| BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Markovic statement | Helicopter explosion | Flood in Prijedor |
| Response from Brussels | Owen in ICTY | RS PM in Ohrid |
| FBiH Police | Disabled persons |
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| Iraqi issues | Masses for the dead |
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| Oslobodjenje | Three national political parties traced disaster |
| Dnevni Avaz | Tihic again received threats from Chicago |
| Dnevni List | “SFOR and EUPM reports made HR angry: Removals of Ministers Halilovic and Sarganovic follow”; “Split only exists within part of HDZ BiH Presidency” |
| Vecernji List | “Blaskic expects to be released by Easter”; “General Perisic will stand trial in Mostar” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Will mujahedeens be tried for war crimes: One sifter, three sieves; Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Welfare: Smoking is legal |
| Nezavisne Novine | Banjaluka: Highway Banjaluka – Okucani by 2008; Terzic: SDA does not need the new leader; Hadzi Jovan Mitrovic: Parliament majority betrayed people |
| Blic | Serbia is target of terrorists; Protests continue: Students do not trust the Government |
Economic/social issues | |
| Last PM of socialist Yugoslavia to visit BiH as the Italian investors’ representative
| BHTV, Vecernji List front “A. Markovic will build hydro power-plants in BiH” and page 2 “Markovic would build little hydro power-plants in BiH”, by Zdenko Jurilj – The last Prime Minister of socialist Yugoslavia Ante Markovic is to arrive to Sarajevo on Monday in the name of group of Italian investors. He will meet BiH and FBiH Prime Ministers Adnan Terzic and Ahmet Hadzipasic to discuss the possibilities of foreign investments in BiH small and middle-size hydroelectric power stations. In the phone interview for BHTV1 Markovic stated the following: “What I concluded was that this business has developed enough, and that is the reason why these people are considering their investments in it. They requested the presence of a skilled and authoritative person (turned out to be me) that could assist on making the best possible realization of this project. I have already spoken of my willingness to become engaged in various projects that could make progress in BiH. As far as I’m concerned, this would not be the only project that I am willing to assist on.” On the reporter’s question about him waiting for 12 years to speak about the events in early 90’s, Markovic said: “It would take a while for me to answer this question. After I was unable to prevent certain events in 90’s, I decided to withdraw from politics. My ambitions on becoming engaged in politics again died. And whom would I tell this? Who was prepared to listen? Everyone was burdened by their problems, and was influenced by various political circles. My words would definitely be understood.” |
| ITA Director appointment | BHTV – The HR has recently decided to re-establish the Commission for Indirect Taxation after new Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration was not appointed in the anticipated deadline. In spite of the fact that Fuad Kasumovic gained the support and trust of BiH Prime Minister, the HR returned the process of electing the Chairman to its start after this candidate did not pass the checks of the IC. “There were some misunderstandings between the election and the assessment procedures. I had very sincere intentions of appointing a person that is able to establish the Indirect Taxation Administration. I am convinced that Mr. Kasumovic is a good man for this job. Unfortunately, I was unable to find common language with the HR,” stated BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic. He added that he was expecting the appointment of the Chairman in two or three weeks. OHR spokesman Vedran Persic stated the following: “Taking under consideration various difficulties that occurred during this process, the HR supported the initiative of the Chairman of the Commission on re-announcing the competition.” |
| DNS on indirect taxation policy
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘Parliament majority betrayed people’ – Democratic National Alliance (DNS) Vice President and representative in the RS National Assembly, Hadzi-Jovan Mitrovic, is of the view that the voting for the Law on indirect taxation at the latest Republika Srpska National Assembly session representatives an act of crime and grand betrayal of the people. According to him, the transfer of authority over taxes could not have been passed prior to change of the Republika Srpska Constitution. He also expressed disagreement with the proposed law on defence reform, noting that he has never seen more shameful speech ever than the one given by the Republika Srpska President, Dragan Cavic, at RS NA session. |
| Roundtable on Corporate Governance
| Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘The problem of corruption and tax evasion’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘How to head companies?’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Hays on special audit reports’, FENA, ONASA – Representatives of BiH and Entity ministries, together with international and BiH legal experts, will participate at a roundtable on Corporate Governance, on Monday at the Sarajevo University Law Faculty. Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays will open the meeting with a review of the Special Auditor’s reports into management practices at public companies, and the steps that must now be taken order to address the fraud and corruption uncovered by the Special Auditor. |
| Round Table on highway Banjaluka-Okucani | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Highway Banjaluka – Okucani by 2008’; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Miles in a fog’ – The conclusion of yesterday’s Round Table in Banjaluka organised by the Association of the Citizens of City of Banjaluka was that it is necessary to create legal, organisational, financial and institutional framework in order to ensure that the construction of the highway Banjaluka – Okucani completes by 2008. The Round Table was attended by the following officials: the Republika Srpska President, Dragan Cavic, Branko Dokic, BiH Minister of Traffic and Communication, Nikola Spiric, Chairperson of the BiH House of Representatives, Boris Gaspar, Republika Srpska Minister of Trade and Tourism, Dragoljub Davidovic, Banjaluka Mayor, Ranko Karapetrovic and Veljko Jovanovic Mayors of Laktasi and Gradiska respectively, and representatives of “City” association. Spiric said that the participants agreed that the dynamics of the existing institutions should be accelerated, in order to ensure that the construction of highway attracts investors. According to Dokic, the construction of this highway is a priority. Cavic said that it is in the best interest of Banjaluka and Republika Srpska that this project is realised. Dragan Mihajlovic, Deputy Directorate of the Republika Srpska Directorate for Roads, said that the feasibility study was under preparation. |
| Transformation of power sector in BiH | Dnevni List (front and page 7, “Will three Elektroprivredas remain?”, by Ivica Glibusic) – the daily asked the CEO of Elektroprivreda of Herzeg-Bosnia (EP HZ HB), Vlado Maric, to comment on the Proposal of law on establishment of company for transmission of electricity in BiH, as prepared by the BiH Council of Ministers, and whether the establishment of the transmission company marks the beginning of abolishment of the three Elektroprivredas in BiH, to which Maric replied: “It is not the abolishment of elektroprivredas, it is establishment of single transmission company at BiH level, the transmission is being extracted from the three elektroprivredas and a single company at BiH level, with the seat in Banja Luka, is being formed”. Questioned whether there is a possibility to have a merger of the three elektroprivredas in BiH in times to come, Maric says the Action plan envisages the merger, adding that it all depends on the politics, despite warnings and arguments by some experts, which tried to prove it would not be a good solution. DL also notes that the three Unions of the BiH elektroprivredas already made it clear that they did not want the merger. |
Political affairs | |
| EC on BiH integration into Europe
| BHTV – BiH is waiting for the response from the European Commission on the state’s progress towards EU integrations. The evaluation from Brussels will be announced by the end of November. BiH institution had the obligation of responding to 365 questions and structure the Feasibility Study. If it turns out that BiH gained the support from Brussels, it can start the negotiations on concluding an agreement on stabilisation and joint, which is one of the most significant steps on the path towards EU. “The questions were mostly related to political situation and economical situation. Other questions were sector-based and covered practically every field of life in BiH (trade, freedom of movement, education, health, transport, media, judiciary, and so on),” stated Chairman of the BiH Office for European Integrations Osman Topcagic. EC spokesman Frane Maroevic stated the following: “The EC doesn’t expect that BiH has made such progress sufficient for joining EU. We are just evaluating how close is BiH to the achieving EU standards and procedures.” |
| Mikerevic: The Balkans needs to join Europe faster
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Faster accession to EU needed’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, FENA – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic spoke about the need for better mutual understanding in the Balkans and faster accession to European structures at a two-day informal gathering in Ohrid (Macedonia) and Podgradec (Albania). Mikerevic said that the Balkans needs new leaders of authentic values, as well as an authentic society, and that it needs people responsible both before themselves and others, prepared to forgive and build new trust in the region. Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and Albanian President Alfred Mojsiu hosted the gathering and it was attended by Norwegian Prime Minister Kjel Magne Bridevik, Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Redzepi, Albanian Defence Minister Pandeli Majko, BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic, Prince Nikolas of Liechtenstein and others. |
| Circle 99: BiH society heading towards major catastrophe | BHTV, Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 3 ‘Three national political parties traced disaster’, Dnevni List page 2, “BiH society is hurtling towards disaster of widest proportions”, Vecernji List (page 2, “Krug 99: Cold war of two entities is on”, FENA – The BiH society is heading towards a major catastrophe if current international strategies of resolving the crisis in BiH continue, Sarajevo University Professor Gajo Sekulic said at a regular Circle 99 Independent Intellectuals Association’s session in Sarajevo on Sunday. The catastrophe will happen if the reproduction of power of ethno-national parties is continued because to them Dayton is as endless gift ensuring their political power and reproduction, Sekulic said. He thinks that a counter power could exist if all players in the civic society radicalize their activities to limits of civic disobedience. He also said that we are witnessing a cold war in BiH between its two entities – the RS and Federation. “Today’s imaginary BiH state is being compensated by the brutal help of the High Representative and an illusion is being created that he can rule for several more years and the currently governing BiH politicians 200 more years”, Sekulic said and added that a lack of economic and social prospect is a result of political paralysis in BiH. He said that the Dayton Agreement provided long-term legitimacy to national parties and made possible the brotherly symbiosis of the three ethno-national groups at the same time preventing a civic option. |
| DL on situation in Mostar and HNC | Dnevni List (page 2, “Ashdown’s lesson to local politicians”, by Ivica Glibusic) carries an editorial talking about the situation regarding the process of Mostar restructuring and situation on functioning of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government noting that political parties and local politicians in particular are making Mostar “a town case” although the war ended long time ago. In that context, the author wonders why there should be a special regime in Mostar, which is to be prepared by the Mostar Commission, a regime that is not applied anywhere else in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We wonder how come the Bosniaks in Mostar are afraid of outvoting and seek specials protection, whilst they are not ready to give the Croats in Travnik, Bugojno or Zenica the same?”, asks the author. Regarding the situation on the Cantonal Government, the author believes that the last visit of the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, to Mostar and the warning to the “whole HNC Government, especially to the Bosniak Ministers, to return to the Government and work to the benefit of the whole canton”, will result in the situation that the budget beneficiaries will no longer live in fear that “some Minister will make a mad move and keep people in uncertainty whether they get the already earned salaries”. The author’s final message is dealing the Mostar issue saying that the HR Ashdown had given a lesson in Mostar when he sent a message that divisions were out of question and that local politicians should erase them from their heads. “It will be interesting to see whether the High Representative persists so Mostar be organized like other cities in the Federation of BiH”, concludes the author. |
| Fatima Leho: There were no talks on division of Mostar | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Fatima Leho: There were no talks on division of Mostar’ – The President of the SDA Mostar City Board and a member of the Commission for Mostar Statute, Fatima Leho, denied media reports that she had offered the division of Mostar as a solution to HR Paddy Ashdown during his latest visit to the town. “At the meeting, which was also attended by the representatives of other political parties, I simply presented the position of my party, which is that the future organisation of Mostar must be in the spirit of Dayton. This means that the town is arranged on the principle of a strong city administration and budget, but that the local self-rule units continue to function with the rest of their authorities,” Leho said. |
| Jutarnje Novine interview with SDA Vice-president Jahic | Jutarnje Novine (page 2, “We did not give recommendation to Ministers to leave session of HNC Government, by Mirsad Brkic) carries an interview with SDA Vice President Elmir Jahic. With regard to the crises in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government, Jahic says: “Common ground between the HNC Prime Minister Miroslav Coric and HNC Minister of Finances Semin Boric must be found. Also, it is necessary to carry out payments in line with the law, especially the Law on Treasury.” Asked whether they were informed about this problem on time, Jahic says that they were informed about it only after the problem emerged and added: “We did not give a recommendation that our Ministers leave the session of the HNC Government.” Asked whether this means that the cooperation between the SDA Headquarters and HNC SDA is not the best, Jahic says: “At the beginning of this week we shall have the session of the SDA Presidency and certainly we shall make a stand with regard to this issue…The cooperation between the SDA Headquarters and HNC SDA exists. However, the one should bear in mind that this Canton has the most complicated political relations, having in mind the things that happened in the past. There are still intentions of some circles on what the future of this area should look like.” Asked whether some additional measures will be taken, Jahic says: “We shall have to take an additional engagement towards this area.” He added that there cannot be parallelisms in the work of the authority structures on the territory of this Canton any longer. Asked to comment on the journalist’s conclusion saying that High Representative Paddy Ashdown harshly reacted to the move made by Bosniak Ministers and whether he believes that the HR might introduce sanctions if the problem is not resolved soon, Jahic says: “I am not aware of the possibility that the OHR introduces sanctions. I hope that this will not take place and I hope that this problem will be resolved soon.” |
| Nezavisne Novine interview with SDA Vice-president Terzic | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 8, ‘SDA does not need the new leader’ – In an interview to NN, the SDA Vice President and the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, comments on recent statement by Omer Behmen saying that the manner in which Behmen labelled him was common for SDA some years ago. He also said that if Behmen was critical of him because he wants to lead BiH in Europe, then he is proud of that. Terzic also denied having any ambition to become the SDA leader. |
| Relations between HDZ Croatia and HDZ BiH on the eve of the Croatian elections | Vecernji List (page 5, “Barun, Radic and Zlomislic do not support Generals”, by Z. Kresic) carries that Presidents of the Croat Associations resulting from Homeland War did not support the so-called Generals’ list led by General Zeljko Glasnovic and they will give their final stand on this issue after the sessions of their leaderships take place in a next few days. VL goes on to say that the Associations are thinking to support the right wing in Croatia, that would take care of their interests again. VL explains that it was rather tense during the meeting which was held between the representatives of the aforementioned Associations and Generals in Grude on Saturday, and that the representatives of the Associations left the meeting. According to the article, a few high-ranked HDZ BiH officials also attended the meeting. President of HVIDRA Andjelko Braun stated: “We are disappointed over the behavior of the Croat leadership in BiH because elections can be crucial for all of us.” VL also says that according to unofficial information, a part of the HDZ BiH leadership supported the Generals’ list, while a considerable part of the HDZ BiH Presidency members do not think that way. Florijan Boras who stands good chances to be on the HDZ Croatia list for Diaspora stated that HDZ Croatia did not want to have Croat politicians on the list for Diaspora and added that this refers to both current and former Croat officials from BiH. According to Boras, HDZ Croatia does not want to control the politics of Croats in BiH any longer. He also revealed that HDZ starts its pre-election campaign in Sarajevo and most probably the pre-election in rally in Mostar will take place on November 7. VL (page 11, “ ‘Generals’ list against Sanader”, by Z. Kresic) carries a similar article on this issue. Dnevni List (front and page 3, “Split only exists within part of HDZ BiH Presidency”, by M. Relota) carries that HDZ BiH will not participate in making of the HDZ Croatia list for Diaspora because they are not satisfied with the positions on the list that were offered to them. Vjesnik (page 3, “HDZ BiH does not participate in making of the list for Diaspora”, by A. Zornija) carries that HDZ BiH spokesperson Pero Pavlovic confirmed this information. Vjesnik also says that during the meeting between Sanader and Colak, Sanader did not want to place on the list Croat politicians from BiH removed by the High Representative because Sanader and his party do not need this kind of confrontation with the OHR. DL also says that a source close to the HDZ Croatia Presidency stated that the divisions only exist in the top of a part of the HDZ BiH Presidency. The source added that now it is too early to talk about the split of a part of the HDZ Croatia and HDZ BiH Presidencies, however, the official stand of the HDZ Croatia Presidency is that they count on the support of the HDZ BiH promised by HDZ BiH President Barisa Colak. |
| Interview with holder of HKDU and HCSP list for Croatian elections Zeljko Koroman | Vecernji List (page 5, “Ethnic border unacceptable”, by I. Kaleb) carries an interview with President of Hrvatski Paravaski Blok (Croat Rightists Block, HPB) Zeljko Koroman who is the holder of the HKDU and Hrvatska Cista Stranka Prava (Croat Pure Party of Right, HCSP) list for the coming elections in Croatia. Asked as to what he and his colleagues will do for BiH Croats if they get elected in the Croatia Parliament, Koroman says that they will do everything that Croatia takes care of the BiH Croats and the whole Diaspora. Koroman added that they will not allow that the current, state border between Croatia and BiH turns into an ethnic, state border. |
Media | |
| Avaz editorial on RTRS
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘RTRS’ coming out from the darkness of the past’ Commentary of the Day by Miso Vidovic (Avaz’s correspondent from Banja Luka) – According to Vidovic, it is more than obvious that the current governing political parties in RS (SDS, PDP) seek to regain control of RTRS. “”The current RTRS leadership, if it want a genuine democratisation of the media space in RS, must carry out fundamental professional reforms and, at the same time, it must relieve itself from fear of ungrounded government’s requests,” concludes Vidovic. |
| OHR on PDP response to Braithwaite’s criticism against Mikerevic | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Republika Srpska Government jeopardised the OHR integrity’ – The OHR Spokesperson, Vedran Persic, yesterday stated that the Republika Srpska Government could expect from OHR to respond in the same manner if Government jeopardised the integrity of OHR ever again. Persic reacted upon the statement by Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, who said that the OHR Chief Spokesperson, Julian Braithwaite, in his statement used “non-diplomatic vocabulary, which is beyond limitations of good taste”. |
Security/police affairs | |
| BHTV on pressures on FBiH Police
| BHTV – Head of the EUPM in BiH Sven Frederiksen will present evidences of FBiH, Sarajevo, Gorazde, and Una-Sana Canton Police forces being pressured by certain members of SDA. This was confirmed from the HR cabinet. The HR cabinet has already warned all political parties in BiH to stop interfering in the work of police forces. As a response to SDA demand on presenting all evidences on the matter, they are announcing the replacement of Head of the Una-Sana Canton Police as well as presenting other files that will lead to replacement of heads of police in other cantons. “This is the message to all political parties that the days of interfering in the work of police are over,” stated EUPM spokesman Allun Roberts. EUPM has sufficient evidences to present the SDA pressure on police members. They also say that this was not the only political party that is interfering in the work of police. “If were are going towards EU standards, we have to establish democratic and professional procedures. We have the independent board that is deciding on appointing and releasing police officers,” said Roberts. The OHR expects SDA to react once it receives evidences that confirm pressuring police members. |
| DL says Interior Ministers Halilovic and Sarganovic to be removed soon | Dnevni List (front and page 5, “Removals on Ministers Halilovic and Sarganovic to follow”, by Irfan Mujkic) – the daily learns from “sources close to the EUPM in Sarajevo” that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and the EUPM Commissioner, Sven Frederiksen, organized a press conference warning of pressure on Police officials after SFOR and EUPM prepared a report which talked, among other issues, about pressures on the Una-Sana Canton and Sarajevo Canton Police Commissioners. On top of that, the report allegedly says that the HR has been informed that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) Government has not transferred the money for the employees of the FBiH MoI, which work under the Director of the FBiH MoI, Zlatko Miletic, for three months already. Furthermore, DL says SFOR, during the recent raids of the FBiH MoI and Federation Intelligence Service (FOSS), discovered evidence that the FBiH MoI and FOSS failed to conduct surveillance of people suspected of money laundry, who are also connected to people from SDA. DL learns from “unofficial sources close to the OHR” that there should be a removal of the FBiH Minister of Interior, Mevludin Halilovic, and Una-Sana Canton Minister of Interior, Safet Sarganovic, soon. |
| Tihic again received threats from Chicago | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘Tihic again received threats from Chicago’ – Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic on Friday again received a letter of threat from Chicago-based Ravnogorski Movement branch. The letter read that in spite of a fact he had been already “sentenced to death” Tihic was continuing to speak against RS and Serbs. |
Legal affairs/proceedings | |
| Appointment of BiH Ombudsman for Human Rights
| Dnevni List (page 4, “Party ombudsman will not protect human rights”, by Ivica Glibusic) carries an article on appointment of the BiH Ombudsman for human rights, criticizing the procedure in which the BiH Presidency nominates the 3 candidates which are to be approved by the Parliament. Regarding the two candidates that have been nominated by two members of the BiH Presidency, Mariofil Ljubic (nominated by Dragan Covic) and Snjezana Savic (nominated by Borislav Paravac), DL notes that Ljubic was for years a senior official of the HDZ BiH, whilst Savic, in capacity of a Judge of the BiH Constitutional Court, voted against the decision on constituent status of peoples in whole of BiH. |
| ICTY approves process against general Perisic
| Vecernji List (front and page 3 “General Momcilo Perisic will be tried in Mostar”, by gk) – reports that the ICTY has given consent that a former JNA (Yugoslav People’s Army) general, Momcilo Perisic, together with Vojislav Pejanovic, Simo Mihic, Milan Skoro, Rajko Janjic, Boro Boban, Damir Miskin, Drago Elak (from Mostar) and Momcilo Cancar (from Gacko) be tried by court in Mostar for crimes committed in the Mostar area and eastern Herzegovina. They are charged with killing of 111 civilians found at the Uborak mass grave in the Mostar’s Municipality North, expulsions of the Bosniak and Croat civilians from eastern Herzegovina and rapes. |
| ICTY accepts new evidence in Blaskic trials | Vecernji List (front “Blaskic expects freedom by Easter” and page 3 “Blaskic will be out by Easter”, by Jozo Pavkovic) – reports that the ICTY has accepted new documents in the appeal lodged by Tihomir Blaskic’s lawyers (Blaskic has been sentenced to 45 years by the ICTY) as legally relevant. The appeal is based on new documents found in archives of the HIS (Croatian Intelligence Service), President of Republic of Croatia and the HQ of the BiH Army. Jutarnji List (page 8, “Blaskic goes before judges with new evidence”, by B. Vlasic) – notes that the ICTY has accepted 73 new evidences and 6 new witnesses, and that the decision is to organize a new hearing on December 8, 2003. (also reported in Vjesnik, front page, “Trial Chamber about Blaskic’s appeal and new evidence soon”, by Vlado Rajic) |
| Update to crimes committed by mujahedeens | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘One sifter, three sieves’ -The Republika Srpska Secretariat for relations with the Hague Tribunal and war crimes investigations has delivered a video evidence to the ICTY Office in Banjaluka, as additional evidence to the ongoing investigations regarding crimes committed against Serbs committed by mujahedeens during the war. Separately from this, District Prosecutor’s Office from Doboj has forwarded the file to The Hague, which covers all crimes committed by Mujahedeens (including those crimes at Ozern mountain). Amongst other material, the file also includes evidence suspecting Rasim Delic of war crimes. |
| RS laws on smoking drafted
| Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Smoking is legal’ – Marin Kvaternik, Republika Srpska Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced that the Ministry prepared four draft laws on smoke ban at public places, ban to advertise the cigarettes, ban on sale of tobacco products to people younger than 18 years and law on special taxation of the sale in tobacco products in Republika Srpska. |
| OHR on Action plan for organised crime
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘OHR expects from BiH authorities to tackle the crime’ – the OHR Spokesperson, Vedran Persic, stated yesterday that the OHR supports the adoption of the National Action Plan for the fight against organised crime. Also, OHR expects from the BIH authorities to tackle this problem. Persic also said that BiH needs to be cleansed of corruption and crime, the responsibility for which rests with local authorities. |