| The OHR Media Monitoring service is being improved. As of 3 July we will be offering you two distinct daily reports; the Morning Brief, covering all BiH’s top stories, and the afternoon BiH Media Round-up, containing the latest agency and radio news, summaries of relevant articles published by the international media and summaries of articles published by BiH’s periodicals. |
OHR BIH MORNING MEDIA BRIEF
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| No news broadcast due to strike | Presidency adopts decision on AFBiH | Audit of the work of BiH institutions |
|
| Van der Linden visits Sarajevo | PACE President visits BiH |
|
| Public debate on Law on high edu. | Pack on EU visa regime |
|
| Audit reports on state institutions | Size and structure of BiH Armed For. |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BIH Presidency on BiH Armed Forces | PACE President visits BiH | Presidency adopts decision on AFBiH |
| Discussion on higher education law | Size and structure of BiH Armed For. | Audit reports on state institutions |
| Statistics on unemployment | The Law on Higher Education issue | Hearing on foreign currency deposits |
| BIH authorities’ treatment of youth | Education-related problems in ZDK | RS Government in session |
| Oslobodjenje | BH Telecom and HT Mostar go in urgent privatization [FBiH Government session] |
| Dnevni Avaz | Army for all BiH peoples [Radovanovic on Armed Forces] |
| Dnevni List | Died because of doctors’ neglect (death of a patient in Mostar) |
| Vecernji List | Praljak’s [Croatian general] gift insults SDA (about Praljak’s book on |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Small, tiny bugs bite like devils (local story about insect plague) |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH will have 10 thousand soldiers |
| Glas Srpske | Meeting beyond protocol |
| EuroBlic | Government demands Mihajlovic and Bojat to resign (BL-Gradiska highway) |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related splash |
Defence and police reforms, security | |
| Defence Minister Radovanovic outlines structure of BiH Armed Forces: 16.000 troops to be stationed in 35 towns of FBiH and 14 of RS; ethnic composition in line with 1991 census
| BHT1 by Lejla Redzovic-Medosevic – On Thursday, BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, presented details of Wednesday’s decision of the BiH Presidency on the structure, size and locations of the BiH Armed Forces. Noting this was the most important decision concerning defence reform this year, Radovanovic explained that BiH Armed Forces will have 16,000 members, of whom 10,000 will be professionals, 1,000 civilian employees and 5,000 members of the reserve force. The OSBH will have infantry, artillery, armoured-mechanized units, helicopter squadrons, battle support units and support services units. Ethnic composition of troops would be in lien with 1991 population census with some adjustments [45,9% of Bosniaks, 19,8% Croats, 33,6% Serbs and 0,7% of others], and reform should be completed by the end of 2007. BiH defence structure compromises of BiH Defence Ministry, Joint Headquarters, Operations Command and Command for Support. “The Joint Headquarters and Operations Command will be located in |
| HR Schwarz-Schilling welcomes decision on structure of BiH Armed Forces
| RTRS – The High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, welcomed adoption of the decision on structure of the BiH Armed Forces, stating that further improvements of structures and harmonization with NATO standards will be possible after BiH fulfils the conditions for admission to Partnership for Peace. He stressed that the major condition for PfP is the full cooperation with ICTY. Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘BiH will have 10 thousand soldiers’, pg 3 ‘BiH will have 10 thousand professional soldiers’ inset ‘Schwarz Schilling welcomed decision of BiH Presidency’ – also carried. |
| NATO’ Gregorian expresses satisfaction with adoption of Decision on AF: cooperation with ICTY is the sole obstacle towards PfP
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘BiH will have 10 thousand soldiers’, pg 3 ‘BiH will have 10 thousand professional soldiers’ Inset ‘Gregorian: cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is the only obstacle towards PfP’ – Political Advisor to NATO HQ in Sarajevo Raffi Gregorian expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the Decision on size, structure and locations of BiH Armed Forces, adding: “The adopted package is acceptable almost in its entirety. When the final pre-requisite, which is the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, is fulfilled, BiH will be accepted to the Partnership for Peace.’” Gregorian added the decision now needs to be implemented. |
| Osl: new model of army best satisfies NATO; they get cheap manual workers, BiH gets protection
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘As NATO says’ op-ed by Antonio Prlenda– Commenting on decision that BiH Presidency passed on structure of BiH Armed Forces and wondering whether all citizens would feel this is as their Army, Prlenda stresses that NATO has most reasons to be satisfied, since new structure of professional army is harmonized with its needs. Underlining that smaller units are easier to deploy in the international missions, Prlenda says: “Nevertheless, we could expected that [they] would [mostly be deployed]… [to the positions] of pyrotechnic specialists, as those [troops already] in |
| NN op-ed: Delay in defence reform shows what happens when local authorities take over reforms
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Armed forces’ by Mirza Cubro – The author observes that following general quarrels and delays, the BiH Presidency on Wednesday adopted Decision on structure of BiH Armed Forces. According to him, the adoption of Decision is only one in a series of examples what happens with reforms when they are left upon local authorities, stressing BiH Presidency attempted to delay defence reform, which is of extreme importance for this state, in order to try to structure the army divided according ethnic representation of its members. |
| RS Police Director Pena to remain an observer in
| Dnevni Avaz pg 15 ‘Pena observer till further’ by N.D.– RS Police Director Uros Pena told DA that he is not going to change participation in Police Reform Directorate Steering Board. “I keep the status of observer until the Agreement on police reform is principally applied in |
| VL int. with Abu Hamza: Handala planted Mostar bomb; British intelligence instigated war between Croats and Bosniaks | Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Mostar bomb was revenge against HVO’ by Zdenko Jurilj – VL runs an interview with Abu Hamza, who daily calls ‘spokesperson for mujahedeen community in BiH’ in which Abu Hamza says that the bomb that went off in Mostar’s Splitska street several years ago was planted by Ahmed Zuhair Handala as revenge for the way HVO treated him while he was in HVO prison. Hamza says he cannot justify the act but can understand it. He then claims that the conflict between HVO and Bosniak forces, which suited Serbs the most, ‘was instigated by British intelligence services which wore uniforms of HVO and BiH Army’. |
Political issues | |
| PACE President arrives to three-day visit to BiH
| FTV – On Thursday, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], René van der Linden, arrived to his three-day official visit to BiH. He is expected to meet BiH officials to discuss the state law on higher education and constitutional reforms. On Friday, PACE President would address representatives and delegates of both Houses of BiH Parliament at the plenary session; according to FTV presenter, he would talk about recently adopted PACE resolution of constitutional changes in BiH. PINK – Van der Linden is expected to meet HR Christian Schwarz–Schilling and representatives of NGOs to discuss BiH’s obligations as CoE member. Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘ |
| PACE Chair: Resolution is obligatory!
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Resolution is obligatory!’ by S.Numanovic – Article reads that one of the reason why the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] René van der Linden is now paying three-day visit to BiH is the fact that PACE will have debate on Balkans in October. Commenting the Resolution, Van der Linden stated: “It is obligatory document, of course. Every CoE resolution is based on CoE’s aims and especially to what are the obligations of member countries. In this case, it implies for BiH. Your country has special obligations and all of them have to be fulfilled. This is why [BiH] is under monitoring process. You cannot be a member of an institution in which you would accept some, and reject some other decisions.” He added that the monitoring process was established only to help the reform process, not to punish anyone. Inset ‘EU and forthcoming elections’ – With regard to the BIH General elections in October, Van der Linden noted: “I hope that forthcoming October elections will not be going back to old positions of one’s ethnicity. I hope that politicians that are able and willing to build bridges between the people will be elected.” |
| PACE President arrives to BiH only 7 days after adoption of Resolution which still provokes different reactions
| BHT1by Mirela Cosic – The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], René van der Linden, started his three-day official visit to BiH only seven days after PACE adopted the Resolution on constitutional changes in BiH, which provoked numerous opposing reactions in BiH. “We should not strain a situation by using too harsh words and trying to de-legalize this document which is entirely valid CoE document. To undermine very foundations of the CoE – do you even know what that means?” stated Sead Avdic, member of the BiH delegation to PACE. “The conclusions of this Resolution can help solving certain problems, blockades… and help us to move forwards in European integrations”, stated Ivo Lozancic, another member of BiH delegation in PACE. However, RS political representatives completely disagree with such assessments; they claim the Resolution was adopted under an influence of opponents of the constitutional amendments agreed between the political parties several months ago in BiH that failed in the Parliament. Resolution calls for abolition of entity vote in the House of Representatives and adoption of new Constitution by 2010. Hayat – Avdic added that the Resolution opened many questions and controversies: “If I tell you only that all |
| Serb politicians submit letter against PACE Resolution deeming it is unacceptable and inapplicable in BiH
| Hayatby Elma Kazagic – In the light of adoption of the Resolution by the CoR’s Parliamentary Assembly [PACE], Hayat carries that the RS representatives sent a letter to CoE protesting over the Resolution and assessing it as unacceptable and inapplicable in the present BIH situation. “They composed it in the way they are suggesting something but do not know how… we here are explicit about our stances of not accepting this” said BIH House of Representatives MP Tihomir Gligoric. “I am against a suggestion for abolition of entity voting, since it should be solved by consensus and if it is opened that we should have the proposed mechanisms how to protect the collective rights” he added. BHT1by Mirela Cosic – BHT 1 reports Serb MPs are expected to deliver a letter to the PACE President, René van der Linden. “From the standpoint of practical use, this Resolution means nothing, it is only a recommendation. But from the standpoint of ‘political echo’, it means a lot, because it stirred up and terribly radicalised political relations in BiH”, stated RS President Dragan Cavic. Glas Srpski pg 5 ‘ |
|
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Attempt to bring back protectorate’ – Daily carries that, according to the official Russian Foreign Ministry web site, Russia thinks that Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe resolution on BiH, calling for abolishment of entity voting, is an “attempt of destabilization” of situation in BiH prior to the elections. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mikhail Kamynin stated: “Under these circumstances, the document can only be seen as try of destabilization of situation in order to ‘prove’ that BiH authorities are not ready to take over full responsibility for the situation in the country.” |
| BHT 1: Draft Law on Higher Education by CoM assessed as unfavourable and unwanted
| Hayat by Lejla Gutlic – The public debate on the proposed BiH Law on Higher Education organized by the Constitutional-Legal Commission of the BiH House of Representatives in |
| GS carries advisor to Serb member to BiH Pres saying Oric’s visit to BiH Pres Chair could solely be of private nature
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Meeting beyond protocol’ by D.M.-D.Mo. – Chair of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic on Thursday received wartime commander of Srebrenica Naser Oric. Tihic congratulated Oric on his dignified behaviour during the trial. Advisors to Tihic, Deputy Speaker of the RS NA Sefket Hafizovic and RS NA delegate Sadik Ahmetovic, also attended this meeting according to daily, Oric thanked the BiH Presidency Chair for his support during the process before ICTY. Daily carries statement to daily by Slobodan Radulj, advisor to Serb member to BiH Presidency for legal affairs and DPA implementation, saying that Oriccould have had only a private visit to BiH Presidency Chair, since his visit was not announced neither was it included in protocol. Radulj also warned that authorities should not leave space for any sort of reaction, which will come from Oric’ reception at BiH Presidency Chair Cabinet. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Verdict to Oric is victory of justice’ by M.C., Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Sulejman Tihic: [to Naser Oric] You are personification of all Srebrenica people we are searching for’ by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘e defended homeland and his people from destruction’ not signed – reports on mtg Tihic-Oric |
| RS Pres critical of mtg Tihic-Oric, saying it serves pre-election campaign
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Meeting beyond protocol’ inset ‘Cavic’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Tihic received Oric to gain political benefit’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Tihic is collecting political profit’ by Fena – RS President Dragan Cavic is of the view that the meeting Sulejman Tihic-Naser Oric would contribute to radicalisation of political relations and strengthening of national passions on the eve of elections. He reiterated ICTY verdict against Oric is a reward not punishment for the crimes. |
| Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP: RS President Cavic’s statement reflects never achieved desire of certain politicians
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Cavic’s statement is reason for abolishment of RS name’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘All patriots living in RS are being threatened’ not signed– Bosniak Caucus in RS Council of Peoples stated that statement of RS President Dragan Cavic sent to RS National Assembly deputy Speaker Sefket Hafizovic, shows “need and necessity for this area of BiH to stop being called the RS”. Bosniak Caucus also expressed concern due to “indolent behaviour of International Community”, adding that this is not only the election campaign, but could be reflection of “never achieved desires of certain politicians on division of BiH”. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Cavic;’s statement is showing why RS needs to be abolosied’ not signed– also reported. |
| BiH HoR Spiric says British support no imposition of solution on constitutional and police reforms | Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘British pro no imposition of solution’ by G.M. – During the official visit of the BiH parliamentarians to London, Nikola Spiric, says that Great Britain supports no imposition of solution on police reform and constitutional changes. Spiric said that BiH Parliament delegation had meeting with Chair of Lower House Michael Martin, representatives of Upper House and former High Representative Paddy Ashdown, adding that the British believe “police reform and constitutional changes have to be BiH product”. Glas Srpski pg 5 ‘ |
Audits and economic issues | |
| Auditors established numerous irregularities in the work of BiH institutions, including Presidency and all state ministries; discover ITA allocated revenues by fixed coefficients
| BHT1 by Marina Boskovic – According to the latest report by the Audit Office of the BiH institutions, state bodies have once again “broken record” in unclear ways of spending budgets, frauds and violations of regulations. Auditors concluded that, for example, BiH Presidency has spent just for mobile phones 128,000 KM to be paid by the taxpayers. Report reads only 13 out of 41 audited institutions actually obey the Law on Public Procurements. According to BHT1, BiH Presidency, majority of Agencies and Directorates and all state Ministries spend public money in “irregular ways”, salaries are unrealistic, while invoices and duty travel reports were often unjustified. Only 70 out of 217 recommendations previously made by the Audit Office of the Institutions of BiH have been implemented, and the situation is even worse that the year before [says BHT1]. “If we compare those two years, we can see that there has been a decrease in financial discipline of budget users”, stated member of the Audit Office, Dragan Kulina. The worst situation, according to BHT reporter, is in the CIPS Implementation Directorate, where at least four duty travel reports are being issued per working day. However, their representative, Amina Tahirbegovic, denied those accusations. Auditors also established that the Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) have distributed money collected through taxes on the basis of fixed coefficient, although political agreement on the coefficients has not been reached. “Steering Board has been delivering to us the coefficients for the distribution of revenues, and we only implemented the decisions of the ITA Steering Board”, explained ITA Spokesperson Ratko Kovacevic. The work of auditors has been completed; now, according to BHT reporter, it is up to the BiH Parliament whether it would be futile once again. Auditor General of the Audit Office of the Institutions of BiH Milenko Sego stressed that the issue of political and moral responsibility, as well as criminal responsibility, could be launched in 28 out of 41 audited institutions. However, Sego stated that he has nothing to offer to the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, because he did not noticed a single striking example of criminal activities. Therefore, concluded BHT reporter, it is hard to expect that criminal charges will be brought against somebody, especially since audit reports contain very few information on individual responsibility for irregularities in the work of BiH institutions. Hayat, FTV, PINK, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘State institutions wasting money’ by R. Dautefendic, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Misuse in CIPS’ by Arijana Beus, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Financial discipline slackened’ by N.Krsman, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Auditors preparing extraordinary report on salaries in commissions for public acquisitions’ by Az.Kalamujic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Negative opinion only for CIPS Directorate’ by Agencies – also covered. |
| FBiH Government orders urgent privatization of FBiH telecommunication operators
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘BH Telecom and HT Mostar go to privatization urgently’ by M.Kukan– As DA learned, the FBiH Government at the session held on Thursday, which was closed for public, has decided to go into urgent privatization of two telecom operations in the FBiH: ‘BH Telecom’ and ‘HT Mostar’. The Government, DA reports, decided on this after FBiH Transport and Communications Minister Nedzad Brankovic presented analysis on possible consequences which would privatization of ‘Telecom Srpske’ cause. Therefore, the Government tasked Brankovic and FBiH Privatization Agency to prepare package of measures necessary to launch of privatization process and announce tender, which could be discussed in 15 days. FBiH Deputy Prime Minister, Gavrilo Grahovac, confirmed this for DA and added the Government brought unanimous decision. The Government also expressed “disappointment” with the International Community for first insisting on simultaneous privatization of telecom operators, and now allowing the RS to start with the process alone. Inset ‘Damage for the State’ – Under the analysis, one telecom is sold independently of others, state would suffer a damage that could reach an amount of a billion KM, while FBiH operators would be damaged for KM400 million. Oslobodjenje pg 13 ‘BH Telecom goes to privatization’, mentioned on cover by B.S-A.Av. – Daily also reports of this upcoming sale of telecom operators. |
| New Chair of ITA SB Nicholl: first thing is audit of the system for collecting of VAT incomes; that is a reasonable thing to do
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I would carryout the audit of the system for collecting of VAT incomes’, mentioned on cover by Sead Numanovic– In interview for DA, newly appointed Chair of Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board, Peter Nicholl, stated one of his tasks is audit of system for collection of VAT revenues. “That is a reasonable thing that needs to be done. I would be glad if that is carried out so that I would know where I stand and what I have to do. I would recommend this to the Board among other issues,” said Nicholl. In addition, he stated that series of amendments and by-laws must be passed so that ITA SB could also deal with other issues. “I hope that by end of the year, ITA SB would be able to reach agreement on, at least, temporary method of VAT revenues allocation. Also I hope that agreement for the next year would be reached as well,” said Nicholl. He emphasised that which ever formula is accepted, it has to be flexible, as economy and authorities’ structures are changing, hence it is impossible to have one formula for all times. Nicholl also said that he still has no firm position on how to solve the issue of allocation of public revenues from the single account, stressing that there are there is no “right formula” for this issue. “In debate we have now every side has it own formula and claims that it is right. The thing is that there is no formula that can prove that and compromise has to be reached. It is possible that we would have to change law because of that. If it turns out that current formula is not good, that a law is too rigid, then that is, I believe, a possible way out,” said Nichol. Inset ‘Credits to Joly Dixon’- Nicholl complimented his predecessor Joly Dixon, saying that implementation of VAT was smooth and that he is not to be blamed for politicians’ disputes. |
| Osl: Replacement on ITA SB lead will not bring changes if other members continue by the old ways
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Dixon instead of Dixon’ by Aldijana Omeragic– Commenting on Wendesday’s appointment of new Chair of Indirect Taxation Administration’s Steering Board, Peter Nicholl, who replaced former Chair Joly Dixon, author notes this development has disrupted harmonic relations between the Chair of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and OHR. Omeragic comments Terzic has no objection against Nicholl, but has one to address to the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling believing the HR ‘renounced’ |
| RS Fin Min points Auditors observed VAT money was divided beyond legal regulations
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Even Auditors can see that we are right’ by P. Klincov – In a page long interview to daily RS Minister of Finance and member of ITA SB Aleksandar Dzombic states that report of BiH Office for Audit of state institutions, which reads that ITA illegally distributed money from VAT, shows that RS officials were right when they have pointed at those irregularities. Daily says that Audit observed the VAT money until |
| DL claims that ethnic division in Mostar’s health care system lead to death of a patient
| Dnevni List cover splash ‘Died because of doctors neglect’ pg 3 ‘Ethnic division takes first victim’ by Ivana Culina – DL runs a page long story claiming that patient Ante Antic from Opine in Mostar died several days ago because of division in the health care system in the city of Mostar. Article reads that Antic, who had been a diabetic for years and previously had a leg amputated, was recently in need of urgent medical attention but, because he was a Croat living in the east [predominantly Bosniak] part of Mostar, health services could not decide whose responsibility his transport to hospital was, resulting in inadequate medical care and subsequent death. |
War crimes | |
| Sarajevo Commission establishes the Draft Rules of Procedure
| RTRS – The Commission for Establishing the Truth on Suffering of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and Others in |
| 59 RS MPs support motion field with
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Lawsuit on the agenda’ by Z. M. –- Fifty nine delegates of the RS National Assembly on Thursday supported the motion Serb member of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac filed with BiH Constitutional Court regarding withdrawal of BiH lawsuit against SiCG before ICTY and proclaiming lawsuit as legally null and void. Chair of RS NA Igor Radojicic forwarded the demand of the delegates for withdrawal of the lawsuit to |
| Belkic (MP, BiH HoR, SBiH) asks that commission for investigating into crimes committed in Prijedor be established | Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Belkic asks establishment of commission for Prijedor’, by D. P. Mandic – reports that the President of SBiH Caucus in the BiH House of Representatives, Beriz Belkic, has asked from the Collegium of the BiH HoR to include in Friday’s agenda of the chamber a conclusion according to which the BiH HoR would task the BiH Council of Ministers to establish a mixed (composition) commission that would investigate into suffering of civilians in the area of Prijedor municipality between 1992 and 1995. Belkic decided to do so after the same initiative of his party colleague (Senija Kapetanovic) got rejected at the last session of the BiH HoR. Belkic insists that Prijedor is, after Srebrenica, the second area where many crimes were committed against civilians, underlining that authorities of Prijedor and RS are not helping reveal the crimes. |
OHR BIH MEDIA ROUND-UP
Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 7 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| No news broadcast due to strike | PACE President address BiH MPs | PACE Chair addressing BiH Parl |
|
| Primary health protection in RS | BiH CC on Paravac’ motion |
|
| Regional News | RS Govt convened |
TV news broadcast on 6 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| No news broadcast due to strike | Presidency adopts decision on AFBiH | Audit of the work of BiH institutions |
|
| Van der Linden visits Sarajevo | PACE President visits BiH |
|
| Public debate on Law on high edu. | Pack on EU visa regime |
|
| Audit reports on state institutions | Size and structure of BiH Armed For. |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BIH Presidency on BiH Armed Forces | PACE President visits BiH | Presidency adopts decision on AFBiH |
| Discussion on higher education law | Size and structure of BiH Armed For. | Audit reports on state institutions |
| Statistics on unemployment | The Law on Higher Education issue | Hearing on foreign currency deposits |
| BIH authorities’ treatment of youth | Education-related problems in ZDK | RS Government in session |
| Oslobodjenje | BH Telecom and HT Mostar go in urgent privatization [FBiH Government session] |
| Dnevni Avaz | Army for all BiH peoples [Radovanovic on Armed Forces] |
| Dnevni List | Died because of doctors’ neglect (death of a patient in Mostar) |
| Vecernji List | Praljak’s [Croatian general] gift insults SDA (about Praljak’s book on |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Small, tiny bugs bite like devils (local story about insect plague) |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH will have 10 thousand soldiers |
| Glas Srpske | Meeting beyond protocol |
| EuroBlic | Government demands Mihajlovic and Bojat to resign (BL-Gradiska highway) |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related splash |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| PACE Chair addresses BiH Parliament calling on MPs to continue negotiation on const. reform right after election
| BH Radio1 by Samija Saljihi– President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], René van der Linden, addressed the BiH Parliament and invited MPs to continue with negotiations on constitutional changes, right after election. “Europe wasn’t to help BiH, but entering the EU is solely the responsibility of domestic politicians,” stated PACE President. Van der Linden stressed that he is convinced that BiH would find its place in EU family, only if BiH peoples leave their past behind and start with creation of new constitutions right after elections, in order to establish more functional state. PACE President warned that administration increase of the administration has to stop, since it spends 60% of |
| | RTRS – At its session on Friday, BiH Constitutional Court should decide on BiH Presidency Member Borislav Paravac’ s request regarding BiH and RS dispute over BiH lawsuit against |
Elections 2006 and other political issues | |
| Dani: Everyone uses Naser Oric release for their own election purposes: Serbs to show there is anti-Serb conspiracy, Bosniaks to manipulate Srebrenica citizens
| Dani cover splash ‘Justice hasn’t prevailed’, pg 3 ‘Naser Oric – currency for settling accounts’ op-ed by Senad Pecanin – Commenting on the recent release of Srebrenica war-time commander Naser Oric who, as the author says, was “mysteriously withdrawn from the enclave before a fall of the city”, Pecanin notes justice hasn’t prevailed in this case. He further argues that if Oric was innocent, then two years he was sentenced to are too much, and if he was guilty [of war crimes against Serbs] than it is too little. Underlining that both, Bosniak and Serb, politicians have exploited this case for “additional homogenization of their peoples”, Pecanin elaborates that Serb politicians are using this as “proof of anti-Serb character of ICTY…To Vojislav Kostunica, Tomislav Nikolic, Milorad Dodik and other champions of Serb nationalism, sentence to Oric came as ordered, as a proof of global anti-Serb conspiracy.” Bosniaks on the other hand welcomed Oric as a hero, though they have priory condemned Croats who have done the same in several occasions. “This way Bosniak public…has shown the same face that is so offending when used by Serbs and Croats,” concludes the author. Further on, Pecanin says the case of Oric also points to two other worrying details: one being a failure of the ICTY to set lowest sentences for crimes defined as the most severe, and second is support of the Bosniaks politicians which shows their opinion of crimes he committed. Pecanin concludes that files on Oric’s criminal past were “hidden” in exchange for his silence about responsibility of Bosniak leaders in Srebrenica fall, “as well as post-war manipulation of unfortunate Srebrenica residents for election purposes of SDA”. Slobodna Bosna cover splash ‘Naser Oric Criminal, Hero or a Criminal’, pgs 22-23 ‘Naser Oric proved in |
| Dani’s analysis on October elections: Crucial battle is for Bosniak electorate between SBiH’s Silajdzic and SDA’s Tihic
| Dani, pgs 18-23, mentioned on front ‘Lagumdzija for Tihic, rest for Silajdzic’, by Vildana Selimbegovic – carries a lengthy article in which the author argues that the biggest battle during the October elections will be waged for the Bosniak electorate, namely between the SDA and SBiH, with the |
| Dani’s analysis on October elections: HDZ’s Covic cannot longer count on absolute victory;
| Dani, pgs 18-23, mentioned on front ‘Lagumdzija for Tihic, rest for Silajdzic’, inset ‘Dragan Covic against Tobinsons’’ by A. Obradovic – Analyses the situation on the Croat political scene in BiH, arguing that the HDZ BiH leader, Dragan Covic, cannot sleep tightly like 4 years ago i.e. he cannot count on an outright victory of his party given the charges pressed against him at the BiH Court and establishment of the HDZ 1990. The author however suggests that whoever wins the race, the two HDZs are too much alike to bring about any changes, namely there will be no changes towards the attitude towards BiH as a state since it is about same people who have been in power for past 15 years. (regarding the headline of the inset, Dani says the HDZ BiH officials call HDZ 1990’s officials ‘Tobinsons’ (referring to Toby Robinson, provisional administrator for Hercegovacka bank) since some of them were involved in the Hercegovacka bank related unrests from 2001, such as former Head of Mostar’s Municipality Southwest, Stipe Maric. Inset ‘Cavic will not go from Banja Luka’ – retells names of candidates for different offices from the RS, underlining that the |
| At its convention also aired in cities around the RS, SNSD presents programme and candidates for October elections
| Dani pgs 24-26 ‘Dodik’s nationalism and balloons of social democracy’ by Faruk Boric – Reporting from recently held SNSD Convention in Banja Luka, Dani carries that the party officials presented programme and candidates for the forthcoming elections in October, adding that RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and his party colleagues talked mostly about possibilities for referendum and national interests. Ceremony was also transmitted on the screens in Prijedor, Doboj, Bijeljina, |
| SB: BiH is divided in two sides: ‘political converts’ and parties with loyal, but ‘worn out’ politicians
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 18-20 ‘80% of list leader are in power for years’ by Asim Metiljevic – Analyzing candidates lists for the October elections, article notes that regardless to the outcome of the forthcoming elections, no one should expect significant changes, for there are only few of new people and fresh energy appearing on the lists. “Even the most shallow analysis of elections lists of eight most influential parties in BiH [SDA, |
| RTRS calls on
| Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘False data presented, we will ask for the court protection’ by V. Popovic – Following the accusation of |
| RS President Cavic informs representatives of Congress that DPA is the only guarantee of stability and future in BiH | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Everyone in RS for |
| Serbian Minister of Finances Dinkic: if Kosovo is granted independence, RS Serbs might demand to have an equal right | Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Independence for Srpska too’ by M. B. – Mladjan Dinkic [Serbian Minister of Finances and Deputy President of G 17 Plus party] stated it might be possible that, in case Kosovo is granted independence, RS Serbs would demand to have an equal right. ‘The international laws must be the same for everyone. If someone wishes to change the |
| Feral Tribune op-ed:
| Feral Tribune ‘Beckett’s state’ by Mile Stojic – The columnist writes about the trip RS PM Milorad Dodik made to Germany during the Football World Cup and points out he traveled by an BiH airplane despite the fact that the purpose of the trip was for Dodik to support a foreign country’s [Serbian] team. As for Dodik’s statement on a possible secession referendum in RS, Stojic quotes Serbian newspaper Politika as writing that ‘to initiate the issue of RS independence as compensation for lost territories would necessarily bring |
Marking of Srebrenica anniversary; other war crimes issues | |
| Preparations for commemoration in Potocari almost completed: 505 identified bodies to be buried
| BHT1 – The preparations for the burial of 504 identified victims of genocide have been almost completed in Potocari, four days before the 11th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. The building of commemorative wall, with engraved names of 8,372 people killed or disappeared in Srebrenica in 1995, has been completed as well. According to Srebrenica Municipal Head Abdurahman Malkic, members of the Organizing Committee for marking the 11th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre will do all they can to avoid traffic collapse, which prevented more than 2,000 people from attending the commemoration in 2005. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘505 victims to be buried in Srebrenica’ by N.O.– Director of ‘City Cemetery’ in Visoko, Asmir Hodzic, stated that total of 505 killed and fully identified Srebrenica victims would be buried on July 11. |
| Int press on ongoing exhumation of Srebrenica victims possibly from the biggest mass grave Jaz near Zvornik
| New York Times ‘More Victims Found as Srebrenica Anniversary Looms’ by Reuters – Article reports forensic experts said on Thursday they had unearthed the remains of 268 victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre at Jaz mass, days before its 11th anniversary. According to press, the digging continues and more bodies are expected to be found at Jaz, which is the eighth and possibly biggest mass grave found in the |
| Delegation of the RS Government to attend the ceremony in Srebrenica
| Dnevni Avaz pg 7 ‘RS Government’s Delegation on marking of the genocide’ by Fena– Officer of RS Government’s Information Bureau, Zlatko Juric, stated that Government’s Delegation would attend the 11th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide. Delegation would be composed of two Deputy RS Prime- Ministers, Omer Brankovic and Anton Kasipovic, and Advisor to RS PM Miladin Dragicevic. RS PM Milorad Dodik will not attend due to scheduled business trip. Dnevni Avazpg 9 ‘RS Government represented by Brankovic and Kasipovicnot signed – also carried. |
| EUPM Head Coppola visits Memorial Centre in Potocari to discuss security
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Tribute to genocide victims’ not signed– Head of EUPM General Vincenzo Coppola visited Memorial Centre in Potocari and paid the tribute to the victims. “I have talked to Head of Srebrenica municipality Abdurahman Malkic, RS Police Director Uros Pena and Police Commissioner of Tuzla Canton, Dzevad Koroman, and I am certain that they would professionally conduct all necessary measures, in order to provide secure area, during the commemoration on July 11,” said Coppola. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘General Coppola pays tribute to victims of Srebrenica crime’ not signed– also carried. |
| EU’s Rehn informs | Dnevni Avaz pg 23 ‘Goal of Serbia action plan has to be apprehension of Mladic’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Mladic still condition for EU’ by agencies, EuroBlic pgs 2-3 ‘No Mladic, no talks’ – EU Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn informed officials in Belgrade that full cooperation with the ICTY, including arrest of war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic is condition for continuation of negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement ( |
Economic and return issues | |
| RS Govt adopts program on construction of Gradisnja – BL highway
| PINK, BHT1, RTRS – RS Government on Thursday adopted the information on construction of Gradiska – |
| Association of old foreign currency savings holders claims: 85% of hose savings were spent
| FTV,BHT1– BiH House of Representatives’ Investigative Commission for establishing the old foreign currency savings of BiH citizens announced that 80% of those funds [estimated at $2 billion] have been spent through banking system. Member of the Commission Izet Hadzic stated that the Commission often has problems obtaining necessary information. The main goal of a public hearing organized on Thursday in |
| BiH HoR Commission for Finances and Budget adopts changes to Law on Old Foreign Currency Savings
| BHT1 – The BiH House of Representative’s Commission for Finance and Budget adopted the changes to the Law on Old Foreign Currency Savings, which foresee that the old foreign currency savers are fully paid during next five years, instead of thirteen as it was originally planned. The bonds, which would replace old foreign currency savers’ money, could be used for trade on stock markets, as well as for buying real estates and construction fields. At the same time, representatives of BiH Finance Ministry stated that the requests for payment are not realistic, because new loans would mean that BiH would exceed a limit of debt set by EU. “I know that the old foreign currency savers are not satisfied, but we have to take into account the macroeconomic possibilities of BiH. In other words, we must not implement a solutions that would endanger the macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability of BiH”, stated Jusuf Kumalic from the BiH Ministry of Finance and Treasury, adding that international institutions – especially International Monetary Fund and World Bank – would not allow something like that to happen. |
| RS Auditor publishes reports on entity institutions: five institutions receive negative mark
| Glas Srpski pg 3 ‘Five negative reports’ by D. Vrhovac- Mihajlovic – RS Chief Audit Office has completed audit of 66 financial reports of budgetary users for 2005. RS Chief Auditor Bosko Ceko told daily that 5 of 66 reports were evaluated as negative, 19 were evaluated with reservations, 41 were evaluated as positive while opinion-giving on 1 report was abstained (on consolidated financial report of cultural institutions due to unclearness and limitations). Financial reports of RS Ministry of Education and Culture, high and secondary education, Employment Bureau and RS NA House of Peoples were evaluated as negative. Ceko reminded that audit of RS Government’s report for 2005 should be finished by the end of July. |
| DL op-ed criticizes Croat politicians and IC for not helping Croats return to Posavina
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Return to Posavina’ op-ed by Pejo Gasparevic – Gasparevic asks why so few Croats have returned to Posavina since the war and mentions one Ivica Sedlovski, displaced person from Derventa area, who has written to virtually all national and international officials asking for their help in order for him to return to his home, but to no avail because obstacles are many. Sedlovski, says Gasparovic, is only one of many Croats who are owners of large properties in Posavina which are, however, still inaccessible to them. Editorial criticizes Croat politicians who ‘keep ignoring Posavina and are easy to forget injustice done to it by the |