Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 3 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Delic pleaded not guilty | Delic pleads not guilty | Delic entered plea |
| Perisic to turn himself in | FBiH HoP in session | Meakic case |
| CoM in session | 5 policemen killed in | Police to look for Gotovina |
TV news broadcast on 2 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| OHR on indictment against Covic | Ashdown visit to | Covic indictment |
| HR on new sanctions against RS | HR on Commission for Srebrenica | Indictments vs. Ganic, Mahmuljin |
| UHSP on return of Croats | UNHCR on process of return in 2005 | Gvero and Miletic pleas |
| Kebo on return process aid projects | BiH Presidency session | Del Ponte criticism of Serbian Govt. |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Gvero case before ICTY | Covic indictment | Covic indictment |
| RSA/former JNA generals surrender | Paravac’s on Covic indictment | Ashdown visit to |
| Delic case before ICTY | OHR on Covic indictment | Bosniak Caucus-vital national interest |
| Transfer of the ICTY cases to BiH | Gvero and Miletic pleas | RS Council for Protection of VNI |
| Dnevni Avaz | Indictment against Covic, Tadic, Lijanovics raised; HR in BL: Next eight weeks key for BiH; Ivanic: ‘PDP will not let those positions to anybody’ |
| Dnevni List | Covic, Tadic, Lijanovics and Tadic indicted |
| Vecernji List | Indictments against Lijanovics, Covic and Tadic |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Villages near Konjic: More than 260 people snowed in for ten days already |
| Nezavisne Novine | Covic and Tadic were indicted |
| Glas Srpske | A room with hundred of miseries |
| EuroBlic | Without heating on –18 |
| Vecernje novosti | Serbian related titles |
| Nacional | Serbian related titles |
| Danas weekly | Exclusive: Lijanovici and Covic under intelligence surveillance |
| Ljiljan weekly | Durakovic: It is shameful how SDA sends BiH Army generals to |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| FBiH HoP rejects amendments on decertified police | BH Radio1, RHB – The FBiH House of People adopted the Proposal of law on internal affairs in FBiH today. However, the HoP did not adopt an amendment that was earlier adopted in the FBiH HoR which envisages that de-certified Police officers, for whom the court orders confirmed there were no grounds for de-certification, could stay on the force and get hired by the Police. |
| Delic pleads not guilty | BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – Retired BiH Army general Rasim Delic this morning pleaded not guilty before the ICTY to the counts of the indictment accusing him of violating laws and customs of warfare. |
| Perisic to surrender on 7 March | RHB at 12.00 – Former JNA General Momcilo Perisic will turn himself in to the ICTY on March 7. It has been supposed that Perisic will be charged with war crimes committed in Mostar and Zadar. |
| Hays: Covic should resign
| FENA – PDHR |
| Tihic surprised with charges against Covic Hays
| FENA – Commenting on the bills of indictment issued against Dragan Covic, owners of company ‘Lijanovici’ and the others, Sulejman Tihic stated he was surprised to learn about this: “For the first time this is something serious, however, in any case we should wait for the decision of the Court, which should decide whether the bill of indictment will be confirmed or not.” |
| Humphreys meets RS officials
| FENA – Chief of the EC delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, today with RS officials in Banja Luka warning that BiH’s beginning of SAA negotiations depends on 2 crucial issues, that is, cooperation with the ICTY and police reform. |
Charges vs. Covic, Tadic, Lijanovics, Lucic | |
| Indictment against Covic, Tadic, Lucic and Lijanovici brothers submitted to
| BHT 1 by Marina Boskovic – Member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, is indicted for abuse of authority while he held position of FBiH Finance Minister. Besides Covic, Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crimes and Corruption of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office raised indictments against brothers Jozo, Mladen, Jerko and Slavo Ivankovic-Lijanovic from company “Lijanovici”, President of the BiH Constitutional Court, Mato Tadic, and law professor, Zdravko Lucic. The seven suspects are charged with office abuse, forging of documents, customs fraud, tax evasion and bribery in connection to company “Lijenovici”. The indictment contains a total of 14 counts. “I am proud of everything that I have done in my life and we won’t speculate on anything”, said Covic, refusing to comment indictment. “I have yet no information on raising of indictment, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that happen. Our political competition and import lobbies lead campaign for three years already, bothered with our political project”, said “Lijanovici” Management Board Chair, Jerko Ivankovic-Lijanovic. Ivankovic-Lijanovic brothers and Covic are also charged with bribing of Tadic, who denied attempt of stopping the adoption of decision on abolishment of immunity to officials in court proceedings. “I have no reason to fear of anything. If no one offered me anything, I couldn’t accept anything. That is absurd, because I cannot ensure positive decision, all decisions were negative”, said Tadic. Also covered by RHB, PINK, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Indictment against Covic, Tadic and Lijanovic raised’, pg 2 ‘Matson pressed charged against Dragan Covic, Mato Tadic, Ivankovic brothers and Zdravko Lucic’ by F.Vele, Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Indictments against Covic, Lijanovics, Tadic and Lucic’, by Aldijana Omeragic, Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Covic, Tadic, Lijanovics and Tadic indicted’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Indictment in the ‘Lijanovics’ and Covic case raised’, by Arijana Beus, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Indictments against Lijanovics, Covic and Tadic’, and pgs 2-3 ‘Indictments against seven people raised’ by Zoran Kresic, Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Indictment against Covic, Tadic and Lijanovics raised’, by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg3 ‘Covic and Tadic were indicted’ by A. Sisic, Glas Srpske cover ‘Covic was indicted’ by Srna. |
| Danas weekly says indictment against Covic, others based on testimony of unsatisfied worker
| Danas, front pg splash ‘Exclusive: Lijanovici and Covic under intelligence surveillance’, and pgs 10-13 ‘Secret witness Nikolic charged Lijanovics and Dragan Covic with tax evasions’, by Zdenko Jurilj – In relation to the indictment against Dragan Covic and others, Danas weekly reports that the Lijanovici brothers and Covic have been placed under Police and intelligence surveillance, upon a request of the BiH Prosecution and approval by the BiH Court. Apparently, measures include wiretapping of phones too. The President of BiH Court, Meddzida Kreso, says decisions related to surveillance of potential suspects are in hands of international judges and prosecutors. When it comes to the indictment itself, Danas says it is based on testimony of one Z. Nikolic (full details are known to the weekly). Apparently, Nikolic was hired by the ‘Lijanovici’ meat industry and he worked on legal loopholes pertaining to tax and customs duties. However, after their rapport ended, when allegedly Nikolic was not paid for his services, he decided to speak to the prosecutors and reveal a series of controversial details, one of which was that Covic was on Lijanovics’ payroll, receiving some 25.000 KMs a month. |
| Muselimovic, Ivankovic on charges
| Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Indictments against Covic, Lijanovics, Tadic and Lucic’, by Aldijana Omeragic – An inset under headline ‘Lawyer Muselimovic claims that Prosecution does not have evidence against Covic’ carries that Covic’s lawyer Josip Muselimovic. Other inset under headline ‘Ivankovic: Staged process’ carries Director of ‘Lijanovici’ Jerko Ivankovic who rejected charges of the BiH Prosecution and said that this is about a staged process and a campaign that has been on against this company for years. |
| BHT1: Ian Cliff to ask Covic to resign?
| BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Cliff will ask Covic to resign’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘ Pressures until standing down?’, by H – According to BHT 1, on Thursday British Ambassador Ian Cliff will call on Covic to resign. “BiH has to follow European standards. In other countries, when indictment like this is raised against certain officials, those people usually resign”, said Cliff. The indictments were been submitted to the Court of BiH for confirmation. [NOTE: Confirmed by |
| OHR: ‘Consider possibility of resignation’
| RHB, FTV, BHT 1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘OHR expects those charged with the crime to step back’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘OHR expects stepping down from offices’, by M. Dr., Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘OHR: Consider possibility of resignation’, by H, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘OHR expects Covic and Tadic to resign’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘OHR expects them to stand down’, by Fena– Commenting to the indictments against abovementioned officials, OHR stated that the persons holding executive positions that have a crucial bearing on the trust of citizens at home, and the reputation of BiH abroad, are expected to stand down if indicted for criminal offences. Only by doing so can they preserve that trust as they prepare to defend themselves through the courts, in the event that the indictment is confirmed. OHR also notes that there is no doubt should the indictment be confirmed, Dragan Covic will wish to consider how to proceed in the best interests of his country and those he represents. PINK – “Whether an indictment is accepted/confirmed is a matter of the Court and I will not either speculate or interfere in that process. If an indictment is accepted I am going to have a comment to make which I will make at that time”, said the HR Paddy Ashdown upon a question to comment on the issue. |
| Paravac: Presidency continues working normally | FTV – FTV brigs reaction of the BiH presidency Chair, Borislav Paravac, on indictment against Covic. “Regarding Mr. Covic, Presidency continues with its work normally and there are no any difficulties regarding that”, said Paravac. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on charges | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Covic’ op-ed by Senka Kurtovic – Editorial on to the bills of indictment issued against Dragan Covic and others notes that so far Covic has been denying media reports on this issue being convinced that the International Community will award him for his obedience. With regard to owners of ‘Lijanovic’ the author says that competent institutions are very well aware in which way firm earned millions KM. She concludes: ‘For this reason there is no answer to the question what has been waited for so long. Has HR Paddy Ashdown finally decided to deprive yes-men of ‘immunity’?” |
Cooperation with ICTY / Police reform | |
| Ashdown meets RS Officials, says next 8-10 weeks crucial
| PINK byDragica Tojagic – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown met with the top RS officials and Chairs of Caucus in the RS National Assembly in Banjaluka on Wednesday, in order to discuss cooperation with the ICTY and police reform. HR said that cooperation with The Hague and police reform were the two main conditions which had to be fulfilled in order for BiH to start negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement, underlying that next 8-10 weeks are crucial for BiH. “If we lose this opportunity, this country will not have such possibility again”, said HR. RS President Dragan Cavic said that the issue of cooperation with the ICTY should be carried out as soon as possible, in order for the RS not to be referred as the entity which obstructed this process. He said that there was readiness in the RS for police reform to be carried out but on principle of internal consensus. “I think that it is possible to do that and that the solution can be reached”, said Cavic. Hayat – The HR also said that next 8-10 weeks were crucial for BiH. All EU conditions had to be met by then, but the main one is cooperation with the ICTY. The HR pointed that this was the last chance for BiH. RHB, RTRS, FTV, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Arrest criminals or new sanctions’, mentioned on cover, by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Next eight to ten weeks key for Bih’, mentioned on cover ‘Next eight weeks key for BiH’ by ’ by J. Stojanovic, Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘New sanctions to Republika Srpska’, by Ivica Glibusic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Date for negotiations with EU in May?’, by Aleksandar Macanovic, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Kostunica guilty of non-cooperation’, by Branka Stevandic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Paddy Ashdown: either arresting of Hague fugitives or new measures against RS would follow’ by V. Popovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Two doors to Europe’ by M. Mihajlovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Nothing aside the Constitution’ not signed – also reported. |
| HR warns on new sanctions if coop. not improved
| RHB, RTRS, FTV, BHT1, Hayat – Paddy Ashdown reiterated that the RS would face new sanctions if there are no extraditions to the ICTY. BHT 1 by Boris Gagic – Ashdownalso accused Serbian authorities and its Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, of obstructions the RS cooperation with ICTY. “I can only repeat what I said before, if there are no concrete results, I have no any other alternative but to undertake new measures, and that is not something I want and that can be avoided” said Ashdown. There is no alternative to cooperation with ICTY, said Cavic adding he had no fears that new measures could affect him. Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Kostunica guilty of non-cooperation’, by Branka Stevandic – also covered. |
| HR to extend deadline for Srebrenica Working Group; Bukejlovic seeks Sarajevo Commission
| Hayat – The HR Paddy Ashdown met with Chair of the Working Group in charge of implementing the findings of the Srebrenica Commission, Jovan Spajic, in order to discuss the work of the Group. The HR said that the he was satisfied with the work of the Group, which resulted in revealing many more names and information that were required. Upon the request of the PM Pero Bukejlovic, the HR decided to extend the mandate of the Working Group, and said he will decide on another deadline during the next week. Bukejlovic proposed that a similar group, which would be tasked for investigation of events in Sarajevo, should be created. The HR announced possible support to establishment such Commission for investigation into sufferings of Sarajevo Serbs during the war depending on decision by the relevant BiH judicial institutions on acceptance of the argumentation/evidence related to the issue. “If the Human Rights Chamber within the Constitutional Court of BiH brings positive decision on their (Serb) complaints, I am going to support establishment of the Commission (for Sarajevo), as well as I have supported establishment of Commission for Srebrenica”, said the HR. PINK, RTRS, RHB, BHT 1, Dnevni AVaz inset pg 4 ‘New deadline for implementation of conclusions on Srebrenica’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 inset ‘Bukejlovic demands Commission for Sarajevo’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Commission on suffering of Serbs in Sarajevo’, not signed – also reported. |
| NN op-ed on cooperation with ICTY
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Brotherly deceit’ by Pero Simic – The author is critical of the level of cooperation (especially referring to arrests of war crime suspects) with the ICTY of the RS and Serbia, saying that if Serb(ian) authorities continue to perform duties related to this issue as “ardorly” as they have been doing, this problem may have been resolved in 20 years time. On the contrary to this velocity, he notes disaster is approaching us at the speed of light. The author is especially critical of Vojislav Kostunica and Zoran Stojakovic, Serbian Premier and Justice Minister respectively. He concludes by saying not a single politician from RS dares confronting Serbian officials, stressing RS has become a hostage of Kostunica’s policy. He adds: “It is high time we started electing leaders, instead of obeyers and pests.” |
| HR discusses police reform with RS officials
| RTRS by Daliborka Predragovic – The HR Paddy Ashdown also discussed with RS officials the police reform. “The next five or six weeks are dedicated to discussion, explanation, information [about the police reform] than we have to come together to see if we can reach a consensus” said Ashdown. “I think it is possible to find solution and balance, and we have to work together in order to start these two crucial reforms” said Cavic. “Finding a consensus on this matter is of political importance” said Bukejlovic. The draft report on the work of the Police Reform Commission (PRC) has been handed to the Speaker of RS National Assembly (RSNA) Dusan Stojcic. PINK, BHT1 – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic says that police reform is a political issue, which should be solved at appropriate levels in the RS. The HR announced that all relevant factors were going to be consulted on police reform in next 6 weeks, after what final conclusion should be reached. RHB – Bukejovic confirmed that RS Government is going to actively participate in implementation of police reform. Hayat – The HR is going to visit Banjaluka once a week during the following six weeks, in order to inform/brief authorities and society on police reform. Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘New sanctions to Republika Srpska’, by Ivica Glibusic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Date for negotiations with EU in May?’, by Aleksandar Macanovic – also reported on meeting with Bukejlovic. |
| NN on final PRC report: police is united, criminals are united
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Police is disunited, criminals are united’ by D. Risojevic – Police Restructuring Commission has concluded police forces in BiH, organized in 15 parts without possibility to cross over inter-entity boundaries, cannot deal with complex criminal acts due to these limitations. In its final report, the Commission has listed a number of problems with regard to the police work, most important of which is the part with regard to the current territorial organization of police forces. |
| Reactions on HR’s statement re police reform – Novakovic, Sakan, Glusac
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘May the soup be mixed’ by V. Janjic – The article brings some comments following HR’s, Paddy Ashdown, statement regarding police reform (when he said that “if RS politicians listened to voters and policemen, the police reform could be implemented without major problems”). According to GS, HR also said that there were politicians “who prefer criminals as friends over better future of citizens”. Momcilo Novakovic, Head of SDS Caucus at the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, said: “It is incorrect to give such statements and divert police reform in BiH into such direction.” He added SDS stance remained the same, with persistence of maintenance of RS MOI. Velimir Sakan, PDP official, stated: “If HR referred to certain individuals on whose ties with criminals he held evidence, he was obligated to state their names and offer evidence for his claims.” Claiming there is no grounds to mark RS MoI as criminalized institution, Zoran Glusac, Head of RS MoI Cabinet, stated: “Bearing in mind all the things accomplished in the past, this sort of assessment is ungrounded.” He added nobody claimed there were no individuals at RS MoI engaged in some illicit activities, adding such people exist within each and single police force in the world, but they will not be unpunished. |
| RSNA Heads of Caucuses comment on the meeting with Ashdown
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Nothing beyond Constitution’ – Following the meeting HR Paddy Ashdown had with the Heads of Caucuses at the RS NA (which discussed police reform), Milanko Mihajlica from SRSstated: “The explanation Ashdown gave in this regard is in the interest of those parties, that pledge for the abolishment of the RS Interior Ministry.” Velimir Sakan from PDP, member of RS NA Collegium, expressed expectation that police reform would result in consensus at RS NA, reminding that in accordance with Constitution, police reform falls under the authority of entities and it should be passed as such at the Parliament. Krstan Simic from SNSD stated: “SNSD supports all the principles |
| Ljiljan int with Paravac on police reform, cooperation with ICTY
| Ljiljan magazine pgs 10-13 ‘Mladic cannot be stripped of the right to pension because he was indicted by the Hague’, mentioned on cover, by Mirsad Sinanovic – In one of the very rare interview given to print media, BiH Presidency Chair, Borislav Paravac, comments on the announcement that new sanctions may follow against the RS saying that he doesn’t believe this would be a way to solve issues in BiH. “Last time… BiH was on the edge of institutional paralysis,” says Paravac adding he doesn’t believe there will be any new sanctions. As for the cooperation with the ICTY, he says he doesn’t believe “that any authorities or protects the war criminals… The issue of cooperating with the ICTY is the more of the technical, not political question, that is the question of capability of BiH institutions to perform their work.” He also comments to Ratko Mladic receiving the pension from RS Army saying that this is purely legal issue, and that rights gain under the law has nothing to do with the politics or court. “You cannot strip somebody off the pension because they are in the jail or were a subject to indictment,” concludes Paravac. Talking about police reform, he stresses importance of this issue saying: “I think that some mistakes were committed there at the very beginning, and that complicated this problem additionally.” |
| BiH Presidency on decertified police
| FTV – BiH Presidency on Wednesday considered the letter of the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, in which he warned that the procedure on de-certification of police officers must be conducted in line with the regulations of the UN Security Council. “We concluded to once again call upon the Entity governments and Brcko District to respect the international regulations BiH is committed to implement, because domestic regulations cannot deny the decisions of international institutions, especially the UN Security Council”, said Paravac. RHB, Pink TV, NTV Hayat, Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Paravac: Domestic regulations cannot deny UN’s decisions’, by A. M., Oslobodjenje, pg 4 ‘Obligations towards UN’s decisions’, by M. K. S.Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Paravac: Entity governments must not deny regulations of Security Council’, by Mensud Zorlak, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 23 ‘International regulations must be observed’, by D. Pasic – also reported. |
| Novic on police reform: ‘It is naïve to go before
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘It is naïve to go before Europe with 14 police Agencies’ by Fena carry an interview with Acting SIPA Director Sredoje Novic in which he mostly talks about the police reform and says that the RS and whole BiH might regret a lot if the job with regard to the police reform is not completed soon. Novic also says that a big number of the police agencies is not the problem, however, the fact that these agencies are not connected is a much bigger problem. He added: ‘I believe it is naïve and it is not wise to come before |
| VL on meeting of Police Unions in Mostar: Serb and Bosniak reps do not support police reform
| Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Against reconstruction of Police’, by Miso Relota – Carries a report from last week’s meeting of Police Unions that was held behind closed doors in Mostar, at which the PDHR |
| Lukic: It is not certain that new RS Police Director would be elected today
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Will new RS Police Director be elected’ by J.S. – An Independent Board for election and appointment of the RS Police Director should decide at its session that is to take place today (Thursday) as to who is the most serious candidate for this position. President of the Board Ilija Lukic stated that it is possible that they do not pass the final decision on this issue today since one candidate is ill and it is possible that a member of the Board from Nevesinje does not show up at the session because of snow. Lukic added that in case that the Board members could not decide on the best candidate by themselves they would ask help from the RS National Assembly and RS Government. |
War crimes | |
| BHT 1: Del Ponte brings indictments vs. Ganic, Mahmuljin; DA: Indictment vs. Mandic passed to
| BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Prosecutor brings indictments’ – ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte will personally deliver to BiH authorities the indictments against former member of the BiH Presidency, Ejup Ganic and BiH Army 3rd corps wartime commander Sakib Mahmuljin, reports BHT. Del Ponte should arrive to BIH in seven days. Mahmuljin was 3rd Corps commander at the time when soldiers from the El Mujahid unit committed war crimes against Serbs in Ozren and Vozuca. RTRS, FTV, Vecernje Novosti pg 15 ‘Three men to go to the Hague?’ by D. Stojakovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘New indictments arrived?’ by G. Klepic, Srpski-Nacional pg 14 inset ‘Ganic, Mahmuljin and Godinjak in the Hague soon’– carry that Ganic, Mahmuljin and Godinjak are to be indicted. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Indictment against Momcilo Mandic sent to Belgrade?’ by S.N. – DA says that ICTY on Wednesday sent another indictment to the Belgrade, and it further speculates these charges are against Momcilo Mandic, first RS police minister. Indictment could be sealed off already today. |
| Gvero pleads not guilty, Miletic does not understand indictment, Delic to plead today
| RTRS, BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Gvero: I am not guilty’, by Hina, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Gvero says he is not guilty, Miletic postpones entering of plea’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Gvero pleaded not guilty, Miletic does not understand indictment’ not signed, Vecernje Novosti pg 15 ‘Milan Gvero: I am not guilty’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘Miletic did not declare himself, Gvero denies guilt’, by Sead Numanovic, Oslobodjenje, pg 8 ‘Gvero ‘not guilty’, Miletic ‘does not understand’ indictment’, not signed – Former RS Army general, Milan Gvero, pleaded not guilty to indictment before ICTY judges on Wednesday. At the same time, general Radivoje Miletic stated that he didn’t fully understood indictment that ICTY raised against him, and he will enter his plea in legal timeframe of 30 days, after consultations with his lawyer. They are indicted for the crimes against Bosniaks in Srebrenica and Zepa in 1995. The same indictment also charges former RS Army general Zdravko Tolimir, who allegedly, according to Serbian media, negotiates with Serbian authorities on his voluntarily surrender. FTV, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘General Delic before Tribunal today’, by S. N.- Retired BiH Army General Rasim Delic is going to appear at the ICTY on Thursday. Delic is being indicted on the basis of commanding responsibility for crimes committed by El Mujahid unit against Serbs in the Ozren and Vozuca area. |
| Carla del Ponte: Serbian authorities admitted Mladic was in
| BHT1, Oslobodjenje, pg 3, ‘Karadzic and Mladic in The Hague by March?’, mentioned on front ‘Karadzic and Mladic in The Hague by March’, by Branislav Boskov, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Authorities in Belgrade admitted Ratko Mladic were in Serbia’ by B92 – In an interview to the Austrian State Television ORF, Carla del Ponte, ICTY Chief Prosecutor, has stated the Serbian authorities have agreed with her claims that Ratko Mladic is in Serbia. She has reiterated Radovan Karadzic is in BiH, adding it is now more difficult to apprehend two war crimes’ suspects than it was ten years ago, when they were first charged. She has stressed the level of cooperation is marked with the number of arrests, not voluntary surrenders of war crime suspects. She has noted: “I believe the year of 2005 is very important, because if Karadzic and Mladic are not arrested by the end of this year, I will disclose information I hold regarding reasons why they were not arrested, and public will most likely be interested in these. Until then, I will keep silent about it.” |
| ICTY to decide on transfer of cases to BiH
| Hayat by Denis Zaimovic – On March 3, ICTY Justices Council will start with the discussion on possible transfer of the cases of Radovan Stankovic, charged with war crimes committed in Foca and Dragan Meakic, charged with war crimes committed in the Prijedor area, to BiH judiciary. The Chair of the BiH Court Meddzida Kreso is going to present BiH’s readiness to process the case, while, on behalf of SCG, which has also asked for the case to be transferred, Advisor to Serbian President Jovan Simic is going to do the same. “I think that BiH still has not created conditions for the Mejkic and others case to be processed there, due to inadequate judiciary”, said Simic. “BiH has shown its readiness to process the ICTY cases”, said BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac. “The judges have to decide on the case, whether the case should be processed in the ICTY or it can be transferred to BiH”, said the ICTY representative to BiH Matias Hellman. Also covered by |
|
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Meron and Del Ponte in Sarajevo on March 9’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Meron and Del Ponte in Sarajevo on 9th March’ – Theodor Meron, ICTY President, and Del Ponte will attend the ceremony of marking the commencement of work of War Crimes Chamber with the BiH on Wednesday, 9th March in Sarajevo. During the visit to |
Judicial and political issues | |
| Sadovic on RS Law on executive proceedings
| RTRS – The Bosniak Caucus in the RS Council of Peoples called on endangered vital national interest after the RS NA adopted amendments to law on the executive proceedings. This law should temporarily postpone the realization of judicial decisions on payment of compensation for war damage. Joined Commission will deal with this issue. “The opinion of members of the Serb Caucus is that there is no question of endangered vital national interest and that they are using this to avert any RS institution from working” said Desanka Radjevic, the President of the Serb Caucus in the Council of Peoples. Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Bosniaks announce veto’, by bs – Carries the President of the SDA Caucus in the RSNA, Tarik Sadovic, as saying that the Law on executive proceedings in the form adopted by the RSNA represents the deception of the citizenry in the RS. Sadovic endorses the invoking of the vital national interest clause. PINK, FTV – also reported. |
| Zovko: it will be decided on the work of Council for protection of vital national interests on March 14
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Six judges in council for protection of vital national interest’, not signed, Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Decision on council for protection of vital national interest on March 14’, not signed – Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Council as soon as possible’ by M. D. – The president of the RS Constitutional Court, Mirko Zovko, has announced a decision would be brought on March 14 on whether the Council for protection of national interest would be established or not. He explained it would be decided on whether the council would start working with six or with seven members and he said a Bosniak judge was not elected after death of Mehmedalija Bedak. Zovko has stated HR Paddy Ashdown has sent a letter to the |
| DA int w/ Ivanic: ‘Even if I leave, new BiH Foreign Minister will be from PDP’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Even if I leave, new BiH Foreign Minister will be from PDP’, mentioned on cover ‘PDP will not cede its positions to anyone’ by E. Sarac carries an interview with BiH Foreign Minister under resignation Mladen Ivanic who says that he has agreed with Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic that he (Ivanic) will inform Terzic whether he will withdraw his resignation or not upon Terzic’s return from Japan. Asked whether a new BiH Foreign Minister will be from some other party, for instance SDS, in case he decides to leave the BiH CoM, Ivanic says: ‘PDP will not cede its positions in the BiH CoM to anyone. Therefore, if I decided to abandon the current position someone form my party will come at this position.’ Asked whether he already knows as to whom from PDP might replace him, Ivanic said that he does not know it. |
| State Department report: political parties are still trying to influence judiciary
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Intimidation of judges and prosecutors’ by D. Risojevic – In its annual report on human rights in BiH, US State Department has assessed that the judiciary reform in BiH has diminished attempts of intimidation of courts by political leaders and criminals, yet the problem still lies in a high number of unsolved cases and slow implementation of court decisions. The State Department has concluded political parties and authorities, despite to the reform, are still trying to influence the judiciary. |
| ICG report: negotiations on accession possibly in May | Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Negotiations on accession of BiH to EU possibly in May’ by Beta – ICG latest report assesses the situation in the Balkans countries remained unchanged in February in comparison to the previous month. With regard to BiH, ICG report reads EU might launch negotiations with BiH on accession and stabilization in May. |
| Topcagic: not all Feasibility Study pre-requisites have been fulfilled
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘BiH has not fulfilled all pre-requisites of EU’ by M. Cubro – The Head of the BiH Agency for European integrations, Osman Topcagic, has stated that BiH authorities have not fulfilled all pre-requisites of the Feasibility Study. He says the law on public radio and TV system has not been adopted, expressing hope this will happen as soon as possible. He also said it remains to achieve progress in cooperation with ICTY and adopt law on state Ombudsmen. EC Delegation Spokesperson Frane Maroevic has stated there is still no assessment of progress of BiH. |
Economic and return issues | |
| 100 million KM intended for return
| TV Pink – Meeting called “ |
|
| PINK by Danijel Vujanovic – Chair of the Managing Board of the BiH Indirect Taxation Administration Joly Dixon informed RS PM Pero Bukejlovic and RS Minister of Finance Svjetlana Cenic on achieved results of indirect taxation reform regarding introduction of VAT and on the work of the Managing Board. |
| NN op-ed on farmers’ protests | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Village to lead the van’ by Natasa Krsman – The author is to some extend critical of the BiH Association of Farmers, for whom she claims they have lost the course of their protests. She questions the real purpose of their protests, noting that less and less real farmers, and increasingly more engineers are members of the Association, noting Association officials seem like an economic forum. She also criticises the BiH CoM, that has failed to protect domestic production. NOTE: Media informed that the Farmers Association decided to postpone the protests due to the bad weather, and to hold them on 11 March instead. |