| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Prosper in Banja Luka | Prosper meets Cavic | Prosper in BL | Prosper in Banja Luka |
| Strike in University Mostar | Dismissals in BH Telecom | Srebrenica report | RS Army’s facilities |
| Session of FBiH Parliament | Defense reform in RS | Gov’t on BH Telecom | Tax reforms discussed |
| Oslobodjenje | Mostar Court decided: Sale of Eronet illegal |
| Dnevni Avaz | FBiH Government requests removal of Miletic |
| Dnevni List | Ashdown will continue using Bonn powers; Heads of municipalities must lead next wave of changes in BiH; Less corruption and tax evasions, more economic stability |
| Vecernji List | Not issues due to Independence Day in Croatia |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Not issued due to Independence Day in Croatia |
| Glas Srpske | Republika Srpska Tax Administration: Playing games |
| Nezavisne Novine | Cavic and Prosper: Surrender of arrest; Rift at PDP: PDP divided about support to Premier Mikerevic; Banjaluka: Losses of “Krajinapetrol” amount to BAM 7.9 million, removed director demands to be returned to position |
| Blic | US Ambassador for war crimes with RS political top: pursuit; Mirsad Kebo: Obstacle to return to BiH is job for returnees |
War crimes | |
| Prosper, Cavic called on war crime suspects to surrender
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Karadzic is in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘US has information that Karadzic is in RS’ – RS President Dragan Cavic and US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Pierre Richard Prosper signed a joint statement in Banja Luka on Tuesday calling on all war crimes indictees, including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, to voluntarily surrender to the Hague tribunal immediately. Citizens of the RS are urged to provide information and thus – as it is said – make their contribution to the removal of obstacles for BiH’s joining the European and Trans-Atlantic integration processes. Prosper arrived in Banja Luka to resolve, as he put it, once and for all the issue of the arrest of war crimes indictees, and above all Radovan Karadzic. “A critical factor for full integration into Europe, which means membership of the Partnership for Peace and the NATO Alliance, is the arrest and extradition of Radovan Karadzic to The Hague. As long as this issue remains open, there will be no true progress,” prosper said. Aware of these facts, the RS authorities, according to the president of the entity Cavic, are clearly in favour of discharging their obligations towards the Hague tribunal. Rejecting, as he put it, insinuations that the SDS leadership was helping Karadzic, Cavic said that the statement he signed expressed his firm political convictions. “Today we also announced our agreement to jointly call on all citizens of the RS, government officials, army officers, police officers to seize the opportunity to help the RS discharge its obligations towards the UN International Tribunal for War Crimes for Former Yugoslavia in line with international and domestic regulations,” Cavic said. Ambassador Prosper again offered 5 million dollars for any information about Radovan Karadzic although SFOR has information that Karadzic was – as he put it – in this region. Dnevni List page 10, “RS ready to meet obligations towards The Hague”, by Fena, and page 10, “US has information on Karadzic’s moving”, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Call for war crime suspects to surrender to the Hague Tribunal’; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Time to surrender’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘Call on Mladic and Karadzic’; Blic pg. 5 ‘Information on Karadzic worth 5 million and asylum’; Blic pg. 13 ‘RS is Karadzic’s hostage’ also report on the issue. |
| Statement of Day: Pierre Richard Prosper | Dnevni List (page 2) carries in its “Statement of Day”, the US ambassador in charge of war crimes issue, Pierre Richard Prosper, as saying: “With Karadzic at large you cannot join Partnership for Peace.” |
| NN interview with Prosper | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ’Arrest of Karadzic opens the door for Europe’ – In a short interview to NN, Pierre Prosper, US Envoy for War Crimes, said that America expects to see some action taken, instead of empty words. According to the interpretation of the American administration, action means only one: arrest of war crime suspects, starting with Radovan Karadzic. After the arrest if made, Republika Srpska, and also the rest of BiH, would sail in more safe harbour and head towards further integration into Europe. |
| BiH Human Rights Chamber to discuss Srebrenica report | BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 9, mentioned on the front page ‘Judges will react to the report on Srebrenica’ – The BiH Human Rights Chamber will discuss report on Srebrenica massacre prepared by the RS Government on Wednesday. The report was prepared on the basis of the earlier decision of the chamber. The report was also sent to OHR, OSCE, UNHCR, ICRC and Council of Europe. Dnevni List (page 3, ‘Commission with FBiH Constitutional Court as of January 1’, not signed) carries that in accordance with Annex 6 of the Dayton Peace Agreement the mandate of the Human Rights Chamber will expire on December 31. DL also says that the Human Rights Commission with the BiH Constitutional Court will start to work on January 1, 2004. |
| Ivanic: Dayton-based institutions not behind BiH lawsuit against SCG | Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Only Bosniaks stand behind the lawsuit against SCG, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, Dnevni List page 6, “Ivanic: Only Bosniaks stand behind lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro”, by Tanjug, Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘Only Bosniaks behind the lawsuit’; Blic pg. 13 ‘The last big BiH problem’, SRNA, FENA – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic has said that the joint institutions of Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina are not behind a lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro and urged that this issue be resolved through an agreement. “It is much better to resolve such issues through agreements and not to open new lawsuits,” Ivanic told a news conference in Belgrade on Tuesday. He also voiced suspicion that at this moment “there is a political force which can resolve this through an agreement”. He repeated that representatives of only one nation in BiH, the Bosniaks, but not institutions of Dayton BiH were behind the lawsuit. “No agreement has been reached about the lawsuit in the BiH Presidency or parliamentary assemblies or the Council of Ministers,” Ivanic added. He said that cooperation between BiH and the Hague Tribunal was the last big obstacle which BiH as a whole was facing. According to him, cooperation between domestic institutions and the tribunal was better now although the tribunal was not yet happy with the achieved level of cooperation with BiH. Asked why the issue of extradition of Hague indictee Ratko Mladic was addressed to SCG and not BiH, Ivanic said “the Hague tribunal has created a situation in which this is more an issue for Serbia and Montenegro”. |
| DL editorial on Croatian and BiH war crime suspects | Dnevni List (page 2, ‘Who is singing there’, by Miso Relota) carries an editorial saying that the US and European officials sent a clear message to Croatia, saying that this country will not enter the EU as long as Croatian general Anto Gotovina is at large. The editorial goes on to say that on the other hand, those ‘European and US gentlefolk’ are sending tepid messages to two butchers Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. The author ironically says: ‘No, Karadzic and Mladic are not the problem but general Anto Gotovina.’ He adds that Gotovina’s responsibility is bigger only because he is a synonym of the Croatian resistance to aggressors. The author also reminds that US ambassador in charge of war crimes issue Pierre Richard Prosper stated that the USA has certain information about moving of Karadzic, which refer that he is in the area of the RS. The author says that the BiH citizens have had enough such information which are only irritating and since Americans keep repeating that they know where Karadzic is moving the author suggests them to arrest him finally. |
Political developments | |
| Ashdown visited Brussels, travelled to New York
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Spirit of compromise in BiH politics’, Dnevni List front and page 7, “Ashdown will continue using Bonn powers”, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4, ‘BiH is closer to Brussels following adoption of defence reform’,FENA – Paddy Ashdown met late on Monday with NATO Secretary General George Robertson and then later with ambassadors of NATO member countries in Brussels. The High Representative early on Tuesday briefed European Union ambassadors in Brussels on the situation in BiH and this afternoon he will be traveling to New York, OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic told a press conference in Sarajevo. At his meeting with Lord Robertson last night the High Representative briefed on the agreement reached by the Defence Reform Commission. He described this as a major success for BiH. The High Representative said that this was the start of a process that offered the best guarantee to the citizens of BiH of long-term peace and stability; that these reforms, now agreed by the Commission, were the first step to making BiH a credible candidate for PfP membership. The High Representative highlighted that these reforms did what Lord Robertson asked in his letter, establishing state-level command and control over BiH’s armed forces. The next step – assuming BiH joins Partnership for Peace, would be to fulfill the conditions necessary for full NATO membership, namely the full integration of BiH’s armed forces. The High Representative underlined that the agreement reached by the Defence Reform Commission showed a new spirit of compromise in BiH’s politics. He praised BiH’s political leaders for having taken difficult decisions in the interest of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He told the Secretary General that this was a positive signal for the future, and that he hoped NATO would recognise the significance of these achievements. The High Representative underlined that BiH’s entry to PfP depends now on when BiH implements these reforms. In the morning on Tuesday, the High Rep briefed EU ambassadors in Brussels on the progress made in BiH. He said that the magnetic pull of Brussels was increasingly replacing the push of the Bonn powers as the locomotive for reform and he said: “It is manifestly the case that as BiH moves closer to Europe, it must increasingly demonstrate that it is behaving like a country, doing things for itself, and not having them done for it. BiH cannot get to Europe through the Office of the High Representative. I do not rule out the continued use of the Bonn powers, but I always made it clear that I intended to use them more at the start of may mandate, and then use them less and less. That is exactly what is happening. I have issued half as many decisions in the past 8 months as I did in the previous 8 months, and I am confident that that trend will continue. One of the main reasons that I am able to rely on the Bonn powers less, is because I, and BiH, can rely on the European Union more and more”. Ashdown travelled to New York in the afternoon on Tuesday. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘NATO appreciates BiH’ efforts in defence reforms’ carried Chief OHR Spokesmen Julian Braithwaite’s statement on the High Representative’s visit to Brussels. BHTV, FTV – High Representative Ashdown on Tuesday presented to the Council of Europe a plan for a change of command of international forces in BH. According to the plan EU should take the command, but US troops should not withdraw from BiH. He praised BiH authorities for decisions on defense reforms, since it is the only way to join PfP. He acknowledged BIH started to behave like responsible state and not to wait somebody else to make difficult decisions. British Guardian also covered the issue saying that Ashdown is backing EU’s taking over of the command over international forces in BIH. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘There will be no peace for families of the victims until Karadzic and Mladic are transferred to The Hague’ – Some 28 million euros will be needed for the next five-year operations of the Court of BiH and its chamber for war crimes processing. This is one of the data that will be presented to the UN Security Council on Wednesday by the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown. |
| Seminar for BiH mayors | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘While the state administration wasting money, the economy is falling’, Dnevni List front and page 3, “Heads of municipalities must lead next wave of changes in BiH”, by Fena, FENA – Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays thinks that mayors are the people who will make BiH functional and change the lives of their citizens. “You the mayors from across BiH need to make a change which all other levels of authority failed to make. You need to lead the next way of reforms in this country”, Hays said at a seminar for some 60 mayors from the entire BiH Sarajevo region and the Regional Economic Community held in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The seminar is dedicated to searching for efficient management methods in local government and the improvement of services for citizens. Hays said that there is not a single democratic state where the link between the mayor and the citizens is not the most important things. He also mentioned his talks with mayors from which he learned about their dissatisfaction with cantonal and entity authorities, financing, failure and delay in passing decisions. “Your complaints are justified, but by uniting you can vote for changes in this country”, Hays said and urged mayors to establish key regional services and joint projects and to then address cantonal and entity authorities. Finally, he said that municipalities need to play a stronger role in creating economic capacities. He called on mayors to find strength for revolutionary changes in civic culture and to make this place more attractive for life. Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic stressed the need for an efficient administration in Mostar. “Mostar is not an island. I many segments it shares the faith of local government and self-government in FBiH and I think that there are certain illogical systematic and structural things in the organisation of authorities and the position of self-government in the Federation, which need to be changed through the upcoming reforms”, Jahic said. The Council of Europe together with the Austrian Association of Cities and the OHR hosted the seminar. |
| DL on division of BiH | Dnevni List (page 6, “Idea on division of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not dead yet”, by Professor Marko Tadic) – carries a reaction to an article published in the “Washington Times” on October 1, 2003, entitled “Redrawing Bosnian borders”, signed by Jeffrey Kuhner, which, in a nutshell, said that the Serbs and Croats in BiH should be allowed to join Serbia and Croatia respectively, whilst the “the Bosnian Muslims would have their own state, with Sarajevo as the capital”. Professor Tadic criticizes the “ignorance, superficiality or something third” of the author of the article, saying he (Kuhner) is not interested in the history of BiH, or history of BiH Croats, or global processes or European integration. Tadic’s final message is that Kuhner forgot that the BiH Croats indeed love Croatia and know well, “let me rephrase a great poet, that ‘as long as there is Bosnia and Herzegovina, there will be Croatia’”. |
| PDP rifts | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘PDP divided about support to Premier Mikerevic’ – NN learnt that PDP is divided on the issue of support to Republika Srpska Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic. According to NN source, at the PDP session Monday evening, Mikerevic asked PDP members to vote on this issue, so he could know whether he has PDP support or not. Although voting did not take place, certain debates on this issue burst out, which proved there are rifts amongst PDP members. Mikerevic and group around him pledge for accelerated implementation of reforms, whilst Mladen Ivanic and group around him do not share his view. |
| SDS reiterates criticism against Holbrooke | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Rostrum for misuses’ – At Tuesday’s press conference in Banjaluka, Momcilo Novakovic, President of SDS Caucus to House of Representatives (at BiH Parliamentary Assembly), stated that the address of the former American Envoy for the Balkans, Richard Holbrooke, at the special session of the House of Representatives resembled a campaign of American democrats. According to him, one part of that address criticised the administration of President George Bush. Novakovic further stressed that: “In an incorrect manner, Holbrooke, without any respect for the fact that BiH is consisted of three constitutive peoples and two entities, took a side of one people, which proves that he was misinformed of latest developments in BiH and does not want to perceive changes which took place.” |
Economic/social affairs | |
| Conference on indirect taxation system
| BHTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘Reform of customs prevents grey economy in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Indirect taxation reforms should close doors to corruption’ – Adoption of the law on indirect taxation system in BH that is currently in the Parliament will contribute to the establishment of joined economic environment, improvement of investments and simplifying of tax procedures. This was said on Tuesday at the forum “Why is Office for Indirect Taxation Good for Business”. The conference was organised by the USA Embassy in BH with co-operation of Bulldozer commission, US Trade Chamber, CAFAO and Deloitte & Touch, in order to give businessmen an opportunity to talk about this Office and how that Office can help business and economy in BH with taxation experts from the government and international community. Minister of Finance and Treasury of BH stated that the law on indirect taxation will be basis for introduction of VAT, which is supported by the EU. Dnevni List (front and page 5, “Less corruption and tax evasions, more economic stability”, by Renata Radic) – also carries a report from yesterday’s conference held in Sarajevo the object of which was to discuss effects of the establishment of Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) on business in BiH. DL says that one of message during the conference was that with the adoption of Law on indirect taxation in BiH and with establishment of ITA, which will implement the said law, the level of corruption in BiH will decrease, the economic stability will grow, whilst the tax evasions will be prevented. DL also carries the Republika Srpska Minister of Finances, Branko Krsmanovic, as saying that the establishment of ITA requires political and financial support. “Considering that two thirds of the mankind live under regime of value added tax, BiH should not be an exception, and we should, as well as others countries in the region, adopt the VAT”, said Krsmanovic. |
| ‘Mostar Court decided: Sale of Eronet was illegal’ | Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘Mostar Court decided: Sale of Eronet was illegal’ – The Mostar-based Cantonal Court made a ruling confirming that, in 1999, the HPT Mostar had illegally sold shares of Eronet to the Croherc, Hercegovina Osiguranje and Alpina Commerce private companies. |
| FBiH Govt orders changes in management of telecommunications companies | FTV, Dnevni List (front and page 9, “Removals in state companies by October 16”, by M. S.) – the Government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) has tasked the FBiH Minister of Traffic and Communications to relieve the current and appoint a new, temporary Steering Board in BH Telekom by October 16 this year and inform the FBIH Government about it. Once appointed, the new Steering Board has 60 days to re-register the company, which is current a public company, as a joint stock company. Regarding the situation in the HT Mostar (Croat telecommunications Mostar), DL reports that since the audit report on business operations of the HT Mostar is mostly related to illegalities in the work of former compositions of the HT Mostar’s Supervisory and Steering Boards, the FBiH Government has tasked the HT Mostar’s Supervisory Board to urgently make comments to the audit report and launch procedures of launching removals of members of the Steering Board about which there are evidence on illegal actions and negligent business operations. |
| Two removals in HT Mostar? | Dnevni List (back page, “New redundancies in HT Mostar”, by D. L.) – says the BHTV1 reported that the director of HT Mostar, Stipe Prlic, removed two employees of the company and goes on to say that the daily learned from a source close to the new Steering Board of HT Mostar that the sacked employees are senior employees whose identity will be revealed once the two get the official notice on termination of contract. Allegedly, the recently presented audit report on HT Mostar is one of reasons behind the removal. |
| OSCE on audit of telecommunications companies | Dnevni List (page 9, “OSCE denies writings on dismissals of employees”, not signed) carries that the OSCE issued a press release with regard to reports that two OSCE employees were dismissed due to their disagreement with the audit reports on work of telecommunications companies in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The press release says: “Although the employment contract with Miss Hadzimesic was terminated before its end, it happened for completely different reasons that we cannot comment because the cadre changes are an internal issue of the organization. Imeldin is still working in the team of a special auditor.” |
| Reports filed against Ivanic/Jungic/Dokic with regard to telecom affair | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Criminal reports filed against Ivanic, Dokic and Jungic’ – NGO People’s Front” has filed another criminal report before the Banjaluka Basic Prosecutor’s Office against Mladen Ivanic, Branko Dokic and Zeljko Jungic two days ago. NGO accuses them of having signed contracts and agreements between the Republika Srpska Government and Telekom Srpske on one and EBRD on the other side in 2002, by which they deliberately violated existing laws on privatisation in Republika Srpska. |
| Hearing on audit report on Telekom Srpske
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Auditor confirms findings on Telekom’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Auditor slammed the door’ – Following the publication of special international auditor report on Telekom Srpske, the Board for Economy and finances of Republika Srpska Parliament yesterday had separate meetings with Special Auditor, Dale Elen Ralph and Telekom management. Special auditor and Telekom management presented completely contradictory arguments on report claims. Therefore, the Board decided that final stance on this will be made in the middle of October. The Parliament will be informed of this stance. Upon request of Elen Ralph, the first part of the session was closed for public, but also for management of Telekom Srpske. Zeljko Jungic, General Manager of Telkom, and Zortan Vujanovic, President of Telekom Executive Board, denied claims presented in report. Jungic said that: “I firmly claim that 95% of the report is false. We can present arguments and documents to prove this claim.” |
| NN editorials on economy, social issues, corruption | Nezavisne Novine editorial by Natasa Krsman, pg. 7, ‘Rights of citizens’ – The author is writing about the increasingly often peaceful protests of BiH citizens in the past couple of years. In her view, this kind of demonstration of dissatisfaction has not bore fruit so far. Nezavisne Novine editorial by Josip Blazevic, pg. 7, ‘Corruption’ – The author is writing about the organisation Transparency International. Actually, he refers to the fact that TI, whose main goal is prevention of corruption, has not so far carried out a single research in BiH. The official reasons for this are not known. However, author speculates into two: first that this analytical organisation is not interested in doing that, or the corruption was so wide-spreading in BiH over the past years, that no scale could have showed it. Or maybe a little bit of both. The author also commends the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, who greatly contributed in the fight against crime and corruption and thanks to whom many reforms are now ongoing. |
| Military objects be given away
| Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Judges to replace recruits’, Blic pg. 13 ‘Military barracks to universities and judiciary, military service term four months’ – At yesterday’s session in Banjaluka, the Republika Srpska Government adopted proposal that some military objects will be given to civilian institutions. The rest of military objects will be sold at auction. In regard to allocation of military objects, priority will be given to judiciary, but also to universities, municipalities in general etc. |
| Update to Srpske Poste affair | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Pejic continues the old way’; Nezavisne Novine, pg. 10, ‘Pejic informed of forcible removal’, Blic pg. 13 ‘Pejic avoided transfer of duty’ – The transfer of duties between Milutin Pejic, who was removed from position of Srpske Poste Director, and Milijana Dakic, newly appointed Director, once more failed yesterday. Although he was on time informed when the transfer should take place, Pejic did not show up at the time scheduled. As Pejic stated previously, there is no legal grounds provided for his removal and transfer of duties. |
| Affair in “Krajinapetrol” firm | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Losses of “Krajinapetrol” amount to BAM 7.9 million, removed director demands to be returned to position’ – Losses of “Krajinapetrol” amount to BAM 7.9 million (ending with 30 June this year). This is said in the audit rpeort on this firm which was adopted at the session of the firm Executive Board on 30 September. Following the removal of the General Manager, Vladimir Tutus on 2 September this year, and failure to adopt report filed by Tutus to Executive Board (according to which “Krajinapetrol” registered a loss of only BAM 520.000), audit report was demanded. |
| Update to Republika Srpska Tax Administration | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Playing games’ – Over the past two months, Republika Srpska Tax Administration has taken away unified identification numbers from 38 taxpayers. By doing so, Administration has blocked their further business dealings. Mile Banika, assistant to Administration Director, said that the total of 220 identification numbers were taken away during the course of last and this year. |
| Report on corruption in 133 countries | Blic pg. 12 ‘BiH at 70th position’ – With five other countries BiH shares 70th position on the Global Index of Corruption Perception of the Transparency International among 133 countries. Slovenia and Croatia are ahead of BiH, and Serbia-Montenegro and Macedonia are behind BiH. This was presented yesterday by head of Transparent international in BiH, Boris Divjak. Oslobodjenje also reported on the issue. |
Legal/security issues | |
| FBiH Government requests removal of Miletic
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘FBiH Government requests removal of Miletic’ – At the part of its Monday’s session held behind close doors, the Federation of BiH Government concluded that FBiH Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic launch a procedure for removal of Federation Police Administration Director Zlatko Miletic, learns the newspaper from the reliable sources. Such the request followed a report on the security situation in the entity submitted by Miletic, which was rejected because it was full of political assessments that should not be part of the professional police operations. |
| EUPM on violence in Bihac | Dnevni List (front and page 5, ‘Municipal public prosecutor released attacker from prison’, by M. Relota) carries that the EUPM informed that the crime police unit from Bihac arrested one person as the main suspect in the case of few rapes and attempts of rape committed in the area of Bihac. The EUPM judged that the police conducted the investigation professionally, however, the EUPM is concerned about the decision of the municipal public prosecutor to release the suspect from the prison. Also, the EUPM believes that the suspect should undergo medical treatment since this case is about few rapes and attempts of rape. |