| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Report on plane crash | HR meets RS leaders | Plane crash investigation | Plane crash investigation |
| Veteran’s law passed | Appointment of generals | FBiH Veterans’ Law | Appointment of generals |
| HB indictments | FBiH Veterans’ Law | Appointment of generals | RS Veterans’ Law |
| Public admin reform | Youth summit in Sarajevo | Lawsuit vs. Holland | Protests on 11May |
| Oslobodjenje | Enough evidences to prove Milosevic’s responsibility for genocide in BiH; Petritsch: Parties that lead war should had been removed; Holbrooke supports Bosmal |
| Dnevni Avaz | Deployment of troops in Iraq could be fatal; Petritsch: Arrival to Bsonia is like returning home; Veterans Law adopted; Mikerevic: We necessarily need reconciliation and truth |
| Dnevni List | By granting a credit principles of banking financial operations were violated; Unified fund for Croat and Bosniak invalids |
| Vecernji List | Spectacle: Arena di Verona delighted Mostar and Sarajevo; Interview with President of Serbian Helsinki Board Sonja Biserko: Serbia has not given up yet its pretensions towards BiH |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Todoric’s consortium takes over Hercegovacka Banka in two months; Toby Robinson testified against Karlovic |
| Glas Srpske | How many military invalids and members of the families of fallen soldiers committed suicide: Figures causing insomnia |
| Nezavisne Novine | Report on Mostar plane crash: Plane crashed because of pilots’ mistake; London Institute for Peace and War Reporting: Milan Lukic was supposed to be silenced in Visegrad; Trial against FOSS Special Operations Head: Kristina Silic threatens she would tell the truth |
| Blic | Horror: AIDS and infectious hepatitis from bottles of blood; Confession of mother Natalija: My son is the state enemy No.1?; Goran Tesic stands trial: He shot a girl to her neck and then raped her; The Law on Veterans withdrawn, families will protest on May 11 |
Defence and security issues | |
| Report: Pilot mistakes caused Macedonian plane crashed which killed president Trajkovski
| RHB, BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover ‘Pilot guilty for the president’s death’, pgs 4&5 ‘Pilot mistakes caused accident’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Cause of the accident – mistakes by crew’, Dnevni List page 3 ‘Special investigation on SFOR’s behaviour’, Vecernji List page 3 ‘After all pilot’s mistake caused plane crash’, Slobodna Dalmacija page 2 ‘Crew responsible for plane crash of Macedonian delegation’, Nacional Belgrade daily pg 21 ‘Fatal mistake’, Vecernje Novosti pg 14 ‘Crew culpable of the plane crash’, Blic pg 6 ‘Trajkovski was “killed” by the crew’ – The final report by the commission investigating the causes of the plane crash on 26 February, which killed seven members of the Macedonian delegation led by the President Boris Trajkovski and both crew members, was adopted at Wednesday session of the committee investigating crashes and incidents in the Bosnian aviation. The session was headed by BiH Communications and Transport Minister Branko Dokic. According to the commission’s chairman Salko Begic, “the direct cause of the plane crash were procedural errors of the crew, committed during the approach to land at Mostar Airport which had led to the plane’s collision with the terrain”. |
| BiH Presidency discusses appointment of generals; Tihic says IC also responsible for delays | RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Generals positions to go to Pleh, Milojicic, Tep[sic and Foric’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Proposal of candidates established’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘BiH got first four military commanders’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Parliament to line officers’, Blic pg 12 ‘Four future Generals were nominated’ – The BiH Presidency on Wednesday defined the proposal of candidates who have been approved by SFOR for appointment to the positions of generals in the BiH defence institutions. Brigadier Rizvo Pleh has been proposed for general inspector in the BiH Defence Ministry and Colonel Miladin Milojcic for deputy commander of the BiH Joint Headquarters for Resources. Colonel Mirko Tersic has been proposed for deputy commander of the Operational Command for Operations and Brigadier Sakib Foric has been proposed for deputy commander of the Operational Command for Support, said BiH Presidency chairman Sulejman Tihic said. This proposal will be sent to parliamentary procedure. Due to the non-transparent process of SFOR vetting of candidates for generals, the Presidency decided to meet again with SFOR commander Virgil Packett and High Representative Paddy Ashdown in order to provide that the further process of vetting be made available to the authorized institutions. “Presidency concluded to hold a meeting one more time with SFOR commander, High representative with the goal to make this procedure of further check up, since other appointments are due, transparent and accessible to authorized institutions and that it is in accordance with the law and constitution of BIH,” says Tihic, FTV – “The Bosniak candidate Dzevad Radzo, who got approval, but meanwhile OHR sent us an official letter requesting additional information regarding the traffic accidence in which he was involved that happened in 1996,” said Sulejman Tihic, President of BiH Presidency. He added: “It has to be clear that it will be very hard to find candidates who will accept to be in process which is not transparent, where the reason for not nominating someone is not obligatory to tell and the responsibility relies on the ones who act and behave that way.” BHTV 1 – Presidency members Dragan Covic and Sulejman Tihic did not suggest new candidates for the positions of the BiH Army general. According to Tihic, the international community carries a part of responsibility for slowing down of the appointment process and implementation of the defense reform by dragging the vetting procedure and disqualifying candidates without any reason. Vecernji List, p 4, “Names of new candidates to be submitted by Minister”, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, “New candidates for generals’ positions”, Dnevni list, p, “Pleh, Tepsic, Foric and Milojcic proposed for generals” – also reported. |
| FBiH HoR adopts draft Law on Veterans’ Rights | RHB, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Veterans Law adopted’, pg 2 ‘Delegates adopted Veterans Law’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Law valid for HVO as of 1 January 2006!’, Dnevni List, front & p 2, “Unified Fund for Croat and Bosniak war invalids”, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, “Proposal of Veterans Law adopted”, Vecernji List, front page splash “Status of participants in war regulated uniquely”, pg 2 “Veterans Law adopted yesterday nevertheless” – FBiH House of Representatives has, after 9 years, passed a draft law on rights on Veterans’ Rights at the special session held on Wednesday. Ibrahim Nadarevic, the competent FBiH Minister, said that the Law implementation would start 8 days from the date of publishing it in the Parliament’s Official Gazette. According to the Law, members of the BiH Army (Bosniak component) will be receiving the necessary allowances as of January 1 2005, i. e. the time when the revision is over, while the members of the Croat component will be receiving the allowance in the same amount as it is now until the Inter-state Agreement is signed with the Republic of Croatia. The deadline for signing the Agreement is December 31, 2005. FTV –“Applying this Law for HVO members has been postponed for the period of one year, till December 31st next year, or until the agreement between BiH and Republic Croatia is signed. I think that this presents enough time for BiH to find solution and sign agreement with Republic Croatia,” commented Ahmet Hadzipasic, FBiH Prime Minister. There were several reactions to this new proposal, with SBiH asking for the law to be the same for all, and SDA was also not satisfied however accepted it. Federal House of People will also discuss this issue Friday. BHTV 1 – The FBiH House of Peoples will vote on this law on Thursday. If it adopts the Law, Federation will fulfil the condition posed by World Bank to negotiate 51 million dollars loan intended for social care in BIH. |
| RTRS feature on RS Veterans’ Law | RTRS by Daliborka Predragovic – The decision of the RS government to withdraw the draft Law on Veterans’ Rights from the Assembly procedure not only endangered approval of the World Bank loan, but also ‘rocked’ the majority in the RS National Assembly. Joint deputy club and SRS created confusion, while 2 votes were a problem. In the second attempt for the law to get the majority, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic will offer cooperation to others. Speculation has it that he would approach SDP and SBIH. “There could be political consequences because of this position of RSNA majority, especially Serb majority which is obviously obsessed and imprisoned in partial party interests and not in the interests of RS and its citizens,” said Dragan Mikerevic. “The intention is not to endanger the stand-by-arrangement with the World Bank but an attempt to satisfy interest of veteran’s population,” said Milanko Mihajlica, SRS Chairman. For the opposition the latest Government move is the proof that the executive government in RS has no parliamentary support.“ I think it is time for this Government to check the trust it enjoys in this Assembly and for Mr. Mikerevic to ask the Parliament to vote on their trust as obviously numerous projects suggested by the government have not been passed lately,” said Milorad Dodik, SNSD Chairman.“ I really don’t think that one rejected law, which was withdrawn by the government from further procedure, is to be taken as a confirmation of the crisis of Serb majority regarding support of the current RS government,” said Dusan Stojicic, SDS spokesman. |
| RS Veterans Association to hold protests on 11 May | Nezavisne Novine pg 10 ‘Peaceful protest on 11 May’; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Protests announced’, Blic front, pg 13 ‘They defend their rights on streets’, Vecernje Novosti p 21, ‘Amendments full of pain’ – At a press conference, representatives of the RS Association of Veterans and Families of Fallen Soldiers stated they could not accept the adoption of the Law on Rights of Veterans and Families of Killed Soldiers without their amendments and because of this they will seek their rights through peaceful protest on streets. The Association explained their decision regarding the protest with the fact the Government has withdrawn the Law from the Assembly procedure because the majority needed for the adoption of the Law did not exist. The Association also underlined they cannot accept blackmails of the World Bank “because nobody asks where did the Federation of BiH got 274 million KM from for veterans and disabled persons, while RS has got only 101 million KM” although the difference in the numbers of beneficiaries is only 14,000. The RS Government claims such a law has not been adopted in the Federation of BiH either, yet there are less stories about this and RS is again being held responsible for possible loss of the credit. |
| EUPM monitors ‘Hajducke vode’ case | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘RS police under investigation’, Blic pg 12 ‘Roberts: EUPM is monitoring “Hajducke vode” case’ – Alun Roberts, EUPM Spokesperson, yesterday announced that the Disciplinary Commission of the Republika Srpska Interior is tomorrow expected to determine measures against police officers, who took part in police action at Hajducke Vode on 19 August last year. At yesterday’s press conference in Banjaluka, Roberts also said that EUPM is informed “Hajducke Vode” case will be placed before Courts. |
| SDU opposes sending BiH troops to Iraq | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Deployment of troops in Iraq could be fatal’, pg 9 ‘let Presidency members send their own sons and daughters’ – SDU Vice President Sejfudin Tokic warned against the danger of the decision of the BiH Presidency to send troops to Iraq and called on the three Presidency members to send their own sons and daughters as an example. Commenting on ongoing preparations of current authorities for sending BiH forces to Iraq, Tokic warned the authorities that they do not have the support of BiH citizens and peoples for such a move. SDU thinks that only irresponsible authorities can make decisions opposed by the majority of BiH citizens. |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown meets RS leadership | BHTV 1, FTV – According to the media, a meeting between top RS leadership and High Representative Paddy Ashdown, was held in Sarajevo on Wednesday, during which they discussed fulfilling conditions for BiH accession to the Partnership for Peace. The special accent was put at the activities carried out by RS authorities to arrest war crimes suspects. According to unofficial information, one of the meeting agenda items was SDS financial report. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Cooperation with the Hague and truth about Srebrenica’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ashdown expects arrests of war crime suspects from Republika Srpska authorities’ – According to press release issued by the Cabinet of the RS President, Dragan Cavic, “the demand of the entire international community was underlined that RS should show practical and operational activity regarding the issued Hague indictments against people from RS.” The meeting at OHR in Sarajevo was attended by the Republika Srpska President, Dragan Cavic, RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, the RS Parliament Speaker, Dragan Kalinic, BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, Republika Srpska Interior Minister, Zoran Djeric, and OBS Director, Risto Zaric. |
| Terzic on public administration reforms | RHB, FTV, Blic pg 13 ‘Closer to Europe in five years’, Vecernji List page 3 ‘To get insight in situation first and only then to start with reforms’, Dnevni List page 7 ‘Terzic: Reforms are necessary for our sake and not because of EU’ – A conference titled ‘Reform of public administration through functional reviews’ was held on Wednesday, supported by EU and BiH Council of Ministers. Chairman of the CoM Adnan Terzic said that the aim of the conference was to inform the workers in administration, politicians and BiH public about the process of functional reviews of public administration through experiences of other countries, with accent on the EU requests for advancing and enhancing institutions and administration. He stressed that the public administration reform is a clearly set goal, condition and a requirement of our country on the road to European integration. Administration must not be a factor of slowing down development, stressed Terzic. |
| Petritsch on current political situation in BiH | Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘Parties that lead the war should had been removed’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview to daily, former High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch admits that many things could had been done differently during his mandate, but also reiterated that in many situation nothing else could had been done. Noting that significant changes are to be noted in BiH, he adds that however “fundamental issues have not been solved. Economy wise, we still don’t see the stage of enthusiasm, while the speed of implementing reforms and peoples mentality have not been changed enough. Young people do not get the real chance.” Asked to comment Dayton Peace Accord, Petritsch said that it would have been easier if those that led the war were removed at the time around DPA. Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 3 ‘Arrival to Bosnia is like return to home’ by M. Drinjakovic – Commenting the possible ban of SDS, Petritsch said that even more important from that was an effort by HR Paddy Ashdown to make this party responsible and transparent: “Unless SDS is ready for democracy, than it would be qualified as non-democratic and it would have to eliminate itself from the scene. That is a decision it has to bring on its own.” |
| Update to the Law on higher education | RTRS by Branka Kusmuk – The draft Framework Law on Higher Education in BIH, which was passed by the BiH House of Representatives, opens a door of Bologna process to BIH. Although sides are divided, everyone agrees that BIH needs a higher education reform in order to bring the education closer to European standards. BiH House of People will vote on this law on Friday, and if it is passed, the deadline set by the World bank will be met in order to receive 42 million dollar loan. In that case entity governments will have to make a new legislate on entity level that will be in accordance with the law at BIH level. University gets integrity but loses autonomy claim university professors. Agreement on University statute is given by the entity so representatives of Croatian people think that there are no strong mechanisms to protect their national interest. “We don’t have a guarantee that the right will be respected regarding the usage of Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian language where it is objectively demanded and normal in higher education institutions, and when it comes to that the right to study in ones own culture, that is [where the law] is not understandable,” said Tomislav Limov, deputy in BiH House of Peoples. “It is a hard compromise where jurisdictions are divided between the state of BIH and entities because World Bank insisted that finance funds are at least on entity level,” said Safet Halilovic, BiH Civil Affairs Minister. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘If dissatisfied, HDZ can appeal to BiH Constitutional Court’ – “I hope that the Law will be adopted following the contacts with the international community and the [authorized] Ministry, as well as with the HDZ,” states Halilovic adding that HDZ can always appeal before the Constitutional Court in case of dissatisfaction with the adopted Law. |
| VL on ‘crisis’ between SDA and HDZ | Vecernji List, p 4, “Threat with breaking coalition”, by Eldina Medunjanin – Referring to a high-ranking Party for BiH [SBiH] official as source of information, article carries that distribution of leading posts in FBiH Pension Fund, Roads Agency and Employment Bureau could cause another crisis in FBiH Government. Namely, the SBiH complains of not being consulted by SDA and HDZ when it comes to these appointments and the party wonders if it makes sense staying in such ruling structures. VL’s source also says that, despite the fact that it was rejected to have the mentioned appointments at today’s FBiH Government session, the point could nevertheless be included on Agenda. |
| NN: Not a single city with ethnic prefixes started procedure to change name | Nezavisne Novine pg 10 ‘Municipalities have not chosen new names’ – NN learnt at RS Parliament that not a single out of 12 municipalities in Republika Srpska, that must erase prefix “Serb” from their names, has forwarded proposal on change of name to Republika Srpska National Assembly. BiH Constitutional Court passed this decision on name change at the end of March. The municipalities must change their city names within three months time. |
| On issue of vote-of-confidence in CoM | Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Parliament majority lobbied delegates’ – Tihomir Gligoric, SP RS delegate at BiH Parliamentary Assembly, said that the initiative on a vote-of-confidence in BiH Council of Ministers failed to collect necessary majority support, because the representatives of the parliament majority had lobbied delegates not to vote for this initiative. He is of the view that “parliament majority should disband itself over this.” Following hours long debate on this initiative, BiH House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected this initiative. The Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, assessed that there is no reason to withdraw support to his Cabinet. Nikola Spiric, Co-Chairperson of the BiH House of Representatives, said that the opposition was aware vote-of-confidence would not get necessary majority vote. However, he also said that this opposition initiative was aimed at underlining that the opposition could not tolerate “stupidity and crime”. |
War crimes | |
| Srebrenica survivors to file lawsuit against Holland
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Compensation for 8000 survivors’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Lawsuit against Hollan will be filed in the Hague in July’ – Semir Guzin, a member of the international team of attorneys engaged by the 8.000 survivors of the Srebrenica genocide stated that the lawsuit against Holland is being finalized and in July they will officially hand the request for launching the procedure for compensation of damages before the court in the Hague. The lawsuit has over 250 pages; it was prepared by the international team comprising American and Dutch attorneys and four attorneys from Mostar. Guzin said that the amount of the requested compensation would also be announced in July. The definite amount has not yet been determined, and primarily this was one billion Euros for 8.000 victims. FTV – also reported. |
| IWPR says RS police planned to kill, not arrest, Milan Lukic | RHB, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘Milan Lukic was providing information about Karadzic to The Hague’, Dnenvi Avaz pg 4 ‘RS Police wanted to kill Milan Lukic because he leaked information on Karadzic’ – The latest report of the London Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) reads that the failed arrest of Milan Lukic in Visegrad (assessed at that time as the first serious attempt of RS authorities to arrest war crime suspects) was actually aimed at silencing Lukic, because he was providing the Hague Tribunal with the information about Radovan Karadzic. IWPR report refers to well-informed sources claiming that Lukic’s co-operation with The Hague has made him a police target. |
| Prosecution strongly opposes demand to drop genocide charges against Milosevic | Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 5 ‘Enough evidences for Milosevic’s responsibility for genocide in BiH’ by Sense news agency – The ICTY Prosecutor’s Office has opposed the proposal by the ‘friends of the Tribunal’ to acquit Slobodan Milosevic on the charges of genocide in BiH. In a document signed on Wednesday by the Chief Prosecutor for The Hague Tribunal, Carla del Ponte, the Prosecutor’s Office assessed that they had offered sufficient evidence that Milosevic‘s intention was to partly or completely exterminate the Bosnian Muslims as an ethnic group. The ICTY Hearing Council will decide on the request posed by the ‘friends of the tribunal’ in June. |
| Mikerevic: “Let them remove them if that would help us find truth about Srebrenica” | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘We need reconciliation and truth’, pg 5 ‘Let them remove them if that would help us to reach the truth about Srebrenica’ by Edina Sarac – In an interview to DA, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said he is satisfied with the work of his Government in past 15 months. As for the Srebrenica Commission, Mikerevic said that Commission ahs indicted better work in the past period. Answering to the journalist’s comment that Srebrenica Commission seemed to started working after High Representative Paddy Ashdown made pressures, Mikerevic said: “HR is there it estimate whether certain institutions or individuals fulfilled their obligations. I don’t want to comment that further…. But if I knew that my removal … would mean for that process to move forward, I would make that step and help to find solution.” Noting that there probably will be “several more victims” during the process of disclosing the truth about Srebrenica, Mikerevic stressed that will not stop the Government to reach its goal and find the truth. |
| Petritsch on arrest of war crimes suspects | Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘Parties that lead the war should had been removed’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview to daily, former High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch was asked to say why war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic was not arrested during his term, to which he answered: “That is another example what can be learned in the process. Remember, the first HR should negotiate for Karadzic not to involve with the politics at all. Only later he became enemy no. 1.” Petritsch continues that “the international community did not understand the depth of that problems at the time.” He concludes that all war crimes suspects must be brought before the justice, otherwise BiH will never become a normal country. Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 3 ‘Arrival to Bosnia is like return to home’ by M. Drinjakovic – also carries an interview with Petritsch, with similar messages. |
Economic issues/media | |
| Holbrooke ‘supports’ Bosmal on Vc corridor
| Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Holbrooke supports Bosmal’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Richard Holbrooke supports Bosmal’ – Richard Holbrooke, the creator of the Dayton Accords and currently Deputy Chairman of bank “Perseus” in New York, supported the company “Bosmal d.o.o.” in its attempt to build Vc corridor. During the meeting with the Executive Director of Bosmal, Edin Sabanovic, in New York, Holbrooke congratulated this company for launching the initiative on building a freeway on corridor Vc, offering all the necessary support and declaring that this project is very significant for stability of the entire region. In a letter of support that he handed to Edin Sabanovic after the meeting, Holbrooke stated that this project is of major significance for BiH ad the region, and that its building would accelerate strengthening of relations between Sarajevo, Zagreb, Belgrade and the entire South-east Europe. “I strongly support this initiative and I hope it will succeed, because it will largely enhance peace and stability in the region”, is stated in the letter of Richard Holbrooke. |
| BiH HoR fails to appoint concession commission | BHTV 1 – BiH House of Representatives rejected to appoint the members of the Concession Commission, as suggested by the Council of Ministers. While representatives from SDA and HDZ voted in a favour of the proposed list, SBiH, SDP, SDS, SNSD, PDP and SPRS representatives objected. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I don’t know what SBiH and SDS voted against Concession Commission’ – Chairman of Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, commented that the rejection to adopt the list of members of the Concession Commission was “a big step backwards. I have to talk with the delegates clubs as to why they voted against it… Some delegates talked about the things that are absolutely not true. The selection was entirely transparent, and not politically burdened.” |
| Croatian consortium should take over Hercegovacka Banka in two months | Slobodna Dalmacija front and page 2 ‘Consortium led by Todoric takes over Hercegovacka Banka in 2 months’ by M. Sivric carries that negotiations on the sale of Hercegovacka Banka to a consortium of leading Croatian companies should start and they will last from 6 to 8 weeks. According to SD sources, people from the Croatian consortium are expecting that the contract on taking over of Hercegovacka Banka will be signed in two months at the latest. The article says that people in Herzegovina welcomed the decision to sell HB to the Croatian consortium and the comments basically say that, nevertheless, the Croatian policy towards Herzegovina and Croats in BiH is not neglected. |
| OHR welcomes agreement of export of BiH products to Croatia | Dnevni List, p 12, “Increased police activities aimed at prevention of incidents”, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 “Increased number of patrols” – Sanela Tunovic, OHR Spokesperson, welcomed the agreement that would enable export of BiH dairy and meat products to Croatia. “Until now the farming sector, which has the capacity to create thousands of new jobs, has been held back by the failure of the relevant authorities to set in place appropriate certification systems, on which all exports depend, and failure to maintain high quality inspections”, she added RHB – also reported similar statement by OHR Spokesperson in Banja Luka Ljiljana Radetic. |
| Dispute about ITA premises
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Krajina” complained over selection of ITA building’ – The Construction Firm “Krajina” from Banjaluka has filed a complaint with the Tenders’ Commission of the Republika Srpska Government regarding its decision to select another bidder as the most preferable bidder, who offered the premises for ITA. Borko Djuric, Krajina Director, is of the view that this firm has had a better offer. Goran Radivojac, Spokesperson f Republika Srpska Premier, said that Law on public procurement stipulates that no comment should be made on order of offers at tender until appeals’ process ends. |
| DL on PBS Law
| Dnevni List, p 10, “PBS BiH will have exclusivity”, by Nermin Bise, carries an interview on the Law of BiH Public Broadcasting Service in which BiH Minister of Traffic and Communication Branko Dokic says that the main motive of the provision on distribution of revenues is “to create conditions for the RTV system to function on the entire BiH territory, to ensure funds for production of 24-hour programme and to create conditions at the same time to have 2 strong entity broadcasters. I believe that balance should be made in the way to jointly produce a part of the programme that would then be broadcast by entity TVs which would thus reduce their expenses and would be competitive to the state-level TV”, he says. In light of provision that entity broadcasters separately collect marketing revenues, Drago Maric, the PBS Director, says that the Law foresees a possibility for this to be changed and for marketing to be shifted towards the PBS BiH and that this model could be fully in function in a year’s time. |
Court proceedings | |
| McNair announces indictments to be raised against Jelavic, Prce, Rupcic
| RHB, Vecernji List front and page 22 ‘Bills of indictment arrive in 7 days’, Nacional Belgrade daily pg 19 ‘Indictment against Jelavic and Prce in seven days’ – Indictments against 4 Bosnians Croats accused of embezzlement in the case of Hercegovacka Bank will be raised within next 7 days. This was announced by John Mcnair, BiH Prosecutor in special department of BIH prosecution for fight against organised crime and corruption. In an interview for Banja Luka’s Nezavisne novine, Mcnair said that the indictments will be raised against former member of BIH Presidency Ante Jelavic, former FBIH Defence Minister Miroslav Prce, former director of Hercegovina osiguranje Miroslav Rupcic and director of Hercegovacka banka Ivica Karlovic. They will all be accused on the ground of the economic crime. Dnevni List front and page 3 ‘Fourth suspect Azinovic cannot be subject to trial in absentia’ by N. Dedic – DL says that according to their unofficial information the bill of indictment will be also issued against Ivica Karlovic who already stands the trial before the Cantonal Court in Mostar. DL says that the fourth suspect Ivica Azinovic is still on the run and according to the Law on Criminal Proceedings he cannot be a subject to a trial in absentia. |
| Toby Robinson heard before court as witness in HB case | Dnevni List front page splash and page 49 ‘By granting a credit principles of banking financial operations were violated’, Vecernji List page 22 ‘Due to Karlovic’s move bank did not cover itself’, Slobodna Dalmacija front page ‘Toby Robinson testified against Karlovic’ and page 19’ Robinson: Bank was damaged; Karlovic: Bank made money’ – Hercegovacka Banka Provisional Administrator Toby Robinson was heard before the Cantonal Court in Mostar yesterday as a witness in the trial against former Head of Hercegovacka Banka Ivica Karlovic, who was charged with the abuse of position and authorities. Among the other things, Robinson said that she is familiar with the loans that HB granted to company ‘Gratex’ from Tomislavgrad stressing that many principles of the banking financial operations, as well as, Law on Banks were violated in this way. The dailies also says that Robinson stated that due to the aforementioned loan the bank was damaged because the loan was not paid back in cash but in a real estate, while Karlovic said that thanks to this loan the bank earned a million KM on the ground of interest on arrears. Also reported in Sarajevo press. |
| Trial against Head of FOSS Department for Special Operations started | Dnevni List page 50 ‘Kristina Silic was endangering security of Colin Munro’ by V. Pasic carries that the trial against Head of the FOSS Department for Special Operations Kristina Silic started before the BiH Court yesterday. DL says that Silic is charged with endangering of security of former Deputy High Representative and Head of the OHR South Colin Munro on April 6, 2001, in Mostar during the riots caused by the SFOR’s raid of Hercegovacka Banka. |
| NN editorial on McNair | Nezavisne Novine editorial by Almedin Sisic pg 7 ‘McNair is showing us the way’ – The author is commending the work of John McNair, International Prosecutor at the BiH Prosecutor’s Office Special Department for fight against organised crime. Sisic is saying that McNair will become a part of domestic judicial history for several reasons. The first and the most important one is that McNair would bring criminal charges with BiH Court against four persons, two of whom have been almost “the untouchable” over the past few years. (He refers to case of Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Rupcic, Miroslav Prce and Ivica Karlovic.) The author says that Judge McNair will be remembered as the first Prosecutor in our state who found courage to process charges against persons, who were backed by the entire political and national milieu of one ideology. He also claims that information have leaked that similar proceedings may also soon be brought against former political leaders of other two constitutive peoples of BiH. |