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) |
Maricic, Herceg on const. chgs | Trial for war crimes in ‘Heliodrom’ | RS NA in session |
Terzic to meet Rehn in | RSNA discusses budget system | Public services squander money |
Terzic, Maric met Maystadt | World News | UN on |
TV news broadcast on 29 March
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
Heco on FERK’s decision | Del Ponte meets Dodik and Cadjo | Carla Del Ponte in Banjaluka |
| Del Ponte in Belgrade | Carla Del Ponte in Belgrade |
URBIN on FERK’s decision | Humphreys on | Lawyers on BiH lawsuit against |
| Davidovic meets Radojicic | Protection of vital national interest |
NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
Del Ponte meets with Dodik | Famous BiH actor Zoran Becic dies | Del Ponte meets Dodik and Cadjo |
Del Ponte on SiCG cooperation | Increase of electricity prices | Trial in the case Kazani |
Issue of return to Kopaci/Gorazde | Heco on increase of electricity prices | War crimes trial in Zvornik |
HR on decertified police officers | Protests because of electricity prices | Indictment against Goran Popovic |
Oslobodjenje | Carla del Ponte repeated that Ratko Mladic is hiding in |
Dnevni Avaz | BiH authorities spend too much and on wrong things |
Dnevni List | Drama in courtroom (war crimes defendant insults judge in Mostar) |
Vecernji List | Halilovic was wiretapping Seks and Glavas (former BiH Army cmdr Halilovic allegedly wiretapping |
Slobodna Dalmacija | He handcuffed Culjak and killed him with shot into back of his head (murder case near Mostar) |
Nezavisne Novine | Hague demands for a more intensive search after fugitives |
Glas Srpske | Prove you are alive! [Feature story on administrative problems of a person from Visoko who survived execution by firing squad during the war] |
EuroBlic | Carla del Ponte in |
Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
RSNA in session: discussion on establishment of privatisation audit board
| BH Radio 1, RTRS – At today’s special session in |
Crime related issues | |
ICTY Chief Prosecutor Del Ponte meets RS PM Dodik who assures there is no dilemma in RS regarding cooperation with ICTY
| BHT1 – The Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on Wednesday visited |
ICTY Chief Prosecutor visits
| BHT1 – After visiting |
RS Minister of Interior Cadjo: we will purge the police of those who are cooperating with criminals
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘We will purge the police of those who are cooperating with criminals’ by Dragan Jerinic – In a full-page interview to NN, RS Minister of Interior Stanislav Cadjo said majority of people within RS MoI are willing to accept the fight against crime, but there is also a minority who, unfortunately, are cooperating with criminals. He added he is personally willing to engage in eliminating any pressures of criminals on MoI. He noted that the priority would be to regain trust of citizens in work of RS MoI. With regard to cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Minister Cadjo said RS NA obliged MoI to fully engage in resolving of this issue by adoption of the Law on Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Asked to comment on police reform in BiH, Minister Cadjo said he supports such solutions that would ensure stability and represent long-term solutions adding: ‘I do not support such models that would be defined without a full consent of all sides and that would be a product of any kind of pressures or imposing’. |
Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP invoked VNI regarding the decision of the RSNA on the lawsuit against
| BHT1 – The Bosniak Club in the RS Council of Peoples has launched a procedure for the protection of the vital national interest in connection with conclusions of the RS National Assembly on the status of BiH lawsuit against |
| BHT1 – Cantonal Court in |
SiCG legal representative Stojanovic: we have disputed genocide
| Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘We have disputed genocide’ by E. Radosavljevic – In an interview to VN, Head of SiCG legal team in lawsuit of BiH against SiCG Radoslav Stojanovic says SiCG legal team has managed to prove there was no genocide in BiH. He noted that the most important was the analysis ‘on the number of alleged victims that was developed by French demographic expert Jan-Paul Sardonne (sp!)’, adding that the expert determined the number of victims was even smaller than a half of the number stated in the lawsuit. ‘We also noted there is more Muslims in Bosnia nowadays than before the war broke out…Te question is – where is that genocide?’, Stojanovic said. |
British General Rose testified before ICJ: BH suit vrs SiCG is not in interest of peace
| Oslobodjenje ‘I am an optimist regarding witness of defence’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH managed to prove the genocide is committed’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Rose: Suit is not in the interest of peace’ by Agencies, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Lawsuit against peace’ by Fena – Michael Rose, the British General and former UNPROFOR Commander in BiH, stated before International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a witness of SiCG that authorities and Army of RS did not depend on Belgrade regime during the war in BiH, adding that the suit for genocide “is not in the interest of peace” since it would penalise future generations of Serbs. His assessment was that a civil war was on in BiH and that all three sides “in this way or another” were responsible for war crimes, while Bosniaks blazed the way in violating cease-fire. |
| Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ’13,5 years in prison to Ljevo, Zahirovic, Omanovic, Copelj and Orucevic’ by F. Vele – The Panel of Judges of the Cantonal Court in Mostar has sentenced 5 members of the BiH Army (Zikrija Ljevo, Vernes Zahirovic, Becir Omanovic, Habib Copelj and Husnija Orucevic) to 13,5 years imprisonment in total for war crimes committed over HVO members in Bijelo Polje in 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak conflict. Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘Drama in courtroom’, by A. V., Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Convicted man threatened judge and then went home’, by Robert Soldo – During the sentence, one of the accused tried to attack judge and verbally insulted him by calling him names, but was restrained by the court police. |
Political issues | |
HR Schwarz-Schilling meets decertified police officers; HR to address
| BHT1 –The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, announced on Wednesday that he would travel to |
BiH Chief Negotiator on
| RTRS – Chief BIH negotiator on Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU Igor Davidovic met the RS National Assembly Speaker Igor Radojicic. Radojicic stated that BiH negotiating team has full RSNA support. Radojicic and Davidovic mostly spoke about agricultural reform which is a key segment of the |
Chief Negotiator on
| FTV Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Next round of talks with EU on May 12’ – The Chief BiH negotiator on the Stabilization and Association Agreement with EU, Igor Davidovic, stated on Wednesday that the second technical round of the negotiations is scheduled for May 12 and that it would focus on the modalities of free trade. Davidovic added that the issues of failing to fully cooperate with The Hague Tribunal could lead to slowing down of the negotiations, and eventually to interruption, although at this point EU has not yet sent such a message to BiH. PINK– also covered. |
CoM Chair Terzic to respond Dodik’s remarks regarding
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Terzic guarantees that there would be no outvoting’, mentioned on cover by Az.Kalamujic– Chair of Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that he would send a letter to RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik by end of the week in which he would offer him new guarantees that there would be no outvoting of RS representatives in the Police Reform Directorate. Dodik has sent a letter to Terzic few weeks ago objecting the composition of |
RS PM Dodik meets EC’s Humphreys:
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Police in BiH would be professional and functional’ by Fena, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘No outvoting’ by G. Dakic– RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik met on Tuesday evening with the Head of Delegation of the European Commission in BiH, Michael Humphreys. Dodik said that it is necessary for the Directorate for Police Restructuring in BiH to conduct its activities in line with the Agreement that was supported by the parliaments in BiH. The Directorate for Police Restructuring in BiH needs to propose the solutions that will gain support of the Entity parliaments, the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and the entire public, said Dodik. It was mutually ascertained that the Directorate should propose the solutions in line with the three principles of the EC with the aim of creating a more professional and functional police structure in BiH. Speaking about the activities of the BiH Indirect Tax Administration, Dodik said that due to the remarks RS has made to the distribution of revenue from the ITA Single Account, it would be necessary to conduct an independent audit into the legality of distributing the collected revenue. |
PDP’s Trifkovic supportive of RS PM Dodik’s stance regarding outvoting at Police Reform Directorate
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘RS MoI can be preserved’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Outvoting blocking police reform’ by S.Gojkovic – Nevenka Trifkovic, PDP Chair Board member, Wednesday stated that PDP is concerned over deviation from Agreement on restructuring of police force adopted at the RS NA, noting that outvoting at the BH Police Reform Directorate cannot lead to completion of reform. She ntoed: “Deviation from consensus and introduction of outvoting does not lead to solving the problem and it will not be possible to proceed with police reform in this manner. We support the letter and stances Milorad Dodik, RS Premier, addressed to Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair.” She noted meeting of key political leaders should be held over this, adding: “We think RS police can be preserved within reform and therefore the agreement of political leaders and institutions cannot be implemented through outvoting.” |
RS CoP Bosniak Caucus launches initiatives for VNI protection related to RSNA conclusion on RS symbols
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Majority of RS MP’s support RS Govt on draft laws to stamp out crime;
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Majority of MP’s supports Law on Special Prosecution’ by V.Popovic – DNS’ Drago Kalabic, |
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘We will pay the debt and take part in elections’ by V.P., Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘ |
FBIH President Lozancic: Initiative to remove me is part of pre-election campaign
| Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Lozancic getting removed because of campaign’, by Zoran Kresic – The FBIH President, Niko Lozancic, commented the |
HR
| Globus, pgs 28-30 ‘Last Bosnian Vice-Roy’, by Bisera Lusic – carries an interview with HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling, in which he, among many issues, talks about statements of some politicians that connect status of Kosovo to the status of BiH i.e. that the RS could join Serbia if Kosovo became independent. The HR notes: “That’s stupid. No joining to |
HR
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Schwarz-Schilling lobbies for ease of visa regime’ by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Schilling at EPP’s congress’, by D. K. – The High Representative for BiH, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, will attend the annual congress of the European People’s Party that is taking place in Rome on Thursday and Friday. The HR will be meeting prominent European officials from whom he will ask to pay attention to ongoing processes in BiH related to the |
Czech MoI Bublan: Czech authorities must be sure liberalization of visa regime for BiH citizens is justified
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘First obligations then liberalization of visa regime’ by D. Mu., Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Bulban announced adjust in visa regime’ – Czech Minister of Interior Frantisek Bublan met with BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak on Wednesday, on which occasion Bublan said BiH authorities must undertake certain steps and undertake measures that would ensure Czech authorities it would be justified to start the liberalization of the visa regime for BiH citizens. |
EU: BiH has to introduce biometric passports
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘EU demand from BiH to introduce biometric passports’ by Aj.D. – BiH Civil Affairs Minister Assistant Miodrag Pandurevic stated on Wednesday for DA that EU submitted demand to the Ministry that BiH has to introduce biometric passports. Biometric passports differ from the present valid traveling documents for they have built-in chip which contains more data on the owner. Deadline is not set in the demand, but there is an advice that it should happen as soon as possible. Pandurevic said that Ministry started preparations for this project, however the projected costs have not yet been calculated. |
Constitutional changes | |
BiH Catholic bishops reiterate that Croats are in unequal position; Cardinal Puljic wants IC to organize ‘
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EC Delegation Head Humphreys: people both in
| EuroBlic pg RS1, announced on cover ‘Many in EU laugh to tri-partite Presidency’ by Marija Milic – In an interview to EuroBlic, Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys says BiH politicians obliged last year they would be implementing reforms, but it is very important for them to know any instability may jeopardise the process of the path to EU. Some crises have occurred during the election year, but politicians must not allow reforms to become victims of politics of parties, Humphreys said. He noted he personally sees no reason for any changes at BiH CoM because it is important to maintain stability. Humphreys said he hopes politicians would adopt the offered solutions regarding the constitutional changes and, asked whether these changes would contribute to a better reputation of BiH, he said: ‘Of course. At this moment people both in |
HDZ’s Relota: HDZ will ask establishment of 4 federal units in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Three federal units are minimum for HDZ’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘HDZ will demand for four entities’ by Beta, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They want an entity’ not signed, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘At least three federal units’, by S. B. – Spokesman of HDZ, Miso Relota, says the HDZ will in the next phase of constitutional changes talks, which will resume after the October elections, advocate establishment of 4 federal units (in BiH). Relota explains that since there are 3 constitutive peoples in BiH, there need to be at least 3 federal units, however the HDZ’s position is that there need to be 4 units. He could not be precise what units those might be, but he did not rule out a possibility of establishment of the |
Chairman of Croat Coalition for Changes Musa: ‘Do not sign constitutional changes’
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Cardinal Puljic: Constitution must no legalize ethnic cleansing’ by A.Omeragic Inset, ‘He who signs changes – betrays national interests’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20 ‘Signature means betrayal of Croat interests’ by F, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘He who signs changes – betrays national interests’ – Chairman of the Croat Coalition for Changes (made of HSS, HDU, HKDU and CCD) Ivan Musa stated at the press conference held on Wednesday that those parties and individuals who sign the proposed constitutional changes will betray Croat national interests and he called on Croat MPs not to sign the offered solutions. |
BiH HoR’s Constitutional Commission to discuss amendments to Constitution as of Friday | Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Discussion on amendments to Constitution begins’, by R. D. – announces that the Constitutional-Legal Commission of the BiH House of Representatives will start discussing proposal of amendments to the BiH Constitution at a session scheduled for Friday. President of the said Commission, Mirsad Ceman, notes the Commission will have to make a report for the BiH Parliament by April 25. |
US Institute for Peace’s Serwer: There will be no third entity
| Vjesnik, pg 45 ‘There will be no third entity’, by Erol Avdovic – In a whole page interview with Vjesnik, the director of US Institute for Peace, Daniel Serwer, underlines that the constitutional changes in BiH have to happen now in order to prepare BiH for the EU. He was also questioned to comment on the statement by the HDZ leader, Dragan Covic, “that the second phase of constitutional talks should speak about formation of the third entity in BiH”, to which Serwer replies that he simply does not think there is a chance that the third entity would be formed. He explains this by saying the entities will remain as parts of constitutional structure, however their role in BiH will lessen. |
Oslobodjenje op-ed: Stable division is better than the fragile and instable one | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Stable division’ op-ed by Gojko Beric – Commenting ongoing debate on the agreement on constitutional changes and whether it would receive necessary support in the BiH parliament [session which author deems would be “the most thrilling session since” its establishment]”, editorial reads that the agreed changes are not the matter of dispute and allying with the “patriots” [referring to the SBiH, SDU and BOSS which form Patriotic Bloc] and “traitors” [refers to the criticism SBiH used to slam those who have signed the agreement, before all SDA and |
Economic and judicial issues | |
Elektroprivreda HZHB claims it would loose 13,5 mn KM, price increase inefficient; FBiH Minister Heco not concerned about price rise, advises companies to start saving energy
| FTV – FBiH Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Vahid Heco and the General Manager of Elektroprivreda of Croat Community Herceg Bosna Vlado Maric met in Mostar discussing new electricity prices. Elektroprivreda HZHB officials expressed their dissatisfaction with anticipated price increase adding it is still too low and insufficient to compensate for the company’s expenses, adding EP HZHB will encounter a loss of approx. 13,5 million KM. Although the Chair of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic expressed shock with new electricity prices, and FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic stated that it was not the right time for the increase, authorized Minister Heco is not concerned. FTV comments that in fact he advised big companies to start saving electricity if they want to develop further. Both Heco and Maric claim that the increase of electricity prices is minimal if one knows that the average bill for electricity is approximately 29 KM per household. |
FBiH Minister of Energy Heco: FBiH Government cannot do anything re electricity prices | Dnevni List pg 11 ‘Elektroprivredas to face loss even after increase of prices’ by E. Milavic – carries FBiH Minister of Energy Vahid Heco as saying that the FBiH Government cannot do anything with regard to the issue increase of price of electricity since the FERK (FBIH Regulatory Agency for Electricity) is under competence of the Parliament and only the Parliament can influence its work. |
Association of Employers, Trade Unions and Economic-Social Council challenge FERK’s authority in case of announced increase
| FTV by Azra Pasukan-Buljina – Prices of most of the products have been increased shortly after the Value Added Tax introduction at the beginning of 2006 and BiH citizens are now facing “new shock”: the increase of electricity prices, that is, unless the FBiH Parliament suspends the decision of the FBiH Regulatory Commission for Electricity (FERK) reminded the reporter. “Expenses of the households should be increased by approximately five percent per year. On the other hand, small consumers on low voltage should see their expenses decrease for approximately five percent per year. Big consumers on high voltage will have certain increase of expenses”, explained representative of the Elektroprivreda BiH Emir Aganovic. Association of Employers, Trade Union and Economic-Social Council challenge the authority of FERK in this case; they don’t believe that the increase of the electricity prices will actually be carried out. FERK representatives claim that it is not possible to purchase cheaper electricity on European market, adding that the losses of Elektroprivredas are not the reason for the increase of electricity prices. |
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IMF’s Doyle: BiH authorities spend too much and on wrong things
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘BiH authorities spend too much and on wrong things’ by Tarik Lazovic – In an interview for DA, the head of the International Monetary Fund’s department for BiH, Peter Doyle, criticizes BiH authorities for overspending adding budgets must be decreased by 450 million KM. This is a reason why talks on 50 million dollars standby arrangement with BiH are on hold, said Doyle stressing: “We are waiting [for the BiH] Fiscal Council to offer something new as a basis for continuation of talks, but that did not happen during this visit.” This weekend IMF delegation visited BiH meeting with the BiH authorities to discuss series of issues. Answering why public spending must be decreased, he underlined that BiH already has a problem of too great import of foreign goods, which would be even more increased with the raising public spending. Commenting the VAT introduction in BiH for which he deems went very well, Doyle noted some merchants misused the VAT, he pointed out some other possible misuses of VAT that could occur, adding that it is still to early to assess efficiency of the BiH Indirect Taxation Administration [ITA]. Inset ‘Too much goes for salaries in administration’ – Doyle also criticizes he amount of money spent for salaries in the administration. |
BiH CoM Chair Terzic meets EIB President Maystadt in
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Efficient launching of VAT is positive signal for investors’ by Fena –Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic and BiH Finance Minister Ljerka Maric visited headquarter of European Investment Bank [EIB] in Luxembourg and met with Chair of EIB Philippe Maystadt. Terzic was assured during the meeting that EIB wants to develop and expand cooperation with BiH. Joint stance that macroeconomic stabiliy in BiH is very good and that launching of VAT is new and positive signal for foreign investors was expressed during the meeting. Inset ‘Today conversation with Rehn in |
Donor’s Conference for BiH judiciary; goal 43 million Euro | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘43 million euros necessary for work of BiH Court by 2009’ by BIRN– According to the article of Justice Report of Balkans Investigating Network, representatives of Council of Ministers and BiH Court would try to gather about 43 million euros, during the Donor’s Conference that would be held in Brussels on March 31 with goal to gather finances for work of BiH Court, BiH Prosecution, continuance of judiciary reform and building of BiH maximum level security prison. Many governments are expected to attend the Conference, including |