OHR BiH Media Round-up, 7/1/2006
TV news broadcast on January 6
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Church holiday of Holy Three Kings | Abazovic’s condition stable | EUFOR on Abazovic case |
| EUFOR on action in Rogatica | Cavic’s letter to EUFOR Commander | Protests of decertified police officers |
| Price monitoring team holds meeting | OHR on Rogatica operation | Tial BiH vs. SCG won’t be postponed |
| Price of oil wont be decreased | Price monitoring in FBiH | Bozic on dispute with HDZ |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| OHR on police certification process | 2005 ended with high trade deficit | EUFOR on incident in Rogatica |
| OHR, EUFOR on Rogatica operation | VAT caused price increase in Brcko | Explosive thrown on house |
| Stand-by agreement with the IMF | Prices in Una Sana Canton | Price monitoring in RS |
| Deficit in the foreign trade exchange | Price Monitoring Team in session | Price monitoring in FBiH |
| Oslobodjenje | Struggle of factions within HDZ is not over |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic: Introduction of zero rate is possible |
| Dnevni List | Sanader called on Covic to step down from HDZ?! |
| Vecernji List | Cavic: None has right to kill people (Reaction on Rogatica incident covered yesterday) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Catalyst worth 4 millions Dollars sold without tender |
Update on EUFOR’ s action in Rogatica/War crimes | |
| EUFOR’s press release on incident during their action in Rogatica:Rada Abazovic and her son were shooting at EUFOR soldiers/NN: Witness claims that EUFOR started to shoot first
| RTRS – According to EUFOR, A EUFOR Officer in charge for the action identified Dragomir Abazovic, a war crime suspect and called a local police to arrest him. Abazovic tried to escape when he noticed EUFOR while his wife and son opened the fire at the EUFOR Officer and his interpreter. While the Officer was taking shelter, other EUFOR members tried to catch Abazovic and then his wife and son fired on them. Abazovic got into position not to be able to escape and then shot on his forehead. EUFOR arrested him and during whole time, Abazovic’s wife was shooting together with their son. EUFOR states that EUFOR was endangered so had to fire back and that is how women and boy were shot. The RS Ministry of Interior was informed by citizens on the EUFOR action in Rogatica. When members of the RS police arrived, EUFOR turned them in Abazovic, who was injured and his wife, while their son was on the way to Foca hospital. The RS MoI works on collection of information that would help clear up this incident. On Friday Anica Vukadin, a Prosecutor from the District Court in East Sarajevo ordered an autopsy of Rada Abazovic, a wife of war crime suspect and preliminary results show that one deformed bullet was found in her body. Health condition of Abazovic’s son is stable. RHB, BHT 1, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Abazovic was running away and his wife and son were shooting at soldiers’ by S.T., Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Woman was fatally wounded while she was shooting at soldiers’ by A. Prlenda, carry similar reports. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Killed woman was shooting at our solders’ by D. Muminovic also carries a friend of the Abazovic family Milkan Cvijetic who was on the spot when the incident took place. He claims that EUFOR soldiers started to shoot at them without any warning. He also claims that Dragomir tried to run away, while his wife had already been wounded. According to Cvijetic, after he was wounded a boy went to the house, took a gun and he started to shoot back. Cvijetic also claims that the boy was the only person who was hooting back. |
| Dragomir Abazovic still in life danger, health condition of his son stabile | Pink, BHT 1, FTV, Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Abazovic still in life danger’ by M. Zorlak– According to medical reports, the health condition of boy Dragoljub Abazovic who was injured on Thursday when EUFOR attempted to arrest his father, ICTY indictee Dragomir Abazovic, is stabile. Dragomir Abazovic, who has also been injured, is still in life danger. |
| OHR on incident in Rogatica
| Pink, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘OHR: Opening of fire at security forces causes consequences’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘You do not shoot at EUFOR’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘OHR welcomed bloody action of EUFOR’ – With regard to the incident in Rogatica the OHR stated: ‘This operation was part of a broad and determined effort to establish the Rule of Law in BiH. The suspect is an indicted war criminal whose arrest warrant was issued in 2002 and has not been acted on by the RS authorities. Any fatal casualties are to be regretted, and the full circumstances surrounding this incident will be subject to an enquiry in the normal way. However, people must understand that if they open fire on the Security Forces there are consequences.’ |
| DA: EUFOR Commander demanded from HR to remove Commander of Police Station Rogatica
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Over 2 years ago General Chiarini demanded Kusic’s removal’ by l. Sinanovic – EUFOR Commander General Gian Marco Chiarini demanded from High Representative Paddy Ashdown on Friday an urgent removal of the Commander of the Rogatica Police Station Igor Kusic. DA learns that this demand followed after Chiarini had found out that Kusic is still at this position although his removal had been demanded over 2 years ago. DA says that in 2003 Kusic received the information where Dragomir Abazovic was, however, Abazovic was not arrested at that time. |
| NN, DA op-eds on incident in Rogatica
| Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘Who is responsible’ by N. Krsman carries an editorial on this incident in Rogatica and the author says that twisted system in each segment of the state apparatus is responsible for this tragedy. She also says that police should arrest war crime suspects no matter in which part of BiH they are. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Why RS police did not carry out arrest’ by E. Sarac replies to the RS officials question as to why the RS MoI did not carry out the arrest of Abazovic and she says: ‘Probably because the cadre loyal to Radovan Karadzic is still employed in the RS MoI as well as those who took part in the war crimes themselves….’ |
| Report on Palic case arrived to BiH Const. Court and it was sent to Palic’s wife | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Report on Palic has arrived’ by E.K. – The RS Government’s report on the Avdo Palic case has arrived to the Human Rights Commission with the BiH Constitutional Court on Thursday. Nedim Ademovic from the BiH CC stated that according to the Commission’s rules the report has been sent immediately to Palic’s wife Esma Palic. |
| S. Tihic to F. Sabeta: BiH Presidency and S. Softic are in charge of communication with ICJ
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Panic because of Ivanic’s letter to International Court of Justice n The Hague’ by Az.K. – Member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic sent a letter to BiH Ambassador in The Hague Fuad Sabeta in which he warns him that he (Sabeta) is not authorized for communication with ICJ. Osl. explains that this letter is actually a reaction to the demand for postponement of the main discussion in the BiH lawsuit against SCiG that Mladen Ivanic and Borislav Paravac stand behind. Tihic also says in his letter that only the BiH Presidency and BiH legal representative in the lawsuit Sakib Softic and not the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs are competent for communication with ICJ. |
| S. Softic on BiH lawsuit agst SCiG
| RHB, BHT 1 – BiH representative Sakib Softic in the BiH lawsuit against SCG stated that the proceedings in this case will not be postponed regardless of the process started by BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac at the BiH Constitutional Court. He stressed that he is only obliged with the decisions made by the BiH Presidency. The first proceedings in this lawsuit are scheduled for 27th January. |
VAT/Economy | |
| On 1st mtg of FBiH Price Monitoring Team held in Mostar on Friday
| RHB, Pink, BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Inspectors in field in all Cantons on Monday’ by F. Vele, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Bread can be more expensive by 8 and not by 17 %’ by Z. Kresic, Dnevni List pg 20 ‘There is no increase of prices bigger than 8 %’ by S. Bjelica – The FBiH Price Monitoring Team held its first meeting on Friday in Mostar. It was concluded that market inspectors will control the prices in the FBiH, starting on Monday, January 9th. FBiH Minister of Trade and Tourism Maid Ljubovic stated in Mostar that the FBiH Price Monitoring Team would not control only the prices of bread, cooking oil and sugar, but other prices as well. The Minister added that the Indirect Taxation Administration would organize the training for all the market inspectors on Thursday, January 12th, in order to harmonize the price monitoring in all parts of FBiH. That is not going to be easy since, according to the coordinator of the FBiH Price Monitoring Team Ibrahim Tirak, such teams have already started working in some Cantons (Sarajevo, Tuzla), while in some others they have not been formed yet (Una-Sana, Mid-Bosnia). The main goal of the FBiH Price Monitoring Team is to monitor the possible increase of the prices of four basic products – bread, milk, flour and cooking oil. Tirak announced that the first report would be published on a press conference scheduled for January 17th in the Indirect Taxation Administration offices in Sarajevo . |
| On 1st mtg of RS Price Monitoring Team
| Pink, BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Public services’ prices in focus in RS as well’ by P. Klincov– The RS Price Monitoring Team held its first meeting on Friday in Banja Luka. The RS Price Institute is responsible to carry out analyses of prices and services and compare them with prices prior to VAT introduction with a special accent on public services considering their increase in December. The RS Market Audit is responsible to prepare information on performed controls of district and municipal audits regarding the implementation of Regulation on margin limitation in turnover of goods and Regulation on giving compliance on prices of certain goods and services. Chief of RS Monitoring Team Braco Vrancic said that RS Audit asked from district and municipal market auditors to strengthen activities regarding implementation of these two regulations. First analyses are expected next week. Irregularities will be sanctioned with fines from 500 to 1000 KM or with closure of shops. Monitoring team will pay special attention to the calls of citizens. 70% of calls by now were related to the techniques of VAT implementation and rest to the prices’ increase. |
| BiH Chamber of Commerce: 2005 has ended with foreign trade deficit of over 7,254 billion KM
| RHB, Pink, BHT 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 11 ‘December was disastrous’ by D. Omeragic, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Record deficit – 7,25 billions’ by D. Jazvic – The BiH Chamber of Commerce announced that the year 2005 has ended with a foreign trade deficit of over 7,254 billion KM. Only 35% of import was covered by export. Only December 2005 ended with catastrophic deficit of 1,40 billion KM. KM. Import growth rate was 10 times higher than the export growth rate. Chamber’s Deputy President Petar Milanovic warned that if such a trend continues in 2006, BiH is going to face serious economic crisis. He believes that the state should have strengthened the small and middle sized companies before the introduction of VAT in order to prevent crisis. Milanovic also believes that the VAT is not going to increase export and decrease import. He warned that without adopted 2006 budgets and social programs, BiH might face social crisis as well. BiH Chamber of Commerce realises that the single VAT is most efficient and easiest for introduction of VAT system. However, Chamber expects introduction of a lower rate for basic groceries and printing sector after first three months of VAT implementation. |
| Terzic: ‘Introduction of zero VAT rate is possible’
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Introduction of zero rate is possible’ by S. Numanovic carries an interview with Chairman of the BiH CoM Adnan Terzic who, among the other things, says: ‘If citizens had big economic problems due to the VAT introduction, if more significant disturbances take place at the market we are ready to think about introduction of one more, that is a zero VAT rate.’ Terzic said that this possibility would be discussed 2 or 3 months after the VAT introduction. |
| M. Alic: Prices of oil derivates will not be decreased | RHB– Chairman of the FBiH Section of oil distributors Muhidin Alic stated that prices of oil derivates will not be decreased. Alic stated that prices of oil derivates cannot be reduced due to prices of oil at the world market. |
| 50 million USD-worth stand-by agreement with the IMF blocked
| Hayat – Report by Elvira Ahmetovic – Not only that the failure to adopt entity budgets blocks the distribution of symbolic assistance to those endangered by the Value Added Tax; it also blocks the concluding of the stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund, worth 50 million USD. But Hayat reporter stressed that this agreement probably would not be signed even if the entity budgets had been adopted, because IMF explicitly requested that the contributions for the social categories of the BiH society are reduced. The fact that the stand-by agreement has been blocked does not seem to worry BiH authorities, because they – for the first time – have the opportunity to actually negotiate with the IMF; until now, IMF would propose, and BiH authorities would unreservedly accept proposed solutions. “I think that this time we know a little bit more about what we actually want, we have middle-term development strategy as the strategic document, and this time it did not coincide with the IMF opinion”, explained member of the BiH team for the negotiations with the IMF Zlatko Hurtic. According to Hayat reporter, IMF really does have the strict rules, which domestic economists – such as professor at Sarajevo School of Economics Dragoljub Stojanov – call ‘restrictive monetary policy’, which is mainly aimed at preserving macroeconomic stability. |
Political issues | |
| DL: Sanader called on Covic to step down from HDZ?!’
| Dnevni List coverpg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘Sanader called on Covic to step down from HDZ?!’ by M. Batarello – According to unofficial information coming from sources close to HDZ Croatia, President of HDZ Croatia Ivo Sanader has already or he would call on HDZ President Dragan Covic to withdraw from this position. The source also says that Sander would not even demand Covic’s resignation but he would demand from Covic to step down from his current position since he does not consider him legally elected HDZ BiH President. DL also learns that Sanader and Ljubic have a secret plan as to how to get rid of Covic and his people so that Ljubic and his people can come in power in HDZ. |
| Bozo Ljubic sent open letter to HDZ members
| BHT 1 – Former HDZ senior official Bozo Ljubic sent an open letter to HDZ members on Friday. In the letter he described as disgraceful the removal of “respected politician, HDZ member and BiH House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Martin Raguz from the conference room before the start of the HDZ Central Board session”. “Shame on those who did and ordered this. I am hurt also on a personal level because this was done in the name of my party as well. I am disappointed with the lack of adequate reaction by the members of the Central Board and, with few admirable exceptions, Martin’s colleagues from the Parliament”, Ljubic said. “I wish you to believe me that this was not a fight for a position or seat as it is commonly said. The position for which I ran was viewed by me solely as a way to implement things I earlier talked about”, Ljubic said. Ljubic also stressed that the book called HDZ BiH closed for him on Thursday January 5 even before the start of the Central Board session. ‘Violence against democracy culminated there with physical violence. There were hoodlums in political history, especially in these areas, but they were never the winners in the end”, Ljubic said. Also reported by Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Story called HDZ is over for me’ by F.V., Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘Struggle of factions within HDZ BiH is not over’ by A. Omeragic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Disappointed because of physical showdown with Raguz’ by N. Krsman, Vecernji List pg 3 Story called HDZ is over for me’. |
| M. Raguz on incident at HDZ Central Board session/EPP to discuss this issue on Monday
| BHT 1 – Martin Raguz, former HDZ member who was expelled together with Bozo Ljubic and Josip Merdzo, announced that he is going to continue his fight in order to return to HDZ. In his statement for BHT1, Raguz said that he has the necessary strategy and people, and that he can do many good things for HDZ. HDZ Spokesman Miro Relota said that the votes of HDZ Central Board, who have its full support to the party’s President Dragan Covic, clearly shows that Raguz doesn’t have any support within the party. He also claims that Covic and other Board members had received threatening anonymous phone calls before the session of HDZ Central Board. European Peoples Party has been informed on the latest incidents within HDZ, and it will discuss this issue on Monday. Raguz expects the support of the EPP. |
| V. Zoric on incident at HDZ Central Board session
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘Struggle of factions within HDZ BiH is not over’ by A. Omeragic carries member of the HDZ Presidency Vinko Zoric who says that he is convinced that better times would come and that those who have given support to HDZ President Dragan Covic would turn against him. Zoric added that most probably he would withdraw after the end of his mandate as a representative. |
| OHR statement on announced protests of decertified police
| RHB, BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Demands for audit of policemen’ certification process are legitimate’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Audit only before UN’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Issue of decertified policemen to resole in fair manner’ by ra – The OHR statement on announced protests of decertified police says: ‘This is a legitimate issue that needs to be resolved in a just manner. The High Representative has already raised this issue with the UN on several occasions, including his last address to the Security Council, on 15 November 2005, when he welcomed the Security Council’s possible setting up of a review of the police certification process conducted by the IPTF. On that occasion he noted that the IPTF process had successfully contributed to the rehabilitation of the BiH police forces but that when it was concluded, at the end of 2004, no provision was made for reviewing problematic decisions where credible evidence exists that the right procedures were not followed.The OHR has consistently made it clear that it believes that a review mechanism is necessary, but this is this is an issue that the police officers in question ought to take up with the UN, just as the OHR has.’ |
| S. Tihic: There is no compromise in const. changes talks that would mean confirmation of entity organization of BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I told Burns clearly how far we can go’, mentioned on cover ‘Coalition SDA/SDP is possible’ by A. Malagic carries an interview with SDA President Sulejman Tihic who says that there is no compromise in the constitutional changes talks that would mean confirmation of the entity organization of BiH, that is that the state institutions are being formed at the entity and ethnic principles. Tihic added that a few days ago he conveyed this stand to US State Under-Secretary Nicholas Burns and US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney. |
| M. Humphreys: BiH needs functional authority’
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘BiH needs functional authority’ carries an interview with Michael Humphreys who says: ‘The issue of an internal BiH organization is too complex in this phase of the negotiations on constitutional changes and for this reason we did not raise this issue.’ He added that at this moment it is important to build a functional authority that would be able to implement its decisions and secure continuation of reforms. He added: ‘Without a progress in the area of reforms the EU would not financially help BiH.’ |
| H. Silajdzic: Citizens should decided on constitutional changes | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Citizens should decide what kind of system they want’ by S.T. – Founder of SBiH Haris Silajdzic stated that BiH citizens should be finally asked as to what kind of constitutional changes they want and he wonders as to why we would not have the referendum on this issue. |
| BiH veterans’ organizations want to take part in const. changes talks
| FTV – The BiH veterans’ organizations which refer to themselves as “pro-BiH” wish to be engaged in the negotiations on constitutional changes in BiH. At the meeting held on Friday, they formed the working body for supporting the amendments of the BiH Constitution. The request was forwarded to representatives of all political parties whose stances the veterans do not support. The working body insist on organizing BiH in line with the following principle: municipality as a local self-government unit, region with economic, demographic and national representation, two houses, one government and one president and the constitution that guarantees equal rights to all citizens of BiH. Also reported by RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘We want to take part in negotiations on BiH Constitution’ |
| NN: ‘SNSD has majority for removal of RS Government
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘SNSD has majority for removal of RS GovernmEnt’ by V. Popovic – According to the current situation 44 representatives would support the SNSD initiative for voting of no-confidence to the RS Government, while 42 votes are necessary for voting of no-confidence. SNSD President Milorad Dodik said that this initiative would be launched on January 10. |
| Doboj Municipal Head refused to receive PDP delegation
| Hayat – Doboj Municipal Head Obren Petrovic refused to receive the PDP delegation, led by Dragan Mikerevic. According to Mikerevic, PDP wants Petrovic to remove from the municipal administration all persons previously expelled from the RS Ministry of Interior, as well as the wartime profiteers accused before the court. Also reported by Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘PDP demands that Petrovis pushes away war profiteers’ , Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘PDP demands Petrovic’s resignation’ by S. Cakarevic, V. Popovic. RTRS – The PDP Municipal Board Doboj asked for resignation of Head of Municipality Doboj Obren Petrovic and wanted to deliver him list of 13 requests on Friday, however, Petrovic refused to receive them. PDP wants from Obrenovic investigation of decisions of Municipal Assembly that affected budget, control of work of municipal administration and control of tender issues. Municipal administration in Doboj did not work full time on Friday due to holiday. It was said in the Office of Head of Municipality that Petrovic was absent and that he is not aware of PDP requests and therefore will be able to give comments after reads them. Mikerevic said that he got some threatening messages. |
| DL op-ed critical of Ashdown’s mandate
| Dnevni List pg 41 ‘End of Ashdown’s destruction of BiH’ by Z. Jukic carries a very critical editorial on the mandate of High Representative Paddy Ashdown saying that Ashdown was heightening inter-ethnic tensions, that his friends were criminals, that Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic were not arrested during his mandate etc. The editorial concludes that for all these reasons the only good thing after which we shall remember the beginning of 2006 is the Ashdown’s departure. |
Other issues | |
| Oil Refinery in Bosanski Brod: Catalyst worth 4 millions Dollars sold without tender’ | Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Catalyst worth 4 millions Dollars sold without tender’ by R. Segrt carries that Oil Refinery in Bosanski Brod sold a catalyst worth 4 millions KM without a tender in order to pay overdue salaries to workers. It was explained that the tender was announced since only one company in Europe does its dismantling. |