TV news broadcast on
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
McElhaney on Constitutional changes | BIH CC on internal debt | Price increases due to VAT |
CoE on BiH obligations | Andrun in custody | OHR on obstructions by RS authority |
Covic on inner division of HDZ | PDHR and SDHR on RS Government | Crisis of RS Government ahead? |
Cavic visits Busovaca | US Ambassador in BL | Update on “Energopetrol” |
NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
CoM is session on Thursday | OHR on obstructions by RS Gvmnt | OHR warns RS Government |
CoM on | Reactions from RS on OHR claims | Bukejlovic responses to OHR |
Terzic, Leakey, HR on EU/BIH forces | McElhaney visited RS NA | McElhaney, Stojicic on Const. change |
SIPA employed new staff | Update on foreign currency savings | |
Oslobodjenje | Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic at Belgrade Institute for Security |
Dnevni Avaz | Large setup of Ahmet Hadzipasic |
Dnevni List | Euroherc to be returned to its real owners [Croatian police action confirmed acts of abuse of office in Euroherc] |
Vecernji List | Search at security agencies |
Nezavisne Novine | Agreement on changes to the Constitution by March |
Glas Srpske | First convict, then accuse? |
Constitutional changes/ | |
PDHR Butler and SDHR Ney: RS Government is obstructing adoption of 11 reform laws
| TV Pink, BHT1, TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS – At the press conference held on Friday in Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover RS Government is putting obstacles to reforms and is blocking European path of BiH’ by N. N., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘A ramp for reforms’ by N. Zelenovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, announced on cover ‘Prime Minister Bukejlovic and RS Government are sources of greatest obstructions’ by S. Numanovic, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘RS politicians on the path of electoral suicide’ by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘OHR: vote and punish authorities’ by eme, Oslobodjenje pg 2, announced on cover ‘RS again obstructs BiH on European path’ by A. Omeragic – also reported. |
FTV comment: what the IC today calls a problem, has always been a partner of IC
| FTV Sinan Saric – OHR believes that the problem of RS Government can be solved by changing of the attitude of the electoral body. “We must rely on the electoral body. The question is: how are we going to enable the electoral body to think in a critical way and to take their interests in their own hands”, explained Ney. The reporter very ironically commented that the situation wasn’t very much different even in times when RS Government was not lead by |
RS Government denies OHR’s claims; RS President Cavic: solution should be found; SNSD’s Simic: reforms were result of IC pressure; DNS: IC’s remarks represent fiasco of Bukejlovic’s Govt
| FTV Sinisa Mihailovic, RTRS, RTRS by Sinisa Mihajlovic – Commenting the OHR’s remarks RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic said it is not true that his Government blocks the reforms and these claims were groundless. Bukejlovic said that the RS Government took active part in all the reforms, including the procedures for adopting Law on Obligations, High Education Law and Law on Defence. Bukejlovic responses by saying that the RS Government could not be the only responsible party since RSNA has the final word regarding these issues. Bukejlovic said it is not a coincidence that these remarks came at the same time as the initiative for replacement of RS Government. After talking with Bukejlovic, RS President Dragan Cavic said that a solution that serves the interests of both RS and BiH should be found. SNSD’s Krstan Simic said that the previous reforms were result of IC pressures and were not expressing the will of the authorities. DNS, who set initiative for RS Government removal, thinks that the remarks of IC represent fiasco of Bukejlovic’s Government, and it would not produce the crisis but the recovery of RS. SNSD said they would wait for reactions from PDP, to take the final stand regarding Government removal. PDP said they have not been happy with the work of Government, and that this was a reason for they have gone to the opposition. Reporter comments that Bukejlovic has no intention to dismiss the Government. Commenting these allegations, Cavic said that such a move would destabilize RS institutions. Cavic sent a word to other parties to look for the majority in the Parliament. Cavic said: “There is no any kind of problem for me regarding cohabitation. It is clear that if this Government is removed by some other parliamentary majority, TV Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover RS Government is putting obstacles to reforms and is blocking European path of BiH’ by N. N., inset ‘Government: there are no obstructions’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Critics without reason’ by Z. Markovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS Government rejects accusations’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 2, announced on cover ‘RS again obstructs BiH on European path’ by A. Omeragic inset ‘RS Government rejected accusations’ – report RS Government denied OHR’s claims Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Laws for the laws’ sake’ not signed – carries Simic’s statement. TV Pink – Also carries statement of member of SNSD Krstan Simic, whoalso commented on the recent crises in the RS Government and said RSNA delegates have agreed that it wouldn’t be wise to block the work of legislative and executive governments since it might reflect badly on the RS status in the process of Constitutional changes. |
RS NA Chairman Stojicic: RS NA never rejected any reform solution presented by RS Govt | FTV – Commenting the OHR’s statement on RS Government and its obstructions of reform processes, President of RS National Assembly Dusan Stojicic stated that RS NA has never rejected any reform solution proposed by RS Government. He added that RS NA has had enough political capacity to adopt suitable solutions even for greatest problems. |
Ambassador McElhaney met RSNA Speaker and Heads of RSNA Caucuses: warnings regarding RS Govt’s failure to improve implementation of reforms should be taken seriously
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Agreement on amendments to the Constitution by March’ by D. Risojevic – carries an interview with |
RS NA Chairman Stojicic: we have possibility to define amendments to Constitution by March 2006
| RTRS – After the meeting with Ambassador McElhaney, RSNA Chairman Dusan Stojicic said: “I think that we, in consideration of positions of United States and most of domestic politicians, we have a possibility to define the BiH Constitution amendments in such of short period, until March. These amendments would be the essence of the agreement regarding these three issues – BiH Presidency, BiH Council of Ministers and BiH Parliament.” Stojicic said that he and McElhaney have not discussed the concrete solutions to the constitutional amendments, expect the deadline which would be March 2006. |
HDZ’s Covic: there are attempts to divide HDZ to weaken it in negotiations on constitutional changes
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Ivanic attended meeting on negotiations on
| TV Pink – The informal meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Countries of the Balkans are asking for liberalisation of visa regime’ by N. N., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Ivanic proposed liberalisation of visa regime to Ursula Plasnik’ by Srna, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Larger financial help is needed’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Liberalisation of visa regime is needed’ not signed – also reported on the meeting. |
Alternative High Representative Pejakovic: OHR too is responsible for failure of reforms
| Dnevni list pg 8 ‘OHR too is responsible for failure of reform’ by Nina – Alternative Presidency BiH issued a public statement pointing out that the statements coming from OHR on that the Government of RS has not managed to realize key reforms are one more “mere phrase”. “Just a mere statement on the situation will bring nothing to BiH citizens. It is perfectly clear to us the RS authorities have not made key reforms, as the federal and state failed to as well”, says the statement. Alternative High Representative to BiH Josip Pejakovic stated all failed reforms in this state are a failure of OHR as well, as should be treated in this way. |
Other political issues | |
BHT1: will RS Government have support of majority at next RS NA session; comments by RS parties
| BHT1 – Zoran Sarenac – After the sharp criticism of RS Government by the opposition parties, it is not clear if RS Government is going to get the support of majority at the next session of RS NA. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Removal – yes, resignation – no’ by Srna – also reports on statement of RS PM Pero Bukejlovic saying RS Government has no reason to resign. |
RS President Cavic: RS PM has my support; PDP is creating crisis in RS
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Support to Prime Minister’ by K3 Prnjavor TV station – RS President Dragan Cavic stated RS PM Pero Bukejlovic has his support, but an impression was created in public that there are some deep misunderstandings between them. ‘This Government works honestly and it faces more problems than all other past Governments due to political issues that derive from regional needs of the Agreement on |
PDP’s Ivanic:
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘ |
RS deputy President Osmanovic: it would have been the best for BiH if Bukejlovic’s Government had broken apart | Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘It would be the best for BiH if Bukejlovic’s Government broke apart’ by E. S. – Deputy RS President Adil Osmanovic has stated it would be the best for BiH if Bukejlovic’s Government broke apart, because this Government is extremely right-oriented and works on the detriment of BiH. Inset ‘RS MoI is controlled by politically powerful persons’ – Osmanovic says RS MoI is under the control of politically powerful persons who oppose police reform and transfer of entity competences to state level. |
SNSD’s leader Dodik: RS autonomy strongly secured, Serbs no longer dream about joining
| RTRS, Nezavisne novine pg 6 ‘Kosovo status without influence on RS’ by Reuters, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Serbs might ask for independence if RS position is put in jeopardy’ by Reuters – In his interview with Reuters, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik said that BiH Serbs do not dream anymore of leaving BiH and joining with Serbia. This is because the RS autonomy in BiH is strongly secured, said Dodik, adding that if position of RS was endangered, some BiH Serbs could possibly use the same argument for autonomy as Kosovars. |
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DL op-ed: preparation of field for next HR through rehabilitation of politicians
| Dnevni List op-ed pg 2 ‘Hope dies the last’ by Ivana Rozic – the author claims it seems no person care Croats are the eldest people in BiH and notes Croats in BiH are in unfavourable position. Regarding the most recent decision of HR on rehabilitation of politicians, the author comments OHR is slowly changing its course of acting, which can be interpreted as preparing of field for the next HR, which should have less authorities than HR Paddy Ashdown. Therefore, as the author concludes, the new HR most certainly will not have the authority to remove politicians who mention, in a positive context, the third entity. |
Economy/VAT/old foreign currency savings | |
| FTV, TV Pink, BHT1, TV Hayat, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘New law for old foreign currency savings’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘To adopt state law on old foreign currency savins in three months’ by Srna, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘To adopt laws on old foreign currency savings’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Verdict on old foreign currency savings’ by dja, Oslobodjenje pg 2, announced on cover ‘Publishing sector freed of paying VAT’ by Az. K., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘The state was ordered to adopt law’ not signed – BiH Constitutional Court finds that the laws on old foreign currency savings in entities and Brcko District are not in accordance with Article 3 of BiH Constitution. Therefore, the Court decided to ban the article of laws on internal debt, which refers to the old foreign currency savings. The Court ordered BiH Council of Ministers to pass a framework law on frozen old currency savings on state level within three months. The Court also decided to adopt several appeals of citizens regarding the frozen foreign currency savings. |
BiH CoM adopted amendments to VAT law: zero tax rate for press and publishing sector
| TV Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Books and press freed from paying VAT’ by M. Cubro, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Taxes to avoid books and print media?’ by N. Z., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Publishers and print-makers should be freed of paying VAT’ by S. N., Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Books and print media without VAT’ by Dejan Jazvic– BiH CoM adopted amendments to Law on VAT that will foresee zero tax rate for press and publishing sector including books, newspapers, and magazines, scientific publications etc., as Advisor to BIH CoM chair Bojan Zec Filipovic confirmed. The proposal now must be forwarded to the ITA Steering Board for further procedure. ITA Steering Board will discuss this proposal on 13th December. |
F BiH PM asked HVB Bank to prolong activation of mortgage of Energopetrol for another month
| TV Hayat, BHT1, FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Decision on mortgage next week’ by M. Rener, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Bank will present its stance on mortgage next week’ by M. K., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Activation of mortgage on “Energopetrol” gas stations to be prolonged’ by A. Av. – FBIH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic asked from the HVB Bank to prolong the activation of “Energopetrol” mortgage for another month. As the reason for such the request, FBIH Govt stated that by that time it will have agreed on the strategy for co-capitalisation by potential partner INA/MOL corporation. The bank stated that they would decide on this issue within the course of next week. Reporter reiterated the case of “Energopetrol”. |
Petroleum expert Tukulj: the story on HVB Bank and activation of mortgage on “Energopetrol” is a large setup
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Large setup of Ahmet Hadzipasic’ and pg 2 ‘The story on HVB bank is a large setup’ by M. Kukan – Petroleum expert Aziz Tukulj claims the claims saying HVB Bank would activate mortgage claims on “Energopetrol” is a large setup, saying that the mortgage cannot be a problem because it is easy to find another bank to accept the obligation to pay back the loan to HVB Bank. He opposes to sale of “Energopetrol” to INA/MOL. He is concerned over persistence by which F BIH Government tries to realise its interntions and finds it strange that RS authorities are silent about this issue. [note: Tukulj does not mention Hadzipasic in his statement]. |
War crimes/judicial proceedings | |
Toby Robinson new witnesses in “Croat self-rule” case
| TV Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘There was no coordination among army’ by A. D., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Prosecutor Drew Engel asked from Toby Robinson to testify’ by S. T., Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Toby Robinson is possible witness’ by Erna Mackic – The prosecution in the trial against former F BIH Defence Minister Miroslav Prce and former F BIH Army Vice Commander Dragan Curcic in the case of “Croat self-rule” for the abuse of power and subverting the military power has presented the list with more witnesses. Among the witnesses are Toby Robinson and former member of BIH Presidency Beriz Belkic. Belkic took the witness stand on Friday talking about the time when HVO left VF Army. |
Sarovic, Govedarica and Bjelica transferred to detention in Doboj
| BHT1, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘First convict, then accuse?’ by Z. Domazet, inset ‘They were transferred to Doboj’ – Mirko Sarovic, Milorad Govedarica and Milovan Bjelica, who are suspected of embezzlement in Privredna banka East Sarajevo, have been transferred to detention in Doboj Prison. According to unofficial sources, they were transferred to Doboj because there are no more free detention cells in |
Lawyers criticise decision ordering detention for Sarovic, Govedarica and Bjelica
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘First convict, then accuse?’ by Z. Domazet – carries statements of several lawyers criticising the decision of judge Malcolm Simmons, by which he had ordered detention for Sarovic, Govedarica and Bjelica, saying the judge should have rejected Prosecutor Johnatan Rattel’s appeal for detention because it was filed several hours after the legal deadline expired. |
OSL: RS leadership negotiates on surrender of Karadzic and Mladic who are already accommodated at the State Security building in | Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic at the Institute for security’ by E. K. – The article quotes a source who claims he had seen the entire RS leadership and their hosts in “Jugoslavija” hotel in |
Security | |
Ashdown, Leakey and Terzic agreed on forming task force to coordinate efforts in fighting crime | TV Pink, TV Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To ensure mechanisms for fight against organised crime’ by Fena – Chairman of BIH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, High Representative to BIH Paddy Ashdown and EUFOR Commander David Leakey agreed on forming a task force that will come up with a proposal on finding better mechanisms for coordination of BiH and EU Security Forces in fighting the crime. |
EUFOR raided private owned security firms to determine whether they work in accordance with DPA
| TV Pink, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Nine security agencies were raided’ by Sn. K., Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘EUFOR members raided “Redarstvenik”’ by F. V., Dnevni List pg 2 ‘EUFOR raided security firms’ by Arijana Beus, Vecernji List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Raid at security agencies’ by Robert Soldo, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Control of the work of security agencies’ by fena – During the EUFOR search at several private-owned security agencies in BiH to verify whether these agencies work in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement, there were no incidents confirmed EUFOR Spokesperson Jem Thomas. He also stated that the actions will be continued as long as it is not determined that these agencies work in accordance to the DPA and they will be carried out with support of the police. He stated they have checked weapons these agencies are using in their work, equipment and licences. |
Mektic: illegal citizenships will be annulled
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Illegal citizenships will be annulled’ by Srna – BiH Deputy Security Minister Dragan Mektic stated on Friday that illegally acquired citizenships, indoctrination of the part of population through the extreme religious fanaticism and abuse of certain number of humanitarian organizations are the key problems that could lead BiH in relation with international terrorism. He stated BiH must be more efficient in depriving of citizenship the persons who had acquired it in an illegal manner. |
Education | |
Task Force for development of Law on High Education in BiH agreed on principles of future Law | Nezavisne Novine pg 12 ‘Principles of future law were agreed upon’ by M. Rener – The Task Force, in charge of developing a draft law on high education in BiH by December 9, agreed on principles of the future law, as according to the Chief of Cabinet of BiH Minister of Civil Affairs and member of the Task Force Srdjan Arnaut. The Task Force members agreed three agencies should be established at the state level – one for development of high education, second for information and the third for issuing of certificates and accreditations. |
Snjezana Bozic appointed new RS Education Minister | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Bozic is Education Minister’ by M. F. – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic appointed Snjezana Bozic as RS Minister of Education and Culture, and informed the RS National Assembly about this appointment, the RS Government’s Public Relations Bureau stated on Friday. |