Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 31 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| OHR’s pc takes place today | HR to hold press conference today |
| CoM to discuss app. of SIPA Director | Trial of Milosevic before ICTY |
| Disabled persons protest | Protest of invalids in |
TV news broadcast on 30 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| World news | RSNA in session | RSNA on police reform |
| RSNA special session | Carty on police reform | Carty about police reform |
| Sadovic on police reform | BiH de-mining unit to leave for | Referendum in |
| Matijasevic on police reform | Meetings in | BiH soldiers in |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| RSNA in session | RSNA on police reform | Carty on drug trafficking |
| BiH de-mining unit to leave for | Carty in Bijeljina | RS NA special session |
| World news | Referendum in | World news |
| Zdravko Grebo on EU Constitution | Agrokomerc managers indicted | BIH unit departs for |
| Oslobodjenje | Police reform under European model rejected |
| Dnevni Avaz | EU Commissioner Rehn: First step towards visa abolishment to follow |
| Dnevni List | Colak adjourns session (report from session of HDZ BiH Presidency from the other day) |
| Vecernji List | |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Season marked by ‘nobles’ (‘Zrinjski’ of Mostar winning BiH football league) |
| Glas Srpske | Delegates said “no” |
| Nezavisne Novine | RS Assembly for isolation |
| Blic | Trench fighting for the police |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| Srpski Nacional | Features |
Police Reform/BiH road to EU | |
| RSNA sticks to earlier stand on police reform
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Police reform under European model rejected’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘EU principles on police reform rejected’, mentioned on cover ‘Police reform rejected’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Referendum on police reform?’, mentioned on front ‘Referendum on police reform’, by Ivica Glibusic,Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘RS Assembly for isolation’ by V. Popovic and S. Gojkovic,Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Delegates said “no”’ by G. D. and Z. M, Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘To choose less bad’ by Sl. Pesevic and M. Labus, EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Trench fighting for the police’ and pg RS2 ‘Trench fighting’ by Rajna Radosavljevic,SRNA – The RS National Assembly late on Monday adopted conclusions emphasizing that no model of organization of BiH’s police whose local police regions would overstep the inter-entity separation line were acceptable. Following a day-long debate at its special session, the RSNA adopted three conclusions which “reiterate its commitment to the reform of police structures in BiH within the confines of the Constitution of the RS and the Constitution of BiH, in compliance with European standards”. The RSNA believes that the talks on police reform should be continued within the framework of the RS and BiH institutions. The conclusions were adopted with 62 votes in favor and 14 against. Addressing a special session of RS National Assembly dedicated to police reform on Monday in Chief of EC delegation in BIH Michael Humphreys addressed RSNA members in Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Either the Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Courage is needed’ not signed – carries address of Head of EC Delegation Michael Humphreys to RS NA delegates. |
| SNSD supports EU principles on police reform
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Three EU principles’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Referendum on police reform?’, mentioned on front ‘Referendum on police reform’, by Ivica Glibusic – At a session held on Monday, SNSD Executive Board accepted the three EU principles on police reform in BiH. Addresing the RSNA on Monday, SNSD Leader, Milorad Dodik said that SNSD was expecting RS Government to take a clear stance on the issue of police reform in BiH. He pointed out that SNSD found agreement on police reform made on Vlasic acceptable. |
| RS PM Bukejlovic says RS Government sticks to initial conclusions on police reform
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘RS Government stick to its earlier positions’, FENA – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic on Monday evening reiterated that the Entity Government sticks to the previously adopted conclusions, which demonstrates its commitment to continuation of talks on restructuring of the security sector and police reform in BiH within the BiH Constitution and the RS Constitution. In his address to the members of RS National Assembly, Bukejlovic also reiterated the conclusion in which the Government states that restructuring of the security sector and police structures in BiH can be achieved only through the general consensus in BiH, and that imposing of a one-sided solution to any side would be unacceptable. The Government deems that through an impartial and balanced approach in further negotiations it would be possible to achieve an optimal solution and to meet the European standards in the domain of police affairs, that the security system must be financially sustainable, and that it must produce positive financial effects for RS, BiH and the RS Ministry of Interior, funded from the RS Budget. He stressed that the Entity Government would not change these conclusions and that it expects the Parliament to make its own conclusions on the issue so that the Government could implement them. |
| Ivanic says RSNA conclusions should not be interpreted as the final ‘no’ (to police reform solutions)
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘RS Government stick to its earlier positions’, FENA – BiH Foreign Minister and President of the Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) Mladen Ivanic on Monday evening declared that it would not be good for the National Assembly’s conclusions on police reform to be interpreted as the final “no”, but as a clear stand that the institutions in our country are creating reforms. The Assembly’s conclusions, he added, should not be interpreted as a “no” that would halt every reform and stop BiH on its road to the EU. Commenting the National Assembly’s conclusion that regards as unacceptable any model of organizing the police in BiH whose local police areas would cross the inter-Entity boundary line, Ivanic said that the EU would not change its stands on police reform, and that it remains to be seen whether the EU would accept that what the RS institutions, eventually, have to propose on this matter. He also stressed that the conclusions adopted tonight cannot remain as such, but that it is up to the institutions to come out with their stands on police reform. |
| RSNA discussion on police reform: SDA’s Sadovic, RS Interior Minister Matijasevic, DNS’ Kalabic, SDS’ Pivasevic, Maric, PDP’s Poljasevic, SDP’s Popovic and Party for BiH’s Osmancevic.
| RTRS, RHB, Hayat, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘SDA for police reform’, by f – SDA representative in RS National Assembly Tarik Sadovic called upon the RS NA members to accept the 3 EU principles regarding police reform in BIH. He feels that BIH Constitution should be changed if it is an obstacle for functional and effective police. RTRS, RHB, Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Referendum on police reform?’, mentioned on front ‘Referendum on police reform’, by Ivica Glibusic – RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic stated that he knows what RS looses in police reform in BIH but he doesn’t know what it would gain. He reminded the RS National Assembly members on negotiations on police reform stating that other/additional demands can be expected towards RS. RTRS, Hayat – “I have to say that the President made it very clear. The way I see it, the President has accepted the proposed police reform”, said DNS representative, Drago Kalabic. RTRS, BHT, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Referendum on police reform?’, mentioned on front ‘Referendum on police reform’, by Ivica Glibusic – SDS member Stanko Pivasevic stated that territorial organisation of police regions is unacceptable for SDS if they cross over entity lines. RTRS, Lazo Maric, also from SDS, stated that SDS is for police reform but not for violation of RS Constitution and added that the offered concept of police reform arrived from RTRS, Veselin Poljasevic from PDP stated that none of the arguments from RS representatives were accepted during negotiations and added that the talks must continue. SDA representatives support the reform. Chief of SDP and NHI Caucus RTRS, Slobodan Popovic feels that decision has to be made which will open the doors to EU. RTRS, Dzevad Osmancevic from SBIH has the same opinion as Popovic. |
| Reports on RSNA discussion in RS/Serbian press
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘RS Assembly for isolation’ by V. Popovic and S. Gojkovic (reported on addresses by SDS’s Stanko Pivasevic, RS President Dragan Cavic, Head of EC Delegation Michael Humphreys, RS Police Minister Darko Matijasevic, SDA’s Tarik Sadovic, PDP’s Milenko Antesevic, DNS’s Drago Kalabic, SRS’s Milanko Mihajlica), inset ‘Dodik: Cavic does not have a clear stance’ (SNSD’s Milorad Dodik), Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Delegates said “no”’ by G. D. and Z. M. (PDP’s Vitomir Tomic, SRS’s Milanko Mihajlica, SPRS’s Nejo Djuric, Center Club’s Rajko Todorcevic, SNSD’s Milorad Dodik, Milan Lazic from SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj”, SDA’s Tarik Sadovic, DNS’s Drago Kalabic, Ruza Nikic from Pensioners’ Party), inset “Last defense” (SDS’s Lazo Maric) and inset ‘I know what we are losing’ (RS Police Minister Darko Matijasevic), Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘To choose less bad’ by Sl. Pesevic and M. Labus (Dragan Cavic, Milorad Dodik, SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj” and Darko Matijasevic), EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Trench fighting for the police’ and pg RS2 ‘Trench fighting’ by Rajna Radosavljevic (Dragan Cavic, Michael Humphreys, Milorad Dodik, Center Club, DNS, Spokesperson of HQ for defending of RS institutions Slavko Jovicic) |
| EUPM’s Carty briefed OSCE diplomats on ongoing police reform in BiH
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Aim is to establish a single police structure’ – The Head of the European Union Police Mission (EUPM), Commissioner Kevin Carty, met in Sarajevo on Monday with a delegation of four ambassadors to the Organization for Security and Cooperation to Europe (OSCE), diplomats from Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Spain. The goal of the meeting was for the OSCE delegation to get informed on the activities of EUPM regarding police reform in BIH, fight against crime and capacity development of law enforcement agencies in BIH. Carty stated that unless complete police restructuring in BIH is carried out police would never reach standards that are in accordance with the best European practice. He added that criminals are the only people profiting from the current situation and expressed his hope that RS National Assembly members would accept the 3 EU principles regarding police reform in BIH. |
| EUPM’s Carty visits
| Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Sarajevo is the only town in the world with two police structures’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Some 90 percent of narcotics being placed at EU black market coming through the Balkans and BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Approximately 90% of narcotics enter EU through BiH and Balkans’ by Z. Kusmuk, inset ‘Police reform in BiH is necessary’, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘The reform of police in BiH is not overthrowing RS institutions’ not signed – EUPM Commissar, Kevin Carty said on Monday that entities’ lines in BiH presented an obstacle and limited police efficiency. Proposal by which entities’ lines are to be crossed by police should not be considered as an attack on RS or its institutions, but as a precondition for making police work more efficient, said Carty on Monday in Bijeljina. Carty visited Public Security Centre (PSC) abd SBS field office in the town. Carty said that 90 percent of narcotics in European Union member countries comes from Afganistan, via Balkans and BiH. That is the reason why State Border Service (SBS) must be professional and very determined to fight organized crime, stated Carty. “Criminals are not stupid people. They realize the inefficiencies of the actual police structure, and exploit them to the full capacity”, said Carty. EUPM Commissioner praised SBS for the recent seizure of a larger amount of drugs. |
| EU’s Oli Rehn on visa regime, BiH’s approaching EU: First step towards visa abolishment to follow
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘First step towards abolishment of visas follows’ and pg 5 ‘Liberalization of visa regime for Western Balkans soon’ by special DA correspondent from Brussels carries an interview with EC Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn, who announced that the EC would publish soon a document on some sort of the visa regime liberalization for citizens of Western Balkans. Talking about the BiH’s approaching the EU, Rehn said that the EC set 16 prerequisites before BiH for beginning of negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Rehn added: ‘In most of these areas, including the cooperation with the ICTY, significant progress has been achieved. Unfortunately, still there is no agreement on the police reform and public RTV service. We cannot have negotiations on the SAA until these obstacles are removed.’ Asked weather the EC would support changes of the BiH Constitution, Rehn said that this would not be one of the pre-requisites for beginning of the negotiations on the SAA. Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Single police and RTV service’, by Zoran Kresic – Notes that European politicians in Brussels have sent a message that despite a French ‘NO’ in the referendum, the enlargement of the EU will not stop. Asked whether the issue of constitutional reforms would be one of conditions in the SAA process, the European Commissioner for enlargement, Ollie Rehn, said that the issue was not directly conditioned, however each EU member country had to harmonize its legislation, including the constitution. |
| SD insists Croats should have their own TV channel
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14, mentioned on front ‘Croat TV channel at any cost’, by Blanka Magas – Carries an op-ed in which the author insists that the Croats should have a channel in their own mother tongue. The author notes it is absurd that the Croats, being a constituent people, do not have the right to their own TV channel, since they would have the right if they were a national minority. |
| NN op-ed: BiH will remain on margins of European integrations
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘On European margins’ by M. Cubro – the author compares development of HDZ in Croatia with development of HDZ in BiH and refers to the forthcoming HDZ Congress by saying party president and deputy president might change at the Congress but the politics of the party will remain the same. ‘Pleading for a national concept of division of power in which leaders of the three peoples, like tribal chiefs, are sharing authority and power will remain present in BiH for a long time. By permanent insisting on this concept, BiH remain on margins of European integrations’, the author says. |
Political Developments | |
| Signing of petition for transfer of HR’s powers to BiH bodies started in
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Petition for departure of OHR from BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Paddy Ashdown should transfer his powers to local politicians’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Citizens giving up on High Representative’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Pejakovic: Without OHR – better’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg ‘Ashdown should give up authorities to BiH’, by B. Kristo, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Signatures for departure of Paddy Ashdown’, announced on cover ‘Time for Ashdown to leave’ by D. S., Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Petition for removal of Paddy Ashdown’ by Srna – The signing of the petition for abolishing the Office of the High Representative/transfer of HR’s powers to the BiH institutions started in Sarajevo on Monday. This petition was initiated by the alternative High Representative in BiH Josip Pejakovic and the People’s Party Working for Prosperity. |
| BiH De-mining unit to leave for
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Unit to start its mission in ten days’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘De-miners got their first salary’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘De-mining troops go to Iraq because of money’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Peacekeepers from BiH go to peace mission in Iraq’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ’36 BiH soldiers go to Iraq’, by Zdenko Rerig, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘De-miners will be accommodated near Fallujah in Iraq’ by M. Cubro – The BiH Armed Forces’ De-mining Unit composed of 36 soldiers divided in three groups will leave for Iraq on Wednesday, to take part in the peace mission in this country. They will stay in |
| Raguz on Martens’ letter to Colak: Isolation threatens HDZ
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Raguz: Isolation threatens HDZ’ by F. Vele carries parts of the letter that president of the European People’s (ENS) Party Wilfred Martens sent to the HDZ President Barisa Colak and the HDZ Presidency which, among the other things, says that ENS was informed that individuals against whom the BiH Court issued a bill of indictment and who were isolated by the High Representative are among the candidates for the position of the HDZ President. The letter goes on to say that although it is democratic right of HDZ to elect and appoint whomever they want, the election of such individuals would not be in accordance with the values and principles of the ENS. DA reminds that HDZ has a status of an observer in the ENS and it aspires to become a full member. The article also says that for this reason some HDZ Presidency members believe that Martens’ letter has gravity. HDZ Presidency member Martin Raguz stated: ‘The letter is an important message and it has significant gravity. HDZ should take measures since isolation which threatens HDZ is not the right way.’ |
| DL on situation in HDZ prior to convention: Covic losing support
| Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Colak adjourns session’, and pg 9 ‘Dragan Covic demanded his candidacy in form of ultimatum’, by Investigative team – DL learns from a source that is “close to the HDZ top” that Vice President of HDZ BiH, Dragan Covic, demanded during the last session of the HDZ Presidency that he be nominated by the Presidency as the candidate for the new HDZ President, without offering any arguments why he should be nominated. According to DL, when the situation (during the session) became “pretty sickening” a part of members of the HDZ Presidency stated that they did not want to take part in something that is not grounded in the HDZ Statute after which the party President, Barisa Colak, adjourned the session (session should continue on Thursday). According to DL’s source, Covic is doing everything in order to become the new party president since things are not looking good for him on the ground. Inset entitled ‘Covic without support in central |
| SD op-ed: Covic would be second-hand president
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16, mentioned on front ‘Second-hand president’, by Petar Milos – Carries an op-ed in which the author, whilst commenting on the election of new HDZ president, says if Covic were to be elected the president, his charm, skills, elegance etc. will not do him good since he is politically dead owing to the decision of the High Representative. |
| Presidency member Jovic with SCG Ambassador Vukicevic
| Pink, BHT, Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Full normalization of relations is in interest of BiH and SCG’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Marovic invites Jovic to Belgrade’, by dj – Member of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, met on Monday in Sarajevo with Serbia-Montenegro (SCG) Ambassador to BiH, Stanimir Vukicevic. In terms of cooperation with the ICTY, it was stressed that it had to be improved. They also discussed about trade balance between the two states, since BiH records deficit, and about reforms which are being carried out in both states, and Ivo Miro Jovic pointed out that they had to be carried out because of interests of all citizens. Both Jovic and Vukicevic noted it was in the common interest to fully normalize relations between BiH and SCG. |
| SDS, SNSD want Novic to be appointed SIPA Director
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘SDS and SNSD want Sredoje Novic to be at the head of SIPA’ by S. G. – CoM members should today try to appoint SIPA Director, as CoM announced Monday. SDS and SNSD Monday requested that Sredoje Novic is appointed SIPA Director. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Professionalism before politics’ by M. Dz. – carries a press release of SNSD, which reads that the fact SIPA Director was not appointed as yet was just another proof of incapability of the local authority. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘The choose the best one’ by V. J. – carries a press statement of SDS with regard to election of SIPA Director, emphasizing the party’s stance that the most professional person that had applied to the vacancy should be appointed the Director. |
| BiH HoR: OHR should present its stance with regard to former BiH Army members who were granted citizenships after the Dayton Agreement was signed
| EuroBlic pg RS1 ‘Even mujahedeens are enjoying benefits of citizenship’ by Nedeljka Breberina – BiH HoR believes OHR should present its stance with regard to the status of persons who were granted BiH citizenship after the Dayton Agreement was signed. These are mostly former BiH Army members, who were granted BiH citizenship on grounds of their participation in the war and who, as in accordance with Annex 1 of the Dayton Agreement, should have left BiH within 30 days. The Chairman of Constitution-Legal Commission of BiH Parliament, Mirsad Ceman, has stated the Commission could not have reached a decision on legislative dilemma – whether an international peace agreement was above BiH Law on Citizenship, therefore the Commission believes HR should provide with a legal interpretation. However, judging by claims of OHR representatives, HR Paddy Ashdown too doesn’t want to get involved in this issue. ‘This is a matter for local institutions’, OHR Spokesperson |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| Oslobodjenje interview with PDHR Bulter on ongoing economic trends in BiH
| Oslobodjenje pg 12, mentioned on cover ‘With one leg in Ireland, with another leg in Slovenia’ by H. Arifagic carries an interview with Principal Deputy High Representative Lawrence Butler and the article says that he was critical the most about privatization agencies, which according to his opinion, do not do their job. Asked as to why the High Representative does not change directors of these agencies, |
| VL:
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Croatia buying Hercegovacka bank’, pg 15 ‘Croatia is behind Validus buying Hercegovacka bank’, by Snjezana Mlinarevic – Notes that Croatia is not giving up the takeover of the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ after it failed in its first attempt half a year ago. VL explains that Croatia cannot directly participate with its state/budget money in the takeover, however it will be the ‘Validus’ fund from Croatia that will be purchasing the bank, to which the Croatian state owes money (some 112 million Croatian Kunas, that’s around 30 million KMs). VL also notes that the first consortium, which was interested in buying the bank, did not come to be just like that, it was in fact Paddy Ashdown’s initiative, who proposed the Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, that a group of Croatian companies should take over the bank, because it was the Croatian capital that founded the bank in the first place. |
Crime/Legal Proceedings | |
| Jelavic trials continue
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Mahmuljin: |
| International Helsinki Federation says
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘IHF: Serbia should admit responsibility for genocide in Srebrenica’, by NINA – The International Helsinki Federation (IHF) for human rights, which gathers human rights organizations from more than 40 countries, is calling on Serbian authorities to admit to responsibility of its military in the Srebrenica genocide. The IHF also note that the arrest of war crimes indictees, including Ratko Mladic, is necessary for normalization of the situation in the region. |
| Six RS Army officers were suspected over payments of salaries to Mladic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Six RS Army officers were suspected over payments of salaries to Ratko Mladic’ by A. Sisic – BiH Prosecutor’s Office has launched pre-investigation activities against officers of RS Defense Ministry and RS Army, who were responsible for payments of salaries to ICTY indictee Ratko Mladic, as BiH Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed. State Prosecutor Behaija Krnjic has stated that he had given an order to SIPA, upon a report of RS Defense Ministry, to collect additional evidence on payments of salaries to Mladic. Krnjic refused to give names of those suspected for these activities before the Prosecutor’s Office received final results. |