OHR BiH Media Round-up, 31/1/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Road report

PDP ministers on COM session

Sarajevo : Conference of return

HR’s press conference today

HR Ashdown on Police regions

EUPM and EUFOR check-points

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

BH TV 1(19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS (19,30)

Traffic problems in BIH

Elections in Iraq

Suicide attacks in Iraq

HR on police

School postponed in ZHC

PDP session

Economic Forum ended

Snow, East Herzegovina

World news

Conf on refugees, DPs

EU on coop w/ ICTY

Bijeljina snow problems

HR on police tomorrow

HR on police reforms

HR on police

NN int w/ Mikerevic

Oslobodjenje

HR today brings decision: BiH police divided into ten regions; Lozancic: I would like to be the last FBiH President; Spahic: There was no order to shoot at RS police

Dnevni Avaz

Beslic: The burning issue in Mostar is unemployment; OHR’s warning: Half of the state brings down its own foundation

Dnevni List

Mostar: Scandal: Doctors hush up death of child of meningitis

Vecernji List

Third federal unit to Croats

Slobodna Dalmacija

Features Croatia related headlines

Nezavisne Novine

Dragan Mikerevic: Concept of new RS Government is unacceptable for PDP; Nikola Spiric: SDS lost the money, and now it rushes at state property

Glas Srpske

Benefaction of the SDS delegate Miodrag Bukvic: BAM 100 thousand to the poor; Sekovici municipality: The account blocked

EuroBlic

Srpska to lose interior ministry

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

Nacional

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Resignation of PDP ministers in CoM final

SRNA, FENA – According to a member of PDP Main Board and BiH Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs, Zoran Tesanovic, the PDP Presidency has tasked its Ministers in the BiH CoM to attend the sessions, but only during the period as stipulated for election of new RS Government (30 days).

RTRS at 12.00 – PDP Presidency at the session which took place in East Sarajevo last night concluded that the resignations PDP Ministers have filed at BiH CoM are final. Vinko Radovanovic, member of PDP Presidency, stated at the press conference that PDP officials would withdraw from positions at BiH level, if reasons, which led to resignations, were not eliminated. One of reason is anti-Dayton activity. PDP concluded that PIC session, which is to take place during the course of this week in Brussels , would be of major importance on future PDP stances. He also said that PDP would not propose officials to positions at BiH CoM.

Bank account of Sekovici municipality blocked

RTRS at 12.00 – Snezan Sokic, Sekovic Municipal Speaker, has today confirmed that the account of the municipality of Sekovici has been blocked, since the Municipality had to pay out the compensation of BAM 57 thousand to the company of “Jugoprom”.

Regional ministers conference on return commences in Sarajevo

RHB at 12.00 – Regional ministerial conference on return related issues starts in Sarajevo today. It will be opened by the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, and will be attended, among others, by relevant authorities/ministers from BiH (Mirsad Kebo), Croatia (Bozidar Kalmeta) and Serbia and Montenegro (Rasim Ljajic). The aim of the conference is to discuss ways how to improve the return process. The three countries should sign a joint declaration today at 1500 hrs.

Trial of Sefer Halilovic starts today

RHB at 12.00 – Trials to former commander of BiH Army, Sefer Halilovic, starts at ICTY today. Halilovic is charged with war crimes committed against Croats of Grabovica and Uzdol, when 63 of them got killed by the BiH Army troops in 1993.

EUFOR, EUPM checkpoints remain until 3^rd February

RTRS at 12.00 – The actions of EUPM and EUFOR, that have established checkpoints at three sites (Omarska, Cardacani and Karanovac) will remain in place until 3^rd February, Rade Mutic, the Spokesperson of the Banja Luka PSC has announced today.

1 Feb CoM session / RS Govt

PDP to announce decision on CoM on Monday

BHT 1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Decision on stance towards CoM expected’ by L.S., Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Tomorrow’s session crucial for Council of Ministers”, by Ivica Glibusic– PDP officials have met in Eastern Sarajevo on Sunday to discuss the future participation of their ministers in the BIH Council of Ministers. The party said it would announce its stance on this issue on Monday morning, when PDP session finishes. 

FTV – The party conditions its participation in the CoM with guarantees by the international community that anti-Dayton activities will definitely be ceased and the CoM will be the only place to make decisions on reforms.

BHT 1 on 1 Feb CoM session

BHT 1 by Mirela Cosic – While PDP officials have not yet decided on their stance regarding the 1 February session of the Council of Ministers, the Chairman Adnan Terzic has stated that all Ministers failing to attend the session will be relived of a duty. SDA Secretary General, Sefik Dizdarevic, stated that failure to attend the CoM session would be a breach of the BIH Constitution and the Dayton Agreement. He hopes that all Ministers are aware of this fact. SDS expects PDP Ministers to attend the sessions, and its official, Bosko Siljegovic, reiterated that SDS Ministers will not attend CoM session without PDP ministers. SNSD believes that participation of PDP Ministers in the CoM session would mean that there was no crisis at all.

Spiric accuses SDS, PDP ministers of deceiving public

BHT1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Serbs are playing with position in executive authorities’, mentioned on cover, by O. Vukovic, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Terzic begging Ivanic to stay’, by Branka Stevandic, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘SDS lost the money, and now it rushes at state property’ by D. Risojevic; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Games or resignations’ by G.D.  – On Sunday, SNSD senior official, Nikola Spiric, accused SDS and PDP of deceiving the public by allegedly fighting for the interests of the RS, when in fact they are fighting for positions. At a press conference in Banja Luka, Spiric asked who needed the BiH CoM not to function for two months, and responded that there is clearly a split between SDS and PDP because the issue is who will be the master of processes in the RS and on behalf of Serbs in the CoM – Dragan Cavic or Mladen Ivanic.

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SDS and PDP failure to attend [the session] could lead to more serious crisis” by Onasa– Spiric also claims that Adnan Terzic and the IC have been asking Mladen Ivanicto remain in CoM, “so there is no clear symbiosis between SDS and SDA, which would unmask everything”. He adds that if PDP and SDS do not attend the session, than there could be more serious crisis and election of the new Cabinet. Spiric says that “experts in the CoM” with or without the consent of Serb representatives are preparing the introduction of new ministries – “ministries of agriculture and energy, health, social police and employment at the BiH level”, noting that Serbs will not get a single of these ministries. Commenting on the RS Government, Spiric said: “This crisis has been used as a strong or last attack of SDS on what is called state or public property.”

Terzic expects all ministers to attend the session

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Attendance of all ministers expected’ by R. Cengic – Adnan Terzic, the Chairperson of the BiH COM,, could not foresee which ministers in resignation would attend the CoM’s session, since no official talks on this issue had been conducted with ministers in resignations Mladen Ivanic and Branko Dokic. He added: “The ministers in resignation have a duty to attend the sessions until their replacement is ensured. The session scheduled for tomorrow is important, since it should analyse everything that has been achieved regarding fulfilment of preparations on negotiations of BiH admission to EU. We expect all those, who have been engaged on this matter, would attend the session.”

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I expect all ministers to attend the session on Tuesday’ by A.M. –Asked whether the session will be held is ministers from PDP fail to appear, Terzic said: “Certainly. I need two representatives of each people to hold the CoM session.” 

VL int w/ Dodik: ‘Ivanic is trying to find painless way to return to CoM’

Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Third federal unit to Croats’, pg 5 ‘Croats should get their own federal unit’, by Miso Relota – In an interview to VL, the leader of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, comments on the issue of appointment of RS Government: “The crisis was caused by package of measures by Paddy Ashdown. The decisive moment with Mladen Ivanic and PDP was that they have been banned from entering the USA. That’s what irritated them and led them to make such moves. They thought they would be seen in the public as victims, but it did not happen. Now Ivanic is trying to find the most painless way to return to the BiH Council of Ministers”. It is also worth noting that Dodik believes that HR Ashdown did not do anything “because life is worse nowadays than when he came to BiH”.

NN int w/ Mikerevic: ‘Concept of new RS Govt is unacceptable for PDP’

Nezavisne Novine cover and pgs 4-5 ‘Concept of new RS Government is unacceptable for PDP’ by Dragan Jerinic – In a lengthy interview to NN, Dragan Mikerevic, the outgoing RS Premier, says that PDP does not find the concept on RS Government composition acceptable, adding “this concept is not acceptable since it is too risky for the RS”. In the first interview after he had filed resignation, Mikerevic says he is disappointed over the SDS conduct, adding: “It is clear to everybody now that the authority crisis in BiH does exist and this is major impediment on the ongoing reforms. What is the solution? It is certain we need a global settlement of the crisis, in regard to the new RS Government and BiH Council of Ministers.”

RTRS also reports on the interview.

Blic on Agreement btw Serb political parties: ‘Everybody swears on it, the majority of them does not respect it’

EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Everybody swears on it, the majority of them does not respect it’ by Nedeljka Breberina – The author brings comments of politicians regarding the implementation and respect of the Agreement on the harmonised political actions of Serb parties. Gavrilo Antonic, PDP Executive Director, states that “t is evident that parties interpret the Agreement as they like it”. Borislav Bojic, SDS Vice President, says that “SDS fully respects the Agreement.” Igor Radojicic, SNSD Secretary General, says that the SDS has caused problems, which is in relation in SDS individual approach towards CoM. Drago Kalabic, DNS MP at RS NA, says that the DNS is the only party, which is acting in accordance with the Agreement.

NN op-ed criticises Cavic for appointing Bukejlovic as RS PM-designate

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Cicvaric’ by Slavko Mitrovic – The author is critical of Dragan Cavic, saying that by having nominated Pero Bukejlovic as RS-Pm designate, Cavic proceeds with the politics run for years by Radovan Karadzic, Slobodan Milosevic and Franjo Tudjman. The author claims Cavic is using the current situation to strengthen his position at the SDS. It is clear to the author that Cavic, not any designate, would be composing the new RS Government. He notes the political options made of SDS, PDP, radicals cannot be expected to do anything in the interest of citizens. At the end, the author claims that Mladen Ivanic is now blackmailing SDS with PDP support to PM-designate. 

Police and defence reform / war crimes

DA: BiH police to be divided in 10 regions?; OHR announces decision today

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘BiH police in 10 regions’ by S. Numanovic – DA says it learned that “today, BiH will get new state police divided into 9+1 regions.” In addition to nine police regions throughout BiH, there will be additional one – region Saraejvo covering the territory of Sarajevo Canton and Eastern Sarajevo. DA’source, a IC official, told that they key argument for choosing this map was of geographical nature. “For successful fight against crime, it is necessary to have police regions distributed in such way that police takes least time to arrive at the crime scene,” told the source. On Monday HR Paddy Ashdown will announce his decision regarding the new territorial structure of police.

BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Ashdown announces structure of Police regions today’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Ashdown reveals Police regions today’, by f, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ashdown to announce new police structure’ by SRNA  – also carries announcement of the press conference today.

Blic: it is certain police will be unified

EuroBlic cover, RSpg 1 ‘Srpska to lose interior ministry’ by Marija Jandric – On the eve of press conference of Paddy Ashdown on police reform, the author notes that nobody knows for certain how the police structure would look like. Judging by some announcements, it is evident that police would be unified – the only question that remains is in how many regions police force would be divided. The author notes the politicians are reluctant in giving comments on police reform, brining the statement of Drago Kalabic, DNS official, who accused the RS officials at the PRC of having failed to take any stance on the matter and to defend the interests of RS.

Comments on HR role in police reform

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Roaming through somebody else’s apartment’ by V. Janjic – The article brings a comment of some officials regarding the role of Paddy Ashdown in police reform of BiH. Velimir Sakan, President of RS NA Board for surveillance over the work of defence and internal affairs, is of the view that “at the moment he reached decision on establishment of Police Reform Commission, Paddy Ashdownsaid he would not impose solutions. It remains to be seen whether he would keep the promise…It is also clear that the stances of RS have not been respected. However, it raises greater concern that we have not – as yet – received final version of the concept [PRC Chair] Wilfren Martens has handed to Paddy Ashdown and Adnan Terzic.” Gostimir Popovic, military and political analysts, believes that Ashdown is again involved in matters not falling under his jurisdiction in an attempt to debilitate RS. The article concludes that Ashdown should perhaps listen the advise of Lord David Oven, who said that “DA was written in order to remain. Corrections may result from agreement amongst confronted sides.”

RS PoWs: If MoI abolished, a referendum for separation of RS from BiH

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Entities MoIs or referendum for divisions of BiH’ by Srna, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Inmates announce referendum’, by NINA – The Association of RS POWs will request from the MPs in the RS NA not to support the proposal of the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, according to which the Police would be organized in regions and given the authority to get across the entity borders. If they fail to do so, the Association warns it will request from the RS NA to organize a referendum at which the citizenry would declare themselves whether they are in favour of separation of the RS from BiH.

Oslobodjenje: ‘Camp investigators work for the state, banks, firms’

Oslobodjenje cover page ‘Camp inmates now point at investigators’ pg 3 ‘Camp investigators work for the state, banks, firms…,’ by B. Ka. – “I can simply not realize/accept that an investigator from Omarka concentration camp, Goran Novic, has been appointed to a high-ranking state post,” Zlata Bilajac (73), former Omarska inmate said. According to the newspaper, not only Novic but some other Omarska investigators are also freely working for the state, banks and certain companies, although they should have faced justice over the crimes committed in the camp.  

NN int w/ Mikerevic: RS Govt signed another guarantee for ICTY suspect

Nezavisne Novine cover and pgs 4-5 ‘Concept of new RS Government is unacceptable for PDP’ by Dragan Jerinic – In a lengthy interview to NN, Dragan Mikerevic, the outgoing RS Premier, comments on the Savo Todovic confirming that RS Government has signed another guarantee for the person indicted before ICTY, without revealing the name of that person. On this, he adds: “I hope RS MoI is still engaged in extensive talks regarding the voluntary arrest (of this person). I hope RS MoI would persist in these activities, since I am convinced that we have a concept to resolve the problem of this major size, i.e. cooperation with the ICTY.” He confirms he has received the invitation to attend the prayers’ breakfast at the US President, noting he would not attend owing to the political situation in the state.

DA int w/ Spahic on conflict btw RS police and SBS

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘It is possible that war criminals crossing border line illegally’, mentioned on cover ‘There was no order to shoot at RS police’ – In an interview for the daily, BiH State Border Service Deputy Director Nijaz Spahic reiterated that the SBS members had acted in accordance with the law when they had not allowed RS police officers to enter Banja Luka Mahovljani airfield since they had not announced their coming in advance. Spahic said that the report on the issue had been submitted to the State Prosecution, EUPM and BiH Ministry of Security. 

DA: OHR warns on FBIH Internal Law version to be adopted

Dnevni Avaz, pg 9 ‘OHR warns that version that is to be adopted is not harmonized’, by L. Sinanovic – Reports that the OHR prepared the working material for the Law on internal affairs of FBiH, which was harmonized for final adoption by the Senior Steering Board of the FBiH Government, which was led by the FBiH Interior Minister, Mevludin Halilovic. After the law was discussed by the FBiH Government and subsequently sent to the parliamentary procedure, the FBiH Government received a letter from the OHR, in which the OHR noted that the law differs from the original material. FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic comments: “After the session, we received a letter from the OHR, which says the text was changed in comparison to what’s been agreed at Senior Steering Board. We talked to Minister Halilovic, who gave us arguments and assurances that changes, about which there were no talks before, occurred after his meeting with the Senior Steering Board”. PM Hadzipasic added that the FBiH Government had fully supported Minister Halilovic and tasked him to carry out an analysis of the document and carry out additional harmonization with the OHR, if required. Minister Halilovic did not want to make any comments.

DRC holds inaugural session today

BHT 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Speeches by Paddy Ashdown and Steven Shook’ by L.S.  – The Defence Reform Commission, headed by the BIH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic and US official Raffi Gregorian, meets today [Monday] for the inaugural session. After the opening speeches by the HR Paddy Ashdown and NATO Commander Steven Schook, the session will be continued behind the closed doors.

EU Foreign Ministers urge tighter cooperation with ICTY

FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Invitation for more closer cooperation with ICTY’ by Onasa – The EU Foreign Ministers will reiterate on Monday at the session in Brussels a necessity for intensified efforts of the Western Balkan countries to cooperate with the ICTY. Ministers will also express the support to the measures undertaken by the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, last month in order to ensure cooperation with ICTY in BiH.

Other political issues

Circle 99 discusses constitutional changes in BiH

Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Re-arrange BiH into federal republic with five regions’, by Erna Mackic – The Association of independent intellectual ‘Krug 99’ (Circle 99) continued with its earlier started public debate on the subject entitled ‘Constitutional change – what and how next?’’ at Sarajevo yesterday (Sunday). The keynote speaker Jakob Finci noted that everyone in BiH agreed that the situation in BiH was not good and that the situation had to be changed. “Personally, I advocate the thesis that BiH be re-arranged into a republic with five regions, because regionalism is at full swing in Europe too, and it must be a solution that Europe is expecting from us”.

FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘No citizens without changes’ not signed – also reported.

VL int w/ Dodik: ‘Croats should get their own federal unit’

Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Third federal unit to Croats’, pg 5 ‘Croats should get their own federal unit’, by Miso Relota – Carries an interview with the leader of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, in which he notes that the issue of constitutional changes in BiH is a must for everyone in the country “since it is clear that it (BiH) cannot go to Europe with the Constitution that was imposed in Dayton”. Dodik explains: ”BiH has to determine its political system. It could be a federal system and it could be successful if three federal units were formed (…) The Croat political corps in BiH today lives in fear and is afraid to do anything because they could end up like Jelavic (…) You cannot keep dissatisfied people, because conflicts arise from dissatisfaction”. Asked whether Croats in BiH are entitled to Federal unit, Dodik says: “I have already said that this is a sort of story that many would accept here. I believe that countries of former Yugoslavia should make up confederation, that is a regional confederation which would be called Federation of sovereign states… I am familiar with the dissatisfaction of Croats in BiH with their positions in cantons and FBiH… It is obvious that there are several directions in Croat political body, including Croat Self-Rule which is now subject to judicial process. RS is constitutional category, while Croat Self-Rule was something else that should have been promoted. In any case, for me that is a legitimate demand which should had been considered. It is good to open discussions, because the silence in BiH is the most dangerous. If the price of an agreement is three federal unit, that I don’t see why this would not happen. Croat body in BiH today lives in fear to do anything afraid they would end up alike Ante Jelavic.”

DA int w/ Lozancic: ‘I would like to be last FBiH President’

Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘I would like to be the last President of the Federation’ – In an interview with the daily, Federation President Niko Lozancic said that there was no crisis of government in FBiH and BiH but that it was about crisis of the system and solutions allowing everyone to block the work of the state institutions at any moment. “The existence of the five levels of authority is unacceptable,” emphasizes Lozancic saying that he hopes he will be the last President of the FBiH (referring to possible abolishment of entities in BiH).

CoM to discuss the draft Law on public broadcasting system

BHT 1 by Tomislav Djuric – The BiH Council of Ministers should discuss the new proposal Law on public RTV system at the session scheduled for 1 February. Previous draft law was rejected by the BiH Parliament, and the new one includes some of the suggestions submitted by the parliamentarian representatives. The Law should regulate the future structure of the public broadcasting service. BIH Minister for Transport and Communications, Branko Dokic, stated that all details have already been agreed on, and he hopes that CoM will adopt the proposal and forward it to the parliamentary procedure. However, the HDZ insists for the protection of the vital national interests. Deputy Speaker of the BiH House of Peoples, Velimir Jukic says: “We believe that the best solution is to ensure broadcasting of programs in Croatian language within BHT system.” SDA representative at BIH House of Representatives Mirsad Ceman stated that SDA can’t accept the concept of ethnic TV channels within public RTV system. According to new proposal law, public RTV system would have two entity channels and one at the state level. Reform of public RTV system is one of the preconditions the country needs to meet, in accordance with the Feasibility Study. Minister Dokic believes that BIH Parliament will discuss the law in urgent procedure.

Oslobodjenje int w/ Mostar Mayor: ‘Burning issue in Mostar is unemployment’ 

Oslobodjenje, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Burning issue in Mostar is unemployment’, by Larisa Babaja – Carries an interview with the Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, in which he, speaking about appointment of heads of services in City administration of Mostar and the issue of surplus workers in the City administration, says: “I hope that we will appoint all the heads of services in a day or two, and after that we will organize a commission that will work on selection of public servants in the City administration together with the Union. However, prior to the start of work of the commission, we must adopt clear criteria that will be harmonized with the Union (…) In the same time, we will talk in the City Council about the way how to take care of people that will lose jobs. We still do not know whether it will be through severance pays. Perhaps it will be a decision in accordance with the law or something more favourable, in any case, it will be determined by the councillors, in other words the City Council”.

Economic issues

VL: ‘OHR: BiH must abolish unnecessary levels of authority’

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘OHR: BiH must abolish unnecessary levels of authority’, mentioned on front ‘Thousands to become jobless’ by Dejan Jazvic – Carries excerpts from the OHR’s econ newsletter in which the OHR noted the need for cutting expenses of bodies of authority, which should coincide with establishment of new institutions at State level that are pre-requisite for joining the EU. VL quotes the newsletter as saying that BiH can only do it by abolishing unnecessary levels of authority and by improving the efficiency of authorities at all levels, and goes on to say that by decreasing the number of ministries at lower levels and subsequently the number of staff, funds can be secured for new institutions. According to VL, the price will be paid by the entities and to a lesser extent by cantons, foremost by the entity Interior and Defence Ministries.

OHR: legislative and administrative environment for privatization still dissatisfactory

Oslobodjenje, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘Half the state undermines its won foundations’, by H. A. – The Economic Department of the OHR is of opinion that the legislative and administrative environment for privatization (presumably in BiH) is still dissatisfactory. The OHR is especially worried with the fact that the FBiH Government has not still started a procedure regarding the appointment of the Director and Deputy Director of FBiH Privatization Agency, since the current Director Resad Zutic’s mandate will expire in spring 2005. The OHR is also not happy with the FBiH Government because of adoption of several controversial changes and amendments to laws in the area of privatization of companies. According to the OHR’s economic analysis, the detrimental amendments are opening a possibility that audits can be launched in already privatized companies, “which creates enormous legal insecurity”, thus averting potential investors.

GS: Customs officers to go through additional check-ups

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Customs officers to go through additional check-ups’ by D.V.M. – In a brief interview to GS, Miodrag Kudic, member of ITA Steering Board, says that the biggest so far success of ITA is the introduction of a single account, which has enabled an unobstructed trade between RS and F BiH. He notes much more is still left to be done. He says he would ask Steering Board to order re-examination of employment procedure at ITA.

Coric, Maric on funding of City of Mostar

Nezavisne Novine, pg 5 ‘Mostar without money of two Elektroprivredas’, by V. Coric – Carries the President of Mostar City Council, Murat Coric, as commenting to the issue of payment of monthly compensations to the City of Mostar by the two Elektroprivredas (BiH and Herceg-Bosna) since the Elektroprivredas are obliged to pay the compensations (670.000 KM) until May 1, 2005. Coric says: “Unfortunately, the decision is no longer in the jurisdiction of the City Council, but in the jurisdiction of the OHR. I believe it (OHR) will have the understanding this time too and extend the obligation for one more year”. On the other hand, the Elektroprivredas expect the High Representative to rule in their favour. The CEO of Elektroprivreda of Herceg-Bosna, Vlado Maric, says the company will respect the OHR’s decision: “If the decision gets extended, we will have to abide by it. The other issue is the right to appeal, which we would certainly use”.