Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 7 September
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Police reforms talks continue today | Police talks to resume |
| FBiH HoP on defence reform today | Explosion in Prijedor |
| BiH Presidency session today | EU Defence Ministers meet on Thu |
TV news broadcast on 6 September
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| HR banned pardoning | HR suspended pardoning powers | HR suspended pardoning |
| FBiH HoR accepted defence reform | FBiH HoR accepted defence reform | Cavic’s reaction on HR’s decision |
| HR on police reform | Bukejlovic on police talks | Mandic suspected of war crimes |
| Continuance of police negotiations | Nationalised apartments issue | Ivanic did not receive American visa |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Zelenovic’s extradition | FBiH HoR approved defence reform | HR banned pardoning |
| Speculations on Karadzic’s arrest | HR suspended pardoning | Cavic on HR’s decision |
| HR suspended pardoning powers | Ashdown on police reform process | Continuance of police negotiations |
| Police reform talks to continue | ICG on police reform process in BiH | FBiH HoR accepted defence reform |
| Oslobodjenje | US did not issue visa for Ivanic |
| Dnevni Avaz | Criminal block of SDS must be broken down |
| Dnevni List | Oil distributors demand reduction of excises |
| Vecernji List | Dubious Saudis conquer Sarajevo |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | There is no Croatian pension without medical check-up in |
| Nezavisne Novine | ICG: to ban SDS |
| Glas Srpske | They wanted to kill me |
| EuroBlic | I am not in quarrel with Cavic |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Police talks to resume
| RHB, RTRS – RTRS notes that the police reform talks are expected to resume in |
| Explosion in Prijedor
| RTRS – Unidentified explosive device was thrown in front of the house of Rezak Hukanovic at 24:00 hrs last night. According to statement released by Prijedor Police Station, minor material damage was caused on windows of Hukanovic’s and his neighbour houses. Hukanovic, an owner of NTV 101 in Sanski Most, has been a target of such an attack for the second time. Five years ago, explosive device was planted under his car and perpetrators have not been identified. In April 2005, Hukanovic’ house was a target of robbery. |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown suspends pardoning powers
| RHB, PINK, RTRS, FTV, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Pardons were annulled’ by R. Cengic, EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Ashdown banned pardons in BiH’ by Dusanka Stanisic, Glas srpske pg 3 ‘Conspiracy against justice’ by N. Zelenovic, Dnevni List pg 3 cover ‘Instead of Prce’s pardon, Ashdown suspended all future pardons’, mentioned on cover ‘Ashdown suspended all future pardons’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Ashdown suspended all pardons’ by E. Medunjanin, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 12 ‘Prce was pardoned legally but not morally’ by Z. Rerig – HR Paddy Ashdown suspended the power to all entities, state and Brcko district authorities to grant pardons for those convicted for a criminal offence until a new law is enacted. At the press conference on Tuesday, Ashdown explained that the cause for this was the decision of FBiH President Niko Lozancic to grant a pardon to the former FBiH defense minister, Miroslav Prce. “The Prce pardon represents, it is clear, a gross abuse of a legal process. The unhappy fact is that this is not an isolated abuse of legal process,” said Ashdown adding that during the first eight months of this year one in three applications for pardon in the Federation was granted and in RS the figure is one in five applications. However, Ashdown’s action does not mean termination of Lozancic’s decision to pardon Prce. Ashdown said that his job is to honour the law, even when it is “silly law”, and Lozancic, indeed, acted in line with the law. This is why HR has decided not to suspend individual decisions, but to prevent the future abuses. “Now, we have a law which will amend all this and provide a framework for pardons which politicians will make it much more difficult to abuse… This law could be in operation by October,” Ashdown said.BHT1 by Gvozden Sarac– Although members of BiH Parliamentary Assembly and Council of Ministers, according to BHT reporter, were aware of the fact that the existing law on pardons is not the best solution, they waited for ten months to start drafting the new law. According to BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac new law will not allow persons convicted for war crimes to be pardoned. |
| Cavic: HR’s decision another demonstration of lack of principles
| BHT 1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Another manifestation of unprincipled behavior’, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Ashdown is unprincipled’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Unnecessary decision’ by Z. Ma., Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Unprincipled suspension’ not signed– RS President Dragan Cavic commented that the decision of Paddy Ashdown to suspend all institutional authority for the granting of pardons is yet another demonstration of the lack of principles which has frequently been shown by the OHR, reads the statement by Cavic’s office. It adds there was no basis for the application of this measure to the RS president’s authority to grant pardons, as it is clearly motivated by the decisions of the BiH Presidency and FBiH president in granting pardons in the cases of Munib Jusufovic and Miroslav Prce. The statement also reads that Cavic believes that adopting a new law on pardons at the BiH level would be contrary to the RS Constitution and yet another harsh violation of entity jurisdiction, which the High Representative in BiH frequently practices, the statement emphasizes. |
| DL op-ed praising HR’s decision on pardons
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Every third wins’ by M. Karacic comments on the HR’s decision on pardons and the author says: ‘It seems that a British spy (referring to the HR) has finally decided to cope with the HDZ lobby and show at least for a moment that some people are not above the law as it is usually the case in BiH.’ The author also says that it is sad that a politician at such position (referring to FBiH President Niko Lozancic) is trying to be above the law. |
| Ivo Miro Jovic: Third entity not HDZ’s wish, but if two other people have entities third people should have it too
| FTVby Halid Rifatbegovic – BiH Presidency Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic and HDZ delegation, also including Dragan Covic and Niko Lozancic, visited Brcko District on Tuesday where they held talks with Supervisor Susan Johnson and representatives of executive and legislative power. Jovic stated he never said that HDZ wants third entity. “But, if two constituent peoples in BiH have entities, that should also be possible for third people. We want what others have, nothing more but the equality in line with European principles.” Commenting the PBS, Jovic said that HDZ did not change its stance on PBS system: “Constituent people such as Croats have their tradition, language and culture, therefore its wants and seeks its channel.” Meeting with Johnson, the HDZ delegation discussed numerous issues, including the development of BD, its position in BiH and relation with entities “We do not want to become the third entity, and we certainly do not want to slow down the reforms in BiH in any way. But we do want to take the place we have with the final arbitrary decision”, said BD Mayor Mirsad Djapo. RHB by Mario Ivkic– Meeting with Brcko authorities and Supervisor, Jovic also stated that it would be good to install the position of Deputy Mayor in Brcko District, which should be granted to Croat people, emphasising that the Supervisor is supporting this idea. BHT1, RTRS, Hayat, RHB, Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘Third entity is not a wish of HDZ’ by E.R., Nezavisne Novine, pg 5 ‘HDZ did not ask for the third entity’ by N. Tanasic, Glas Srpske, pg 2 ‘To Croats what others have’ by M. Dj., Vecernji List pg 6 ‘A Croat as Deputy Mayor in Brcko’ by Valentina Rupcic, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘To accelerate return of Croats to the District’ by T. Bijelic, EuroBlic pg RS9 ‘They want a seat at the Cabinet’ by L. Stefanovic, Vecernje Novosti pg 18 ‘Croats want entity’ by M. D.– also reported on the visit with focus on Jovic’s statement regarding the third entity. |
| BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic did not get
| BHT1, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 3 ‘US did not issue visa to Mladen Ivcanic’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Ivanic still without visa’ by N. Krsman – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic did not get American visa, which he needed in order to attend the UN General Assembly session in New York. Other members of BiH delegation got their visas, including BiH Presidency Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic who will lead this delegation. The session will start on September 13; among other things, Ivanic was expected to sign the UN convention on fight against corruption in |
| A Mostar Movement sends a letter to HR: Serbs in Mostar are discriminated
| FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Serbs in Mostar are discriminated’ by N.N. – The Serb Civil Council Movement for Equality (SGV-PR) has addressed an open letter to Paddy Ashdown, HR to BiH, reminding him of, as they call it, discrimination of Mostar citizens of Serb nationality by local political structures and international officials, especially OHR. They, inter alia, complain over decision of HR to reduce the number of councillors of Serb nationality to four. |
| JL op-ed on relations btw BiH and
| Jutarnji List pg 18 ‘BiH was not without Ambassador in Croatia even during the war’ by S. Pavic comments on the fact that BiH does not have an Ambassador in Croatia and on speculations that Dragan Bozanic would be proposed to this position. JL also mentions the problems that emerged with regard to the agreement on property and legal issues between BiH and |
| NN op-ed reminding of 10th anniversary of
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘BiH: A step away from Dayton – now’ by Jacob Finci & Christophe Solioz – Reminding of the 10th anniversary of Dayton Peace Agreement, the authors point out this was the reason for scheduling the international conference for BiH on 20 and 21 October in Geneva, stressing the time has come to finally define “turning point” of BiH post-war situation in BiH which is: full sovereignty and EU integration. They express gladness over the fact that officials like Paddy Ashdown, Carl Bildt, Carla Del Ponte, Olli Rehn, Wolfgang Petritsch, Lakhdar Brahimi, Richard Holbrooke will attend the conference. They stress that BiH has been moving ahead from the |
Defence and police reforms/ SBS Director appointment | |
| FBiH Parliament on defence
| RTRS, RHB, PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Agreement on transfer of authorities in sector of defense adopted’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Defense authorities were transferred to the state of BiH’ by R. Cengic – The FBiH House of Representatives on Monday approved signing of the agreement on transfer of competencies in defense sector from FBiH to the BiH State. The House has also authorized FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic to sign the agreement on behalf of the Federation and tasked the Government to launch immediate preparations for amending the legal regulative in defense sector. RHB – FBiH Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic stated that according to this all authorities in defence will be transferred to the State level. Commander of NATO HQ Louis Weber and BiH Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic have addressed FBiH HoR, speaking about membership in Partnership for Peace, which is the key obligation for full membership in NATO. |
| FBiH HoR on defence/Madunic: 8 years Ago Jelavic proposed to have defence under state competence
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Transferring of authorities in defence area to state level approved’ by F, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Competence in area of defence is being transferred on state’ by N. Bise also covered this FBiH HoR’s decision. DL also carries President of the HDZ-CCD Caucus Ivan Madunic who says that the decision on transferring the authorities in the area of the defence to the state level is not something spectacular but it is something normal and he added: ‘Former HDZ President Ante Jelavic came with such proposal 8 years ago since it is truly grotesque that the defence is not under the state competence.’ |
| Hayat feature on defence reform and downsizing of army
| Hayat Nebojsa Radulovic – RS National Assembly also allowed last week transfer of entity’s authorities in defence sector to the state level. Number of employees and soldiers will be drastically decreased in future Army. Great number of people will stay without the job. In entities’ Ministries of Defence there is no answer to this question. “Number of employees is 10.000. Everything more than that will be surplus.”Miroslav Nikolic, FBiH Minister of Defence stated. “Precise number of BiH Army staff will be defined in the next period. Transfer to the new organization of the system would start on January 1st 2006. “ Boris Kozlik, RS Ministry of Defence Public Relation Officer stated. Nikola Radovanovic, BiH Minister of Defence knows that the future number of BiH Army staff should be decreased for 3.300 people. In FBiH 2.200 and in RS 1.100 of employees would stay without the job. “Valuation is that the state Ministry would have 700 to 800 employees. 2.070 persons would be a surplus.” Radovanovic stated. NATO and International Community would provide help. FBiH Ministry of Defence did not make a plan for reparation for employees. “We have some promises of NATO and International organizations, but I have to admit that I am not an optimist.” Nikolic stated. Kozlik stated that in proposal of Law stays that for those who are surplus, reparation must be provided as six salaries or 12 salaries for those who are working for 15 years in this sector. |
| Police talks continue today
| Hayat, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Still, there is a solution’ by Z.Ma., Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘SDS must change its position’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘A political agreement on police reform expected to be reached’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Continuation of talks on police reform today’ not signed– The talks on police reform between the BiH Council of Ministers and the Entity governments will resume on Wednesday at the BiH Institutions building. Advisor to BiH Council of Ministers Chair, Bojan Zec Filipovic, told Fena that the results of the latest meeting have demonstrated the will and readiness to seek the appropriate solution. “[On Wednesday] we will continue talks on police reform in line with the EC principles that must be fulfilled in order for us to be in position to open the negotiations on Stabilization and Association by the end of the year”, said Filipovic. |
| RTRS comments on police talks: RS expected to change stance, whereas IC will not
| RTRS by Biljana Knezevic – Reporter comments that the “saga” on police reform will continue on Wednesday in |
| ICG report: ban SDS in case of failure of police talks over SDS’s resistance
| PINK, BHT1, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 3 ‘SDS’ criminal block must be broken out, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘SDS should be banned if the police reform fails’, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘ICG: to ban SDS’ by D. Risojevic – ICG on Tuesday recommended SDS should be banned if police reform talks fail due to its resistance. ICG also asked from the official |
| Ashdown: EU will not change stances because of RS
| RHB, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘EU will not change things because of RS’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Stick in a hand, carrot on a branch’ by E. G. S., Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ashdown: SDS will be a culprit for failure’ by R. Cengic – HR Paddy Ashdown told the press conference on Tuesday that if the negotiations on police reform do not result in an agreement that is in line with the EC principles, BiH will lose an opportunity to join Europe. “EU will not change its decision, it will not change its standards,” said Ashdown, adding that the EU will certainly not change its standards to adjust to the little RS. He deems that the greatest responsibility for this stand of the RS lies with the Government, and not the opposition. He concluded that if the negotiations are unsuccessful SDS will bring RS into a position of becoming an exception in the entire Balkans region which is heading towards |
| British Ambassador Rycroft supports ICG assessments
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘There will be no progress towards EU without police reform’- The British Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft, agrees with the recently announced report of the International Crisis Group (ICG), which states that police reform in BiH is necessary, not only for creating a more efficient policing structure at service of the citizens, but also for fulfilling the last remaining condition for opening SAA negotiations with the EU. Rycroft once again called on the SDS to demonstrate the necessary flexibility in order to achieve an agreement on police reform, was announced by the British Embassy in |
| Oslobodjnjenje op-ed on HR/SDS
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Threats’ by Senka Kurtovic – Writing about the warning HR, Paddy Ashdown addressed to RS authorities, including SDS, in order to make them change their stance regarding police reform, author notes that Ashdown’s threats did not scare Cavic too much. She stresses that HR might have not realized it until Tuesday that he might be defeated. She concludes by saying that when things get serious, the only thing left to be done by HR is to make threats. |
| SD op-ed on police reform: Ashdown is also powerless against RS’
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20 ‘Ashdown is also powerless against RS’ by M. Erceg comments on the police reform talks and the author says: ‘Even if High Representative Paddy Ashdown would ban SDS because of the police reform obstruction he would be faced with even bigger problems than he is faced now. It would be realistic to expect strengthening of the same political forces that the HR started the war with. Therefore, there is no reason to hope that Serb officials would give in with regard to the police reform.’ |
| GS: RS Govt ready to find solution
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Still, there is a solution’ by Z.Ma. – Daily writes that RS Government delegation is ready for finding a solution to police reform at today’s meeting in |
| RS PM Bukejlovic: I am not in quarrel with Cavic | EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘I am not in quarrel with Cavic’ and pg RS1 ‘Cavic and I are not in quarrel’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – carries a page-long interview with RS PM Pero Bukejlovic in which he says all negotiators are responsible for the success, or lack of it, of police reform negotiations, not only RS. Asked whether his stances significantly differ from stances of RS President Dragan Cavic, Bukejlovic said they cooperate on a daily basis and he thinks it is normal they have certain different approaches in resolving of problems. |
| FOKUS claims Cavic wants to replace Bukejlovic with Cenic over disagreements on police reform
| Fokus cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Svetlana on top of it’ by N.Diklic – Daily reports referring its sources at PDP and SDS that Dragan Cavic, RS President, has engaged in secret negotiations with Heads of political parties in RS with an aim to remove Pero Bukejlovic from the position of RS Prime minister and appoint Svetlana Cenic instead. Sources also stress that the reason for Cavic’s dissatisfaction is Bukejlovic’s “hard” stance on police reform, who insists on RS NA conclusions (that ban any change of constitutional order of RS). PDP source claims: “Bukejlovic also left the meeting SDS officials had with Paddy Ashdown at Jahorina, and said he will not play by Cavic’s tunes.” |
| SRS’s Mihalica: Terzic’s police reform proposal is actually SDA’s police reform proposal | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Let Terzic say’ by D. Mo. – SRS’s Milanko Mihajlica told a press conference on Tuesday that the proposal on police reform, for which Adnan Terzic claims to be a stance of CoM, is actually a stance of SDA that was agreed upon with Bosniak officials and was supported by OHR. |
| RS Association of Missing Persons: police should stay in current constitutional frame | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Police as army’ by G. K. – RS Association of Families of Killed and Missing Persons believes police reform should be implemented in such way that the police stay in current constitutional frame. With regard to RS NA conclusions on defense reform, the Association believes RS citizens should present their stance with regard to it on referendum. |
| Center Club: Todorcevic supported stance of RS NA on police | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Todorcevic did not sign’ by G. D. – Center Club on Tuesday stated their representative at police talks on Vlasic, Rajko Todorcevic, represented a stance described at RS NA conclusions and the Club claims he signed no statement nor any other document with regard to the achieved level of the talks. |
| DNS on HR: Hasty statement
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Hasty statement’ by Z. Ma. – DNS believes carrying out police talks under constant pressures would not lead to a good solution. They find HR’s statement, with regard to possible abolishment of RS should police talks fail, was hasty and was not tactical since it pointed on a culprit in advance. |
| Ashdown: If CoM and parties file, HR to appoint SBS Director
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Ashdown will appoint SBS director?’- HR Paddy Ashdown told press conference on Tuesday that if the BiH Council of Ministers and the political parties fail to appoint the new director of the BiH State Border Service than he would do this for them. “It is up to the BiH institutions to appoint the director, but I cannot leave this post vacated so that the security of the country would not be jeopardized for too long,” Ashdown stressed. |
| Humphreys urges SBS director appointment
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Humphries points out at importance of SBS administration/heads appointment’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘The work of SBS was blocked over political influences’ by S. G.– EC Head in BiH Michael Humphreys stressed on Tuesday the importance of appointing the SBS Director. He expressed hope that this issue will be successfully resolved at the next BiH CoM session scheduled for September 8. “SBS is without a leadership since July 17 and the inability to appoint it undermines its work at a time of a fight against terrorism, smuggling and trafficking in humans. It is deeply disappointing that the successful work of such a vital institution which protects the safety of the country is blocked by political interference,” Ambassador Humphreys said. |
Education issues | |
| Update to Janja ethnic division in primary school [contradictory reports]
| BHT 1, Hayat – Bosniak pupils from Janja did not come to school on Tuesday. Their parents demand that so-called national group of subjects is introduced, and that Bosniak professors start working in school. They also asked for resignation of director of “Mesa Selimovic” elementary school, and the removal of orthodox Christian symbols from classrooms. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘They are bothered with Saint Sava!’ by S.Radjen-Todoric – However, Glas Srpske reports that the classes at this school were Tuesday held according to the plan, although some pupils of Serb and Bosniak nationality did not attend them. The School Manager, Drago Jugovic, expressed conviction that situation will stabilize in the next few days. According to inset ‘ |
| Prozor Rama school problems: SDA, HDZ decided to separate schools
| BHT 1 by Martina Kristo-Antelj – SDA and HDZ in Prozor/Rama municipality decided to separate Bosniak and Croat children in local elementary school. Former elementary school “Marko Marulic” will now have the Croat part, and the Bosniak part – which is now going to be “Alija Isakovic” elementary school. Opposition parties in Prozor/Rama municipality are strongly against this decision, because they believe it is politically motivated, and could lead only to new separations, and even incidents among children and parents. Municipal Council President Sejad Colak said that founding of a new school was the only possible solution, because all children should have the right to be educated by “their”, Bosniak of Croat, curriculum. Simun Novakovic from local HDZ said that there is nothing controversial about this decision, because everything has been done according to the law. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 – also report. |
| Dnevni Avaz op-ed criticizing opening of school at Prozor/Rama
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Ethnic divisions at school benches’ by Sanja Skuletic – Criticizing the opening of Elementary School “Alija Isakovic” at Prozor/Rama, the author stresses that “debates” of councilors on division of schools are far more efficient than efforts the international community makes to unite schools. She raises the question as to who has allowed councilors, but also Minister of Herzegovina Neretva Canton to nip in the bud all hopes of new generations in the stories that unity is the sole future of our state. She concludes by saying as while others are fighting for placing a unified BiH within EU family, they are destroying the residues of unity we have left. |
| DL: Capljina also decided for separate Bosniak school?
| Dnevni List pg 13, mentioned on cover ‘Bosniak school established’ by V. Soldo carries that according to their source at an extraordinary session of the Capljina Municipal Council held on Monday it was decided to form a Bosniak school in this town. DL says it is interesting that this school would act as a regional school of a primary school in Mostar and the article explains that this brings in question legality of a newly established school since primary school education is under competence of the Municipalities. DL leans that regardless of this provision the HNC Education Ministry gave its ‘blessing’ for establishment of this school. |
| SDA delegation visits Stolac
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz ‘To urgently stop ethnic division of schools and segregation’, Dnevni List pg 12 ‘Minister keeps silent while Prime Minister is not aware of problems’ by S. Bjleica carries that SDA delegation made of SDA President Sulejman Tihic, SDA Vice President Sefik Dzaferovic and member of the SDA Presidency Mirsad Ceman visited Stolac on Tuesday where they talked with SDA Stolac President Zlatko Hadziomerovic and President of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton SDA Board Salko Sokolovic. On this occasion they reiterated their support to the SDA stand according to which they oppose divisions in the schools according to an ethnic principle. DL also says that HNC Education Minister Jago Musa announced that he would hold a press conference on this issue after the HNC Government holds session, which is to take place during this week. |
| DL comment on Stolac school issue
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘HDZ silence on problems in education’ by |
| Minister Halilovic sends letter to Herzegovina-Neretva Canton leaders | RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘To respect BiH tradition in schools’, Dnevni List pg 12 ‘Minister keeps silent while Prime Minister is not aware of problems’ by S. Bjleica, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Halilovic against ‘segregation of pupils’ ‘ by H – BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic sent a letter to the HNC Prime Minister and President of the HNC Assembly regarding the aforementioned problem. Among the other things, the letter says: ‘In accordance with your constitutional authorities I am asking you to take all necessary measures in order to remove segregation from the schools and put out of force the decisions which lead towards segregation.” |
Economic and property issues | |
| FBiH HoR postpones discussion on nationalized apartments; both occupancy right holders, owners of nationalized apartments protest
| RHB, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Discussion on nationalized, privately-owned apartments postponed’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Protest rallies of occupancy right holders, owners of the apartments’- At the session on Tuesday, the FBiH House of Representatives was to discuss the amendments to the Law on sale of apartments with tenant’s rights which would allow tenants to purchase them. The holders of tenants’ rights in nationalized apartments, approx 250 of them, in the morning peacefully protested in front of the FBiH Parliament building demanding to be allowed to purchased nationalized apartments in which these citizens have obtained the tenant’s rights. FTV – At the same time, only few meters away, the owners of nationalized apartments also protested demanding the protection of their rights. BHT 1 report by Armela Subasic – Although HDZ representatives are against those changes, other representatives’ votes would be enough to adopt the changes of the law in both Houses of FBiH Parliament as HDZ has no possibility to launch the procedure of the protection of vital national interest. On the other hand, SDA and SDP announced that they will support the changes of the law, because they believe that bearers of tenancy rights on nationalized apartments should have the same rights as the other citizens. |
| RS Telekom audit report: ‘Expenses higher than revenues’
| PINK, RTRS, BHT 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 9, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Expenses higher than revenues’ announced on cover ‘Employees spent 5,9 million KM on phone talks’ by Mirna Soja, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Mistakes stayed in past’ by D. Vrhovac – Mihajlovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Most of irregularities were remedied’ by D. Risojevic – RS Telecom gained income of 86 million KM in 2003, while income in 2004 reaches 85 million KM. As RS Chief Auditor, Bosko Ceko, explained on Tuesday in Banjaluka, these are overrated numbers and need to be corrected. He also said that new RS Telecom management already made numerous changes, based on his instructions, and this can be seen in positive business results. His message to new RS Telecom management is to put under control expenses of internal phone calls and to use financial means more efficiently. |
| DL: FBiH Assoc. of Oil Distributors might demand reduction of excises on oil
| Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 4 ‘Oil distributors demand reduction of excises’ by A. Vrebac – Most probably, in cooperation with the Federation of BiH Economic Chamber the FBiH Association of Oil Distributors would demand from a state to temporary reduce excises on oil. DL says that this might be done by the end of this week in order to reduce an impact of ‘the oil strike’ on consumers. |
| VL: Dubious company from
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Dubious Saudis conquer Sarajevo’ and pgs 2 and 3 ‘ ‘Siege’ of Sarajevo’ by D. Jazvic carries that a company from Saudi Arabia, which has very questionable qualifications and political and business connections, might buy the attractive business area ‘Magros’ in the centre of Sarajevo. VL also says it is very indicative that war Commander of the 7th Moslem’s Brigade of the BiH Army, which was well-known after mobilization of mujaheddins, Serif Patakovic represents this company in BiH. According to VL unofficial information some of the most influential people from SDA hide behind Patakovic and name of Bakir Izetbegovic has been mentioned in this context. |
| HVO victims must pass new medical check-up in order to get pensions from | Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 13 ‘There is no Croatian pension without medical check-up in Croatia’ by Z. Zekic – According to the agreement on rights of HVO victims and members of their families, which was harmonized between BiH and Croatia, all HVO victims must pass a medical check-up in Croatia in order to be able to get a recognition on their right to receive the pension from Croatia. |
War crimes | |
| Zelenovic indicted for illegal border crossing | Hayat, RTRS, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Russia indicted Zelenovic for illegal crossing of the border’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 – The Prosecutor’s Office in Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk brought charges against former RS Army Officer Dragan Zelenovic, ICTY suspect has been apprehended in this region on August 25th, for illegal border crossing and possession of the forged personal documents. According to the local police, Zelenovic has been in detention in the District prison since arrested. He lived in Khanty-Mansiysk for several years under false name Danislav Petrovic, and earned for a living as a construction worker. ICTY indicted Zelenovic for war crimes committed in Foca in 1992. |
| Director of SCG Int. Security Institute says Karadzic possibly held by western intelligence | Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Foreign services are protecting Karadzic’ by D. R., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘The West is protecting Karadzic?’ not signed, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Karadzic in hands of western service?’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Karadzic in hands of western service’ by B. Stevandic – The director of the International Security Institute Orhan Dragas deems that a possibility that Radovan Karadzic is already in hands of some western intelligence service, with the assistance of some domestic service, is not excluded. “If it is correct that Karadzic was in |