OHR BiH Media Round-up, 5/10/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Mostar shells case: Verdict passed

BiH HoP adopts PBS law

Special RS NA session

RSNA on police reform

Cavic to present new police concept

RS Centre surprised Cavic’s initiative

BiH HoP on PBS law

World news

PBS Law

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Croatia starts EU accession talks

Srebrenica TF report to be signed

Srebrenica report completed

Reactions from Zagreb on accession

IC warns RS on police reform

Croatia one step closer to the EU…

World News

RSNA, CoP on laws under VNI

…and Turkey started negotiations

RHB on BIH situation re SAA

Return fund increases

BiH: victim of EU double standards?

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Murder in Sarajevo

Another murder in Sarajevo

SIPA and SBS together vs. terrorism

EU open talks with Croatia

EU decision is not a surprise

OHR on Srebrenica Commission

Croatian PM on Ante Gotovina

Croatia started negotiations with EU

Arrests in BL

Mladic in SCG under army protection

Turkey started negotiations with EU

RTRS on Police reform deadline

Oslobodjenje

Three years have been lost, and BiH lost a chance

Dnevni Avaz

‘Who in Brussels is preparing new Karadjordjevo?

Dnevni List

Millions KM ‘seized’ from Karadzic and Mladic

Vecernji List

Features Croatia related headline

Slobodna Dalmacija

River of milk is being poured out

Nezavisne Novine

30 persons [suspected of organising the car thefts in Banja Luka ] arrested

Glas Srpske

Battle for power does not let up

EuroBlic

Stankovic promised Mladic in two months

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

RSNA extraordinary session: Cavic presents new police reform concept

BH Radio 1 by Brana Markovic – A special session of RSNA is to take place in Banja Luka today at the request by RS President Dragan Cavic. Cavic is expected to present a new police reform concept/agreement. According to the document delivered to media, the new concept is accepting the three EC principles for police restructuring in BiH. This means that all the legislative and budgetary authorities related to the police would be transferred to the state level; that there will be no political interference in police work and that functional police areas will be set on technical criteria with the operative command remaining at the local level. According to the agreement, the implementation of the reform solutions would last five years and a special directorate for the police reform implementation will be formed. If RSNA approves this concept, it will be discussed by all other relevant bodies in BiH in coming period. RTRS – also carries.

SNSD: Cavic’s proposal ‘realistic ground for discussion’

SRNA– SNSD Vice President Krstan Simic stated that the proposal on police reform by Dragan Cavic is interesting and presents a realistic basis for discussion. “Local people now have to take responsibility and they have to be the one to make decisions and offers their stances to the parliaments,” stated Simic.

RS NGOs ‘surprised’ with RSNA session

RTRS – The Coordination Centre of NGO’s is surprised over information that Dragan Cavic has asked for special session. SRNA – The Center also demands from the RSNA to bring decision on calling the referendum for RS citizens to decide on police reform.

BiH HoP adopted PBS law without Croat support

BH Radio 1 by Mustafa Karahmet – BiH HoP adopted the PBS law without support by Croat deputies. The conditions have now been created for the application of the law that has already been adopted by BiH HoR.

Jovic on EU decisions on Croatia , BiH

RHB– Chairman of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, welcomes the news that EU has given the green light to Croatia to start with accession talks, saying the news is important not only for Croatia, but for the whole region too. Jovic notes that many BiH Croats are also happy with the news. He regrets that BiH is yet to sign the SAA because of opposition coming from the RS authorities regarding the police reform.

Reactions to halt in opening SAA negotiations / police reform

Oslobodjenje: Three years have been lost, and BiH lost a chance

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Three years have been lost, and BiH lost a chance’ M. Kavaz – Sirucic – Following the EU Foreign Minister’s meeting held in Luxembourg, daily brings the comments concluding that the domestic politicians are not optimistic with regard to BiH’s opening of the talks on SAA with EU. “It is time for all sides to sit down and thoroughly analyze the situation. The IC representatives should also estimate to which extent a pressure is efficient to bring any kind of decisions. SDS is under the strongest pressure and the solution would take a burden from our back too,” says SDS Vice President Mladen Bosic. SDA Leader, Sulejman Tihic, says RS authorities are the sole culprit for the situation, blaming also opposition parties from this entity. “The beginning and end of all problems is Constitution which enables this,” concludes Tihic. Svetozar Pudaric, SDP Secretary General, holds ruling nationalists parties responsible for BiH’s situation reminding that in 2002 the country was in the same situation as Croatia and ahead of Serbia . He also deems that the epilogue to the police reform will be know only at the time of upcoming elections, when the people should decide to support either the politics of isolation or integration. Oslobodjenje also note the insufficient role played by the BiH diplomacy in lobbying for the BiH to open SAA negotiations with EU.

HDZ says PBS Law [another EU condition] will most probably be adopted

Oslobodjenje pg 4 inset ‘All conditions are equally important’ – EC spokesperson, Frane Maroevic, reminds that beside the police reform, BiH authorities has still not adopted the law on the Public Broadcasting System, adding he doesn’t know what is the reason for a halt after the decision by the BiH Constitutional Court. “HDZ is not responsible for this, because everything comes to what is being guaranteed to all other peoples and to what Croats are entitled to. This law will most probably be passed even though HDZ doesn’t agree with the decision by the Constitutional Court,” comments HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota. 

FTV: EU decision not surprise for BiH politicians, but they disagree over reasons for a delay

FTVby Blazica Kristo, Rasim Borcak – Referring to the BiH’s delays in beginning with the SAA negotiations with EU, FTV comments that the such EU decision was not a surprise for BiH politicians, but they have disagreed about the reasons that led to the failure of the police reform process. BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic blames both RS ruling parties and opposition, adding that the key issue to address is the current BiH Constitution. The Chair of the BiH House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric comments: “I expect that we will make up lost time if BiH citizens finally realize that those are not the political options that could lead us to the Euro-Atlantic Integrations.”  FTV reporter comments that the Croatian and SCG success should be interpreted as a clear signal that EU will not wait forever, although it is ready to start SAA negotiations with BiH as soon as all conditions are met. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘The expected European “no”’ by V. Popovic and M. Cubro – also carries Spiric.

BHT 1 compares situation in BiH, SCG, Croatia : It is not only a matter of ICTY suspects at large, but also reforms

BHT 1by Lejla Redzovic-Medosevic –BiH is the only country in the region without a kind of agreement with the EU. BHT reporter briefly compares the situation in BiH , Croatia and SCG : Croatia did not extradite Ante Gotovina, but was allowed to start the negotiations on admission to EU; SCG did not arrest general Ratko Mladic, but it will start the negotiations on the SAA . “International politics is not based on justice, but on interests, and that game of interests is not exactly good for BiH in this particular moment”, stated Zarko Papic from the International Bureau for Human Rights. However, BHT 1 comments that the IC’s double standards are not the only reason BiH was not allowed to start the negotiations on SAA , but the failures in police and education reform, for example. “If (Radovan) Karadzic was the only thing we did not do, BiH would be in the same train with SCG last night. We must not be deceived: Karadzic is not the reason BiH did not make it through the first round of qualifications”, SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija stated for BHT. “We were in front of some countries in the region three years ago, and now we are behind them. We believe that we can catch up with them, but not with current authorities”, said SNSD member Nebojsa Radmanovic.

NN brings reactions by Ivanic, Tesanovic, Kovacevic, Spiric, Bosic, Djokic

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘The expected European “no”’ by V. Popovic and M. Cubro – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic has stated that launching of SAA negotiations with SiCG and Croatia should be a clear sign for BiH that Europe “is not as far as it sometimes seems”. PDP’s Zoran Tesanovic says the positive fact in the entire situation is that EU Ministers had not said the door is closed for BiH. The Head of RS Government’s Bureau for Public Relations, Cvijeta Kovacevic, said RS Government will continue with activities and it will define its direction only after the official Brussels provides it with an interpretation on the European principles, as well as replies with regard to functioning of other RS institutions that depend on the work of the police (judiciary and local administration institutions. SDS ’s Mladen Bosic says RS Government is expecting a reply from the official Brussels and added: “It is impossible that the entire set of measures was unacceptable.” Petar Djokic from SPRS said “the international officials in BiH should initiate a qualitative and serious political dialogue among representatives of authorities’ institutions”.

VL brings reactions by Zubak, Covic, Novakovic, Terzic 

Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Croats in BiH afraid of Shengen’ by M. V.  – Commenting BiH’s halt in opening SAA talks, NHI President Kresimir Zubak says: ‘If BiH remains a hostage of the RS I am afraid that a large number of Croats would go to Croatia and other European countries.’ The article also quotes HDZ President Dragan Covic who says that the beginning of the negotiations between the EU and Croatia is important since Croatia as a co-signatory of the DPA would have much bigger possibilities when resolving of the constitutional and legal position of the Croat people in BiH is in question. Vecernji List pg 7 ‘New cause of Croat(ian) division’ by R. Dodig carries SDS representative in the EU Parliament Momcilo Novakovic who says: ‘I believe that there would be serious problems for BiH’s approaching the EU because of pre-requisites that were set to BiH.’  Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20 ‘BiH is hostage of RS’ by B. Kristo carries Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic who says: ‘I am calling on the RS Government and all political factors in the RS to de-block the process of the European integration and that we start the negotiations by the New Year.’

RTRS: Everyone firmly believes in solution on police, but until now nobody came out with one 

RTRS by Biljana Knezevic – Reporter reminds of yet another deadline for police reform proposal set by the IC runs out this week in the eve of the Peace Implementation Council meeting scheduled for Thursday. RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic believes that their last proposal will be seriously discussed after all. Reporter added that SDS officials are to hold a session on Tuesday night in order to try again to find the solution for the police reform. SDS member Borislav Bojic says he has faith in the abilities of the RS Government to come out with a solution adding even the previous proposals were reasonable. Reporter ironically noted that although everyone firmly believes in solutions, they still haven’t come out with one. Furthermore, reporter ironically concludes that the only thing BiH have right now is a notion that EU is not that far away after all.

Hayat: BiH dream destroyed by RS, only strong IC pressure would help

Hayat by Asim Beslija – Reporter comments BiH has failed to open talks on stabilisation and association with EU, thanks to RS resistance to comply with EU standards. BiH dream is destroyed by RS politicians who think that dividing BiH can lead us to united Europe , reporter commented stressing that EU will not change its rules for couple of obstructionists. EC Spokesperson, Frane Maroevic reminds that BiH cannot start Stabilisation and Association Agreement talks till all the conditions set by the Feasibility Study are not fulfilled, underlining police reform and PBS law. Reporter comments only strong international pressure would help, concluding BiH authorities claim there is still hope because EU is focused at the region.

RTRS interview with UK Ambassador Rycroft who urges RS authorities to adopt police proposal by PIC session 

RTRS – In the interview for RTRS late news edition, UK Ambassador to the BiH Mathew Rycroft stated another RS Government’s proposal on police reform has been rejected because it didn’t meet 3 EC principles. He noted that all 3 principles are very important but if he had to pick up one than it would be the principle that all competence of legislative and budgetary issue is at the state level. Rycroft reminded that EU Foreign Ministers decided that BiH will not start the SAA talks by 10th anniversary of DPA because conditions were not fulfilled completely. “I call on the RS leaders to improve that proposal, to come up with a proposal that will meet three EC principles before the Peace Implementation Council meeting on Thursday” said Rycroft. On being asked if IC will take part in the negotiations on the proposal, Rycroft said that they are always ready for the negotiation but only when there is something to negotiate about. “Until we have the RS proposal that meets three EC principles, there is nothing to negotiate about” added Rycroft. On being asked whether IC will impose some sanctions on RS , UK Ambassador replied that the worst measure has been already taken since BIH lost out when EU had been making its enlargement decisions. He added that the standard of living would rise only through integration with EU. Rycroft didn’t want to speculate on possible actions to be taken by the HR Paddy Ashdown adding that “he (HR) doesn’t want to use his powers to impose police reform and if he were to do so that would disqualify BIH from moving towards EU”. Reporter on this stated that HR has rights to impose the police reform on what Rycroft added that “he (HR) has the rights to use the powers available to him but to achieve the police reform that unblocks the road to EU it has to be decision by the leaders of BIH”.

Interview with US Ambassador to BiH: RS can avoid isolation

Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘RS Government can avoid isolation if it accepts the police reform’ by N. Hasic – In an interview to NN, US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney invited RS Government to accept the European principles on police reform and remove the obstacle preventing BiH from making a progress towards EU for the difference of its neighbors. Asked to say what would happen in case RS authorities fail to accept the principles before PIC session, the Ambassador replied that the biggest loss is the fact there would be no further consideration of launching SAA talks with BiH. The Ambassador emphasized: ‘We are not abolishing RS, nobody does. We are asking from RS to negotiate’. Asked whether the 10th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement would be used in USA to introduce drastic changes to BiH Constitution in order to reduce the authorities of entities, McElhaney said: ‘We are considering the same question in America – what this country represents in our relations ten years since the Dayton Agreement [was signed]’ listing the achieved progress in BiH and saying it seems that parties in BiH have the needed strength to properly direct BiH Constitution. He noted that the indirect taxation reform, defense reform and police reform will demand for certain changes to be introduced to the Dayton Agreement, i.e. BiH Constitution. Inset ‘Karadzic and Mladic’ – reiterated the stance of US Government on the importance of arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.

Chappell: BiH is taken hostage by RS Govt, criminals

RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 5 inset: ‘BiH is taken hostage by RS Government, criminals’ – The spokesperson of the NATO Headquarters in BiH Derek Chappell told a press conference on Tuesday that the NATO HQ is aware that BiH is held hostage by the issue of ICTY still at large. Chappell commented: “As long as these people are at large, NATO will provide every kind of support to apprehend them, not because this is our mission, but because BiH deserves this.” OHR spokesperson, Oleg Milisic, commented that everything is now up to the RS Government which should find the solution for the police reform as soon as possible.

DA: Not all the parties support RS Government’s conclusions

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Talk on referendum only extends BiH’s agony’ – DA brings reactions to the RS Government’s session on the police reform, especially focusing at the stance that the citizens of RS should decide on police reform through referendum. RS Vice President, Adil Osmanovic, comments that RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic should resign as he “doesn’t nothing but extending the agony in entire BiH.” Slobodan Popovic, a SPD delegate in the RS National Assembly, agrees adding that the Government should be punished. RSNA delegate from NHI , Tomislav Tomljenovic, says that the Government’s demand for Brussels to offer additional explanations to the three EC principles only demonstrate irresponsibility of the authorities, and adds that a proposal for referendum is also just a tool for transferring the responsibility to the citizens. SBiH delegates in RSNA, Muharem Murselovic, agrees with later. RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Referendum not necessary’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘SNSD calls on authorities to find solution for police’ by V.P.  – SNSD Executive Board stated that RS should finalize the agreement on 3 EC principles in the next two days. Party also believes that the referendum as proposed by the RS Government is not necessary.

Avaz on BiH not starting SAA talks: ‘Who in Brussels wants new Karadjordjevo?’

Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash ‘Who in Brussels prepares new Karadjordjevo?’ and pg 3 ‘Who in Brussels wants new Karadjordjevo?’, by Sead Numanovic – Commenting on the news that BiH did not get the green light from the EU to start with the SAA talks, whilst in the same time Croatia and SCG saw through their respective plans, Numanovic raises a series of questions why this happened. He wonders whether the failure was caused by BiH’s complicated constitutional structure, in which even “going to toilet can be declared vital national interest”, or whether it is conspiracies which revives the agreement from Karadjordjevo (at which Milosevic and Tudjman were allegedly discussing division of BiH back in 1991). Also, Numanovic wonders whether the police and public broadcasting is better in SCG than in BiH, claiming that they are not. Numanovic notices that it could happen in the future that (BiH) Croats and Serbs travel freely by using passports of BiH’s neighbors, whilst the Bosniaks would be isolated. Finally, with regards to the Karadjordjevo issue, the author says one should not question good intentions of the EU towards BiH, claiming that it is certain that there are people in Brussels who are lobbying for (new) Karadjordjevo.

NN: RSNA extraordinary session on police reform today?

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Delegates on implementation of the budget and police’ by V. P. – the article announces RS NA session and reads, according to some unofficial information, it is possible that a special session would be convened after the regular session today. The special session should be dedicated to the police reform in BiH.

VL on possible, future IC politics in BiH

Vecernji List pgs 20-21 ‘BiH to join EU as Cyprus ’ by D. Jazvic carries that 2 possible scenarios of the international politics towards BiH have been mentioned lately. According to the first one, the EU would treat BiH as Cyprus , and this means that negotiations would start with the Federation of BiH, while the RS would remain isolated as the northern part of Cyprus . VL says that this proposal did not receive a support of the FBiH officials since they believe that it would reinforce the division of BiH. According to the article, another scenario is related to stronger engagement of the USA in BiH. VL reminds that the Sarajevo based media published that the US administration might use the 10th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accord in order to promote a new Constitution and a new Election Law, in which there would be no place for the RS in the current form.   

Oslobodjenje op-ed says Croatia should be example of how opposition and position worked together towards EU

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Croat lesson’ – Commenting to the Croatian success in opening talks on stabilization and association with the EU, the author notes that BIH has no strong political ally which would support its progress towards the EU alike Austria did with Croatia. “At the same time, it is a key… issue whether there is a political unity in this country regarding the Euro[Atlantic] ambitions,” says the author also referring to the role of opposition which, in the case of Croatia, worked in the interest of the country joining the efforts of the ruling parties to ensure talks with EU are opened.

NN op-ed criticising RS institutions’ failure to adopt police reform

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘RS stopped BiH’ by Mirza Cubro – The author notes RS authorities have, once again, put their personal interest and protection of crime first and they refused to draft an agreement on police reform that would meet EU criteria. He concludes by saying PIC will hold what is perhaps the most important session at the end of this week. No option can be excluded, according to some announcements.

DL op-ed blaming BiH politicians for postponement of SAA negotiations btwn BiH and EU

Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Travel Europe’ by M. Karacic carries an editorial which says that while our neighbours were celebrating the progress they achieved on the way to Europe, BiH politicians were surprised by the decision to postpone the beginning of the SAA negotiations between BiH and EU. The author wonders as to what the BiH politicians were expecting after the police reform failure and concludes that it seems that they have not realized yet that we have to adjust to Europe and not the other way round.

War crimes

Srebrenica Task Force sign on final report: 17,074 direct participants identified 

BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘More than 19,000 people involved in the crime’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Executors and masterminds of crimes disclosed’ by D.Risojevic, EuroBlic RSpg 2, announced on cover ’17,074 direct participants identified’ by Mirna Soja – Working Group of the Srebrenica Commission completed and signed the report on events in Srebrenica in July 1995, establishing 25,083 persons, of whom 17,074 were identified, participated in Srebrenica massacre. List will be handed to RS Government, which is obligated to forward it to BiH Prosecutor’s Office. TF members did not want to disclose the names of persons on the list, who still may be employed at state services. There were no organised military forces from Serbia present in Srebrenica other than notorious Scorpions, stated Head of the Working Group Jovan Spajic, adding thatthey did not include in the report the level and the way of the involvement. The member of the Srebrenica Commission Smail Cekic stated that they have offered new crucial evidence on the war crimes in Srebrenica, namely, an order from 14th July 1995 which speaks of death of 1000 to 1500 Bosniaks before a firing squad.

OHR satisfied with Srebrenica report, says no names will be made public

PINK, BHT1, FTV, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘RS Government finally serious?’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Ashdown: RS Government, Task Force finally fulfilled all the requirements’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Ashdown is satisfied’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘OHR satisfied with Report’, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘OHR: RS Government finally cooperates in investigation on Srebrenica’, by H – The spokesperson of the OHR, Oleg Milisic told a press conference that the RS Government has finally taken seriously its obligation to make available the information in their possession about the crimes committed in Srebrenica in July 1995. Milisic added that no names from the report will be made public to ensure that subsequent investigations, prosecutions, and eventual convictions, are not undermined. OHR expects from the ICTY and the BiH Prosecutors Office will focus their investigations initially on individuals who are still holding an office in RS or BiH institutions.

BiH Prosecution welcomes final Srebrenica report

Dnevni Avaz pg 9, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 inset ‘Report is a priority of BiH Prosecutor’s Office’ – BiH Prosecution welcomes the signing of the Srebrenica Task Force’s final report, even though it has not yet been submitted to the BiH War Crimes Chamber. “When we receive the document, it will be a priority for the authorized Prosecutor to examine it in details,” says the Prosecution. 

RSNA member Ahmetovic: List does not include senior RS officials

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Ahmetovic: List does not include senior RS officials’ – Sadik Ahmetovic, a member of the RS National Assembly, claims that there is information that the list of those who took part in Srebrenica massacre in July 85 submitted by the Srebrenica Commission is not complete. He further explains that according to those information, the list doesn’t contain names of those who are currently occupying positions in the top of the police and political authorities of the RS.

Del Ponte to BBC : SCG admitted Mladic in their territory under protection of Army

PINK, RTRS, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Army is protecting Mladic in Serbia’ by BBC, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘It looks like Karadzic does not exist any more’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘A part of Army is protecting Mladic’ by BBC, EuroBlic pg 5 ‘Del Ponte: Mladic in Serbia, Karadzic as if he does not exist’, Vecernje Novosti pg 6 ‘Mladic in Serbia’ by E.R., Vecernji List pg 20 ‘Del Ponte: Belgrade confirmed that Army hides Mladic’ by zb – ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte told BBC that SCG authorities confirmed that Ratko Mladic is in SCG, under protection of one part of SCG Army. She added Belgrade told her they have problems to locate Mladic and she expressed hope he will be apprehended by December. Del Ponte admitted she had no information on Radovan Karadzic whereabouts, adding that authorities in Banja Luka are cooperating with ICTY, but she does not know how they hold no indication on Karadzic’s whereabouts. Vecernje Novosti pg 6 ‘Army is not hiding Hague indictees’ by M.B. – carries denial of the SiCG Army General Staff that Army is protecting Mladic.

Blic: Stankovic promised Mladic in two months? 

EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Stankovic promised Mladic in two months’, pg 4 ‘I will deliver Mladic in two months’ by Nenad Calukovic – Daily reports referring to its source close to Serbian Government that last week’s secret meeting between Carla del Ponte and Zoran Stankovic, candidate for SiCG Defence Minister, saw Stankovic promise Del Ponte he would deliver Ratko Mladic within two months time if he is appointed as Minister. EuroBlic pg 4 ‘Stankovic: I will not deny speculation’ by Tanjug – Stankovic said these are just speculations. 

Other political issues

RSNA, RS CoP joint commission fails to agree on disputable laws

PINK by Dragica Tojagic – On Tuesday Joint Commission of the RS National Assembly and the Council of Peoples discussed several laws in reference to which protection vital national interest was raised. The Joint Commission reached an agreement on the Law on the agency for securing persons and assets in private detective activity, as well as the Law amending the Law on University. The RS Constitutional Court will discuss the laws on which Commission has failed to agree, among them on the Law on protection of civilian victims of war, which will be returned to the RS Government. RS Council of Peoples Deputy Chair, Pero Krnjic told a press conference, that the Joint Commission has also failed to agree on amendments to the Law on Territorial Organization in RS, and the Law on Holidays RS, which will be forwarded to the RS Constitutional Court . As for the RS Law on Inspections the Commission will discuss it at the next session after some improvements. BHT1, Hayat, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Stuck on holidays’ by M.Dzepina  – also reported.

Trail against Gligoric reopened; Cengic to be tried again too?

BHT 1 by Boris Grubesic – The trial of Tihomir Gligoric, representative in BiH Parliament, was reopened before the Court of BiH on Tuesday. Gligoric is indicted for the misuse of power and was acquitted of charges during the first trial. After the appeal of the prosecution, the trial has been reopened.. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Gligoric ordered implementation of unconstitutional decision’ by E. Mackic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘New trial of Tihomir Gligoric’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Closing arguments in Gligoric case to be presented on October 12’ – also reported. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘BiH Court to discuss appeal on Hasan Cengic acquittal tomorrow’ – On Thursday, the BiH Court will review the appeal filed in the case of Hasan Cengic, who was previously acquitted of charges for the misuse of position. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘New trial against Hasan Cengic?!’ by E. Mackic – The prosecution will seek the new trial against Cengic.

BiH Election Comm. seeks end of mandate for three officials; GS on conflict btw officials in East Drvar

Hayat, BHT 1, FTV – BiH Election Commission stated that representatives to FBiH House of Representatives Salko Sokolovic and Fija Tokic and Tuzla Cantonal Assembly member Enes Duvnjakovic breached Election Law. Commission announced it will ask for termination of their mandates by authorised institutions. Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘ Battle for power does not let up’ by M.Mi. – daily features a story on fight for power at East Drvar municipality between Ognjen Marceta and Zeljko Stevandic, although BiH Election Commission declared decision on removal of Marceta illegal.

Jovic, Menix discuss Croat channel; VL: new channel to be  established

RHB, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Herzegovinians ask help from state’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Creating of media in Croatian language is necessity’ by Z. Zekic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Unsuitable media solutions for Croats’ – Chairman of the BIH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic met with director of RTV Hercegovina Vlatko Menix with whom he discussed the PBS law in BIH. They both agreed on importance of establishing the third Croat channel adding that the PBS law unfairly solved this issue. VL: Herzegovinian TV called K1 might be established Vecernji List pg 9 ‘Herzegovinian Television K1’ by Z.K. says that few Herzegovinian businismen have held several meetings during the last months in order to launch a new [private, commercial] TV outlet which would be called K1 and which would have its seat in Mostar. VL says that this TV outlet is a result of market related estimations and frustration that there is no a single high-quality Croat TV outlet in BiH.

Oslobodjenje: Who will be new HR?

Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Ashdown’s mandate might be extended’ by A.O. – Daily speculates it is still uncertain who will be the next and presumably the last High Representative, underlying that it seems that a decision on appointing new HR will not be brought even at the Peace Implementation Council session to be held at the end of this week. OHR has refused to comment whether PIC will talk about this, however daily brings that the sources close to PIC says that members of PIC should discuss this issue but that a final decision will most probably not be made. The official list for this positions doesn’t exist, notes Oslobodjenje, stating that many view Dutch politician Michiel Patjin as the most serious candidate. In addition, Italy also proposed its candidate Laura Mirachian, Czech Republic is lobbying for Aleksandar Vondra and France is also expected to come up with its own candidate. Germany Embassy in Sarajevo confirmed to daily there are also interested in the position, but that “so far there is no official candidate for the position.” Daily’s sources say that a possibility of extending the mandate of Paddy Ashdown is also not excluded.  

Avaz interview: Covic on third entity, denies meeting with Cavic

Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘I fear complete blockade of state institutions of authority’, by Faruk Vele – In an interview for Avaz, the President of HDZ, Dragan Covic, explains the background of his statement about the establishment of the third entity in BiH. He says that one must not make peace with the fact that the RS would remain, which is openly or tacitly supported by majority of IC representatives. “If that’s the reality, than the international institutions must say it publicly, and in light of that we must look for a new, more rational constitution of BiH. In that case, it is completely logical that we talk about the third federal unit”, says Covic and confirms the journalist’s remark that the HDZ would ask for the third entity if the RS stays in place. Inset entitled ‘I have not seen or heard from Cavic for two months’ carries Covic as saying that he has not seen or heard from the SDS President Dragan Cavic for two months, reminding that he was supposed to meet with him in late August in Mostar together with Sulejman Tihic.

Nicholas Burns to visit Sarajevo on 12 October

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Talks on change of Dayton ’ by S.N. – Nicholas Burns, the first man of the US Administration in charge of Southeast Europe, is expected to come to Sarajevo on 12 October. As daily learns, Burns is expected to meet with members of the BiH Presidency, Adnan Terzic and IC officials. According to daily, it is expected that main focus of Burns attention will be paid to change of Dayton Agreement.

SD comment on const. changes

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 18, mentioned on front ‘Americans do not want to abolish RS’, by Marijan Sivric – Announces that the HDZ Main Board will meet on October 7 in order to discuss the necessity of constitutional changes in BiH and the author says the key issue among the Croat parties is to reach a consensus among them through public debates. Sivric also notes that rregardless of all proposals, it is certain that the survival of the RS is not put into question at this moment. To back the claim up, SD reminds that during a meeting between the BiH Ambassador to the US , Bisera Turkovic, and US State Department’s Daniel Fried, held in Washington on September 9, Fried informed Turkovic that the State Department requested, among other issues, opening of constitutional reforms in BiH, which would not endanger the existence of the RS.

Bush received Turkovic’s credentials

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Bush: Truly, I see BiH as important ally and friend’ by A.M. – Reporting that BiH Ambassador to BiH handed credentials to US President George Bush, daily notes that a response arrived from Bush’ Office, which, inter alia, expressed expectation of the USA that BiH would reform its defence and police institutions and ensure that Karadzic and Mladic are faced with the Hague Tribunal.  

VAT dilemma

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘A single VAT depends on social programs’ – SDA announced a possibility of changed its stance on the Law on VAT if the entities governments fail to prepare the social care programmes by the end of the year. The SDA leader, Sulejman Tihic, stated following the session of the party’s Main Board, that the law is still being criticised even by those who supported it in the parliamentary process, and that the SDA may be forced to re-examine its stance. Meanwhile, SDP has gathered signatures of 80.000 people for the initiative to introduced changes to the VAT Law. 

Crime, security and human rights

Security structures meeting

RHB, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Opposition to crime, terrorism’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Police in BiH can be more efficient’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Joint actions against criminals agreed’ by M.C.  – The meeting between SIPA high officials, directors of SBS, Entities Police, Brcko District Police, representatives of OSA and Crime Police was held in the SIPA HQs on Thursday. The main topic was the fight against terrorism, organised crime and arrests of war crime indictees.

DL on SIPA’s struggle against money laundering

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Millions KM ‘seized’ from Karadzic and Mladic’ by M. Zorlak carries Admir Katica from SIPA as saying that the Financial-Intelligence Department of this agency has processed information about 44 300 financial transaction from the domain of money laundering in the last 9 months. DL also says that according to the sources close to SIPA, big funds are being directed to ICTY fugitives through money laundering.

EUPM welcomes Tuzla MoI action

Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Reasonable doubt re involvement in crime’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Policemen were smuggling citizens to France’ by Zeda – The EUPM welcomes the steps taken by the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Interior for suspending two police officers and a member special police unit. The three are suspended based on the ongoing investigation of the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Interior into the operations of organized crime in the illegal smuggling of BiH citizens into France.

Regional info campaign on human trafficking launched in BiH

FTV, BHT 1 Report by Gvozden Sarac – At the initiative of Italian Ministry of Interior, and in cooperation with the State Coordinator for Combating Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, International Organization for Migration ( IOM ) has started the regional information campaign for preventing human trafficking in BiH.  .“Human trafficking is one the most serious forms of organized crime, and BiH was unprepared for dealing with this problem”, said State Coordinator for Combating Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration Samir Rizvo. Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘More than 900 thousands people in the worlds human trafficking victims’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10- Italian Ambassador to BiH Alessandro Fallavollita, said Italy has extensive experience in fight against trafficking which will share with BiH.

Conference on human rights held; OSCE warns legislation in this field must be changed

BHT 1 by Mirela Cosic – International conference on human rights, called “What BiH must do in the field of human rights in order to satisfy the EU criteria” started in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The main problem in BiH is the fact that the laws, which should guarantee the basic human rights for all BiH citizens, are not always implemented. The solution is to “adopt the single law which will enable people in all parts of BiH to have the same access to human rights”, stated BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo. Hayat – BiH in a process of accession to EU has to change the legislative in the field of human rights, stated the chief of the OSCE Mission in BiH, Douglas Davidson pointing on division of the system of social and health care and pension insurance by entities, alleging that this division is greater in FBiH.  FTV, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH must have state law’– also carries.