| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Fmr prosecutor to defend Gotovina | BiH CoM in session | Books excluded from VAT system |
| Davidovic sentenced to 15 years | RS NA in session | RS NA didn’t adopt 2006 Budget |
| Mladic was picking up his pension | FBiH HoR in session | FBiH 2006 Budget not adopted |
| Prices of electrical energy | FBiH Government in session | Ex “Scorpion” member sentenced |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Davidovic sentenced to 15 years | FBiH 2006 Budget not adopted | RS on temporary financing |
| Samardzic’s indictment confirmed | FBiH Government in session | FBiH on temporary financing |
| Huso Alic arrested in Konjic | RS Gov. withdraws Budget proposal | BL Bank sold |
| BiH CoM in session | FBiH HoR President’s press conf. | Spending in Municipality Teslic |
| Oslobodjenje | Ivanic requests suspension of BiH lawsuit against |
| Dnevni Avaz | 2006 Budget rejected; Hadzipasic attacks SBiH |
| Dnevni List | Ljubic demands involvement in negotiations |
| Vecernji List | Not delivered yet due to weather conditions |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Nezavisne Novine | |
| Glas Srpske | Half of year of hell [feature story on a woman who was detained in Kerestinac prison in |
| EuroBlic | The Government withdrew the budget, pensions and salaries as in January 2005 |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
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| Entities without budgets/ CoM exempts print from VAT |
| RS Finance Minister withdraws budget from RSNA discussion; temporary financing adopted; SNSD: no-confidence vote must be launched
| PINK Dragica Tojagic – Following the fierce discussion at the Thursday’s session of the RS National Assembly, the RS Government has withdrawn proposal on the budget for 2006 after failing to obtain the majority votes. Instead, the RSNA has passed the decision on temporary financing up to end of March. Due to the fact that the proposed budget has not been adopted, when it comes to pensioners, teachers, Ministry of Interior employees, 2006 is going to be an extremely difficult year, comments the reporter. “This is horrible…I do not envy anyone who has to take a walk in the town and explain to all people why are they unable to be paid out their means”, said RS Finance Minister Svetlana Cenic. The RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic once more reiterated that he was not going to resign. While addressing the representatives, Bukejlovic said that the RS Government made great progress in the past 10 months. SNSD representative Igor Radojicic said that SNSD believed that the issue of confidence in Government had to be initiated and that the RS budget had to be adopted, but with another Government. “There is no Assembly’s majority in the RS, and the existing Government is not able to govern efficiently and emergent political action has to be conducted by political parties and the RS President”, said Radojicic. The |
| Bukejlovic,
| RTRS by Biljana Knezevic – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic stressed that Government can’t be blamed being that due to political games culprits should be searched for within PDP and all those who attempted to dismiss the Government trough the Budget. “Do not expect that this Government will resign due to our results and our orientation,” said Bukejlovic, stressing that Government hasn’t caused the crises and has no intention to help those who have to achieve the new majority. Representatives of |
| RTRS int with Stojicic: Rejection of budgets in RS and FBiH “bad message” at beginning of very important year
| RTRS late news edition – The studio guest of RTRS was RSNA Speaker Dusan Stojicic, who commented events in RSNA that lead to withdrawal of budget proposal for 2006. Stojicic said it has been obvious that this situation occurred due to intention of some parties to use the budget issue to overthrow the RS Government. “I think that now we are before an open question of political negotiations… being that this will open the issue of adoption of the BiH Institutions’ Budget and I see that FBiH has also rejected the Budget, so that in overall this is one very bad massage at the beginning of the year, in which we entered with opened negotiations on |
| NN op-eds critical of RS Govt, politicians; Klincov:
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Crisis of RS Government’ by Slavo Kukic, Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘All for authority, authority for nothing’ by Predrag Klincov – both editorials carry an overview of the crisis at RS Government that derived from non-adoption of 2006 RS budget and both editorials criticize the Government and politicians over toying with people. Klincov also refers to the statement of |
| FBiH Parliament rejects proposed budget; Hadzipasic accuses SBiH of being factor of instability
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 4 ‘2006 Budget rejected; Hadzipasic attacks SBiH’ – FBiH House of Representatives rejected the FBiH Government’s proposal on 2006 Budget. However, FBiH HoR adopted the decision on provisory financing in amount of 259.770.000 KM. The bidget has supported by the SDA and HDZ, rejected by the – all reports put the focus on the conflict between SBiH and Hadzipasic. |
| SBiH angered with Lozancic’s rejected of Heco’s appointment
| Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Representative refused proposal of budget for 2006’ by S. Sehercehajic – also covered. Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Lozancic refused to appoint Vahid Heco for Minister’ by A.O., S. Se. –FBIH President, Niko Lozancic, on Thursday rejected the nomination of Vahid Heco to replace Izet Zigic, explaining that Zigic was still not relieved of duty. FBiH President Sahbaz Dzihanovic has sent a memo to Lozancic concerning the appointment of the new Minister and stated that since “there are no objective obstacles for accepting the resignation of Minister Zigic and appointing the new Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry” he urges Lozancic to resolve this issue without any further delay. |
| FBiH-adopted measures to alleviate VAT consequences jeopardized with rejection of budget
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Parliament brought into question assistance to poor ones’ by A. Omeragic – FBiH Government adopted the measures to alleviate consequences of the VAT introduction for the most vulnerable categories of population. Unemployed and pensioners with rents below 200 KM, as well as social care users will receive 10 KM monthly. Also, poor families with children and disabled persons whose disability is not caused by war will be receiving financial support. FBiH Minister of Labour and Social Policy Radovan Vignjevic stated that the budget allocated for the social program can’t fulfil and demands and needs, but it represents a big step forward. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic also stated that the budget is not very high, but he emphasized that the budget for strategic investments has been decreased in order to provide more money for the social program. FTV, BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Social program adopted even without the Budget’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘2 millions KM allocated for civilian invalids’ by NINA, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Defenders’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 3 ’10 KM per month for pensioners’ by E. Medunjanin – FBiH Government alleviates VAT consequences |
| CoM exempts printing sector from VAT; Terzic demands urgent BiH HoR session to pass this decision; Spiric critical of Terzic
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| BHT1 on VAT introduction: companies increasing prices even before VAT; citizens already file complaints | BHT 1 ‘Javna Tajna’ current affairs programme by Nermin Bise – BHT 1 comments that two days before the introduction of the VAT, merchants and profiteers are increasing prices even before the tax is introduced, and BiH officials repeatedly assure citizens that they don’t have to be afraid of VAT. ‘Javna Tajna’ investigates what the VAT introduction would really mean for BiH citizens: the most important thing is that the consumers’ basket will be more expensive. CoM Chair Adnan Terzic stressed that the increase of prices after the New Year would have negative effect on the standard of BiH citizens, but in the long-term VAT will be good for BiH. Experts believe that the collected VAT will mean 500 millions KM more in the budget of BiH in 2006; those additional funds should be intended for social programs. “Social programs are not adequate, because 10 KM per month for pensioners are not enough, especially if all the prices will go up”, stated President of the Association of BiH Trade Unions Edhem Biber. Economic experts also do not believe that the VAT introduction will solve the problem of so-called ‘grey economy’ that, according to some estimates, makes more than 35 percent of turnover in BiH. “Ordinary citizens are the only ones who will not be able to avoid the VAT. All those companies who carry out different kinds of mafia activities – corruption, founding fictitious companies and so on – will be able to avoid paying Value Added Tax”, explained professor at Sarajevo School of Economics Dragoljub Stojanov. By Amir Zukic – In an interview to BHT1, ITA Director Kemal Causevic confirms some companies used the pre-VAT period to increase the prices of their products adding BiH citizens already filed some complaints about companies and that ITA would forward all of them to the competent entity of cantonal market inspections. |
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| Other political issues |
| Rycroft on British 2005 presidency over EU: police reform, opening of
| BHT1 – At the press conference held on Thursday in |
| BiH CoM appoints members of Police Reform Directorate’s executive bodies
| FTV, PINK, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Complete Directorate for Police Reform Implementation appointed’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Police Reform Directorate has got Steering board’ by A.K., Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Heads of teams for negotiations with EU were appointed’ by M. Cubro inset ‘Directorate for police reform was filled in’- The BiH Council of Ministers adopted on Thursday decisions on appointing the Steering Board of the Directorate for Police Reform and the Directorate’s Executive Body. With this the Council of Ministers has fulfilled the commitment defined by the Agreement on the Restructuring of Police Structures and the agreement with the EC representatives. Taib Spahic [Director of the |
| BiH CoM appoints members of top BiH
| Hayat, BHT1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘BiH negotiating team appointed’ by M.K.S.,, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Negotiating team for EU appointed’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Heads of teams for negotiations with EU were appointed’ by M. Cubro– The CoM also appointed the members of the working groups of the BiH negotiation team in Stabilization and Association Agreement talks. Igor Davidovic has been appointed the Chief BiH Negotiator. Chiefs of the working groups are: Ana Trisic-Babic, Dragisa Mekic, Gordan Raspuric, Serifa Godinjak, Ranko Sakota, Samir Rizvo, Mustafa Bisic and Dario Busic. |
| VL disputes appointment of S. Rizvo in BiH negotiating team with EU due to his role in issuing personal documents to mujaheddins | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Negotiator with EU person with dossier’ by D. Jazvic carries that appointment of Samir Rizvo in the BiH negotiating teams with the EU is more than disputable since he used to be suspected of issuing personal documents to mujaheddins, who had fictitious residence in the Sarajevo Municipality Centar. VL says that at the time Rizvo was a Head of the Police Station in this Municipality and only due to statute of limitations this case has never ended up at the court. |
| DA interview with
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘There were no pressures during drafting of strategy’ by
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| Parliamentary Task Force proposes changes to Election Law
| RTRS by Zorica Rulj– BiH Parliament’s Task Force in charge of preparing of the amendments to the text of the BiH Election Law prepared a draft of the document whereas most important changes refer to registration of voters, financing of election campaigns and distribution of compensating mandates. Commission will propose BiH Parliament to accept passive registration of voters, which would now be registered according to CIPA project lists. Remaining changes will mostly depend on result of constitutional negotiations in BiH, especially in future appointments in the parliaments and presidency. Drafted changes do not predict changes in required participation of women. Member of the Commission, Suad Arnautovic stressed that final solution preserves current solutions from BiH Election Law. Ana Jaksic of FBiH Gender Centre stressed that quotes should be higher. Draft of this document, predicts that parties and coalitions that win more then 4% of votes for certain territory can participate in distribution of compensation mandates and it is predicted that maximal amount for financing of the campaign will be 30 pfenings per voter, for every election circle. Arnautovic announced that he will propose renaming of BiH Election Commission into Central Election Commission, whereas Entities’ Commissions would be abolished. Hayat, BHT1, PINK, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Lists and quotes for women remain open’, Nezavisne Novine pg 11 ‘New law before delegates in February’ by N. Krsman, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Constitution dictates’ by N. Z. – also covered. |
| Gregorian: lack of funds might slow down defense reform, expects CoM to allocate additional 40 million KM
| Glas Srpske pg 7 ‘Re-balance guarantees the reform’ by M. Dz. – Co-Chairman of Defense Reform Commission Raffi Gregorian has stated that a lack of funds might slow down defense reform, and this will be the case if CoM fails to allocate additional 40 million KM for this purpose through budget re-balance mid next year. He added he hopes CoM will allocate additional funds, as announced. |
| DL: ‘Ljubic supporters demand involvement in constitutional changes negotiations’
| Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Ljubic demands involvement in negotiations’ and pg 3 ‘Ljubic supporters demand involvement in constitutional changes negotiations’ by Z. Jukic says that judging by the current situation within HDZ, it could happen that constitutional changes do not get votes of most Croat representatives in the Parliament. DL goes on to say that recently HDZ representatives who belong to Bozo Ljubic’s fraction have formed the coordination that actually means forming of a new Caucus. The article says that in this way a message was sent to international officials, which says that HDZ President Dragan Covic does not have any longer support of most HDZ representatives in the parliamentary bodies. DL also says that they have allegedly sent even more explicit letter to current and future High Representatives, EU and Embassies of the Contact Group countries in |
| Paravac on 2005: There would have been no reforms if the national parties were not playing the key role
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘There would have been no reforms if the national parties were not playing the key role’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Finally before the doors of Europe’ by Srna – BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac believes the greatest achievement of BiH and its institutions in this year was the beginning of |
| Cavic on 2005: It was hard, it would be even harder
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘It is hard, it would be even harder’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Cooperation with ICTY would be priority’ not signed – Talking about 2006 priorities RS President Dragan Cavic stated that 2006 would be hard not only because of the VAT introduction and general elections but also because the cooperation with the ICTY would be a priority on the way of the BiH’s integration in the EU. |
| Ashdown’s end of year message: Less money for public services, more for citizens
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Future of BiH is in your hands’, Nezavisne novine pg 8, announced on cover ‘Less money for public services, more for citizens’ by S. Gojkovic – In his end of year message, the HR Paddy Ashdown says that the 2005 has been a pivotal year for BiH, in which a political agreement was reached on police restructuring and negotiations with the European Union were approved in November. He added that “exactly a decade after the end of a devastating war, BiH now has a future within the EU and NATO; a future in which division and conflict can be replaced with stability, prosperity and peace… Membership of the EU may be distant, but the effects could start to be felt much sooner… Progress towards the EU will bring economic development, more investment and with it more job opportunities. Combined with the introduction of a more efficient indirect tax revenue system, VAT, and changes to make government more efficient through constitutional reform this will mean that over time there will be more money available for schools, hospitals, pensions and many of the other things you want to see improve.” Talking about the constitutional changes, Ashdown stressed BiH simply could not afford to fund the current multiple layers of government: “The task for BiH in the next phase will be to cut down on its government in order to create a state that spends more on social services and citizens than on civil servants and politicians. And it is important to start this now.” HR said that there is much hard work to be done and many challenges to be faced, a process not to be driven by the IC but local politicians. “And in this next election year of 2006, the citizens will have a key role to play in this, too. In October 2006, you will decide to whom you will entrust the responsibility over the next four years for building BiH’s European future for you and your children. In October the future will quite literally be in your hands. Don’t let it pass you by,” said Ashdown. |
| OBN int with Spiric: Local politicians only actors, IC rules; SNSD would take over new RS Govt even at cost of elections
| OBN ‘Telering’ current affairs program by Mato Djakovic – In an interview to OBN, the Chair of BiH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric stated that constitutional changes have to provide solutions to disable people to work one against each other. He adds BiH politicians are being dishonest and they are not aiming to reach the common good. Commenting on work of BiH CoM, Spiric said that real power in BiH lies with the IC, while BiH politicians, including himself, are just actors. “We would know that this state progresses if we would hear that a minister has been replaced due to his incapability, and not because he is a Serb, Bosniak or Croat,” said Spiric. He adds that this is impossible because they have to be approved by OHR and that local politicians are serving just intelligence service for IC. Speaking about VAT implementation, Spiric said that he advocates for two rates, criticizing Chair of CoM Adnan Terzic for having political, instead of economical arguments for implementation of one rate. Commenting current political situation in RS, Spiric emphasized that SNSD, as leading oppositional party is willing to take responsibility for establishment of new RS Government, even if that would mean that they would lose October elections. |
| Dodik op-ed in ‘Reporter’ anticipates political events in 2006: We have to choose – isolation or way to
| Reporter pg 15 ‘Year of Challenges’ op-ed by Milorad Dodik – Editorial anticipates political events that will take place in 2006, stressing the seriousness of the situation but with a strong note of optimism. Author underlines VAT introduction, constitutional changes, |
| Oslobodjenje editorial praises ‘end of RS Army’ | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘The end of RS Army’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Editorial characterizes abolishment of the RS Ministry of Defense and RS Army as the most important event in a post-war BiH. Editorial says, “RS has quit one more authority that has been supporting beliefs that RS is a state, in favour of strengthening BiH as a state,” adding that military option of solving conflicts has not been totally removed, but it is not present as an institutional threat anymore. |
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| War crimes |
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| Ivanic requests suspension of BiH lawsuit against
| Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Ivanic requests suspension of BiH lawsuit against – also carries Tihic. |
| Person arrested in Konjic is Mithad Novalic, suspected of murdering nine members of BiH Army
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘He is suspected of having murdered military policemen of BiH Army’ by D. Muminovic – BiH Court on Thursday confirmed Mithad Novalic was arrested in Konjic on Wednesday under suspicion he had committed war crimes and a detention in duration of one month will, most probably, be ordered in this case. Novalic was a member of “Akrepi” special unit of BiH Army in Konjic and he is suspected of having murdered nine members of BiH Army in July 1992 near Konjic. Dnevni Avaz pg 12 also reported. |
| Nicholas Burns: time to settle accounts with Hague indictees | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Time to settle accounts with Hague indictees’ by N. N. – US State Department Under Secretary for Political Issues Nicholas Burns has stated the day for settling accounts with Balkans war criminals is approaching. He noted that, following the arrest of Ante Gotovina, all attention turned to |
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| Crime, judicial issues |
| VL: BiH to get institution in charge of investigation of crimes committed during Communist time
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘UDBA members finally faced with justice’ and pg 3 ‘Showdown with UDBA’ by Z. Kresic carries that conclusions from the winter session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, that should take place at the end of January, should determine the future stand on mass crimes committed in the Communist countries with a stress on change of legislature that BiH authorities should also introduce. VL also says that one of prominent UDBA (former Yugoslav Secret Service) members was current SIPA Director Sredoje Novic. |
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| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘ |
| OHR’s reply to letter sent by Momcilo Mandic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Prosecution and courts are completely independent’ by S.S. carries that High Representative Paddy Ashdown replied to the letter that Momcilo Mandic has sent him recently in which Mandic demands from Ashdown that he, before his departure from BiH, leaves to the Prosecution the documentation that Mandic allegedly sent to the HR through RS Minister of Finances Svetlana Cenic. Head of the OHR’s Legal Department Edourad d’Aoust signed the letter on behalf of the HR. Among the other things the letter says that Prosecutions and courts in BiH are completely independent from the HR and the OHR. The letter also says: ‘The HR does not play any role in the judicial issues in BiH and for this reason any information that you or your client possibly sent to the OHR with regard to the ICTY indictees would be handed over to competent bodies’. With regard to the Mandic’s request that Ashdown leaves his address so that Mandic could summon him as a witness at the court, d-Aoust replied that all demands that current or former OHR members appear before the court in a capacity of the witness would be considered in the OHR within the Article 3 of the Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the OHR members would be contacted it that was necessary. |
| Update on ‘Sipad Export Import’ investigation | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘ SIPA took documentation from Government’s seat as well’ by M.K. – FBiH Government’s Secretary Ismet Trumic confirmed that according to the order of state prosecutor Erik Larson SIPA members came to the FBiH Government’s building in Sarajevo on Wednesday and took all necessary documentation related to the investigation on business operations of company ‘Sipad Export Import’. Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Dispute between ‘Sipad’ and port Sibenik disputable’ by I. Rozic carries that SIPA members also took documentation with regard to ‘Sipad Export Import’ from FBiH Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, FBiH Ministry of Finances, FBiH Ministry of Trade, FBiH Government, Privatization Agency and premises of this company. |