03.02.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 3/2/2006

image_pdfimage_print

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 3 February

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

RTRS  (12,00 hrs)

HR with FBiH officials today

Abazovic released from hospital

Entering of pleas for Kravice case

Mladic’s hiding in SCG in 2002

RS Gov. on Borovcanin’s pre-trial rel.

Agricultural issues

TV news broadcast on 2 February

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Cro coalition on Cro representatives

SCG Army supported Ratko Mladic

Bombs under two police cars

Jovic at Washington Breakfast

EUFOR Comm. on Abazovic case

Detention to Abazovic abolished

CoM adopts CIPS on voters registr.

Indictment for Kravica massacre

Chiarini on Abazovic’s case

Schilling meets NGO representatives

EUFOR’s operation in Herzegovina

World News

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Explosions in Bijeljina and Prijedor

FBIH TA closes bet shops in SA

Explosion in Prijedor

New proposals for Energopetrol

Vitex factory in strike

Explosion in Bijeljina

Issue of Peljesac bridge

GRAS announces new strike

Tokaca receives death threats

GRAS workers to strike again?

ZHC Gov’t orders start of school

RS Police management meeting

 

Oslobodjenje

Hadzipasic forms commission for salvation of Energopetrol

Dnevni Avaz

[Terzic] Some from SDA would get rid of me

Dnevni List

Lozancic announces possible dissolving of Parliament

Vecernji List

Croats are paying electricity for Republika Srpska (alleged abuse of money paid by customers in BiH)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Lasic: Working obligation! School starts on Monday ( Canton 8 strike of teachers)

Nezavisne Novine

Mafia threatens to police inspectors [in Prijedor and Bijeljina]

Glas Srpske

The Court tricked laws [Abazovic case]

EuroBlic

Bombs against inspectors [in Prijedor and Bijeljina]

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related titles

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

HR Schwarz-Schilling neets FBiH President Lozancic, PM Hadzipasic

 

RHB– HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling has met today with FBiH President Niko Lozancic and FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. After he took over the duty, the HR stated that progress achieved in BiH would become irreversible when BiH citizens themselves, through authority representatives that they elected, take over responsibility for the peace process and that peace and progress cannot be achieved through a decree. RHB says that the HR focused on this topic during the talk with FBiH officials.

SDS officially supports former SPRS Nedjo Djuric as candidate for PM-designate

 

RTRS – The SDS will support Nedjo Djuric as RS PM-designate, SDS press release reads. SDS also calls on other political parties to support Djuric in order to ensure a “comfortable” majority and stable RS Government. Press release notes that SDS should nominate PM-designate, stressing that it is clear by judging existing political environment, there is no possible likelihood a parliament majority would support new Government led by SDS representative.

RS Govt. in technical mandate to guarantee ICTY suspect release

RHB, RTRS – At today’s session in Banja Luka, RS Government in technical mandate is expected to hold session and provide guarantees for temporary release of ICTY indictee Ljubomir Borovcanin.

 

War crimes, investigations, crime

EUFOR Commander Chiarini on Abazovic case: “I regret loss of lives, but no one can fire at my soldiers”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PINK– At his first press conference in capacity of the EUFOR Commander, Gian Marco Chiarini stated that EUFOR troops have completed the investigation on events in Rogatica on January 5, when they tried to arrest war crimes suspects Dragomir Abazovic. On the occasion, Abazovic’s wife Rada died of sustained injuries and his son suffered injuries, however EUFOR has not discovered anything controversial. “I regret the loss of life and injuries, but the main message is that nobody can shoot at my soldiers”, stressed Chiarini. He informed EUFOR has twice assisted the operations carried out by local authorities, on the basis of information that ICTY indictees could be hiding in BiH. Nevertheless, Chiarini on Thursday confirmed that neither Ratko Mladic nor Radovan Karadzic are currently hiding in BiH. EUFOR also actively participate in operations gathering and destroying illegal weapons in BiH; in a very short period of time, almost three tons of different weapons have been discovered in Bosanska Dubica. EUFOR Commander concluded that not only the existence of illegal weapons represent the problem, but also certain sites with extremely low standard and inadequate security, such as the military factory Vitezit in Vitez. “We have worked together with the BiH Ministry of Defence and UNDP on cleaning up this location. There were thousands on unstable mortar and artillery shells, which was very dangerous for local residents, and there was also the possibility of a robbery”, explained Chiarini. He stressed that the possible admission to the Partnership for Peace by the end of the year is ‘a big challenge’ for BiH, adding that it would be a great achievement if BiH joins the NATO in 2008. RHB, BHT1, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Chiarini: No one can fire at my soldiers’ by L.Sinanovic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Chiarini impressed by amount of hidden weapons’ by A. Prlenda,Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Chiarini: Nobody can shoot at my soldiers’, Glas Srpske cover pg inset ‘Paraffin glove’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are not here’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are not in BiH’ by A.Sisic, EuroBlic RSpg 5, announced on cover ‘Chiarini: Arrest is duty of BH authorities’ by Dusanka Stanisic– covered the press conference.

BiH Court abolish detention for war crimes suspect Dragan Abazovic

 

RHB, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘BiH Court abolished detention for Dragomir Abazovic’ by S.T., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Dragomir Abazovic at large’, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Abazovic to be released’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20 ‘Dragomir Abazovic released home’ by B. Kristo, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Detention against Abazovic lifted’, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘The Court tricked laws’ by Z.Domazet, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Dragomir Abazovic free today’ by D.S.  – BiH Court has abolished detention to Dragomir Abazovic and ordered his immediate release. Acting on Abazovic’s appeal, BiH Court council ruled that detention order, issued by Cantonal CourtSarajevo, was not consistent to the BiH Code on Crime Procedure. Abazovic was arrested by EUFOR on January 5 on suspicion of committing war crimes in Rogatica area, during which he was wounded. He is currently receiving treatment at SarajevoHospital.

Bombs planted under cars of high-ranking police officials in Prijedor and Bijeljina, media speculate this is a revenge of Mafia

 

BHT 1 by Zoran Sarenac – Unidentified persons on Wednesday night planted bombs under vehicles owned by members of the RS Police’s crime investigation departments in Bijeljina and in Prijedor. Dragomir Andan, RS Police Director confirmed that the investigations are ongoing and there are speculations that these attacks were connected to the recent arrests of illegal drug smugglers in Bijeljina and Prijedor. “The explosions were most likely synchronised since both occurred at 23 hours” added Andan. Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 20, mentioned on cover ‘Policemen’s cars blown up’ by N. Dedic, Vecernji List pg 27 ‘Policemen’s cars blown up’ by B. Stevandic, Dnevni Avaz pg 31 ‘Head of Drugs Department car bombed’ by M.Z., Oslobodjenje pg 36  ‘Vehicle of Inspector for drugs destroyed’ – by B. Kahrimanovic– explosion in Prijedor Dnevni Avaz pg 32, mentioned on cover ‘Police inspector car blown up’ by E.Musli, Oslobodjenje pg 35 ‘Crime- inspector’s ‘passat’ blown up’ by V. Du.– explosion in Bijeljina.Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Mafia threatens to police inspectors’ and pg 3 ‘Mafia threatens to police inspectors’ by D. Kovacevic, Z. Kusmuk and S. Karic, EuroBlic cover pg splash and pg RS8 ‘Bombs against inspectors’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 10 ‘A bomb as a message’ by V. Janjic – papers speculate this is a sort of a revenge of organized crime groups that deal with drug smuggling.

EUFOR blocks access to village near Gacko/Bileca; operation to assists ITA

 

PINK, RTRS, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘EUFOR searched vehicles’ by V.D., Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘They searched vehicles’ by S.A. – EUFOR members have blocked on Thursday the access roads to Bogdasici village, located on the road between Bileca and Gacko. They were searching vehicles, and identifying passengers and passers-by. Officials in Mostar EUFOR base confirmed that this operation was not the part of the search for war crimes indictees, i.e. Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic; EUFOR claims that the operation, organized in cooperation with the Indirect Taxation Administration, is aimed at preventing criminals from smuggling different kinds of goods.

Former Yugoslav Army official: Mladic’s last appearance in a facility of former Yugoslav Army was in summer 2002

 

Vecernje Novosti pg 3 ‘He promoted military-school students in Dedinje’, announced on cover ‘Mladic is somewhere far away’ by Milos Antic – A former high-ranking official of then Yugoslav Army claims Ratko Mladic’s last appearance in a facility of then Yugoslav Army was at the beginning of summer of 2002, on the occasion of graduation of military school students in Dedinje. Inset ‘Far away from Serbia?’ – a former official of SiCG Military-Security Agency claims Mladic is not in Serbia and says there is not a single evidence proving anyone had seen him in past several years in SiCG. Hayat, PINK– Media report that SCG Army now acknowledged it assisted in hiding of Mladic. The report on his periodical residence in SCG Army premises in 2002 was submitted by the Head of the SCG Army’s Military Security Agency Sveto Kovac.

DA: Bill of indictment to be issued against D. Covic, M. Coric next week?

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Will new bill of indictment against Covic be issued’ by F. Vele learns that next week (most probably next Friday, February 10) Prosecutor of the Special Department for Organized Crime and Corruption with the BiH Prosecution Erik Larson will issue a bill of indictment against HDZ President Dragan Covic, HNC Prime Minister Miroslav Coric and Director of company ‘Soko’ Josip Gojak on the ground of suspicions that they committed illegal acts in this company. According to unofficial information, Larson and investigators will visit Mostar next week where they will carry out final activities before issuing the bill of indictment.

 

Economic issues

FBiH PM Hadzipasic proposes establishment of commission for recovery of Energopetrol, announces annulment of tender 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTV – FBIH Prime Minister Ahmed Hadzipasic sent a letter to Chairs of both FBIH Parliament Houses asking them to solve the issue of ‘Energopetrol’ by establishing a commission that would find the solution for recovery of the company. Hadzipasic wrote in the letter that there was no political will to end the co-capitalisation of the company suggesting that FBIH should define the concrete actions to be taken for company’s recovery pointing to legal regulations that must be followed. Hayat – Hadzipasic asked FBiH Parliament to solve this problem, and proposed that the final solution are to be made by, among others, Gavrilo Grahovac, Mirnes Ajanovic, Semsudin Mehmedovic and Ismet Briga – thus, as FTV points out, those who were against previous solutions proposed by Hadzipasic’s FBiH Government at the first place. Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘’Energopetrol’ left at mercy of ‘hawks’’, by D. J. – VL comments it is ironic that Hadzipasic gave in to likes of Ajanovic, Mehmedovic and Briga, who were the biggest of opponents of the FBIH Government’s plan to co-capitalize the ‘Energopetrol’, by proposing them to become members of the Commission for recovery of the company.Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Tender for “Energopetrol” to be annulled’ by M. Rener – On Thursday, Hadzipasic said that the tender for co-capitalisation of ‘Energopetrol’ would be annulledRHB, BHT1, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Hadzipasic forms commission for salvation of Energopetrol’ not signed, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘There is no will to end co-capitalization of Energopetrol’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Priority is resolvement of problems instead of changes of BiH Constitution’ by R.Cengic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Constitution is (not) an obstacle’, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘’Energopetrol’ left at mercy of ‘hawks’’, by D. J.– also reported on Hadzipasic’s proposal.

Reactions to Energopetrol case: Ajanovic, Heco, Briga, Mehmedovic oppose Hadzipasic; INA-MOL do not withdraw their offer

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Hadzipasic demands commission for Energopetrol to be formed’ by M.K. – DA carries series of reactions (in separate articles, page 4) by officials proposed by FBiH PM for the Commission all strongly opposing Ahmet Hadzipasic’s proposal on establishing the Commission for Energopetrol recovery, concluding it is belated. BOSS leader Mirnes Ajanovic invited Hadzipasic to resign, FBiH House of Peoples Co-Chair Vahid Heco said that it was an arrogant move, SBiH Caucus Chief Ismet Briga claims it is transfer of responsibility, SDA Caucus Chief Semsudin Mehmedovic said Hadzipasic’s move is provocative and not serious, adding that there are no HDZ members are proposed for the Commission. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Energopetrol has all the conditions to survive’, mentioned on cover ‘Energopetrol could be saved by Energoinvest and Terminals’ by Mirela Kukan – In an interview for DA, Sarajevo University Rector and former BiH Prime Minister Hasan Muratovic claims that ‘Energopetrol’ case lasts way too long, adding that the company has all the preconditions to survive and develop. Muratovic is of opinion that ‘Energopetrol’ should not be sold, providing economical advices on things that should be done. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Ina-MOL consortium does not quit’ by A.Avdic – ‘INA BiH’ Director Franjo Bozic said that Consortium INA-MOL did not withdraw its offer for co-capitalisation of ‘Energopetrol’.

Comm. for co-capitalization of Energopetrol proposes annulment of debts between FBiH and the company

 

Hayat – Commission for Energopetrol’s co-capitalisation proposed that the debts between Energopetrol and FBiH should be annulled; Energopetrol currently owes 33 million KM to FBiH institutions, while Federation of BiH owes 44 million to Energopetrol. President of Commission for co-capitalisation Resad Zutic explained that the problem are the obligations that resulted from interest rates; Croatian-Hungarian consortium INA-MOL does not want to take on those obligations, because they were not included in Energopetrol’s co-capitalisation tender. If FBiH Government does not accept this proposal on the mutual annulment of obligations, the best solution would be to cancel the co-capitalisation tender, added Zutic.

RS Government today discusses privatisation of RS Telecom, audit of RS Railways; SNSD says Govt was dismissed, its decisions should not be supported

 

BHT1 By Tanja Alavuk – RS Government should discuss the audit report on RS Railways and privatization process of RS Telecom at the session scheduled for Friday. RS Minister for Transport and Communications Dragoje Lajic stated that Main Boards are already instructed in correcting the irregularities. The RS Government will also discuss the surplus of workers and privatisation process of Oil Refinery from Bosanski Brod. On the other hand, SNSD’s Nebojsa Radmanovic warned that former government has been dismissed and that all their decisions should be audited. “I’m not suggesting audit of good decisions but those that we suspect of having irregularities” explained Radmanovic. Reporter stressed that RS President Dragan Cavic has accused opposition of negotiating with SDA over privatisation of RS Telecom in exchange for support to their candidate for RS Prime Minister designate. The RS Government has appointed the revision commission of Oil Refinery Bosanski Brod due to started privatisation process, which was not approved by PDP. Nevenka Trifunovic, from PDP, stated that RS Government has been dismissed which indicates that their decisions should not be supported. 

RS Transport Minister Gligoric: privatisation of Telecom is in RS jurisdiction

 

PINK, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Telekom Srpske” a private firm as of August’ by R.Segrt, EuroBlic RSpg 4 ‘Surplus manpower to face dismissals’ by Tijana Vesleinovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Srpska’s jurisdiction’ by G.Dakic – The privatisation of RS ‘Telekom’ and ‘Elektroprivreda’ is exclusively in this entity’s jurisdiction, RS Minister of Economy, Energy and Development Miladin Gligoric and Minister of Transport and Communications Dragoje Lajic stated on Thursday. Gligoric reminded that the RS Government has already selected the consultant (Raiffeisen Investment) for the privatisation of “TeleKom Srpske”, noting it can be expected the privatisation of this company will be completed until July or August 2006. According to Lajic, it will not be possible to complete the privatisation of power utility sector in 2006.

RS Economy, Energy and Development Minister appointed new Director to Oil Refinery BB

 

RTRS, EuroBlic RSpg 4 ‘Gligoric: Solution in sight’ by T.V. Savo Danilovic, who was acting director of Bosanski Brod refinery has been appointed as director despite disagreements of refinery employees. RS Minister of Economy, Energy and Development Miladin Gligoric feels that such relation of employees towards Danilovic is not correct. Gligoric also expressed expectation that the representatives of the Israeli-American Company “Alon” will come to Banja Luka in the near future, in order to resume talks regarding establishing of a joint company with Oil Refinery Bosanski Brod.

CoM Chair Terzic: BiH supports EU’s proposal of establishing single customs zone in Western Balkans

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Terzic: BiH supports customs union of Balkans’ by M.Cubro – Acting in line with directives of the new EU policy adopted in Brussels Monday (one of which is establishment of a single customs union of Western Balkans states), Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, expressed support to this directive, since its forming would ensure a bigger market without customs obstacles for tradesmen from BiH, adding: “This would also be a sort of test for BiH economy prior to its entry into EU market.” Azra Hadziahmetovic, professor at Sarajevo Faculty of Economy, also supports this EU proposal. Ivo Sanader, Croatian Premier, Thursday in Zagreb , said Croatia does not oppose to the admission of South European states into CEFTA (Central and East European Customs Union).

Reactions on proposal to establish single customs zone: SCG , Macedonia and BiH support initiative; Croatian President sceptic it is effort to ‘create new Yugoslavia

 

BHT 1 ‘Javna tajna’ by Suzana Stambol – BHT 1 notes that Croatia is reluctant towards this proposal, while SCG is very supportive.Srdjan Sreckovic, Serbian Deputy Trade Minister said that regional free trade zone would be one of phases of association process. On the other side, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic supports economic aspect of the idea, however notes it reminds of creating new Yugoslavia.Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, doesn’t agree with Mesic and says he strongly believes that “nobody in the European structures… is trying to create new Yugoslavia.”  Dragan Doko, BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, deems the initiative as progress in idea which appeared in 2003 that would replace network of bilateral contracts with much stronger ones. Dragoljub Stojanov, BiH expert for international trade deems EC initiative as very provocative move with a geo-political dimension, adding he is shocked at possibility of having free trade zone with countries more developed than BiH. Brussels officials believe otherwise: Doris Pack, Chief of European Parliament delegation for SEE, that the regional free trade zone is a step forward that will open new jobs. EC believes that new Yugoslavia establishment is nonsense. According to the BHT1, Brussels raises a possibility whether Western Balkans countries instead of becoming EU members would rather be members of small union in the South. Journalists comments that the initiative came at the same time as negotiations on Kosovo status have begun, which indicates it is not only if economic nature. Slobodna Bosna cover splash, pgs 6-7 ‘Whole Yugoslavia one market’ by Danka Savic and Asim Metiljevic – Macedonian Prime Minister Vladimir Bucakovski says his country supports the initiative.

SB says that establishment of single customs zone would equalize economic trade in region

 

Slobodna Bosna cover splash, pgs 6-7 ‘Whole Yugoslavia one market’ by Danka Savic and Asim Metiljevic – Article notes that the EC initiative for establishment of a single customs union of Western Balkans states is already a part of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement [SAA], adding it could be signed by mid 2006 and implemented starting from beginning of 2007. Commenting BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic who supported EC initiative, SB points out that such policy would change unequal terms of economic trade in the region.

VL: Price of transmission of electricity to go up, money to be used to fund surplus employees in RS

 

Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Croats are paying electricity for Republika Srpska’, and pg 5 ‘Electricity and plunder’, by Zoran Kresic – According to VL, the decision by the DERK (State Regulatory Commission for Electricity) according to which the price of transmission of electricity goes from 0,56 fenings to 1,087 fenings per kw/h will ammas around 40 million KMs, the sum which will, according to VL, end up in the RS, namely in the ‘yet-to-be established’ ‘Elektroprijenos BiH’ (state company for transmission of electricity). VL argues that the money will in fact be used to fund 300 surplus workers of the ‘Elektroprivreda of RS’.

 

Political issues

New HR Schwarz- Schilling met NGOs: Restrictions in the Constitution have to be resolved if they are preventing authorities to act efficiently

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHT1 – New High Representative to BIH Christian Schwarz-Schilling has met with representatives of NGO sector and civic society in BIH on Thursday. He stressed that elections are the only peaceful way for changing the political situation. “In that process the NGO sector and the civic society are an important factor which is responsible for focussing attention during the election year on the real issues and real problems, and not on propaganda and propaganda messages” added Schwarz-Schilling. Fadil Sero, Head of Civic society stressed that the NGOs intend to analyse plans, objectives and methods of implementing the needs of BIH citizens and to inform citizens before the elections on their results. Reporter stated that NGO sector called citizens to use their civic rights and vote at the coming elections. RTRS– Schilling also stated that the most important thing for BIH at the moment is negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement. “If authorities cannot do something because of restrictions in the Constitution then they have to resolve it”, stated Schilling. He also advised NGO representatives to ask politicians what have they done so far and what can they do in the future. Svjetlana Broz from NGO “Garivo” stated that it is important to have support of international community since support of local authorities is missing. Branko Todorovic from RS Helsinki Committee stressed that it is important for BIH citizens to take things into their own hands. Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Schilling convinced that there are also capable politicians’ by M. Zorlak carries the HR Schwarz-Schilling as saying that it is not correct that all BiH politicians are incapable and that there are politicians who are really trying hard to improve the situation. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Elections are the only way to change things’ by A. OmeragicCSS said that Director of BiH Direction for EU Integration Osman Topcagic is an example of such official, adding he who prepared documents for SAA talks on European level. RHB, PINK– also covered the meeting.

CoM adopts CIPS project on passive registration of voters

 

Hayat– BiH Council of Ministers adopted the CIPS project of passive voters’ registration; according to BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic, it means that every BiH citizen with valid identification document will be on a central registration list, and will be able to vote without any kind of previous registration. This project will cost approximately 2.15 million KM, and BiH CoM is obliged to provide funds necessary for its implementation. CIPS representatives, i.e. CIPS project acting director Amina Tahirbegovic, believe that this project would assure bigger turnout of voters at future elections in BiH. RHB, PINK, BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘CIPS’ data as new electoral list’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Voters feel relieved’ by N. Zelenovic, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Everyone on one list’ by Dusanka Stanisic – reported.

SDS to support nomination of Nedjo Djuric for PM designate; Bosic: SDS to withdraw from CoM, but will not vote no-confidence to CoM Chair Terzic

 

RTRS by Sinisa MihailovicSDS Main Board has decided not to propose any of its members for the position of RS Prime minister designate. SDS decided to support Nedjo Djuric for this position. SDS Deputy Chair Mladen Bosic claims that Djuric has the necessary support in RS National Assembly. He says that Djuric has the support of parties from RS and adds that other parties base their programs on only one fact, to remove SDS. PDP members are scheduled to meet with RS President Dragan Cavic on Friday. Mladjan Zaric from PDP says that their support goes to SNSD Chair Milorad Dodik. Reporter comments that crisis in RS Government might create a crisis in Council of Ministers. “Idea is to ask SDS members to leave CoM”, says Bosic. Reporter comments that it is clear that either Djuric or Dodik will be the new PM designate. Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘SDS supports Nedjo Djuric as PM designate’ by V. Popovic – the article carries Bosic who confirmed SDS would demand from its members to withdraw from BiH CoM, but they will not demand for casting the vote of no-confidence in CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic because they do not want to create crisis at the state level. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘SDS goes into opposition’ by N.Diklic – Bosic said that SDS would support Djuric as PM designate, adding that according the information they have Djuric lacks support only from FBiH parties.FTV, BHT 1, EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Support to Djuric’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Support to Nedjo Djuric’ by Z. M., – also covered.

BiH CoM Chair Terzic: SDA will not endanger SAA talks

 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘Some from SDA would get rid of me’ by S.Numanovic – Commenting speculations that SDA made a deal with SNSD on a support to Milorad Dodik for the position of the RS Prime Minister-designate and his parallel replacement from the BiH Council of Ministers, CoM Chair Adnan Terzic said for DA that “knowing some partisan colleagues, it would not surprise him”. However, he also underlines: “I don’t believe that SDA, through any of its actions, would endanger realistic chances for us to end talks on Stabilization and Association Agreement [SAA] with EU by the end of the year.” Terzic also warned that European Commission could stop the talks if the political crisis is brought from entity to the state level.

Oslob op-ed on RS Govt: New alliance of Banja Luka and Sarajevo based parties is good news

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘New alliance’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Commenting recent occurrences regarding turbulences regarding forming new RS Government, editorial reads that likely coalition composed by parties from Banja Luka and Sarajevo is good news, because it is multinational and pluralistic. Author said that this new alliance should make difference, if SNSD leader Milorad Dodik fulfil his promises and fight the organized criminal.

CoM passed amendments to the Law on Police Officials which define police ranking procedure

 

PINK by Aida Hasanbegovic – BiH Council of Ministers defined on Thursday in Sarajevo the law proposal on passing of amendments to the law on police officials in BiH, proposed by the BiH Ministry of Security. The proposal of this law will be forwarded to BiH Parliament, where it should be adopted in urgent procedure.  According to BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic, the proposal of the law was adopted in the text that was imposed by the High Representative in December 2005. “Proposed law defines the regulations concerning police ranks, in a way that police experience, instead of working experience in general, will be used as the main criterion for awarding ranks to police officials”, explained Halilovic. Hayat, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘CIPS’ data as new electoral list’ by D. Polovina-Mandic– also reported

FBiH President Lozancic: I will have no other choice but to dissolve FBiH Parliament if budget is not adopted by end March

 

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Lozancic announces possible dissolving of Parliament’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – The FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, told DL that unless the FBiH Parliament adopts the budget for 2006 by end of March, he will have no other choice but to dissolve the (FBIH) Parliament as foreseen in the FBIH Constitution. Lozancic says he is disappointed with the MPs for not takng care of people in the need, such as invalids and people affected by the VAT, arguiong that the crisis the FBiH Government is in (failure to appoint tw o new ministers), has nothing to do with the budget.

US Ambassador McElhaney: Constitutional talks should continue, Secretary of State Rice expects from politicians to observe Washington agreement

 

Dnevni List, pg 9, mentioned on front ‘Constitutional changes should continue’, by Zvonimir Jukic – carries an interview with the US Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney, in which he mostly talks about the constitutional reforms. He assesses that the talks in question are not completed yet, believing that the politicians are at this phase thinking whether they are ready to return to the table and complete the first phase of negotiations. He underlines that two good agreements have been made in relation to human rights and BiH CoM, whilst positions got closer with regards to the Presidency and one president, as well as on a better functioning Parliament. “However, there is one package that needs to be agreed upon, which is the responsibility of the state and other levels of authority”, said McElhaney. He further says the talks should continue, noting that the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told him that she expected from them (politicians) to observe the agreement from Washington.

VL: Diplomats in BiH working on creation of new ‘ Alliance ’ made of SDA, SDP, SNSD and one Croat party

 

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘New Alliance for BiH is being made’, mentioned on front ‘Germany and USA for new Alliance in BiH’, by Zoran Kresic – According to VL’s information, most influential diplomats in BiH are working on a project the aim of which is to create a new, ‘multi-ethnic’ Alliance in BiH, which would win the 2006 elections. Allegedly, the German and US diplomats agree that the new ‘ Alliance ’ should consist of the SDA, SDP BiH, SNSD and one Croat party. Final decision which Croat party that would be is still to be decided.

Presidency Chairman Jovic in Washington : Cardinal McCarrick says he will inform Washington about injustices against Croats of BiH

 

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Talks about injustice towards Croats in BiH’, by Z. K. – Reports from traditional prayer’s breakfast which was organized on Thursday by the US President Bush. Chairman of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, who also attended the breakfast, met with Cardinal (from Washington) Thoedore McCarrick the night before, and the Cardinal promised Jovic he would inform the State Department and the White House about “injustices that are being done against the Croats Catholics in BiH”. Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘BiH is ready to implement reforms’ by Agencies – BiH Presidency issued a press release following Jovic’s talks with US officials in Washington. The press release reads Ivo Miro Jovic, during the talks, expressed his belief that BiH authorities are determined to implement political reforms.  Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘BiH mentioned as friendly country to USA’ by E.Sarac – Carries statements by founder of Bosniak Institute Adil Zulfikarpasic and Sarajevo Islamic Faculty Dean Enes Karic on ‘Prayer Breakfast’ in Washington.

HSP of Croatia’s Djapic asks in Washington that entities in BiH be abolished

 

Vecernji List, pg 14 ‘Djapic requested abolishment of entities’, by Zoran Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 20 ‘Djapic looking for support for BiH’, by M. Karacic – The President of HSP of Croatia, Ante Djapic, who also attended the traditional prayer’s breakfast at Washington, met with 20 or so US congressmen and senators, and he asked that the entities in BiH be abolished. Djapic also presented the HSP’s position regarding the internal organization of BiH (BiH made of no less than 7 regions), which would annul results of ethnic cleansing in BiH.

SD: Rumour has it Ashdown will lobby for BiH for 10.000 Euros a month

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21, mentioned on front ’10.000 Euros to Ashdown for lobbying’, by Zlatko Tulic – According to SD, the rumours in Sarajevo are that former HR, Paddy Ashdown, has made a deal with certain individuals from political structures in BiH to lobby for BiH in the world, the services he would be charging 10.000 Euros a month. SD also writes that Ashdown is being linked to building of apartments on Mt. Bjelasnica, whilst some even claim that he completed some businesses related to the privatisation of ‘Elektroprivredas’ in BiH.