| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Education issues | Protests in Dublin | Accident in Kakanj | FIPA press conference |
| Tihic on Krstic verdict | BiH in EU in 2020 | Foca or Srbinje | Public Procurement Law |
| HR on BiH chances for EU | FIPA press conference | BiH in EU | SRS about elections |
| Riots in Dublin | Incident in Stolac | World Media Day | World Media Day |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH future depends of the war criminals arrest |
| Dnevni Avaz | Tihic: I will not given up regardless to the price; State Department report: BiH authorities slowed down fight against terrorism; Kalinic: Arrests in RS will not be stooped; Trivic: State channel will be totally opened; Following the incident in Old City [Stolac]: Hoisting state flag a criminal act? |
| Dnevni List | First Communion in Mostar cathedral: To live in a way that Church and people are proud of you; Sanctions for officials who were acting non-institutionally!? |
| Vecernji List | Law on homosexual marriages soon; Bishops: Do not support illegal Church |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Borislav Paravac dissatisfied with the position of Serbs in FBiH: Neither people, nor minority |
| Nezavisne Novine | 77% of surveyed people believes that RS authorities are criminal |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown: BiH’s place is in Europe
| RHB, BHTV 1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page story ‘BiH’s future depends on arrest of war criminals’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown: BiH has its place in Europe’, Vecernji List page 2 ‘BiH has its place in Europe’, Dnevni List page 3 ‘Ashdown: BiH also has its place in EU’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘BiH has its place in Europe’ – Following the formal admission of ten countries to the European Union on 1 May, High Representative Paddy Ashdown has said that Bosnia-Hercegovina’s place was also in the bloc. “Bosnia-Hercegovina has its place in the EU. It is as much a European country as are the ten states that have just joined the EU. But how much time this will take depends on Bosnia-Hercegovina,” Ashdown said in a statement released by his office on Sunday. The desire to join the EU unites the citizens of Bosnia-Hercegovina just as it has the citizens of countries that joined the EU yesterday, the statement added. There is a long way ahead of us, but the first step comes already in June when NATO decides whether to admit BiH to the PfP, the High Representative said, adding that the country’s admission to the Alliance and its future will depend on whether RS is capable of truly demonstrating a seriousness in arresting war crimes indictees. |
| NHK MoI on Stolac flag incident: ‘reason was to draw attention and cause ethnic and religious hatred’ | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Causing religious hatred and intolerance’ – “The flag of Bosnia-Hercegovina’s Croat people was taken down on several occasions from a mast in the locality of the Old Town in Stolac, which was followed by the hoisting of the BiH state flag,” reads the statement of the the Interior Ministry of the Hercegovina Neretva Canton. Statement adds that no municipality, state or state institution tasked to take care of the time and date of hoisting appropriate flags in particular places had invited or authorized the perpetrators of these aforementioned activities to do so on their behalf. “It is evident that there was no other reason for those people to do this other than draw attention and cause ethnic and religious hatred and intolerance.” The MUP statement also called on citizens to act in a peaceful and tolerant manner, advising them to avoid the trap of following any daily political demands by whichever incompetent person but rather fully cooperate with the MoI as an institution of prime responsibility for public peace and order, adding that it would take measures against all those disturbing trust and stability. |
| Dizdar [chair of Youth Forum] on HNK MoI statement | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Hoisting state flag a criminal act?’, pg 3 ‘HNK MoI considers hoisting of state flag a criminal act?’ by F. Vele – On the incident caused by the members of Youth Forum in Stolac who removed Croatian flag and instead placed BiH’s, DA also carries the statement by the HNK Interior Ministry. It also brings the comment by Nermin Dizdar, chairman of the Youth Forum: “Why HNK MoI and Police Administration in Stolac object to hoisting state flag in Old City and why the act of hoisting state flag they treat through charges against me as spreading of national hatred?… With such reactions, HNK MoI maintains current condition in which Bosniaks are marginalized, and existence of another people emphasized.” Chairman of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic informed Avaz that Bosniaks from Stolac contacted his cabinet. “I understand their bitterness when it comes to lifting symbols of only one people in public places,” said Tihic. |
| Stolac Mayor on the incident | Dnevni List page 2 ‘Ordered incident in Stolac serves pre-election purposes!?’ by M. Batarelo – Head of the Stolac Municipality Zeljko Obradovic says that according to his information most of people who participated in the incident are not from Stolac. He added that the act of removing a flag of one constituent people in BiH represents an incident and criminal act. DL also carries a press release issued by the Ministry of Interior of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, which says that those who removed the flag did it only to draw attention on themselves, cause ethnic and religious hatred and intolerance. |
| On session of HDZ Presidency | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Strategy of pre- and elections activities’, Vecernji List page 4 ‘HDZ Presidency supports reforms’ – The session of the HDZ Presidency took place in Dobretici last weekend. During this session they discussed a course of preparations for local elections. Also, it was stressed that the HDZ Presidency supports higher-education reform. Also, HDZ will give its full contribution so that this reform is implemented and principles of Bologna and Lisbon’ Conventions are respected. With regard to Law on Defenders’ Rights, the HDZ Presidency said that this Law is unacceptable for HDZ. On the same issue Dnevni List front and page 6 ‘Sanctions for officials who were acting non-institutionally’ by M. Relota carries that during the aforementioned session it was decided that the session of the HDZ Central Board will take place most probably in Mostar in the second half of May. During this session pre-election and election activities for the coming elections will be discussed, as well as, the possibility to form coalitions with other Croat parties. |
| DA interview with Kalinic | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Arrests in RS will not be stooped’, pg 5 ‘Action in Visegrad will not stop RS authorities in arrests’ by Edina Sarac – In an interview to DA, RS National Assembly Speaker and the President of SDS, Dragan Kalinic, says that RSNA is currently at the stage of work on reformatory laws, however that it often faces fights between political opponents which leads to damages and sometimes “unjustified pressure from the international community followed by the mark that RS presents a break for BiH accession to European integrations.” Asked to comment SNSD, Kalinic says that opposition has a comfortable position as it “talks about one thing in Banja Luka and other in Sarajevo.” Asked whether ban of SDS was an option, in his opinion, Kalinic said: “Everybody is clear that the interantional community pressures political subjects in RS in order to ensure cooperation with The Hague. SDS, in the last few years, showed clear political dedication for RS to fulfil its obligations, including the obligations towards the Hague. Freezing finances from the budget that we are entitled by the law is … in a way indirect ban. It is difficult to foresee further actions by the High Representative [Paddy Ashdown].” Kalinic also notes that he believes that SDS financial report, submitted to OHR, would deny the reason for which the report was asked at the first place. Asked what consequences would have a decision by High Rep to ban SDS, Kalinic reminded that SDS is the strongest party in RS and stresses that such decision would certainly cause the crisis in all institutions in entire BiH. “I am not sure who and how would be able to have such situation in control,” adds Kalinic however stressing that he doesn’t believe anybody, including HR, was ready to make such decision. |
| Paravac not satisfied with position of Serbs in FBiH | Glas Srpske cover page splash ‘Neither people, nor minority’ by G.D. – “Neither a fish nor a meat, this would be the best way to describe the situation of Serbs in FBiH in brief,” reads the introduction in the article, further adding that Serbs in FBiH present national minority. For this reason, Serb member of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac will demand from Presidency to discuss implementation of the amendments to the FBiH Constitution. In a statement for GS, Paravac said it was unacceptable to see that the decision of BiH Constitutional Court on constituency of peoples was not implemented in FBIH: “Because of that, Serbs are not able to participate in bodies of authorities in accordance with the 1991 population census, as it is stipulated with the BiH Constitutional Court decision.” Paravac adds that the hardest situation was with Serbs in Livno and Una-Sana Cantons. He also intends to inform the High Rep Paddy Ashdown on these irregularities, asking him to get involved in solving this issue. |
| VL on direct election of Heads of Municipalities | Vecernji List page 5 ‘New Heads of Municipalities and Mayors ‘are pulling down’ purpose of Municipal Councils’ by Z. Jurilj carries that the direct election of Heads of Municipalities and Mayors at the October elections without clearly defined Law on local self-rule might result in a complete blockade of the municipal and city authority institutions in the future. VL also says that most politicians realized after the aforementioned Law was adopted that the Head of the municipality or the mayor can rule uncompromisingly due to disorganized conditions of ruling at the local level especially if his party has two-third majority in the Municipal Assemblies as it is the case in the most of municipalities and cities in which national parties are in power. |
| BHTV 1 feature on BiH accession to EU | BHTV 1 by Boris Gagic – Centre for European Commission in Brussels hopes that BiH will enter EU in 2020. They said that BiH will enter EU together with Serbia and Montenegro (SCG), Albany and Kosovo.” We should create interior conditions so to reach European standards and the membership will happen sooner or later” said Milos Solaja, Centre for International Relations, Banja Luka. As such example Solaja stresses establishment of the single economic space. “What concerns the most is the fact that, even after all these years of establishment of peace in this area, we are still agreeing on the need for single economic space” said Borislav Bijelic, Faculty of Economy, Banja Luka. In addition to adoption of economic standards, West Balkan states have also additional issues.” These conditions are related to repair of consequences of war which took place in countries of former Yugoslavia, and also with the cooperation of these states with Hague 0Tribunal,” said Sinisa Tatalovic, Faculty of Political Science, in Zagreb. Further EU expansion is expected in 2007, with Romania and Bulgaria, while Croatia and Macedonia have great chances to become members of EU. “I believe that the first candidates for membership in EU will be Croatia and Macedonia, and next thing will be singing of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreements with BiH and SCG,” says Kiro Gligorov from the International Commission for Balkan. The question is how will the extended EU function? “What can happen is the saturation between first fifteen countries of EU, but that would be totally wrong attitude because EU cannot exist if another division happens inside Europe, and that will happen if our countries stay out of this project”, said Ivo Sander, Croatian Prime Minister in Mostar on February 26, 2004. Vuk Draskovic said that he didn’t know for how long would process of integration of Serbia and Montenegro last. “What matters is that you should work on changes in order to achieve better future and to go towards the process of modernisation of your country, because each step you make is the one that makes you closer to EU”, said Janez Potocnik, Slovenian Minister of European Integration. High Representative Paddy Ashdown says that BiH has its own place in EU. “It’s a long road but first steps will happen in June when NATO will decide whether BiH will be accepted in the Partnership for Peace,” said Ashdown. Mladen Ivanic, Minister of Foreign Affairs is optimistic and says that BiH will enter EU in period between 2009 and 2012, agreeing that all depends on cooperation of RS with the Hague Tribunal. |
| IFIMES research | Nezavisne Novine cover splash, pg 2 ‘Over 77% of surveyed believe RS authorities are criminal’ – According to the research carried out by the IFIMES [International Institute for Middle East and Balkans Studies], 77% of RS citizens believe that current ruling parties of RS [SDS and PDP] are ‘criminal’. Asked whether they trust the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, 71% responded they don’t, while about 20% said they do. About 72% of citizens believe that opposition will publicly announce new development of programs, and 65% believe that judiciary in BiH cannot protect citizens and trust of the foreign investors. |
| On education reform issue | Dnevni List page 9 ‘Bosniaks and Serbs refused 20 Croat amendments’ by I. Glibusic carries that the session of the Constitutional-Legal Commission of the BiH House of Representatives was held on Friday during which a proposed Law on Higher Education was discussed. DL says that Serb and Bosniak representatives supported the original text of the Law while Croat representatives had 20 amendments to the original text and these amendments were not adopted. DL explains that the amendments proposed to transfer complete organizing and running the higher education at the state level. DL says that the Law on Higher Education will be an item of tomorrow’s session of the BiH House of Representatives and according to DL it has been expected that Croats will be outvoted again since entity competence suits Bosniaks and Serbs and therefore Croats can only address the House of Peoples where they can ask for mechanism for protection of vital national interest. |
War crimes | |
| Kalinic on Visegrad action; arrest of Mladic/Karadzic | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Arrests in RS will not be stooped’, pg 5 ‘Action in Visegrad will not stop RS authorities in arrests’ by Edina Sarac – In an interview to DA, RS National Assembly Speaker and the President of SDS, Dragan Kalinic, comments the Visegrad action: “Analysing different aspects of Visegrad action, which brought to the death of an innocent man, RS NA clearly said: establish all facts, and establish every one’s responsibility, and institutions… will without any dilemma determine the sanctions. RSNA also stressed that fulfilment of the international obligations by RS authorities with this action was not either postponed, nor stopped.” Asked whether it was worth to scarify future of BiH because of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, Kalinic responds: “That is not the only condition for accession to PfP. There are more of them, and it is possible to have additional new ones. Nobody in RS, including representatives of RS and BiH authorities, doesn’t want to destroy the future of this country and its citizens, even though we are not the only ones that this future depends on. Don’t take me wrong, but no one talks about million things not being solved in Federation, which also brings the future of Dayton BiH into question.” |
| Tihic on Krstic verdict | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Tribunal’s verdicts speak about character of the war’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Verdict confirms lawsuit’ – The sentence for genocide in the case of RS Army Gen Radislav Krstic may have an effect on Bosnia-Hercegovina’s charges against the Serbia and Montenegro, BiH Presidency Chairman Sulejman Tihic has told FENA. Tihic said that “sentences against both Krstic, [former head of the Bosanska Krajina Crisis Staff Radoslav] Brdjanin and a series of other [upcoming] sentences, indictments and proceedings for genocide demonstrate the character of the war [in Bosnia]”. “It has been clearly proved that the army of Bosnian Serbs committed genocide against Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica. Neighbouring Yugoslavia, directly or indirectly, helped this army of Bosnian Serbs in every way – both materially and with weapons – and so it is normal that such a sentence [against Krstic] and the upcoming sentences serve as real proof for this lawsuit,” Tihic emphasized. |
Economic issues | |
| FIPA: Over 200 million Euros invested in BiH in last year | RTRS – Over 200 million Euros were invested in BiH in the last year. Recently passed Law which regulated the authorities of Foreign Investment Promotion Agency should contribute to more efficient work of the Agency in reaching even more significant investments, was stated at the FIPA’s press conference on Sunday. The law also allows the Agency to restart its activities. “We rarely can speak about things that are in process, because we have to respect the secrecy of data, which is often demanded by the Companies that are negotiating. In this case we can tell you that one big Economy Company is interested for instalments of the electric energy capacities based on wind”, said Mirza Hajric, Director of FIPA, talking about new investment possibilities. It was pointed that biggest investors in BiH are Croatia, Kuwait and Slovenia, while the majority of investments are being made are in production, 55.5%, and banking sector, 16.5%, followed by services, trade and tourism. When it comes to unfinished projects those that stand out are Turkish Medicine Production NOBEL, and military base Jajce, for which the Saudi Arabia has showed interest, but the issue of ownership still wasn’t solved. Mirza Hajric pointed that this last issue should be solved between FBiH Minister of Defence and FBiH Prime- Minister. In cooperation with Entities’ Chambers of Economy the Agency is facing the Investment Conference in Moscow, and soon they should open their offices in Banja Luka and Mostar. BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘The richest Muslims doesn’t give up on buying Jajce barracks’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘BiH presents it self to Emirates’ |
| RTRS feature on public procurement law | RTRS by Gordana Sarovic – The Law on Public Procurement should provide more foreign investments in BiH, and its draft was recently adopted in the Council of Ministers, which is one of the conditions set in the Feasibility Study. This Law stipulates the establishment of Agency for Public Procurement on BiH level, with a seat in Sarajevo and upon insisting of RS Government the Law now also includes two branch officers in Banja Luka and Mostar. The Agency should also have an appeal office, with a seat in Sarajevo. “Appeal process, process of objections will be so large that this Commission, meaning this instance in BiH level will simply be stuffed with objections and it won’t be able to efficiently respond to all deadlines, which stand before investors who may have complaints on the first degree decisions,” said Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister. EC says that this Law will prevent all kinds of embezzlements regarding the bids, as this Law will enable the possibility of control over public procurement, transparency and healthy competition. “According to the Law, it won’t be possible to agree on some jobs outside the regulated procedures. The Law will exactly determine what are the financial limits, for certain financial procedures, meaning when can go on three offers, when must go on internal bid, on international bid,” commented Frane Maroevic, spokesperson of EC mission in BiH. |
| Velimir Lovric new-old Head of Hercegovacka Banka | Dnevni List page 5 ‘Velimir Lovric new-old Head of Hercegovacka Banka’ by D.L. carries that according to unofficial information Velimir Lovric will be a new Head of Hercegovacka Banka after a consortium of Croatian companies has purchased it. DL explains that Lovric was the first Head of this bank. |
Defence and security | |
| Tihic repeats he would not interfere with appointment of generals
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘I will not give up regardless to the price’, pg 4 ‘Tihic: I stick to my stand regardless to the price’ by M. Kukan – Chairman of BiH presidency Sulejman Tihic states for DA that he will stick to his previous statements that he will not interfere with the procedure of appointing generals to BH Army, stressing that it was not him but SFOR who delays the entire procedure. “I already said that I don’t want to bring honourable officers of the BiH Army… in the situation in which someone… declares them criminals or war criminals… I cannot accept such statements without any arguments. If SFOR has evidences I am ready to give up on all those candidates,” says Tihic. As for the SFOR instruction to have brigadiers Selmo Cikotic, Jasmin Saric and Haris Saric dismissed from FBIH Army, Tihic says he believes that this would not happen: “That is entirely anti-constitutional act, opposite to legal structure of BiH and international system of the human rights. I think that such qualification would not happen. Again, that is not up to me, but up to the Defence Minister and I would advise to him to consult institution for human rights before such decisions.” |
| State Department on BiH fight against terrorism | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘BiH authorities slowed down the fight against terrorism’ by S. Numanovic – “BiH authorities have continued to condemn acts of the international terrorism. However, the fight against terrorism in this country is still difficult because of ethnic divisions, but also because the state institutions are not strong enough. That is especially true in the cases when there is a need for intelligence service to exist, but also police forces with jurisdiction to act at the state level,” reads the report by the State Department on terrorism, presented on 29 April in Washington. The report also noted that the activities on fight against terrorism slowed down at the end of 2002, when “nationalists came to power. Moreover, foreign Islamic extremists, who arrived to BiH during the 92-95 war, stayed in the country.” However, the report notes that FBiH police did carry out several activities closing down NGOs suspected for connections with terrorist. |
| OHR vetting procedure of candidates for OSA Head | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Vetting procedures on Dzuvo, Zaric and Alapez to be completed on Tuesday’ – NN carries that the vetting procedure of the candidates for the top positions with the BiH Intelligence Service [OSA] – Almir Dzuvo, Risto Zaric and Mladen Alapez – should be finished on Tuesday. This has been confirmed by Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, adding that he also expects BiH Presidency to give their opinion within ten days and than to complement the entire appointment procedure. On Saturday, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown postponed establishment of OSA to 1 June, however Terzic says he was not worried adding that BiH Houses adopted the law in different forms, and stressing that the harmonisation took a lot of time. |