| BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Based on ICTY indictment, Ivica Rajic has been arrested in Zagreb | Ivica Rajic arrested | World News – War in Iraq |
| Pentagon lacks of information on Saddam Hussein’s whereabouts | ICTY Prosecutor expects Rajic’s extradition | BiH economy should participate in reconstruction in Iraq |
| Croatia demands extradition of Borislav Mikelic | War in Iraq | SNSD criticises coalition of SDS and PDP |
| Subject of bulletin: Is BiH going to be brought into neo-colonial position |
| Indicted war criminal Rajic arrested in Zagreb |
| Oslobodjenje | Eight years following The Hague Tribunal request: Ivica Rajic apprehended |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown appears against Mafia; FBiH Premier Ahmet Hadzipasic: Revision of the privatisation will not create chaos |
| Dnevni List | Current Agreement Ploce-Neum to be changed; Zagreb Police arrest Ivica Rajic on basis of The Hague indictment; Colak denies statements by SDA Vice President Jahic regarding formation of Government in Central Bosnia and HNC: HDZ fulfilled obligations |
| Vecernji List | Ivica Rajic arrested; Croats in Trebinje: There are no pressures, lack of money troubles us |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Zagreb: Ivica Rajic arrested |
| Glas Srpski | Arrest of the last Prime minister of RS Krajina: Bego amongst “Zemun clan”; Investigation against Jovica Stanisic and Frank Simatovic: To The Hague from detention!? |
| Nezavisne Novine | Upon ICTY indictment: Ivica Rajic arrested; Operation “Saber” continues ion Serbia: Connections of Borislav Mikelic in RS; BiH Association of Veterinarians: Carcinogenic honey being sold at BiH markets |
| Blic | Snow stops sowing, Srebrenica without electricity; Dragan Mikerevic: new laws will speed up privatisation; Federation BiH authorities and foreigners ignore Serb victims |
International community/OHR | |
| HR to attend 6th SEECP Summit in Belgrade
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 3 ‘Ashdown appears against Mafia’ – The problem of organised crime and Mafia is a regional problem and that is how it should be tackled. The authorities in BiH, particularly those in RS, should use this historic opportunity and join the authorities in Serbia in fighting the evil arisen from the war, which has caused so much suffering. This is what will the High Representatives say in his speech tomorrow in Belgrade. Paddy Ashdown will, according to Chief OHR Spokesman Julian Braithwaite, travel to the Serbian capital on Tuesday to participate in work of the 6th SEECP (South East Europe Cooperation Process) Summit in the town. |
| Ashdown supports Terzic initiative
| Glas Srpski, page 2, ‘Intelligence officers under control’ – Vedran Persic, OHR Spokesperson, told Srna news agency that HiRep to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, fully supports the idea of the Chairperson of the BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, in regard to the establishment of the state inspectorate for intelligence affairs at BiH level. According to Persic, “BiH cannot keep ignoring this problem”. |
| SD on the latest HR decisions | Slobodna Dalmacija (page 7, by Vuk Djuricic) carries an editorial in light of the High Representative’s recent decisions about “Orao” and espionage affairs. The author says the HR’s decisions started a dismantling of the RS, “a creation in the neighboring BiH born of crime”, which is now being dismantled “as its late friend Herzeg-Bosnia”. Regarding Sarovic’s resignation, SD says he resigned after consulting the RS leadership hoping the resignation would stop the dismantling. “The assessment, and Ashdown’s moves confirm it, was wrong. Namely, following the Sarovic’s resignation, there were moves that announce important changes not only in the area of military, but changes to the overall set-up and future functioning of BiH”, says Djuricic. |
| Oslobodjenje’s Prohic on Ashdown | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 In Focus editorial by Ibrahim Prohic ‘Missed opportunity’ – “The High Representative has missed a great opportunity, the best since Dayton, to make a turn in the normalisation of the political situation in BiH, meaning to crucially strengthen the foundations of the state of BiH,” wrote Prohic. However, according to Prohic, the two big scandals in the RS (Orao and espionage) have de facto passed without propesr punishment since they are both a product of the system and model of government in the entity that undoubtedly have anti-Dayton orientation. Prohic concludes that the motives and the strategy of the High Representative are therefore remaining unclear. |
War crimes/crimes | |
| Ivica Rajic arrested in Zagreb
| Vecernji List (front “Ivica Rajic arrested” and pages 2 and 3 “Ivica Rajic arrested after seven and half years”, by Zoran Kresic) reports that an ICTY indictee charged with war crimes committed against Bosniak civilians at Stupni Dol (BiH) in 1993, Ivica Rajic, was arrested by the Croatian MoI at an unknown location in Croatia on Saturday, as confirmed by the Croatian Ministry of Interior. Apparently, Rajic did not resist the arrest. Other CRO papers report Rajic was arrested in Zagreb. At the moment Rajic is being kept in detention following a decision by an investigative judge who decided Rajic is to be kept in the so-called extradition detention. According to Rajic’s lawyer, Zeljko Olujic, Rajic denied all the charges saying he was proud about what he had done as a member of HVO. (Dnevni List, front and page 3, by HINA, “Zagreb Police arrest Ivica Rajic on basis of The Hague indictment”, Slobodna Dalmacija, front and pages 2 and 3, “Zagreb: Ivica Rajic arrested”, Jutarnji List, front and pages 2 and 3, “Ivica Rajic arrested” and Vjesnik, front and page 2, “Ivica Rajic, an ICTY suspect, arrested in Zagreb”, Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 3 ‘Ivica Rajic apprehended’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, mentioned on the front page ‘The Hague indictee Ivica Rajic arrested’, Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘Ivica Rajic arrested in Zagreb’; Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Ivica Rajic arrested’) |
| Lawyer of Andjelic family appeals against sentence to Topalovic | Dnevni List (page 35, by De. L, “Proxy of Andjelic family appeals to verdict to Muamer Topalovic”) reports that the legal representative of the Andjelic family from Kostajnica near Konjic, Davor Silic, has appealed against the sentence the Cantonal Court in Mostar has passed to Muamer Topalovic, who has been sentenced to 35 years imprisonment for triple murder of members of the family. Silic seeks the maximum penalty i.e. 40 years to be passed to Topalovic. The final say is down to the Federation Supreme Court. |
| JL: “Belgrade promised hunt for Mladic”
| Jutarnji List (page 3, by HINA) reports that authorities of Serbia and Monte Negro on Saturday promised they would start hunting down General Ratko Mladic, a former commander of the Serb army in BiH. Reportedly, the Defence Minister of Serbia and Monte Negro, Boris Tadic, told the Monte Negro based “NIN” TV that he did not know whether Mladic is being guarded by the S&M army adding: “We will conduct the most comprehensive investigation”. JL notes Tadic is a first senior official from Belgrade that has promised an action against Mladic. (Identical report and headline in Vjesnik on front page) |
| Goran Svilanovic on war criminals in Serbia | Dnevni List (page 10, by HINA, “Involved in Djindjic murder committed war crimes too”) carries the Serbian and Monte Negrin Foreign Minister, Goran Svilanovic, as saying that the same people who were involved in the assassination on the Serbian PM Djindjic committed war crimes too. “It is obvious we are moving in the same circle of people who were involved in the war crimes, and in the same time they were granted amnesty because of alleged services, and they were allowed to engage in the organized crime and organization of network of drugs and arms”, said Svilanovic. Svilanovic also said that all the ICTY indictees in S&M should be arrested and allowed a fair procedure before the ICTY. |
| Feral Tribune on burial of Srebrenica victims | Feral Tribune (pages 34, 35 and 36, by Ivan Lovrenovic, “Over tomb of any humane meaning”) carries a comment on the burial of 600 identified victims of the Srebrenica massacre saying that the current political monstrosity in BiH was most evident in a statement by the Bosniak member of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, who stated at the burial that he spoke for himself because there is no joint position of the BiH Presidency when it comes to Srebrenica. Lovrenovic says: “At a place where people cannot have ‘a joint position’ on Srebrenica, every humane meaning is long lost, and such fatal loss of moral substance cannot go without the decay of any political meaning.” |
| Families of killed Serbs in Bratunac and neighbouring villages are angry with BiH authorities and IC | Burial of 600 Bosniaks in Potocari near Srebrenica went without incidents, with presence of the both entities’ representatives and 22 ambassadors to BiH. However, neither High Representative Paddy Ashdown nor Mustafa Ceric nor Sulejman Tihic mentioned by a word suffering of Serbs in that area. President of the Board of Families of Killed in Bratunac municipality Mirjana Zivkovic says that embitterment over constant ignoring of Serb victims is justified / right. “At every memorial service to Serb victims representatives of IC and BiH were invited but they never showed up”, Zivkovic says. The families of killed Serbs in Podrinje are also embittered because still there is no indictment against Naser Oric. (Blic pg. 7 ‘Even victims of criminals are divided according to ethnic belongings’) |
| ICTY prepares indictments against Stanisic and Simatovic | Glas Srpski, copver page story, ‘To The Hague from detention!?’ – Foreign Minister of Serbia and Montenegro, Goran Svilanovic, yesterday confirmed that Jovica Stanisic and Frank Simatovic would be extradited to The Hague Tribunal if the ICTY brought charges against them. Referring to anonymous sources at the Hague Tribunal, Associated Press agency, reported that ICTY is currently engaged in preparing indictments against Stanisic and Simatovic. |
Political developments | |
| SDA, HDZ leaders to discuss establishment of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Tihic and Colak to decide today on the HNC Government formation’ – The leaders of the SDA and HDZ BiH, Sulejman Tihic and Barisa Colak, are expected to meet today in Sarajevo in an attempt to resolve the burning issues of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton establishment. In a statement for the newspaper, Colak said that, actually, this had been a task of the SDA and HDZ cantonal bodies in Mostar. “At the beginning of the establishment of the common authorities, we have obliged to abolish parallel structures. At the meeting, we will therefore determine who is not sticking to the agreement,” said Colak. |
| HDZ’s Colak denies statements by SDA Vice President Jahic | Dnevni List (front and page 3, by Miso Relota, “HDZ fulfilled obligations”) carries a reaction by the acting President of HDZ BiH, Barisa Colak, to a statement by an SDA Vice President, Elmir Jahic, who stated the Government in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) has not been formed because HDZ did not keep up a promise made earlier. According to that promise, SDA left the appointment of a Serb minister in Central Bosnia Canton to HDZ, and now the roles were to be reversed in the HNC. Colak denies such a promise or agreement was ever made. “One must understand there is no special regime in the HNC. These are decisions enacted by the IC, in other words by the OHR. HNC is like any other canton. Regarding the formation of authority, only the election results and 1991 census can speak about it. That’s the criteria for formation of authority (…) I believe the today’s meeting with SDA top will result in an agreement that covers the formation of HNC Government. These statements by Vice President are not true. I will ask Elmir Jahic to declare himself about the statements”, says Colak. |
| SNSDS criticises SDS/PDP coalition | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘SNSD: Early elections in RS only resolution for coming out of the crisis’ – In a press release issued on Sunday, the RS Party of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) assessed that the RS had become a generator of the crisis in BiH. Early elections are the only resolution for such the situation, according to SNSD, early elections. “RS is actually, through SDS and PDP, being governed by criminal-political underground most frequently placed in the nests of the former Dedinje-Zemun dictatorship,” read the press release. According to SNSD, the real power is in the hands of “various illegal military structures and spies, a small number of SDS and PDP impudents, and criminals that SDS has brought up and sent to safe places out of the RS.” The PR also reads that the RS Government is completely paralyzed by “constitutional changes, by ministers amateurs who won their positions at lottery, as well as by the numb RS Government president who knows nothing and is not informed on anything”. Dnevni List pg. 2 and Blic pg. 7 ‘Elections as soon as possible’ also carry the press release. Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘SNSD demands recall of Mladen Ivanic’ – According to SNSD press release, this party appealed to all citizens, who realise the risky political movements in the RS to join SNSD officials in their demand to hold extra-ordinary elections. SNSD further blames SDS and PDP coalition for extremely inappropriate situation in the RS, demanding the recall of Mladen Ivanic from the position of the BiH Minister for Foreign Affairs. |
| Nomination of candidate(s) for the Serb members of the BiH Presidency | Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Gligoric counter-candidate to Paravac’ – RS Socialist Party has presented the candidature of Tihomir Gligoric for the position of the Serb member to the BiH Presidency. This was confirmed by Petar Djokic, SPRS President. Sefik Dzaferovic, Chairperson of the BiH House of Representatives, yesterday confirmed that Collegium of the House of Rep’s will discuss the appointment of Serb member to the position of Serb member to BiH Presidency at its session on Wednesday. SDS on Friday officially presented the candidature of Borislav Paravac for this position. No PDP official wanted to comment as to whether Petar Kunic would be nominated for this position from its side. Mirko Blagojevic, SRS MP’s at BiH Parliament, stated that his party may support the candidature of Kunic. Miodrag Zivkovic, SNSD delegate at BiH House of Representatives, stated that SNSD will propose that the BiH Election Law is changed, according to which the candidate, who won 2nd place in presidential elections run, could assume the position of the Serb member to BiH Presidency. |
| Mikerevic visits Doboj | Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Return to economy’ – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said on Sunday in Doboj that several laws in the areas of judiciary and economy had been drafted. According to Mikerevic these laws will de-block the privatisation process. Mikerevic also announced that by the beginning of May several laws that should create conditions for investments in the economic capacities would enter into the Assembly’s procedure. “The Government has undertaken actions in order to connect our economy with our neighbours, first of all with Serbia as well as with Italy, Greece, Belgium and Germany”, Mikerevic said. (Blic pg. 7 ‘Additional regulations should speed up privatisation’) |
Economic affairs | |
| DL says current Ploce-Neum agreement to be changed | Dnevni List (front and page 5, by HINA, “Current Agreement Ploce-Neum to be changed”) unofficially learns that the announced session of the BiH-Croatia Interstate Council that is to take place in Croatia next week should result in signing of a separate protocol that would bind the two sides to change the current Agreement on transit through Ploce Port and Neum. |
| SD says former HR Petritsch promised licence for Eronet in 2000
| Slobodna Dalmacija (page 13, by Darko Juka, “Finally a concession to Eronet too?!”) claims to be in possession of a letter that a former High Representative for BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, sent to former member of BiH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, and a senior HDZ official, Martin Raguz, informing them that all three current GSM operators in BiH would get permanent working licences. “Such a decision is in accordance with the current legal provisions”, reads the alleged letter. The letter was, according to SD, sent in the year 2000. |
| Mobilkom interested in BiH market | Vjesnik (page 11, by P. Bu, “Owner of VIPnet announces expansion on BiH and Serbia”) carries the Executive Director of Mobilkom Austria, a mobile communications branch of Telekom Austria, Boris Nemsic, as saying that Mobilkom Austria is interested in expanding to BiH and Serbia but the problems are the unclear conditions for the third GSM licence in BiH and the halt of privatization in Serbia after the recent assassination on PM Djindjic. Mobilkom holds 80% shares in Croatia’s “VIPnet” mobile phone operator. |
| BiH Prime Minister: There no fear that revision of the privatisation will create chaos | Dnevni Avaz pg. 5, mentioned on the front page ‘Revision (of the privatization) will not create chaos’ – Interview with the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic. “There is no reason for fears that the revision of the privatization of the state-owned enterprises carried out before the war during the mandate of then Yugoslav Prime Minister Ante Markovic or after the war under the rules of the Federation and Cantonal Privatization Agencies will create chaos in the process,” said Hadzipasic. He commented on the opinion expressed by Federation Privatization Agency Director Resad Zutic, who said that the revision of the Markovic’s privatization would cause confusion and slowing down of the state ownership transformation and that it would lead to a situation in which a large number of workers-current shareholders would lose their shares. (Oslobodjenje pages 4-5 ‘Workers will lose their shares’). Hadzipasic however claims that there will be no problems in the enterprise where the privatization was carried out regularly. |
| International Supervisor supports Brcko Government’s efforts to rebuild Arizona Market | FENA, SRNA, Glas Srpski, p 2, Nezavisne Novine, p 6, Vecernje Novosti, p 19 – Brcko District Government had planned to begin dismantling structures illegally built on public property along the Tuzla-Orasje road in the Arizona Market, on 3 April. The objective of this exercise was to clear space on which to build new infrastructure – including drainage pipes and a service road – in accordance with the Regulatory Plan of the Market. Opponents of the Arizona Market redevelopment illegally interfered with the responsible officials’ work, and prevented them from carrying out their task. Anyone who has been caught in traffic in the Market, or who has tried to shop there in a rainstorm, will surely understand that these infrastructure improvements are absolutely essential to any improvement of conditions at the market. Supervisor Clarke would like to remind the public that bringing the rule of law to the Arizona Market, and ensuring its proper redevelopment are essential elements of his mandate in Brcko District. By their obstructive action on 3 April, opponents of the Market redevelopment have demonstrated a flagrant disrespect for the law. However, they should not be encouraged by the Government’s tolerant behavior in the past. Those who illegally obstruct implementation of the project must face the legal consequences accordingly. The Government has the Supervisor’s full support in enforcing the law and Assembly decisions with regard to the Arizona Market, so that the lawless, criminal and unsafe environment that existed in the Market until two or three years ago are thoroughly and conclusively eradicated, and replaced by a properly managed commercial environment that serves the interests of consumers and traders. |
Other issues | |
| RS Chief Prosecutor on judicial reforms
| Glas Srpski, page 2, ‘New traps for criminals’- Amor Bukic, RS Chief Prosecutor, expressed his conviction that with the assistance of the HJPC of RS, the prosecutorial system with much more efficiency will be established. He also expressed hope that such prosecutorial system would be fighting against organised crime in an efficient manner, for which the new Law on Criminal Proceedings should be enacted asap. Bukic also said that the aim of the judicial reform is to establish the independent system of prosecutors and judges as well, who would be treating all citizens of RS equally before the Court. |
| Carcinogenic honey being sold at BiH markets | Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘Carcinogenic honey being sold at BiH markets’ – Beekeepers in BiH treat their bees for diseases with carcinogenic medications. Owing to this reason, there is a dangerous possibility that the honey obtained from such bees is carcinogenic. This warning was presented by the BiH Association of Veterinarians. Tarik Bajrovic from the Institute for Infections at Sarajevo Veterinary Medicine Faculty, advised beekeepers to use biological medications instead of those carcinogenic. |
| CIPS
| Nezavisne Novine, page 2, ‘Process of returning money to commence in ten days’ – Milan Skrbic, Director of the CIPS Directorate, announced that the process of returning money to citizens (who paid new ID cards KM 14.5) will commence in ten days time. He also noted that this process would commence only if the BiH Council of Ministers, as its session this week, passed decree setting methods of money return. Skrbic also added that around 20 thousand BiH citizens obtained new ID cards at the cost of KM 14.5. There were two options proposed for this process. One is that postmen bring money to the door, and the second is that the citizens should come to CIPS Centre and pick up their money. |
| Police actions in Serbia | Glas Srpski, cover page story, ‘Bego amongst “Zemun clan”; Nezavisne Novine, page 3/also cover page, ‘Connections of Mikelic in RS’ – Both dailies rpeort on yesterday’s arrest of the last Prime minister of the RS Krajina, Borislav Mikelic. According to PR issued by the Serbian Interior Ministry, Mikelic was arrested in connection with assassination of Zoran Djindjic. Mikelic is also believed to be directly involved in many dealings of “Zemun clan” and was also a kind of main link between Zemun clan and “certain structures in RS”. Miklelic was often seen in company of Dragan Vujicic Bego, one of the leaders of Zemun clan, born in Glina. Bego was arrested in Serbia few days following assassination of Djindjic. According to NN source close to the Belgrade Committee of Serb refugees from RS Krajina, Mikelic is believed to be connection between Zemun clan and some former senior officials at the RS intelligence and police forces. However, our source did not want to name those, stressing that “they are all corrupted former officials, well-known in RS, who were extremely active until 1998.” Zoran Glusac, Spokesperson at the RS Interior Ministry, denied any knowledge on these information, stressing that RS Interior Ministry is still awaiting for official memo from the Serbian Interior Ministry on these claims. According to NN inset, Croatia will demand from Serbian authorities to extradite Borislav Mikelic, because Croatia held trial in absentia against him and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment for the crimes against civilians. This was announced by Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic, Croatian Minister of Justice. Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Mira Markovic in elite part of Moscow’ – According to the Russian daily “Comersant”, Mira Markovic, wife of Slobodan Milosevic, is currently at her son’s place in elite part of Moscow, called Barvih. |