| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Blaskic in Kiseljak | Blaskic in Kiseljak | Kaloteks company case | EC probes sugar affair |
| Colak on support to ICTY | New mass grave/ Foca | Blaskic in Kiseljak | Civil military service in RS |
| SFOR action in Mostar | Asim Fazlic to plead | EC probes sugar affair | Anniversary of Oluja |
| On population census | 6 BiH Croats still in ICTY | Audit of FBiH Finance Min. | Colak on support to ICTY |
| Oslobodjenje | Six Croats staying in detention till September; Faliz to plead; Blaskic: I am not a victim, victims are those who lost their loved ones |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ljajic: I dont expect Mladic to surrender; Bond: I will come to |
| Dnevni List | SFOR searched Bijeli Brijeg |
| Glas Srpske | Money is waiting for names; Water brings a record |
| Nezavisne Novine | Crime and corruption are the main problems in BiH; Those who are responsible for war crime committed in Ahmici must stand trial; Barisa Colak: We will forward war-time documentation of HVO to the Prosecution of the Hague Tribunal; Remembering victims of “Oluja”; Firms from BiH at market of |
| Blic | Where is 250,000 tons of sugar? Who will get the building of former |
NOTE: Due to celebration of Croatian National Gratitude Day, Vecernji list and Slobodna Dalmacija were not published today.
War crimes | |
| Tihomir Blaskic welcomed by thousands upon his arrival to
| RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘I am not a victim, victims are those who lost their loved ones’, mentioned on cover’, by Asaf Becirovic,Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Central Bosnia welcomed General’ not signed,Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 ‘Those who are responsible for war crime committed in Ahmici must stand trial’ not signed – On Wednesday, retired Croat General Tihomir Blaskic came back to his hometown Kiseljak where a ceremony was organized by city authorities to welcome him. Thousands of people from Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Blaskic welcomed by 15.000 supporters at Kiseljak stadium’ by F. Cardzic – DA also reports that 15.000 people attended the ceremony. Dnevni List pgs 4 and 5 ‘Tears and joy on home door-step’, mentioned on cover, by D. Polovina-Mandic – On this occasion Blaskic stated again that he would like to visit Ahmici and added: “Justice will win only when all those who are responsible for war crimes were processed and this includes the ones who are responsible for the crimes committed in Ahmici and all other crimes that were committed. I believe that all those who committed crimes will be held accountable and I believe that that day will be soon since the interests of the International Community have that direction, as well as, our consciousness.” BHTV 1 – BHTV 1 report carried comments by families of 116 victims of the crimes committed in Ahmici, who are bitter that after 11 years they still don’t know who is responsible. They also stress that Blaskic was found guilty on some accounts of the indictment, therefore they do not see the purpose of his visit to Ahmicic. FTV – Ahmici population believes that announced Blaskic’s visit is another provocation. Vecernje Novosti, pg. 7 ‘To us he is just a criminal’ by Sl. Pesevic – VN reporters went to the Ahmici and talked to the citizens. According to the article ‘the survivors do not want to see the above mentioned. He is a “hero” of his own people, because he commanded the murderers of innocent victims in Ahmici and to us he is a criminal…’. |
| Investigation on hiding documents for Blaskic’s defence launched?
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Investigation is in vain since the case has expired by limitation’ by J. Petrovic – DL carries that some media published last night that Croatian General Attorney Mladen Bajic ordered the Police and secret services to investigate claims about alleged hiding of documents necessary for the defence of retired Croat General Tihomir Blaskic. Commenting on this initiative, Blaskic’s lawyer Anto Nobilo stated that this was done under the pressure of public and Nobilo believes that nothing will come out of it since this case has expired by limitation. |
| Pre-trail release for 6 Croats charged with war crimes postponed
| RHB,RTRS, BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover page story ‘Six Croats staying in detention till September’ by A. Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Prlic, Stojic, Praljak, Petkovic, Coric and Pusic stay detained’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Decision n temporary release of six BiH Croats was put on hold’ by Reuters, Glas Srpske, pg. 10 ‘Freedom of the six was “frozen”’ not signed– After the ICTY Prosecution demanded a deadline to lodge an appeal on the ICTY’s decision on pre-trail release for 6 Croats charged with war crimes (Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Slobodan Praljak, Valentin Coric, Berislav Pusic and Milivoj Petkovic) the ICTY judge passed the decision according to which the Panel of Judges should decide about a possibility to lodge the appeal, which has not been envisaged by the ICTY Statute. However, the judges are on summer break, and 6 indictees will stay in detention until, at least, the beginning of September. Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Prosecutor stopped 6 on way home’, mentioned on cover, not signed – ICTY spokesperson Christian Cartier stated that passing of the decision on lodging of the appeal will not be slowed down by the fact that the ICTY employees are on collective leave. The lawyer of Bruno Stojic, Zeljko Olujic, stated that such decision of the ICTY Prosecution is completely ungrounded. |
| Colak: We will ‘make an effort’ to collect documents for Tribunal
| RTSR, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Authorities will make additional effort’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH authorities will do everything to find documentation’– HDZ BiH Chairman Barisa Colak said that BiH authorities will “make an effort” to collect the documentation required by the ICTY. Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte sent an official note to BiH authorities recently requesting that documentation on the April 1992 – December 1993 activities of HDZ, Croat Defense Council [HVO] and so-called Croat Republic of Herceg-Bosna be forwarded to the ICTY Prosecution. According to media [see BH Media Round-up Aug 3 and Aug 4], Del Ponte warned that Croat officials in BiH authorities could be sacked if the documentation is not submitted by September 30 this year. RHB –Barisa Colak comments on ICTY demand: “ Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Barisa Colak: We will forward war-time documentation of HVO to the Prosecution of the Hague Tribunal’ pg. 2 ‘We will forward war-time documentation to the Hague’ by N. N. – Barisa Colak stated that all documentation in question will be forwarded to ICTY. |
| ICTY: Our demand was confidential and authorities must answer officially
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Prosecutor still wants respond on Herceg-Bosna documents’ by A. Omeragic – Spokeswoman for ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Florence Hartmann, commented articles on Carla Del Ponte’s demand requesting the documentation: “We expect the law and deadline for Croat representatives to respond to our demands to be respected. Our demand was confidential, we are not interested into the media stories, but in an official answer to the Tribunal.” Article further brings that while FBiH Justice Minister Borjana Kristo stated for media that FBiH is ready to send documents, HDZ BiH claim that there is no single archive, and that documents have been scattered around. “An official of this party said that many documents were already given to |
| Officials estimate 160 victims in newly found mass grave near Foca
| RTRS, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Mass grave between Miljevina and Foca’ by Fena,Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Approximately 160 bodies were buried’ by Bi. G.– A new mass grave was found by the Miljevina-Foca road. Information of the FBiH Commission for Missing Persons say that the victims were Kalinovik residents who were transported in 1992 from the Barutni magacin camp and were killed on the road towards the Foca detention home. There are also bodies of the Miljevina residents who were also supposed to be transported to the Foca centre. Commission believes that the grave could contain 160 bodies. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Destiny of about 50 ‘missing’ Bosniaks from Kalinovik solved?’, mentioned on cover, by E. Kamenica – also reports on new mass grave. |
| UN Security Council warns BiH, SCG and
| BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘RS called to strengthen cooperation with ICTY’– United Nations Security Council called on Serbia and Monte Negro, Croatia and BiH – especially RS – to strengthen cooperation with ICTY. According to Free Europe radio, these countries were also asked to ensure that Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic, Ante Gotovina and the other war crimes suspects at large are brought before the justice. RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3 ‘Crime and corruption are the main problems in BiH’ by RFE, the article carries the inset ‘Invitation for cooperation with the Hague Tribunal’ – NATO Secretary General, Jaap De Hoop Scheffer, briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying that during May main sources of concern in BiH were crime related incidents and corruption cases. |
| DA op-ed suggests HR should consider harsher sanctions against RS
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Time for decision’ op-ed by Sead Numanovic – Author refers to the UN Security Council’s warning to Craotia, BiH and SiCG over the lack of cooperation with the ICTY. “And while these two country demonstrate cooperation with the Tribunal more aggressively in verbal [SiCG] and practical [ |
| DA int with SiCG Human Rights Minister on Mladic, war crimes
| Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 5 ‘I don’t expect Mladic to surrender’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, Human Rights Minister of Serbia and Montenegro, Rasim Ljajic says of SiCG cooperation with the Hague Tribunal: “If we don’t do anything regarding the cooperation with the ICTY in next month, I am afraid that the pressure from the international community will increase. I don’t expect sanctions, but SiCG could find itself in very difficult political situation and could be exposed to very quite political, economic and diplomatic isolation.” Ljajic adds that SCG Government currently has no either direct or indirect contact with Ratko Mladic, the most wanted war crimes suspect at large in SiCG. He also said that while authorities are making big efforts to locate Mladic, he doesn’t believe that Mladic himself would surrender. “Entire state became Mladic’s hostage. If he would be extradited, than all other cases would be tried before the domestic courts,” says Ljajic. |
| NN op-ed accuses RS Police Director of cooperating with criminals | Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘Njegus and Karadzic on leave’ op-ed by Pero Simic – The author claims that when Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director, has gone on leave, the life in police as if faded away, especially in regard to activities aimed at arresting war crime suspects. The author claims that Njegus, who “survived” Lukic case and “was hardly missed by [Paddy] Ashdowns’ sabre”, is shrewdly escaping international community, who is his night mare. The author says Njegus must have learnt by now it is of extreme importance to give the impression of a permanent engagement. The author further refers to his sources, supportive of claims of Miloard Dodik, SNSD President, that Njegus is cooperating with criminal groups. Simic further notes that seeing Njegus go on leave must have sent a clear message to Radovan Karadzic – there will be no SFOR actions in near time and that he should relax. The author further stresses Njegus is well aware of the fact that his true engagement on the arrest of Karadzic would equate with jump from the plane without parachutes. The author further wonders why Njegus has placed such a large security around his house in Bijeljina, if he is doing his job in an honourable and fair manner. |
Legal issues and affairs | |
| EC investigator arrives to BiH because of ‘sugar affair’ | Dnevni List pg 6 ‘EC investigative team arrived’ by M. Karacic – The EC investigative, anti-corruption team has arrived to BiH and it should reveal as to what happened with 230 000 tons of sugar which disappeared. DL also says that this team is conducting its investigation independently from the investigative team formed by BiH authorities. EC spokesperson Frano Marojevic stated that the investigation has been underway, however, he cannot talk about its details until the investigation is completed. RTRS, FTV, EuroBlic, cover ‘Where is 250,000 tons of sugar?’ pgs. RS2-RS3 ‘Where is surplus of 250,000 tons?’ by T. Veselinovic– also reported on arrival of EC investigator. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘VAT already showed its advantages in Europe’ by F. Cardzic – Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration Kemal Causevic also confirmed the arrival of EC investigator, but rejected to give any details. |
| Asim Fazlic to plead
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Asim Fazlic pleads’, mentioned on cover, by A. Nezirovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Asim Fazlic to plead today’ by M.K., Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Asim Fazlic to enter plea today’ by A. D. – Former Deputy Director of Interpol, Asim Fazlic, will appear before the BiH Court today to plead on the accounts of indictment which accuse him of misuse of office and confidently. Senka Nozica, Fazlic’s lawyer, said it is expected for Fazlic to plead not guilty to all charges. Fazlic was accused by the Prosecutor of the Special Department for fight against corruption, John McNair, for cooperation with persons wanted by Interpol to avoid justice. |
| Update to Ante Jelavic’s trial
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Bill of indictment against Jelavic is grounded on testimonies of witnesses who have not been heard yet’, mentioned on cover, by N. Dedic – Josip Muselimovic, who is the lawyer of former HDZ President and suspect in the Hercegovacka Banka case Ante Jelavic, stated that according to unofficial information the main hearing in this case will take place at the end of September this year. Muselimovic also says that, among the other things, this case is specific since the bill of indictment was issued two and a half months ago while hearing of some witnesses is taking place now. Muselimovic added: “The question arises as to who can know what some person will say and as to how the bill of indictment can be grounded on the testimony of the witnesses who have not been heard at all. The witnesses are being summoned and heard now after the bill of indictment came into force.” DL also says that Department for Organized Crime and Corruption with the BiH Prosecution summoned Ljubo Cesic Rojs and Ivan Azinovic as witnesses in the Hercegovacka Banka case. |
| FTV on case of Kaloteks company from Kalesija | FTV – FTV reports on the privatization of Kaloteks company from Kalesija, claiming it brought the workers into the agony. FTV team said it was attacked on Wednesday and even summoned to the police station when they wanted to make a story. They also accused Fikret Suljkanovic,Chief of Customs Office in Kalesija, who is together with a number of relatives, a stockholder in this company. They apparently purchased stocks illegally and became majority shareholders in the company. |
Political issues | |
| Farewell reception for US Ambassador Bond
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Cooperation with ICTY prerequisite for European integration’ by Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Significant progress in BiH’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Bond: BiH’s future in on the road to Europe’, mentioned on cover ‘Bond: I will come to Sarajevo again’, by J. Sogolj, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Significant progress was made in BiH’ by N. N. – also reported on reception for Bond. |
| Cavic on Bond, SDS, Karadzic, sanctions
| Vecernje Novosti, pg. 2 ‘Revenge because of Karadzic’ by V. N. – According to RS President Dragan Cavic, everything representatives of the international community in BiH are doing, including the reiterated statement of US Ambassador Clifford Bond on banning of SDS, reflects a frustration over the existence of RS, the creator of which is SDS. He hopes that the stance towards SDS would change after a new Ambassador arrives. As a reply to Bond’s accusation that SDS is an obstacle on the path of BiH to PfP, Cavic emphasised that SDS supports the admission to PfP. He assessed that a ‘political revenge because Radovan Karadzic has not been arrested stands behind this’. He also said he does not believe Clifford Bond has a great influence on decisions of HR Paddy Ashdown because ‘Ashdown is not a person that only listens and executes. He brings his own decisions’. |
| RS Council of Peoples in session
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Vital interests of Serb people not threatened’ by Onasa, Dnevni List pg 18 ‘Vital national interests of Serb people are not endangered’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘National interests were not jeopardised’ by G. D. – Serb Caucus at the RS Council of Peoples has brought a conclusion saying that laws adopted at 18th and 19th session of RS NA did not jeopardise Serb national interests. The laws they refer to are: the Law on Public Firms, the Law on Changes and Addenda to the Law on Tax Administration, the Law on Territorial Organization and Local Self-governance, the Law on Banks of RS, the Law on Privatisation of Apartments, the Law on Serb Sarajevo Town, the Law on Obligation Relations and a set of Laws on Tobacco Products. |
| On population census initiative
| RHB by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Population census would mean legalisation of ethnic cleansing’ by Fena – Mladen Ivanic, Chairman of RS PDP stated that it is necessary to carry out the population census in BiH, adding that there was no reason why not to keep postponing it. He also said that he did not understand why some FBiH parties were against it. Elmir Jahic, SDA Vice Chair, commented that the census was important for BiH future, however added that return process must be implemented before census is carried out. SDP believes that it is necessary to have population census, but that it has to be estimated in what amount laws on property have been implemented, and how much Annex 7 of Dayton Agreement is being implemented. HDZ also think that census in BiH would be very important for BiH as it would finally confirm exact number of BiH citizens. But it is also stated that it was important to enable return to all persons. “I think that we talk about extremely complicated issue when it comes to census in BiH. In political sense census in unacceptable for many BiH citizens, before the Annex 7 is implemented” Safet Halilovic, Chairman of Party for BiH, commented. |
| Ivanic on Tihic’s initiative
| Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Tihic against the Dayton’ by Srna – In an interview to Srna, PDP President Mlade Ivanic has assessed that the initiative on changing the name of RS would be so radical that it would produce an enormous crisis, the outcome of which would not be predictable. ‘If we get to a position in which the use of “Serb” prefix would not be allowed anywhere in BiH, then this would be not only institutional crisis but also a crisis of trust’, Ivanic stated. Ivanic thinks SDA leader Sulejman Tihic is unnecessarily bringing issues already defined by the Dayton Agreement. He also says: ‘Tihic’s politics and his persistent insisting on overthrowing everything with “Serb” prefix in its name means there is no space for any kind of a serious conversation’. He expressed his opinion in accordance with which a part of the international community stands behind Tihic’s initiative, and he also said that he thinks the international community would not get involved in such a sensitive political issue. Dnevni List pg 18 ‘Defeating results of SNSD Heads of Municipalities’ not signed – also carries Ivanic’s comment on Tihic. |
| Reactions to Ivanic disputing term ‘Bosnian language’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Tokic: Political move without legal and political arguments’ by Aj. Delic – DA carries several reactions to the announcement by Mladen Ivanic that PDP will initiative the discussion on term ‘Bosnian language’ and its constitutionality before the |
| PDP: Results of SNSD Heads of Municipalities’ defeating
| Dnevni List pg 18 ‘Defeating results of SNSD Heads of Municipalities’ not signed,Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Dissatisfied with the SNSD local authority’ by V.P. – PDP yesterday released a press statement, in which it assessed results achieved in municipalities with SNSD on power as devastating, owing to which reason PDP will try to divert public attention from the issues of local onto RS level. PDP further notes that “it is hypocritical to accuse PDP of maintaining coalition with SDA, when it is well-known that SNSD rules at municipal levels thanks to wide coalition with SDA”. |
Economic issues | |
| GS on dismissals in RS Refugees and DPs Ministry
| Glas Srpske, cover page story ‘Money is waiting for names’ by J. N. – The article reports on the announced dismissals of employees of the RS Ministry for Refugees and DPs, and says that, although RS Government has already approved paying of severance payments to those who lose their jobs, the number of employees that will get severance payments is not known as yet. The total amount approved for severance payment is 948,000 KM. The severance payments will not be paid before the Ministry for Refugees gets an opinion of the Ministry of Finances, Ministry of Local Administration and Self-governance and Agency for State Administration. |
| DA on financing construction of border crossings in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH could lose 20 million KM of assistance’, mentioned on cover ‘BiH could lose 20 million KM’, by S. Numanovic – DA writes that because of “lack of responsibility, and obstructions, coming from lower levels of authorities, BiH could lose at least 20 million KM which European Commission gives for building six modern customs offices.” Article notes that EC has put aside 30 million Euros out of its budgets from 2001 to 2004 to build modern border crossings in accordance with the European standards. However, DA says that due to slowness of local authorities, the municipality Bosanski Brod [one of the designated border crossings] faces possibility of losing both EC assistance of 3 million Euros and status which enables it to be used for goods transport. Head of municipality, Vid Ivanovic, says DA, was surprised with the information on problems around building the border crossing. He apparently said he heard of it for the first time, and immediately summoned all municipal services and scheduled extraordinary session of the Municipal Council to discuss this issue.[Please note that the article neither identifies the problem regarding the building of these border crossing, nor it mentions the sum of 20 million KM mentioned in headline.] |
| Hidrogradnja from Pale and | Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Together in project “Buk Bijela”’ by SRNA – The Directors of Companies AD GIK “Hidrogradnja” from Pale and DD “Hidrogradnja” from Sarajevo on Wednesday signed Agreement on business and technical cooperation on the implementation of project “Buk Bijela” and other big hydro-power projects at Drina River. These two companies intend to take a joint part in projects abroad as well. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘They reached the deal of 200 million US dollars’, mentioned on cover, by H. Arifagic – Daily says that the deals made on the Drina projects are worth 200 million US dollars. Directors of both companies expressed their satisfaction with the new cooperation. |
| GS claims Serbs disputed during the election of Assistants to ITA Director
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ’Only Serbs disputed’ by D.V.M. – GS learnt from its source close to BiH Council of Ministers that not a single candidate of Serb nationality has passed the vetting procedure at OHR, regarding the election of the Assistants to ITA Director. A month ago, Kemal Causevic, ITA Director, has forwarded for vetting procedure the names of three candidates for each of five sectors at Administration for vetting procedure. GS source claims that the selected candidates of Croat and Bosniak nationality have already received decisions on their appointment. Dinko Corluka has been selected as Causevic’s assistant in charge of VAT Sector. Saudin Terzic, a close relative to Adnan Terzic, will be running the position of Assistant for Forcible implementation of rules Sector. Dzevad Nekic will assume the position of assistant for Business Services Sector. The other two positions – assistants for Customs Sector and IT Sector – are reserved for Serbs. It is not clear to the author as to why Trivo Marinkovic, currently RS Deputy Customs Director, has not passed vetting procedure, since not a single affair has been linked with his name so far. |
| ITA Director on VAT
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘VAT already showed its advantages in Europe’ by F. Cardzic – Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration Kemal Causevic comments on the recent criticism that introduction of the Value Added Tax will “mean cheaper cars, but more expensive bread,” saying: “VAT is just one of the elements which can impact the price. But, in no case it means that the products on which there is no VAT today would see price increase of VAT value of 17%, or that those [products] that we pay 20% tax on would become cheaper. The market will determine the price.” |
Security issues | |
| SFOR search for ammunition in Mostar
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘SFOR searched for weapons in Bijeli Brijeg’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Searched for weapons in Bijeli brijeg’, Dnevni list, pg 11, ‘SFOR searched Bijeli Brijeg’, by D. Kozina, mentioned on cover – Norbert Hoerpel, Spokesman of SFOR’s Multinational Task Force South-East, stated at yesterday’s press conference of international organisations seated in Mostar that, after having received a tip that ammunition was hidden in the area of Bijeli Brijeg school in Mostar, SFOR members searched the area that very morning but nothing was found. Hoerpel added that the operation was carried out in cooperation with the EUPM and the local police. He also thanked both the school staff and the local police members for their cooperation during the operation. |