| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BiH could join PfP in June | BiH in PfP next year | NATO praises BiH efforts | TV subscription |
| Covic in Vatican | Regional ec. co-operation | War crimes investigations | Regional ec. cooperation |
| Mesic arrives in Sarajevo | Mesic arrives in Sa | Regional economic forum |
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| Protests in Srebrenica | Mesic arrives in Sarajevo |
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| Oslobodjenje | Gas more expensive due to oil lobbies, mafia |
| Dnevni Avaz | NATO invited BiH to join PfP |
| Dnevni List | “Talks on Mostar organization held in Vatican”; “SDA and HDZ started conflicts at all front-lines” |
| Vecernji List | “Pope” To resolve problems by common sense”; “Mostar judges remained without salaries” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | “Poisons float down Neretva river”; “Students are being threatened because of petition” |
| Glas Srpske | As of last night in Bosansko Grahovo: No tricolour nor sahovnica; Brcko: Crosses excavated |
| Nezavisne Novine | Telekom Srpske: Jungic removed Heads of Departments at Telekom Srpske; Petar Kunic: Mladen Ivanic keeps promising, instead of resolving problems |
| Blic | Prosper said to the RS authority: Karadzic before the Court, Srpska to Europe; Dragan Kalinic: With help of OHR to truth on missing persons; Monument of Draza Mihajlovic pulled down in Brcko |
| Slobodna Bosna | Senad Avdic: Which and whose state I was destroying, Lord Ashdown? British spy network in BiH! Paddy Ashdown, Alyster Sommerlad, Julian Braithwaite, Moris Power |
| Dani | Terror in schools; Scandalous: President of the state demands from FBiH Prime Minister continuation of robbing citizens’ |
| Ljiljan | Orucevic: We are losing Bosnian for which we fought for?!; Despite Hague’s denials, Alibabic did work for the Tribunal; Aluminij – Electricity shock on tender |
BiH-NATO relations | |
| NATO on BiH chances to joint PfP
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘NATO invited BiH to join PfP’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘BiH and Serbia and Montenegro proceed towards PfP’, Oslobodjenje pg. 10 ‘Reduction of SFOR, request for hand-over of war criminals’, Dnevni List page 3, “BiH in Partnership for Peace by June 2004”, FENA – NATO foreign ministers concluded on Thursday that BiH and Serbia-Montenegro (SCG) have realised visible progress on their road to accessing the Partnership for Peace, but stressed that the admission into NATO’s Programme will require fulfilling of the remaining conditions such as full co-operation with the Hague Tribunal and bringing of indicted war criminals to justice. The foreign ministers expressed hope that BiH and SCG would fulfill these conditions before the June summit of NATO in Istanbul, and thus join the Partnership for Peace. NATO welcomes the essential progress in reforming the armies of the two Balkan states, stated the announcement of NATO diplomatic chiefs. It added that NATO would provide all necessary support for BiH and SCG to fulfil the remaining conditions for accessing the Partnership for Peace. |
| High Representative welcomes NATO Ministers’ positive response to BiH | FTV, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘OHR: Historic step for BiH’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on Thursday welcomed the announcement by NATO’s defence ministers that Bosnia and Herzegovina had made significant progress on defence reform, and will therefore be considered for membership in NATO’s Partnership for Peace at the organisation’s Istanbul Summit scheduled for the end of June next year, said an OHR press release. BiH will first have to satisfy NATO that it has complied with all membership conditions. This includes full cooperation with the ICTY, and in particular the detention and transfer of persons indicted for war crimes to the Tribunal. “The decision taken by NATO ministers marks an historic milestone for BiH on our path towards Euro Atlantic structures and represents, I believe, an important recognition of the progress BiH has made over the last year,” the High Representative said. |
| Ivanic on meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg. 2, Vecernji List page 2, “BiH ready to enter Partnership for Peace”, FENA – BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic described on Thursday ongoing meeting of NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers as extremely important for BiH because for the first time the country representative has been invited to participate as a guest. Ivanic told FENA before leaving for Brussels that this was in a way a recognition of what BiH has done and represents more than a clear signal of further movement of BiH even closer to Euro-Atlantic structures, especially NATO. However, he warned that now when defence reform is being brought to an end we need to intensify activities on moving closer to the Partnership for Peace program. |
| SCMM General Secretary says BiH to appoint new defence minister by end of 2003 | RTRS, SRNA – The General Secretary of the BiH Standing Committee for Military Matters (SCMM), Enes Becirbasic, told SRNA today that the first defence minister at the state level should be appointed before the end of this year. “With the adoption of the report by the BiH defence reform commission, we have reached a very high level of consensus and quality in the adopted solutions with regard to the demands BiH was faced with during this phase of meeting the conditions for its accession into the Partnership for Peace(PfP) programme,” Becirbasic said. He said he was pleased with the adoption of the Defence Law in BiH and that the country now needs to implement this strategic project, which will certainly be a “harder part of the job”. |
| Dani, Ljiljan on BH Defence Law | Dani pg 16 ‘The Bosnian Barometer’ column – Magazine writes that even though it seemed the ‘partisan interests of the ruling nationalists coalition would spoil it all’ BiH Parliament adopted BiH Defence Law, marking this move with ‘three stars’ [excellent move]. ‘What is historical in this decision is brining back one of the symbols of sovereignty, which by definition every country has, under the BiH jurisdiction. As abstract as it may seem, BiH Defence will be decided on that state level, and the country wil, as impossible as it may look, will have a single military structure.’ Dani mark that it still seems improbable that such structure would protect BiH from aggression hypothetically carried out by any of its neighbors, however adds that this enables admission to the Partnership for Peace, which would be a guarantee that such aggression could not happen. ‘Anyways, this country created the structure, which in some future times, will be far more from political declaration issued under the pressure from IC or in a trial to satisfy European institutions.’ – concludes magazine. Ljiljan magazine [pgs 28&29 ‘Bosnian army in accordance with Bosnian Law’] also praised adoption of BH Defence Law and also discussed the issue of aggression, concluding that BH must not reduce the number of troops and weapons until the same was done by its neighbors. |
Economic/social issues | |
| HR calls of adoption of PRSP by the authorized state bodies
| Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘OHR praises but also requesting’, Dnevni list p 11, FENA – OHR welcomed the decision of the BiH Coordination Board for Economic Development and European Integration, which defined Tuesday the final version of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Program (PRSP) and urged the BiH Council of Ministers and entity government to officially pass this document so that its implementation can start. OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic told a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday that BiH authorities developed and adopted this document without the participation of the international community in BiH. This is a product of work by BiH authorities and it has the support of all three BiH Prime Ministers and thee Finance Ministers, Milisic said. He said that this plan is extremely important because half of the BiH population lives on the poverty line and are impatient to see promises of better life come true. |
| EC says reform of indirect taxation requires urgent action | FTV, FENA – The Delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina calls on the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina to act rapidly in implementing the Indirect Taxation reforms, otherwise they risk losing significant EU assistance and will not be able to move forward in the integration process. Nezavisne Novine pg. 2 ‘BiH cannot get in Europe without indirect taxation’ carried EC Spokesman Frane Maroevic statement on the issue. Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Distribution of sets between SDA and HDZ blocked appointment of the Director, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Ministers Doko and Maric claim know nothing about the appointment of the Director’ also covered the issue. |
| ‘Statement of Day’: Joly Dixon | Dnevni List (page 2) carries in ‘Statement of Day’ Chairman of the Indirect Taxation Commission Joly Dixon as saying: “The lack of collective readiness to start with reforms is concerning.” |
| Fuad Kasumovic sends open letter to Terzic asking to be appointed ITA Director
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 6, ONASA – The candidate for Director of the BiH Indirect Tax Administration, Fuad Kasumovic, believes he should be appointed to this position. In an open letter to Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, Kasumovic said that he was the most successful candidate during the first competition for election of director of the Administration and that Chairman of the Indirect Taxation Commission Jolly Dixon had initially proposed his appointment. Kasumovic said he believes that the election should be done in accordance with the first competition, regarding the second competition as illegally announced. He said that blackmails related to the assistance of CAFAO in the establishment of the Indirect Tax Administration in the amount to ten million KM are unacceptable, adding that he would provide that amount within a few months with his engagement and prevention of the customs and tax frauds. |
| VL on ITA
| Vecernji List (p 2, “Appointment caused state Government’s crisis”, by Dejan Jazvic) carries Adnan Terzic, Chairman of BiH CoM, as refuting all accusations concerning non-appointment of ITA director adding that it is Jolly Dixon and CAFAO that are to blame for the hold-up. Ivica Marinovic, Deputy Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, says the current situation shows a solution can only be reached through an agreement adding this issue should be regarded in a package with some other appointment and national distribution of posts. |
| Eronet issue | Dnevni List (p 3, “CRA biased to Eronet’s detriment”, not signed) carries a PR by Hercegovina Osiguranje which reads that 2 recent PRs issued by the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) show that CRA acts in a biased manner detrimental to Eronet, i.e. in collusion with 2 other operators, Eronet’s competition: “Closing of a company working on the basis of a legal licence is contrary to law. CRA’s justification is that they want to protect Eronet users but the CRA actually harms them as they would have to pay more when they subscribe with new operators”. Vecernji List (p 3, “CRA does not recognise Eronet’s licence”, by Zoran Kresic) carries CRA spokesperson Amela Odobasic as saying that the statement that Eronet is illegal operator and that it does not have a valid licence derives from too long a period of licence issuing and different conditions in which other 2 operators currently operate. VL adds that it is not known whom the Action Plan, that CRA refers to, can bind as Communication Minister and CRA are placed above the Council of Ministers in the Plan. The author also says that such behavior ignores the key legal document, “Policy of Telekom Sector”, which says that issued licenses are valid until CRA adopts a decision on new licences. VL adds Eronet did not want to comment on the latest CRA warning and adds that BiH Communication Ministry assesses the value of compensation that Eronet has to pay to some 60 million KMs. Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘The price of the third GSM licence will be known on Thursday’ – The newspaper quotes Haris Basic, the Deputy BiH Transport and Communications Minister, as saying that the Ministry will at its next session on Thursday propose price for the third GSM licence. |
| Regional economic forum in Cavtat
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Economy and reforms in region have no alternative’, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘West Balkans on the road to EU’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Terzic: This gathering has a chance to become regional Davos’, Slobodna Dalmacija page 2, “Economic conditions for EU must be crucial”, by A. Kalajdzic, Dnevni List page 6, “All states in region should work on partner’s and not competitive grounds”, by M.S., FENA – Senior officials from the region agreed at the 1st Regional Economic Forum in Cavtat that regional cooperation is a priority for countries in SE Europe if they wish to become partners of the EU. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, his colleagues from Serbia-Montenegro and Macedoania Svetozar Marovic and Boris Trajkovski and BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic held opening speeches at the Forum. Mesic thinks that countries need to cooperate on a bilateral and multilateral basis, but with full respect for sovereignty of every individual state. “Cooperation mechanisms should not have authorities higher than the nations, but should serve as coordinative bodies in implementing common projects”, Mesic said. He rejected any possibility of a customs union because of the different level of economic development of certain countries. He repeated the idea of using the Scandinavian model in the Balkans as a tested way for overcoming difference and ensuring successful coexistence of neighbouring countries. Marovic thinks that countries in the region should deal less with the past, but rather with a policy of extended hand and build a better future for all citizens. Trajkovski also agreed with this position and stressed that the period of conflicts has ended and that we are now entering a period of cooperation. BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic stressed the need for a coordinated action by countries in the region in order to change the image of SE Europe. Political leaders agreed that processes of stabilisation in SE Europe and expansion of the EU are two parallel processes. |
| BiH Trade Union leader says 80 percent of companies were illegally privatised | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘We do not need experts, they have created problems’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 11, FENA – The BiH Trade Union Association’s Commission, which was formed for the purpose of determining facts on possible corruption in privatisation, has so far received from union activists 75 cases that indicate violating of laws and numerous irregularities in privatization process. According to the President of the BiH Trade Union Association, Edhem Biber, the Commission might receive approx. 200 such cases. All received documentation and cases, after being processed by the Association, as he said, will be forwarded to OHR, FBiH Ministry of Interior, FBiH Government and the media, and ten cases have been processed so far. “The Trade Union Association can not request auditing of privatised companies considering that it still does not have a legal basis to do this, but can raise awareness of the relevant bodies to do so. This commission was formed at request of our membership and it is our opinion that 80 percent of the companies had been privatised illegally”, said Biber. Slobodna Dalmacija page 16, “Workers are most endangered”, by D. Pasic, Dnevni List page 4, “Most of malversations took place on area of former Herceg Bosnia”, by R. Radic also covered this press conference. |
| Removals at RS Telekom | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Jungic removed Heads of Departments at Telekom Srpske’ – Zeljko Jungic, General Manager of Telekom Srpske, yesterday removed from positions the following Heads of Departments at Telekom Srpske: Todor Pavlovic (Director of Investment Directorate), Bratislav Aleksic (Director for Telecommunication Systems), Ilija Trubarac (Director of Strategic Planning Directorate), Stevo Kovacevic (MOBI’s Deputy Director) Nenad Babic (Project Implementation Director), and Miodrag Vicanovic (Jungic Assistant for legal affairs). Todor Pavlovic yesterday commented that: “Today’s dismissals of top officials from technical departments of Telekom are aimed at befogging the truth and transferring responsibility for everything cited in special audit report on firm management onto those least responsible following that chain of command and responsibility.” Pavlovic and Aleksic claim that their removals are aimed at hiding real crime at Telekom Srpske. Jungic called a meeting with these former Telekom officials, at which he did not show up and his Telecommunication assistant, Sveto Stojancic, handed them letters of dismissal. All of these officials deny any involvement in any wrongdoing presented in special audit report of Telekom Srpske. |
| Oil distributors dissatisfied with FBiH Government oil policy | Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘More expensive gas due to oil lobbies, mafia’ – The oil importers and distributors on Thursday threatened they would not be buying oil and oil derivatives in the FBiH Oil Terminals if the more favourable conditions and lower prices are not offered to them. They are embittered by the FBiH Government’s decision to form Oil Terminals economic entity and they claim such a decision was being influenced by oil lobbies and mafia. |
| Management Board of BiH Radio-Television may resign over subscription fee | Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Plamenko Custovic announces: We will resign if government does not resolve issue of subscription fee collection’ – Plamenko Custovic, chairman of the Management Board of BiH Radio-Television System, has pointed out on Thursday that the Management Board would be forced to resign if the entities’ governments did not resolve the issue of a radio-television licence/subscription fee for the three public broadcasters soon. Following a session of the Management Board, which was held in Banja Luka, and which the director generals and financial directors of the three public broadcasters also attended, Custovic voiced the expectation that the state and entities’ bodies would accept the Management Board’s proposal concerning the new model of collecting the radio-television licence fee, which should be added to telephone bills starting 1 January next year. He emphasized that the radio-television licence fee would continue to amount to six KM and stated that the current percentage of collection of the licence fees was 30 per cent, which was unacceptable. |
| ‘Lijanovici’ move their production to Croatia | Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 15, “We shall shut down plants in BiH”, by A. Karamatic) carries that meat industry ‘Lijanovici’ from Siroki Brijeg confirmed that as of January 1, 2004, they will move their production to Croatia and they are also intensively negotiating on a similar arrangement in Serbia, whose realization will start soon. Dnevni List (page 9, “ ‘Lijanovici’ are shutting down production in BiH’, by Fena) also covered this information. |
| Magazines on Aluminij – Elektroprivreda BiH dispute | Dani pgs 18&19 ‘Instructions for continuation of robbery’ by Senad Pecanin – Dani published the letter sent by Chairman of BH Presidency Dragan Covic to FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic which requires from FBiH PM to instruct the FBiH Government not to increase electricity price for Mostar Aluminij, ‘in order to further cement years long robbery of FBiH, Elektroprivreda BiH and coal mines.’ Magazine said that ‘luckily’ the intention was prevented by some ministers headed by Gavrilo Grahovac. Commenting that letter proves that FBiH PM already promised Aluminij that price will not be increase, author also pays attention to the list of those who were copied on the letter [who include Principal Deputy of HR Donald Hays] commenting that Hadizpasic now intents to do with Aluminij same thing Hays did with Eronet, enabling further ‘robbery’ of citizens. Ljiljan pgs 40&41 ‘Electricity shock on tender’ by Mugdim Hasanovic – magazine also addresses the issue of Aluminij and electricity price, commenting that the situation is absurd as distributor of the electricity [Elektroprivreda BiH] has significant looses, while buyer and user Aluminij makes large profit out of the electricity price, adding that it is to be expected that the government will find compromise. |
Political developments | |
| SB, Ljiljan critical of BH authorities’ readiness to fulfil EC conditions
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 34-36 ‘While Adnan Terzic spreads optimism, CoM is falling apart’ by Danka Savic – Author refers to the EC respond concerning BiH Feasibility Study, commenting that its content is ‘highly worrying. Analysis of current condition in BiH… is, at least, not encouraging and doesn’t fulfill basic conditions.’ Listing 16 conditions laid down by EC, article reads: ‘Having all this in mind, it is utterly unserious, even ridiculous, seeing trials to present positive mark of the Feasibility Study as victory of BiH authorities and the first step towards Europe.’ Calling statements by CoM Chair Adnan Terzic [in which he praises this ‘success’] ‘scandalous’, SB writes that answer from EC only meant realistic view at the situation in BiH. Reminding how BH authorities at the time were promising to do everything in order to accomplish given conditions, author writes about problems with the Law on Indirect Taxation Administration which arouse when only two days following EC’s respond delegates of the BiH House of Representatives adopted the ITA Law with amendment for fifth branch in Brcko, which was strongly opposed by EC. In separate inset, it also gives details of the letter sent by HR Paddy Ashdown to CoM Chair Adnan Terzic, in which HR urges progress in the field of intelligence reform, which is another EC condition postponed in the procedure. Ljiljan pg 7 ‘Road to Europe’ editorial by Mensur Brdar – also addresses the issue of authorities’ readiness to full EC conditions, asking ‘why all laws leading to Europe must be forced?’ |
| Mesic arrived in Sarajevo | BHTV, FTV, Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Ploce harbour is main issue‘ – Croatian President Stipe Mesic arrived in Sarajevo and announced several agreements to be signed on Friday during bilateral meeting with BiH authorities. Mesic stated: “I expect signing of several important agreement which will increase a level of our co-operation…Croatia will propose our model for highway construction without budgetary expenses”. Port of Ploce issue is also expected to be discussed. Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Crossing border with ID card’ also reports on Mesic’s arrival and announces today’s session of BiH-Croatia Interstate Cooperation Council. Dnevni Avaz on pg. 3 reports on Mesic’s arrival and on pg. 2 ‘Agreement on crossing border with ID card will be signed’ announces the session of the interstate council. Vecernji List (front and page 2, by D. Jazvic), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 2, “Ploce Port might be of use to the whole region”, by Hina and last page, “Together in construction of road corridor”, by Z. Tulic) and Dnevni List (front and page 3, “Stjepan Mesic laid wreath on grave of Alija Izetbegovic”, by V.S.) also covered this issue. |
| DL’s interview with Croatian HDZ President Ivo Sanader | Dnevni list (front & p 7, “We expect good cooperation with BiH authorities”, by Miso Relota) carries an interview that Croatian HDZ President Ivo Sanader, which was broadcast on HTV Mostar the other day. Sanader says that he sees BiH as a friendly neighbouring country. “Croats are a sovereign, constituent people and they must keep that status at any cost. Our sense of responsibility for BiH Croats will be ensured through contacts with the BiH CoM and the Presidency, with the International Community and with the Croats’ leadership”. |
| Mostar re-structuring | Dnevni List (front and page 11, “SDA and HDZ started conflicts at all front-lines”, by Z. Jukic) carries that there are many problems in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the City of Mostar at the moment. The author mentions the issues of Mostar re-organization, Aluminij, the waste dump issue, crisis in the HNC Government etc. According to the author, although all these problems seem as separate ones they are deeply imbued with politics and quarrels of the BiH ruling parties. The article carries HDZ spokesperson Pero Pavlovic as saying: “The public is more or less informed about the OHR’s involvement in these issues. However, it is clear that in the current situation domestic authorities are not able to take over destiny in their own hands and that the OHR will have to arbitrate in all these issues at the end.” President of the HNC Board of Party for BiH Safet Omerovic believes that the Cantonal Assembly is the place where the problems should be discussed. He added that the Party for BiH Caucus will demand convening of an emergency session of the HNC Assembly. They believe that Cantonal Prime Minister Miroslav Coric and President of the HNC Assembly Omer Cevra are the most responsible for the current situation in the Canton. Nermin Niksic from SDP said that he cannot accept that there is a wish to resolve the problems in the HNC and Mostar through headquarters of the parties. He believes that the HNC Assembly should discuss these issues. People’s Party Working for Prosperity believes that due to all mentioned problems in Mostar, as well as, in the other parts of BiH it is clear that the current Coalition authority cannot survive. DL (front and page 5, “Talks on organization of Mostar held in Vatican”, not signed) carries that Pope received the delegation of the state and church board for organization of Pope’s visit to BiH this summer. During this visit Chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic also met with secretary general of Holy See Angelo Sodano. They talked about the current political events and security situation in BiH. Covic asked that Holy See to help BiH joining Partnership for Peace and EU through its diplomacy. Also, they discussed the issue of Mostar organization. Covic stressed that Mostar or any other city must not be an exception. Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FENA, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Pope blesses BIH citizens’, Vecernji List (front page, “Pope’ To resolve problems by common sense”, and page 3, “Pope sent message to Covic: Resolve problems by common sense and not by heart!”, by J. Pavkovic), Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Meeting with Pope”, by D. Pasic), Oslobodjenje pg. 5, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 also covered this visit to Vatican. With regard to the Mostar re-structuring issue, Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17, “Ashdown will pass decision on Mostar”, by M. Landeka) carries an interview with HDZ member of the Mostar Commission Josip Merdzo. Asked whether he believes that the Mostar Commission will reach the joint proposal on the future organization of Mostar, Merdzo says: “Definitely, the Mostar Commission will not pass the joint decision on the on the future organization of Mostar…I believe that that the issues for which consent has not been reached will be resolved at a higher political level or High Representative will resolve these issues by his decision.” On the same issue SD (page 19, “Mostarians and residents of island of Bali”, by D. Marijanovic) carries an editorial commenting on the meeting that Winterstein had with journalists in Mostar a few days ago. The author says that the international officials finally realized that journalists are smarter than politicians in BiH. The author says that the meeting was a show since after some time the one who was watching the meeting from aside could not realize that most of the present journalists are not politicians. The author adds that in his opinion the Bosniak journalists were advocating the idea on the division of the city in 6 Municipalities, the same one because of which they were jeering at their colleagues from western part of the city a few years ago. Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Mostar as a single city’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘A single city with six electoral units’, FENA – Members of the Commission for designing the Statute of the City of Mostar from the Party for BiH (SBiH) and the Social Democratic Union (SDU) Safet Omerovic and Goran Crnogorac presented on Thursday at press conference the mutual positions on Mostar restructuring. The two political parties see Mostar as a single unit of local self-rule, hence a single city with functional administration. “The City of Mostar should, in line with our opinion, have six city areas – election units from which the counsellors of the Mostar City Council would be elected”, said Omerovic. |
| Ljiljan interview with Orucevic; SB criticizes Orucevic | Ljiljan cover ‘We are loosing Bosnia we fought for?!’, pgs 19-22 ‘Orucevic: Bosnia we fought for is threatened to die in Mostar’ interview by Mirsad Sinanovic – Former Mostar mayor and current member of Mostar Commission, Safet Orucevic says that the main raison for current position of Bosniaks in Herzegovina are compromises being made at the party level in Sarajevo. Asked to comment on SDA’s proposal regarding future Mostar structure, Orucevic says: ‘It is incredible that current demands of some people in SDA were the same like Brajkovic’s HDZ. Preserving Dayton in Mostar by SDA is the beginning of the end of integration in BiH… the result of such policies could be the division of the country.’ Orucevic furthermore says that as long as Bosniaks in Herzegovina are reduced to the territory held by BH Army, it also meant recognition of West Mostar, Stolac and Capljina as being the Croat municipalities. Stressing that ‘Mostar will not be a single municipality, but a city with 6 city’s areas which will work for the citizens’, Orucevic stresses that in case Mostar stays divided in municipalities it would mean ‘division for all times… With such politics we definitely would divide territory based on ethnic principles, which was politics of HDZ and SDS for a long time.’ With new structure of Mostar in accordance with the proposal by Party for BiH, Orucevic believes that the city would guarantee ‘Serbs to claim their rights everywhere in the tow, and Croats to reconcile with the fact that they will have to loose their right on single-nationality decision making in western part, and Bosniaks in eastern part of the city.’ Former Mostar Mayor also said he did not support referendum held recently in Mostar North Municipality because it again was abused by SDA for further division of the city. In case Mostar’s solution is opposite to what he lobbies for, Orucevic concludes: ‘Every authority and all authorities have started to fall apart in Herzegovina, and so will these authorities if the agony continues’. Slobodna Bosna pgs 20-22 ‘Orucevic’s concern for Mostar Serbs, whose property he violated for years, is hypocritical’ by Suzana Mijatovic – Article deals with former mayor Safet Orucevic, comments that his recent statements in which he said he was concerned for Mostar Serbs, who could stay without any rights in the case SDA’s proposal for Mostar was accepted, was hypocritical. SB further gives several examples of illegally purchased or taken property from some Serbs that Orucevic authorized or enabled during his mandate as the Mayor, which still have not been solved. |
| HDZ HNC Board’s Presidency session | Dnevni List (page 4, “Bosniak Ministers obstruct work of Cantonal Government”, by M. R.) that the Presidency of the Herzegovina-Neretva (HNC) Board of HDZ at its session yesterday assessed that obstruction of the Cantonal Government by Bosniak Ministers was not the way to solve problems. The Presidency was briefed on the current phase of the work of the Mostar Commission. Reviewing the current situation in Mostar, it was that Mostar Municipalities with Bosniak majority did not show any intentions for a unified city or any processes in regard to that. An appeal was sent to the International Community’s representatives to sanction all those who disrupt normal functioning of the city. |
| Kunic critical of PDP and Ivanic | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 8, ‘Mladen Ivanic keeps promising, instead of resolving problems’ – In a short interview to NN, Petar Kunic, member of the PDP Presidency, recently announced that he may possibly leave the party membership. The explanation he provided for this action of his was that PDP accepts and approves of even such decisions, which cause great damage to Republika Srpska. in this context, he referred to the adoption of the Law on Indirect Taxation, which he estimated as the “biggest blow to Republika Srpska so far” in the field of economy. It seems that reasons for his discontent stem from the fact that party top officials failed to act on some negative occurrences and settle problems within the Party, on which he has been pointing out for such a long time. He claims that Party President and his close associates keep dragging out many decisions. He claims that a common interest group has been formed within PDP, which maintains good ties with PDP top leadership. He denies any possibility of seeing him establish his own party, because in his view, running a party is a serious matter. |
| NN op-ed comparing politicians in Serbia and RS | Nezavisne novine editorial by Tihomir Gligoric, pg. 7, ‘Don’t be stupid’ – In the editorial, Gligoric compares Natasa Micic of Serbia with Dragan Kalinic, saying that apart from some visual difference, they share many things, such as: problems with maintaining good discipline of MP’s, failures to adopt proposed agenda, behaviour of some officials when they leave parliament premise. Also both of them run late in starting parliament sessions, which they do after they are convinced their party or coalition partners would not bring them into unpleasant situation. The author then compares Micic with Dragan Cavic, saying that Micic assued the position of Presented unwillingly, while Cavic was elected, but will instead leave the position guilty and responsible for many misdeeds. The context where he puts Dragan Mikerevic is as follows: “He seemingly has nothing to do with the entire story. And this is the catch – he has nothing to do with anything.” He concludes the article by saying, between the lines, they should resign from their positions. |
| Dodik and Spiric press conference | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Dodik calls on recruits to boycott military order on conscription’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘We shall call citizens not to serve the army’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Dodik to call citizens to boycott the Army’, Blic, p 13 ‘One more term for recruits’ – Milorad Dodik of SNSD called on Republika Srpska recruits to ignore order for military service and file a lawsuit against the state instead, if Laws on Defence and Republika Srpska Army were passed including regular military service. He stated that Parliament session unveiled an attempt of the parliament majority to derogate Republika Srpska Constitution. SNSD announced that SNSD would seek opinion from BiH Constitutional Court to assess whether possibly the adoption of Republika Srpska Laws on Defence and Army are in violation of constitutional rights. Chairperson of BiH HOR, Nikola Spiric, stated that he would not attend the special session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly, where he was to address MP’s. he also added that SNSD would not take part in the announced Government re-shuffle. Spiric also said that the Government has not presented the economic policy for next year, which would have bad economic impact on Republika Srpska. Speaking of meeting between RS officials with Pierre Richard Prosper, US Envoy for war crimes, Dodik noted that Prosper did most likely set deadlines, by which war crime suspects must be arrested. |
Other issues | |
| Kalinic requests Ashdown to help families of missing persons find out the truth
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘Appeal to help in search of missing persons’, Blic, p 13 ‘Kalinic: Come to the truth with help of OHR’, FENA – RS National Assembly Speaker Dragan Kalinic sent a letter to High Representative Paddy Ashdown urging him to use the authority of international institutions he represents and his personal authority to help families of missing persons in the RS discover the truth about their loved ones. In his letter to the High Representative Kalinic supported positions of the RS Board of Families of Missing Persons concerning the commitments of both entities to respond to their requests and stressed that all victims of the past war in BiH should receive equal treatment from international officials and senior officials in the RS and FBiH, the RS National Assembly stated on Thursday. “Some 5.000 families of missing persons from the RS are still waiting for the Federation to provide answers to their questions. These families too need help because only by discovering the full truth on everything that happened here during the passed war will we be able to maintain lasting peace and stability in this country and work on the reconciliation of peoples and citizens in BiH”, Kalinic stated in the letter. |
| Jasenovac files be returned to Banjaluka Archive | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Historic material from Washington to be delivered to Banjaluka’ – Custodian of Memorial Museum of Holocaust in Washington, Sanja Primorac, announced that the historical file on ustache concentration camp in Jasenovac would be forwarded to Republika Srpska Archive in Banjaluka from Washington soon. The displays were taken from Republika Srpska Archive in 2000 and taken to Washington for restoration. |
| Update to Bosansko Grahovo | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘No tri-colour nor sahovnica’ – At noon yesterday, Serbian tri-colour flag was removed from street light in Bosansko Grahovo centre. Following this, all Croatian national flags, sahovnica, were removed from all places in this city, upon an order of municipal authorities that reacted according to request filed by returnee Serbs. Grahovo Mayor, Nebojsa Prpa, says that Canadian SFOR removed tri-colour flag. However, SFOR officials claim they did not take any part in this. |