Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on4 November 2004
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| George Bush re-elected US President | BiH HoR discusses VAT Law | BiH HoR session |
| Report on a girl who died of AIDS | FBiH HoP on Internal Debt Law | RS Govt to hold session today |
| Euro Parliament members in MO | Arafat lapsed into a coma | Tadic served ICTY sentence |
| BiH HoR, FBiH HoP in session | 5 killed in US bombing of Fallujah | ICTY’s Meron visits |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Del Ponte on ICTY cooper. | Bush won US elections | Investigation on judges | Del Ponte on ICTY cooper. |
| Leakey held press conf. | Reactions on the results | Bush won US elections | Leakey held press conf. |
| Agreement btw BIH & WB | Investigation against Tadic | BiH local elections results | RS NA session |
| Meeting of BIH & EU Parl. | Del Ponte on ICTY cooper. | Del Ponte on ICTY cooper. | Agreement btw BIH &WB |
| Oslobodjenje | White House announced: George Bush won the elections |
| Dnevni Avaz | Bush remains in White House |
| Dnevni List | Del Ponte : Prosecution is conducting another 6 investigations |
| Vecernji List | Woman from Ucraina died of AIDS i Mostar |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | BiH authorities issued falisfied passport to student |
| Glas Srpske | New short-term loans: Interest rate below 5% |
| Nezavisne Novine | George Bush remains at the White House; Darko Matijasevic: Karadzic and Mladic will be arrested by the end of year; Carla del Ponte: Three Hague fugitives in |
| Blic | SDS accuses: Ashdown exaggerated |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Radovanovic attends SEDM meeting
| RHB News at 1200, Onasa – BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic has left for Ljubljana where he will attend a meeting of defence ministers of Southeast Europe (SEDM), an initiative for development and strengthening in the sector of defence in Southeast Europe. The gathering will discuss strengthening of stability and security and mutual trust of countries in the region. |
| Party for BiH on crisis in FBiH Government
| FENA – The Party for BiH (SBiH) Presidency issued a press release today, which says that they discussed a newly emerged situation in the FBiH Government and they unanimously supported work of SBiH Ministers in the FBiH Government. They also decided to initiate the discussion on a newly emerged crisis in the FBiH Government in all SBiH bodies in the next 10 days and to pass the decision on further participation in authority at all levels. Also, during the session of the SBiH Presidency, SBiH Ministers gave their mandates at the disposal of their party. They will continue to meet their obligations in the areas that they are in charge of, but without their participation at the sessions of the FBiH Government until the final decision of the SBiH Presidency on their further participation or withdrawal from the authority structures is passed. |
| BiH HoR discusses VAT Law
| RHB, BH Radio 1, RTRS News at 1200 by Mustafa Karahmet – BiH House of Representative holds session today to discuss the proposal of the VAT Law. Journalist comments that this could easily bring conflict between BiH authorities and the European Commission, which warned HoR just prior to the session that BiH can count on EC assistance only if single VAT rate was adopted. However, the proposal of the Law before the delegates is the one prepared by the HoR’s Commission for finances and budget which envisages differentiated VAT. HoR also adopted the amendments to the Crime Code which define hiding of war crimes suspects and information on mass graves sites as criminal offence. |
| FBiH HoP considers internal debt law
| RHB, BH Radio 1 News at 1200 by Ljiljana Radl – The extraordinary session of the FBiH House of Peoples continues today, and delegates will discuss the FBiH Law of Internal Debt which was already adopted by the FBiH House of Representatives. FBiH Government has announced it has considered the amendment to this law proposed by HoP delegates with regard to old foreign currency savings. |
| Austrian military presences in BiH to be increased | BH Radio 1, RHB, RTRS News at 1200 – The Austrian parliament has passed a decision to increase the number of troops within peacekeeping forces in BiH (SFOR). |
Political developments/Cooperation with ICTY | |
| Bush re-elected US President
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 18-19 ‘White House announced: George Bush won’, Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pgs 21-23 ‘Bush stays in White House’, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pgs 2-3 ‘George Bush remains in the White House’ by Agencies, Dnevni List pgs 24 and 25 ‘Bush to be President in next 4 years as well’, mentioned on front, not signed, Vecernji List pgs 2,3,4,5 ‘Bushe about to win’ by M. Seric and Slobodna Dalmacija pgs 2 and 3 ‘Bush has alreday announced his victory’ by M. Copic – US President George Bush claimed a re-election mandate on Wednesday after a record 59 million Americans chose him over Democrat John Kerry and voted to expand Republican control of Congress as well. Bush won about 51% of the vote and at least 274 electoral college votes to beat John Kerry in poll. Kerry admitted defeat when it became clear that he would not win the key state of |
| BiH Diplomacy on Bush re-election
| BHT – First reaction of BiH diplomacy to the results of |
| After Ashdown’s warning: Cooperation with The Hague or removal of Dragan Cavic
| Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Cooperation with The Hague or removal of Dragan Cavic’ by O. Vukovic – Daily brings [same] reactions following the address of the High Representative Paddy Ashdown to the delegates of the RS National Assembly on cooperation with ICTY [please see Media Round-up for Nov 3]. In addition, it brings the comments by political analyst Tanja Topic who said that this speech confirmed that HR’s decision to remove 60 SDS officials did not bring results and that new sanctions are possible: “It is to be expected to see Dragan Cavic’s name on that list, and I think that he alone is aware of that fact, that he has such information. However, if that list is to include the name of current RS President, there is a very complex issue to solve and that is holding extraordinary elections in RS.” |
| DA op-ed: Last warning to RS
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Last warning to RS’ Commentary of the Day by Edina Sarac – Editorial refers to HR’s address to RSNA on cooperation with the ICTY, which author calls public “last lesson to the RSNA delegate, president Dragan Cavic and Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic.” “The High Representative did not mention sanctions incase two most notorious fugitives are not in |
| Editorial on HR’s speech before RSNA
| Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Serb state western from |
| SD editorial on OHR/IC authorities in BiH
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Kadis from all over the world’ by P. Milos carries an editorial which says that domestic BiH justice exists on a formal level only, and judges and prosecutors can do their job only if they do it in the way which suits the High Representative and his associates. According to the author, representatives of the International Community in general are above law in BiH and they are not being held accountable for their mistakes. SD says that the current legal system in BiH is an absurd and European Parliament representative in charge of this part of |
| NN: Karadzic and Mladic will be arrested by the end of year
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 4 ‘Karadzic and Mladic will be arrested by the end of year’ by V. Popovic – In a brief interview to NN, Darko Matijasevic, RS Interior Minister, says that the next few weeks would see the fulfillment of RS duties towards the Hague Tribunal, announcing that arrests of the most wanted war crimes suspects can be expected by the end of this year. He says: “Karadzic and Mladic are to persons from ICTY public indictment and we must undertake measures against them, and others.” He says he has no prejudice, noting “I have made it clear my commitments are in accordance with the Law…This Minister of Internal Affairs has been entrusted with mandate to do this job – to arrest Karadzic and Mladic.” |
| SDS critical of Ashdown
| EuroBlic cover pg splash and RSpg 1 ’Ashdown exaggerated’’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – SDS has presented to the Venice Commission all decisions of OHR and High Representative for which they believe to have overstepped HR’s authorization. SDS Deputy President Borislav Bojic has stated they have emphasized that the HR has changed the Constitution and imposed laws, and removed some people without a right to file a complaint. HR Paddy Ashdown has stated that the party is entitled to its views and he said this is a matter for courts to decide whether the HR has violated laws or his authorization. Lawyer Miroslav Mikes explained that the Venice Commission can only present its stance regarding this matter and can issue recommendations for future work of the HR. However, he said the stance of the Commission could serve as a strong argument before the EuroBlic inset ‘Sadovic: a legitimate right’ carries two statements: Milanko Mihajlica, the President of SRS, claims the RS had violated basic human rights of citizens by his decisions and says that demands of SDS were justified since ‘someone has to assess that actions of the High Representative were not entirely in accordance with his mandate’. The Head of SDA caucus, Tarik Sadovic, says the demand of SDS was legal and legitimate, but futile since the international community had given authorization to the High Representative through his mandate. |
| RSNA adopts Action Plan for cooperation with ICTY
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Action Plan on cooperation with ICTY adopted’ by Agencies – The RS NA Wednesday evening adopted the RS Government’s Action Plan on cooperation with the Hague tribunal, RS Government Report on realisation of budget and information on Action Plan for economic revival. Dragan Mikerevic, RS Premier, stated in Bijeljina Wednesday evening that RS would be faced with a great danger, unless it fulfilled its duties and implemented a concrete cooperation with the ICTY, adding: “Our services are visiting the families of the war crime indictees and we are ready to provide full guaranties to these people after they surrender, so they can wait for trial free.” |
| EUFOR Commander Leakey says arrest of war criminals obligation of local authorities
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Apprehension of criminals is obligation of local authorities’ by A. Prlenda, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘BiH authorities will have to apprehend war criminals’ by S. Numanovic, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘EUFOR and NATO will be exchanging intelligence information’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Citizens would have safe environment’ by A. Sisic; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Leakey: SFOR made arrests, and we move on’, FENA – The transition between SFOR and EU forces will be carried out on December 2 when the operation of European military forces in BiH entitled Althea will start, EUFOR Commander British General David Leakey said at his first press conference in Camp Butmir near Sarajevo on Wednesday. He confirmed that the transition between SFOR and EUFOR would be unnoticeable, that EUFOR would have the same number of troops as SFOR, as well as all other authorities defined by the Dayton Agreement. This means that 80 percent of members of SFOR would only change the name and put EU insignia on their shoulder, Leakey emphasized. General Leakey said that the main priority of EUFOR would be maintaining a safe and stabile environment in BiH and respect of the Dayton Agreement and stressed that it would have its military capacities for carrying out those tasks. The EUFOR Headquarters will closely cooperate with armed forces in BiH, support BiH authorities, especially in fighting organise crimes and helping the return of refugees and displaced persons. About cooperation between EUFOR and the NATO Headquarters in BiH General Leakey said that tight cooperation between them would be guaranteed. He said that the main task of the NATO Headquarters would be to support BiH authorities in reforming the defence sector and stressed that EUFOR would also participate in that task as a member of the Defence Reform Commission. EUFOR and the NATO Headquarters will also assist the Hague Tribunal in arresting indicted war criminals and will regularly exchange intelligence. However, General Leakey reiterated that the main responsibility for the arrests lies with BiH authorities and law enforcement institutions. “EUFOR will provide all necessary assistance to BiH authorities for arresting indicted war criminals, be it in intelligence or operational support”, General Leakey said. He stressed that if EU forces come across indicted war criminals while carrying out their operation they would not hesitate to arrest them. General Leakey said that EUFOR is the newest indication of EU commitment to BiH. He said that EU Special Representative Paddy Ashdown would ensure political coherency between EU instruments – military forces, police missions, monitoring mission and programs provided to local communities. “Our common objective is that BiH and its people move as close as possible to |
| Del Ponte meets with NATO ambassadors, Solana
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Serbia’s approach to The Hague is scandalous’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Del Ponte requests for apprehension of Gotovina and Bralo’ by FENA, Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Del Ponte: Prosecution is conducting another 6 investigations’ by I. Glibusic, Vecernji List pg 14 Carle del Ponte in NATO: Gotovina is still in Croatia’ by S. de Prato, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 4 ‘Del Ponte demands from NATO support for arrest of Gotovina’ by H , Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 4 ‘Three Hague fugitives in Russia’ by Sense; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Indictees and heroes’ – The Chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Carla del Ponte, on Wednesday addressed the North Atlantic Council in Brussels. “The completion strategy gives a clear way forward for the Tribunal and for the States of the former |
| NN op-ed on war crime suspects
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Faked enthusiasm’ by Pero Simic – The author notes that people from both sides of Drina river are suffering over the fact that the “lunatics” leading them fail to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal and arrest war crime suspects. |
| European parliamentarians visit Mostar
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Federation is held hostage by RS’ by F.V., HINA – The head of the European Parliament delegation to BiH, Albania and Serbia and Montenegro, Doris Pack, said during a visit to Mostar on Wednesday that the Croats as a constituent people in BiH had the right to have their own television station and education system. Pack was the first prominent Western official to publicly express her support for a Croatian-language television network to be established in BiH. BiH Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) members of the BiH parliament recently asked for a separate, Croatian-language television channel to be set up in the country. The Office of the High Representative (OHR), the European Commission delegation and the British ambassador to BiH have expressed their opposition to the initiative in separate statements. Pack said that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, should increasingly transfer his powers to domestic authorities. In her opinion, the Federation of BiH is a hostage to RS, because the RS has not extradited indicted war criminals to the Hague Tribunal. In meeting the requirements for admission to European institutions, all sides in BiH must hand over war crimes indictees. The Croats and the Bosniaks have done so, while the Serbs have not, Pack said. |
| DL: A. Vidacak to become HDZ Commissioner in Mostar
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Ante Vidacak most serious candidate for Commissioner’, mentioned on front, by Z. Jukic – DL reminds that they have already published an article about the possibility to dissolve the HDZ Mostar City Board since the HDZ leadership is not satisfied with their results at the local elections. DL also says that, according to the information coming from HDZ, in case that this happens former President of the Mostar City Council and former employee of Mostar company ‘Soko’ Ante Vidacak is the most serious candidate for the position of the HDZ Commissioner in Mostar. A representative of the opposite fraction in HDZ Mostar, who wanted to stay anonymous, stated that by this appointment the process of bringing former ‘Soko’ employees, who are very close associates ‘of the most powerful person in HDZ’ Dragan Covic at crucial positions within HDZ and in executive authority would be completed. |
Police/Security/Judiciary/Legal proceedings | |
| RS MoI Denies Osmanovic and Tomljenovic
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Readiness for hiring Bosniaks and Croats’ by FENA – Head of the RS Minister of Interior’s Cabinet Zoran Glusac on Wednesday denied claims by RS Vice Presidents Adil Osmanovic and Ivan Tomljenovic that the RS MoI and Minister Darko Matijasevic are unwilling to employ more Bosniaks and Croats. Glusac told journalists in Banja Luka that Matijasevic is not “running away” from that commitments and that he was not able to attend Wednesday’s meeting with FBiH Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic because of commitments at the session of the RS National Assembly. “The position of the RS MoI towards the commitment of employing Bosniak and Croat police is not covered by a veil of secrets and this commitment is moving ahead as planned”, Glusac said and added that members of other (non-Serb) nationalities are already holding responsible position in the RS MoI. |
| Matijasevic not appeared at scheduled meeting with Osmanovic, Tomljenovic
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Osmanovic: One cannot expect anything else from Mladic’s soldiers’ by E. Sarac – DA reads that despite confirmation sent week ago that he would attend the meeting with RS Vice Presidents Adil Osmanovic and Ivan Tomljenovic and FBiH Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic, RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic has not appeared. “This ruined the effort to find appropriate solutions” for issue of lack of Bosniak and Croat employees in RS MoI, especially in the high-ranking positions. RS MoI spokesperson, Zoran Glusac, stated that Matijasevic was prevented due to RSNA session, while Osmanovic claims that “obviously Minister Matijasevic doesn’t show good will to cooperate.” Osmanovic added while he believed that Matijasevic would appear, “one cannot expect anything else from Mladic’s soldier but to run from its obligations.” Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘RS Police Minister did not show up’ by D.R also covered the issue. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘As census says’ by G. Dakic – Halilovic said after the meeting that the ethnic balance of police forces in RS and F BiH is a constitutional obligation, which should reflect the ethnic representation based on 1991 census. He announced: “I would discuss with Minister Matijasevic the possible exchange of highly-ranked personnel between RS MoI and F BiH MoI, in order to satisfy the ethnic balance.” Adil Osmanovic stated: “We have demanded that RS Interior Minister is a Serb, Police director should be Croat or Bosniak. We should have discussed this issue with Minister Matijasevic.” |
| Hercegovacka Bank case
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Problems with witnesses’ by A.N., Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Not a single of summoned witnesses came to BiH Court’ by A.D. , Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Non-coming of witnesses postponed trial against Jelavic’ by E. Mackic – DL says that continuation of the trial against former HDZ President and suspect in the Hercegovacka Banka case Ante Jelavic was supposed to take place on Wednesday, however, this did not happen since 6 witnesses, who were supposed to be questioned, did not appear. Commenting on this situation, Prosecutor John McNair stated that witnesses are beneficiaries of mandatory loans. DL says that the main hearing in the HB case has been scheduled for November 8. Commenting on the aforementioned situation DL pg 2 ‘Mandatory loans’ by E. Mackic carries an editorial which says that the reason because of which 6 witnesses did not appear is unknown and that it is even more strange that McNair did not announce their coming at the last trial. The author wonders as to why such things happen and says: ‘Does the Prosecutor stall this process in order to make the indictee tired or witnesses have nothing to say?’ |
| Investigation against Mato Tadic
| BHT – BiHProsecution confirmed that it had conducted an investigation against BiH Constitutional Court Chairman Mato Tadic. He is being accused of receiving bribe in amount of 200 000 KM in order to affect decision on law on immunity of officials, which had been published by the court recently. The court was informed on the investigation on 23r September, after its session in Neum, on which law on immunity was concluded to be constitutional. Tadic said that had nothing against the investigation. He said “I have nothing to be afraid of; since no one has offered me a thing I have not been able to receive it. On the other hand I cannot affect the decision in order to make it positive, since all decisions are negative.” BHT found out that Tadic voted against the brought decision but he did not want to give any comments on it. He said “I could not comment my decision since I would break court’s voting regulations.” The debatable decision does not suit Dragan Covic, Edhem Bicakcic and other officials who called on immunity. Edhem Bicakcic, former FBiH Prime minister, said “According t the decision the law is constitutional due to which Tadic said that a part of the law was unconstitutional, since this part allows retroactive implementation of the law, which is opposite to European convention on human rights.” |
| DA: Mato Tadic to resign early next year?
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Mato Tadic to resign early next week?’, mentioned on cover ‘Mato Tadic announced he will resign’, by H. Orahovac – DA brings that Mato Tadic, the president of the BiH Constitutional Court facing accusations of corruption, will resign from the position early next week. Tadic confirmed to daily he has been thinking about this possibility for the past six months for health issues, however that decision was rushed following the series of “ungrounded attacks” against him. He refused to comment whether OHR’s moves sped up his decision to resign. DA claims that OHR Rule of Law Department sent memo to the Constitutional Court requesting “for their staff member to attend also the sessions of the Court closed for public.” However, at the latest session of the Court held in Brcko, this request by OHR was rejected. DA learns that foreign judges in the court were “more than surprised with the OHR’s request.” |
| FTV: Investigation underway into operations of some FBiH Supreme Court judges
| FTV sources close to investigative bodies say that a comprehensive investigation is underway into work of FBiH Supreme Court judges.According to those sources,there is a reasonable suspicion that these judges received bribefrom participants in the appeal procedures to some of this court’s cases. There is even information on signing court decisions without Appeal Council’s session. As FTV found out, this is part of wider investigation into work of courts in BiH, which started on suspicion that some judges of the BiH Constitutional Court received bribe and slow down discussions on certain immunity cases. |
| SD: BiH authorities issued falisfied passport to student’
| Slobdona Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 17 ‘BiH authorities issued falisfied passport to student’ by M. Ivkic – SD says that the BiH authorities issued a falsified passport to a student from Brcko Aleksandra Trivunovic and this was revealed when she tried to enter Italy. Namely, it was revealed that there is a person who also uses this passport and that person is in Germany at the moment. The competent authorities in Brcko, where Trivunovic’s passprt was issued, stated that her passport is valid, while the passport used by someone in Gremany is not. Alos, they said that they will try to resolve this situation since Italian state border officials put a ban on Trivunovic’s entrance to EU countries for the next 5 years. |
| VL : ‘Woman from Ucraina died of AIDS i Mostar’ | Vecernji List cover pg splash and pg 7 ‘Woman from Ucraina died of AIDS i Mostar’ by R. Soldo – VL syas that a girl from Ucraina (21) died of AIDS in Mostar on Monday. VL says that she was one of many victims of women trafficiking. |
| SD: SDA took over control over secret services in BiH
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘SDA took over secret services’, mentioned on front, by Z. Tulic says that although High Representative Paddy Ashdown stresses a need for depoliticization of police and its services almost on a daily basis, SDA does not share his opinion on this issue. SD goes on to say that according to checked information close to the Federation of BiH Ministry of Interior, the SDA cadre has taken over crucial positions in BiH intelligence services these days. |
Economic/Social issues | |
| BiH HoR to discuss VAT Law today
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash “Delegates to discuss VAT today’ and pg 6 ‘Parties propose three solutions for VAT rate’ by M. Cubro, A. Sekulic – At a session of BiH Parliament HoR Thursday, SDA official Seada Palavric will suggest that a single VAT rate of 17% is introduced. SDP will insist on three VAT rates: 18%, 8% and zero VAT rate, said Zlatko Lagumdzija. Party for BiH (Beris Belkic announced), HDZ (Vinko Zoric announced) and PDP (Jelina Djurkovic announced) will support the idea on two VAT rates: 17% and zero VAT rate. SNSD official Nikola Kragulj claims it would support the proposal on differential VAT rates, and would also support the amendment on zero VAT rate on printed media. SDS would announce its stance today according to Momcilo Novakovic. FTV, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Law might be withdrawn’ by N.B. also announced the session. |
| Terzic on introduction of VAT
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Terzic: By introducing VAT we will end corruption and crime’, mentioned on cover ‘We will stop crime’, by F. Cardzic – BiH House of Representatives meets today to discuss the proposal of the Law on VAT proposed by the CoM which stipulates single VAT rate. At the same time, HoR will be given an amendment prepared by the BiH HoR’s Commission for finances and budget suggesting introduction of a differentiated rate. CoM Chair Adnan Terzic comments: “I will recommend to the Parliament to support the CoM’s proposal because that is the only way to introduce VAT in this country. The key reason for VAT is to stop the crime and corruption, to create taxation system equal to those in European countries… We are in favor of differentiated rate, but some time in the future… I guarantee to all those fearing that VAT could lead to social problems in BiH that this would not happen.” Inset ‘Key element for integrations’ carries statement by the OHR Spokesperson |
| BiH Press Council on VAT rate
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Multiple benefit from zero VAT rate’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Print media will be economically independent only with zero rate’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Newspapers without VAT’ by D. Pasic and Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Introduction of zero VAT is not against European practice’ by NINA– On Wednesday the BiH Press Council sent an open letter to the Commission for Finances and Budget of the HoR of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, which says that a zero VAT rate for press is the only realistic possibility in order that BiH printed media become economically independent and sustainable. |
| EC supports single VAT rate
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘VAT does not recognize rich or poor ones’ by FENA – According to assessments of the European Commission BiH could be losing approximately 200 million KM in potential revenue per year if the Law on VAT with a differentiated rate is adopted, European Commission Delegation to BiH spokesperson Frane Maroevic told FENA on Wednesday. He added that the European Commission has for a longer period of time argued in favour of and supported the introduction of a single VAT rate. Maroevic said that a single VAT rate would certainly result in more efficient collection of public revenues than the differentiated rate “because the single rate significantly reduces the possibility of manipulation”. |
| WB, EC on FIPA Law
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ’25 million dollars in question’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Reinerman’s warning’, FENA – The Head of the World Bank Office in BiH, Dirk Reinermann, on Wednesday raised concerns over the fact that the proposed amendments to the Law on the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) deviate from the previous commitment of the BiH government to establish FIPA as a non-political and operationally independent agency that works on attracting additional investments to BiH. Reinermann told FENA that the government is obligated to prevent any kind of political control over FIPA, which is clearly stated in the Development Policy letter dating from April 2002. “As such this commitment was included in the Business Environment Adjustment Credit (BAC), which is funded by the World Bank”, reiterated the Head of the WB Office in BiH. He said that due to these reasons the adopted amendments could jeopardize the working of FIPA and bring international contracts into question, and thus, the remaining US$ 25 million from the second installment of BAC. Reinermann stressed that the World Bank hopes that the BiH authorities would respect the commitments they have taken over. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Amendments jeopardizing FIPA operation’, FENA – The Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, warned the BiH authorities that the proposed amendments to the Law on the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA), if adopted, could essentially restrict the activities of this agency. “These amendments restrict the activities of FIPA in providing information and linking of potential investors with the current projects, and participating in conferences where potentials and possibilities of the country are promoted”, Humphreys said in a letter he recently addressed to the BiH Council of Ministers Chair, Adnan Terzic. |
| KLAS workers, shareholders protested against removal of Director
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Workers not giving up on Ahmovic and say war is not lost’, mentioned on cover, by M. Kukan – Several hundreds of workers of Sarajevo company ‘Klas’ spontaneously gathered to protest over the dismissal of their Director Husein Ahmovic, and decision to instead appoint Enes Gotovusa to this position. Workers claim that Ahmovic’s was illegally replaced by the Supervision Board, tracing the reason for this to influence of the Sarajevo Brewery owner Hilmo Selimovic who has majority shares in privatization fund which again have shares in Klas. BHT, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Workers and small stakeholders support removed Ahmovic’ by Hajdar Arifagic – also reports on this issue. |
| VL: OHR exerted pressure on HDZ to adopt proposal of Law on Internal Debt
| Vecernji List pg 9 ‘They were afraid of OHR sanctions’ by Z. Jurilj – VL says that Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays sent many warnings at the addresses of the whole HDZ leadership, MPs in the Federation of BiH Parliament and Croat Ministers in the FBiH Government in which he threatened with OHR sanctions in case they oppose adoption of the proposal of Law on Internal Debt of the FBiH. VL says that due to these threats a few HDZ officials decided to adopt the proposal of the Law against their will. |
| HT Zagreb on Halilovic’s statement
| Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Discrediting of HT Zagreb for benefit of Mobilkom Austria’ by J. Petrovic – BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic said that it must be prevented that foreign companies purchase the most precious resources that BiH possess. As en example, Halilovic stated a claim that HT Zagreb has come in possession of an important part of telecommunications sector in BiH without a single KM invested. Commenting on this statement, Director of HT Zagreb Marjan Jurleka stated that it is not appropriate that such high-ranked official treats foreign investments in BiH in that way. Jurleka added that the goal of discrediting HT Zagreb is an attempt to make possible for Mobilkom |
| New favourable loans with LHB banks launched | Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Interest rate below 5%’ by Lj. C. – The article reports that LHB Bank from Banja Luka yesterday launched the new programme of short-term loans for citizens with 4.7% (for bank clients) and 5.2% interest rate (for non-bank clients). |
| RSNA discusses budget execution
| RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Less domestic revenues’ by D. Zec – Submitting report on realization of the RS budget for the first six months this year, Branko Krsmanovic, RS Finance Minister, said that in the first six months, budget has been realised with 86%. Minister Krsmanovic stressed RS Government is of the view it is necessary to intensify collection of public revenues (including excise and turn-over tax). |