OHR BiH Media Round-up, 30/5/2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

BiH Presidency session today

Search after Selver continues

Tadic on Mladic

BiH CoM on higher education law

Humger strike in Mital Steel

HR announces pressures [VN int]

Tadic: Mladic has to be arrested

Stability Pact mtg. commenced

RS PIO Fund calls on pensioners

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK  (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Mostar City Council adopts budget

HR visits Belgrade

HR meets Tadic, Kostunica in BGD

HR Schwarz-Schilling in Belgrade

5 new war crime indictments raised

SPONA on RS referendum

50,000 signatures for secession

Krajisnik on Karadzic’s surrender

Reactions on Dodik’s statement

Reactions on calls to secession

Ahmic on war crime invest. comm.

Ruling in Manjaca case

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

World news: Java earthquake

Shooting incident in Kotor Varos

Explosion in a factory in Serbia

HR Schwarz-Schilling in Belgrade

Three arrested in Tuzla for murder

3 persons arrested for murder

Reactions on calls to secession

Issue of Azot company

Police action against drug dealers

Stability Pact meeting in Belgrade

Issue of Mittal Steel veterans

Manjaca guards sentenced

Oslobodjenje

[HR Schwarz-Schilling] There will be no referendum in BiH

Dnevni Avaz

[SBiH leader Silajdzic] Who is Tihic to judge my patriotism?

Dnevni List

Armed and hidden in woods (On M. Selver from Kotor Varos who dissatisfied with construction of raod has been attacking people and causing serious incidents)

Vecernji List

Ljubic : We are rescuing idea of HDZ (Interview with HDZ 1990 President Bozo Ljubic)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Leaders in Banja Luka live for secession (op-ed on demand for referendum in the RS)

Nezavisne Novine

They suffocated victims (details on monstrous murders in Koz. Dubica)

Glas Srpske

They are killing, beating and maltreating

EuroBlic

He strangled the two and then littered artificial fertilizer on them

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Stability Pact session commences in Belgrade ; Serbian President Tadic says full cooper. with ICTY and Mladic arrest is a must  

RHB, RTRS – The Regional table of the Southeast Europe Stability Pact is being held in Belgrade, with about 300 participants from 80 countries. The Serbian President, Boris Tadic, stated at the beginning of the session that a full cooperation with the ICTY had to be achieved in Serbia in order to have reconciliation in the region and that Ratko Mladic had to be arrested immediately. BH Radio 1 by Slavisa Numic, Belgrade– BiH delegation at the conference is lead by the BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic. In addition to pointing out to the importance of the cooperation with the ICTY, Tadic also emphasized Serbia is to have good neighborly relations with Montenegro and that it is dedicated to peaceful compromise on Kosovo status. SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic also stressed all obstacles for full cooperation with the ICTY have to be removed, adding that Serbia will not disappoint Europe. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also address attendees emphasizing that the establishment of another small country in the Balkans is additional reason for establishment of good regional cooperation, since integrations are especially important and necessary for small countries. Special Coordinator of Stability Pact Erhard Bussek expressed satisfaction with the fact that Montenegrin referendum was peaceful; and added that the situation in the Balkans has improved significantly since 1999 when the Pact was established. The HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling would address the session.

SNSD’s Vasic: For SNSD, referendum story is over; Dodik only talked about theoretical situation

FENA – SNSD Secretary General Rajko Vasic has stated in Banja Luka today that SNSD President Milorad Dodik has never talked about concrete plans, moves or steps with regard to alleged organizing of the referendum in the RS, and Vasic stressed entire story has got unnecessary connotations. “SNSD deems the referendum story is over, regardless to what our president told about it in media,” underlying Vasic adding Dodik was talking only about theoretical, democratic possibility, i.e. “about modern tools to solve political problems in this part of Europe.” Vasic concluded SNSD would disclose “more detailed” platform on constitutional changes after the elections.

Debate on referendum initiative

HR Schwarz-Schilling in Belgrade : there is no connection btw statuses of Kosovo/Montenegro and RS

BHT1 by Vesna Simic, Belgrade – During his official visit to Belgrade, the High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schillingmet the Serbian President Boris Tadicand Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, as well as leader of Serb Orthodox Church Patriarch Pavle. At these occasions, Schwarz-Schilling commented recent statements bringing into relationship the Montenegrin referendum and the status of the RS stating former should be treated entirely differently as it held a status of the republic in the former Yugoslavia, which is not the case with RS that has been established by Dayton Peace Agreement. “There is no [such thing as] historical RS, it is a creation of Dayton Peace Agreement, and that is the base. And in Dayton Agreement, there is no room for separation or destruction of the state of BiH,” commented Schwarz-Schilling. HR stressed the Serbian officials agreed there is no room for organizing referendum in the RS and that legalities must be respected in order to ensure peace in the region, adding that there are not many politicians in BIH advocating for the RS independence. Following the meeting with Schwarz-Schilling, Tadic’s Cabinet stated it is important to respect the consensus reached in BiH since it represents the will of three equal peoples. Kostunica’s Cabinet pointed out the importance to insist on the Dayton Agreement that is based on the Entities. RTRS– During his visit to Belgrade, Schwarz-Schilling stated that there is no connection between the status of Kosovo or Montenegro and status of RS. “BiH is a sovereign country with determined borders recognised by the international treaties, and the RS is integral part of BiH”, said Schwarz-Schilling. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘International Community cannot turn its head from ICTY fugitives’ by L.Sinanovic – In a statement to DA, Schwarz-Schilling stressed that cooperation between Serbia, Montenegro and BiH has to be stronger when it comes to arrests of the remaining ICTY fugitives. “We talked also about establishment of single regional trade, something that looks like CEFTA [Central European Free Trade Area]. I have agreed with all collocutors that both countries have to take faster steps in order to reach higher level of cooperation between BiH and SCG” said Schwarz-Schilling. RHB, PINK, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘There will be no referendum in BiH’, pg 3 ‘There will be no referendum’ by B.Boskov, Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Respect of entities’ by D.R., Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘RS cannot separate from BiH’ by D.Vidakovic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Schwarz Schilling makes a threat’, announced on cover ‘Schwarz Schilling threatens with Bonn powers’ by SRNA, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Everybody on the same path’ – carried similar reports.

Serbian PM Kostunica: DPA is a guarantee of BiH stability; HR: BiH borders are internationally recognized, no issue about that

Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘There will be no referendum in BiH’, pg 3 ‘There will be no referendum’ by B.Boskov – After meeting with High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica concluded that “Dayton Peace Agreement is a guarantee of BiH stability” and he repeated Blegrade’s official stance of advocating for BiH’s “preservation and honouring”. After meetings with Serbian President Boris Tadic and SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, Schwarz-Schilling gave a statement to B92 in which he rejected any possibility of referendum to be used during the talks on the constitutional changes in BiH. “BiH was created on grounds of the DPA and the RS as well is established on that bases and is directly connected with Federation in BH, so the issue cannot be solved without internal agreement of concerned parties and that has no relation with SCG” told Schwarz-Schilling to B92. Since one of the subjects during the meeting was ICTY cooperation, HR said that few years ago it was realistic that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic were on BiH territory, but he added that there is no proof that two of them are on BiH territory today. “In any case, there is no proof that they could be located in any place there” said HR. Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Dayton is protecting borders’ by Dusan Stojakovic – In a half-page interview to daily, HR reiterates that there is no historical RS and that the borders are internationally recognised and there are no open issued about this.

SCG Foreign Minister Draskovic: Western Balkans can go either towards Europeanization or Kosovoization

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘To strictly respect principle of not changing of borders’, mentioned on cover by Lana Sinanovic – Following the meeting with the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling, SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic stated that the Western Balkans is in sensitive phase and move forward in either of two paths: “One is Europeanization of the Balkans and the other is its Kosovoization. In order to remain in the right path, it is necessary to strictly respect principles of not changing current borders,” said Draskovic. Serbian President Boris Tadic underlined all open issues between BiH and Serbia should be solved trough dialogue. Serbian Prim- Minister Vojislav Kostunica emphasized the importance of economic cooperation as well as accomplishment of the single free trade agreement.

OHR: RS has no jurisdiction to organize referendum

BHT1- Commenting the recent statement issued by RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik on referendum for separation in the RS, OHR warned that International Community would not tolerate endangering the sovereignty and integrity of BIH announcing the possible use of High Representative’s Bonn powers that include removal of the politicians in that case. OHR’s spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic stressed, “it is important to avoid possible confusion that this issue might create. According to the Constitution, RS has no jurisdiction for organising referendum”. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘International community will not allow endangering BiH’ by S.N. – OHR also stated that BiH is not in question, not now neither in the future: “However, its ability to function and ensure a decent standard of living for its citizens is in question. There are only two routes available. The first option is to deliver on reform… [to] move this country toward the EU and NATO… The second route is not to reform in which case there will be stagnation. There is no third route. Fruitless discussions on referenda contribute to uncertainty and instability in the country at a time when BiH needs certainty – the certainty that reforms are being delivered.” FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘RS cannot separate from BiH’ inset ‘OGR: Schwarz Schilling will not restrain’- also carried.

RS PM Dodik: OHR should act in line with Dayton upon war crimes, integrations

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘OHR only in line with Dayton’ by SRNA– RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated in Sofia that OHR should only act upon Dayton issues, such as war crimes, integrations and similar. According to Dodik, OHR should give up its authorities, especially regarding Europe-related issues, stressing the decisions on EU road should be made by BiH people. Dodik is taking part in conference of Party of European Socialists, which started Monday in Sofia entitled “European Alliance and Balkans: to develop progressive plan for joining’.

DA: SNSD will face sanctions if it continues to breach Dayton Peace Agreement

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘International community will not allow endangering BiH’ by S.N., Inset ‘SNSD under supervision’ – Daily learns that BiH Central Electoral Commission [CEC] at its Monday’s session also discussed Milorad Dodik’s statement with regard to a right of all nations, including the RS, to referendum. BiH CEC decided to verify SNSD’s participation at upcoming elections, nevertheless it would also monitor moves of party’s leaders. Avaz learned that “SNSD will face sanctions if it continues to breach Dayton Peace Agreement.”

SPONA continues with petition for scheduling of the referendum in the RS; signatures to be submitted to the RSNA

BHT1 By Zoran Sarenac – In a number of the cities around the RS, SPONA NGO has organised the petition under motto “The Choice is Ours” calling for scheduling of referendum for RS independence. According to the NGO members, more than 50.000 votes have been collected in the RS supporting referendum for separation. SPONA President Dane Cankovic announced submitting signed petition to the RS National Assembly at the right moment “for delegates to decide what to do with the will of people”. “We are not going to stop there, we will hand in the signed petition to the International Organisations and inform international politicians on the evident desire of Serbs in RS not to live in the imposed BIH,” added Cankovic. Reporter noted that the recent statement issued by RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik that RS status should be connected to Kosovo status seems to have instigated citizens. All surveyed citizens in Banja Luka stated that they support initiative for separation since they never have accepted BiH as their country, although they have nothing against it, and that they want to live in Serbs’ state. RHB, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2  ’50 thousand signatures gathered for referendum’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 2 ‘Action of Bosnian Serbs for secession from BiH’ by H– also covered.

President of the Serbian National Council of Kosovo Ivanovic: It cannot be demanded secession of Kosovo, leaving BiH unitary state

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ivanovic: It cannot be demanded secession of Kosovo, leaving BiH unitary state’ by Srna – Following the meeting with BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac, President of the Serbian National Council [SNB] of Kosovo Milan Ivanovic stated in Sarajevo that he is astonished with the policy of International Community on Balkans, which is committed on one side for secession of Kosovo, and on another on unitary BiH: “How could the national minority could be given a right on secession, offering at the same time to constitutional peoples something below that.” Paravac and members of the delegation of Serbs from Kosovo concluded in Sarajevo that all issues in the relation with the final status of Kosovo should be resolved through the democratic dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, in accordance with principles of international law.

SRS ’ Mihajlica calls on PM Dodik to raise referendum issue in RSNA; HoR MP Kunic says Dodik is right

Hayat – Representative in the BiH House of Representatives Petar Kunic said that – in case Kosovo becomes an independent state – Serbs from RS should be entitled to raise the question of their separation from BiH. “Kosovo can be compared with RS,” said Kunic. “It is not acceptable that referendum is discussed only immediately before the elections,” stated Serb Radical Party leader Milanko Mihajlica, adding that SRS would support any initiative in Parliament for the discussion on referendum and police reform. RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Referendum in Parliament’ by SRNA, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Neither sale or surrender’ by D.Mo. –Mihaljica called upon RS Prime Minister Dodik to raise the issue of referendum on succession of RS in RS National Assembly, in order to prove that his latest statements were not only marketing tricks and part of pre-electoral campaign. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘A Serb does not have what others do’ by Z. Markovic – Kunic says although BiH Constitution does not contain provisions on referendum, its preamble contains provisions on the right to self-determination. Professor Mile Dmicic noted there is a connection, in both political and formal-legal context, between Montenegro, Kosovo and RS adding: “Venice Commission had verified constitutional solutions in Srpska as in one of two state-building bodies with equal rights. By this, Srpska had got constitutional competences to independently realise its constitutional, legal, executive and judicial functions.” Inset ‘Logics’ – Washington University professor Stephen Meier thinks demands for separation can be launched both in RS and somewhere else in the Balkans now after the referendum in Montenegro. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘RS has the right to make decisions’ by Srna – also carries Kunic’s statement.

Bosniak intellectuals, deputies in RS: only BiH Parliament can schedule referendum for abolishment or succession of the RS

BHT1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Dodik’s behaviour is danger for BiH’ not signed– Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Dodik is calling up for hate and clashes’ by Fena– Commenting recent statements of the high ranking RS officials on referendum and connecting the RS with status of Kosovo, The Council of Bosniak Intellectuals’ Congress VKBI deems that the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik’s statements advocating for a secession of the RS from BiH is a ‘drastic, irresponsible and worrying form of acting against peace in BiH’. RHB – Remzija Kadric, on behalf of the RS Council of Peoples, and Ramiz Salkic from the Bosniak Caucus in the RS National Assembly, strongly criticised recent statements on announcing a referendum for the secession of RS. They deem that only BiH Parliament can schedule a referendum, on which BiH citizens would have the option to vote for secession, or abolition of RS. “We are convinced that the majority of BiH citizens would vote for the abolition of RS,” Kadric and Salkic stated in an announcement published on Monday. RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Open protest because of separatist ideas from the RS’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH PArlaiment to schedule referendum’ by V.P.  – also reported.

RS HoP deputy Banjanovic: After idea on referendum, returnees to RS live in media hell

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘After idea on referendum, returnees to RS live in media hell’ by A.H. – Deputy to RS House of Peoples Fadil Banjanovic protested against ‘media aggression’ on Bosniak returnees in RS: “For the last couple of days, we live in real media hell caused by the story on so called referendum of Serb people… What is Communication Regulatory Agency [CRA] doing, do these people know what kind of aggression we are under.” He specially criticized FBiH politicians who perceive whole the story as pre-elections trick, leaving people to estimate what is the truth about it.

SBiH accuses SDA’s Tihic and SDP’s Behmenof amnestying RS PM Dodik of the responsibility for his stances on referendum

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tihic and Behmen are protecting Dodik’ by N. N., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Tihic and Behmen are protecting Dodik’ – Party for BiH has accused SDA’s Sulejman Tihic and SDP’s Alija Behmen of having amnestied RS PM Milorad Dodik of the responsibility for his stances with regard to the referendum for independence of RS, as well as for withdrawal from the police reform process. Referring to Tihic’s and Behmen’s most recent interviews to RS media, the Party for BiH says Tihic and Behmen are trying to blame the Party for BiH for all Dodik’s moves.

SBiH’s Silajdzic: I said NO to entity, but let’s have referendum at state level and let citizens have their say 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 4 ‘Who is Tihic to judge my patriotism?’ by E.Sarac, Inset ‘I am still in favor of referendum at state level’ – Denying accusations made by SDP leader Zlatko Lagumdzija that he provoked RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik to raise issue of referendum, SBiH leader Haris Silajdzic told DA: “Promoting idea on referendum at BiH level was a response to loud calls for referendum in the RS. This is exactly why I said NO to entity, but let’s organize referendum at the state level and let citizens have their say. I reacted for no one else did. I still believe in referendum as democratic tool for decision making, but at the state and not entity level.”

Oslobodjenje op-ed: It is a time for democratic duel of BiH and RS

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Referendum is needed, indeed’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Commenting recent statement by RS PM Milorad Dodik who said all peoples in BiH are entitled to decide on its destiny through referendum, editorial reads that this is a case of the “political vampirism under cover of the cloak of democracy, nothing more but politics that promise new bloodshed… Dodik’s demand is not only anti-constitutional act, but it also denying the Dayton Peace Agreement. It is warmongering. ” Author notes that a desire for secession, widely present in the RS, could be politically and legally denied, but such legal action would not mean disappearance of the desire itself. Stressing that Dodik’s logics invokes a contra-referendum at the state level on a question “Are you for abolishment of the entities?” editorial concludes: “There is a need to check stance of BiH citizens towards their state. If 55% does not want it, let it not exist. BiH needs democratically based majority of citizens behind it, that would allow establishing of interior political stability and independence, in order to start organizing itself finally with those who want it. It is a time for democratic duel of BiH and RS.”

DA op-ed: All RS parties gave IC examples of true anti-Dayton acts; such doing should face sanctions

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Serb unity of destruction’ op-ed by Husein Orahovac – Commenting that by blocking work of BiH Parliament and stories on secession of RS, editorial reads that Serb politicians clearly showed they do not want state of BiH: “All of parties from RS, in less than seven days, gave to BiH public a reason for major concern, and to representatives of International Community examples of true anti-Dayton acts. Such doing should face sanctions.”

SD op-ed on demand for referendum in RS: BiH ahs returned from its Dayton to pre-war phase

Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pgs 10 and 11 ‘Leaders in Banja Luka live for secession’ by V. Vegar comments on the initiative to organize the referendum on the RS status. According to the author, High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling took this situation very seriously and therefore he went to Belgrade to explain to Serbian leaders that the referendum in Montenegro and independence of Kosovo cannot be a model for the announced referendum in the RS. The author says that ‘this is a Sisyphean task. The coordination between Belgrade and Banja Luka exists, the goal has been set clearly and everything else is just a mater of political nuances’. The author concludes that the demand for the referendum in the RS reveals the real image of BiH, which has returned from its Dayton to a pre-war phase.

Int press: Montenegro vote spurs Bosnia Serb referendum calls

Washington Post and New York Times by Olga Lola Ninkovic – The WP and NYT carry the report by Reuters which comments on the statements by the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik on allowing this entity to organize the referendum and the petition supporting this stance and separation allegedly signed by 50.000 people. Noting that the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling stressed on Monday that “BiH is not in question now or in the future”, Ninkovic further stressed that the Serb National Movement gained popularity after Montenegro voted for independence and after Dodik poured fuel on the fire. Noticing that Montenegro was one of Yugoslav federal republics and that Kosovo [though still a province of Serbia] is under UN control, author stressed that Dodik’s proposition for BiH to be organized, as federal unit is a recipe the European Union fears would lead to endless Balkanization. Der Standard – Vienna based daily also carried the agencies report on Dodik’s statements, SPONA initiative and the HR’s stance. 

FT on call for RS referendum: RS had no prior existence until soldiers carved it through mass murder

Financial Times by Neil MacDonald– Commenting on the statements by the RS PM Milorad Dodik following the Montenegrin referendum that all nations, including RS, should be allowed the same, MacDonald underlines: “But the republic Mr Dodik leads from the northern city of Banja Luka had no prior existence until ethnic-Serb soldiers and militiamen carved it out through intimidation and mass murder against the other two ethnic groups during the 1992-95 war.”

Mostar budget; elections and reforms

Mostar City Council passes the Budget 2006; budget users to harmonize regulations with City Statute until June 20

FTV by Anita Damjanovic – After 6-months delay, Mostar City Council has adopted the modest city budget for 2006, in amount of 44.3 million KM, after they met the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling,last Thursday. RHB – Councillors tasked users of city budget to harmonize their regulations with the Statute of the city by June 20, so that City Council could approve them by July 1. The deadline for harmonizing the regulations is August 1; after that, budget users who failed to harmonize their regulations with the Statute of the city of Mostar would find their budget funds frozen, explained Chair of the Mostar City Council Murat Coric. Coric and Mostar Mayor Ljubo Beslic agreed that the most important thing is that Councillors showed understanding and tolerance during the discussion on Monday. Dnevni List, pg 13 ‘Mostar is key to European integration’, by Esmir Milavic – The Head of EC delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, visited Mostar on Monday to attend a public forum entitled ‘European integration and BiH’, on which occasion he supported the priorities in the city as set up the OHR, ie. budget, administration and public services in service of citizens. BHT1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Budget in amount of 44.437.249 KM passed’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Mostar finaly gets the budget’ by F.Vele, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Budget for 2006 around BAM 44.4 million’ by M.Krilic, Dnevni List, pg 10, mentioned on front ‘Mostar budget finally adopted’, by Sanja Bjelica, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 13 ‘Budget adopted’, by M. Landeka, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘First money transfers as of Monday’, by V. L. – also covered.

FTV on Mostar City Council session: budget was agreed by HDZ, SDA not Council; important issues against postponed

FTV by Anita Damjanovic – FTV comments that despite the fact that budget was adopted, the Council [more precisely, SDA and HDZ councilors] again postponed discussion another set of important issues, such as financing of the HTV and the Boards in Mostar institutions. On the latter, Chair of Mostar City Council Murat Coric stated that an issue of ethnic representation in management board should be agreed by 1 August, otherwise the institutions would lose all the funding. Ljubo Beslic stressed that HTV was the only TV station in BiH in Croatian language and that its financing must be solved ASAP. FTV concludes that even the agreement on the budget was made upon pressure from the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling, and was reached not among the councilors but between two coalition partners, HDZ and SDA. According to the Adisa Vucina from Radom za Boljitak, the entire situation was “HDZ’s and SDA’s exercise in futility”.

VL interview with HDZ 1990 President Ljubic: Mostar is the most multi-ethnic city in BiH, coalition with HDZ not possible

Vecernji List cover pg splash and pgs 6 and 7 ‘Ljubic: We are rescuing idea of HDZ’ by R. Soldo carries an interview with HDZ 1990 President Bozo Ljubic. Talking about the possible coalition with HDZ BiH, Ljubic says that this coalition is not possible because of the HDZ BiH leadership and a signature on the constitutional changes agreement. Ljubic added that if these two obstacles were removed HDZ BiH would be the best partner HDZ 1990 could wish for. Asked about a possibility that a non-Croat party puts forward a candidacy of a Croat at the elections, Ljubic says that in terms of politics this is not a good message to Croats. VL inset ‘’Mostar is more multi-ethnic city than Sarajevo’ carries that asked which city is more normal Sarajevo or Mostar, Ljubic says that Mostar is the most multi-ethnic city in BiH and he added: ‘Mostar is not a normal city since a Statute, that I could qualify as a straitjacket, has been imposed to this city…If Mostar wants to become a normal city it has to function as any other city in BiH, that is, according to all principles of local self-government.’ 

BiH CEC : HDZ 1990 must change its name in two days if it is to take part in upcoming elections

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘HDZ 1990 must change its name’ by A.Terzic – HDZ 1990 has been verified for the participation at the upcoming elections in October. The Chair of the BiH Central Electoral Commission [CEC] Branko Petric stated for daily that the Commission brought such decision to keep voters safe from confusion of having two parties of the same name. “HDZ 1990 has two-day deadline to change its name if it wants to take part in October elections. It is up to them to set new name that would not confuse people,” said Petric. He did not want to specify whether the Commission would reject any name with HDZ in it. Following the session of the CEC, it was decided that the following parties must also change their name: LDS, New Serb Force of Srpska, Serb Radical Party ‘dr. Vojislav Seselj’ as they have registered for the elections under name different from their court registration. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Applications of 28 political parties aren’t verified’ by Fena – also carried.

HDZ’ Covic: HDZ 1990 would have to register for elections under different name, since they falsified documents

RHB by Milan Vego – The Presidency and the Main Board of HDZ held a session on Monday in Mostar. On that occasion, Radio Herceg Bosna brings short interview with HDZ leader Dragan Covic. “We have discussed the coming elections in BiH; we wanted to analyse once again our pre-election strategy”, stated Covic, adding one of the topics was the possibility of creating a coalition with other parties. “Eleven parties have their own candidate for the post of Croat member of BiH Presidency, and only five of those eleven parties are Croat parties. It is a clear warning that Bosniak parties want to take full control of the area that was usually considered to solely belong to Croat parties”, stressed HDZ leader, and continued: “Therefore, we would have to find different modalities in order to avoid the possibility that – for example – SDA or some other Bosniak party appoint the Croat member of BiH Presidency”. However, Covic emphasized that HDZ once again expects convincing victory within the Croat election body, “which means over 100,000 votes”. Regarding the newly formed HDZ 1990 party, Covic stated that – although it’s up to the BiH Central Election Commission to decide – this party would certainly have to register for the coming election under some different name. “First of all, because they falsified all the documents they have submitted – they only copied the documents of the HDZ and added four numbers, and that is why we have filed a lawsuit against them… But what is important for us is that BiH CEC prevent the possibility of voters getting confused”, concluded Covic. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Covic: We shall prevent Bosniak election engineering’ by zk – VL says that Covic gave this statement after the session of the HDZ Main Board, which confirmed that this party would run independently at the elections at the state level. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Covic: To prevent Bosniak parties to take over Croat positions in government’ by F.V., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘HDZ to appear at elections independently’ by SRNA – also announced.

HDZ spokesperson Relota: Decision on possible coalitions at next session of HDZ Main Board and Presidency

Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘Possible coalition with NHI, HSS and HNZ for positions in RS’, by A. Omeragic – According to the spokesperson of the HDZ BiH, Miso Relota, the HDZ BiH leadership (Main Board and Presidency) will decide at the next few sessions on parties with which the HDZ BiH will form coalitions for the October elections. He explains that the party could be forming coalitions for elections in the RS with the NHI, HSS and HNZ, not ruling out possibility of coalitions with other Croat parties at the level of the state, FBIH and cantons.

DL int with NHIs Zubak: coalition with HSP Djapic-Jurisic?; DL speculates on coalition with HDZ BiH or SDP

Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Zubak in coalition with HDZ and SDP?!’, by R. Dautefendic – carries an interview with leader of NHI, Kresimir Zubak. When asked as to possible forming of coalitions with other parties for the October elections, Zubak says:“At this moment, we would foremost like to form an alliance with the HSP Djapic-Jurisic because they are closest to out positions”, said Zubak. The author comments that although Zubak did not mention other parties, there is a possibility that the NHI forms a coalition with HDZ BiH since HDZ BiH’s Ivo Miro Jovic attended the recent convention of NHI and proposed such alliance. On top of it, DL says the NHI’s positions are close to SDP’s and they were together in the Alliance for Changes in 2000, however they differ in relation to constitutional changes especially regarding the issue of entity vote ( NHI is against it).

EC head to BiH: RS Govt is ready to realise path to EU

RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Police reform has to be carried out’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH would have great benefit from associating with the EU’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘RS Government is ready to realise path to EU’ by V.D., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Humphreys in support of reconciliation of Trebinje and Dubrovnik’ by V.M., Dnevni List pg 5 ‘RS Government willing to implement way towards EU’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘On the European path’ by M.B. – Head of EC Delegation in BiH Michael Humphreys visited Trebinje on Monday. He stated that RS Government led by PM Milorad Dodik is ready to realise the way to the EU, which will bring stabile political situation, economic development, better life standards and open borders to BiH citizens. Humphreys expressed concern over halt in police reform, stressing that “reform must be implemented since it is one of basic reforms in integration with EU”. During his meeting with Trebinje Mayor Dobroslav Cuk, Humphreys expressed his regrets over the fact that border crossing “Ivanica” has not been opened, stressing that BiH and Croatia must mutually cooperate if they want to be accessed to EU.

PRD session on Wednesday: Final answer on demand for division of police by entities

Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Final answer on demand for division of police by entities’ by Az.K. – Police Reform Directorate [PRD] Steering Board will vote on demand made by RS Police acting Director Nijaz Smajlovic to redefine earlier adopted Opinion on model of police structure in BiH at its Wednesday’s session. RS Interior Ministry demanded for the police to be organized at both the state and entity levels. Author notes that it is expected for this proposal not to get necessary support.

Austrian Almhofer: RS does not want to make deviation from Agreement on police

Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘RS does not want to make any deviation from agreement on police’ by D.Risojevic – In a half page interview to daily, Werner Almhofer, Austrian Ambassador to BiH, has stated he got assurances at RS Government that it does not want to make any deviation from Agreement on Police Restructuring. In spite of delay in police reform after RS has withdrawn to the status of observer, Almhofer believes that things can be changed until September, until when PRD (Police Reform Directorate) should prepare a plan for reform, adding: “Directorate was – most of all – formed solely to implement decisions of three state parliaments…I seriously understand RS Premier Milorad Dodik when se says he does not want to deviate from the Agreement on police reform reached.” On constitutional changes, he says that EU stance is clear – BiH must progress towards European integration with an aim to successfully run and implement results of the talks with EU.

HR on police reform: RS is aware it cannot be an obstacle to SAA talks, compromise to be reached soon; on SA Comm.: I will exert pressure on anybody ignoring HRC decisions

Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Dayton is protecting borders’ by Dusan Stojakovic – In a half-page interview to daily, HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling responds to press question regarding establishment of Sarajevo Commission, HR says “there are 16 decisions of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) with BiH Constitutional Court which order F BiH and RS authorities to deal with problem of locating the missing persons, but those decisions have been ignored…I will personally exert pressure against institutions who turned deaf ear to demands of HRC.” On police reform, he notes that although there are some inconsistencies, RS has become aware it cannot be an obstacle for SAA talks and compromise will be reached soon. Responding to press question whether this means the future organisation of police will maintain police of RS, he stresses: “It is not a question of existence of RS police. This entity must implement decisions enacted at the state level. Law and budget come from the state budget and this is clear to RS PM Milorad Dodik.) Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Police reform of blockade or blockade of negotiations’, not signed – notes that the HR informed his hosts in Belgrade about moves BiH is making within the SAA process, stressing that the process will be halted in case the police reform is unsuccessful.

GS op-ed on Sarajevo Commission: Spiteful games

Glas Srpske op-ed pg 2 ‘Spiteful games’ by Veljko Kojovic – The author refers to the events that had followed CoM Chair Adnan Terzic’s stance on forming the Commission for investigation of truth on Sarajevo Serbs [when he first opposed, then accepted to form the Commission] and reads he had arrogantly disqualified the legal state, humiliated the Parliament and denied all its constitutional competences. The author notes few Serb and Croat citizens, in comparison to pre-war number, live in Sarajevo nowadays and remembers of RS PM Milorad Dodik’s statement ‘wherever there is a Bosniak’s house, that is Bosniaks’ land’. The author concludes by saying he agrees with this statement but only if one realizes that ‘wherever there is a Serb’s or Croat’s house, that is Serbs’ or Croats’ land’.

SBIHs Silajdzic: Who is Tihic to judge on my patriotism?! 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 4 ‘Who is Tihic to judge my patriotism?’ by E.Sarac – Commenting accusations of his political opponents regarding failure of constitutional changes, SBiH leader Haris Silajdzic told DA that SDA leader Sulejman Tihic is obviously not informed on what SBiH has been doing in the last ten years regarding reform processes. “When it comes to my patriotism, for many are pinning that recently, I repeat that I am not going to prove my patriotism to anyone… Who is Tihic to judge my patriotism and what are his patriotic results?”

PDP leader Ivanic: it is not realistic to expect adoption of const. changes before October elections

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘There is no new votes for amendments’ by A.M. – Commenting recent meeting of BiH political parties organized by US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney on the issue of constitutional changes, PDP leader Mladen Ivanic stated for daily that it is not realistic to expect adoption of amendments to the BiH Constitution before the October elections: “It is obvious that one failed to reach new deputies who would vote for the proposed amendments.”

Stability Pact Coordinator Busek: investments could be bought to SEE only by creating single free trade zone

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Single free trade zone necessary’ by M.K.S. – During the two-day meeting of the SEE Stability Pact’s Regional Round Table being held in Belgrade, the decision should be brought to transform this body into the Regional Council for Cooperation [RCC]. Members of RCC should be SEE countries, EU and key factors of the International Community, and the transformation is aimed at more responsibility in the hands of the SEE countries and improved regional cooperation. Prior to the conference, the Stability Pact Coordinator Erhard Busek reminded investing in the region demands creation of the single free trade zone. BiH House of Representatives Co-Chair Nikola Spiric addressed the session on Monday while HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling would talk on Tuesday on how can SEE learn from BiH’s efforts put in order to improve its international image.

War crimes and security issues

Ex RS PM Krajisnik: Karadzic was ready to surrender in 1998, but changed his mind because of ICTY Prosecution

Hayat – Former RS National Assembly Speaker Momcilo Krajisnik ended his testimony before the ICTY, where he stands trial for genocide and crimes against humanity. On Monday, he testified that Radovan Karadzic was ready to surrender himself to the ICTY in 1998, but he changed his mind because of the behaviour of the Prosecutor’s Office. While he was the member of BiH Presidency, Krajisnik held a meeting with former ICTY Prosecutor Louise Arbour, and informed her that Karadzic possessed documents that would contest the indictment against him, but at some point ICTY Prosecutor’s Office refused to accept those documents, which forced Karadzic to change his mind about the voluntary surrender. RHB, PINK, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Karadzic has agreed to surrender to The Hague in 1998’ by N.J., Glas Srpske cover pg report ‘Karadzic intended to surrender’, Nezavisne Novine pg

9 ‘Karadzic wanted to surrender in 1998’ by BETA, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Karadzic wanted to surrender in 1998’ by Asim Beslija – also carried.

Observer in Palic Comm.: RS authorities are mocking the process of finding Palic’s remains, they are deceiving OHR

FTV By Gordana Antonic – Jasmin Odobasic, observer in the Commission on fate of BiH Army Colonel from Zepa Avdo Palic [who went missing during the negotiations with RS Army on evacuation of Zepa Zepa in 1995 with the RS Army; BiH Human Rights Chamber obligated RS Government to locate his body remains] stated that RS Authorities mocked the entire process, deceiving OHR, Palic’s family and the public as if they were working on the case. Odobasic added that RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik doesn’t want to have Palic’s case solved because it allegedly incriminates war crime indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘It is clear why Dodik doesn’t want to solve Palic case’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Why OHR doesn’t react to lies and obstruction of RS authorities’ by Se.M., Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘A farce made of “Palic” case’ by Sn.K. – also reported.

Daily criticises OHR for lack of response in Palic case

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Criminal charges against RS Government’ by E.Kamenica – Esma Palic, wife of Colonel Avdo Palic said that all the deadlines that RS Government gave itself have passed and that she has warned HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling about that. Esma stressed that she would now address Peace Implementation Council. Kamenica reminded that former HR Paddy Ashdown in one of his last speeches has stressed that ‘now everything is up to the Public Prosecutor’ and has mentioned the possibility for the RS Government to be hold criminally liable. Kamenica underlines that tried to contact BiH Prosecution about this, but had no success. “Beside the announced answer, by mid of that day we haven’t received it from the OHR neither. Terrible,” concludes Kamenica.

HR CSS to visit Moscow : Russia also has responsibility in search after Karadzic, Mladic

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 inset ‘What would he ask Chief of Russian Diplomacy’ – The HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling told DA while in Belgrade that he will visit Moscow in June and would ask Russian officials about their participation in locating ICTY fugitive. “I will tell their Foreign Minister [Sergey Lavrov] that Russia also has a responsibility in a search after [Radovan] Karadzic and [Ratko] Mladic. They cannot say this is not their issue. This is the issue of all countries that must demonstrate that the rule of law is above everything else,” said Schwarz-Schilling.

Three suspects suspected for murders in Koz. Dubica detained

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘They suffocated victims‘, pg 3 ‘They suffocated two eprsons’ by D.Risojevic, EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘He strangled the two and then littered artificial fertilizer on them’ – Goran Kotoran, Miroslav Gligic and Borislav Dabic from Kozarska Dubica have been arrested for murder of Predrag Vrban and Sead Kamilic, Banja Luka District Prosecutor Milan Tegeltija confirmed this. Vrban and Kamilic have been reported missing last year. PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 19, mentioned on front ‘Murderers arrested’, by Anja Krajinovic, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Three arrested satanists are monstrous killers?’, mentioned on front ‘Ritual sectarian liquidations’, by Robert Soldo– also carried on the murder.

Another incident in Eastern Sarajevo

Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘The apartment of Elez family burned down’ by A. Dacic and A. Djozo – Sarajevo Canton MoI confirmed for NN that the apartment of Nevenka and Savo Elez from Sarajevo burned down after three “Molotovlev cocktails” were thrown on it on in the night between Sunday and Monday. According to unofficial information, Nevenka and Savo are relatives of Darko Elez who is hiding in Serbia and against whom a circular warrant had been signed out because of attempted murder of Djordje Zdralo. Inset ‘It is dangerous to be Elez’s acquaintance in East Sarajevo’ – reads that approximately 30 persons had been forced to move out from East Sarajevo in past several months only because they were friends of Darko Elez, as according to a collocutor from East Sarajevo PSC. He could not respond to the question whether these cases might be brought in relation with Zdralo. (NOTE: Elez islinked with several recent shootings in E. Sarajevo. Furthermore, Elez claimed in media that Djordje Zdralo, taught to be linked with police leadership and former RS Police Director Dragomir Andan, connected Elez with these shootings.)

GS reports on frequent assaults against returnees to Sanski Most in recent month

Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘They are killing, beating and maltreating’ by P.Pecanac – Daily reports on frequent assaults against Serb and Croat returnees in Sanski Most (brutal murder of 74-year old Croat Marija Trkulja three weeks ago, beating of Serb policeman, assault against Serb wedding guests), adding that fear and unrest are amongst small number of Serb returnees to Sanski Most. Drago Prastalo, President of the Sanski Most City Council and President of Association of Returnees, says that following the murder of elderly Serb, the security of Serb and Croat returnees to this city is jeopardised. Returnees fear that perpetrators of the brutal murder will never be identified. Daily also reports on other problems returnees are faced with (infrastructure, unemployment).

Strategy to fight organized crime and corruption presented to CoM Chair Terzic

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Strategy for fight against crime and corruption presented to Terzic’ by Fena – Inter-departmental working group for drafting Strategy to fight organized crime and corruption presented the final text of the strategy to BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic. Working Group is composed of representatives of all law enforcement agencies in BiH and the Strategy is the first document of the kind, foreseeing fight plans against all types of organized crime [including terrorism]. Also, the Strategy foresees harmonizing of BiH regulations with international documents dealing with this issue. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Harmonizing with international documents’ by Onasa – also covered.