| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Session of BiH CoM | Restitution process | PBS reform agreed | RSNA session |
| HR’s press conference | PBS reform | Session of RS NA | HR’ press conference |
| HNK gov’t in session | HR’s press conference | HR’s press conference |
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| Croatian offer for highway |
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| Oslobodjenje | Investigation into Tudjam and Susak’s villages (construction) |
| Dnevni Avaz | Last warning to head of Federation Interior Ministry |
| Dnevni List | Fatima Leho comes to Hadzipasic’s office; We want to cooperate with Republic of Croatia in construction of Corridor Vc; Policy of BiH Croats will not be run from Zagreb |
| Vecernji List | Explanation on Vc demanded from Racan; Mostar hospital will not go into Federation’s hands |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Demobilization of soldiers: No money for severance pays; Office of new secret service in Mostar too |
| Glas Srpske | Boris Gaspar on money laundering and tax evasions: Bags without address; Association of Farmers: New Year’s eve at the border |
| Nezavisne Novine | OHR gave in to demands of ruling parties: Politicians take over control over public broadcasters; Paddy Ashdown’s message to Republika Srpska authorities: No increase of pays and pensions; Republika Srpska National Assembly on defence reform: Amendments to Constitution in public debate; Dodik: Serbs will not serve military service in joint army |
| Blic | Dragan Mikerevic: RS will not suffer sanctions because of the Tribunal; SFOR warns pupils: 700,000 mines are threatening |
| Dani | ‘Keepers of Yugoslavia, truth and/or deception: The names of UDBA (former Yugoslav communist police) associates from BiH’ |
| Slobodna Bosna | ‘All UDBA’s men – the book which shaken BiH’ |
| Ljiljan | ‘BBC is right – Television building should be sold’, Ante Markovic: All witnesses of Bosnia’s division, ‘Would you be informer?’ |
Economic/social issues | |
| Ashdown says higher pensions threaten overall economic stability
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Salaries, pensions increase would lead BiH into bankruptcy’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘RS Government bringing BiH before financial collapse’, ONASA – Enforcement of the decision heralded by the RS authorities on increase of wages and pensions in the public sector by 20 per cent would undermine the economic stability of the RS and BiH Federation as well as violate conditions of the stand-by arrangements and other contracts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), High Representative Paddy Ashdown said at a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday. Ashdown said that the IMF declared that it would not grant loans to BiH any more, so as to sanction failure to meet conditions of the stand-by arrangements. “If the RS continues to act in this direction, only in 2003, the BiH Council of Ministers will lose 10 million KM, the RS Government 20 million KM and the BiH Federation government 40 million KM,” said Ashdown, adding the actions taken by the RS will have more impact on the BiH Federation. He explained that the RS’s decision would bring in question the IMF’s loans for 2004, as well as the loans granted by the World Bank and the European Union, causing BiH to lose around 200 million KM. Ashdown said he was aware of the difficult position of employed persons and pensioners in the RS, but that this situation could not be changed by uncovered decisions, it could only be changed by economic reforms, which take time. Should the RS government fail to abandon the heralded decision, Ashdown heralded that he would make use of his authorizations, but would not say in which way. Vecernji List page 3, “Do not increase salaries or pensions”, by Fena, Vecerni List page 18, “Ashdown: RS endangers stability of BiH”, by Hina, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘No increase of pays and pensions’; Glas Srpske, cover and pg. 3, ‘Increases are too expensive’, Blic, p 13, ‘Paddy Ashdown: Give up from the increase, or I will punish you’, Vecernje Novosti, p 7, ‘Ashdown’s barrier for increase’ also reported on the HR’s press conference. |
| Mikerevic says pensions, salaries can be increased | Nezavisne Novine, Glas Srpske, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Mikerevic does not intend to give up on decision’ – Reacting on this statement of HiRep, Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, said that it is possible to provide resources for salaries and pensions increase. On HIRep’s warning regarding eventual measures, Mikerevic said: “The people, not the OHR, elected me!” |
| RS trade union, pensioner’s leaders disagree with Ashdown | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, FENA – RS Trade Union President Cedo Volas and RS Association of Pensioners leader Rade Rakulj disagreed on Thursday with the High Representative that increasing salaries and pensions in this entity was unacceptable. Volas said that he does not see how could this undermine the financial stability of BiH as Ashdown suggests. He said that if the RS Government supports Ashdown’s position it would bring itself down. “If the RS Government falls down under the demands of the High Representative it will not be able to survive”, Volas warned. Rakulj said that this decision comes as no surprise because the High Representative has done nothing for pensioners. Volas and Rakulj invited Ashdown and IMF representatives for the discussion on the issue. |
| BiH CoM discusses Vc corridor, Croatian bid | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Croatian proposal on Vc corridor supported’ – BH Council of Ministers defined on Thursday the response to the Croatia’s letter of intention on possible participation in the construction of the Vc corridor. Niko Grubesic, Deputy Minister of Justice of BH, stated at the press conference following the session that the BH CoM welcomed the initiative of the Croatian Government and expressed interest in cooperation with Croatia, especially on developing studies that would define solutions and create conditions for the preparation of the agreement on concession and the development of main projects. Grubesic added that the BH CoM views as serious the intention of the Croatian Government to, under certain conditions, finance preparation activities of the construction of the highway. He said that the Council of Ministers thinks that certain issues from the letter of the Croatian Government need to be explained in order to create a clear position for negotiations in this offer. Vecernji List (front page, “Explanation on Vc demanded from Racan”, and page 2, “Sarajevo demands explanation of Racan’s plans on Vc”, by D. Jazvic), Slobodna Dalmacija (page 7, “BiH stands for cooperation with Croatia with regard to preparation for Corridor Vc”, by Z. Rerig), Dnevni List (front and page 3, “We want to cooperate with Republic of Croatia in construction of Corridor Vc”, not signed) and Vjesnik (page 2, “BiH CoM wants to cooperate with Croatia in construction of Corridor Vc”, by A. Zornija) also covered this issue. Vjesnik says that after a failure of Bosmal’s offer, the Croatian letter of intention is being treated in a different way. |
| RS’ Gaspar on tax evasion
| Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Bags without address’ – In an analysis of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Trade and Tourism, Boris Gaspar, Republika Srpska Minister of Trade and Tourism, said that only in last few months, Republika Srpska Trade Inspection detected illegal trade in goods of BAM 120 million worth, by which the Republika Srpska budget was damaged for BAM 24 million. This document was forwarded to Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, Branko Krsmanovic, Republika Srpska Minister of Finance, and Zoran Djeric, Republika Srpska Interior Minister. The document reads that some firms were registered on the same address (sometimes even five or six fictitious firms). For this failure, Gaspar accuses Courts, which he finds to be the weakest link in the campaign against tax evasion, existence of fictitious firms and money laundering… In the document, Gaspar also raises the following question: is the salary of BAM 3 thousand small, meaning should the salaries of judges be increased to order to make them start doing their job? |
| Announcement of protest by BiH farmers | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘New Years’ Eve at the border’ – Vladimir Usorac, President of the BIH Association of Farmers, yesterday addressed a letter to the joint institutions of BiH and also Republika Srpska institutions, in which he demanded placement of moratorium on the Contract on Free Trade with neighbouring states. He also announced that unless this request is met, farmers would gather at the border on New Years’ Eve. |
| RS Telecom update | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘In three days, Banjaluka seated “Elnos” firm got BAM 150 thousand’ – On behalf of Telekom Srpske, Zeljko Jungic, General Manager of Telekom Srpske, in one day only, signed two contracts on sale with firm “Elnos” from Banjaluka. In this manner, he avoided the implementation of the Law on Public Procurement (which stipulates that the tender must be announced for any contract whose potential price is to exceed 50 thousand BAM.) Each contract is of approximately 49,974 BAM. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘Government to end Telekom affair’ – Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, announced that the Republika Srpska Government is today expected to take an official stance regarding actions of Telekom Srpske management, after Republika Srpska Parliament failed to take any stance on report of international auditor report on Telekom. |
Media restructuring | |
| Dokic says radio-TV reforms “good enough” for European Commission
| BHTV, SRNA – Branko Dokic, the BiH minister of transport and communications, considers the proposed reforms of the public RTV system to be good enough for the European Commission tomorrow to approve the aid of 1.5m euros for the infrastructure of BHTV1. The BiH Ministry of Transport and Communications submitted these proposals in the form of working documents to the European Commission, the OHR and the authorities in BiH, and also to the management committees of the three public broadcasters in the country. Speaking in Sarajevo on Thursday, Dokic said the working documents contained several new proposals which take into consideration all European recommendations and criteria in this sphere, and provide a sound legal basis for a further democratic debate. It was proposed that the public broadcaster for the territory of the whole of BiH should transmit its signal on the entire territory of the country. The two entity broadcasters would remain as totally independent institutions with independent editorial policies, Dokic explained. Also proposed was the setting up of an inter-editorial board for the need of coordination between the three broadcasters and for the exchange of programs and news bulletins. |
| EC on PBS reform | RTRS – European Commission will decide on Friday whether to donate 1,5 million euros to the PBS, stated EC Commissioner for Foreign Relations, Chris Patten. High Representative stated that in order for these resources to be approved, BH authorities have to convince EU that they are ready to decrease expenses of the broadcasters and to start serious reform. PBS BH is reality and symbol of overcoming of the division. This system is currently in difficult financial position, due to low level of collection of the subscription, but also because of the inadequate legislative and old-fashioned business initiative. PBS Steering Board agreed that changes are necessary, but that the creation of the law on three broadcasters is obligations of the entity governments and the state. Opinion is that as soon as increase of collection of the subscription shows, functioning of this system will be put under the control. RT RS is prepared to get itself involved in the reform, and in that sense it has already laid off some 20% of its employees. Implementation of the plan of restructuring of the PBS, on the basis of according should commence on January 1, 2004 and it should end in 12 months. Since there are some 1800 people currently employed in public broadcasters, there will be certain downsizing, but only according to the law. |
| All three governments in BiH approve agreement on continuing reforms in PBS | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, ONASA – A continuation of reforms of the public broadcasters has been agreed with a political compromise of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the BiH authorities. BiH Federation Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, his Republika Srpska counterpart Dragan Mikerevic and Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic last night concluded the agreement on basic principles for the public broadcasting system (PBS) in BiH, which consists of three broadcasters and joint infrastructure. All three governments approved the agreement on Thursday. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Politicians take over control over public broadcasters’; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Low interest from subscription’ also reported on the agreement. They also carried following comments: Slavko Kukic from FTV said that this agreement saw no changes from the original model laws, except one point, which places the appointment of steering boards under parliament authority. He also said that OHR has backtracked public broadcasters three years back. And in this manner, BiH has lost public broadcasters and again got state televisions. Danko Ruzicic, from RTRS said he knew nothing of the agreement between Prime Ministers. He added that such principle would violate the principles of the European Commission, which does not allow placement of public broadcasters under parliaments. Frane Maroevic, from EC denied to make any comment on the agreement between prime ministers on PBS, because has not received any official information on this. The OHR Spokesperson, Vedran Persic, said that OHR does not intend to comment on existence of agreement amongst prime ministers. Dragan Mikerevic , Republika Srpska Prime Minister, did not confirm as to whether such arrangement was made or not, stressing that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, will ask from European Commission to extend deadline from 7th to 15 November – deadline by which broadcasters need to take stand on proposed model laws. Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Fulfilment of RS principles’ also carried Mikerevic’s statement. |
| Public Broadcasting Service management says BBC plan good basis for reform | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Put RTV subscription on phone bills’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, Blic, p 13 ‘Blackmail over help’, Vecernji List front “Situation at Television is not catastrophic” and page 5 “Situation at Television is far from catastrophic”, by Ivica Pjanic, Dnevni List, page 5, “Monthly losses of three million KMs because of non-payment of subscription fees”, by P. Radic, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 19, “BBC becomes acceptable!”, by B. Kristo, FENA – Executive Commission of the Steering Board of the Public RTV System BiH (JSRTV) declared that the proposed document of BBC consultancy represents a solid initial base for a wider expert discussion within the three public broadcasters, and regards it as a working material susceptible to changes, was stated on Thursday at press conference of presidents of the Steering Boards of the Public RTV System BiH, RTRS and RTVFBiH. President of the Steering Board of JSRTV Plamenko Custovic explained that there could not be any conditioning for accepting the BBC proposal, considering that the Restructuring Plan, as well as the Personnel Plan, was issued by the Steering Board. He also stated that the BBC proposal would not be accepted until the set deadline. In regard to the 1.5 million Euros donation from the European Commission, President of the Steering Board of RTV FBiH Slavo Kukic said that the mentioned sum is not conditioned by accepting the BBC plan, but by adopting new legislation, i.e. Model Law on Public System. This is a donation from 2001, which was envisaged for buying of transmitters with the purpose of insuring a better coverage of territory by signal. It was stated that the current financial crisis in the System is largely a consequence of very low rate of paying RTV subscription, which is currently estimated at about 35 percent, and the mechanisms of payment are not in the hands of public broadcasters. The Steering Boards stressed that resolving of the RTV subscription problematic, as the basic source of finance for the Public System, is an absolute priority. |
| RTV BiH Trade Union on PBS reform | BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Trade Union calling Financial Police’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 – The Independent Trade Union of the RTV BiH in transition on Thursday requested parliaments to ensure better collection of subscription fees in order to ease current difficult financial situation in all three broadcasters in the country. The Trade Union also called on Financial Police and other authorized bodies to investigate into reasons and determine responsibility for such the financial situation. |
| PBS Director on the reform | Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 19, “They canceled our incomes, push us into debts and would like to judge us now”, by Zdenka Rerig) – carries comments of the PBS Director, Drago Maric, to the whole situation. “After three years, this law was imposed by the High Representative and its application started on October 1, 2002 in the part concerning the subscription. This canceled all forms of incomes that the State was providing on different basis and the broadcasters have been left with subscriptions and marketing money only. In that part we became dependent on the authorities and parties, and in the same time we became real poor”, says Maric. Maric also comments stories that the RTV building in Sarajevo will be sold: “To be honest with you, we still haven’t figured out where the idea came from. I think it comes from the OHR together with the proposal of new law, and what are and whose interests these are, it is unknown to us (…) The building was purpose- built for the TV and it cannot be used for anything else. Stories that the building has not been used to the full capacity have some ground, because it was made during the Olympic games in Sarajevo and at that time 2400 people worked here. But, the free space can be used for renting, which can make financial profit”, says Maric adding that there are talks with several companies to rent some 4000 square metres. Dnevni Avaz also carried Maric’s statement. |
| Dani: Alternative to BBC plan is a certain bankruptcy
| Dani pgs 32&33 ’24 million reasons for the changes’ by Ermin Cengic – Dani magazine carries out the article on heavily criticized BBC Consultancy plan on PB system reforms. Referring to numerous critics coming from workers of public broadcasters, articles reads that they mistakenly blame BBC and HR Paddy Ashdown for their overdue salaries, but that guilt is on those ‘they watch every day: starting from head of Syndicate and former deputy director of RTV BiH Fahrudin Balvanovic, to all sorts of Marics, Durakovics, Topic-Crnojas and others who passed through BHRT and FTV steering and management boards. Therefore, there is no bigger hypocrisy form those people openly or secretly spitting on solutions being given by the IC… They are the ones who, up to 30 June 2003, made or tolerated 24 million KM of debt… Instead of turning workers towards the real source of their problems – to incapable management – Balvanovic’s syndicate attacked what is actually the last chance for salvation of the public broadcasters in BiH, and that is BBC’s plan.’ Magazine further givens plan’s details of envisages structure, reading that such PB system would not only provide with strict control over expenditures, but also enable radical savings through decrease of salaries or staff redundancies. However, Slobodna Bosna claims that proposal for selling RTV building was mistake, as it offers large possibilities for renting. Second author’s objection refers to extending CRA’s authorities regarding selecting of the candidates for PB system’s Governing Board and managing finances of the PB Fond. Magazine claims even CRA leadership objects to later. ‘Whether somebody likes this plan or not, there is no other one. Alternative to BBC plan is a certain bankruptcy.’ – concludes the magazine adding that debts must be paid off, and the number of employees reduced. |
| SB: Due to Ashdown’s self-will and his ‘expertise staff’ RTV system in BiH faced collapse | Slobodna Bosna pgs 13&14 ‘Due to Ashdown’s self-will and his ‘expertise staff’ RTV system in BiH faced collapse’ by Danka Savic – Writing on current debate on the PS system reforms, author writes that HR Paddy Ashdown in accusing bad management for the situation in public broadcasters, ‘too easily neglected accusations made against IC… referring to its share in responsibilities when it comes to reform of RTV BiH.’ It further states that the ‘confusion present in the field of PB system reforms for years was significantly contributed by the international community with its expensive and useless experiments. For years OHR had a department that was included in the PB system transformation, but it is entirely unclear what its experts did up to date’. Article is further negative about the change of the Law on public broadcasters, and stresses that BBC plan was based on those model laws proposed by OHR even though they have not been adopted. ‘In addition… there is a need also to change the Law on CRA, which in accordance with the new model gets extremely broad authorities…. The question is whether BBC team works as consultant to PBS as it says to be, or extended hand of OHR?’ Claiming that BBC plan gives very poor explanation for what are public broadcasters, magazine reads that the issue of what public broadcasters are and what they should look like ‘is the main reason of dissatisfied workers to be resentful towards BBC plan and new Laws on public broadcasters.’ |
| Ljiljan believes subscription is not the main problem | Ljiljan pgs 31&32 ‘Give subscription, for everything else we’ll go easy’ by Mugdim Hasanovic – With regard to on-going discussion on PB system reform and BBC’s plan [stressing the problem BIH faces often is that foreign consultancy are placed above the laws and constitutions, being imposed], Ljiljan writes about the proposal to sell RTV building in Sarajevo and firing of almost 500 workers who are surplus. Noting that 1500 pgs long plan certainly contains many mistakes, management and leadership of public broadcasters blamed citizens for disastrous situation, as they do not pay for subscription. Author writes that even though citizens stood behind broadcasters in this ‘quarrel between PBS and OHR’, Chairman of PBS Governing Board Plamenko Custovic, instead of finding serious solutions to the situation, called his audience ‘sheep that everyone can deceive and order not to pay subscription, which is their legal obligations.’ Ljiljan adds that ‘management and PBS syndicate needs no BBC consultants to understanding that FTV and PBS are not social institutions or employment bureau… that they have to finally get rid of surplus of workers, to implement strict measures for saving and that they cannot make monthly loss of a million KM, that editorial police must not be lead by high-school graduates…’ Magazine concludes that public broadcasters’ workers must be aware that BBC consultants ‘are right in many things… Qualifications of the most exposed journalists in desperate, as well as the entire editorial policy, which is the reason for non-payments of subscriptions’, and adds that once these problems are solved, citizens will not have to be pressured to pay subscription as majority will do it voluntarily. |
Political developments | |
| SDA representatives in HNC Parliament left the session
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna – SDA representatives in HNC Parliament left the session after HDZ representative, Ivan Bender, proposed amendment to the HNK Constitution, stating that official languages of the Canton are: Croatian, Bosniac and Serbian. This was the first item on Thursday Parliament’s agenda. According to Nusret Avdibegovic, SDA representative, they have not left the session, but went out, being offended with the fact that some representatives in the Parliament do not recognise Bosnian language. According to the Deputy President of the Parliament, Omer Cevro, session was interrupted, since Bosniac representatives have left it. But, according to Ljubo Zovko, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament, only certain number of the representatives, from SDA and Party for BiH have left it, but since the discussion was on Constitutional changes, session could not be continued since it takes at least 2/3 of the representatives for decisions to be adopted. It is not known when the session will continue. Dnevni List (front and page 18, “Bosniak representatives leave session because of name of language”, by V. Kljajic), Slobodna Dalmacija, “Bosniaks leave session!”, by Zoran Zekic, Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 also reported on the issue. |
| RSNA adopts defence-related constitutional amendments | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Eight constitutional amendments forwarded to public debate’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Amendments in public debate’, Blic, p 13 ‘Command in Sarajevo’ – RS National Assembly adopted draft amendments to the RS Constitution referring to the defence reform in BH, and this draft will be sent for public discussion till November 21. Ruling and opposition parties supported almost all of the amendments. According to the changes, RS Army would not be under the command of the RS President, but BH Presidency. Also, professional part of the RS Army, as well as recruits, would become part of the BH armed forces; right to pronounce war would be on BH institutions; right and obligation of RS citizens would be to defend BH territory, not only RS as it was till now. SNSD proposal on establishing purely professional army was not adopted. SNSD representative stated that if the Government wants to go into this reform alone, without these changes being accorded, they will for sure fail. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
| Dodik on defence | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Dodik: Serbs will not serve military service in joint army’ – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, last night stated that the ruling composition in Republika Srpska does not acknowledge that Serbs will never serve the military service in BiH joint army. In Laktasi last night, Dodik said that following OHR instructions, SDS and PDP are working against the interest of Republika Srpska people and in the interest of centralised BiH. |
| RSNA rejects SDA initiative for change of RS symbols | BHTV – SDA proposal on the change of the Law on Anthem, Coat of Arms, Seal and Territorial Organisation of RS was not accepted by the RS National Assembly on Thursday. SDA thinks that those are exclusively nationalistic symbols, not compatible with provisions on constituency of all three nations. SDA left opened option to initiate discussion on this before the BH Constitutional Court. |
| HDZ presents its candidates for Croatian elections | Dnevni List (front and page 4, “Policy of BiH Croats will not be run from Zagreb”, by E. Mackic) – the HDZ of Croatia started its pre-election campaign for the 11th constituency i.e. the Diaspora in Sarajevo yesterday by presenting its candidates. HDZ’s candidates, namely Zdenka Nedjeljka Babic-Petricevic, Florijan Boras and Kresimir Cosic informed the attendees about the HDZ’s programme. “We decided to start the campaign from Sarajevo although not many Croats live in it today and although we cannot expect too many votes in Sarajevo. We decided to start in Sarajevo because it is the capitol city of BiH, therefore the capitol city of BiH Croats”, said Boras. Admitting that the HDZ (of Croatia) made a few mistakes when it comes to policy towards BiH, Boras accused the current authority in Croatia of forsaking the BiH Croats. “HDZ is ready to change that attitude”, aid Boras adding that the policy of BiH Croats will not be run from Zagreb. (Vecernji List, page 4, “Policy of BiH Croats will not be run from Zagreb”, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 16, “Croats in BiH to get complete help”, by Zlatko Tulic) |
| DL: Fatima Leho to replace Hadzipasic | Dnevni List (front and page 9, by Z. Jukic) – the author learns from sources “close to SDA top” that the President of SDA City Board in Mostar, Fatima Leho, is the most likely candidate to become a new Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Prime Minister if the right-wing fraction in the SDA manages to get rid of the current PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic. Apparently, right-wing, gathered around Hasan Cengic, mind Hadzipasic’s inability to put the FBiH Police under control, hence the letter that the PM Hadzipasic sent to the OHR, requesting the removal of Director of FBiH MoI, Zlatko Miletic. |
| Constitutional Commission of HoR of FBiH Parliament | Dnevni List (page 8, “Through change of Constitution to election of new Head of Municipality” not signed) carries that the Constitutional Commission of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament held its session and the OHR representatives led by Principal Deputy High Representative, Ambassador Donald Hays, also attended the session. DL says that the Commission discussed possible changes and amendments to the FBiH Constitution that refer to direct election of Heads in Municipalities. It was concluded that the current provisions of the FBiH Constitution should be changed so citizens can elect Heads of Municipalities directly. |
Legal affairs/proceedings | |
| Restitution
| BHTV – Process of restitution has not been started yet and new law on the issue is expected to be passed soon. According to current draft of the law some 18 thousands people may loose their apartments. PDHR Donald Hays expressed concern: “It may have serious implication and worsening of economic stability in BiH…Parliament should very carefully consider in legal and economic consequences of the draft law.” Constitutional-legal commission will discuss draft law as proposed by chairman of the House of Representative Nikola Spiric. According to his proposal the state should pay compensation for nationalised apartments. It is anticipated such solution would require long period of time for completion of these settlements. Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Restitution is still not ready for parliament’ also carried Hays’ statement. Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘Terzic and OHR requested revocation of Spiric’s draft’ – According to the newspaper, BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic joined PDHR Hays in request for revoking Spiric’s restitution bill from the parliamentary procedure. Oslobodjenje carried OHR Spokesman Kevin Sullivan’s statement on the issue. |
| ‘Investigation into construction of Tudjman, Susak’s villages’ | Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 5 ‘Investigation into construction of Tudjman, Susak’s villages’ – Mirsad Resulovic, the HNC Prosecutor, confirmed in a statement for the newspaper that his request to check legality of construction of new building of certain locations in western Mostar and investigate into robbery of some building from their pre-war owners was based on reports submitted by a large number of Mostar citizens. He rejected claims that the investigation had been launched to ruin Croat national interests in Mostar. |
Police/security affairs/inspections | |
| Last warning to Federation Interior Ministry heads
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 3 ‘Last warning to Federation Interior Ministry heads’ – The EUPM Commissioner, Sven Frederiksen, and SDA President Sulejman Tihic will gibve another 30 days to FBiH Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic and Police Administration Director Zlatko Miletic to overcome current tensions inside the Ministry. |
| Intelligence sector reforms | Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 17, “Office of new secret service in Mostar too”, by Zlatko Tulic) – regarding the talks that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, had with members of BiH Presidency on the issue of BiH Law on Intelligence-Security Service the other day, SD reports that the Bosniak member of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, opposed a possibility of establishment of regional offices. According to SD’s knowledge, HR Ashdown confirmed that the seat of the future service would be in Sarajevo and that additional two regional centres ought to be established. Apparently, it is about regional offices called the Southern and Northern ones. In this context, SD says that according to sources close to the OHR, it is almost certain to say that the aforementioned offices would be located in Mostar and Banja Luka. Vecernji List (page 4, “SDA and HDZ ‘crush’ Kocsis in Parliament”, by Eldina Medunjanin) – reports that after the HDZ opposed the Proposal of state law on intelligence-security service, it is now the SDA that is opposing the Proposal too. Apparently, Sulejman Tihic is opposing the proposed solutions saying that he is against establishment of the service through simple merging of the current entity services. He believes that the state intelligence, if it were to be created through the merger, would not be efficient because its work would be burdened with affairs and scandals from the past period. In that context, Tihic reckons that new, scandal-free cadres should be hired. |
| SFOR operation in Zenica | Vecernji List (page 2, “Information on action to Ashdown”, by D. Jazvic) carries an SFOR spokesperson, Jeremy Todd, confirmed at a press conference held in Sarajevo yesterday that the SFOR searched premises of the Zenica-Doboj Cantonal Court and Prosecution in cooperation with the OHR and added: “SFOR will analyze the seized documentation, and it will inform the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, about the results of the control immediately after the job is completed.” Todd did not want to talk about reasons behind the search, reiterating that the operation was conducted in order to check whether the Dayton Peace Accord is being respected since it serves interests of BiH people. Dnevni List (page 5, “SFOR will inform HR on results of operation in Zenica”, not signed) also covered Todd’s statement. Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 20, “SFOR was copying case files”, by I. Milesic) carries that during the aforementioned operation, SFOR made copies of the documents regarding the case of former Minister of Interior of this Canton, Mehmedovic, who was charged, together with a few of his colleagues, with the abuse of the position and authorities. Also, SFOR made copies regarding the case of the so-called Doboj group (4 Serbs charged with war crimes). Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
| Attacker on Oslobodjenje journalist apprehended | Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Attacker on Oslobodjenje journalist apprehended’ – Samir Luster Dugalic was apprehended in Mostar on Thursday after he had for the second time verbally attacked Oslobodjenje journalist Nermin Bise. Dnevni List page 50, “Samir Dugalic Luster arrested”, by N.D., Slobodna Dalmacija page 7, “Attacker finally detained”, by A. Vlaho also covered this issue. |
War crimes | |
| Mikerevic on co-operation with ICTY
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Sanctions will not be imposed against Republika Srpska’ – Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, expressed his view that no sanctions will be imposed against Republika Srpska< owing to its failure to fully cooperate with the Hague Tribunal. He also said that during meetings with international officials, he underlined the fact that 30 thousand SFOR soldiers stationed in BiH for years have failed to apprehend war crime suspects, although this is stipulated by their mandate. Sarajevo media, Blic, p 13 ‘Mikerevic: there will be no sanctions because of The Hague’, Vecernji List page 3, “There will be no sanctions for RS”, by also carried the statement. |
| SNS on Srebrenica Commission | Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘In the interest of their damage’ – SNS issued a press release, in which it commented on the statement by Dragan Mikerevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister, regarding establishment of Srebrenica Commission. SNS is of the view that “This is another in a line of activities by Government, which are not in accordance with legality, legitimacy neither with reality of Republika Srpska”. |
| DL: “General Perisic under ICTY investigation for crimes in Herzegovina?” | Dnevni List (back page, unsigned) reports that a former general of JNA (People’s Army of Yugoslavia), Momcilo Perisic, is under investigation of the ICTY because of crimes committed in 1992 against civilians in the Mostar area, during the time he was in charge of the Herzegovina corps of JNA, as confirmed by the Cantonal Prosecution in Mostar. The Cantonal Prosecutor in Mostar, Mirsad Resulovic, says the Prosecution has submitted the ICTY Prosecution documentation on Perisic’s role in the Mostar area from 11 years ago and according to his knowledge the ICTY Prosecution will go ahead with indictment against Perisic. |