Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 30 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Covic to enter plea today | Covic and other to enter pleas | Covic to enter plea on Lijanovic case |
| Dokic sees no reason to resign | Krimolovci hotline | Reactions on HR’s decision |
| FBiH HoP in session today | FBiH HoP in session | Terzic on Dokic |
TV news broadcast on 29 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| HR removes Dragan Covic | HR removes Dragan Covic | Ashdown removes Covic |
| FBiH HoR in session | Dragan Covic on HR’s decision | Ashdown has not removed Tadic |
| HR on Tadic: I’ll not interfere | Cavic on war crime indictees | Indictment vs. Dokic upheld |
| Covic’s reaction | RS campaign | Corruption in the UN |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| HR removes Dragan Covic | Ashdown has removed Covic | Borovcanin to surrender on Friday |
| Dragan Covic on HR’s decision | Removal: Covic’s reaction | HR removes Dragan Covic |
| HR warns Dokic and Pavic | Removal: HDZ’s reaction | Dokic’s indictment upheld |
| Covic, others to plea today | BiH Presidency’s reaction on Covic | McNair on organised crime in BIH |
| Oslobodjenje | Ashdown removes Covic; Semiha Borovac new Sarajevo Mayor; Indictment against Dokic and Pavic confirmed |
| Dnevni Avaz | The Court confirms indictment against Dokic; Ashdown removes Dragan Covic; |
| Dnevni List | Colak is Covic’s successor |
| Vecernji List | Ashdown removes Covic |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Paddy Ashdown removes Covic with ‘big regrets’ |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ashdown removed Covic; Indictment against Branko Dokic and Marko Pavic upheld |
| Glas Srpske | Crime on the road Radinjaca-Potkozarje near |
| EuroBlic | Ashdown removed Covic; A series of explosions in RS: Bombers of light hand; The consulate of SiCG opened in |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BiH Presidency holds farewell reception for Covic | FENA – BiH Presidency today held farewell reception for Dragan Covic. The reception was attended by Sulejman Tihic, Chiefs of Cabinets and Advisors. |
| Dokic sees no reason why should he resign
| RHB – BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Branko Dokic, stated for Bijeljina-based BNTV that he saw no reason to resign despite the fact that an indictment against him had been confirmed. Commenting on the statement by HR that he should resign, Dokic stressed he would insist on meeting HR in order to inform him about the background of the whole case. |
| Terzic expects from Dokic to withdraw | RTRS – Adnan Terzic, BiH COM, has today expressed expectation that Branko Dokic would withdraw from the position of BiH Minister of Transport and Communication. |
| FBiH HoP in session
| RHB, BH Radio 1 by Ljiljana Radl – At an extraordinary session in |
| SIPA took over krimo-lovci hotline from EUPM
| BH Radio 1, RTRS – This morning in |
Covic, others indictment / Dokic case | |
| HR Ashdown removes Covic from BiH Presidency
| RHB, PINK, BHT1, RTRS, FTV – High Representative Paddy Ashdown said at a press conference in Hayat – “This does not present an attack on all BiH Croats, as some like to claim. This is not about undermining any individual or constituent people; it is about undermining the rule of law and respecting the highest politics standards”, said Ashdown. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Ashdown removed Covic’ by M. Kavaz – Sirucic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown removed Dragan Covic’, mentioned on cover, by S. Numanovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Ashdown removed Covic’ by A. Sisic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Ashdown removed Covic’ by N.Zelenovic, Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Ashdown removed Covic’ by D.S., Vecernji List, front pg splash and pgs 2-3 ‘Ashdown removes Covic’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘Paddy Ashdown removes Covic with ‘big regrets’’, by Z. Tulic, Dnevni List, pgs 2-3 ‘High Representative removes Covic’, by D. Polovina Mandic, Zvonimir Jukic – also reported. |
| Ashdown says he will not interfere with judiciary over Tadic
| BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, PINK, Oslobodjenje pg 5 inset ‘Tadic is not in the executive authorities’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Tadic’, EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘Court to decide on Tadic’ –The High Representative Paddy Ashdown has not removed BiH Constitutional Court President Mato Tadic, explaining that Tadic doesn’t perform duties at the executive authorities and stressed he would not interfere with the work of judiciary under no circumstances. Tadic is one of the indictees in Lijanovici case, accused of taking 200.000€ of bribe. The Chair of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council Branko Peric comments: “If a judge is allowed to remain on his duty after being indicted for the crimes, then how can someone expect other officials to step down from their positions.” RHB – “I will leave it to BIH Courts to deal with this and preserve their integrity” said HR. |
| Covic: This decisions is out of Constitution and Law
| Hayat – Dragan Covic, now removed member of the BiH Presidency, commented the HR’s decision for RHB, PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘The obligation to build the country rests with us’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 inset ‘Decision outside the Law and Constitution’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Covic: OHR made a wrong decision’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘A mission’, Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘I guess I am the last one’, Vecernji List, pg 3 – Covic also commented those who made this decision and staged this process would end their mission “and we will remain with the commitment of building a country to the measure of all constitutive peoples and citizens”. Covic also expressed confidence that this is the last decision that is not in accordance with the BiH Constitution and laws, the BiH Presidency stated on Tuesday. |
| Covic to SD: I will withdraw
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 2 ‘I will withdraw’, mentioned on front ‘Covic: I am returning to |
| Colak: Exercising HR’s authorities makes no sense anymore; HDZ officials critical of decision
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Colak: exercising these authorities make no sense anymore’, Vecernji List, pg 3, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Reactions to Covic recall’, by H – – The HDZ leader, Barisa Colak, stated on Tuesday in Sarajevo that there was no reason to remove Dragan Covic, especially in his case compared with other removals decisions. “Such decision… makes me in certain way sad. Exercising these powers make no more sense,” said Colak. He also scheduled the extraordinary session of the HDZ for Wednesday. FTV – Earlier, HDZ officials announced that they will respect Ashdown’s decision, and that they will not provoke new authority crisis. Velimir Jukic, HDZ presidency member said that it has become some kind of the rule for an elected Croat member of the BiH Presidency not to end his mandate. “Many other officials in various BiH institutions are indicted for different reasons, but nobody insists that they step down from their positions”, added Jukic. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Covic’s successor to be selected on April 12?’ A. Omeragic – Member of the HDZ BiH Presidency Dubravko Horvat said that “it was clear to all Ashdown would make such a move”. However, Horvat assessed as hypocritical Ashdown’s decision to sack Covic as a BiH Presidency member but allow him continue working for the party. |
| Speculations: Martin Raguz to replace Covic?New candidate to be nominated on 12 April
| FTV, Hayat – Following the removal of Dragan Covic from his function in Presidency, media have carried out a number of speculations regarding his possible successor, according to which the greatest chance has Martin Raguz, Deputy Chair of BiH House of Representatives. In addition, eligible candidate are Vinko Zoric, Filip Andric, Ivo Miro Jovic and Mira Softa, HDZ representatives, Jozo Krizanovic, SDP representative, Ivo Lozancic, independent representative, and Mladen Potocnik, independent representative. RHB – Paddy Ashdown said that the new Presidency member will be elected from the same Caucus of former member. BHT 1 – According to the BHT, HDZ will nominate new candidate for the position until the end of the week. FTV, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Appointment of new member of Presidency maybe on April 12’, by EME– New Croat member of the BiH Presidency could be elected on the next session of the BiH Parliament, scheduled for 12 April, said Sefik Dzaferovic, the BiH HoR Speaker. |
| DL: Colak to take assume office in BiH Presidency
| Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Colak is Covic’s successor’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Colak is new Croat member of BiH Presidency’, by M. Batarello – The daily’s sources in the HDZ BiH reveal that after Dragan Covic got removed from the BiH Presidency, this will not mean an end to Covic’s faction in the party since he has not been banned from political engagement. Allegedly, with an aim to prevent the appointment of Martin Raguz to the BiH Presidency, Covic and his associates figured out a way how to keep the office of the Croat member of BiH Presidency to themselves. DL learns from sources in the HDZ BiH that Barisa Colak will resign from the office of BiH Security Ministry and take his seat in the BiH Parliament, to which he is entitled according to one of interpretations of the law. After that, in cooperation with its coalition partners (SDS, PDP, and SDA) and by pressuring HDZ MPs in the Parliament, Colak would assume the post of the Croat member of BiH Presidency. In the same time, Covic would take care of various factions in the party in order to restore a full domination, which has been compromised lately. |
| Tihic says BiH Presidency will not meet without new Croat member
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Presidency will not hold session before new member is elected’ by H Orahovac – The member of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, stated for DA that this body will not schedule any session before the election of the new Croat member. According to the rule of conduct, the Presidency cannot bring decision without participation of all three members. FTV – Tihic also adds: “This decision is expected, and it is the only possible solution in the interest of BiH, because everything else would have far more difficult consequences”, said Tihic. Borislav Paravac refused to comment. |
| SDS, SDP, SDA, SNSD, DNS reactions to Covic’s removal
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Covic’s successor to be selected on April 12?’ A. Omeragic – Head of SDS caucus in BiH House of Representatives Momcilo Novakovic believes that OHR should have not removed from office Covic or any other elected official in BiH. “It would be more moral if Covic stepped down by his own,” said Novakovic. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘HDZ has no comment on removal’ by S.I.-V.P. – SDA briefly noted that the issue of assuming public function of persons against whom indictments are brought needs to be settled with legal acts. Damir Masic, SDP press secretary, says it is sad HR had to face with the situation to remove Covic. Stanko Pivasevic, SDS Spokesperson, is of the view the move HR has made was logical, since people against whom indictments are brought do not want to do it by themselves. Igor Radojicic, SNSD Secretary General, assesses that it is not good HR is using his powers and removing elected officials. Petar Djokic, President of RS Socialist Party, is of the view HDZ is to make a move as to whether it would fight to prove whether this party stands behind crime or not, adding a serious political crisis may result from this. Drago Kalabic, DNS Presidency member, said that it would have been logical if Covic had tendered resignation, and it would be even more logical if the party, whose candidate he was, removed him on grounds of moral principles. FTV, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Halilovic: Law is above everyone’- The leader of Party for BiH Safet Halilovic said that no person is above the law, and that indictee working in an important state institution should appear before the court as regular citizen, not as a member of that institution. SDP Presidency member Jozo Krizanovic said that the reactions and explanations from HDZ could only harm BiH: “Croat people want reliable politicians who will do their job for interest of everyone, not just for the benefit of “their” people, as they like to say.” |
| Croatian Govt expresses concern with HR decision
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Concern with removal of elected representatives’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Practice that could have serious consequences’ by Onasa, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Practice with dangerous consequences on position of Croats in BiH’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Croatian Government: Serious consequences for Croats in BiH’ – The Croatian Government stated on Tuesday that the legal procedure will offer the objective answers to the questions and doubts related to the HR’s decision to remove Dragan Covic. The Government also, “without intending to interfere with BiH’s internal issue, expresses its concern with observed trend of removing democratically elected representatives of the Croat people… The Government concludes that this practice could have serious consequences for political status and position of Croats… in BiH.” |
| Croatian World Congress: Stop pressure on Covic
| Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘For how long pressures against leaders of Croats in BiH?’, by ra – The Croatian World Congress (CWC) on Monday [28 March] sent a letter to the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, calling on him to stop all forms of pressure on the Croat member of the BiH collective presidency, Dragan Covic. The CWC also calls on the HR to use his powers and enable that Ante Jelavic gets a fair trial and be allowed to defend himself from outside the prison. |
| DA: Suspects in Lijanovici case will plead not guilty today
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Suspects to plead not guilty’ by F. V. – DA learns that former Presidency member, Dragan Covic, the chair of the BiH Constitutional Court, Mate Tadic, professor Zdravko Lucic and four Lijanovicic brothers will plead not guilty to charges of indictment, which accuses them of economic crime. They will appear before the |
| DL: Covic cut a good deal
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Good deal’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – The author notes that Dragan Covic cut a good deal with the IC by waiting to be removed by the High Representative instead of standing down with dignity. By doing so, claims the author, he showed that he rather want to presented as a victim, which is a proven recipe of national parties by which they increase the popularity among the electorate. |
| SD op-ed: Covic finishes his duty the same way he started
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Politics of not being at odds fails’, by Marin Erceg – The author argues that Dragan Covic finished his duty in the BiH Presidency the same way the duty started – with constant charges involving crime and corruption. Furthermore, the author says that the time Covic spent in the office will be remembered by Covic trying not to be at odds with his Bosniak and Serb colleagues or with representatives of the IC, all with an aim to get rid of numerous charges. |
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| RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Indictment against Dokic and Pavic confirmed’, mentioned on cover, by O. Vukovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Indictment against Branko Dokic and Marko Pavic upheld’ by V.Popovic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Resignations possible’ by Mirna Soja, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Indictment against Dokic and Pavic confirmed’, by M. B., Indictment against B. Dokic and M. Pavic confirmed’, by bs – The Banja Luka Basic Court on Tuesday confirmed indictments against former RS Ministers of Traffic and Communications Branko Dokic and Marko Pavic. Dokic and Pavic were accused of misuse of office and authorities while performing the mentioned duties and of damaging RS budget for 200.000 KM and BiH Ministry for Civil Affairs for approx. 700.000 KM. Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Court confirmed the indictment against Dokic’ by F.C. – Commenting the indictment, current BiH Traffic and Communications Minister, Dokic underlines that this was a staged and political process: “I still think so. The indictment has no ground. After I receive it, I think I have deadline of 15 days to appeal.” BHT1 – Dokic said that he would not resign. “I’m not planning to step down, because I believe that the indictment is completely groundless”, said Dokic. |
| Ashdown: Same principles refer to Dokic; DA: Terzic to remove Dokic?
| PINK, RHB, RTRS, BHT1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 5 inset ‘Dokic next’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Dokic’, Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘It is Dokic’ turn’, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Ashdown: Covic’s destiny for Dokic’, by B. S. – While announcing the decision removing Dragan Covic, the HR Paddy Ashdown stressed that the same principle that lead to this decision also refers to the BiH Communications Minister, Branko Dokic. He added he will not prejudice Dokic’s status in the Council of Ministers adding that he is certain Dokic understands this principle very well. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Will Terzic remove Dokic?’ – DA learns that here is a possibility that the Chair of CoM, Adnan Terzic could “work out” for Dokic to leave from the state government. |
War crimes | |
| Borovcanin to surrender to ICTY on 1 April
| BHT1, RTRS, FTV, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Borovcanin to voluntarily surrender’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Borovcanin decided to surrender’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ljubomir Borovcanin going to The Hague’ by S. Karic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Borovcanin going to The Hague’ by V.J. , Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Borovcanin goes to The Hague’, by A. Macanovic, Vecernji List, pg 21 ‘‘Borovcanin goes to The Hague’, by zb, H – Former RS Police high official, Ljubomir Borovcanin, will voluntarily surrender to the ICTY on Friday. Borovcanin has been indicted for genocide and war crimes committed in Srebrenica. He decided to surrender after the negotiations with the Serbian Justice Minister Zoran Stojkovic, and RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic. |
| Cavic welcomes new surrender, says this proves RS’s meets its obligations
| PINK – RS President Dragan Cavic said the decision on voluntary surrender to authorities in |
| Srebrenica Task Force completes final report
| PINK – March 31 is a deadline for the Srebrenica Task Force to complete its final report. The RS Government confirmed to PINK that the Task Force intensively works on finalizing the report and that it will be finished within set deadline. The group has been tasked to analyse information presented in the final report of the Srebrenica Commission and to identify the individuals whose names were cited in the reports’ annexes and who are still employed or have relations with the RS and BiH institutions. Spokesperson to OHR, BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Tomorrow, the names of perpetrators of crimes’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Spaic confirmed the report is in stage of finalizing’ – The Chair of the group, Jovan Spaic, also confirmed the report is being finalized. |
| RS launches campaign promoting coop. w/ ICTY
| PINK, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Billboards of the campaign set up’ – The public campaign titled “Either them or us”, aimed at indicating the need for cooperation of RS with the ICTY, was officially launched on Tuesday by setting up the billboards with the names of the remaining ICTY indictees still at large. RS President Dragan Cavic supported the campaign, declaring that it is necessary for the RS and that it is clear that the RS is truly in such position both institutionally and nationally – either RS or indictees. |
| Cavic supports establishment of Sarajevo Commission for war crimes
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Cavic: Establish the commission for Sarajevo too’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To establish the truth’ by D.M. – Dragan Cavic, RS President, supports efforts RS Government and other government and non-governmental institutions are placing in establishing the truth about crimes committed against Serb civilians in Sarajevo during the war. According to press release issued by Cavic’s Cabinet Tuesday, the unexpectedly tumultuous and extremely tendentious reactions from F BiH (upon the number of Serb victims) points it is necessary to establish the truth about suffering of Serbs in |
| NN op-ed on Bukejlovic’s statement: Crime and punishment | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Crime and punishment’ by Branko Todorovic – The author comments on the statement of RS PM Pero Bukejlovic, who has said a crime against Serbs, perhaps even greater than the crime in Srebrenica, was committed in Sarajevo. The author thinks this statement represents a continuation of a politics of pitiful manipulations with war victims in BiH. He claims Bukejlovic has chosen a path that would only deepen hatred and suffering of citizens of this country and he wonders why SDS had not encouraged a development of a social frame, in which all criminals, regardless of their ethnic belongings, would be equally processed. He concludes by saying: “RS Government still demonstrates in practice that the priority of the Government’s care and concern are criminals and, unfortunately, not victims.” |
Political issues and reforms | |
| FBiH HoR in session
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Law on inspections returned in form of draft’, by F – The FBiH House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted two reform laws that are still in working versions, however one of the laws has been returned in a form of a draft. Namely, the chamber adopted the Proposal of law on registration of companies in FBiH, whilst the Law on inspections, has been returned in a form of a draft. Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘SDP wants formation of FBiH Development Bank’, by NINA, M. Zorlak – HoR also condemned the statements of the RS PM, Pero Bukejlovic,on a genocide having been committed against Serbs in Sarajevo during the past war. It also expressed a protest due to the appointment of Dragan Bozanic as the BiH ambassador-at-large in the BiH Foreign Ministry recommending withdrawal of the decisions. Further, the FBiH HoR accepted the declaration that requests from the BiH CoM and the BiH Justice Ministry to take urgent measures for releasing the six members of the “Algerian group” from camp base Guantanamo in Cuba. RHB, PINK, BHT1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Law on PIO to be adopted at the state level’ by A. Basic, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘State law on PIO needed’ by S.Se. – also report. |
| Sarajevo Mayor appointed
| BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Semiha Borovac elected Sarajevo Mayor’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Sarajevo got the Mayor’, Dnevni List, pg 22 ‘Seniha Borovac from SDA appointed new Mayor of Sarajevo’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘S. Borovac Mayor of Sarajevo’, by eme, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘SDA nominates Croat Deputy Mayor of Sarajevo’, by D. Pasic – An inaugural session of the Sarajevo City Council was held in Sarajevo on Tuesday. SDA’s nominee Semiha Borovac was elected Mayor. Party for BiH-nominated candidate of the Serb nationality Predrag Mitrovic and SDA-nominated Josip Braco Jurisic from the ranks of the Croat people were elected Deputy Mayors. Election of the Mayor, who is of the same nationality as the Chairman of the Council, represents a violation of BiH, FBiH and Sarajevo Canton Constitutions stipulating that two leading public offices in multi-ethnic cities/municipalities cannot be held by persons of the same nationality. It is however in accordance with the Sarajevo Statute and this situation may be overcome only by amending the Sarajevo City Statute (putting it in line with the Constitutions) at one of the coming City Council’s sessions. |
| SD says election of SD: Events in SA City Council a farce
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘Muslims get chosen from ranks of ‘others’’, by Blazica Kristo – The author calls the recent events in the Sarajevo City Council a farce, stressing that the SDA showed its hypocrisy when it appointed Bosniaks to the Council by disguising them as ‘others’ by simply labelling them as ‘Muslims’. According to the author, this erases whatever was left from the old, colourful |
| US State Department report reads respect of human rights in BiH still poor
| BHT 1, Hayat, RTRS – The US State Department’s report on the respect of human rights reads in the segment covering |
| Serb Orthodox Church reps in official visit to US
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘The Dayton Agreement is a pre-requisite for a long-term survival of BiH’ by V. P., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘The Dayton for Kosmet as well’ by M. Bestic, EuroBlic, pg 2 ‘Delegation of Serb Orthodox Church met Kofi Annan’ – Members of an official delegation of the Serb Orthodox Church (SPC) have met UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York to discuss the situation in BiH and Kosmet, as a press statement of the Serb Orthodox Church Information Service reads. Bishop Grigorije has told Annan a great success for BiH would be a fast economic recovery and firm implementation of the Dayton Agreement provisions. He emphasized that some of provisions of the high representative of UN were too strict and need to be balanced. He added the situation in BiH cannot be compared with the situation in Kosmet because there have been no eruptions of violence since the war ended. |
| Mostar Bishop Ordinariate says media out Church and HR in quarrel
| Dnevni List, pgs 16-17 ‘Who and why pushes Church into politics?’, by V. Soldo – The Mostar Bishop’s Ordinariate is embittered with media reports which suggested that the Mostar Bishop, Ratko Peric’s, Easter messages and sermons were politically coloured. “Reports that Bishop Peric called the High Representative Paddy Ashdown Pilate (Pontius Pilate) is putting the Church and International Community – Ashdown into quarrel”. DL notes that the Bishop’s messages and sermons never mentioned HR Ashdown. |
| SD says Colak’s
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Colak requests Ashdown’s departure’, by Zdenko Rerig – Commenting on the last week’s address before the UN Security Council by the BiH Security Minister and President of HDZ BiH, Barisa Colak, the author notes that Colak put an end to the servitude-like silence, revealing the harsh reality in BiH. SD goes on to say that Colak did not stop there, at the end of the speech he requested that the High Representative’s powers in BiH be decreased, and if one reads between the lines, he asked the removal of the HR. |
| RS MOD Spokesperson on Bosniak veto on RS NA conclusions on defence
| EuroBlic pg 3 ‘Trkulja: RS representatives’ hands are tied’ by SRNA, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Bosniaks are obstructing defence reform’ by SRNA – Branko Trkulja, Spokesperson of the RS MoD, assessed that placement of veto of Bosniak Cacucs at RS NA upon RS NA conclusions on defence reform may slow down defence reform. He added: “DRC members from RS must act in accordance with conclusions, which are now disputed.” He noted that RS NA conclusions do not violate VNI of any ethnic group in BiH, since professionalisation of the Army should be in the interest of all sides in discussion. |
| Cavic confirms he is threatened | Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘I am also threatened’ by SRNA – Dragan Cavic, RS President, on Tuesday in Banja Luka confirmed that he has been receiving various threatening letters, adding that the services in charge of security matters are dealing with these. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Police searching for the author’ by V.J. – The RS MoI Tuesday stated that it was working to identify the person that had addressed a threatening letter to Minister Darko Matijasevic. No further details could be disclosed at this stage of the investigation. |
Other judicial issues | |
| Part of indictment for Croat self-rule dropped
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Part of indictment for Croat Self-Rule withdrawn’ by A.N., Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Trials of Jelavic, Curcic and Prce scheduled for 5 April’, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Jelavic, Curcic and Prce will be charged with abuse of office’, by E. Mackic – At the request of the Prosecutor of the BiH Prosecution, John McNair, the BiH Court yesterday (Tuesday) withdrew a part of the indictment in the ‘Croat self-rule’ case against Ante Jelavic, Ivo Andric Luzanski, Zdravko Batinic, Petar Milic, Miroslav Prce, Dragan Curcic and Marko Tokic related to endangering of territorial integrity of the FBiH. McNair’s request reads that he decided to drop one part of the indictment because the indictees’ activities did not include deployment of troops and use of force. However, McNair insists that activities of the indictees were targeted against the FBiH, therefore Jelavic, Prce and Curcic will be charged with undermining of military and defence capabilities of the FBiH and abuse of office and authority. |
| Cavic denies SDS involvement in riots in Ferhadija case
| RTRS, Oslobodjneje pg 10 ‘Accusations without ‘grounds’’by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cavic denies SDS involvement in riots 7th May 2001’ by Agencies – The President of RS and SDS, Dragan Cavic, on Tuesday confirmed that he would respond to the court summons in “Ferhadija case”, which should commence on April 20 in line with the charges raised by eleven owners of buses from Federation BiH, which were set on fire or destroyed on May 7 2001. Regarding the prosecutor’s statement that SDS bears the greatest responsibility for the May 7 riots, Cavic told the press that he rejects such qualifications and that “it has become a habit” to accuse SDS for everything that happens. The owners of buses request compensation for material damages in the amount of BAM 1.2 million. The main pre-trial hearing on this case will resume on April 20. |
| Int/ with Prosecutor McNair on fight against organized crime | Nacional, pgs 30-32 ‘Canadian prosecutor against Bosnian Mafia’, by Merima Spahic – Croatian magazine Nacional carries an interview with the Head of BiH Prosecution’s Special Department for Organized Crime and Corruption, John McNair, in which he points out to the danger of organized crime in BiH. Confirming the journalist’s remark that there is organized crime in BiH, McNair says: “People from outside will measure the progress BiH is making by judging how much the country is successful in fighting the organized crime. An article was published in the ‘Economist’ this week in which the fight against the organized crime in BiH is identified as the key issue for BiH joining the EU”. McNair also confirmed that new indictments would be raised, but could not disclose names. |