| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18:00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19:00 hrs) | FED TV (19:30 hrs) | RT RS (19:30) |
| Sljivancanin in The Hague | EU black list | Workers on a protest | Privatisation |
| Al-Qaida in Croatia | Taxation authorities | Sljivancanin in Hague | Possible general strike |
| Murder in HNK | Sljivancanin in Hague | Black lists | Health Insurance |
| EU ban list | Workers’ protest meeting |
| Italy chairs EU |
| Oslobodjenje | The SDA suggested protection of criminals; The SBS BiH confiscated stolen cars; Army keeping quite, and so does SFOR; Veselin Sljivancanin in The Hague |
| Dnevni Avaz | No money for three delaying pensions; Kohl – we will help moderate visa regime for BiH citizens; The SDP too supporting conclusions about Cegar |
| Dnevni List | Paddy Ashdown – dead man on the EU list by mistake; Alija Izetbegovic in The Hague?; Mostar Mufti invokes past |
| Vecernji List | Father killed, son hardly managed to stay alive; Friar Krasic is more concerned about disputes among hunters |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | War games around the village of Kruscica; Friar Petar Krasic – UDBA and OHR are very similar; Black list of unwanted persons is alibi for the EU and Ashdown – political protectors remain untouchable |
| Glas Srpski | Predrag Basaric arrested – Fake death of the fake ‘Cobra’; Anti-raid protections – clouds as targets |
| Nezavisne Novine | The EU admits that the name of late Bishop Vasilije Vejnovic was put on the unwanted list by mistake – Bishop Filaret on the black list; Police resolves the case of a ‘mysterious murder’ in Banja Luka – Predrag Basaric fabricated his own murder; Konjic/Jablanica – Residents of Kruscica claim that SFOR carried landing |
| Vecernje Novosti | Sljivancanin extradited |
| Blic | Trade with human organs in Serbia; Cheater arrested |
EU ban list | |
| CRHB report
| CRHB at 15:00 hrs by Stanko Smaljanovic – all individuals whose names appeared on the EU ban list due to their assistance to indicted war criminals, strongly denied their involvement in the obstructing of ICTY’s work. Sources from the Serb Orthodox Church said that one listed, Bishop Vasilje Veinovic, died years ago. Church confirmed that he died in 1997 in Monastery Milesevo in Serbia. However, European Union claims to have contradictory information on the identity of Veinovic. The EU concluded this was a complex situation, so they decided to put his name on the list as information on his death were not official. OHR Spokeswoman from Banja Luka, Sonia Pastuovic, could not either confirm or deny whether Veinovic was alive. |
| BHTV report | BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Gvozden Sarac – Orthodox Patriarchy announces that one of the EU black list members, Bishop Vasilije Veinovic, has been dead since 1997. The OHR and EU did not give any specific comments on the dead man being on the black list. Spokesperson Christine Gallach confirmed the information. She also said that the exact identity of the person was not yet determined, so the name remained on the list. |
| FTV report on Veinovic | FTV at 19:30 hrs – the OHR announces that one of the EU black list members, Bishop Vasilije Veinovic, died in Serbia in 1997. The question remains which person should be on the list instead. According to sources close to the EU in Brussels, this person is Bishop Jelinko Micevic, born in Konjic in 1947. |
| FTV report on EU and US lists | FTV at 19:30 hrs by Blazica Kristo – Setting the US and EU blacks list raises an issue of consequences for people in BiH on the lists. The local authorities were not officially informed prior to the announcing of the black list. President of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, stated that these matters would be discussed. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic, stated that the EU list would be discussed in the Ministry of Justice, just like the case was with the US black list. According to President of the BiH Court, Martin Raguz, a criminal charge can be brought against persons listed by the Ministry of Interior, OHR or anybody else, and then the prosecution would decide on the process. |
| RTRS report
| RTRS at 19:30 hrs – Priest Vasilije Veinović, who was on the EU list, had died in 1997 and the OHR promised to remove him from the list. Foreign Minister Ivanić called on full respect of both the EU and US sanctions against persons supporting war criminals. |
| CRO press | Vecernji List pg. 1, 4 and 5 – a reaction by Friar Petar Krasic who is on the EU black list. VL says that Krasic is on the list because he was allegedly helping fugitive Croatian General Anto Gotovina. “General Gotovina would never allow himself to bring a priest in such an unpleasant situation…I am not surprised by this bizarre decision having in mind everything that the OHR has written about me so far. I have realized that there is no trial and that there is only verdict, while evidence is completely unnecessary.” On the same page VL (‘The BiH authorities are announcing the checking of persons from the black list’) says that there aren’t many reactions from Sarajevo to the EU black list. VL says that the SDA also has not reacted so far, while Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, stated that the BiH authorities would check all claims about persons on the EU and US black lists. Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1, 10 and 11 -“This accusation is actually an attack on Franciscan priests, especially in Herzegovina, and Croats in BiH in general. This is being done by so-called globalists with the assistance of some domestic people…UDBA and OHR have a lot in common,” said Friar Krasic. On the same issue Dnevni List pg. 1 and 9 – Spokesperson Christina Gallach said the EU was taking seriously media reports saying that Orthodox Bishop, Vasilije Veinovic, died four years ago and that the EU was checking all information on this case. SD also covered this statement on pg. 1 and 17. |
| SD editorial | Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1 and 15 by Marin Erceg – claims that recently published EU’s list of unwanted persons gives no firm evidence, at least not for all, adding the EU is not determined enough to arrest the suspects, especially Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. In that context, SD says the two are still protected not only by some powerful Serbs, but also by some international circles. “Therefore, this black list is only a proof of continuation of an alibi policy of the EU and High Representative Paddy Ashdown. It is a proof that an impression that something is being done about the catching of war criminals is being created. No black list will draw war criminals a millimeter closer to The Hague. It can be only done through a threat and resolute action towards the official carriers of authority in the Republika Srpska (…) Many are dissatisfied with such policy of the EU and Office of the High Representative. But it appears the only victim will be Paddy Ashdown who will leave BiH, as one can hear from some diplomats in Sarajevo, before the end of the mandate,” says Erceg. |
| RS press | Nezavisne Novine pg. 1 and 3 ‘Bishop Filaret on the black list’- the European Union admitted yesterday that the name of the late Bishop of Milesevo, Vasilije Vejnovic, was placed on the EU visa ban list by mistake and that the name of Bishop Filaret is actually the one that should have been there. OHR Chief Spokesman, Julian Braithwaite, said that the mistake was made when, instead of Bishop’s Filaret laic name – Jelenko Micevic, the name of late Bishop Vasilije Vejnovic, was put on the list. Commenting on the EU black list, BiH Foreign Affairs Minister, Mladen Ivanic, said that BiH institutions couldn’t ignore the existence of the EU list. Ivanic said he believed the BiH ministries for security and justice would analyse the list.Glas Srpske carried four different articles on pg. 5 related to the EU list issue. The first entitled ‘An attack against human rights’ -“All individuals put on the black list lose ratings in eyes of their own public and due to that, they will face serious consequences. When you lose your ratings once, it is almost impossible to restore it,” said Professor at the Banja Luka Law Faculty, Nikola Mojovic. Former Chairman of the Republika Srpska Constitutional Court and Professor at the Banja Luka Law Faculty, Rajko Kuzmanovic, said that such an act (devising of the black list) represents an attack against human rights and freedoms. The second, ‘Embarrassment of the creators of the list’ reads that the eparchy of Mileseva and the Patriarchy of the Serb Orthodox Church told Glas Srpske that the EU black list, containing the name of the late Mileseva Bishop Vasilije, represents nothing but an embarrassment and shame to its creators. According to the Patriarchy, it is obvious that none of the list creators have checked the allegations, on basis of which the list was composed – if they checked the allegations, the name of bishop Vasilije would not appear on the list. Third, ‘Brief comments’ carries a statement a businessman from Pale, Radomir Kojic, whose name is on the EU ban list, yesterday stated that no representative of the international community ever spoke with him and that he could not figure out why his name was on the list. GS has learnt that Radovan Karadzic’s family members who are on the list, will not make any comments yet. Former Mayor of the Serb Sarajevo, Milovan Bjelica, who was dismissed by the High Representative in April this year, said that everything about this list was absolutely clear, bearing in mind the fact that the name of the late Bishop of the Serb Orthodox Church was on the list. The last, fourth article is on the SDA statement. |
| Oslobodjenje and Avaz | Avaz pg. 2 ‘Mikerevic not glad that some names are on the list of unwanted at the EU’ – RS PM Mikerevic stated he was not happy certain names were on the EU list, but did not specify which ones. Slavko Roguljic, a businessman from Banja Luka whose name is on the list, said he was certain that his inclusion on the list was a result of many political games, deliberate misinformation by diplomatic circles in BiH who have a problem with him being a successful businessman. The paper also reported on the mistake made by the EU regarding Veinovic. Also, Avaz reported Bon’s statement and SDA’s reaction. Oslobodjenje on pg. 5 carried three different articles related both to the EU and Us black lists. The first one entitled ‘The US black list will be extended’ – a statement by Ambassador Bond who said the list would be extended and rejected the possibility of putting someone on the list by mistake. The second ’Is Bishop Vasilije alive?’ – Gallach’s statement that the EU was checking all information regarding the Veinovic case. The last article ‘Modest list of unwanted’ – the SDA welcomed the announcing of the list, but added they thought it was modest and that it should have included most senior entity officials in charge of arresting war criminals, as they did nothing for the indictees to be arrested. |
| Serbian press | Blic pg. 2 ‘Dead bishop on the list of unwanted persons’ – sources from the Serb Orthodox Church said that one of the listed, Bishop Vasilje Veinovic, died years ago. The Church confirmed that he died in 1997 in Monastery Milesevo in Serbia. However, the EU claims to have contradictory information on the identity of Veinovic. The EU concluded this was a complex situation, so they decided to put his name on the list as information on his death were not official. |
Political Affairs | |
| Croat Union of Refugees
| CRHB at 15:00 hrs – the Croatian Union of Refugees and Returnees said it was worried that during yesterday’s visit of BiH senior officials to Bugojno and Central Bosnia there were no Croat representatives. Bugojno was visited yesterday by BH Presidency member, Sulejman Tihic, Deputy President of FBiH, Desnica Radivojevic, BiH Ministers for Refugees and Human Rights, Mirsad Kebo and Minister for Refugees and DPs, Zijad Music. The Association said they were concerned the most with statements by the above officials that ‘Bugojno was an example of multiethnic and multicultural environment’. |
| Pay increase for Parliament members | FTV at 19: 30 hrs by Dzenita Zidrum – the decision by the BiH Parliament to increase salaries for its members has already been implemented before the budget rebalance has been done. Only a few members opposed this decision. However, no one seems to be aware of this action being illegal. The Finance Ministry will directly be involved in solving the issue. The OSCE and OHR are surprised with these decisions and consider them unjustified. |
| DL editorial | Dnevni List pg. 6 by Bakir Hadziomerovic – an editorial in which the author refers to a difficult material position of a miner, one Avdija Sabic from Raspotocje Mine near Zenica, who goes to work even when he is sick in order to earn 380 KM. The editorial makes comparison between this miner and MPs in the BiH Parliament whose salaries have been increased and who will be receiving about 3,000 KM per month. “I am interested to see as to how the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, who has been stating recently that unbelievable 64% of the budget of this robbed state are being spent for the state administration, will react to all this.” |
| Ilic’s dismissal illegitimate? | RTRS at 19:30 hrs by Ruzica Markovic – the Board of Health Insurance Fund supports dismissed Director Dragutin Ilić since his dismissal is not legitimate. Ilić confirmed he continued to work without any interruption since there was no any criminal act committed on his part. He asked for a meeting with RS Prime Minister and the RS Assembly in order to overcome this problem. |
| Mostar re-organization | Vecernji List pg. 2 ‘Ashdown is expecting Statute of Mostar’ – HR Paddy Ashdown called on members of the Mostar Commission, that is to draft a new Statute of the City of Mostar, to draft a joint proposal of the Statute by the end of July. “The Mostar Commission is an opportunity for Mostar people to make Mostar a normal, European city,” said HR Ashdown. VL says that according to the opinions of Mostar Commission members, it will be very difficult to make a single proposal of the Statute by the end of July. The article also says that during the last meeting of the Mostar Commission, one Bosniak member left the meeting and after this representatives of the IC firmly stood behind the Ashdown’s principles, which clearly said that there would be one administration unit in Mostar after the re-organization. |
| Coalition for United and Democratic BiH | Avaz pg. 8 ‘Suggested their version of the Mostar Statute’ – the Coalition for United and Democratic BiH devised their own proposal for the new permanent Statute of the Mostar city. The proposal not only envisages the change of the current internal territorial structure of Mostar with six city municipalities and central zone, but also that the City Assembly should have 28 members elected at municipal elections by Mostar citizens. Future Mostar mayor, according to the proposal, would be elected amongst the City Assembly delegates. Dnevni List pg. 15 ‘The CD Coalition officially proposed staying of Mostar city municipalities’ – also reported on the proposal by the CD Coalition. |
| DL editorial | Dnevni List pg. 15 an editorial as a reaction to the CD Coalition’s proposal entitled ‘Destructive forces divide Mostar again’ by Ivica Glibusic. The author says the proposal poses a danger to democratic processes in Mostar and Canton 7 and is a sign that the SDA and a part of Serb councilors want to maintain the current situation. “One should not forget that during Koschnick and Petritsch’s time political heads were rolling even for statements on impossibility of merging of certain institutions. Today, on the other hand, is different. Instructions of the international community and orders from the High Representative are being violated, but nobody suffers consequences. We wonder, who is going to have the last say, the High Representative of the destructive forces,” says Glibusic. |
| HDZ and Benes on Mufti’s statement | Dnevni List pg. 1 and 7 – a reaction by the HDZ BiH to a statement by the Mostar Mufti, Seid ef. Smajkic, published in yesterday’s Dnevni List (for more info pls see yesterday’s Media Round-Up). The HDZ BiH says that Smajkic’s language is invoking the past and does not contribute to the building of tolerance and creating of positive environment of coexistence in BiH. Furthermore, the HDZ BiH regards Smajkic’s statement as a thought-out provocation with an intention of additionally burdening all efforts to organize Mostar and the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton pursuant to positive constitutional solutions. DL also carries a statement by Spokesperson of the OHR South, Avis Benes, who says that lately there have been statements in the media about the position of Croats and Bosniaks in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that border with irresponsible including the statement by Mufti Smajkic. “The OHR believes that the exaggerated vocabulary does nothing to improve the position of Bosniaks and Croats, nor for better relations amongst the constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is an obligation of all media to observe professional standards and not to use war-mongering vocabulary. If citizens have any objections to the media work, especially the electronic one, they have to file complaints with the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA),” said Benes. Also in Slobodna Dalmacija on back page ‘Exaggerated statements do not help position of the Croats and Bosniaks’ and ‘Provocation that burdens Mostar’. |
| RS Pensioners write to HR | Nezavisne Novine pg. 10 ‘If problems in PIO are not resolved, we will sue BiH’- the RS Pensioners will sue BiH before the International Court in Strasbourg, as well as before the UN Committee, if problems in the PIO Fund were not resolved as quickly as possible. The pensioners have expressed their warning in a letter to High Representative Paddy Ashdown. |
| Cegar case | Avaz pg. 2 ‘We support conclusions of the HoP about Cegar’ – the SDP caucus at the BiH HoP supported conclusions in relation to the Cegar case. According to an SDP rep, Slavisa Sucur, an investigation should not be under the jurisdiction of the Commission for Defence and security, and the government should inform the Parliament of the investigation results. |
| BiH Forum requests Paravac’s removal
| Avaz pg. 4 ‘Remove Paravac from the authority’ – the Forum of BiH Parliament reps acknowledged with a regret Paravac’s ‘non-argumentative, historically distorted and by know recognizable view’, which he uses to try and amnesty the role of the war creation (meaning the RS) and its war criminals in committing genocide and ethnic cleansing against non-Serb population. The Forum insists that Paravac be permanently removed from the authority. |
| SDA protecting criminals? | Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 6 – the OHR accused a ‘certain group at the Federation parliament’ that they were trying to protect criminals by imposing amendments on the Criminal Procedure Law, which was proposed by the SDA legal team at the last FBiH HoR session. “It is obvious that a certain group on the Federation parliament care more about protection of criminals, then their citizens,” stated OHR Spokesperson Milisic. |
| RS govt. session
| Blic pg. 7 ‘IMF’s approval needed’ – the RS government on Wednesday determined a program for social sheltering of workers who would stay withoutjob in the process of privatization, bankruptcy and liquidation of companies, but it needs an approval of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its financing. The RS Minister of Labor and Soldiers-Invalids’ Protection, Mico Micic, told reporters that the program should be financed mostly from funds from the succession and privatization of socially owned companies, and partly from the RS budget. Spokesman for the RS Prime Minister, Goran Radivojac, said the government ordered ministries of justice, traffic and communications and interior affairs to implement the decision of the Srpske Poste Steering Board on the appointment of Andrija Skiljevic to the position of the Acting General Manager in the company. Nezavisne Novine pg. 6 ‘Social care program adopted’, Glas Srpske pg. 3 ‘Privatisation of apartments by the end of January’- the Republika Srpska government decided to extend the deadline for privatisation of socially owned apartments by January 31 next year. The Head of the government’s Press Bureau, Cvijeta Kovacevic, told the press after the session that the government adopted a social care program for workers who will lose their jobs in privatisation process. Avaz pg. 8 ‘The deadline for privatisation of flats extended until January 31’ – reported very briefly on the extended deadline. |
| Supervisor Clarke | Avaz pg. 8 ‘Supervisor Clarke against the construction of a Serb monument’ – Brcko Supervisor, Henry Clarke, requested at yesterday’s press conf from the Brcko government to stop further construction works on a building located directly across the way from the government building. Clarke further said he heard they started erecting so-called ‘Serb crown” (Serb monument), which, according to some, is a cheap attempt to protect illegal construction. Clarke stated that it was not appropriate in a multiethnic city to have such an obvious national symbol that everyone crossing the bridge from Croatia has to see. Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Remove Serb crown fromt eh centre’ – reported on the statement. |
| Oslobodjenje commentary | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘Branches and roots’ by Gojko Beric – in an opening paragraph beric has an idea how to pull the RS out of ‘chronic money problems’. Beric’s idea is to tell Mikerevic to arrest Karadzic, but prior tot eh arrest close a trade agreement with the US and sell Karadzic to the US. Beric goes on to conclude that there is no use of making the suggestion when he knows Mikerevic would reject it. Beric goes on to examine the creation of the RS and concludes it has brought nothing good to Bosnian Serbs but neglected civilization, misery, hatred and the rule of primitivism, violence, crime and corruption. Finally, Beric comments on the recent statement by HR Ashdown during an interview on the BBC when he said that the IC would focus on roots, and not the trees of the problem’ (referring to the arrest of war criminals). “I do not know what branches represent to Ashdown and what roots represent. He is wrong is he thinks the roots is money used for Karadzic’s security. As long as such orders are sent from the party tops, there will be enough donors ready to pay. The problem is that people that Ashdown expects to arrest Karadzic in fact protect Karadzic. They are the roots that NATO should get rid of and burn. Only then we will get a reply to the following question – are Bosnian Serbs the only people in the world who prefer their war criminals to better life?” |
| Humphreys | Dnevni List pg. 4 ‘Michael Humphreys: Responses reveal situation in country’ – Head of the EC delegation in BiH, Michael Humphreys, stated before the beginning of the third round of talks between representatives of the EC Commission and BiH authorities that responses of the BiH side revealed what actions the BiH authorities had to take in future. He added that special weakness of BiH refers to the passing of its own decisions because the High Representative for BiH had passed and imposed too many decisions. Humphreys also stated that a big step in the right direction was a decision on the establishment of the Indirect Tax Authority, passed by the BiH Council of Ministers and BiH Parliament without any outside involvement. |
Economic Affairs | |
| WHC Tax Administration | BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Martina Kristo – the West-Herzegovina Canton (WHC) government demands the replacement of its Tax Administration directors. Not being satisfied with the tax income, this government submitted a request to the Federation government for the replacement of the cantonal Tax Administration director and a few municipal directors. According to President of the WHC government, Viktor Lasic, an estimate for the past six-months for tax income has been counted for 23 million KM, which is 5 million KM above the received income. Adding to this, illegal trade of 275 companies in this region has been discovered. According to Municipal Tax Administration Director, Slavko Dragovic, discovering illegal trade was their success. |
Media Affairs | |
| Reactions to the HR’s decision on PBS | CRHB at 15:00 hrs – the RS Union of Information and Graphic Industry said that a decision made by High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on the establishment of a single management structure at the PBS level represented the continuance of wrong moves that worsens the situation of RTRS workers. They added such measure might lead to the disappearance of this media house. The Union is also strongly opposed to the establishment of a joint corporation for transmitting and broadcasting of programmes at the BiH level. |
Judiciary Affairs | |
| BiH State Prosecutor
| CRHB at 15:00 hrs – BiH State Prosecutor, Marinko Jurcevic, yesterday announced that the processes against those suspected of helping war crime indictees or those who committed some other crimes would be reinforced. “We will send instructions to all prosecutors’ offices in BiH on whether there are any on-going processes against such persons and then intensify those cases,” explained Jurcevic. Even though according to the new Criminal Law, all those who assist indicted war criminals also commit crimes, no person has been prosecuted yet. |
| BiH Constitutional Court | BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Boris Grubesic – the BiH Constitutional Court has over 500 unsolved cases. For that reason, it has been planed to hire new legal assistants in order to increase the efficiency of the Court. There is also an issue of a vacant position at the Constitutional Court for a judge from the RS. “This represents a serious problem for the Court’s functioning. However, the Court is working with one member short and solves the cases, but not the ones of essential significance,” stated President of Constitutional Court Mato Tadic. According to the EU, the vacant position will be filled by the end of the month. |
Police Affairs | |
| Halilovic suggesting changes in police | Avaz pg. 11 ‘A special unit should be at the state level’ – Federation Minister of Inteior, Mevludin Halilovic, devised a program for the reduction of the police administration in the Federation consisting of 11 points. This document will be forwarded to all relevant local and international factors. Amongst other things, Halilovic recommends in the document to urgently approach the re-composition of the Federation police structures. Sugests urgent devising of the draft on law on Interior Ministry in BiH based on the Law on BiH Ministries, as a roof law int eh area of security and fighting of the entity crime. |
Returnee Affairs | |
| Bratunac incident | FTV at 19:30 hrs by Salih Brkic – insulting graphitise on houses of returnees in Bratunac disturbed local population. International organizations condemned the crime. Municipal Head, Nedejko Mladjenovic, promised an efficient investigation and additional work to make this place safe for the returnees. |
The Hague Affairs | |
| Sljivancanin | CRHB at 15:00 hrs – former Yugoslav People’s Army officer, Veselin Sljivancanin, last night was extradited to the Hague Tribunal. Sljivancanin is expected to appear for the first time before the ICTY by the end of this week. He has been indicted for war crimes against Croat civilians in Vukovar. BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Elvir Bucalo – The Hague Tribunal indictment dates from 1995, and was extended in December of 1997. Also reported on FTV at 19:30 hrs by Ognjen Blagojevic, Vecernje Novosti pg. 15 ‘Extradited in slippers’, |