Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 6 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| BiH Prosecution-Canada cooperate | 8th day of hunger strike in Mittal | RS Pres Cavic visiting |
| Ivo Miro Jovic in central | Explosion in Jahorina hurts 3 | RS PM Dodik in |
| Oil prices going up | Civil war victims protest | Bomb explosion at Jahorina |
TV news broadcast on 5 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| | Issue of mitigation of visa regime | Distribution of VAT revenues |
| Jovic in visit to HB Elektroprivreda | BiH & Slovakia signed 2 agreements | |
| HVIDRA in session | Dodik on single account | Better visa regime for BiH citizens? |
| MO HDZ marks 16th anniversary | Dzombic on single account | Exhumations start at Buk-Bijela |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BiH Fiscal Council in session | Distribution of VAT revenues | BiH Fiscal Council had meeting |
| Liberalization of visa regime | Mittal Steel workers’ strike | Police reform issue |
| Report on low birth rate in BiH | Protest of Sipad and Vranica workers | BiH proposal on visa regime mitigat. |
| Ljubinac pleads not guilty | Exhumations start at Buk-Bijela | Issue of constructions regulations |
| Oslobodjenje | Visa regime liberalization by end of year |
| Dnevni Avaz | [Islamic Community leader Reis Ceric] We listen messages similar to those from 1992 |
| Dnevni List | Military ship chases away tourists (Turkish military ship allegedly chases away tourists from neum) |
| Vecernji List | Open hunt for Croats has begun (HVIDRA – Croat war veterans’ session in Mostar) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Zubak and Jurisic gunning for power together! ( |
| Nezavisne Novine | Un-blocking was agreed upon [BiH Fiscal Council session] |
| Glas Srpske | Sincere tears of joy [RS PM handed over keys of apartments to families of killed soldiers and war invalids in Gradiska] |
| EuroBlic | The Government got positive mark and a list of new demands [First 100 days of RS Govt] |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Three Bosniaks injured in Jahorina by bomb thrown at them
| RTRS – Enes Causevic, Dzenan Kadic and Dzafer Kadic, all residents of Trnovo, were injured at Jahorina when an unidentified person last night threw a bomb at them. The three have been hospitalized at Kosevo hospital and are out of life danger. One person was released for home treatment, second patient is slightly injured, while one person was seriously injured. According to Danka Tesic, Spokesperson of the Public Security Centre East Sarajevo, police is investigating crime scene. BH Radio 1 also reported without names, but noting three Bosniaks were injured. |
| Civic victims of war protests in front of FBiH Parliament’s building in
| RTRS – Around 200 civic victims of war have this morning gathered in front of the FBiH Parliament’ building in Sarajevo, protesting against proposed changes to the Law, in line with which, the authority of this category of population would be reduced for 70%. The protestors demand their incomes are legally bound in the ration of 70% of incomes of war invalids. BH Radio 1 also reported. |
| FBiH HoR to vote on Law on right of elected officials
| BH Radio 1 by Ljiljana Radl – FBiH House of Representatives is in session today discussing the Law proposal on Rights of Elected Officials in the FBiH Institutions. At the last session, FBiH HoR has discussed the Law, but the voting was postponed as the provisions law has provoked strong reactions in the public mostly caused by the large food allowances which were originally envisaged 39 KM per day but now have been reduced to 26 KM per day. |
Economic and property issues | |
| BiH Fiscal Council temporarily unblocks single VAT account; talks on permanent solution to continue on June 20
| BHT1 by Irena Kljajic – The BiH Fiscal Council – in attendance of the three Prime Ministers – on Monday reached an agreement on allocation of public revenues from the Indirect Taxation Administration’s single account which will temporary unblock the payments to the FBiH, RS and Brcko District for June. BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic, RS PM Milorad Dodik and FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic announced the talks to solve this issue would be continued soon. “[On Monday] we have reached an agreement to lift the blockade [of the account]…[and] to implement regulations of the agreement three of us signed on April 26 [note: agreement says final decision on the coefficients would be made on a base of the VAT returns], and that the coefficients for June – but only for June – are established in line with that agreement”, stated Terzic. Dodik stressed he is against blocking of the account and underlined that according to previous agreement 32% of VAT revenues belong to the RS, 2% to Brcko District, and remaining 66% to FBiH. “We have accepted distribution of funds for June to be carried out on a basis of this agreement; however, new solution should be proposed by June 20, and it should be the best possible solution for the sustainability of the entire system”, stated Dodik. FBiH officials announced that they would not agree to blackmails; they deem that the final agreement should be satisfying for all sides. “We all should take only what belong to us. We don’t want somebody else’s money, but we also don’t want to give our own [money]”, stressed FBiH PM Hadzipasic. New meeting is scheduled for June 20, when the final solution on the distribution of money collected by the Indirect Taxation Administration should be reached. FTV- “ITA, and the experts of ITA Steering Board should propose the way we are going to calculate coefficients after July 1, in order to avoid new blockades”, stated Terzic. RTRS – “We believe that the fixed allocation [criteria] should be seriously considered. We should put this into law so we will not have daily or monthly problems regarding blockade of the single account”, said Dodik. Hayat, PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Account for entities unblocked for June’ by T.Lazovic, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Single account temporarily unblocked’ by FTV, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Un-blocking was agreed upon’ and pg 3 ‘Un-blocking of distribution of public funds today’ by R. Cengic, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘RS pleads for settling of accounts’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Temporary agreement’ by Z. Domazet – carried shorter reports. |
| EU against introduction of VAT zero rate, CoM Chair Terzic would not propose this rate for introduction
| RTRS – BiH Fiscal Council also discussed the letter by the EC on potential introduction of the zero VAT rate, which reads this rate is not in line with the European laws. Subsequently, it was concluded BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic would propose to BiH Parliament not to make any changes of the VAT rates in 2006. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Brussels against introduction of VAT zero rate’ by S.N. – In this letter, the EU Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs Klaus Regling stated: “Zero rates are not in line with EU legislative on VAT, but only lower rates, and only for specific types of products.” Regling also warned that decreasing VAT rate would decrease budget income, which would further lead to “significant threat to financial stability of country”. He concluded that zero rate could open larger possibilities for mistakes and irregularities in the system. |
| RS PM Dodik: RS to reconsider transfer of authorities it had made in indirect taxation system
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Account for entities unblocked for June’ by T.Lazovic, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Un-blocking was agreed upon’ and pg 3 ‘Un-blocking of distribution of public funds today’ by R. Cengic Inset ‘Dodik: Dixon’s decision is illegal’ – RS PM Milorad Dodik stated on Monday that the decision of ITA Steering Board Chair Joly Dixon to block the distribution of ITA funds was completely illegal and he announced RS would reconsider the transfer of authorities it had made in indirect taxation system, if it will be dissatisfied with the system. |
| RS Finance Minister Dzombic: system for allocation of VAT-revenues unreliable; says two existing banking agencies could be merged into one with seat in BL
| PINK by Dragica Tojagic – RS Prime Minister Aleksandar Dzombic believes that the Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) allocation system is not reliable. Dzombic proposed the introduction of a new model which would be based on participation of entities in payment o foreign debts by which to RS would obtain 3.5% more revenues in comparison with the current 29.5%. Dzombic also criticises BiH Telekom and said their VAT forms for January/ February were not correct, and further claimed that these situations affect coefficients on expenditures. Commenting the OHR initiative for the establishment of a single BiH banking supervision, which would foresee closure of the entities’ banking agencies, Dzombic said that if the RS accepts such option, this supervision should not be the responsibility of BiH Central Bank but an independent institution with a seat in Banja Luka. He added that Central Bank does not have the infrastructure and resources for these affairs, given that the two Entity banking agencies possess all the resources and infrastructure thus he believes it would be easier to merge the two agencies. RTRS – Dzombic denied the statement of Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, that entities and cantons irrationally spend money from ITA single account. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Allocation system unreliable’ by O.V., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Policy of depriving Srpska [of benefits]’ by D. Vrhovac Mihajlovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Agency should not control banks only’ by D. Risojevic, Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘New model of distribution of indirect taxes needed’, not signed – also reported. |
| OHR: two banking agencies would be excessive
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Agency should not control banks only’ by D. Risojevic Inset ‘OHR: two agencies are excessive’ – OHR Spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic stated the existence of two banking agencies that would deal with same tasks would be excessive, since the banks already have the possibility of conducting inter-entity businesses. ‘It is expensive and inefficient to maintain two banking agencies’, Radetic noted. |
| DA op-ed: RS PM Dodik is blocking reforms from which he cannot have financial interest
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Dodik’s fight for surplus of incomes’ op-ed by Tarik Lazovic – Commenting that in gaining power, the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik was mainly motivated by millions of KM of the surplus in budget incomes [due to VAT collection], editorial reads that “Dodik is excellently using state treasury, a product of reforms he is fighting against.” Noting that “RS is preventing implementation of state law and takes millions KM that FBiH citizens paid through VAT. This political arrogance, unfortunately, passes without consequences, without strong resistance and true reaction, which is the worst,” author comments that Dodik is blocking other reforms for he sees no financial interest. |
| Economists, syndicate activists, pensioners and veterans give passing grade to RS Government for first 100 days of its work
| EuroBlic cover pg splash, RSpg 1 ‘A passing grade and list of new demands to Government’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Daily reports that economists (Mladen Micic, president of RS Chamber of Commerce), syndicate activists (Ranka Misic, RS Syndicate Union Chair), pensioners (Rade Rakulj President of RS Pensioners’ Association) and veterans (Pantelijha Curguz President of RS Veterans’ Association) share the view in the first 100 days of its work, the RS Government has not implemented any major thing in the field of economy, but it did not disappoint them either. Although all of them share the view the result of Milorad Dodik’s Cabinet are “coloured with pre-election campaign”, more important actions regarding privatisation of strategic companies, resolving the status of employees who lost jobs and improvement of material status of pensioners, veterans and disabled persons are expected. According to inset ‘Topic: Link with election campaign’ – Tanja Topic, political analyst, is of the view what differs current RS Government from previous ones is the fact legislative activities were followed by Parliament, owing to which reason promises within the field of legislation were fulfilled. She is also of the view pre-election campaign has started. |
| World Bank: Economy in BiH growing, so is inflation
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Living costs increased for seven percents’ by Agencies, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘BiH economy growing, inflation too’, not signed – according to a statement released by the World Bank in BiH, the country’s economy in first quarter of 2006 has recorded strong expansion (5%) owing to foremost the growing mining and metal industry, however in the same time the inflation in BiH has grown. WB also raised concern related to slowing of key social and economic structural reforms. |
| Osl: Peljesac bridge to be used in election campaigns for Croatian elections; PM Sanader and Cro President Mesic disagree on solution
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘More and more voices in Croatia are against the Peljesac bridge’, mentioned on cover, by Darjan Zadravec, Zagreb – After the meeting of the BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic at the Summit of |
| | Dnevni List, pg 8, mentioned on front ‘Prove who is criminal’, by Mensud Zorlak – Leader of |
Political issues | |
| Technical negotiations on mitigation of visa regime to result with some agreement on scholars, students, businessmen; Officials talks to launch in fall
| BHT1 by Marina Martinovic – According to the first outcome of the informal technical negotiations between BiH and the EU on liberalization of visa regime that started on May 30, by the end of year visa regime could be mitigated for scholars, students, journalists, athletes and businessmen from BiH. The talks are informal as the EC has not yet been given mandate for the negotiations, while the formal negotiations on visa facilitation should start in autumn, confirmed BiH Foreign Minister’s Assistant for Legal and Consular Affairs Zoran Perkovic. However, BiH would have to fulfil numerous conditions if it wants visa regime to be completely abolished. “According to the statements of the European Commissioner [for Justice and Interior Franco] Frattini, the agreement on readmission with the EC and the introduction of biometrical passports are two conditions BiH will have to fulfil”, explained representative of the BiH Security Ministry Security Bakir Dautbasic. PINK – Dautbasic added that mitigation of visa regime might also include other categories such as individuals that need medical treatment in the EU countries or those with family members in the EU countries. Perkovic said that EU officials promised to discuss this issue and that the effects of the visa mitigation could be expected at the end of the year. It was also mentioned that BiH has signed contracts on readmission with all Schengen member countries except |
| Visa liberation regime demands: revision of naturalized citizens
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘Mitigating of visas for the EU by end of the year’ by M.Kavaz Sirucic – Deputy of the BiH Foreign Minister in charge of the Consular Affairs, Zoran Perkovic, stated that BiH has proposed several categories for which the visa regime would be alleviated and by which BiH’s final goal is to get to the so-called “Schengen White List”. Inset ‘Revision of Naturalized’- Obligations defined in ‘visa module for BiH’, which have to be fulfilled by mid of next year [so that BiH could ask for further liberalization or complete abolishment] contain: changes of the Law on moving, residing of foreigners and asylum, passing of series of sub-legal acts on visa issuing manner, as well as finalizing of the process of revision of naturalized citizens. |
| Bosniak Intellectuals, Orthodox Church as well as Catholic Church condemn poem which insults Jesus Christ
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| Islamic Community leader Ceric: We listen messages similar to those from 1992
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 6 ‘We recently listen messages similar to those from 1992’ by A.Malagic – At the occasion of Islamic high school baccalaureate, Islamic Community leader Reis effendi Ceric stated that BiH citizens have been recently given different messages: “Some of them are similar to those we were listening in year 1992 – who owns Bosnia, should there be one or more states, should one take something from BiH. Anyone can go wherever one wants, support the team one likes… but no one has right to take not an inch of Bosnian land.” Ceric also condemned “all insults on ethnic and religious basis.” |
| UK Embassy to BiH: the map of The Times does not reflect stance of G. Britain Government
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘The map of “Times” is not a stance of the Government’ by R. C. – The Great Britain Embassy to BiH on Monday explained neither the map nor text that were published in “the Times” magazine reflect the stances of the Government of Great Britain. The Times on Saturday published a text on possible future of |
| London Times editor on map anticipating creation of RS and Herceg-Bosna as separate states: We tried to show that Balkans is still instable
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘With map and article we tried to show that Balkans is still instable’ by L.Sinanovic – Commenting recently published map and accompanying article which anticipates some about 20 new European states to be formed by 2020, among them Herceg-Bosna and RS, the diplomatic editor of the London-based daily ‘The Times’, Richard Beeston, told DA: “We wanted to stress the way political map of Europe changed for the last 25 years, and [to point to the fact] it could be changed further. Establishing independent state of |
| SBiH Vice President Halilovic condemns ‘Times’ article anticipating creation of RS and Herceg-Bosna as separate states
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘These are not journalist’s imaginations, but demonstration of aims of certain British intelligence circles’ by E.Sarac – SBiH Vice President Safet Halilovic condemned London ‘Times’ for publishing the map and accompanying article which anticipates creation of Herceg-Bosna and RS as independent states by 2020: “At the moment when there are new initiatives for RS separation from BiH, such ‘cartographies’ in British press represents open support to these secessionists efforts.” Halilovic said that the article was not an incident or innocent journalist’s imaginations, but demonstration of aims of certain British intelligence circles against BiH’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. |
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| Sueddeutsche Zeitung pg 8 ‘Upsetting stagnation in Belgrade’ by Bernhard Küppers – Commenting the talk of RS referendum launched by RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, in an interview to German daily, the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling said that Dodik had elections in mind, declaring himself as a RS patriot: “That is however a bubble that rises and will have no permanent effect… |
| VL: Peoples in BiH have to recognize dignity of human beings
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Country with human face’, by Friar Iko Skoko – the author argues that the two most topical issues in BiH at the moment are the preparations for the forthcoming October elections and ‘whispers’ that the Serbs will ask for separation from BiH. In such reality, notes Skoko, BiH could become a country of extreme differences that could lead to another war or a country of dialogue that would be an example for |
| SD comment on separation referendum: Croat separatists getting what they want
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 11 ‘Herceg Bosna returns’, by Petar Milos – commenting on the statement by the RS PM, Milorad Dodik, regarding possibility of organization of separation referendum in BiH, Milos notes the statement caused numerous reactions by the Bosniak, Serb and IC officials, whilst in the same time the Croat officials kept silent about it, which leads the author to say that they either are sticking to the popular ‘silence is gold’ saying or simply have nothing to say. On the other hand, Milos argues that Croat separatists in BiH, those who advocate resurgence of ‘Herceg-Bosna’, are finally happy because they would certainly request a Croat separation referendum in BiH should the RS organize referendum of its own. |
| JL: Initiative for referendum is ghost over BiH | Jutarnji List, pg 18 ‘Initiative for referendum in RS is new ghost over BiH’, by Radovan Stipetic – comments on initiatives related to separation referendum in the RS saying the referendum, which would end in joining of RS and Serbia, would instigate other nationalistic tendencies aimed at division of BiH. Stipetic argues it is the Dayton Peace Accord which is the reason for opening of new ‘Pandora’s box’ in BiH because the entities are sources of instability and conflicts, instead, the author believes the best solution would be to organize BiH in ten or so cantons in which all peoples would be equal, so individual cantons would not be in position to think about joining ‘mother lands’. Finally, Stipetic says the HR, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, will have more work than he anticipated, believing that Schwarz-Schilling will not be the last HR in BiH despite the IC’s original plans. |
| FAZ: RS PM Dodik speaks of RS referendum only for purpose of wining elections | Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung pg 8 ‘On separate ways’ by Michael Martens – Commenting the Montenegrin referendum and subsequent talk of RS referendum by the RS PM Milorad Dodik, article reads that “PM usually described as a reform-oriented… launched only a rhetoric test balloon – elections in BiH are in autumn.” |
| Oslob op-ed:
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘New set’ op-ed by Edin Krehic – Commenting regional impact of Montenegrin independence, editorial reads: “Fall of former |
| HDZ BiH warns of assimilation and emigration of Croats from BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Prevent demise of Croats’, by Dario Pusic – On the occasion of 16th anniversary of HDZ Mostar, the HDZ BiH organized a public forum in Mostar on Monday. According to DL, the main message one could hear during the event was that the reality in BiH includes assimilation and emigration of Croats from BiH, which have to be prevented. The HDZ BiH President, Dragan Covic, warned of poor turnout of Croat voters in elections and danger that Croat representatives get elected by Bosniak parties. (similar reports in Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 11, mentioned on front ‘Croats prepared for emigration’, by Z. Zekic, Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘We will be minority if we do not take part in elections’, by Zoran Kresic) |
| VL feature story: Pre-election campaign will be fierce and dirty
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Campaign with less money and lots of dirt’, by Zdenko Jurilj – according to VL, the pre-election campaign, at least according to representatives of political parties VL has contacted, will be fierce and dirty despite latest provisions in the BiH Election Law, which limits expenditures of political parties during the pre-election campaign. According to HDZ 1990’s Bozo Ljubic, his party will conduct its campaign in a dignified manner, however should the competition opt to play dirty, HDZ 1990 will know how to reply. |
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| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cavic and Stojicic candidates for the top functions in RS and BiH’ by V.Popovic – Daily learns from a source at |
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| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 13 ‘Zubak and Jurisic gunning for power together!’, by Marko Karacic – Presidents of |
| SDU and BOSS sign coalition agreement for upcoming elections
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘RS must not be named “Srpska” in new BiH constitution’ by D. Mu. – SDU and BOSS held a press conference on Monday, during which they announced they would act as a coalition under the name “Patriotic Block” at the October elections and added the clause on impossibility of separation of any part of BiH and abolishment of prefix “Serb” in the name of RS will be important elements of new BiH Constitution these parties would suggest to be included. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘SDU and BOSS in coalition on next elections’ by A.Malagic – also announced. |
| Oslob op-ed: RS PM Dodik is the strongest in the country, building strength on fear of him
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Fear of Dodik’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Editorial refers to the letter addressed by the Ivo Bilic Markulj, representative of Croat community in Ilidza municipality [Sarajevo], protesting against the initiative of the BiH Ambassador to Turkey to include this municipality in the “Union of Turk world”, in which he calls on RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik to help out. The author takes this example of demonstrating Dodik’s strength, as Markulj was “convinced that [Dodik] would answer [his] call” as local politicians in FBiH “are afraid of him here”. Thus, believes Mrkulj, the problem would be solved. Commenting this statement, and on one made by DEPOS Co-Chair Svetlana Cenic [who said that FBiH sees Dodik as competition], editorial reads “Dodik is being perceived from two environments, two angles as someone people are afraid of and someone who can solve issues on that basis. RS PM and SNSD leader became political particularity with a different and stronger influence on BiH scene than any other RS politician after the war.” Noting that “Dodik is as much strong as BiH is weak”, author concludes that in the situation in which ‘movement for Greater Serbia’ is again threatening BiH’s Euro-Atlantic perspective “it is necessary for |
| PBS General Director Maric: ideal solution would be to change the law on allocation of TV-subscription
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Unjust allocation took FTV in crisis’ by A.Gajevic – Commenting that 50% of TV-subscription income belongs to Public Broadcasting System [PBS] while other half is being split between FTV and RTRS [25% each], FTV Director Jasmin Durakovic stated that FTV is suffering due to such budget allocation. He claims that 80% of all TV-subscribers live in FBiH territory. PBS General Director Drago Maric said this situation for FTV also damages the PBS, concluding ideal solution would be to change the law on allocation of TV-subscription. |
| NN op-ed comments on adoption of Draft High Education Law: outvoting had become natural
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Education’ by Sandra Gojkovic – The author reminds BiH CoM adopted Draft Law on High Education in spite to disagreement of RS Ministers and comments it is obvious something is wrong in the state when no consensus can be reached on a crucial element of Bologna Declaration, i.e. on the Accrediting and Licensing Agency. She also says it is wrong consensus had become outdated category while outvoting had become the most natural thing in decisions of state importance. |
Police, security and judicial issues | |
| BiH and
| PINK- BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak and Slovakian Minister of Interior Martin Pado signed on Monday the agreement on readmission of persons who do not meet the legal conditions for entering or staying on territories of the signatory states, as well as the agreement on police cooperation in fighting all forms of crime and terrorism. After the signing, Minister Colak said that this agreement is of a great importance for both countries. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Pado: To start process of visa abolishment as soon as possible’ by Onasa – Pado stressed that “signing of the agreement enable process of visa abolishment as soon as possible”. |
| BiH Security Ministry to investigate Canadian media allegations that terrorism arrests are linked to BiH
| BHT1 by Mirela Cosic – BiH Security Ministry will investigate Canadian media reports, according to which seventeen persons, arrested under suspicion they have planned to commit a series of terrorist attacks in |
| NN source: BiH Prosecutor’s Office forwarded information to Canadian colleagues in investigation on 17 suspected terrorists
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘BiH had forwarded information on the arrested terrorists’ by M. Cubro – A collocutor of Nezavisne Novine at BiH Prosecutor’s Office has stated that BiH Prosecutor’s Office had forwarded information to their Canadian colleagues regarding the investigation that had resulted in arrest of 17 persons, suspected of terrorism, in Toronto. Canadian media reported 17 persons arrested in |
| BiH Security Minister: OSA and police to get wire-tapping equipment
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Colak: There is no conflict, OSA and police to get equipment’ by M.Cubro – Following Monday report in NN (according to which Great Britain and EU would donate a modern wire-tapping equipment to BiH, but Ministers at BiH COM were fighting over as to what institution would get equipment), Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, Monday rejected possibility that a new agency (in charge of managing over equipment) would be formed, stressing: “I do not support establishment of new agencies, since there are already too many institutions. It could easily happen that authorities would overlap.” He is of the view SIPOA should get the equipment. Barisa Colak, BiH Security Minister, also rejected any sort of conflict exists at BiH COM on this, noting: “There are two projects. Great Britain will donate equipment toIntelligence Agency (OSA), while European Commission will provide tapping devices to police structures.” He did not want to specify which police structure would get these devices. Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, Monday did not want to comment on alleged clashes at BiH CoM on this issue. |
| RS officials: RS MoI, Police and regions under their authority are minimum that should be provided
| RTRS by Nada Arlov – RS Interior Minister Stanislav Cadjo believes that decisions passed by the Police Reform Directorate Steering Board without support of the RS representatives would face before the BiH Parliament the same destiny as “Martens plan”. Commenting the police reform, the RS National Assembly Speaker Igor Radojicic said that RS would not change the recommendations of the RSNA [On 11 May, the RSNA has adopted the “recommendation on model of the future police structure in BiH”, which urges the |
| | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH more and more successful in fight against people trafficking’ by S. Numanovic – US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice presented a report on trafficking people worldwide, which says that the BiH authorities are putting in great effort to fight against trafficking but that the country has not yet reached the standards to eliminate this sort of crime. |
| Changed law on establishing of Special RS Prosecutor’s Office before HJPC as of Wednesday | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Changed law before HJPC soon’ by D. R. – According to sources close to RS Government, a changed draft law on establishing of Special RS Prosecutor’s Office will be at HJPC as of Wednesday. According to some information, RS Ministry of Justice had prepared compromise solution to draft changes to the Law on fight against organised and economic crime, which foresees establishing of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. RS Government refused to reveal any details on the changes until HJPC presents its stance on this matter. |
War crimes | |
| Ljubinac pleads not guilty for war crimes in Rogatica; BiH Prosecution raised indictment with eight points
| Hayat – On Monday, Radislav Ljubinac from Rogatica, charged with war crimes against humanity, pleaded not guilty on all eight counts of the indictment before |
| Hearing for war crimes in case against Damjanovic starts; Prosecution to question 42 witnesses
| FTV – The main court hearing in a case of Dragan Damjanovic commenced on Monday before the BiH War Crime Chamber. Damjanovic is indicted for crimes against humanity – killing, torturing, raping and other inhuman acts – committed in Vogosca and neighbouring villages between July 1992 and January 1993. BiH Prosecutor’s Office announced that it would interrogate 42 witnesses and two experts during the court trial. PINK, BHT1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Prosecutor: Not Court can stay emotionless on witnesses’ testimonies’ by N.Jamakovic, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Prosecutor announced 42 witnesses and 2 experts’ by A.S., Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Prosecutor held introduction speech’ by A. Djozo, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Prosecution will question 42 witnesses’, by E. Mackic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Start of trials to Damjanovic’, by ra also reported. |
| Exhumations in Buk Bijela plant started on Monday; over 20 bodies hidden and buried in a tunnel which was mine
| FTVby Hasan Gabela – Exhumations of bodies of Bosniaks killed in 1992 started on Monday from the mass grave discovered at the location of Hydroelectric Plant Buk-Bijela near Foca. The bodies have been discovered in a tunnel that was used for examining the porosity of soil; the entrance to this tunnel was mined after the bodies have been buried. Representatives of FBiH Commission for Missing Persons assume that more than 20 victims have been buried in this mass grave, but the exact number will be known only after the exhumation is completed. Since it is not yet entirely clear when and where those persons have been murdered, it is too early to speculate about the names of perpetrators; however, FTV reporter unofficially learns that Gojko Jankovic and Dragan Zelenovic (both arrested under suspicion for war crimes) can be linked with this crime as well. PINK, BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Criminals hided bodies of innocent victims in Buk Bijela tunnel’ by A.Bajramovicalso carried. |
| Croat war veterans protest again arrest of its president Radic last Friday | |
Montenegrin referendum | |
| Serbian Assembly holds special session and declares that
| BHT1 by Vesna Simic, Belgrade – At the extraordinary session on Monday, according to the constitutional charter Serbian Parliament declared Serbia the legal successor to the former union of Serbia and Montenegro [Serbia now inherits membership of the United Nations and other international institutions, leaving Montenegro to apply in its own right], Parliament has not declared the independence of Serbia as officials explained this was not necessary, but BHT reporter speculates that the real reason was the lack of consensus. Radicals, late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic‘s Socialist Party and representatives of current Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica‘s party all agreed that |
| EU Ministers to discuss
| PINK, EuroBlic pg 3 ‘Solana’s offer stays’ not signed – Christina Gallak, Spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Affairs [Javier Solana] said that the EU doesn’t have technical competence to recognize the independence of Montenegro adding that all EU members would decide on this issue individually. Gallak also said that EU Foreign Ministers would discuss |
| BiH Foreign Minister: BiH will recognize
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘BiH will recognize Montenegro by July’ by R.Cengic – Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, Monday confirmed that if Agreement between all regional states, including Serbia, succeeds, BiH will recognize independence of Montenegro by the end of July, adding: “I am of the view it would be good if all states in the region, including Serbia and Croatia, at the same time and recognize the independence of Montenegro. I expect we will not need more than 20 to 30 days for that, since it is no longer such a spectacular issue.” He also noted that if this Agreement were absent, the BiH would first wait for recognition from EU. |