Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 30 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| | RSNA session on police reform |
| RSNA on police reform today | Petition for transfer of HR powers |
| BiH unit goes to | |
TV news broadcast on 29 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Carty on police reform | World News | Referendum in |
| RS NA session on police reform | Topcagic on EU constitution | Meeting in Mrakovica |
| Colak on SIPA Director | Meeting of RS political parties | Carty on police reform process |
| Regional news | Carty on police reform | 67 kilos of marihuana seized |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Meeting of RS political parties | Referendum in | Meeting of RS political parties |
| Carty on police reform | NATO meeting in | Carty on police reform |
| World News | Constitutional Court’s decisions | BIH CC decisions |
| World News | Ante Gotovina posters in Livno | Problems caused by gypsy moths |
| Oslobodjenje | Police within entities an interest of criminals and irresponsible politicians |
| Dnevni Avaz | Crucial decision for RS |
| Dnevni List | No reforms without OHR |
| Vecernji List | Special forces prevent bloodshed (football supporters in Mostar clash with police) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Glas Srpske | As long as we have it, they will ask for it |
| Nezavisne Novine | We will suppress crime through police reform |
| Blic | “Branka, Zeljo is killing me!” |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| Srpski Nacional | Features |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| RSNA discussing proposed police reform solutions | RHB, BH Radio 1 – A special session of RS National Assembly dedicated to the ongoing police reform and proposed solutions is underway in |
Police Reform | |
| RSNA to decide on police reform on Monday
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Police areas again on check/review’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Final decision on police reform in BiH today’, not signed, FENA – A special session of the RS National Assembly on police reform in BiH will take place on Monday, May 30. Holding of the session was requested by the RS President, Dragan Cavic, who said that only the National Assembly could make the final decision on police reform in BiH. He believes that representatives of all political parties in the National Assembly need to make a final decision on whether they support police reform and the essential change of the Dayton Accords, i.e. the constitutions, or will they reject the proposed reform solutions and stand in the way of BiH’s European integration. Representatives of the Serb political parties oppose constitutional amendments, claiming that police reform can be implemented within the current constitutional structure by keeping the RS Ministry of Interior and police under Entity jurisdiction. On the other side, representatives of the international community have warned that without accepting the three principles set out by the European Commission, BiH will not be able to start the negotiations on Stabilization and Association with the EU. |
| RS political leaders met in Mrakovica, reiterate police reform can be carried out only within the Constitution
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Talks on police reform only in the framework of BiH Constitution’ – The leaders of RS political parties concluded at their meeting in Mrakovica (on the mountain of Kozara) last night that the police reform could be negotiated/discussed only in the framework of the current constitutional order. “The conclusion of the Kozara meeting is that talks on the police reform can be held/continued only in the framework of the current BiH constitutional order and not at all beyond it,” a Dnevni Avaz source said after the meeting, which was initiated by RS President Dragan Cavic. The meeting was also attended by PDP leader Mladen Ivanic, SRS’ Milanko Mihajlica, SNSD’s Milorad Dodik and Nikola Spiric, DNS’ Marko Pavic, SPRS’ Petar Djokic, SDS’ Borislav Bojic as well as RSNA Speaker Dusan Stojicic. Stojicic said before the meeting that, in his opinion, the police reform is exclusively a national issue in RS. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS politicians discussed police restructuring in BiH’ also reported on the meeting and carried Stojicic’s statement. Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS just reported that the meeting was taking place in Mrakovica, without presenting any details. |
| RS politicians’, EC’s Humphries comment on police reform prior to special RS NA session
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Between two fires’ by G. Dakic and D. Trisic – carries an announcement on a special RS NA session on police reform conclusions, adopted on April 21. Head of EC Delegation Michael Humphreys hopes RS NA would reach ‘a politically mature decision by which it would launch SAA negotiations’ and added there would be no imposing of a decision. RS President Dragan Cavic also expects from RS NA to reach a politically mature decision. RS NA Chairman Dusan Stojicic believes it is possible to achieve solutions that would not interfere with the constitutional definition of RS and BiH and authorities of future police regions in frame of the internal boundary lines that were defined by the Dayton Agreement. SRS President Milanko Mihajlica says this party supports the admission to PfP and EU, however it would not accept the cost for this to be disappearance of RS. Chairman of Center Club Rajko Todorcevic emphasized the importance of the special session mostly because of pressures that would be exerted upon Serb side in future negotiations on police reform. SNSD finds EC principles on police reform acceptable and the party would present its stance on police regions just prior to the start of the special RS NA session. SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj” opposes to any change to RS NA conclusions on police reform. Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Parties are still indecisive’ by D. Risojevic, Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Without pressures and sanctions’ by Sl. Pesevic – also announce the session and carry comments of some political parties. |
| HQ for protection of constitutional position of RS issue warning to political representatives
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Jovicic: Stop with anti-constitutional activities’, not signed – The HQ for protection of constitutional position of RS warns representatives of all political parties, prior to the RS NA’s session dedicated to the police reform, to stop with calculations and activities that are against the RS and BiH constitutions, said a spokesman of the HQ, Slavko Jovicic. He warns representatives of political parties not to play with the “destiny of the people” otherwise they would be responsible for all consequences of possible instability in the RS. “It would additionally complicate the situation in the RS because the HQ for protection of the constitutional position would take a lot more radical measures and prevent political adventurers who do not have the mandate to take any anti-constitutional decisions on behalf of the people”, said Jovicic. |
| Military/Political Analyst Popovic on police reform: Path to BiH means abolishment of RS
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘As long as we have it, they will ask for it’ by V. J. – Military political analyst Gostimir Popovic comments on police reform and says that when international representatives say “Brussels path of BiH” they actually mean “the path to abolishment of RS” and, by this, disappearance of BiH as defined by the Dayton Agreement. ‘As long we have something, we will be asked to transfer it to bodies at BiH level’, Popovic says. He claims that the police maps are not the only problem, and says that not even in accordance with the new territorial organization the police would be able to cross from one region to another without prior announcement and approval – this practically means there would be no improvement or simplification of the work of the police. Popovic also thinks “the Ashdown’s scheme” of the organization of police forces would also lead to a complete legislative chaos since this organization would not be harmonized with the organization of BiH judiciary. |
| SPRS demands for clear stance of Govt re police reform
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They demand for a clear stance’ by Z. Ma. – SPRS will, today at special RS NA session, demand from RS Government and RS President to present a clear stance with regard to police reform. The party has concluded it was possible to reach a law on police at BiH level in order to eliminate political influence on police. |
| NN op-ed on police reform
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Course to reforms’ by Dragan Risojevic – Wiring about today’s (Monday) session of RS NA on police reform, the author summarizes the entire issue in one sentence comparing it with a tunnel brimming with precious stones. He says: “If you do not take stones, you will regret – if you take it, you will also regret!” He notes that politicians would manage with or without police reform, while common people would see black days if reform were not implemented. |
| SDA’s Sadovic, OHR, EC on today’s RSNA session on police reform: Fateful decision for RS
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Fateful decision for RS’ and pg 2 ‘European future of BiH or sanctions for RS?’ by A. Malagic – With regard today’s RSNA session, Head of the SDA Caucus in the RSNA Tarik Sadovic stated: ‘I want to believe that common sense will win today, that is, that crucial politicians from the RS will open door for continuation of the negotiations. However, I do not exclude the possibility of getting a negative response and this would have disastrous consequence for European way of BiH… It seems to me that the High Representative announced certain kind of sanctions against the parties and politicians who want to prevent BiH’s joining |
| EUPM’s Carty says that unless police reform is implemented BIH police will never reach standards which are in accordance with the best European practice
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Police within entities an interest of criminals and irresponsible politicians’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Crossing of the inter-entity line should not be interpreted as an attack on RS institutions’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Police officers want comprehensive police reform’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Police criteria need to be met’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘We will suppress crime through police reform’ and pg 3 ‘Police reform is impossible without crossing inter-entity boundary lines’ by D. Risojevic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Boundaries must disappear’ by N. Z., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Criminals are making profit while politicians are playing wise’ by Dusanka Stanisi – EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty stated that unless police reform is implemented BIH police will never reach standards which are in accordance with the best European practice. He added that citizens in BIH would then have to live surrounded by organised crime. Carty also stated that he knows, based on conversations he had with policeman through out BIH that they want a thorough police reform. He stated that it is impossible to reform police if police regions do not cross over entity lines and he gave an example of |
| DA: ‘Karadzic laid foundations of RS MoI’ | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Karadzic laid foundations of RS MoI’ by E. Sarac carries that war crime indictee Radovan Karadzic laid the foundations of the RS Ministry of Interior 13 years ago. According to DA, at the meeting of the RS MoI leading officials held on July 11, 1992 the current ICTY indictee and RS Minister of Interior at that time Mico Stanisic presented basic elements of the work of this Ministry and conveyed Karadzic’s message, which said: ‘The RS MoI can survive or disappear depending on weather there would be a state or not!’ |
Political Developments/Initiatives | |
| DL criticizes HR Ashdown
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘No reforms without OHR’, by Nermin Bise – Carries an op-ed amid announcements that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will transfer some of the HR’s authorities onto the BiH institutions. In a very critical tone the author argues that all HR Ashdown was doing in BiH was “counting days, receiving salary, getting photographed, smiling, removing (people) and travelling around”. The author in particular criticizes the HR over his recent statement that the national parties in BiH need to reform otherwise they will disappear. In that context, the author says HR Ashdown did not want to risk the comfort of his office and a lucrative salary of 25.000 Euros a month, therefore he decided to join the “witches’ dance” with the national parties. |
| Dailies on situation in HDZ: Martens says EPP does not want incriminated persons to lead political party
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 13 ‘Europe does not want Dragan Covic leading HDZ BiH’, by Tomislav Zoric – SD notes that the president of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has sent the HDZ BiH Presidency and the HDZ BiH president, Barisa Colak, a letter on May 27 in which he noted that many member parties of the EPP were worried because of information that some candidates for the office of HDZ BiH president have been indicted by the State Court and isolated by the High Representative. “Although it is your democratic right to appoint and elect whoever you want, an election of such individuals would not be in line with values and principles of the EPP. Therefore, should the HDZ elect such an individual of the president, it will certainly endanger the status of your party in the EPP”, reads Martens’ letter. According to SD, Dragan Covic made sure that all members of the HDZ Presidency do not get the letter. Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Without candidate for president’, by Miso Relota – Notes that the HDZ Presidency will be discussing at its session scheduled for June 2 the issue of nomination of HDZ Presidency’s candidate for the party president. However, VL says it looks as though the HDZ Presidency will not officially nominate its candidate. VL also announces that the HDZ Presidency will discuss the recent letter that was sent by the European People’s Party. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 12 ‘Bozo Ljubic in convincing lead at the moment’, by M. Landeka – According to a public opinion poll conducted by a Mostar-based Bljesak internet site, of 1010 people that responded to the poll, 39,7% believe Bozo Ljubic will become the new HDZ president. Second placed in the poll is Dragan Covic (17,62%). Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘I am voting for Covic’, by Dr. Slavo Kukic – Whilst analysing the situation within the HDZ, prior to its convention scheduled for June 4, Kukic argues that Dragan Covic is not enjoying the support within the party like Bozo Ljubic, which is the reason why Covic is considering all options, including those that oppose the HDZ Statue, in order to become the new HDZ president. Kukic says if he were allowed to vote, he would vote for Covic because if Covic is to be elected the president, it would trigger many processes in the HDZ, including the separation of a larges part of the HDZ that wants to reform itself from the criminal structure led by Covic. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Colak, Covic and Ljubic are leading fractions’ by M. Cubro – carries a report with regard to the forthcoming HDZ Congress and carries a statement of HDZ Presidency member Josip Merdzo who claims the election of the party p[resident has divided this party to at least three fractions. |
| Tihic to launch procedure before BiH CC on constitutionality/equality of peoples: Model of Sarajevo should be applied on all the cities
| Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 5, announced on cover ‘Model of Sarajevo should be applied on all the cities’ by Aj.Delic – Sulejman Tihic, member of BiH Presidency, on Sunday told DA that the issue of constitutionality and equality of peoples is important at all levels. As a Bosniak official, he will Monday launch procedure before |
| Serbs are leaving
| Glas srpske pg 4 ‘They are leaving because they have to’ by V. Bugarin – “Democratic Initiative of Sarajevo Serbs” Association claims Serb people have no influence in |
Crime/Legal Proceedings/Incidents | |
| The Observer: British aid for Serb on US terror list
| The Observer: British aid for Serb on US terror listAntony Barnett and Hugh Griffiths (carried in Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘British gave 300,000 pounds to war criminal supporter’ – A Serbian army commander who led the bombing of Sarajevo and has been accused of helping one of Europe’s most notorious war criminals escape capture has received hundreds of thousands of pounds of money from the British taxpayer. An Observer investigation has uncovered evidence of how British aid money has been funnelled to a firm run by Radomir Kojic. Last year Kojic was put on an international blacklist after he was accused of helping to hide former Bosnian Serb war leader Radovan Karadzic, who is wanted by the UN War Crimes Tribunal in |
| Del Ponte investigates into links of Islamists and late Bosniak leader Izetbegovic
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Islamist supporters were sending dollars’ by Srna – Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte has expanded an investigation to the territory of Switzerland upon a report of German secret police, which reads that radical Islamist people close to Al’ Q-Aida have been financing military actions of Alija Izetbegovic through Swiss funds. Srpski Nacional pg 11 ‘Bin Laden had financed Alija’ not signed – also reported on the same matter. |
| Police prevents unrests in Mostar
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pgs 2-3 ‘Special forces prevent bloodshed’, by Robert Soldo, Dnevni List, pg 37 ‘Six police officers injured and several vehicles damaged’, not signed – Six police officers sustained light injuries in Mostar on the night between Saturday and Sunday when the police prevented a group of ‘Velez’ supporters (VL says some 300 of them) to get across to the west part of Mostar. The police prevented them from doing so because in the same time the ‘Zrinjski’ supporters were celebrating winning of the BiH premier league title and the police reacted in order to prevent clashes of the supporters. |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| DL on FTA: BiH to introduce new measures against
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘New customs measures against Croatia?!’, by Marko Karacic – According to a member of BiH negotiating team (which is in talks with Croatia regarding Free Trade Agreement), Damir Leko, one can expect the BiH Council of Ministers to give in to pressures coming from the BiH Association of Farmers and even the introduction of some new customs on imported (Croatian) products. On the other hand, a spokesman of the BiH CoM, Bojan Zec Filipovic, says that according to his information, the BiH CoM has no plan to act like that. “We expect new agreements and I believe we will solve the situation through certain mechanisms”, said Filipovic. His colleague in the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Mladen Pavic, told DL that Croatia did not expect new customs on Croatian goods pursuant to agreement between ministers Doko and Cobankovic reached in Sarajevo a month ago, however Pavic says that Croatia would not sit with its hands crossed if BiH decided to introduce new measures. |
| PDHR Butler interview for NN: FBiH is developing faster than RS
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘F BiH is developing faster than RS’ by M. Cubro – PDHR Lawrence Butler in an interview to NN has stated that the economy in F BiH is developing faster than in RS, where there was an increase in unemployment rate. He resented the local authority for its indecisiveness in integrating to EU, because of which there are not enough of foreign investments. |