Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 6 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| FBiH HoR to discuss FBiH budget | FBiH HoR in session | Orthodox Christmas Eve today |
| Inter-religious Centre ‘Most’ | Prices of cigarettes to increase | Hartmann on new indictments |
| On tragedy in | UNICOFILTER workers protest | Causevic on Excise Tax law |
TV news broadcast on 5 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Tsunami aid update | Tsunami recovery update | HR in Belgrade | Issue of RS PM-designate |
| Returnees to | BIH aid to Tsunami victims | Case: “The Mostar Four” | HR in Belgrade |
| HR in Belgrade | HR in Belgrade | RS Insurance Agency | Leakey with Andan |
| Mostar employers meet | Cavic on RS PM-designate | ITA on dismissed workers | ITA on dismissed workers |
| Oslobodjenje | Ashdown promise RS survival |
| Dnevni Avaz | |
| Dnevni List | Survival of Republika Srpska guaranteed |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ashdown promised he would not change |
| Glas Srpske | 13th birthday of RS: Celebration in shadow |
| EuroBlic | Former customs officers demand severance pay of BAM 10 thousand; Talks in final phase: Nedjo Djuric as designate |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
Note: Vecernji list and Slobodna Dalmacija have not been published today due to celebration of Epiphany. Due to Orthodox Christmas, Glas Srpske today issued four-day edition.
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| FBiH HoR in session
| BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – FBiH House of Representatives adopted the 2004 Budget re-balance. The re-balance foresees Budget reduction of some KM 67 million. |
| Djuric: ‘I will respect stance of my party’
| FENA news agency – Member of the SPRS, Nedjo Djuric, stated for FENA today that he will respect the stance of his party regarding the election of new RS Government. SPRS informed RS President, Dragan Cavic, in written that it would not support Djuric’s nomination for RS PM-designate under the conditions set by SDS. |
| Hartmann on new indictments
| RTRS at 12.00 – Florence Hartmann, Spokesperson of the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, has announced all the new bills of indictment for war crimes have been handed to The Hague Tribunal and it is expected those are upheld at the end of January. |
| Protest of UNICOFILTER workers
| BH Radio 1 at 12.00 – Some 430 workers of Tesanj-based UNICOFILTER company protested against FBiH Supreme Court ruling related to the privatisation of this company. Court returned the matter to the competent |
HR visit to Belgrade | |
| HR meets SCG officials; Tadic statement: Ashdown said he would not make more unilateral moves
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Paddy Ashdown promised to Belgrade the RS survival’ by Branislav Boskov, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Ashdown promised he would not change Dayton’ and pg 3 ‘Ashdown promised to Tadic he would not change Dayton’ by D. Risojevic; Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘No change of Dayton’ – According to the statement by the Serbian President’s press office, HR Paddy Ashdown and Boris Tadic agreed in Belgrade on Wednesday that any change to the Dayton agreement and the BiH Constitution without the consent of all three nations, that is without the consent from all three signatories – BiH, Croatia and SCG, is unacceptable. “Ashdown stressed that he would not make any unilateral moves that would affect the BiH state arrangement, that is, the status of the RS within BiH,” a statement says adding that countries in the region must cooperate with ICTY. Following the meeting with Tadic, Ashdown also met with the SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, and Serbian PM, Vojislav Kostunica reiterating that RS existence could depend on cooperation with the ICTY. “The main message of the Tadic’s press release suggests that the epilogue of the talks is a compromise – more intensive cooperation with ICTY and giving up on unilateral moves,” comments daily. BHT 1, RTRS – Ashdown has asked FTV – “If you want RS to succeed, as I want them to succeed, RHB – reported on the visit. |
| OHR:
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Belgrade must help to arrest criminals’, pg 3 ‘Belgrade must help RS to meet its obligations towards the Hague’ by S. Numanovic, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘Survival of Republika Srpska guaranteed’, by N. Bise – OHR press release reeds that Ashdown noted in his meeting with Tadic that the a new mood regarding co-operation with the ICTY is evident in some quarters in the RS, but that is not enough on its own. “It is neither my policy nor my goal to abolish the RS,” HR said, “but those who wish to enjoy the protections of Dayton must respect all the provisions of Dayton: they cannot pick and choose between those parts of the DPA they like and those they don’t…Belgrade has a key role to play not just in meeting its own ICTY obligations, but also in working with the BiH authorities, including those in the RS, to deliver those PIFWCs who freely cross the Serbian border,” the HR said. According to OHR’s press release, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica personally guaranteed to do everything possible to help RS extradite the ICTY indictees. Dnevni List, pg 2 |
| Draskovic:
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 inset ‘Draskovic: Matijasevic and Cavic have their hands tied’ – Following the meeting with HR Paddy Ashdown, SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, blamed official Belgrade for the problems RS faces in cooperating with the ICTY. “Responsibility for condition in RS after 16 December cannot be referred to wrong address. Belgrade is to be partly blamed for this condition, as well as the RS authorities which did not arrest a single ICTY indictee,” said Draskovic. He reiterated he was sure that RS President, Dragan Cavic, as well as RS Interior Ministry, Darko Matijasevic, want to take this issue of their agenda, however feel having their hands are tied due to BHT 1 – Draskovic believes that the reconciliation process is becoming reality in BIH, reminding that 60 mosques in RS have already been reconstructed, 18 only in |
Other political issues | |
| Cavic: Nedjo Djuric has biggest chances to be RS PM-designate
| BHT1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Nedjo Djuric got technical support to be mandatory’ by Onasa, EuroBlic cover ‘Nedjo Djuric as designate’ and RS pg 1 ‘Djuric closest to designation’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Djuric is (not) a solution’ by M.Dz.; Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Cavic supports Djuric’ by N. Gagic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cavic indicating the name of designate’ by V.P. – Dragan Cavic,RS President, on Wednesday has confirmed that Nedjo Djuric, the delegate of the SPRS has the biggest chances of being nominated as RS PM-designate, adding that the this issue should be resolved in next two days.Cavic said he has informed the Socialist Party about which parties are ready to support Djuric’s candidacy. “The talks on this matter are in the final phase and this will decide whether Djuric will be the mandatary or not”, RS President stressed. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SP RS refuses to support Djuric’ by V. Popovic – NN bring letter Petar Djokic, SPRS president,sent to Cavicin which he opposes Djuric’s nomination and concludes: “Djuric attempted to disperse opposition block and place the seed of quarrel amongst them in order to strengthen SDS, that is under international sanctions. It is obvious the sanctions would not cease to exist, regardless of what SDS would do.” |
| Reactions on proposal to appoint Djuric [by SPRS, RS Radicals, DNS, SNSD, SDA]
| EuroBlic cover ‘Nedjo Djuric as designate’ and RS pg 1 ‘Djuric closest to designation’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Petar Djokic, SPRS President, claims that Cavic practically pronounced Djuric as designate without the agreement with this party, adding: “President should bear in mind that his decisions should not stimulate creation of new problems, since our stance is not to take part in the Govt with SDS officials.” Goran Milojevic from PDP official, commented: “We are still of the view that the best solution for RS would be if designate were from one of two biggest parties. PDP would surely support proposal of RS President, meaning it would support socialist party official, Nedjo Djuric.” Milanko Mihajlica from RS Serb Radical Party says: “We do not want to bid with the names of designate, but we do not exclude the possibility of supporting Djuric as designate.” Marko Pavic, DNS President, said that DNS would not give its stance on any name of possible PM-designate until nomination were officially announced. According to EuroBlic inset ‘SNSD dissatisfied’, Krstan Simic, SNSD Vice President, said: “We are not satisfied with the method of designation running, since it has resulted in solutions of this sort of mono-use, on which RS authorities do not have a right at this point in time. However, we would act in accordance with the Agreement signed and support designate, but we would still be opposition to all those working versus the interests of RS.” Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cavic indicating the name of designate’ by V.P. – Tarik Sadovic said that his parties would not support nomination of Djuric. Igor Radojicic from SNSD said that the current parliament majority would support this nomination, adding that SNSD will not be taking part in this. BHT 1 – Contrary to Sadovic, RS Vice President, Adil Osmanovic, stated that SDA is willing to participate in government lead by Djuric if it supports the reforms process necessary for BIH’s association with EU. RTRS – SNSD, DNS, SP, SDP, SzBIH and SRS all want a new Government without SDS. However, SDS still don’t think it is time for them to withdraw from the Government. RTRS reporter comments that the whole matter returned to old coalitions so the new Government might be consisted of same people. |
| Cavic: It is unlikely that SDA ministers will be in new RS Govt
| RHB, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Without ministers from SDA’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Chances for SDA to enter new RS Govt are small’ by Srna, EuroBlic cover ‘Nedjo Djuric as designate’ and RS pg 1 ‘Djuric closest to designation’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Djuric is (not) a solution’ by M.Dz.; Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Cavic supports Djuric’ by N. Gagic – President Dragan Cavic stated that at this moment it is quite unlikely that the new RS Govt will include the SDA representatives. He added that it is necessary to be realistic and seek the parliamentary majority for electing the new govt, but noted that he cannot accept the statements of many that the parties from the FBiH do not have legitimacy, as they were elected in the elections regularly and thus should be recognized as a realistic political factor. “Another matter is the relation towards the political issues”, said Cavic, reiterating that the parties from RS in the crucial matters differ from SDA, SBIH and SDP, “which are principled and politically oriented towards reconstructing BiH without the Entities”. The efforts of these parties for establishing BiH without the RS are unacceptable for any political force from the RS, said Cavic. |
| Osmic: New PM-designate will be from neither SDS nor PDP
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘New RS PM-designate will not be from either SDS or PDP?’ by S. Rozajac, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘SDP: SDS and PDP will still rule in RS’, by M. Z. – Chief of SDP caucus at the RSNA Zekerijah Osmic stated that there is no PM-designate in RS at the moment that could get 42 votes in the National Assembly. Osmic stated that the name of new PM-designate might be expected by 8th of January and the candidate will not come from SDS or PDP.Osmic noted this person could also be a nonpartisan person and that SDS and PDP would attempt to rule under the auspices of such a person. |
| CoM not holding sessions until new RS Govt established
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘State Government waits for Government of RS’ by V. Zivak – The BiH Council of Ministers will not be holding its sessions until the establishment of the new Government in RS, Bojan Zec, Spokesman for the Office of CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, told the daily on Wednesday. However, according to Oslobodjenje, the financing of the state institutions has been brought into question since the parliamentary debate on the 2005 Budget is to be continued on January 12 and the CoM is currently not able to make decision on temporary financing by the date. |
| DL op-ed on RS Government talks: RS politicians buying time
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Buying time’, by Nermin Bise – Commenting on frequent meetings between representatives of political parties in the RS, the author argues that talks at the President of the RS, Dragan Cavic, are formally considered as efforts to find a way out of the current crisis, however it would appear that the main aim of politicians in the RS is to not reach an agreement, thus buying time. Moreover, the author reckons it is hard to expect that a new RS PM-designate will be known by the stipulated deadline since the holiday season in the RS starts as of tomorrow (Friday). |
| GS: Celebration of 13 RS birthday in shadow of HR measures
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Celebration in shadow’ by D.M. – The article reminds of celebration of 13th birthday of RS to be marked on 9th January. It also reminds the celebration would be held under shadow with the latest message of HR Paddy Ashdown. The article further brings information regarding the declaration of BiH independence and sovereignty in October 1991, followed by declaration of RS in Janaury 1992. |
| Tihic: ‘We need pro-Bosnian strategy on the road to
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘We need pro-Bosnian strategy on the road to Europe’ – SDA is prepared to participate at an eventual meeting of pro-European political parties in BiH, which are ready to support changes to the BiH Constitutions and its harmonization with the European standards. The initiative for holding such a meeting has been launched by SDU BiH Vice-president Sejfudin Tokic as a response to the agreement on coordinated political action reached by six Serb political parties. SDA leader Sulejman Tihic supports the initiative saying that BiH on its road to |
| Sehic: 2005 ideal for change of election law
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Year 2005 is ideal for change to Election Law’, by D. Polovina-Mandic – According to the President of the BiH Election Commission, Vehid Sehic, the said Commission will meet in late January in order to discuss a possibility of finding a way to carry out changes to the BiH Election Law. Sehic explains that the aim is to make such a law that will abide by democratic principles because the current law does not observe one of the fundamental human rights, meaning that a citizen can vote and be voted for irrespective of the fact where he or she lives. He goes on to say that the current provisions enable representatives of one people living in one entity to vote only for representatives of their people in the entity they live in, whilst they cannot vote for their representatives in the other entity. In that context, Sehic notes it will require a political agreement within the current BiH authorities, since it requires changes to the BiH Constitution too. |
Military/ police/ intelligence issues | |
| EUFOR handovers Jahorina checkpoint to East Sarajevo PSC
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS Police took over checkpoint on the RTRS, BHT 1,Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Searching for information on fugitives’ by A.P., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Call on public to hand any information on Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic’ by A. Sisic – also reported. |
| Njegus fails to appear on Lukic case
| BHT1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Njegus avoided facing Lukac’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 38, mentioned on cover ‘Njegus did not show up to face Lukac’, Glas Srpske pg 13 ‘Njegus did not show up’ by N. Zelenovic – The article carries an update to trial to Drazen Bojic and Vedran Purisic, the policemen who stand trial for murdering Novica Lukic in Visegrad. The article reads that the former RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus, failed to appear at the Court as a witness on Wednesday. The President of the Court Council at the |
| NN on possible removals of senior officials in OSA
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 5 ‘Demand for removal of OSA Director’ by M. Cubro – Tomislav Limov, Chairperson of the BiH Parliament Commission for surveillance over intelligence and security agencies of BiH, confirmed on Wednesday that the Parliamentary Commission would demand removal of officials of OSA if established they illegally employed those involved in “coup d’état” affair. |
| Mektic: ‘Illegal crossings of the border possible at 400 points’
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Illegal crossings of the border possible at 400 points’ by R. Cengic – The BiH state border is not covered at 400 points, where illegal crossings by car are possible, the Deputy Minister of Security, Dragan Mektic, stated Wednesday. He also said that BiH had serious problems particularly in relation to the border with the SCG, as there was still no agreement on defining the border line. He noted that the European Commission had prepared over Euro 1 million for the prevention of illegal border crossings, but that an agreement on border should be signed with the SCG. |
Economic issues | |
| Fired customs workers and ITA reach agreement on 8000 KM compensations
| BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Dismissed workers seek bigger compensations’, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘8000 KM of compensation’, Dnevni List, pg 8, mentioned on front ‘Customs officers to get severance pays amounting to 8 thousand marks?’, by De. L., EuroBlic cover ‘Former customs officers demand severance pay of BAM 10 thousand’ and RSpg 3 ‘They demand severance pay of BAM 10 thousand’; Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Dismissed customs officers demand severance pay of BAM 8 thousand’ by P. Klincov; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Severance pay of eight thousand BAM’ by D.V.M. – Employees of the RS Customs Administration who have not passed the qualification for employment at the BiH Indirect Taxation Administration reached an agreement with director Kemal Causevic on the lowest compensation of 8,000 KM per employee. Causevic said that the final decision on the matter will be passed by the Administration’s Steering Board on January 18, adding that all complains to qualification process will be reviewed by January 21. With the establishment of the ITA, a total of 867 employees were fired in the RS. A part of them protested for days claiming their rights were violated. |
| Dailies on consequences of new Law on Excise Taxes: Tobacco factories closed down, cigarettes withdrawn from sale’
| Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Tobacco factories closed down, cigarettes withdrawn from sale’, by Erna Mackic – Reports that tobacco factories in BiH have not been working for past two days, and according to DL’s information, even the domestic cigarettes have been withdrawn from sales. The reason behind this situation is the new Law on excise taxes in BiH, which was adopted just before the New Year. According to the President of Group for production and processing of tobacco with BiH Foreign Trade Chamber and representative of the Sarajevo Tobacco Factory, Orhan Robovic, the new law on excises is shutting down the domestic production and supports the grey economy. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Cigarettes in BiH at least 10 percent more expensive’ by F. Cardzic – DA quotes ITA Director, Kemal Causevic, on the 10% decrease of prices of tobacco products due to implementation of new Law on Excise Tax. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Cigarettes to be 17% more expensive’, mentioned on cover, by Azhar Kalamujic – Daily brings that 17% increase of the prices of tobacco products made a number of retailers in the country to withdraw these products from their shops. |
| Oslobodjenje on 2005 state institutions budget: “Too expensive and wasteful state administration”
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Too expensive and wasteful state administration’, mentioned on cover, by V. Zivak – Daily analyses the budget of the state institutions for 2005, which exceeds 581 million KM, concluding that the majority of the funds will be used to finance the state administration [ bit over 336 million KM] and the rest of the money is to be used for servicing the external debt. The budget also foresees increased funds for the Communications Regulatory Agency, the Foreign Ministry and BiH Presidency, however notes on the later that their salaries and benefits have been decreased. Funds were decreased to BiH Prosecution, Refugees and DPs Ministry. SIPA will be allocated about 25,5 million KM, BiH Intelligence Agency will have budget of 21,5 million KM and ITA will have at its disposal over 55 million KM, out of which 37 million KM will be spent for salaries. |
| FBiH PIO says possible increase of pensions in 2005
| Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Possible increase of pensions’, mentioned on cover, by E. Mackic – Carries the Director of the FBiH Pension Insurance Fund (PIO/MIO) Nadir Kovacevic as saying that during 2004 pensions were paid out on a regular basis, hoping it will be the same practice this year. He also adds that increase of pensions is possible this year. According to Kovacevic, the FBiH PIO/MIO has good cooperation with the RS Pension Insurance Fund, however, he believes that it would be the best to unify the Funds and organize a single Fund at the state level in order to avoid disagreements regarding equating of pensions and retirement and social security benefit tax. |
War crimes | |
| FBiH Supreme Court annuls verdict to the so-called ‘Mostar Four’
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘“Vranica case” before BiH Prosecution’ by Onasa, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘’The Mostar Four’ at State Court’, by N. Dedic – Chamber of the FBiH Supreme Court has for the second time overturned an acquittal by the Cantonal Court in Mostar in the case of the so-called ‘Mostar Four’. Zeljko Dzidic, Mate Anicic, Erhard Poznic and Ivan Skutor were charged with committing war crimes against the civilian population and over the disappearance of 13 captured members of the command of the 4th Corps of the BiH Army from the Vranica building in Mostar in May 1993. Ibro Bulic, the Head of the War Crimes Department at the Hercegovina-Neretva Canton Prosecution, says since the State Prosecution is in charge of all war crimes cases, this case will be forwarded to the State Prosecution in Sarajevo. The case will be sent with all suggestions and proposals by the Mostar Cantonal Prosecution, including one that the Mostar Four be retried by the Bosnia-Hercegovina State Court and not by the |
| East Sarajevo PSC files charges vs. 13 persons for war crimes against Serbs | Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ‘13 persons suspected of murder of 243 Serbs’ by N. Krsman – The East Sarajevo PSC has field denunciations against 13 persons suspected of having committed war crime against 243 persons of Serb nationality in the Sarajevo settlement of Dobrinja during the war. It further brings some testimonies of witnesses of those crimes. |
| NN: RS Govt still has not established the Srebrenica working group
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS Government has not still founded Working Group for Srebrenica’ by V.P. – Cvijeta Kovvacevic, Head of RS Government Public Affairs Bureau, confirmed on Wednesday that the RS Government had not still established the Working Group for Srebrenica, that should analyse documentation compiled by Srebrenica Commission. She added the activities on establishing the Group were ongoing, although he could not indicate when the WG would be operational. She expressed her view the Commission would have been established by end of February, by when it should have completed its task. |
| Report on hiding Mladic in Veliki Zep to be submitted on 10 January
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘BiH defence ministry still waiting for the investigation findings’ by E.S. – DA article says that BiH Defence Ministry still awaits the report on the investigation ordered by the MoD Nikola Radovanovic for the suspicion that some soldiers from RS Army assisted in hiding Ratko Mladic in military premises of Veliki Zep. Deputy Minister, Enes Becirbasic, reminds that the report on findings should be submitted by 10 January. Not wanting to prejudice the results, Becirbasic reiterated that if allegations proved, those who participated in such actions will be extradited to authorized bodies. |