| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Crash victims sent off | Crash victims sent off | Crash victims sent off | Crash victims sent off |
| IC Press Conference in Mo | Black box to Germany | SFOR gave false info | NATO admiral on BiH |
| BiH Presidency in session | SFOR gave false info | Ashdown addresses UN SC | RS Trade Union’s demands |
| Ashdown addresses UN SC | RS Courts in debt | Black box to Germany | RS Political issues |
| Oslobodjenje | HR’s warning before UN Security Council: Nationalists parties return BiH to past; Donald Hays with Prime Ministers: Urgently to solve company’s debts; Trajkovski’s remains sent off to Skopje |
| Dnevni Avaz | State Department: BiH is haven for drug mafia!; Prosper in BiH Presidency: Karadzic is an obstacle for BiH’s admission to EU; Remains of Macedonian president sent off |
| Dnevni List | Mortal remains of President Trajkovski arrive to Skopje; Ashdown warns UN of risks in implementation of reforms in BiH |
| Vecernji List | Dubica: Arms cache located; BiH bids farewell to Trajkovski and associates |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Wrote goodbye letter than killed children and herself with machinegun |
| Glas Srpske | Uncertain status of Serbs from Croatia: Guilty for being alive; Secretariat for relations with The Hague: Report on Malkic |
| Nezavisne Novine | Mortal remains of Macedonian delegation seen-away: Body of Trajkovski transported to Skopje; BiH Prosecutor’s Office: SFOR controllers were not interviewed; Pierre Richar Prosper: Arrests of Karadzic and Mladic pre-requisites for admittance into NATO |
| Blic | They defend Serb names of towns; Horror in Vitez: She killed two sons and then she killed herself; Rockets in a hut; Cheaper bread in Gradiska after protest |
Macedonian plane crash | |
| Remains of Macedonian delegation transferred to Skopje
| BHTV 1, RHB, Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 4 ‘Remains of Macedonian president sent off’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘Trajkovski’s remains transferred to Skoplje’, Vecernji List front ‘BiH bids farewell to Trajkovski and associates’, pgs 2&3 ‘BiH bids farewell to Trajkovski’, Dnevni List front splash, pg 5 ‘Mortal remains of President Trajkovski arrive to Skopje’, Jutarnji List pg 12 ‘Mortal remains of Trajkovski arrived to Skopje from Mostar via Sarajevo’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘BiH bids farewell to Trajkovski’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘Funeral of Trajkovski on Friday’ – The remains of the late Macedonian President, Boris Trajkovski, members of the Macedonian delegation and the crewmembers, who died in a tragic plan crash on February 26 near Mostar, were sent off on Wednesday with the highest honors at the Sarajevo airport. BiH Presidency members Sulejman Tihic, Dragan Covic and Borislav Paravac, and other representatives of the legislative and executive authorities of BiH State and the entities, paid their respects at the airport. FTV – Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic delivered a speech about Boris Trajkovski: “The fought for the idea of the Balkans’ quiet region and its integration to Europe, and this idea will not die with him.” Funeral will take place on Friday in Macedonia, and delegations of 47 countries announced their presence. RTRS – Macedonian Government stated that they are waiting for the official report by the BiH Prosecutor, after which the Parliament Speaker, Ljubce Jordanovski, will be officially take over the position of the President. |
| EUPM admits communication problems following plane crash
| RTRS, RHB – At the press conference of the international organizations in Mostar, the spokesperson of multi-national brigade Southeast, Colonel Norbert Hoerpel, said SFOR still could not offer any details on the plane crash accident, including confirmation of whether French flight controllers on duty at the time of the accident were still in BiH or not. EUPM Spokesperson, Kristen Haupt said that EUPM did not participate in operational and security procedures and that EUPM was there only for support and supervision. She also said that information coordination was lousy and that EUPM prepares reconstruction of the accident so that the public could be thoroughly informed on what was happening. Nacional Belgrade daily pg 19 ‘SFOR took black boxes from the plane on the first day’, inset ‘EUPM culpable of misinforming’ – The Spokesperson of the Federation of BiH Ministry of Interior, Nedzad Vejzagic, claims Ulf Akersted (sp!), EUPM member, was culpable of providing misinformation on the plane crash site. “Akersted had delivered data from the field, which he received from his deputy, saying that the remains of the plane were in the area of Hrgud hill”, Vejzagic has stated. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Flight control on that tragic day did not use radar’ – Hoerpel also confirmed that flight control on 26 February did not use radars when trying to assist Macedonian plane to land. BHTV 1 – SFOR spokesman Dave Sullivan confirmed was that French flight controllers were interrogated by the BiH Prosecution investigation team. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘No investigator has interviewed SFOR controllers’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Who interviewed controllers?’ –Vaso Marinkovic from the BiH Prosecution however notes that “we in the Prosecution did not interview them and we honestly do not know who did”. FTV, Nacional Belgrade daily pg 19 ‘SFOR took black boxes from the plane on the first day’ – According to the local residents of village Rotmilja, site of the plane crash, SFOR troops located the plane site within one hour after the accident. They also claim that SFOR searched the area but send journalists and rescue teams to the other site, 15km further away. Residents also claim there are no mines in that area which would disable anybody from approaching the accident site and recovering bodies. |
| Black box to be sent to Germany | RHB, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Black boxes will be investigated in Munich’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Analysis of ‘black boxes’ in Germany’, Slobodna Dalmacija back pg ‘Black boxes to be sent for investigation to Germany’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Black box in Germany’ – The Commission established by the BiH Ministry of Communications and Transport to investigate the plane crash which killed 9-member Macedonian delegation to the Investment Conference in BiH, decided to send recovered black box to Germany for analysis. BHTV 1 – The Commission consists of BiH, Macedonian and US members, and while investigates the crash will have to consider condition of basic structure of power sections and maintenance of the plane, usage and control of the plane, work of flight control, and weather forecast analysis for the day of the accident and analysis of the rescue teams work. Commission is expected to offer results in a month time. FTV, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Results of investigation in one month’ – The commission will be led by the Chief Inspector of the BiH Civil Aviation, Salko Begic, whilst other BiH members include Zeljko Stolba, Jusuf Midzic, Augustin Franic, Cedomir Krunic, Dzelal Hasecic and Ekrem Berbic. International members of the commission are Valentin Jovanovski from Macedonia, Richard Rodrigez from the US and Ret Power from SFOR. |
| Packet submitted report to Terzic on SFOR conduct on 26 Feb | Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘SFOR submitted report on search for plane to Terzic’ – SFOR Commander Virgirl Packett on Tuesday submitted the report on SFOR actions following the plane crash on 26 February to the Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic. This was confirmed to Oslobodjenje by BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak, who added, that this report given detailed description of what was happening on the first day of search for the plane wreck and the bodies of nine passengers. Colak did not want to disclose the details o the report, but said that he got impression that SFOR troops did everything possible to find the plane: “According to the report, SFOR did everything possible to find the plane, but it would not use all the means because of bad weather.” |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown addresses UN SC and warns against slow pace of reforms
| FTV, RHB, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘Nationalists parties returning BiH to past’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Ashdown: Reforms too slow’, Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘Ashdown warned UN of risks in implementation of reforms in BiH’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown addressed the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday, following talks on Tuesday with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Ashdown briefed the Security Council on progress that has been made in the fields of defence, intelligence reform, customs, indirect tax and the City of Mostar. He also noted the effectiveness of the relatively non-political and low-key approach adopted by the reform commissions, and he highlighted that most important tasks facing the BiH authorities now was to make BiH eligible for Partnership for Peace membership and for beginning negations over a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. The High Rep warned that the current rate of reform is too slow, and also pointed out that the forthcoming election period will not be characterised by a renewed focus on reforms, “but by a return to the old practices of competitive victimisation which offer, especially the nationalist parties, the best opportunity of filling their ballot boxes.” Ashdown also drew the Security Council’s attention to the fact that the United Nations will have to consider how to address a growing number of challenges to the UN-led police certification process. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Implementation of the reforms too slow’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Dangerous campaign against independent judiciary’ – High Rep also warned that certain groups were waging a campaign against the process of establishing an independent and professional judiciary in BiH, underlining that this campaign was now the greatest threat to the process of establishing a multi-ethnic and independent judiciary in BiH. In particular, it had become increasingly hard to find qualified non-Serb judges to apply to positions in Republika Srpska since the campaign began. RTRS, BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Tempo of reforms in BiH is very slow’ – High Rep said: “The current tempo of reforms is too slow to ensure BiH admittance into PfP at June Summit of NATO or fulfilment of 16 conditions set by EU.” |
| Terzic before UN SC: We hope fulfil EC conditions by June | FTV, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘Nationalists parties returning BiH to past’. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Implementation of the reforms too slow’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Ashdown: Reforms too slow’ – BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic also addressed the UN Security Council and confirmed his Government is ready to start negotiations on Cooperation and Connection to Partnership for Peace. RHB – OHR Spokesperson in Banja Luka, Ljiljana Radetic said that address of the Adnan Terzic to UN Security Council was the first time for an official from BiH to addressing the body, and she added that this proved BiH institutions have taken the more intensive attitude. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Terzic: BiH is no longer at beginning of European way’ – DL says that Terzic conveyed to the UN Security Council a message of the BiH Government, that is completely committed to do everything so that BiH finds its place in the EU and this implies continuation of the complete process of reforms, especially the economic ones, building of democratic institutions and establishment of rule of law. Terzic reiterated that BiH is not at the beginning of the European way any longer. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘By June BiH will fulfil conditions’ – “We hope that we will implement all those priorities by June this year, during the mandate of current European Commission. In order to achieve this ambitious assignment and to show such significant progress, we already start to implement the action plan which consists of adoption of 48 new laws and establishment of 25 institutions at the state level. We are determined to start with negotiations on Stabilisation and Admission Agreement this year,” said Terzic addressing the UN Security Council. |
| BH Presidency in session; adopts draft state budget of 480 mil KM not including new institutions | RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Draft State budget established’, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘BiH Presidency defined budget proposal’, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘To regulate salaries of budget beneficiaries’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘Budget proposal for 2004 defined’ – At an emergency session on Wednesday, the BiH Presidency adopted a draft budget for the state institutions and the country’s international obligations for 2004 to the tune of approximately 480,5 million KM. The annex of the budget and a draft law on the budget implementation for BiH institutions and international obligations for 2004 were confirmed and they will be forwarded, along with the draft budget, to the state Parliamentary Assembly for adoption. In line with the relevant budget law, the Presidency concluded that it was necessary to secure funds for financing the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the BiH Court and intelligence services, and if necessary to secure funds for these institutions from the budgetary reserves. The BiH Presidency once again requested from the Council of Ministers to prepare proposals for the draft law on financing the state institutions and a draft law that would regulate wages of the budgetary users at state level, the statement by Presidency says. BHTV 1 – BHTV 1 says that Presidency did not explain how and who would finance the institutions that are yet to be established during this year. |
| Wnendt satisfied with implementation of Mostar Statute | Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘City Council takes over municipal authorities on 15 March’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Deadline for transfer of authorities 15 March’, Dnevni List pg 17 ‘Implementation of Statute for Mostar goes according to planned dynamics’, Slobodna Dalmacija back pg ‘Wnendt satisfied with implementation of Statute’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Mostar officially united from 15 March’ – The Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, stated at the press conference in Mostar on Wednesday that the implementation of the new Statute for Mostar is going according to the schedule and that the jurisdiction is to be transferred onto the City of Mostar as of March 15. “Even after 10 days, there must be further steps in its implementation. The process requires full engagement of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, heads of municipalities and all citizens of Mostar. There are already working groups that work on joining of departments for general services and finances. The working groups will manage to transfer competences onto the City of Mostar by the envisaged deadline”, said SDHR Wnendt, stressing that there will not be a domination of any one people in Mostar, as previously stated by the High Representative for BiH. |
| SDA complains Bosniaks discriminated in RS by authorities | Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Few Bosniak police officers in RS’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Authorities discriminating Bosniaks in RS’ – “Police reforms in RS is being used by authorized [bodies] of the entity to carry out massive dismissals of, already small, number of Bosniak police officers that the international community pressures RS Interior Ministry to employ at the first place. Bosniaks officers are being dismissed, allegedly, with explanation that they did not have professional relations with citizens, that they did not write reports on their work and did not cooperate with their colleagues,” was stated at the press conference of the regional SDA Podrinje-Zvornik Board held in Tuzla on Wednesday. The chair of Bosniak caucus in RS Council of Peoples, Ramiz Salkic, gave example of the Bratunac municipality, where apparently out of 79 police officer, only 4 are Bosniaks. SDA officials concluded that they will seek IC assistance in urgently drafting action plane to ensure equality in employment in all RS institutions. |
| SDS municipal boards support Main Board decision | RTRS – Chairmen of the SDS municipal boards supported the decision by the SDS Main Board to reject the Presidency’s resignations and that the priority for the party at the moment were preparations for upcoming local elections. SDS has also pointed that it was necessary for RS Government to give a priority to economic and social issues. |
War crimes | |
| Prosper meets BH Presidency
| RHB, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Prosper demands again to arrest Karadzic as soon as possible’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Karadzic is the obstacle for admission in Europe’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Arrest of Karadzic condition for European integration’ – US Ambassador for war crimes, Pierre Richard Prosper, on Wednesday met with the members of BiH Presidency, and stressed that it was crucial to bring all war crimes suspects to justice, and particularly Radovan Karadzic, which would enable BiH to finally turn to economic reforms and development. According to the statement by the Presidency, Prosper said that this year was of great importance for BiH as they are a number of decisions to be made, which would lead towards BiH’s integration into Europe. BHTV 1 – Pierre Prosper said: “Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic must go to Hague. Politicians need to solve this or you all know what will happen. ” Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 3 ‘Karadzic is an obstacle to BiH’s admission to EU’ – BH Presidency agreed that the arrest of war crimes suspects was a primary responsibility of the BH authorities, however urged International Community’s assistance in this and strengthening of IC activities in this regard. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘No admittance to NATO without arrest of Karadzic’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘America demands arrests’ – Prosper is visiting Banjaluka today, where he will meet Republika Srpska officials. |
| RS filed charges against 49 persons for war crimes against Serbs in Srebrenica region | Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Charges against Oric’, Glas Srpske cover pg story ‘Report on Malkic’, Blic pg 13 ‘Naser Oric on the list as well’ – Republika Srpska Secretariat for Relations with the Hague Tribunal yesterday handed to ICTY Office in Banjaluka criminal files against Naser Oric, Abdurahman Malkic, Zulfa Tursonovic, Hakija Meholjic, Safet Omerovic and 44 other persons. On basis of a command responsibility and as members of BiH Army units, 49 persons have been accused in this case for crimes committed against Serbs from May 1992 to end of summer 1993 in the area of Srebrenica. Namely, 303 persons were murdered and 114 persons were injured in this time period. Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Melkic: If I survived torture, I will survive these fabricated allegations’ – DA carry reaction of one of the Bosinaks from the list, Abdurahman Malkic, who dismissed all allegations, calling them nothing more but fabrications used to cover up for crimes committed against civilians in Srebrenica. |
| ICTY not aware of US and Karadzic agreement | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Washington always claimed there was no deal’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘USA determined to arrest Karadzic’ – Spokesperson for the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Florence Hartman, confirmed that US Government explained to ICTY numerous times that there was no deal made with Radovan Karadzic at any time. Hartman was commenting claims that appeared in many recently, that Richard Holbrooke made deal with Karadzic, offering him to ‘hide forever’ if he left all political functions. |
| SDU youth demand arrest of Karadzic, Mladic | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘War criminals will be captured by US generals’ – SDU youth protested in front of the OHR building on Wednesday demanding the arrest of two top ICTY indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. That was the last in a series of the protests youth representatives held in last few months, each time in front of different embassy. OHR officials met with SDU youth. |
Security and defence | |
| Chief of NATO European HQ visits BiH
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘NATO sees BiH as an important partner’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘It is important to participate peacekeeping missions’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘NATO counts on BiH, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Summit in Istanbul is no ‘D Day’ for BiH’ – The Chief of NATO Europe HQ, Admiral Ian Garnett, said on Wednesday that NATO continues its engagement in BiH and regards it as a very important partner for its future plans. After visiting the Standing Committee on Military Matters [SCMM], Admiral Garnett emphasized that BiH has realized significant progress in the domain of defence reform, “which is essential for its admission into the NATO’s Program of the Partnership for Peace”. He added: “What NATO expects from a participating state of the Partnership for Peace is being a credible and operational partner capable of participating in the peace supporting operations.” The visit to the SCCM Secretariat, according to its Secretary General Enes Becirbasic, was an opportunity for informing the senior guest about the results of defence reform in BiH. RTRS – Admiral Garnet did not He didn’t want to comment on the chances BiH has to join PfP at the NATO Summit in Istanbul in June. |
| State Department warned BiH is a haven for drug smuggling
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘BiH is haven for drug mafia!’, pg 5 ‘BiH becomes regional haven for drugs smugglers!’ – Daily carries that, according to the report prepared by the US State Department on global drugs smuggling and organized crime in 2003, BiH is becoming a haven for such activities. “Despite growing cooperation of the interethnic institutions for law enforcement, some improvements in the financial control,… several confiscated deliveries of the drugs, and deep reforms in legal system, local authorities are still political strongly divided, police forces not well coordinated, and judiciary is not able to deal with this challenged,” reads the report signed by Robert Charles, Assistant to the US State Secretary, who also concluded that BiH looses about 500 million US dollars due to black market of cigarettes, arms and oil. |
| SFOR found two caches of arms near Dubica | Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘SFOR found two secret cache of arms’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘446 tons of ammunition destroyed’, Vecernji List front pg ‘Cache of arms revealed’, pg 3 ‘10 rockets land-air also revealed’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘SFOR found two caches of arms near Dubica’ – Spokesperson of the SFOR’s Multi-National Brigade Northwest Ron Carson stated that joint actions of the Ministry of Interior and SFOR in the area of Bosanska Krupa and Bosanska Kostajnica were very successful and big amount of weapon and ammunition were collected in both these cities by the beginning of March. Carson also stressed one cache of arms was revealed in the area of Dubica on February 29, while another big, secret cache of arms was found in the factory for production of wood also in the area of Dubica on March 2. |
| Dismissal of six Croat officers form FBiH Army | Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘Croat officers dismissed from duty’, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Gojsilovic, Jurisic, Beljo, Ljubanic, Sain and Majic expelled from HVO’, Nacional Belgrade daily pg 19 ‘Six high-ranking Croat officers removed in BiH’ – Six officers of the Croat component of the Federation of BiH Army were dismissed after the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and COMSFOR, General Virgil Packett, sent a message that SFOR’s decision must be implemented and everything else would be violation of the Dayton Peace Accord. VL also says that the HR and Packett sent an ultimatum to the Croat member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, at the meeting held last week and the Croat officers were dismissed last Friday. According to the article, they have been charged with engagement at the time of the Croat self-rule and they lodged appeals on the decision on their dismissal. VL says that according to one of these Croat officers, who wanted to stay anonymous, in case that the FBiH Ministry of Defense rejects their appeals they will go to the court and they are willing to lodge appeals before the international courts as well. The author says that even in case that the court passes the decision in favor of 6 Croat officers, it is not certain that they would be reinstated since the HR and SFOR’s decisions are above the law. The author added that this case is being brought in connection with processing of former HDZ President Ante Jelavic. |
Economic and social issues | |
| Hays meets PMs urging them to resolve debts in privatisation
| RHB, BHTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Debts’ of companies being privatised to be signed off’, Nezavisne Novine pg 21 ‘Court departments for economic issues soon’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Forming of Department for Bankruptcy Procedure with courts’ – The Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, met with the with FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, FBiH Minister of Finance Dragan Vrankic, and the cantonal prime ministers, in order to address the issue of the privatization process in Federation BIH. Hays stressed that all relevant bodies, including both local and international, must work towards resolving the debts of the companies in privatization process. It was stressed that it is necessary to find the solutions for signing off the limited amount of debts in privatization. Hays reminded about the initiative for establishing ten economic chambers within the courts in Federation BiH and five in RS, whose personnel would be trained for economic matters – bankruptcy and implementation of decisions. So far, only three chambers have been opened, and the remaining 12 will be opened by the end of the month. Oslobodjenje cover, pg 5 ‘Urgently to resolve company’s debts’ – “Companies in privatisation offered for one KM, while overloaded with debts that rose to millions, cannot be soled as there are no buyers interested. Therefore, resolving the debts is a key for better privatisation”, said Hays also expressing dissatisfaction with the repeatedly postponed adoption of draft Bankruptcy Law. “Companies are getting more cheaper, while debts are increasing due to unpaid contributions and other obligations. The law on registered but unpaid contributions is being prepared, and together wit the Bankruptcy Law implementation, it would create health and remove sick parts of the companies, which only burden its regular business,” said Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. |
| RS social and economic issues | RTRS, Blic pg 12 ‘Still without signatures’ – RS Trade Union announced the singing of the general contract by the end of the next week, but the RS Government stated that contract would be signed only if it is fully in accordance with RS economy politics, budget and international obligations. Representatives of the RS Trade Union demanded from the Government to lay down rights and obligations of both employers and employees, as well as regulated distribution of the wages, through the general contract. Representatives of the RS Association of Pensioners asked the Government to respect their previous arrangement, according to which pensions will be increased by 6%. Pensioners said that if this was not implemented, they would protest. “I serve only to the citizens’ interests and [now] someone wants protests – what will be the result of that, so at this moment I am not interested in that. RS doesn’t need the protests, it needs clear orientation, strategy and policies, let them say what this Government did wrong and where it made mistakes and what hasn’t been done,” said Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister. He announced that families of the killed veterans will receive the compensations for the gravestones. He also said that with President of RS Veteran Association, Savo Cetinovic discussed housing care for this category of population. Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Protests to shake Republika Srpska’ – According to some announcements, there were will tensions in RS in March, due to a number of protests announced to take place during the course of this month. Opposition parties announced they would organise mass protests on 23 March, while some associations (like RS Association of families of fallen and imprisoned soldiers, representatives of some Syndicates) say they would support opposition protests, but would also organise their own protests. NN inset carries statement by RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, who said he was not interested “in March protests, because Republika Srpska does not need protests, but a clearly oriented political strategy”. |
| FBiH HoP adopted Law on assisting agriculture production | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘At least 3% from the budget for agriculture’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Three percent for agriculture’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Increase of stimulus for agriculture’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘3 % of BiH budget for stimulus in agriculture’ – The law adopted by the FBiH House of Peoples on Monday prescribes that at least 3% of funds from the Federation of BiH budget should be allocated every year for stimulus in primary agricultural production. |
| Editorials on Air Bosna | Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Another gem of FBiH Government’by J. Petrovic – DL carries an editorial in which the author harshly criticizes the Federation of BiH Government decision to allocate few millions KM for recovery of company ‘Air Bosna’. The author also says that the decision is especially surprising since this is an attempt to recover the company that used to be brought in question because of security conditions and flight licenses. DL says that the World Bank is one of those that opposed the recovery of this company saying that it is a very concerning move to recover the company that was always unprofitable. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Air Bosna destiny’ op-ed by Adi Hadziparapovic – On the same issue, author of the editorial in DA is of opinion that the most important fact in deciding whether or not to revive the company is its legality and economic justification. “It still has not been said publicly whether the project is legal or not. In addition, economic justification, being deeply responsible towards tax payers and personal responsibility for potential failure, are criteria which would lead the Government in making the decision, and not every single ‘worry’ by the World Bank or IMF,” concludes author. |
| OHR delegation visited Aluminij | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘OHR delegation visited Aluminij’ – OHR delegation led by Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt visited company ‘Aluminij’ yesterday. The press release issued by Aluminij’s Press Office says that the OHR delegation was received by the company’s General Manager Mijo Brajkovic and they talked about conditions for investments and business in BiH and about importance of Aluminij for the region and the state. It was stressed that stabilization of the situation in Mostar is a prerequisite for new investments in the city and the region. |