR’s special audit report, the measures have been immediately undertaking to consolidate the situation in this company. Chairman of BH Telecom Steering Board Samir Causevic stated for DA: ‘We established the Commission, chaired by Serif Isovic, which would in 60 days at most select the new person for the duty of Acting General Director.’ Daily concludes that this will mean the dismissal of Acting General Director Amir Spahic. |