| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Pensioners’ protest | Pensioners’ protest | RS report on Srebrenica | RS NA on pensioners |
| Aluminij Company | RS NA on pensions | Protest of pensioners | CoM on refugees |
| Council of Ministers | Syndicate on 5C corridor | RS Assembly on pensions | Regional news |
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| Port Ploce agreement | Strike in Cazin ends | World news |
| Oslobodjenje | Skilful Rebac too be replaced with compromised Kasumovic? |
| Dnevni Avaz | Halilovic on Cegar case – I did not make any agreements with Miletic |
| Dnevni List | “Ashdown travels to Zagreb today”; “Pensioners’ demands at next Government’s session” |
| Vecernji List | “Will electricity shut Aluminij down”; “Protesters whistled Minister down” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “Nevertheless 8% more guests than last year”; “Decision on pulling down of Euroagram building passed” |
| Glas Srpske | Illegal construction works in Serb Sarajevo: To conquer somebody else’s land |
| Nezavisne Novine | Pensioners of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina demanded their rights in front of Government building: 7000 pensioners reiterated to Government they are starving; |
| Blic | Only in Gradiska 170 pensioners died because of poverty; Fires in Trebinje and Bileca |
Pension-invalid insurance | |
| FBiH pensioners’ protest in Sarajevo
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5, mentioned on the front page ‘We do not want false promises but we want a dignified life’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Pensioners blame Government for difficult social situation’ – Several thousands of pensioners from all over the FBiH gathered on Tuesday in front of the FBiH Government’s building in Sarajevo to protest their poor material position. Their demands include, among other things, regular payment of pensions in full amount, payment of 3 overdue pensions from 2000 and harmonisation of pensions and salaries with agreed coefficient. Expressing their dissatisfaction with living conditions, pensioners presented the government with their demands, stressing they would not give up on them since they have nothing to loose. Jozo Ljiljanic, president of FBIH Pensioners Association, said: ‘It is a shame of the government of this entire society that pensioners literarily have to beg to survive.’ Due to his busy schedule for the day, Federation Prime Minister did not address gathered pensioners. The authorized Minister Radovan Vignjevic showed up, but was prevented to speak. Reporter further interviewed several protesters, who criticised the authorities. Unless their demands were met, pensioners announced that in September they would organize mass protests and road blockages, and in addition will seek dismissal of the FBiH government. Following the rally, the pensioners’ representatives met with Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, Labour and Social Welfare Vignjevic and Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic. Hadzipasic: “This government has no intention to promise something beyond its abilities”. Vignjevic: “Government supports pensioners in their demands for improvement of situation with pensions and it has been agreed that plan and programme for payments will be made”. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, by Zdenko Rerig, “Let us live”), Vecernji List (front page, “Protesters whistled Minister down” and page 2, “Pensioners received promises, authority whistles”, by E. Medunjanin), Dnevni List (front and page 7, by E. Mackic, “Pensioners’ demands at next Government’s session”, “Hadzipasic: Government does not intend to promise something that it cannot keep”), Blic pg. 6 ‘Pensioners in Federation are hungry too’ and Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘7000 pensioners reiterated to Government they are starving’ also reported on the protest. |
| OHR on pensioner’s protest | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Money from public funds must not go in hands of criminals’, Dnevni List – OHR says it is scandalous that pensioners are forced to bring attention to desperate situation through protest gathering and calls BiH officials to be determined in implementation of measures in fight against corruption. OHR Spokesperson Kevin Sullivan said at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday that “today’s protest stresses government’s responsibility to ensure that tax-payers’ money end up in hands of those who have right on it.” Money from public funds should not go to the criminals since because of that pensioners do not receive proper pensions, according to OHR. |
| RS National Assembly discusses pension-invalid insurance | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Thicker check in autumn’; Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘Parliament ordered RS Government to improve the status of pensioners’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Contributions must be paid’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 10 – RS National Assembly directed Government and Pension-Invalid Fund (PIO) to prepare operational plan of short-term measures to improve living situation of pensioners. It also asked the Government to propose solution for payment of overdue pensions. By the end of year, pensioners should receive full pensions, at the level of 45 % of average salary in RS. Government warned that to ensure implementation of this plan, PIO was short of 3 million KM which needs to be provided by budget. Mico Micic, RS Social Politics and Labour Minister, said: ‘Not that we are against the change of contribution rate, but this way we will without change of contribution rate or without additional burden for economy, we will succeed to achieve pensions of 45% of average salary in RS.’ However, RS pensioners would like to see contribution rate changed, but are aware that this would mean decrease of salaries for workers. Rade Rakulj, president of RS Pensioners Association said that this ‘did not receive green light and even though we would like it to happen, that would be easy solution, but what it would mean for others?’ Opposition did not support Government’s measures and conclusions, but had different proposal. SNSD delegate Dimitrije Ivanic explained that ‘is that there must be an increase of number of employees, that is number of workers which pay contribution to PIO, since this is not sustainable relationship between number of those paying contributions and pensioners.’ RS Government is to prepare analysis of adopted conclusions in regard to PIO and present them at the December’s session of RS NA. Blic pg. 7 ‘Protests soon’ – Leadership of Banja Luka’s pensioners association will decide after a decision of the RSNA and Government on request for paying pensions in accordance with the papers whether and when they will organise protests. |
| RS pensioners’ initiative | Blic pg. 6 ‘Due to poverty 170 pensioners died’ – Due to difficult situation in which they live, RS pensioners have proposed to establish a bank, and initial capital would be provided by them. According to their plan, each pensioner should set aside 5 or 10 KM, which would make initial capital of 15 million KM. The bank would grant credits and loans to pensioners under favourable interest. President of RS Pensioners Association Rade Rakulj says the idea on establishing a bank has been considered several times, but the main problem is that pensioners do not have money, personnel or space for the bank. He says that unless someone helps to them, they will not be able to realise the idea by the end of year. Pensioners will offer a proposal to the Republika Srpska Pension-Invalid Fund (PIO): PIO to ensure personnel and money for establishing, while the Association would promote the bank among pensioners. Rakulj says that PIO should have an interest in this, because very soon many will stay without job, and this would be a good idea for their employment. Besides, PIO has great expenses when paying pensions, and in this way these expenses would be reduced to minimum. Secretary General of RS Pensioners Party Ilija Stevancevic thinks that initial capital would be ensured from several sources, but mainly from the Government debt toward pensioners and pensioners’ participation. He says that if everything goes as planned the bank might be established by the end of this year. Director of RS Banking Agency Dusanka Novakovic says that a bank could be established only by individual(s) that invest 15 million KM of initial capital, which must not be the state’s, because all banks have been privatised. Apart from that, a statute needs to be made, personnel ensured, etc. in accordance with the Law on Banks. |
Economic affairs | |
| Bulldozer Committee
| BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ’19 new measures adopted’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 5, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 13, ’50 new reforms by September’, Dnevni List page 2, by E. Mackic, “Government’s unit for urgent reforms will be formed soon” – Phase II of Bulldozer commission initiatives which foresees 50 new reforms, will run from 4 June to 4 December 2003. Within this phase, the first plenary session of regional Bulldozer Committees’ representatives was held in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Phase II would be implemented by regional Bulldozer commissions at regional, municipal and cantonal levels. Participants at the session discussed 21 proposals, adopting 19 reforms. This phase also tasked regional representatives of Bulldozer commission to implement reforms adopted in Phase I. Benjamin Herzberg, member of Bulldozer commission, said that ‘OHR is not anymore driving force of Bulldozer Commission. As of now, this will be done by local authorities through units for urgent reforms to be appointed by governments.’ Other two sessions of the Phase II participations to be held on 4 and 25 September should results in adoption of total of 50 new reforms. |
| Ashdown on the indirect taxation | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘Seat of Indirect Tax Administration will not be in brood of criminals’ – In an interview to NN, the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, said that tax system reform is the most important economic reform, which has ever been launched in this state. HiRep is pretty much confident that the deadline set for Friday will be respected and that the law will be forwarded to democratic institutions of BiH on time. Regarding this, he added: “I made a promise to European Union that we will complete out duties within the scheduled deadlines. Also, that we will prove that BiH is a successful state, which meets its duties.” However, he admits that three issues are still left to be harmonised by the Indirect Tax Commission. HR also announced that the audit reports into telecom operators of BiH will be announced sometime in future. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, mentioned on the front page ‘Paddy Ashdown for the newspaper: I am impressed with the job done by the commission chaired by Joly Dixon’ – Following more that three-hour meeting with the prime ministries of the entities and the state, High Representative Paddy Ashdown said he was satisfied with what he had heard from the participants when it was about overcoming the differences regarding the ways of decisions making in the Indirect Taxation Administration, place of its residence and the way of its operation at the level of the state. |
| Oslobodjenje: Skilful Rebac to be replaced by compromised Kasumovic | Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 6 ‘Skilful Rebac to be replaced by compromised Kasumovic’ – According to the newspaper, it seems that Zelimir Rebac, Head and the reformer of the FBiH Customs Administration, has wasted his time while applying for the post of the Indirect Taxation Administration Director. The governing SDA and HDZ have not favouring Rebac from the very beginning of their mandate so that they have agreed on the appointment of a Bosniak candidate to the position. |
| Mostar Aluminij | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, Sarajevo dailies – Steering and supervisory board of the Aluminij Company held extraordinary meeting in Mostar on Tuesday. Boards expressed full support to the company’s management in regard to effort to provide regular conditions for production in terms of electric power costs. Regarding the BiH Elektroprivreda problems, the boards stressed that termination of contract with Daimler Chrysler would affect future investments in BiH and performance of Aluminij Company in the future period. Workers’ dismissals are possible too. Boards demand from the Federal Government to put on the agenda the issue of Mostar’s Aluminij Company. Dnevni List (front and page 5, by Miso Relota, “Vrankic” It is about typical blackmail with regard to Aluminij case!”) carries an interview with Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Minister of Finances Dragan Vrankic. Asked to comment on the announcements that Elektroprivreda of Bosnia and Herzegovina (EP BiH) will break a contract with Debis, Vrankic says: “The intention of EP BiH to break the contract with Debis is very incorrect and it will reflect on BiH joining European Integration. This decision is against each codex…On the other hand, I believe that this is typical blackmail of Aluminij, which is certainly our best exporter. ..The reaction of people from Aluminij is justified and I will support them. I am expecting that the FBiH Government will place this issue on its agenda, however, I am referring to our position in the FBiH Government where we have 5 Croat Ministers and 11 Bosniak Ministers, which is not very promising proportion and this is our every day problem.” Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, by Zoran Zekic, “Aluminij stops production”), Vecernji list (front page, “Will electricity make Aluminij close down?” and page 3, “Aluminij faces closing down”, by Zoran Kresic) and Dnevni List (page 5, not signed, “Decision is up to FBiH Government”) also deal with the Aluminij company issue. |
| BiH Trade Unions support 5c corridor construction | BHTV 1 – How to overcome current difficult economic situation in BiH? BiH Syndicate believes that the solution is in public works, such as the building of 5c corridor. This was confirmed at the joint press conference of European Syndicate of transport workers and BiH Syndicates of road traffic and railways held on Tuesday. BiH Syndicate fully support Bosmal company in their project on 5c corridor, as it believes that building of the motorway and railways in BiH would results in increased engagement of local companies and workers. Syndicate will also start an initiative to build highway between Sarajevo and Bar port. BiH railways also need to go through extensive repair to modernize it in accordance with European standards. It was also agreed that BH syndicates becomes a equal member of European syndicate of transport workers. Sarajevo dailies, Vecernji List page 2, by D. Ja, “Members of Biber’s Trade Union supported ‘Bosmal’ “ also covered the issue. |
| RS Elektroprivreda | RTRS – RS Elektroprivreda executive board considered report on consolidation of RS Elektroprivreda and Gacko Mine and Thermo Plant in last six months. They held session in Trebinje on Tuesday. Board also concluded that due to lack of financial means, it would gradually employ its staff in Gacko production and equipment maintenance, and decrease those employed by contractors. For the same reason, Gacko Mine and Thermo Plant will only have partial check and replacement of the equipment this year. Board said that Gacko company has not yet overcome crisis in financial situation. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘First hearings at Bijeljina Public Prosecutor’s Office’ – The hearing of persons, against whom Republika Srpska Interior Ministry has filed criminal reports following Republika Srpska Elektroprivreda affair, has commenced at Bijeljina Public Prosecutor’s Office. Bosko Lemez, former Republika Srpska Minister of Energy, Savo Mirkovic, former director of Thermal Power Plant “Ugljevik”, and Novak Solaja, former president of executive board of Republika Srpska EP, were all interrogated last week (namely on Wednesday). |
| RS Telecom affair | RTRS – Following affair that erupted on RS Telecom lottery, this company is once again in the media attention. RS Telecom pays rent of 200 KM per square meter in shopping mall Kastel in Banja Luka, while average price of renting office space in Banja Luka down town is about 35 KM per square meter. General Director of RS Telecom Zeljko Jungic did not want to comment on this issue, but company’s press office stated that this was one in series of misinformation on this company, adding all RS Telecom would file charges against all those spreading this and similar information. RS Telecom started renting this space on 1 December 2001. Report further read out and presented details on this information from Nezavisne Novine issue published on Tuesday. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Without any tender announced, “Samax” was getting jobs from MOBI’s’ – In the past period, MOBI’s has been giving works related to construction of basic stations for mobile telephony to the firm “Samax”, whose formal owner is Igor Veselinovic. However, according to NN sources from Telekom Srpske, the real owner of “Samax” firm is Sasa Cudic, the brother-in-law of the former MOBI’s Director, Bozidar Janackovic. Same source claims that the total of 40 contracts were signed between Telekom and “Samax”, none of which was signed following a public tender. |
| Update to affair at Republika Srpska Health Care Fund | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 9, ‘Selection of new director of Republika Srpska Health Care Fund at the beginning of August’ – Goran Radivojac, Spokesperson of the Republika Srpska Prime Minister, announced that the vacancy for the position of the Director of the Republika Srpska Health Care Fund will be closed on 2nd August. After that, the Commission in charge of selection of the new director of Fund will be formed. Regardless of that, Dragutin Ilic, former director of Fund, whom Government removed from position at the end of June, still assumes this duty. Moreover, the transfer of duties between Ilic and Ranko Krsman, whom Government appointed as Acting Director, has been delayed three times so far. |
| DL on removals in FBiH Financial Police | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by S.K., “Covic’s futile effort”) carries that according to the source close to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Finances and Minister Dragan Vrankic, Vrankic partly respected the instruction given by Chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic on taking control over the FBiH Financial Police DL says that Vrankic received the OHR’s consent to remove leading Financial Police officials Zufer Dervisevic and Miroslav Vidovic, whose mandates expired two years ago and who according to DL remained at these positions thanks to the support of Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays and the OHR. DL says that all of a sudden Vrankic decided to act according to the OHR’s instructions and regardless of Covic’s instruction Vrankic gave up the removal of Head of the FBiH Financial Police in Mostar Mirsada Pajic and her Deputy Dalibor Pusic. DL says that after this move problems with regard to ‘Aluminij’ company, that the FBiH Government, that is, Minister Vrankic, has to resolve now, emerged. DL says that it is hard to believe that Vrankic will be able to resolve this problem and that this will cause stormy reactions and perhaps even Vrankic’s removal. |
| RS Trade Unions leader says social program necessary to prevent mass social unrest
| Blic pg. 7 ‘Money prevents social riots’ – President of the Republika Srpska Trade Union Cedo Volas warned on Tuesday that social riots could take place in the RS if the RS National Assembly does not adopt the Social Welfare Programme for workers who lose their jobs in the privatisation and liquidation process. Volas said that 100 million KM are needed for the programme, adding that the assets should be allocated from the RS budget, and possibly from municipal budgets, as well as from foreign donations and credits. |
Political developments | |
| Ashdown to visit Croatia today
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Ashdown today in Zagreb’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Paddy Ashdown visiting Zagreb today’ – High Representative Paddy Ashdown will visit Croatia on Wednesday. Ashdown is going to meet Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and other senior Croatian officials, OHR Spokesman Kevin Sullivan told journalists in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Talks are regular consultations of the High Representative with Croatian officials and corridor 5c is not the aim of the visit. |
| Economist on HR’s actions | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Hot potato into the hands of locals’ – Eminent London based weekly “Economist” has also engaged in debate related to the role of the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown. The weekly concluded that during Ashdown’s mandate, increasingly more authorities have been transferred onto local authorities of BiH, that are not ready for such tasks, mainly owing ton economic reasons. |
| Oslobodjenje editorial: Bosnia and Ashdown | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 “Bosnia and Ashdown’ Editorial by Amra Kebo – Kebo writes that it is normal for a gradual reduction of the High Representative’s powers to come since the current situation of a quite protectorate is absolutely not sustainable. |
| Cato Institute’s proposal | Nedeljni Telegraf pg. 5 ‘America has made mistakes in the Balkans! We need to correct it; if necessary: divide Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia’ – Ten-year engagement of US in the Balkans, during which several billion US$ were spent, proved to be total failure. Administration in Washington needs to give up any further interfering in the Balkans, leave it to the EU and allow it, if necessary, to divide Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. This is recommendation of respectable Cato Institute’s analysts to American Congress. According to the recommendation of Cato Institute, a new American policy in the Balkans should be as follows: a) peace operation in Bosnia and Kosovo to be transferred to European allies; b) to withdraw from the Balkans by 2004; c) to cease American financial help to Bosnia and Kosovo; d) to obstruct any concept of establishing new artificial states with American help; e) to not dictate Europe and Balkans’ people how to manage the region; f) to give up any kind of economic sanctions toward Serbia and Montenegro in order to force it to accept American positions; g) to encourage political and economic liberalisation in the Balkans’ countries. According to the analysis of Cato Institute, the biggest American experiment in the Balkans – multiethnic Bosnia, is the biggest American failure. As the analysis says, the Dayton Agreement bears a seed of Bosnia’s doom. “This political frame encourages division into ethnic groups and constantly yields feeling of insecurity. Increased power of one ethnic group is possible danger for others. The country is divided in ethnic lines. Ethnic groups in Bosnia could not live together or they are afraid of that,” the analysis says. For the situation in the country, the Cato Institute blames international administration headed by the High Representative: “The High Representative does not give good lessons in democracy to Bosnian people. He regularly violates standards of democracy, rules by decrees, shows disrespect toward election results and suppresses freedom of media.” “America has spent billions of dollars on the country that has little chances to survive in today’s form. Due to that the Congress should stop immediately to finance this experiment of social engineering and neo-colonialism,” the Cato Institute’s analysis concludes. |
| BiH CoM discusses return process, Port of Ploce use | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 10 ‘Draft changes of the Port of Ploce agreement adopted’, Oslobodjenje reports separately on the issues discussed at the session and on different pages – BiH Council of Ministers established the proposal of the Law on changes and amendments to the Law on Refugees and DPs, proposal of the Law on Insurance Agency and proposal of the Law on BiH Aviation. These proposals will be forwarded to BH Parliament for adoption. CoM also discussed signing of the protocol with Croatia, which change Article 9 of Ploce port agreement. However, since Minister Safet Halilovic was against this initiative, CoM currently conducts additional consultations for adoption of this protocol. Article 9 of the Ploce port agreement envisaged permanent international arbiter, whose vote would be key in case Croatian and BiH commissions on this issue would fail to reach an agreement. New protocol foresees establishment of new arbiter commission, consisting of one BiH and one Croatian arbiter. In case of dispute, together they would appoint third arbiter and bring decision all three together. BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic said he believed that the change of Article 9 would not damage BiH. ‘I think the fact that Croatian government brought decision for President to sign this protocol shows their readiness to, upon signing, commence fair implementation of entire agreement.’ – added Ivanic. CoM will bring decision on the signing of the protocol o Tuesday evening. In regard to financial means gained by the succession in agreement with American banks and IMF, they are kept on separate accounts. Ivanic explains that the aim of this was to keep those finances and to ensure BiH pays the debts to its citizens. Ivanic did not say as of when those finances would be spent. Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, by B. Magas, “Halilovic does not trust Croatia”), Dnevni List (page 4, by De.L., “Joint Commission for Refugees’ Issues formed) and Vecernji List (page 3, by Dejan Jazvic, “Safet Halilovic does not trust Croatia”) also reported on the session. |
| HNC Assembly session | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, Dnevni List (page 14, “Budget and Law on Budget Execution for 2003 adopted”, by S. Bjelica) reports that, at the session of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) Assembly held on Tuesday, the mandates of Tomislav Martinovic, the Minister of Interior, Mumin Isic, the Minister of Justice and Jago Musa, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, were verified so that the new composition of the Cantonal Government is finally complete. Members of the Assembly adopted the Report on the Realisation of the HNC Budget for 2002 and passed the Decision on temporary financing of public needs in the Canton for the 2nd quarter of 2003. Law on Concession was also adopted. After a long debate on the budget for 2003, both the budget and the Law on Execution of Budget for 2003, which includes a big number of proposed amendments were adopted. |
| Unification of Mostar Grammar School | Dnevni List (page 16, “”Parents will move their children from “Fra Dominik Mandic” Grammar School to other schools”, by S. Bjelica) learns that, at its session held last week, the School Board of “Fra Dominik Mandic” Grammar School unilaterally rejected the proposal by Mostar Municipality South-West on the integration of the school with the justification that, according to the Law, integration of schools is not the competence of School Boards but of its founders, i.e. Mostar Municipality South-West in this case. According to Josip Milic, the president of the Secondary Education Trade Union, there can be integration of grammar schools only if all the 3 (“Fra Dominik Mandic”, “Fra Grga Martic” and the “First Grammar School”) enter the school building simultaneously and that, if this condition is not met, the new academic year will not start. He proposes to hold meetings with parents and pupils prior to the beginning of the new academic year in order to learn what their views of the idea are, since there are already rumours that parents will move their children from the “Fra Dominik Mandic” to other schools. Milic adds that, since few pupils enrolled at the school for the next academic year, there will be even less of them next year as it would turn into a Bosniak grammar school – in that case Croat would not attend it, it would be boycotted by both teachers and pupils. Milic also says that HDZ is keen on integrating the 2 Mostar grammar schools and that he expects pressures from the HDZ. Ivica Glibusic, DL journalist (page 9, “Do Croat and Bosniak children have the right to mother tongues?”), in his reply to Ambassador Robert Beecroft, reminds once more that deprivation of the Bosniak and Croat children of their right to mother tongue in the future mixed Grammar School with combined classes is violation of the fundamental human right. Glibusic says the Grammar School can only function in Croatian and Bosniak languages side by side. Glibusic reprimand Beecroft for not having replied to facts in Glibusic’s original commentary – instead, Ambassador Beecroft spoke generally about the education issue and about the Dayton Agreement. He finds interesting that Ambassador Beecroft refers to the Constitution when the implementation of his ideas would violate the very Constitution. The article concludes by a question as to who will take responsibility for possible consequences of the project of integration of the Grammar schools and a notion that, instead of making superficial conclusions, one should ask pupils and teachers what kind of school they want. |
Srebrenica | |
| Zvornik mass grave
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Exhumation of bodies today’ – The excavation at the biggest mass grave ever at the location of Crni Vrh near Zvornik, which commenced on Monday in spite of heavy rains, is proceeding as planned. The first bodies are expected to be exhumed today or tomorrow. Oslobodjenje reported on the issue on pg. 7 ‘Grave hides several hundreds of bodies’, and Dnevni Avaz on pg. 12 ‘First remains discovered’. |
| RS Government’s report on Srebrenica massacre | FTV – RS Government prepared interim report on Srebrenica massacre as requested by the BiH Human Rights Chamber. OHR and OSCE reminded RS to respect this decision last week. However, RS government emphasises limitations for preparation of the report since SFOR and the Hague Tribunal prevented more complete investigation. The Human Rights Chamber of BiH demanded RS authorities to prepare this report, but it is not possible to conduct any investigation in the RS Army and bulk of documentation is missing. The Chamber made such decision after lawsuit of 49 persons. In the report RS authorities claimed that many of casualties had been either suicides or mine fields or drowning cases and confirmed names of only 4 persons identified so far. |
| Potocari memorial
| FTV – Financing gap for Potocari memorial center amounts to 2 million KM. Fund raising via BiH Telecom generated 250 thousands KM, but this campaign will be extended till September. |
Other issues | |
| Cegar case
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Cegar remains in the office, Andjic and Vilic are just temporary replacing him’ – According to the newspaper, Zoran Cegar, the Commander of the FBiH Interior Ministry’s Special Police Unit, has been suspended only until the completion of the disciplinary procedure against him. Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘Halilovic on Cegar case – I did not make any agreements with Miletic’ – FBiH Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic told the newspaper that there was no any agrrement between him and Police Director Miletic when it comes to Cegar case. Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘Inappropriate/still non-established system’ Commentary of the Day by Husein Orahovac – Orahovac writes that the Cegar case unveils all the mess with regard to the distribution of authorities amongst the FBiH Interior Ministry leaders, which is quite enough for fight against organised crime to fail. Dnevni List page 5, by D.L., “Special Police used for daily politics purposes”, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 – The Police Administration of the FBiH and Ministry of Interior described in a press release as incorrect claims that certain members of the Special Police Unit announce to leave it in case of Cegar’s removal. |