OHR BiH Media Round-up, 3/6/2005
Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 3 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Croat parties discuss const. changes | Del Ponte visitsSarajevo |
| Del Ponte visits Sarajevo | Report on Sarajevo crimes |
| Tihic on Srebrenica killing tape | Schook/Leakey to hold presser |
TV news broadcast on 2 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Del Ponte in Belgrade | Carla del Ponte meets Kostunica | Members of Scorpions unit arrested |
| Del Ponte in Zagreb | “Skorpioni” activities to be published | Mothers of Srebrenica/Zepa request |
| Del Ponte in Sarajevo | Terzic on current BiH situation | Del Ponte/Sanader meeting |
| HR on Andan’s allegations | BiH Presidency in session | Milan Seselj voluntarily surrendered |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Srebrenica mothers on the tape | Members of Scorpions unit arrested | HR on Andan’s statement |
| Kostunica on the shocking tape | Mihaljevic convicted for war crimes | 8 members of “Skorpion” arrested |
| Del Ponte in visit to Belgrade | Milan Seselj voluntarily surrendered | Milan Seselj surrender |
| Regional News | Srebrenica women on anniversary | Marijana Gaser visits LJubija |
| Oslobodjenje | 11 members of “Scorpio” unit arrested |
| Dnevni Avaz | Successful partnership of USA and BiH |
| Dnevni List | Parishes will not be given up (Franciscans of Herzegovina do not acknowledge Bishop Peric’s authority) |
| Vecernji List | Indictment against Covic to be withdrawn? |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Police Director Miletic ‘wastes’ millions marks |
| Glas Srpske | Tihic in Kalaj’s saddle |
| Nezavisne Novine | Eight “Scorpions” were arrested in Serbia |
| Blic | Daughter remained speechless over father’s crime |
| Vecernje Novosti | Scorpions were arrested |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbia related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Tihic on video tapes showing killing of Bosniaks from Srebrenica | RHB – Commenting on the vide tapes showing killings of Bosniaks from Srebrenica, Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic stated that thisillustrates the best not only dimensions of the crime but also the fact that military forces of another state participated in the aggression against BiH and genocide over people from Srebrenica. He called on the RS MoI, SIPA, OSA and other institutions dealing with this issue to process those who are responsible for these crimes. |
| US Congress resolution on 10th anniversary of massacre in Srebrenica | RHB, RS Radio – A draft resolution with regard to the 10th anniversary of the massacre committed in Srebrenica has been submitted to the US Congress. The draft resolution demands that all those who are responsible for the war crimes committed in Srebrenica should be brought to justice. |
| Bukejlovic: Sanctions would lead to crisis
| RS Radio – Pero Bukejlovic, RS Premier, has expressed conviction that sanctions will not be imposed against RS following RS NA conclusions on police reform, because sanctions would result in crisis in BiH. Bukejlovic made this statement during the meeting he had with German businessmen in Berlin . |
War Crimes/Terrorism | |
| 11 members of Scorpion unit arrested in Serbia
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4-5 ’11 members of “Scorpio” unit arrested’ by Oslo. Correspondent, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 – After playing a video recording of Bosniaks in Srebrenica being executed by members of the Serbian Ministry of Interior unit called Scorpions, Serbian police arrested commander and 10 members of this unit. Videotape was played at the trial to Slobodan Milosevic before ICTY on Wednesday and many TV stations broadcasted parts of this recording. These arrests came at the same time when the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, arrived in Belgrade. Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, said that this is a brutal and shameless crime and announced that Serbian authorities will publish more details on this when they gather all information. Del Ponte welcomed quick reaction of Serbian authorities. “That was brilliant operation, they managed to identify perpetrators of this crime in several hours,” said Del Ponte. The Special Chamber for War Crimes in Belgrade is running pre-trial procedure in this case. Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Eight Scorpions were arrested in Serbia’ by R. Segrt, Vecernje Novosti cover pg splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Scorpions were arrested’ by Tanjug, EuroBlic cover pg splash and pg 5 ‘Daughter remained speechless over father’s crime’ by Tanja Nikolic – Djakovic and pgs 4-5 ‘Eight Scorpions were arrested’ by Dejan Vukelic, Glas srpske pg 2 ‘More than eight were arrested’ by Beta also reported on the arrest of ‘more than eight’ Scorpion members. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘More than eight were arrested’ by Beta – Chairman of [Serbian] National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajic has stated that more than 8 persons suspected of executing Muslims from Srebrenica were arrested during a police action. Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Ten were arrested’ by Tanjug – according to unofficial information given to Vecernje Novosti, the number of arrested persons increased to 10 until 19:00 Thursday. It is possible former Commander of Scorpions, Slobodan Medic – Boco, was among the arrested persons. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Bihac, not Srebrenica?’ by N. Djordjevic – A woman called GS, refused to give her name, and claimed the tape of execution of Muslims was not recorded in Srebrenica but in Bihac and she claims Scorpions had never been near Srebrenica but they only were in Bihac and Brcko. |
| Serbian President Tadic offers to pay respect to Srebrenica victims
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tadic offers to pay respect to Srebrenica victims’, BETA – Serbian President Boris Tadic on Thursday voiced readiness to pay respects in Srebrenica to the innocent victims of other nations. He further said he expected that all national institutions would take a stance towards the distressing footage showing killing of Srebrenica Bosniaks and that those responsible for it would be arrested and tried. “The monstrous people who committed these crimes must end up in prison. Naturally, this does not only apply to our nation. It holds true for all nations in whose name crimes were committed. However, we are responsible for our nation and for the innocent victims among members of other nations,” Tadic said. |
| Women of Srebrenica do not want SCG representatives to attend Srebrenica massacre anniversary | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘They do not want SCG representatives in Potocari’ – Members of the Association Women of Srebrenica sent a letter to the BiH Presidency member, Sulejman Tihic, and to Reis Mustafa Effendi Ceric, stating that they won’t take responsibility for their acts on the occasion of marking the 10th anniversary of genocide in Srebrenica if Serbia-Montenegro delegation arrives on July 11 in Srebrenica. |
| Survivors recognized two men; bodies were found in 1999
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Survivors recognized two of murdered people’ by R. Cengic – Munira Subasic, Chairman of “Mothers from Srebrenica and Zepa enclaves” Association, has stated they, while watching the tape of execution, have recognized two youngsters who went missing in Srebrenica. Sakib Sadikovic from F BiH Commission for Missing Persons says the bodies of killed people were found in 1999 in Trnovo near Srebrenica and were buried in Potocari in 2003. |
| Serbian officials condemn crime of Scorpions
| Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Condemnation is a national obligation’ by Beta (Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Draskovic), Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Individuals, not people, are culpable’ not signed (Serbian SRS), Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Nebojsa Covic: Act of fascism’ not signed, Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘All criminals to jail’ by P. Vasiljevic (President of Serbian Government Vojislav Kostunica)– carry reactions of Serbian officials on the tape of execution of Muslims from Srebrenica. |
| BiH politicians condemn the Scorpions’ crime
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Executors of the crime must be punished’ by V. Popovic – SNSD’s Igor Radojicic, SDP’s Slobodan Popovic, DNS’s Marko Pavic and SDS’s Momcilo Novakovic condemned the crime of Scorpions and think all criminals must be punished. PDP’s Sinisa Djordjevic said it is not disputable that a crime was committed but he wondered why the tape was made public right now and he implies there is a political background to this. SDA’s Sefket Hafizovic says this tape is a proof Yugoslavia had committed genocide in BiH. |
| Del Ponte visits Belgrade
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, announced on cover ‘Del Ponte expects arrests of Karadzic and Mladic’ by Oslo correspondent,Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Hague expects Mladic in several weeks’ not signed – Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte met with SCG President, Svetozar Marovic on Thursday in Belgrade. She expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between ICTY and SCG and with the latest action of Serbian authorities. Marovic claims that the survival this country will be endangered as long as war crime indictee Ratko Mladic is at large. Del Ponte however reiterated that the activities had to be continued in order for all war crime indictees to be brought to justice. In the course of her visit to SCG, Del Ponte also met with Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica, SCG Minister Rasim Ljajic and SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic. |
| HR Ashdown to meet with ICTY’s Del Ponte on Friday
| RHB, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ashdown will demand unconditional cooperation of RS with the Hague’ by FENA,Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Republika Srpska lagging behind in cooperation with The Hague’, by NINA, FENA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will on Friday meet with the ICTY’s Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte. The High Representative and the Chief Prosecutor will discuss BiH’s, but particularly the RS’s, current level of co-operation with the court in The Hague, according to OHR Spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic. The High Representative will note that the RS’s progress in extraditing individuals indicted of war crimes, despite turning a corner at the start of this year, has stalled. The last PIFWC to hand himself in with the support of the RS authorities was on 1 April this year. Full and unconditional co-operation with the ICTY is a basic tenet of the Dayton Peace Agreement and a requirement for BiH’s progress on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration. As long as the two most notorious indictees, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, remain at large it will be impossible to say that the RS has met its obligations under international and domestic law and the Dayton Peace Agreement. |
| Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa to request from Carla del Ponte to deliver complete material on executions of Bosnaiks in Srebrenica
| BHT Boris Grubesic – Association Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa enclaves will hand over on Friday a request to the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, to deliver to them complete material on executions of Bosnaiks in Srebrenica. A videotape played in the ICTY courtroom on Wednesday, showing executions committed by members of the Serbian Ministry of Interior unit called Scorpions, could be useful evidence in the case of BiH lawsuit against Serbia-Montenegro for genocide before the International Justice Court, reports BHT. Featured women, members of the Association, expressed their wish to see the whole recording and belief that this should be shown in public. Bosniaks from the recording are exhumed in 1999 and only two are identified. The BiH Helsinki Committee for Human Rights President, Srdjan Dizdarevic, said that it is not understandable why this recording was hidden for 10 years. BHT sources close to the ICTY says that Scorpions unit is linked to war crimes in the areas of Brcko and Podrinje as well as to the war crimes in Croatia . |
| US’ Condoleezza Rice on PSI struggle against weapon of mass destruction
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Successful partnership of USA and BiH’ and pg 5 ‘Successful partnership in struggle against smugglers with weapon of mass destruction’ by US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice carries an article about the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which marks its second anniversary today. In her article Rice says that the goal of the PSI, which gathers countries from all over the world including BiH, is creating of partnership in order to reduce a risk of weapon of mass destruction |
| EUPM reject RS police chief’s claims on Madrid bombing
| Pink, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Andan has no evidence for his claims’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown demands from Andan to withdraw his statement’, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Andan does not support his claims with evidence’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Andan did not offer evidence’, by V. Ru.– RS Police Director Dragomir Andan has not produced evidence to back his claims that the people taking part in the terrorist attack in Madrid were trained in BiH and that the detonators used in those attacks were manufactured in BiH, the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) has said. A report forwarded by EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty to the OHR says that Andan failed to produce any evidence to back up his allegations. |
| High Representative Urges RS Police Director Publicly to Retract Comments
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown demands from Andan to withdraw his statement’, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Andan does not support his claims with evidence’, by NINA, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Ashdown asked from Andan to withdraw his statement publicly’ by A. Sisic – The High Representative on Thursday urged RS Police Director Dragomir Andan to publicly retract the comments he made at a press conference on 10 May (re to alleged preparations for Madrid terrorist attack in BiH), and give a clear commitment to the citizens of BiH that such an incident will never happen again. In a letter sent to Andan, the HR expressed deep concern over the findings of an EUPM report, released on Thursday. EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty had instructed his staff to conduct an inquiry into allegations made by Andan that the fuses used in the 2004 Madrid commuter train attacks were produced in BiH. “I am extremely concerned by the Commissioner’s conclusions,’’ said the High Representative. “It is clear from his report that Mr Andan made these claims without having any firm evidence.’’ The High Representative said that Andan’s allegations appear to be political in character, and damage the reputation of the RS institution he represents. “The damage that these accusations have done to BiH, and in particular to the RS’s reputation, is considerable. This was a clear example of policing interfering in politics: precisely what police reform in BiH is designed to prevent,’’ said the HR. He asked Andan to write a letter to Commissioner Carty by 6 June in which he will retract the statements he made at the press conference, acknowledge that they were made on the basis of no evidence, and undertake not to make any further politically motivated statements. |
Political Parties Funding/Other Political Developments | |
| BiH Presidency not make any concrete position on Bileca/Manjaca incidents
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘The responsibility of the RS Army General Staff Chief unclear to Paravac’, announced on cover ‘Paravac has nothing to do with General Djukic’ by Az. Kalamujic, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Paravac opposes to removals of Stankovic and Djukic’ by H.Orahovac, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Conclusion on oaths in Bileca and Manjaca at next session’, by E. Mackic, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Still without position in BiH top’, by B. Kristo – BiH Presidency has held session on Thursday, during which it has discussed on stances of BiH Ministry of Defence, regarding events which took place in Manjaca and Bileca, during ceremonial oath taking, on April 16, 2005. The Presidency has not reached a concrete stance on the issue, due to lack of information, which are to be submitted by the Ministry in a week. According to BiH Presidency President, Borislav Paravac, BiH Presidency is not allowed to remove responsible ones, since it has not competence over the issue. “The question is are the proposed measures, which are being implemented by the RS and BiH Defence Ministries sufficient for preventing such event to take place again, , said Paravac. |
| SDS accounts blocked by RS Banking Agency
| Pink, BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘SDS plundered savers of “Privredna Banka”’ – RS Banking Agency blocked the SDS bank accounts after Provisional administrator of Privredna Banka Eastern Sarajevo Toby Robinson announced request to BiH Prosecution to raise indictments against companies Specta from Bijeljina and Matres from Eastern Sarajevo. Robinson claims that those two fictitious companies used the Privredna Banka loans to finance the SDS activities. The OHR stated that it has been revealed that SDS was robbing small savers for the purpose of paying for its pre-election campaign. “SDS pays the price for illegal financing by Momcilo Mandic’s bank,” said the OHR spokesperson, Ljiljana Radetic. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘State firms owe 13 million KM to the bank’ by A. Sisic – 16 state firms, out of which most are from RS and under control of SDS or persons close to the party, owe more than 13 million KM to Privredna Banka East Sarajevo (PB ES), as the bank has confirmed for NN. Inset ‘OHR: SDS must return money to savers’ – carries a press statement of OHR on PB S. |
| SDS says it had nothing to do with activities of Specta Company
| Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘A political pursuit’, FENA – The Serb Democratic Party (SDS) Presidency stated on Thursday that it has no information or proof that activities of Spekta company, including the raising of loans by this company from the Privredna Banka East Sarajevo, has anything to do with SDS. SDS stated that it was informed one month ago about the findings of Privredna Banka Provisional Administrator Toby Robinson concerning the dealings of Spekta and the linking of these dealings to SDS. On its part the SDS Presidency provided answers to all questions put forth by Toby Robinson. “Since the entire case has been forwarded to the relevant prosecutor’s office to be further investigated, the decision to go public with information even before the investigation has been completed is tendentious and politically motivated ”, SDS stated. The SDS Presidency stated that the presentation of unchecked and unproven allegations, as well as the announcement of measures even before the end of the investigation, is a part of a political campaign started against the SDS by certain international officials in BiH following the session of the RS National Assembly and conclusions it adopted on police reform. The RS Banking Agency blocked the SDS account without any legal basis and without any prior warning to the party even though official investigation has not even started “which shows the political character of these measures. The SDS leadership stated that after this arty was banned to use budget funds one year ago it now no longer has access to funds collected from membership fees. “With this measure SDS has lost all sources of financing, it is now financially destroyed, which was clearly the political objective”, SDS stated. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SDS claims it is financially ruined’ by A. Sekulic – also carries a press statement of SDS re PB SS case. Milovan Bjelica confirmed for the draft contract on the loan between Spekta and Privredna Banka in amount of 300 000 KM was made in 1998, but he added that the means of that loan has not been sent neither to Spectra nor SDS. “As far as I know, nobody from SDS leadership has given the order to any body to withdraw those resources neither it gave the order to Privredna Banka to direct those resources on the accounts of some companies”, said Bjelica. Momcilo Mandic accuses the administration of Privredna Banka for its destruction. “I know that about 15 millions KM of my capital was spent for administration, maintenance and tens of bodyguards of Mrs. Toby Robinson”, added Mandic. Mandic and former SDS official Mirko Sarovic believe that the latest moves of Robinson represent campaign against SDS and its high officials. Inset ‘Novakovic: SDS accounts will be blocked until debt is settled’ – RS Banking Agency announced that SDS bank account would be blocked until Spectra settles it debt. Inset ‘Bjelica: I owe 10,000 KM to PB SS’ – Milovan Bjelica claims he took only one loan from PB SS, in the amount of 10,000 KM. BHT, RTRS also carried Bjelica and Sarovic’s statements. |
| BiH CoM Chair Terzic proposes calling early elections
| Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘New election only way out of crisis’, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Adnan Terzic proposes new elections’, by vr, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Terzic demands for early elections’ by M. Cubro, SRNA – The chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, said on Thursday in Brcko that due to reform saturation BiH was in serious crisis which could only be overcome by calling early elections. “I am affirming the principle that as every other country in Europe which is in serious crisis and cannot go any further, we should solve this by calling early elections,” Terzic replied when asked by SRNA whether the BiH Council of Ministers was in crisis. He said that consensus should be reached on the holding of early elections, as nothing could be done in BiH by force, but “if it is certain that we are getting nowhere with the police reform and that this will hamper BiH on its path to Europe, we should not waste time but try to find fresh motivation for the future with new or repackaged political forces”. In Brcko, Terzic opened the second international conference Interreg Three – Hydrocorridor of the Sava River Brcko 2005, which is the continuation of a project of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe . |
| Tihic, Komsic, Halilovic, OHR, Ajanovic on Terzic’s statement
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tihic: We would only get again current political image’ not signed – Commenting on the statement given by Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, who said that new elections are the only way out from the crisis that BiH is currently in, SDA President Sulejman Tihic stated: ‘The elections would only result again in the current political image of the Parliament. The solution of the crisis is persistent and joint work with the International Community.’ Tihic added that new elections only make sense if the Constitution changes and if a new concept of the authority, which can stop blockade of anti-reform forces, was made. Member of the SDU BiH Presidency Ivo Komsic stated that if the current authority admits that the ruling coalition is powerless and that BiH does not have future with such rule then new elections should be organized. President of the SBiH Presidency Safet Halilovic believes that even after the new elections we would have the same politicians on the scene. Halilovic added that if the IC gives space for an unorganized group that gives political hints to those who obstruct reforms there would be no progress. OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic stated that the OHR does not want to comment on this statement and that the issue of new elections is a matter for relevant BiH institutions. DA inset under headline ‘We must not allow that RS wins’ carries BOSS President Mirnes Ajanovic as saying that the new elections would give the same results as the elections which would take place next year anyway. He added: ‘We must not allow that the RS wins now. Terzic should try to do all the things that the High Representative does in BiH. |
| DA: ‘Colak and Madunic to support Ljubic?
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Colak and Madunic to support Ljubic?’ by F. Vele – A candidate for the position of the HDZ President Bozo Ljubic announced the possibility that he reaches an agreement with other 2 candidates for this position, Barisa Colak and Ivan Madunic, about their support to his election. He added: ‘Although I do not want to talk on behalf of two of them, Colak and Madunic support and have concepts of the party which are similar to mine.’ DA learns that Colak, and especially Madunic are willing to talk about the Ljubic’s offer. DA inset under headline ‘Raguz: I support Ljubic’ carries member of the HDZ Presidency Martin Raguz stated that at the HDZ Convention, which is to take place on June 4, 2005, he would support Ljubic’s program and candidacy. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Seven members left the session’ reports that seven prominent members of the HDZ Presidency including Josip Merdzo and Martin Raguz left the session of the body last night in protest against Dragan Covic’s insisting to be officially nominated as the Presidency candidate for the HDZ BiH President. The session was however continued but it is uncertain what did they decided. BHT, FTV also reported on the session in progress. |
| Doris Pack: It is up to HDZ to elect leader
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Covic is good leader’, by Zoran Kresic – An MP in the European Parliament, Doris Pack, stated it was an internal party matter for HDZ who is to be elected the new HDZ president. Asked to comment on various comments considering the indictment against Covic, Pack says nobody is guilty until proven otherwise. |
| ‘Puls’ agency’s poll: 89% of interviewees believe indicted politicians should step down
| Dnevni List, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘When Covic is in question, Croats support Ashdown’, by M. Batarello – According to public opinion poll conducted by ‘Puls’ agency on 614 interviewees between April 15 and April 30, 2005, 89% of interviewees believe that politicians should step down if they are indicted for felony. Moreover, 66% of interviewees believe that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, was right to remove Dragan Covic, whilst 14% believe he shouldn’t have. Among Croat interviewees, 11% believe that the HR’s decision was a political move aimed at punishing the Croat people, 23% believe the move was justified having in mind the indictment against Covic, 35% believe the HR shouldn’t have used his powers the way he did, whilst 32% did not declare themselves. DL concludes that the public opinion shows that times of outright support to party leaders, who are under criminal investigations and who called upon national interests, are gone. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 also carried the results of the poll. |
| DA int. with Doris Pack: RS has taken the entire state for a hostage
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘RS has taken the entire state for hostage’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to daily, Doris Pack, delegate at the European Parliament, says that having the Constitution as it is, BiH will never get in EU, adding changes have to be made but with the assent of all three peoples. On pre-conditions of talks on constitutional changes, she notes that the priority should be a guarantee that RS will survive in some form, adding it is a matter of internal agreement what form it would be. She adds it would be extremely useful if several reasonable politicians throughout the world engage with an aim to help BiH politicians in a dialogue on this issue, volunteering to be one of such. On police reform blockade, she notes that RS has taken the entire state a hostage. She does not blame MP’s for this, adding they just follow their leaders who are deceiving them by providing wrong terms. She stresses police reform is not aimed at abolishment of RS, but instead it represents the only manner in which a good and professional police force can be obtained. On PBS Law, she adds that Croats should see and pay attention to the new proposal on table. on Bonn powers, she adds those are in violation of human rights, adding that it is not necessary to have a HR with dictators’ powers. |
| HR Ashdown for BH Radio: DPA must be changed
| Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Ashdown: Dayton must be changed’, by H – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, stated on Thursday that the Dayton Peace Accord ”must be changed”, adding that such move was not in his powers, but in hands of the BiH structures. Being a guest of the BH Radio on Thursday evening, HR Ashdown noted that the next challenge BiH was facing was creation of a functional state through the change of the DPA. According to Ashdown, the DPA was good in stopping the war, but is not good to build peace. SD notes that despite not going through details, this is Ashdown’s most open appeal for the change of the DPA. |
| DApoll on HR’s powers/success and failure
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘A positive assessment to Ashdown, powers of HR to be abridged’- Daily brings results of its monthly poll, conducted on the sample of 3035 interviews. 53% of interviewees gave positive assessment to the work of HR Paddy Ashdown, though 59% of them shares the view HR’s powers should be abridged. 41% finds HR approach towards all the peoples in BiH balanced. 26% finds defence reform to be one of the biggest successes of the IC and HR, while 59% finds non-apprehension of Ratko Mladic to be the biggest failure of Paddy Ashdown and IC. |
| GS: SDA overthrows the Dayton Agreement
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Tihic in Kalaj’s saddle’ by Z. Markovic – Advisor of RS President, Ognjen Tadic, and sociologist Braco Kovacevic say SDA, during its latest Congress, confirmed its past decision to turn back to the Dayton Agreement by setting following goals: establishing of Bosniak nation and revive the Republic of BiH with three levels of the authority – central, regional and municipal. |
| Statement of Day: RS President Dragan Cavic | Dnevni List, pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’ column the RS President, Dragan Cavic, as saying: “Difficult time is coming for me, and most difficult for the SDS”. |
| NN op-ed: Hypocritical Cavic | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Hypocritical Cavic’ by Aleksandar Sekulic – the author warns of frequent changes in opinion of Dragan Cavic with regard to police reform and quotes his statements chronologically. |
| Cavic: HR is right to emphasize importance of police reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘High Representative Paddy Ashdown is right’ by B92 – in a statement to B92, RS President Dragan Cavic has stated HR Paddy Ashdown is right to emphasize the importance of police reformand to say arresting of Hague indictees and stabilization of situation in the country depends on the new system. |
| GS: Call for civil disobedience | Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Call to disobedience’ by G. K. – HQ for protection of RS position in frame of BiH will call people to disobedience, should HR Paddy Ashdown reach any decision aimed against RS and its institutions. According to HQ Chairman Branislav Dukic, the HQ will use all democratic means to stop HR’s intentions to abolish RS through alleged reforms. |
| Together to Truth Association says RSNA should annul all including HR’s decisions that are not in line with Dayton
| Glas srpske pg 3 ‘To stop bankruptcy’ by S. Mi. – Citizens’ Association “Zajedno do Istine” is of an opinion RS NA delegates should annul all decisions that are not in accordance with the Dayton Agreement, including decisions HR had imposed. ‘We expect from the authorities to prevent bankruptcy of RS and stop sending money to Sarajevo for joint BiH institutions. Serb people must know they are financing disappearance of RS by their own money and it will certainly not allow this to happen’, Chairman of the Association Dane Cankovic has stated. |
| Bishop Sudar says Croats should have TV channel in Croatian language
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Denying channel in Croatian language does not help future of BiH’, by NINA – The auxiliary bishop of Vrhbosnia, Pero Sudar, stated on Radio Livno that whoever was denying the Croats in BiH from having a channel in their own language on the state TV, such person is not helping BiH’s future in which all peoples are equal. “Whoever is against it, speaking that it is economically not viable and that we understand each other because there is one and the same language in BiH, that person does not want to acknowledge the equality of peoples in BiH and unfortunately that does not help its future”, said Sudar. |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| BiH Old Foreign Currency Savers’ Association sue BiH, international officials, institutions
| FTV, Pink, Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘Discussion on first case on June 28’ – Association for protection of foreign currency savers in BiH filed to the BiH prosecution criminal charges against 14 persons and local and international institutions. Association claims that their charges are supported by firm evidences. Among those 14 persons and institutions are: International Monetary Fund, the OHR, Paddy Ashdown, Valeria Fischera, Donald Hays, Adnan Terzic, Ljerka Maric, Ahmet Hadzipasic, Dragan Mikerevic, Party for BiH, SDA, SDS and PDP. According to the Association, those are responsible individuals and institutions for not enabling BiH savers to realize their rights. The issue will also be raised before the Court in Strasbourg with the first hearing scheduled for June 28. |
| FBiH Govt discussed taxes on salaries
| RHB, FTV, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Cantonal laws are being abolished, control is being introduced’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Identical tax rate on salaries in cantons’, by Eldina Medunjanin – The FBiH Finance Ministry has forwarded into a regular procedure a Draft law on income tax that would regulate the matter in all areas of incomes. The law should replace current legislation that is regulated by both cantonal and FBIH laws, thus creating a single economic space in the FBiH in the area of income tax. According to FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, the new law should replace some 60 various cantonal taxes. Inset entitled ‘Government did not discuss deal with Aluminij’ reports that the FBiH Government did not discuss the issue of ownership structure within the ‘Aluminij’ of Mostar despite earlier announcements. According to Vrankic, the item was not put on the agenda because PM Hadzipasic did not receive additional information he should have received. |
| Croatia and BiH on itinerary of Corridor Vc
| Pink, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Corridor Vc will enter BiH at Svilaje in municipality of Odzak’, by Tihomir Bijelic – Respective commissions of BiH and Republic of Croatia agreed on the location where BiH and Croatia’s portion of the future Corridor Vc should meet/join. Although the very site has not been specified, it has been agreed that the location should be in the Municipality of Odzak nearby place called Svilaj as was agreed two years ago during a trilateral meeting between BiH, Croatia and Hungary. |
Legal Proceedings | |
| SD: FBiH Interior Minister Halilovic accuses Police Chief Miletic of illegally spending FBiH MoI’s money
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 15 ‘Police Director Miletic ‘wastes’ millions marks’, by Zlatko Tulic – According to information close to the FBiH Interior Ministry, the FBiH Interior Minister, Mevludin Halilovic, has started a criminal procedure against the FBiH Director of Police Administration, Zlatko Miletic, because of illegal expenditures made by him. Allegedly, Miletic has bought several official cars without abiding by the stipulated procedure, spending around a million KMs in the process. SD’s source notes that Minister Halilovic is pressed by other problems these days that needs solving. It is about a letter that was recently sent to the FBiH MoI by the OHR and EUPM in which the FBiH MoI is requested to act and prevent de-certified police officers from working in the FBiH MoI in the future. SD’s information say that the commander of the FBiH SWAT team, Dragan Vikic, and several other police officials who are not certified, could be soon removed. |
| VL: Indictment against Covic to fall?, protected witness withdrawing statement
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Indictment against Covic to be withdrawn?’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Indictment against Covic collapsing?’, by Miso Relota – The daily notes that the indictment submitted by the BiH Prosecution in the Covic-Lijanovic-Tadic case is based on a testimony of a protected witness S-1, whose identity was revealed in the meantime, namely the witness is one Zoran Nikolic. According to VL’s sources close to BiH Prosecution, Nikolic is allegedly planning to cancel cooperation in the case i.e. he is planning to withdraw his original statement. Inset entitled ‘Protected witness with McNair’ reads that VL learns from unofficial sources that the protected witness (Nikolic) was seen twice in Zagreb with Prosecutor John McNair and that Nikolic was transferred to Sweden by the Prosecution, after which he complained about living conditions and that he complained that the offer, which was given to him, was not observed. |
| Petar Dusanic suspected of tax evasion and money laundering | Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Police, upon order of BiH Prosecutor’s Office searched “Dusanic” and Metal” firms’ by S. Karic and D. Muminovic – Upon an order of BiH Court, policemen searched “Dusanic” and “Metal” firms, owned by Prnjavor businessman Petar Dusanic. He was suspected of tax evasion and money laundering. |