Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Covic to meet Sanader | Acimovic to be new Zvornik Mayor? | Payment of October pension starts |
| BiH Presidency session not certain | War-crime trial of Ilijasevic | Excerpts from HR interview for NN |
| Brcko elect. results implementation | World news | Dodik on war crime indictees |
| Census in BiH | Weather | RS Internal Debt Law amendments |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| HR revoked PBES licence | HR revoked PB licence | Zenica MoI on Olena Popik | HR revoked PB licence |
| Luka Karadzic arrested | Elections in Zvornik | HR revoked PBES licence | Mandic on PB case |
| Dodik on ICTY indictees | FBiH civil servants strike | Elections in Zvornik | Elections in Zvornik |
| Kordic’s sentence in Dec | Luka Karadzic arrested | Discussion on culture inst. | Agriculture in RS |
| Oslobodjenje | Following death of Ukrainian prostitute in Mostar – Thousands of people have reasons for fear!; Momcilo Mandic used the Bank for personal enrichment |
| Dnevni Avaz | William Montgomery: The Balkans is not Bush’s priority |
| Dnevni List | Resolving of status for 900 families of killed HVO members |
| Vecernji List | Ashdown liquidated Karadzic’s bank |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Glas Srpske | To what an extent public services are corrupt: Do inspectors like the bribery |
| Nezavisne Novine | Paddy Ashdown: Mandic was paying politicians with state money; Haris Silajdzic on authority crisis: State property is more important from participation in executive authority |
| Blic | Raid in BiH: A pimp of the infected Ukrainian woman arrested |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| HR assesses RS Srebrenica Commission report
| FENA – Following the assessment of the RS Government’s Srebrenica Commission Report by the Commission for Human Rights within the |
| SPRS’ Acimovic leads in Zvornik
| BH Radio 1 News at 1200, ONASA – According to the first unofficial results of the election headquarters of the candidate of eight political parties for mayor of the municipality of Zvornik, Budimir Acimovic, this candidate leads at the elections held on Saturday in Zvornik. Chief of the headquarters Dusko Vukotic said that Acimovic won 6,823 votes and that the candidate of the Democratic National Party (DNS), Hadzi Jovan Mitrovic, won 3,513 votes. The Zvornik Municipal Election Commission said that the turnout was at approximately 58 percent. Repeated voting was scheduled at 59 polling stations in the |
Economic/Social Affairs/Corruption | |
| HR Ashdown revokes PBES licence
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 3 ‘Momcilo Mandic used the Bank for personal enrichment’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Paddy Ashdown shuts down Mandic’s Bank’, mentioned on cover ‘,Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Mandic was paying politicians with state money’ and pg 3 ‘Mandic was transferring the money from public funds onto accounts of politicians’ by M. Cubro; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Privredna Banka suspended’ by N. Zelenovic, Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Ashdown liquidated Karadzic’s bank’ and pg 2 ‘Karadzic’s network remained without source of financing’ by E. Medunjanin and Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Depositors’ money ended up in Mandic’s companies’ by D. Polovina-Mandic – High Representative Paddy Ashdown revoked business licence of Privredna Banka East Sarajevo because of financial frauds and loans which exceeded the capital of the bank. The decision of HR is based on report and recommendation by PBES Provisional Administrator Toby Robinson. Momcilo Mandic and his associates have stolen multi-million amounts from RS citizens and several institutions. Some of this money could have been used for support to ICTY indictees. Further investigations will be conducted by authorized prosecutor. HR Paddy Ashdown: ”As Managing Director, Momcilo Mandic has used the bank to gain profit for himself and some special interest groups. He transferred the money to private companies, which are also owned by him. There were also some transactions which caused concerns that the money might ended up at ICTY indictees.” According to Ashdown, further investigation will determine, which structures in RS, and especially in Bijeljina, are involved in frauds in Privredna Banka. Ashdown explained that several RS institutions have invested in PBES, and they will now have to face a loss. RS Housing Fund invested 3.5 million KM, Bijeljina Orphanage invested 150.000 KM, and EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Bank under a liquidation, dismissals to follow’ by D. S. also reports on the HR’s decision and special press conference held on Sunday. The article also carries an interview with Temporary Administrator Toby Robinson, in which she explained causes that had led to such a situation regarding the bank. She also said she would testify in the course of trial to Aleksandar Mandic, Drazenko Mandic and Dragoslav Popovic (persons accused of organized crime and illegal business conducting in “Privredna Banka” Serb |
| Nezavisne Novine interview with HR Ashdown
| Nezavisne Novine pgs 4-5 ‘I am waiting for RS authority to fulfil the promise and arrest war crime suspects’ by Mirza Cubro – In an interview to NN, Paddy Ashdown, High Representative to BiH, expresses his view that his decision on Privredna Banka Sarajevo would weaken the network for support of war crime suspects. He also expresses hope that the RS authority would fulfil the promise and arrest war crime suspects by the end of year, otherwise any option of sanctions against RS is possible. Responding to press question as to what an extent politicians were involved in malversations at this Bank, HR says that “there was most likely an accomplice, even the active engagement in order to enable Momcilo Mandic to use public funds and invest them into his bank. It is hard to acknowledge that anybody, who has any respect towards public funds management, could have handed those Government and Municipal resources at Privredna Banka |
| Momcilo Mandic on PBES case
| In a statement for RTRS, Momcilo Mandic said that there are no evidences that he, as majority owner of Privredna Banka, was involved in any illegal activities, adding that he would appear at possible trial, but that he did not believe in impartiality of judiciary in BiH. “If BiH Prosecution has anything against me it should submit relevant evidence to judiciary of Republic of Serbia, which will certainly, in a completely objective and professional manner determine does my guilt exists, regarding any of Bank’s operations. I am prepared for any kind of trial, not in |
| GS on bribery at public services
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Do inspectors like bribery?’ by D. V. M. – Transparency International Spokesperson Srdjan Blagovcanin has confirmed TI has brought a denunciation because of a corruption against a market inspector from RS Minister of Trades and Tourism Boris Gaspar has confirmed an internal control has showed one inspector has been taking bribery and he claims corruption has been reduced since the Department for Internal Control was established. RS Chief Labor Inspector Gordana Jugovic claims there are no corruption cases within labor inspection service. RS Ministry of Urbanism, Construction and Ecology also claims there were no complaints with regard to corruption within the Ministry. Deputy Minister of Urbanism, Construction and Ecology Biljana Markovic has said citizens had been filing complaints in relation to inefficiency of municipal construction inspectors, but there were no complaints in relation to corruption. |
| On agreement between
| Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Resolving of status for 900 families of killed HVO members’ by I. Glibusic reminds that Vice President of the Croatian Government Jadranka Kosor stated that the agreement, which should regulate the status and rights of HVO members, is about to be finished and it should be signed by the end of the year. The author says that having in mind the fact that presidential pre-election campaign has been underway in |
| Pensioners to hold protest on 15th November across RS
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Protests on 15 November’ by R.S.; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Blockade in front of Government’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Dissatisfied with the failure of RS authorities to fulfil their demands, the RS Association of Pensioners announced it would hold protest on 15 November. At |
| Update to “Buk Bijela” plant
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘America does not oppose’; Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘USA do not oppose to construction of “Buk Bijela” by N.N. – Denying the most recent allegation of the Montenegrin Foreign Minister – that the US Government warned Montenegro not to build “Buk Bijela” plant – Darko Uskokovic, the Montenegrin Minister of Economy, said that the USA do not oppose to construction of this plant, adding that American Consul in Podgorica, Bryan Haute Jij, informed him of this. |
| DL: ‘1210 customs officials to lose job’
| Dnevni List pg 8 ‘1210 customs officials to lose job’, mentioned on front, by A. Vrebac – DL says that due to the reform of the Customs Administration 1210 customs officials will lose job. Deputy Head of the Customs Department of the Indirect Taxation Administration Bogdan Novakovic stated that the dismissals are inevitable and that all legal provisions will be respected during this process. |
| DL editorial on Law on Internal Debt in FBiH
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Justified lawsuit against BiH’ by |
Crime/Judiciary/Legal Proceedings | |
| Bosniak liaison officer Ahmic on ICTY operations
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘RS is exerting pressure against the Hague’ and pg 4 ‘‘RS is exerting pressure against the Hague to charge a part of Army of BiH leadership’ by E. Sarac – In a statement to DZ, Amir Ahmic, Bosniak liaison officer with the ICTY, says it is almost evident that a part of ICTY cases would be handed to BiH Court at the end of year, when the ICTY Prosecutor’s Office will close all the investigations it is running. Regarding media speculations on possible charges against former senior Bosniak officials, Ejup Ganic, Rasim Delic and Haris Silajdzic, Ahmic notes: “The ICTY Chief Prosecutor has been announcing charges against Bosniaks form some time now. Prosecutor’s Office has been engaged in some investigations for some time now, within which it has interrogated several Bosniaks”. He expresses his view that the Serb side is exerting pressure against the Tribunal, in order to see charges against political and military leadership of Army of BiH brought. |
| VN on transfer of ICTY cases to BiH Courts
| Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘”A Bosnian Scheweningen” under preparation’ by S. Pesevic & M. Labus – The article brings some comments regarding the announcement of the ICTY of transfer of cases classified as “A”, “B” and “C” files to BiH courts, ascertained by Krstan Simic, lawyer from Banja Luka. Miroslav Mikes, Deputy Chair of RS HoP, says that the cases would first be forwarded to BiH Court, where the experienced foreign judges are sitting, noting: “It is a question of key importance as to whether Courts and Court Councils would act independently, bearing in mind the influence of local political and ethnic oligarchy. The judges would be exposed to extensive media, political and other sorts of pressures.” Nikola Spiric, Co-Chair of BiH Parliament, is of the view that Slavko Jovicic, Vice President of the RS Association of former Inmates, holds reserves towards this issue, stressing: “The fact that the Hague Tribunal has decided to hand some cases to local courts shows that the Hague is a failed project.” |
| SNSD’s Dodik on Cooperation with ICTY
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘And what will Sredoje Novic (and SIPA) do?’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Dodik: December 23 is D-day for RS’ not signed and Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Dodik: December 23 is D-day for RS’ by ds – Chairman of SNSD Milorad Dodik feels that 23 December, when Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte is expected to report on RS cooperation with the Tribunbal to UN Security Council, is D-day for RS. He stresses that all activities should be focused at arrest of war crime suspects. Dodik stated that Karadzic had to be found and arrested in some way. Dodik also stated that a possible solution would be forming of a special police unit and signing of bilateral agreement between BIH and SCG so that police could move across the borders and arrest the war crime suspects. |
| Canadian Ambassador to BiH says some comments on foreign judges, prosecutors unacceptable
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Unacceptable attacks on foreign judges and prosecutors’ – Interview with Shelley Whiting, the Canadian Ambassador to BiH. The Canadian Ambassador announced that her country would remain engaged in BiH through missions of NATO and probably EUFOR. “The goal of my country’s Government is to establish a professional, responsible and transparent Rule of Law system in BiH that will be independent and impartial. Some comments on the performance of foreign judges and prosecutors in BiHare simply unacceptable,” said among other things the Canadian Ambassador. |
Political developments | |
| Will ruling political parties support Terzic?
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘SBiH, HDZ and SDS without comment, SDA and PDP for withdrawal of resignation’, mentioned on front, by E. D. A. – The daily announces that the BiH Presidency will be discussing the resignations filed by the Chairman of BiH Presidency, Adnan Terzic, and notes that presidents of parties that form the parliamentary majority will be talking about the same issue with the BiH Presidency tomorrow. Avaz also carries senior officials of the said parties as commenting to the situation. Chairman of Presidency of SBiH, Safet Halilovic, HDZ President, Barisa Colak, and Vice President of SDS, Borislav Bojic, do not want to comment to the issue, whilst the Secretary General of SDA, Sefik Dzaferovic, reiterated the SDA’s position that the BiH Presidency should not accept Terzic’s resignation. On a similar note, Vice President of PDP, Goran Milojevic, believes that Terzic’s resignation was a human gesture, after BiH CoM’s proposal (on VAT law) was not supported by the parliamentary majority, however Milojevic hopes that the resignation will not be accepted. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘SDS and SDA support Terzic’ by M. Cubro – Following the announcement of Adnan Terzic that he would file resignation to the position of the BiH COM Chair, SDS official Sunday confirmed to NN that: The majority of SDS Presidency members agree that Terzic did a good job and that he needs to be offered a chance to continue doing that job.” SDA has previously announced it would support Terzic to stay on this position. BiH Presidency is expected to hold session Monday and discuss this issue, and HDZ of BiH is expected to take position on this issue, according to Pero Pavlovic. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Covic and Paravac keep silent, Tihic claims that Terzic remains’ by Z. Kresic – Members of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic and Borislav Paravac refused to confirm whether they will accept the resignation of Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, while Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said that Terzic will not be removed. Covic stated: ‘I have agreed with Paravac that we do not comment on this issue in public before the session of the BiH Presidency. However, this is not only about the Terzic’s resignation but about the relations in general and about our true orientation for reforms and |
| SDU’s Tokic calls for faster implementation of reforms
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH has fallen into the most difficult post-war crisis because of disunity inside the ruling coalition’ – Sejfudin Tokic, SDU of BiH Vice President, on Sunday released a press statement, saying that the leadership of the SDU of BiH assessed the existing Governments of BiH and entities are losing the legitimacy of citizens and parliament support owing to their delay in implementing reforms and fulfilling promises. He added: “In such a serious situation, it is of crucial importance whether the existing coalition of ruling parties at the level of BiH and entities is capable of improving economic situation in the state and accelerate the process of BiH admission into European and EuroAtlantic integration.” |
| Party for BiH’s Silajdzic on split at F BiH Government
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 5 ‘State property is more important from participation in executive authority’ by R. Cengic – The session of the Party for BiH Presidency is scheduled for Monday evening. The session is to resume discussion on the recent developments at the F BiH Government and partnership relations between this party and SDA. According to Haris Silajdzic, Party President, members of this party would not take part in further work of F BiH Govt. until this issue is resolved before Parliament. The cause for the latest authority split SDA-Party for BiH was the proposed Law on changes and addenda to the Law on privatisation. |
| William Montgomery: The Balkans is not Bush’s priority
| Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash ‘Balkans is not Bush’s priority’ and pg 5 ‘George Bush’s priorities are not here’, by Mersiha Drinjakovic – Carries an interview with a former US Ambassador to Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro, William Montgomery, who comments on the victory of George Bush in the US presidential elections and impacts of the victory on the Balkans. |
| VL interview with Doris Pack (on constitutional changes, Croat issue, HR’s powers)
| Vecernji List pg 5 Berlin Institute wants BiH with 12 Cantons’, mentioned on front ‘To organize BiH as state with 12 Cantons’, by M. Vasilj carries an interview with Head of the European Parliament Delegation for Southeast Europe Doris Pack. Asked about the issue of constitutional changes, Pack said that BiH politicians should decide on this issue and she added: ‘If reasonable people start to talk with people in the RS and if they explain them that they are not working against them but with them, I believe that people from the RS would agree to have the constitutional changes.’ Asked whether the International Community ignores unresolved Croat issue, Pack says: “I would not agree with the conclusion that the whole IC is ignoring the Croat issue in BiH, however, I share the opinion that more could be done in order that Croats feel as a constituent people.’ Asked whether the authorities of the High Representative should be reduced having in mind the progress achieved in BiH, Pack says that the International Community in |
| Covic to demand Croatian support for constitutional changes | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Covic expects Sanader’s support for constitutional changes’ by Z.K. – Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated that during the meeting that he is to have with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sander on Monday (today), he will demand the Croatian support for the coming constitutional changes in BiH. |
| Consensus of Croat MPs on TV channel in Croatian language
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Petition united Croat parties’ by I. Rozic – DL says that after a long time Croat MPs in the Federation of BiH House of Representatives reached a consensus by signing the petition in which they demand establishment of a TV channel in Croatian language. Representative Ivan Bacak said that the consensus on this issue was reached spontaneously, while the same kind of consensus does not exist when re-organization of BiH or the issue of old foreign currency savings are in question. |
| Elections in Zvornik repeated on Sunday
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Less police officers, less problems?’ – Local elections were repeated in Zvornik on Sunday, and residents of Kozluk voted for third time in one month. In order to assure regular elections, 38 local Electoral Boards have been replaced. There were no incidents reported. Number of voters in Zvornik is smaller that during previous elections. Elections process was monitored by members of international institutions and BiH Election Commission. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Ukrainian prostitute death – the thousands have reason for fear
| Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Thousands of people have reason for fear!’ – The daily emphasizes that the AIDS-infected Ukrainian prostitute, who recently passed away in Mostar, had intimate contacts with almost a thousand of her clients. EuroBlic cover and pg 11 ‘A pimp of the infected Ukrainian woman arrested’ also covered the issue. Dnevni List pg 45 ‘Ilona: I was forced on prostitution by clubbing’, mentioned on front, by N. Bise and N. Dedic – With regard to the death of a young girl from Ukraine who died of AIDS in Mostar last week, DL carries testimonies of girls who are victims of women trafficking and who were forced on prostitution in BiH. On the same issue Vecernji List pg 50 ‘Former ‘owner’ of girl from Ukraine who died of AIDS arrested’, mentioned on front ‘Girl from Ukraine was spreading AIDS from Celje to Mostar’, by R. Soldo and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 4 ‘Alarm is also spreading on Croatia’ by A. Vlaho carry update of the investigation on the death of the girl from Ukraine. |
| Hercegovacka TV Director Menix: Mayor Jahic is halting payment of salaries
| Dnevni List, pg 15 ‘Mayor Jahic is halting payment of salaries’, mentioned on front, by K. Spajic – Carries an interview with the Director of Hercegovacka TV, Vlatko Menix, in which he notes that mid-November will mark a two month period during which employees of the Hercegovacka TV and Mostar Radio Station have not been paid. According to Menix, the reason behind that is refusal of Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic, to sign the corresponding payment order. Menix also notes the slowness in transferring of institutions onto the competence of the City of |