TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| HDZ Presidency session | Becirbasic meets Gregorian | Fire in Cazin |
| | Ivanic meets Gregorian | BiH Delegation in |
| Lagumdzija’s letter to HR | Tihic meets IoP representatives | Turkish products fair |
| NSRzB on police reform negotiations | BiH Delegation in | SBS stopped smuggling |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| No signal | Fire in Cazin | Solana on Police reform |
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| False CoM advisors | Police reform update |
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| Covic’s successor still unknown | RS NGOs insist on Cavic’ statement |
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| Exhumations in Bratunac and Brcko | HDZ on EU principles |
| Oslobodjenje | There can be no decision making by consensus at police |
| Dnevni Avaz | Remains of communism were erased from the police |
| Dnevni List | A new agreement follows! |
| Vecernji List | Owner of Casa Grande hotel was arrested |
| Nezavisne Novine | There have never been harder times for workers |
| Glas Srpske | Father, forgive us as well |
Police reform | |
| Parties reached an agreement on one police, one national coat of arms and equal salary
| RTRS – The talk of 11 parliamentary parties in BiH on police reform at Vlasic brought the agreement of establishing one police, one national coat of arms and equal salary stated HR to BiH, Paddy Ashdown. He expressed satisfaction for the situation adding that nothing is still agreed until they decide upon police regions in BIH. Leader of SDP Zlatko Lagumdzija sent a letter to HR stating that he accidentally received a congratulation note from Ashdown on reached agreement on police reforms. Lagumdzija said that his party is against the agreement that doesn’t regulate efficiency of police in fighting against crime. He added that HR should send this congratulation note to his licensed reformers. BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak regarding the Vlasic meeting said that, finally, they have agreed important things regarding the police reform. He added that police regions, 9 + 1, should be determined according to the efficiency of the region. SDA party said that they accept the compromise of keeping the entity ministries as long as there is only one state authority over police. RHB, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SDP does not accept “congratulation note” for agreement on Vlasic’ by R. S., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘I have received a congratulation note by a mistake’ not signed -also carry statement of Lagumdzija. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Entity boundaries will not be an obstacle for regions’ by A. Sisic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Regions cut boundaries’ not signed, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Entities without jurisdiction over the police’ by Erna Mackic, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Entity MoIs are not authorised for the work of the police’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Significant progress in police reform’ by S. R. – carry statement of SDA. |
| HR Ashdown: I am not afraid of failure in continuation of negotiations
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Remains of communism were erased from the police’ and pg 5 ‘I am not afraid of failure in continuation of negotiations’ by Sead Numanovic – High Representative Paddy Ashdown said that the most striking results of the Vlasic accord were the separation of political influence from the operational work of the police and the exclusive responsibility of the state for the work of the police. “Using the metaphor of the conclave, which reporters used to describe the talks on Vlasic, I can say that this is indeed ‘white smoke’. Prior to Vlasic BiH had 13 police forces, 13 bureaucracies, 13 different uniforms and emblems, 13 different commands and 13 salary levels, while now we have one police force, one emblem, and equal pay. You don’t need to be an expert to realize which of these two organizational concepts is more efficient,” Ashdown said. Ashdown said that the entity interior ministries could remain, but that they would be responsible for fire prevention or civil defence and a certain right to consultation in shaping police policy, but would have no authority over the operational work of the police. The High Representative repeated that nothing was agreed until the second round of talks between political parties, scheduled to open on 11 May, reached agreement on a map of the police regions, which must be in accordance with European principles and drawn up to suit police operativity, not politics. Ashdown added that, although this was possible, he did not believe that the political parties would take a step backwards and annul the results of the talks on Vlasic. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘“White smoke” on Vlasic’ not signed – carries parts of the same interview of HR Ashdown. |
| Police experts support Vlasic conclusions, but also present their remarks
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘There can be no decision making by consensus at police’ and pgs 4 – 5 ‘There is no decision-making by a consensus at police forces throughout the world’ by Azhar Kalamujic – features statements of police experts from BiH (former F BiH Minister of Interior and Head of SBS Muhamed Besic, SIPA Chief in charge of VIP protection Mijo Golub and former F BiH Interior Minister Ramo Maslesa) who all support agreement political leaders have reached on Vlasic, but also present their remarks regarding the police reform. Besic claims no person should expect ideal solutions in this phase of police reform and he favors the model of division of the police in five regions – however, he suggests the sixth region for Brcko District should be introduced as well. Golub says the police are a semi-military organization, in which decisions should not be made through a Committee by a consensus. Maslesa too thinks such a committee might be an obstacle in the police work and might result in even greater political influence over the police. |
| Javier Solana welcomed agreement on police reform reached on Vlasic
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘A step towards a better police’ by N. N., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A great step forward’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘A step towards a successful fight against crime’ by S. N. – EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Javier Solana welcomed the agreement on police reform reached on Vlasic. He evaluated this as a step closer of accomplishing pre-requests of Feasibility Study. |
| | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Significant step towards single police’ not signed – |
| Dutch Embassy welcomes the outcome of Vlasic talks
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Significant step towards |
| NSRzB: agreement on police reform hasn’t resolved anything
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Vlasic conclave’ not signed – NSRzB (People’s Party Trough Work to Prosperity) feels that agreement on police reform hasn’t resolved anything. According to NSRzB it is ironic that HR Paddy Ashdown feels that the negotiations are historic achievement since they were carried out under supervision of international community. |
| 11 NGOs from RS confirmed protests on the proposed and accepted agreement regarding RS MoI
| RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Protests in front of the Assembly’ by G. K., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘They are preparing large protests in Banja Luka to protect RS’ not signed– Coordination committee of 11 RS NGOs confirmed protests in front of RS Government on the proposed and accepted solution at the Vlasic meeting. They demand that RS President Dragan Cavic speaks to public on accepted agreement on police reform. The Chair of Coordination body of RS Association of refuges Veljko Stevanovic said that citizens of RS did not deserve to hear from Chairman of BIH CoM Adnan Terzic on the future of RS and RS MoI. “RS doesn’t need civil protection and fire-fighter unit instead of police. I cannot understand the disinterest of these politicians for the future of RS” added Stevanovic. The Chair of RS PoWs Borislav Dukic stated that they will “demand from RS NA a referendum for the citizens of RS to express their opinion and whether they are for the accepted agreement or not”. The Chair of RS Association of Veterans Savo Cvjetinovic said that they will take non-institutional measures for preserving RS MoI. From Monday, RS NGOs will develop the strategy for the further proceedings. |
| RS PM Bukejlovic: police reform is not final pre-requisite
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘No end to pre-conditions’ by D. B. – During SDS rally in Prijedor held on Thursday, RS PM Pero Bukejlovic has stated that, although it had been announced as final pre-requisite for the admission of BiH to Europe, police reform will not be the last pre-requisite international community would set before BiH. ‘It is obvious there are attempts to centralise BiH and I expect many other problems to occur’, Bukejlovic said. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Police is not the final pre-requisite for accession to |
| HDZ: police reform should break three principles of EU Commission | RTRS – HDZ said that police reform should break three principles of EU Commission.
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| Colak: we confirmed our determination to support basic principles of EU Commission | Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Talks on police regions to follow’ – HDZ President Barisa Colak informed party members on Vlasic talks. ‘Once again, we have confirmed our determination to support three basic principles of EU Commission with regard to police reform in BiH. With regard to the meeting, it had been quite useful. Not everything has been completed – it remains to resolve the issue of police regions’, Colak has stated. |
| Todorovic: parties entered arrangements without support of RS citizens
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SDS entered the arrangement without support of citizens’ by V. P. – Head of RS Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Branko Todorovic has assessed that the Vlasic talks have lead to abolishment of entity authorizations and he accused political parties, especially SDS, of having entered such political arrangements for which they have no support of RS citizens. He wonders why the international community insists on out-of-institution resolving of problems, since Vlasic is not an institution in which decisions should be made. |
| RHB reporter comments on Vlasic negotiations: negotiations were completed without success
| RHB Report by Ivica Simunovic – RHB brings the commentary of its reporter Ivica Simunovic on police reform negotiations that were held at Vlasic. Simunovic feels that negotiations were completed without success rather the solution was postponed. He adds that Serb representatives will never accept negation of entity borders which in fact the police reform is all about. Simunovic further states that “Vlasic fiasco” has brought into question the strategy of international community in BIH. The strategy according to Simunovic represents continuous mixing of all relevant issues in BIH. Reporter feels that a similar thing is planned for law on public RTV system so with the mixing of education system everyone in BIH could soon speak in the same language. If the mixing continues all citizens in BIH could soon become unaware of their nationality, language, religion or local self-governance. He also says that since Croats gave up on many things they seem to be more appropriate for the mixing than the Serbs since according to the international community the law on public RTV system is one of conditions for membership in EU and that is where Croats need to give up on the channel in Croatian language. |
| Slavko Jovicic criticises RS authority over Vlasic talks | Nezavisne novine pg 7 ‘Vlasic summit – achievements and consequences’ by Slavko Jovicic – Slavuj – The author ironically criticises reforms and RS authorities, by saying common people feel no improvements, i.e. still live difficult lives. |
| DL op-ed critical of Vlasic talks vs. farmers protests | Dnevni List op-ed pg 2 ‘Is it day or night?’ by Nermin Bise – the author says one can never tell is it day or night in a state in which farmers bring cows, chicken and goats to the capital while political officials, led by high international representatives, are having a picnic for days on Vlasic. |
| GS: Vlasic puzzle
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Vlasic puzzle’ by N. Diklic – reiterates statements of Zeljko Komsic, Rajko Todorcevic, Sulejman Tihic, Velimir Sakan, Dragan Cavic and Milanko Mihajlica. (See OHR BiH Media Round-up, April 29) |
Political developments | |
| Session of HDZ Presidency was held on Friday
| RHB, BHT1, FTV – Session of HDZ Presidency was held on Friday. HDZ made a decision that the position of Croat member of BIH Presidency will be fulfilled regardless of the conclusions from HDZ extraordinary session held on 31st of March. HDZ didn’t announce the name of the candidate for that position. The name will be known on 4th of May when the session of BIH Parliament is scheduled. Spokesman of HDZ Pero Pavlovic stated that HDZ Presidency discussed preparations of 9th HDZ Assembly that will be held on 4th of June. Pavlovic stated that HDZ Presidency also discussed public debate regarding constitutional changes in BIH that should occur in mid May. HDZ Presidency discussed negotiations on police reform that happened at Vlasic as well as the future law on public RTV system in BIH. BHT1 – Martin Raguz, House of Representatives member and the biggest HDZ candidate for the post of the Presidency member, stated that he would not refuse if the party decides to nominate him. FTV – Public Broadcasting System in BiH was discussed during HDZ session and, according to HDZ President Barisa Colak, PBS must have three national channels. Dnevni List cover pg splash, pgs 4-5 ‘New agreements withing the party to follow’ by Ivica Glibusic, Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘HDZ still without candidate for Covic’s successor’ by V. Coric, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Dispute over election of Covic’s successor’ by F. Vele, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Covic’s successor will be known as of Wednesday’ by A. Omeragic, Vecernji list pg 2 ‘Election of the President was postponed for May 4’ not signed – also report on HDZ session. |
| Terzic to dismiss Doko and Dokic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Dokic and doko will leave CoM after holidays’ by M. Cubro – a collocutor from CoM has confirmed CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic will dismiss Branko Dokic and Dragan Doko from their ministerial posts after holidays. ‘It is known that Doko will leave over the issue with farmers, while Dokic will leave over the indictment Banja Luka Basic Court had confirmed against him’, the collocutor stated. |
| Hitchner:
| Nezavisne Novine Labour Day Inset cover and pg 9 ‘Dayton is not enough for BiH in Europe’ by Rade Segrt – carries an interview with Professor Bruce Hitchner who has stated the Dayton Agreement, in its current form, is not enough for BiH in Europe, especially when it comes to its institutions. ‘One of reasons we came here is to launch a process of dialogue and see how we can improve the state structure, as well as the structure of civil society in order for BiH to enter Europe’, Hitchner has stated. |
| DL op-ed: We have had enough of high
| Dnevni List op-ed pg 30 ‘We have had enough of high’ by Zvonimir Jukic – the author refers to the statement of HR Ashdown when he announced he came to BiH to end the role of OHR in it. The author says these HR’s hopes have turned to be unjustified since the HR, during his mandate, has not implemented those reforms that would guarantee sustainability of BiH and make the presence of international elements in it unnecessary. |
| Farmers expect a reply from competent institutions, announce possible protests | Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Decision on large protest at the end of next week’ by A. Z. – BiH Association of Farmers will wait until the end of the next week for a reply of the competent institutions upon their demands with regard to protection of domestic production. Should they fail to reply, farmers will organise a general protest on June 1, including a blockade of the state institutions. |
| SDP Youth: 20 thousand citizens signed a petition against departure of Paravac to | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Let Paravac thinks again’ by Fena – SDP Youth Forum stated that 20 thousand BIH citizens signed a petition against departure of BIH Presidency President Borislav Paravac to Moscow on marking of victory over fascism 60th anniversary. Organisers of the petition signing feel that it is shameful that Paravac, who is proud that his father was a chetnik, represents BIH in |
Security/war crimes/defence issues | |
| BiH Deputy Minister of Security Becirbasic and Co-Chair of DRC Gregorian: BiH needs small but efficient army
| TV Pink, BHT1, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘A small, yet efficient army is needed’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Small and efficient army’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘BiH needs small and efficient army’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘No cooperation with ICTY – no Partnership for Peace’ not signed – BiH Deputy Minister of Security, Enes Becirbasic and Co-Chair of Defence Reform Commission, Raffi Gregorian agree that BiH has to have small but efficient army with participation in peace missions as its primary aim. They also agree that BiH has made great progress in getting closer to NATO, but they stress that without full cooperation with the ICTY it is not possible to be admitted to Partnership for Peace. |
| BiH and
| RHB, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Plan on bilateral military cooperation was signed’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘ |
| BiH Presidency member, Sulejman Tihic meets
| TV Pink, BHT1, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Institute for Peace is willing to help BiH’ by Nina, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Authorities plead for European acceptable BiH’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Help in reforms’ not signed – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic met on Friday with the representatives of the Institute of Peace from Washington, Bruce Hitchner and |
| BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivanic meets Co-Chair of DRC Gregorian: BiH still needs to establish full cooperation with ICTY
| TV Pink – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic and Co-Chair of Defence Reform Commission, Raffi Gregorian agreed that although BiH has done a lot in getting closer to NATO, it still has to establish full cooperation with the ICTY, in order to be admitted to Partnership for Peace. Ivanic and Gregorian agreed that without having all war crime indictees arrested, especially the highly ranked ones, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, BiH would not enter Partnership for Peace. “I think that BiH’s place is in NATO, due to another reason as well; Croatia and SCG are going to be there. In such conditions, the whole region is determined to enter NATO. I would prefer demilitarisation”, said Ivanic. |
| Gregorian expressed his satisfaction over the BiH’s progress on the road to NATO
| RTRS – Deputy Chair of the BiH Defense Reform Commission Raffi Gregorian expressing the satisfaction over the BiH’s progress on the road to NATO and stressing that the full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is still crucial. Gregorian said that it is not realistic to expect BiH’s admission into the Partnership for Peace without the apprehensions or voluntary surrenders of the indicted war criminals. It was also concluded that BiH should have a small, but efficient army, which will primarily serve in peace missions and helping the population in cases of natural disasters. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘NATO Alliance demands for abolishment of the current military service’ by Miso Relota – also carries Gregorian’s statement. |
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| FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘USA believe Mladic is still in Serbia’ by Beta– US ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro (SCG) Michael Polt stressed once again that the extradition of Hague suspect Ratko Mladic remains the main condition which needs to be fulfilled if SCG wants US financial help, and the membership in Partnership for Peace as well. According to Polt, US Government strongly believes that Ratko Mladic is still in SCG, and the only way Government in |
| Ljajic: if Mladic came to SiCG he would be extradited | RTRS – Head of SiCG National Council for cooperation with ICTY Rasim Ljajic stated if ICTY indictee Ratko Mladic came to SiCG he would be immediately extradited. Ljajic added that SiCG authorities investigated all locations that were indicated as possible hideouts. |
| Shooting in
| Dnevni Avaz pg 33, announced on cover ‘Shooting near “Imzit”, police officers searched Casa Grande hotel’ by Dz. Ma., Vecernji List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Owner of Casa Grande hotel was arrested’ by Dejan Jazvic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Pistol count-down in Ilidza’ by D. Muminovic – On Friday, at approximately 00:30 hrs, unknown persons started shooting on car of one Denis Stojnic. Stojnic escaped and informed the police on this incident. Several hours after the incident, the police entered Casa Grande hotel and apprehended the owner, Naser Keljmendi, his son Liridon and one Almir Kukan from Sarajevo. According to unofficial information, during a search, the police found pistols, ammunition of which matched ones used during shooting at Stojnic. |
| Mektic: SIPA without leadership
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SIPA was left without leadership’ by M. Cubro – As of Friday, SIPA has no director and deputy director, as Deputy BiH Security Minister Dragan Mektic has confirmed. ‘CoM had not appointed SIPA director, while the mandate of acting director Sredoje Novic has expired. We are currently in a legal void and I do not know who is running this agency’, Metic said. |
Economy | |
| “Turkish Economy from A to Z” fair to be held May 6 – 10
| TV Pink, BHT1, FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 15 ‘Participation of 80 firms was announced’ by M. Rener, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Three-day long fair of Turkish products’ by Erna Mackic, Dnevni Avaz pg 18 ’80 firms will present themselves’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 12 ‘Second fair of Turkish products in Sarajevo’ by Onasa – The Chair of BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, Mahir Hadziahmetovic and Turkish Ambassador to BiH, Melek Sina Baydur announced Turkish products fair called “Turkish Economy from A to Z”, which is to take place from May 6-10. Turkish Embassy and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce will organize the fair. |
| BiH Parliament Delegation visited
| TV Pink, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Turkish businessmen were invited to invest more bravely’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘BiH delegation visiting Sofia’ by ra – On the second day of their visit to Turkey, BiH Parliamentary delegation held a meeting with Turkish President and Prime Minister. House of Representatives Chairman Sefik Dzaferovic, his deputy Nikola Spriric and House of Peoples Deputy Chairman Mustafa Pamuk urged Turkish economists to invest in BiH economy development more courageously than they did so far. |
| BiH Businessmen Association launched initiative on establishing of BiH Chamber of Commerce
| TV Pink – BiH Businessmen Association has started initiative for establishing Chamber of Commerce at state level. The Association suggests a single central and several regional Chambers to be created instead of entities’ ones. FBiH Chamber accepted the suggestion while the RS Chamber claims that the suggestion has a political background and that it opposes BiH and entities’ Constitutions. RS Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Dragica Ristic stressed that the RS Chamber was willing to cooperate with other Chambers, but that RS Chamber supported the idea of having decentralized Chamber system. BiH Foreign Trade Chamber states that the proposal had no arguments for changes in the system. Vice Chair of the FBiH Chamber, Petar Milanovic says that solutions are to be searched for exclusively within the existing systems. Milanovic said that he supported the idea of reorganizing chamber system, and that he opposed any imposed solution since it was related to political solution. |
Miscellaneous | |
| CoM warned about persons who are collecting money falsely presenting themselves as CoM advisors
| BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘False advisors asked for money for medical treatments’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Advisors for – frauds’ by N. Z., Dnevni List pg 5 ‘False advisors are collecting money’ by Nina, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘False advisors of State PM are extorting money’ by L. S., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘False advisors are seeking for financial help’ not signed – BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) Chairman Adnan Terzic’s Office warned BiH public that certain persons, who are using false names Alija Muharemovic, Nijaz Suljevic and Nijaz Beslic, falsly introduce themselves as advisers in the CoM Chairman’s Office in order to extort money from the well-managed firms. Those persons in the name of CoM seek for the financial help allegedly for medical treatment in foreign countries, is said in the CoM statement. |