Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on March 3
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Oil in | Main hearing in ICJ continues | RS Parl. on audits |
| World Bank: 20 % BiH citizens poor | Azot employees on privatization | New avian flue cases in |
| On strike of HNC teachers |
| Bush in |
TV news broadcast on March 2
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Water in Mostar contaminated | BiH lawsuit against | A person killed in SBS’ action |
| 2 dead ducks found near Mostar | McElhaney on election of Presidency | BiH vs. |
| CoM session | Transfer of duty in RS Government | Boyle on BiH vs. |
| FBIH Government session | Protest of “Energopetrol” employees | A 16 year-old girl raped in |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Protests of Energopetrol employees | Oil in Neretva contagious | Fire on |
| Protests of FBIH invalids | BiH vs. | Transfer of duty in RS Government |
| FBIH Government session | McElhaney on constitutional talks | Dodik brought charges |
| Dodik takes over PM duty | Debate on constitutional changes | Radojicic’s request to RSNA |
| Oslobodjenje | Liberalization of visa regime for BiH citizens |
| Dnevni Avaz | McElhaney: We are very close to the final agreement |
| Dnevni List | Alert because of bird flu and brucelosis (two dead ducks found nearby Siroki Brijeg) |
| Vecernji List | 400.000 voters without right to vote (article refers to issue of registration of voters) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Lagumdzija compared Covic to Kardelj (outdated article on constitutional changes, see OHR BiH Media Round up, March 2) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Against insolvency (protest of Energopetrol workers) |
| Glas Srpske | Pure hear and hands (feature story about xylographer) |
| EuroBlic | Bullies drove jeep of international forces |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| RSNA Speaker met RS Chief Auditor; establishment of Special Board for Audit
| BH Radio By Brana Markovic– Newly appointed RSNA Speaker Igor Radojicic today has received a first official visit by RS Chief Auditor Bosko Ceko, with whom he spoke on improvement of cooperation between these institutions. Both supported establishment of RSNA Special Board, which would be solely in charged for reviewing of audit reports. “RSNA has to improve work on audit reports and yesterday I have asked RSNA legislative board to start with amendments to the agenda on the next session and that issue of auditing is separated from the current Board for Economy and Finances and that separate Board for the Audit is established” stated Radojicic. Ceko strongly supported the establishment of this new Board. RTRS Radio – also reported on the meeting. |
| ICJ main hearing:
| BH Radio – During the continuance of main hearing in BiH’s lawsuit against |
| RS Association critical of Masovic’ appointment to BH Institute for Missing Persons
| RTRS Radio – Slavko Jovicic, Vice President of the RS Association of former detention camp inmates, claims that the appointment of the former President of the F BiH Commission for search after missing persons Amor Masovic to the Collegium of Directors of the BiH Institute for Missing Persons is in violation of the Statute of establishment of this institution. Jovicic stated that Masovic is a senior official of SDA and SDA delegate at the F BiH, noting Statute stipulates no politically engaged person can sit in Director’s Collegium. |
| Dead ducks in Siroki Brijeg had been run over | BH Radio – Chief Veterinarian in Veterinarian Service Siroki Brijeg, Ivica Juric stated that dead ducks found on territory of this municipality have been run over and did not died of avian influenza. However, samples have been sent to |
Constitutional changes | |
| McElhaney: agreement on constitutional changes is near, since issue of BiH Presidency election remains the only unsolved item
| Vecernji List pg 4 ‘We shall reach agreement’ by E. Medunjanin – McElhaney: “We have started to define competence of BiH as a state and when we finish that first phase it would lead to the further talks that would deal with the organization of the state.” Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Discussion on constitutional structure to follow’ by M.Cubro – Ambassador McElhaney stated that the representatives of the political parties in BiH are expected to resume talks on constitutional structure of the state immediately after completion of talks on organisation and authorities of the state authority level. |
| US Ambassador McElhaney: We are very close to the final agreement on const. Changes; authorities in BiH have to be more rational
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘McElhaney: We are very close to the final agreement’, pg 3 ‘We are very impatient and we want talks to end as soon as possible’ by A.Malagic– US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney emphasized the fact that there is not much time, since the agreement should be signed in time to enter legislative procedure because of October elections. “This first phase is a political step forward. We firmly believe and that is also the stance of US Undersecretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, with whom I am in contact, that this process has to continue” said McElhaney. Reiterating that parties haven’t agreed only on one issue, McElhaney stated that question should be asked to HDZ whether they would accept solutions of the Venice Commission. Inset ‘We will continue to help BiH’- sending a message to BiH citizens McElhaney stressed that USA has stood by BiH for last ten years and it would continue to do so regardless if it is about defence reform or some other issues that USA was pushing. Inset ‘Authority in this country has to be more rational’- ‘McElhaney didn’t answer whether remaining of entity vote in BiH Parliament prejudice solution of second phase, stressing that all parties have understood that BiH has to have more rational authority. |
| Parties remain on earlier stances; Dodik says BiH can not be complete without RS as federal unit
| RTRS– RTRS carries that parties have maintained their stances on constitutional changes. “BiH can not be complete and united country if there is no RS as federal unit of BiH. If someone is not satisfied with internal structure, then they can make a proposal. And we might support that. But if it encroaches on political and territorial rights of RS, then it will not get our support”, said Milorad Dodik, SNSD leader. FBiH parties that are participating in the negotiations on constitutional changes have different stances. SBiH believes these constitutional changes will bring BiH on the brink of disaster. SDA believes that new constitutional changes do not strengthen entities and represent only the first phase while the second phase would take place after the elections. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Nothing is being sold or lost’ by V.P., EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Dodik” Negotiators from RS are unified’ by R.R., Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH could not be complete without RS’ by O.V.– Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, Thursday regarded as false claims that “something is sold or lost” during talks on constitutional changes, noting the authorities between BiH and entities have been clearly defined and divided for the first time. He is of the view HDZ proposal (on BiH Presidency election through Parliament) is not efficient and represents a problem if we want efficient BiH institutions. |
| SDA’s Tihic: all parties except for HDZ share view direct election of BiH Presidency members is better SDA’s Dzaferovic: HDZ’s proposal re election of BiH Presidency is not good, invites SBiH to put BiH’s interests before party’s interests
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Direct election better’ by M.K., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Progress in talks at last’ not signed– Sulejman Tihic, SDA President, in Bihac stated that all political parties bar Party for BiH have agreed on the text of 34 pages of the agreement including at least 20 pages of amendments to the BiH Constitution. He also said that all parties bar HDZ share the view direct election of BiH Presidency members is better. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Negotiations will not fail’ not signed – Talking at a regular SDA press conference, SDA Vice President Sefik Dzaferovic stated that SDA believed that the HDZ’s proposal regarding election of the BiH Presidency members in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly is not good because of possible blockades in case of different stands of the two chambers. Dzaferovic believes that such solution might seriously endanger the process of establishment of authorities as far as a Prime Minister Designate as well as the BiH CoM are concerned. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Changes of the Constitution are first class of state issue’ by A.M., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Weakening of entities’ by D.Mo.– SDA Vice President Sefik Dzaferovic invited SBiH to ‘stop acting in cheep politics manner and contusing the public’, stressing that they should put BiH interests before party’s. Dzaferovic also said that SDA would accept better solutions if SBiH has them, emphasizing that SDA, as serious party, doesn’t want the reform to fail. |
| HDZ: Bosniaks and Serb are wrong if believe that two peoples can decide in name of the third | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Bosniak-Serb deal in name of Croats will not pass’ by F. Vele– Answering accusations of SDA and |
| VL interview: HDZ’s Covic says party will not give up its request regarding indirect election of BiH Presidency members
| Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Tihic and Dodik would like to organize BiH without Croats!’, by Zoran Kresic – carries an interview with HDZ leader, Dragan Covic, in which he says the party will not give up its request that the future members BiH Presidency be elected indirectly, in the BiH House of Peoples that is. “The proposal that came from the Bosniak and Serb side practically enables that Croats are not represented in the institutions of authority and that they do not have their member of BiH Presidency. If they do not have their member (of BiH Presidency), they will not be in the BiH Council of Ministers”, says Covic. (NB: Covic did not mention SDA’s Sulejman Tihic and SNSD’s Milorad Dodik, the headline was the journalist’s interpretation of Covic’s statement) |
| HSS leader Tadic: We hope HDZ will remain at their stances;
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 20 ‘HDZ BiH and Croat opposition are united’ by Suzana Mijatovic – Commenting refusal of HDZ leader Dragan Covic and |
| SBiH, SDU and BOSS organized public debate on constitutional changes; stressed that proposed changes only confirm the division of BiH
| FTV– During the public debate organized by SBiH, SDU and BOSS it was concluded that the agreement on constitutional changes, reached by seven leading parties, is a confirmation of division within BiH. More than 300 BiH citizens attended the debate, while more than 100 NGOs supported idea on having the proposed constitutional solutions rejected. The aim of ‘mysterious’ talks on constitutional changes in BiH, as the Chairperson at the debate Miro Lazovic called them, is to strengthen entities’ positions. Participants of the debate stressed that it was not about ‘cosmetic’ changes, but ratification of the Dayton Peace Agreement. “Those who want to sign the agreement on constitutional changes have to be aware of the fact that they do not have out support”, said SBiH founder Haris Silajdzic. Similar gatherings will be organized in other FBiH towns as well. BHT1, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘You do not have our mandate to sign the agreement’ by E. Sarac, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘BiH msut be in service of citizens’ by M.C., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To prevent a treason’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Public debate turned into a circus’ by A.T. – also reported on the debate. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: Initiative of SBiH, SDU and BOSS revives policy of confrontation, on which BiH cannot be built
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Edge of mind’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Editorial criticized SBiH, followed by BOSS and SDU, for saying that the agreement on constitutional changes “leads our country at the edge of abyss”. Author comments that EU Parliament demands future BiH Constitution to be found on sovereignty of state and citizens, not on ethnic-religious basis, adding that EU is also for evolutional, not revolution changes. Author says that such quasi-patriotic rhetoric is in favour of homogenization of RS against BiH. Editorial concludes that initiative of these three political parties is “at the edge of mind… SBiH and its followers revive policy of exclusion and confrontation, on which BiH cannot be rebuilt.” |
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| Feral Tribune comment on constitutional changes: Every party playing an angle | Feral Tribune, pgs 22-23 ‘Packaging of constitution’, by Ivan Lovrenovic – commenting on the process of constitutional changes, Lovrenovic argues that every party or group of parties involved in the talks has specific interests for what they do and advocate during the process. The author starts with the parties from the RS ( |
RS Government/other political issues | |
| Dodik takes over position of RS PM; stresses that RSNA session would discuss budget
| RTRS– Newly appointed RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and former RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic signed protocol on transfer of executive power at the meeting that was held on Thursday in |
| BH Dani: If he manages to fulfil promises, Dodik could get to the chair of Chair of the CoM
| BH Dani pg 7 ‘Person in Focus- Milorad Dodik’ by V.S.– Commenting on SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and his ‘comeback’ to the chair of RS Prime Minister and reminding to all the promises that Dodik has made in presentation of his exposé, author stresses that Dodik can count on convincing election victory if he’ takes a serious step toward realization of his promises’. By doing so, as author comments, Dodik could launch a new political recipe for success and if with all that he manages to “reconcile nationalism and reforms he would certainly find his way to the chair he finds most attractive and for which he doesn’t hide it is his goal- the first one in Council of Ministers”. In conclusion, author comments that Dodik’s main problem lies in fight against the crime, whose ‘main representatives’ are verified nationalists. |
| Radojicic asked legislative board to pass amendments to enable establishment of Special Audit Board
| RTRS– RS National Assembly (RSNA) Speaker Igor Radojicic asked from RSNA Legislative Board to propose at the next RSNA session amendments on Operating procedure and establishment of Special Audit Board that would discuss reports of RS Public Sector Audit and give its recommendations. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Igor Radojicic demands introduction of Audit Board’ by G.G. – also reported. |
| SP RS to initiate a confidence-vote in BiH COM
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘We will launch initiative for removal of BiH COM’– Petar Djokic, President of the SP RS Thursday announced that the Club of delegates of this party at the BiH Parliamentary Assembly will launch initiative for a confidence vote in BiH COM. At the press conference, Djokic stressed that socialists will demand discussion on issue of confidence in executive authority of BiH, noting it is necessary to define the status of the BiH COM. He stressed that “following establishment of new RS Government, it is necessary to create a new political environment at the BiH level.” Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Socialists will raise vote of no confidence to BiH Council of Ministers’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To overthrow CoM’ by D.Mo. – also reported |
| | Slobodna Bosna pg 10 ‘Cavic’s strategy for overthrowing Dodik and Ivanic’ not signed – |
| Center for European Integration Strategies in favor of liberalization of visa regime for BiH
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘Liberalization of visa regime for BiH citizens’ by Az.Kalamujic – Center for European Integration Strategies [CEIS] announced issuing a report which confirms that BiH is ready for liberalization of visa regime on Friday. CEIS report says that the main problem for BiH is the fact that BiH authorities issued certain number of citizenships to suspicious persons from Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH is ready for visa liberalisation’ by T.L., Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Convince EU that we are not shelter to terrorists’ by Fena – also reported. |
| HR to initiate liberalization of visa regime
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Schwarz-Schilling will demand ease for visa regime in Salzburg’, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Relaxations for visas and citizens of BiH’, announced on cover ‘Schwarz Schilling lobbying in EU that BiH citizens get visas in an easier manner’ by T.V. – also reported. |
| VL warns: 400.000 BiH citizens are not registered voters
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘400.000 voters without right to vote’, by Zoran Kresic – the article is warning of the fact that some 400.000 citizens of BiH, who are eligible for voting and who are holders of CIPS identity card, are not registered in the voting lists. Namely, of 2,7 million holders of CIPS IDs, only 2,3 million people are registered as eligible voters. VL notes the remedy lies in direct registration of voters via the CIPS database. |
| VL:
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘East Sarajevo a security centre’, by Dejan Jazvic – according to VL, East Sarajevo is slowly but surely becoming the centre of BiH security agencies, since the seat of SIPA will be located in Lukavica and state prison is to be built in East Sarajevo, Kasindol to be precise. Additional argument used by VL, albeit the information is learned from an unofficial source, is that East Sarajevo could be accommodating the future seat of future state police forces. Apparently, the word is that the Serb side is conditioning establishment of state police with accommodation of its seat in |
BiH lawsuit against SiCG/comments | |
| Main hearing on lawsuit against
| FTV– The main hearing in lawsuit of the BiH against |
| Boyle: lawsuit implicates responsibility of EU countries for genocide
| BHT1 prime time news carried shortened statement of Boyle along the same lines. BHT1 current affair program ‘Javna Tajna’ By Amir Zukic – American Law Professor Francis Boyle, author of text of BiH lawsuit against |
| Head of BiH Team in lawsuit against
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘I am convinced we will win in the Court’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview for DA, Head of BiH Team in lawsuit against |
| Serb Caucus at RS CoP calls on entity’ bodies to stop process in BH suit vs. SiCG
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Planned ethnic cleansing of Bosniaks’ by Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Boyle’s political malice’ by D.Mo., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Delegates against suit’ by N.B., Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Half of BiH does not support the lawsuit’ by O.V. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS Institutions should do everything to stop BiH lawsuit against – also report on press statement of Serb Caucus at RS |
| RS PM Dodik: BH suit against SICG has no legitimacy
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BH suit has no legitimacy’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Planned ethnic cleansing of Bosniaks’ by |
| SiCG PM Kostunica: BH suit vs. SiCH has serious deficiency
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A serious deficiency’ by |
| DA op-ed: Serbian media should explain Serbian people what
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Serbian Al-Qaida of Smilja Avramov’ by Elvir Huremovic – In an interview for Belgrade TV station BK, |
| VL comment: BiH must not drop charges against
| Vecernji List, pg 22 ‘BiH must not give up the lawsuit’, by Alexander Orsic – the author insists that BiH must not give up the lawsuit it filed against |
Old foreign currency savings/Economy | |
| CoM passes three amendments to the law on verification of old foreign currency savings; entities and District obligated to provide means
| FTV– BiH Council of Ministers has passed three amendments to law on verification and payment of old foreign currency savings, according to which entities and Brcko District should provide funds. According to first assessments, the savings are 1.9 billions KM worth. The deadline by which requests on verification should be sent is 6 months, starting from the date when the law becomes effective. Agencies in charge of verification process are tasked to complete their work within 9 months. BiH CoM has accepted information of BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on single agreement on liberalization of free trades between the West Balkans states. PINK– BiH Minister of Finances Ljerka Maric said that BiH CoM accepted information that BiH is not satisfied with present position, especially with agricultural production due to high foreign trade deficit. According to Maric, this situation was caused by bilateral agreements on free trade. By new proposal, BiH will ask from countries in the Region to sign new agreement on free trade that would improve position of BiH. |
| Energopetrol employees strike asking for solving of company’s situation
| BHT1- Approximately 200 ‘Energopetrol’ workers gathered in front of the FBiH Government building, stressing their disappointment with the fact that he issue of ‘Energopetrol’ had not been put on the agenda of the Government’s session. Employees decided to freeze the strike until the meeting scheduled for Tuesday. “Solution to the issue through co-capitalization should be discussed on Tuesday, at meeting organized by the FBiH Minister in charge”, said Director to Energopetrol Namik Busatlic. The Minister promised the workers that he would ask the FBiH Prime Minister to bring back the issue to the Ministry in charge. FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic claims that the issue could have been solved long time ago. “The issue of Energopetrol lasts for 10 years, but we are sure that it can be solved in next 5 days”, said Hadzipasic. If the issue is not to be solved on Thursday, the workers claim that they would continue the strike. PINK, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Energopetrol employees seized protests’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Police prevented force enter into building of FBiH Government’ by M.Kukan, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Workers of Energopetrol protested again’, by HINA, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Against insolvency’, pg 4 ‘Workers against insolvency’ by M.Rener/R.Rakic – also reported. |
| IMF ceased talks with BiH on stand-by arrangement worth $50 million
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Talks on $50 million ceased for us’ by T.Lazovic – International Monetary Fund [IMF] says that talks on stand-by arrangement worth $50 million, with BiH are ceased. Chief of IMF Mission to BiH John Norregard stated for DA that BiH should come up with new suggestions if they want to continue negotiations: “Our recommendations are clear, consolidated budgets at the state level must be significantly decreased and brought into the earlier agreed frame.” BiH Finance Minister Ljerka Maric said for DA that BiH did not quit this arrangement: “By now we could not go into details with them [IMF], but after adoption of budget we will demand new talks.” |
Crime/security/police issues | |
| EUFOR conducts investigation on event in
| BHT1– EUFOR still has not stated whether its members took part in an event, reported by the RS Police. Namely, |
| Man died in fire exchange on border crossing
| BHT1, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Shooting at the border with Montenegro’ by V.D., Dnevni Avaz pg 30 ‘Radenko Vujovic killed in gunfight, two border guards injured’, mentioned on cover ‘Gunfight of border guards with criminals’ by E.Ha. – Ir.M. – In an action BiH State Border Service carried out on Thursday in Preraca, a border crossing point between |
| CoE discontent with report BiH handed regarding existence of
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Investigation of Foreign Ministry into omissions in information submitted’ by M.Cubro – Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, Thursday confirmed that the BiH Foreign Ministry will conduct an internal investigation into overdue in submitting information to the BiH COM in regard to claims related to secret prisons of the US Intelligence Agency ( |
Healthcare issues | |
| Two dead ducks found nearby Siroki Brijeg, people fear bird flu
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pgs 2-3 ‘Alert because of bird flu and brucelosis’, by |