OHR BiH Media Round-up, 8/12/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

BH CoM on police reform today

Floods prevention

Hays continues const. changes talks

RS Govt./BH CoM in sessions

Cavic: Tihic’s anti-Dayton statements

Croatiaupdate

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Bralo update

Bralo sentenced to 20 years

Floods in PrijedorMunicipality

Cro Assoc. on law on war victims

Budget issues within BiH Court

Floods in CantonUna-Sana

Hays not to give statements

HR- name of his successor in 4 days

Bralo sentenced to 20 years

OHR warns CoM on Directorate

OHR on Police Commission

New trial against Blaskic?

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

OHR on Police Commission

Floods in CantonUna-Sana

Floods in Prijedor

ICTY sentenced Bralo for 20 years

Floods possible in Posavina as well

Floods in Bihac

On constitutional changes

Bralo sentenced to 20 years

Armed robbery in BL

Cavic on Summit in Mecca

Nikolic refused to testify

OHR on Directorate and CoM

Oslobodjenje

[Jocic] If police knew where Mladic was, they would have arrested him

Dnevni Avaz

[Ashdown] VAT will cause chaos in BiH in first months

Dnevni List

Key witness refuses to testify (Covic and others case)

Vecernji List

Croats’ biggest enemies are – Croats (on-line opinion poll)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Blaskic commended Jockers after Ahmici crimes

Nezavisne Novine

Expulsions to commence

Glas Srpske

We eat when we have something to eat (refugee problems)

EuroBlic

Mikrofin Banka” robber (robbery in B. Luka Wednesday)

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

UHSP on const. changes

RHB– UHSP issued a press release which says BiH: “BiH cannot be based on any entities or republics, but rather on regions that will not be based on ethnic, but rather on historic and natural borders. Such regions in BiH are: Herzegovina, Central Bosnia, Eastern Bosnia, Bosnian Border and Posavina. Besides these five regions, the city of Sarajevo would have the status of district.”

DNS: Const. changes talks must be more transparent

FENA – Head of the DNS Caucus in the RSNA Drago Kalabic believes that the constitutional changes talks should be run in a more transparent way. He criticized the fact that only leaders of 3 political parties from the RS are included in these talks stressing that constitutional changes concern all citizens and not one group only. 

War crimes

ICTY: Bralo sentenced to 20 years in prison

BHT 1, FTV,RHB, PINK, Hayat, RTRS, BK TV, RTS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 2 ‘Miroslav Bralo sentenced to 20 years in prison’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover, Dnevni List, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘Bralo sentenced to 20 years in prison’, by HINA, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Bralo sentenced to 20 years’, by zeda, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19, mentioned on cover ’20 years in prison to ‘repentant’ ‘ by Z. Cilic, Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ’20 years prison term to Miroslav Bralo’ by S.Karic – Bralo sentence in ICTY  – The Hague Tribunal sentenced a Bosnian Croat/ former HVO soldier who had pleaded guilty to charges including murder, rape and torture of Muslims to 20 years in jail on Wednesday. Miroslav Bralo, also known as Cicko, changed his pleas to guilty earlier this year on eight counts of war crimes and human rights abuses committed during the 1993 Bosniak-Croat war in central Bosnia. Judge Iain Bonomy said the crimes were of such a serious and brutal nature that the sentence would have been 25 years if it had not been for mitigating circumstances including Bralo’s guilty plea, his remorse and voluntary surrender to the court. Bralo, 38, belonged to a Bosnian Croat special forces unit known as the Jokers which attacked Muslim/Bosniak villages in Bosnia in 1993. It subsequently imprisoned civilians and forced them to dig trenches and serve as “human shields”. Bralo repeatedly raped a Muslim woman, who was kept prisoner for about two months and also made Muslim prisoners perform Catholic rituals and murdered others.

ICTY requests new trial against Tihomir Blaskic; new evidences prove he had commanding authority over ‘Jokers’?

Hayat by Boris Grubesic – The Hague Prosecution requests a new trial against former HVO commander in Central Bosnia Tihomir Blaskic. Blaskic was originally sentenced to 45-year prison term, but the sentence was reduced to nine years imprisonment after the completion of the appeal procedure. The request for the new trial is based on new, previously unknown witnesses and evidences, which, according to The Hague Prosecution, should prove that Blaskic is responsible for the crimes committed in Ahmici in April 1993. According to BHT reporter, new protected witnesses are probably among the HVO indictees who are currently in The Hague detention unit. “Three new things are mentioned in a document, including two new protected witnesses. That’s all I can see from those documents. I cannot talk about the dates, because they depend on how the Appeals Council will treat this request”, stated ICTY spokesperson in BiH Mathias Hellman. Blaskic’s defence attorneys few months ago contested ICTY Prosecution’s request for re-opening of this trial. “There are deadlines only for prosecutor and defence attorney in the Hague rule-book, there is no deadline for judges. Therefore, judges will take all the time they need to make a decision. But Prosecution and Defence have already done their job”, stated Blaskic’s attorney Anto Nobilo.Dnevni List, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘There is no ground for new trial to general Blaskic’, by D. Kozina – Nobilo believes there is no ground to renew the process, however Nobilo says the ultimate decision rests with the ICTY. Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pgs 18-19 ‘Blaskic commended Jockers after Ahmici crimes’, by Zlatko Tulic – According to SD’s information, the new documents in possession of the ICTY Prosecution show that Blaskic commended the HVO unit (HVO Military Police ‘Jockers’) that carried out the crimes in the village of Ahmici three days after the crimes, which is contrary to Blaskic’s defence claims that he did not control the ‘Jockers’. Oslobodjenje pg 5 Nobilo expects confirmation of the earlier verdict’ – also reported.

SCG MoI Jocic: ‘If police knew where Mladic was, they would have arrested him’

Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘If police knew where Mladic was, they would have arrested him’ by B. Boskov – Serbian Interior Minister Dragan Jocic on Wednesday stated the police have no knowledge on whereabouts of Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic and added if the police knew where they were, they would have arrested them.

Danas: Delic, junior commanders and executioners to be held responsible for Grabovica crimes

Danas , pgs 18-21, mentioned on front ‘Delic to get 25 years of prison?’, by Marijana Malic – Following the acquitting sentence for Sefer Halilovic in the ICTY (‘Grabovica’ case), Danas claims it is clear that the responsibility will be shifted onto former commander of BiH Army, Rasim Delic, because Halilovic presented documents that clearly point the finger at Delic. Danas’ sources also reveal that an indictment that will cover all the responsible for the crimes in Grabovica and other villages in north Herzegovina is being prepared at the War Crimes Chamber of the BiH Court.

DA op-ed: Karadzic and Mladic must be arrested

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Clear messages of Brussels and The Hague’ by E. Sarac carries that the International Community’s messages that come from Brussels, The Hague and Washington are more than clear and they say that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic must go to the ICTY. The author says that this is very clear to the RS and Serbian politicians and she concludes: ‘It is not a question any longer whether Karadzic and Mladic would be arrested but who from the current political leaders from the RS and Serbia would have to do it.’

Constitutional changes

New round of talks on const. changes: Hays meeting Lagumdzija, Halilovic, Brkic, Lozancic

 Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘New round of talks on changes to state Constitution started’ A. Malagic – The representative of the US Institute for Peace Donald Hays on Wednesday afternoon in Sarajevo commenced the discussions on constitutional changes in BiH with the representative of SBiH, SDP, HNZ and HDZ, which launched the new stage in the negotiations on the issue. First three parties were represented by Safet Halilovic, Zlatko Lagumdzija and Milenko Brkic, while later was represented by Niko Lozancic, HDZ Vice President, instead of party’s leader Dragan Covic. Lozancic did not comment on the reasons for Covic’s absence from the meeting, despite the previous announcements that he would attend it. We could not address all the issue and we primarily talked about the Parliament and the Presidency – all of the three options: one president, president with two vice-presidents and three-member presidency. Hays said that three political parties from RS have completely identical positions on all the solutions and that he was looking for definition of positions by the rest of BiH political parties,” Halilovic told the daily adding that it was not good the SDA representatives had not attended the meeting. Lagumdzija commented that the proposals and materials submitted where unacceptable: “This is nothing more than the proposal we had in Washington… But, to be clear: Sulejman Tihic and Dragan Covic obviously don’t want to see anything changed. If you ask me whether I am satisfied with small changes, the answer is obviously no. However, I am even more dissatisfied with the possibility of maintaining status quo.” DA concludes that following the individual meetings with party leaders, there will be a joint meting held. However, no participant could confirm that this would happen. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Entities a problem’, RTRS, BHT 1, FTV, Hayat, RHB, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Lagumdzija: Tihic and Covic do not want changes’ by M.Cubro – reported on the Wednesday’s meeting.

Cavic: SDS , SNSD, PDP leader to meet with Hays today; there we’ll be no talks if Tihic sticks to his stance

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 inset ‘There will be no talks if Tihic sticks to his positions’ – SDS President Dragan Cavic confirmed in a statement for the daily on Wednesday that he, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and PDP President Mladen Ivanic would today meet with Donald Hays. Cavic added he hopes that general changes would be agreed before the deadline in order to implement them before the upcoming elections. “However, if the radical and inappropriate statements, such as those by Sulejman Tihic, continue than we would not participate.”  RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Changes to BiH Constitution matter for internal consensus’, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Cavic does not accept invitation from SPONA’, not signed, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Tihic’ ugly message’ by D.Momic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Lagumdzija: Tihic and Covic do not want changes’ by M.Cubro – Cavic underlined that the const. changes are the internal affair of BiH which must be agreed through consensus. Commeting the request of the Serb NGO movement [SPONA] to explain the acting of Serb politicians in the course of talks on const. changes on 9 December, Cavic said he was obliged to report only to his party and rejected the invitation. EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘SPONA demands plebiscite’ by SRNA – SPONA demands plebiscite on transfer of RS authorities onto BiH level.

SDA in favour of ‘essential changes’

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘New round of talks on changes to state Constitution started’ A. Malagic, inset ‘SDA in favour of essential changes’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Ensure more efficient authorities’ – SDA welcomed on Wednesday efforts of the US Administration on ensuring that constitutional changes are to the satisfaction of all BiH citizens, and underlined its commitment to constitutional changes in BiH that would ensure an efficient and cheap government able to resolve the problems of citizens. The party stressed that it is in favour of real, not superficial changes, and stressed that cosmetic changes would not help improve the situation in BiH.

HSS, HNZ on constitutional reforms talks

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Abide by conclusion of 11 political parties’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 22 ‘To implement conclusions from joint meeting’ by Z. Tulic – The HSS of BiH (Croat Peasants’ Party) call on the HDZ of BiH to abide by conclusion of 11 Croat parties in the continuation of the constitutional reforms talks. According to the conclusion reached in Mostar on October 10, a new BiH Constitution needs to be enacted, which will ensure equality of peoples and which will be enacted in a parliamentary procedure through consensus of all three peoples with the help of the IC and on basis of principles that are applied in multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and decentralized European countries. Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Ensure protection of Croats through constitution’, by NINA – HNZ i.e. its Mostar branch, the party that is taking part in talks on constitutional reforms, is of similar position when it comes to the constitutional reforms. EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Presidency and Parliament on agenda’, announced on cover ‘Croats propose three federal units’ by Nedeljka Breberina – HNZ’ Milenko Brkic stated this party prefers tri-partite BiH Presidency (President and two vice presidents) while Parliament and Government presidents should be representatives of other two peoples. HSS calls on HDZ to stick to conclusions of the joint meeting of 11 political Croat parties that BiH needs a new Constitution.

Osl. op-ed on goals of US administration with regard to const. changes in BiH

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘For whom Hays’ tongue is wagging’ by G. Beric comments on Donald Hays’ engagement in constitutional changes talks in BiH. According to the author the essence of the US initiative with regard to this issues is that the USA goes towards radical reduction of its presence in Balkans ceding Balkans to the care of the EU. The author added: ‘BiH is no longer the main problem in the region but it is Kosovo…The Hay’s task is to stabilize BiH by strengthening of the central authority so that the USA can dedicate to the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina.’ 

Political issues

OHR urges CoM to establish police reform directorate

Hayat, RHB, PINK, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Deadline expiring today’, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Adopt decision on directorate today’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘OHR again warns BiH Council of Ministers’, by id, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘OHR’s warning’ by D.P, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Deadline given to COM expires today’– OHR stated that the Council of Ministers must adopt a Decision establishing the Directorate for the implementation of the EC approved plan for police reform no later than today [Thursday]. It also stressed that the failure to do so will mean that BiH will risk missing its first target on the road to Europe, and would send a very negative message to the EU given that police reform is a key SAA requirement. “The 31st of December deadline is extremely tight. The CoMs Decision is only the very first step towards setting up the Directorate. Once the Decision is made, entity and cantonal governments will have to recommend members of the Directorate to the CoM, after which the CoM will have to appoint the members,” said the High Representative. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Decision on formation of Police Reform Directorate today’ by M.Cubro – Daily learns at the Cabinet of the BiH CoM Chair that at today’s session in Sarajevo , the BiH COM is expected to establish a Police Reform Directorate.

Ashdown closes down OHR Tuzla office; VAT will cause chaos in BiH in first months

Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘VAT will cause chaos in BiH in first months’, pg 3 ‘Ashdown: VAT will bring chaos in first months’ by A.Hadzic – During his Wednesday’s visit to Tuzla, High Representative to BiH Paddy Ashdown, where he announced closure of OHR Office in Tuzla,warned the Value Added Tax (VAT) introduction would at the beginning cause chaos in BiH, noting: “It will be a painful process at the beginning, but I hope that there will be no major price increase. It would be good if Government prepared mechanism to protect those poor.” Ashdown presented computers from OHR office in Tuzla to the elementary school ‘Solana’. According to inset “Angry because they are still at large’, Ashdown assessed that the fact Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are still at large represents defeat of both, international community and BiH authority. According to inset ‘He will not be giving advices to his successor’’ [PINK, Hayat], Ashdown announced the name of his successor would be known in four to five days time, noting he would not give any sort of advise to his successor.FTV – criticises Ashdown’s statement on VAT suggesting it is something that everyone already knows. RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘OHR closes offices in Tuzla, Doboj’, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Ashdown closed down office in Tuzla’, by mpe – also reported on closing down OHR’s office in Tuzla. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘We are angry, Karadzic and Mladic are still at large’ by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘OHR departure is confirmation of success’ by J.S., EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Ashdown: VAT would cause chaos in BiH’ by SRNA – Ashdown in Tuzla on arrest of Karadzic and Mladic. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 21 ‘VAT will cause chaos’ by F – Ashdown in Tuzla on VAT. 

Terzic on his talks in Brussels and London and establishment of Directorate for Police Reform

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Gratefulness to Blair foe help given to BiH’ by S. Numanovic carries an interview with Chairman of the BiH CoM Adnan Terzic upon his return form Brussels and London. Terzic said that he talked on Wednesday with Head of the EC Directorate for Finances Klaus Redling about 10 millions Euros of macro-economic assistance and he added: ‘BiH has met conditions for 10 millions Euros of macro-economic assistance. I expect that this amount would be transferred to our budgets soon.’ Terzic stressed that during the talks in Brussels it was insisted that ‘we do not give in and that we do not change anything with regard to a VAT since this is about a necessary and brave step in order to adjust to the European system’.  Terzic also had a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday night together with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Serbian President Boris Tadic. Terzic said that he used this opportunity to thank Blair on the fact that during the UK’s chairmanship over the EU BiH started the SAA negotiations. DA inset ‘Ivanic obstructs forming of Directorate for Police Reform’ carries that establishment of the Directorate for Police Reform should be at agenda of the BiH CoM’s session that is to take place on Thursday (today). With regard to this issue Terzic said: ‘The problem is that BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic is away as always. In this way he tries to avoid responsibility in every possible way.’ Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Start of talks with EU an important step forward for BiH’ – also reports on Terzic’s meeting.

Cavic strongly objects BiH’s association with Islamic conference

Hayat – Commenting the BiH’s delegation at the summit of Islamic Conference, RS President Dragan Cavic said that he is not aware if BiH can, on any grounds, be a member of the institution. ”Because that is an international, politically clerical organization, which denies multiethnic principles in this country. I can only assume what discussion would be opened if I am to insist for BiH to become a member of Organization of Orthodox Countries… I would be accused for Orthodox chauvinism, Serb nationalism and I don’t understand why Minister of Foreign Affairs and Presidency don’t rise the issue of BiH’s association with the Islamic Conference,” said Cavic. Hayat answered commenting that Russia is a candidate for membership, adding that Russia has recognized its interest, but BiH still hasn’t. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Changes to BiH Constitution matter for internal consensus’ –  also carries.

DA: ‘Cavic opened a door to RS Government to Dodik

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Cavic opened a door to RS Government to Dodik’ by N. Diklic – RS President Dragan Cavic rejects the statements by SNSD leader Milorad Dodik that the authorities are in connection with the criminal connections: “SDS is also advocating for revision of the privatization.” The revision of the privatization is the condition for SNSD’s possible acceptance to join the power in the entity. Dodik told DA that the process to date has been marked by illegalities and crime, and he reminds the revision is the condition for him or his party’s member to take over the position of the Prime Minister. “I will talk to Dodik on the RS Government and possibility to elect new executive authorities… Dodik is the leader of biggest opposition party in the RS. When we could talk about big political issues, I do not run from having to talk to him about election of the new government. We’ll see what are SNSD’s interest and in which way we would function in the following period,” confirmed Cavic to DA. Dodik on the other hand accuses the authorities of being involved with the crime since it rejects to tackle the issue. “Authorities know who are these mafia bosses which terrorize institutions and… people,” says Dodik. RTRS – Cavic said SDS will not ask for the removal of PDP Ministers from CoM since it will be at disadvantage to BIH. Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Cavic offers to SNSD to form authority’ by V.Popovic – NN reports that Cavic on Wednesday offered to the biggest opposition party in RS, SNSD to jointly form authority. He finds SNSD’ President condition for authority participation (that RS NA should enact the Law on revision of privatization) acceptable.

NR says RS Govt. will continue to work in easygoing situation

Novi Reporter pgs 12-13 ‘Vegetation till the end of mandate’ by Sasa Bizic – Writing about the current political situation in RS, with particular focus on SDS-PDP rift and status of RS Government, the author stresses there is no indication any party would attempt to form a new inter-party combination of 42 votes (of MP’s necessary for new government election), that would not include SDS participation. In this manner, Pero Bukejlovic and his ministers will get into easygoing situation, since they will need no majority support at RS NA, i.e. his Cabinet will not be proposing new laws, conclusions or solution. The author concludes Bukejlovic’ Cabinet has done it badly so far.

SDS vice presidents elected to 4-ys term

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Stojicic, Gligic, Micic elected new vice-presidents of the party’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Vojislav Gligic again in the party leadership’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Six Deputy Presidents were elected’ by V. P. – SDS Main Board on Wednesday elected new Presidency, six Deputy Presidents of the party and remaining 15 members of the Main Board. Borislav Bojic, Dusan Stojicic, Mico Micic, Bosko Siljegovic, Vesko Budimcic and Vojislav Gligic were elected Deputy Presidents of the party. A source close to SDS said the Deputy Presidents, the Presidency and members of Main Board were elected for the mandate of four years.

Oslobodjenje on Palavric’s appointment: ‘An “apolitical person” was elected by secret voting’

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘An “apolitical person” was elected by secret voting’, mentioned on cover, by A. Terzic – With regard to the appointment of Seada Palavric to the position of a judge of BiH Constitutional Court, the Chairman of the HoR Commission for selection and appointment of judges of the BiH Constitutional Court, Ismet Osmanovic, claims there had been no aspirations to appoint a person close to certain political circles to the position, adding that the Commission could not have eliminated anyone who had fulfilled general pre-requisites as in accordance with laws. He added that a person, elected in such way, is expected to act apolitically as a judge. Seada Palavric too believes the election was conducted in a fair manner and in accordance with laws. Inset ‘Palavric withdrew from SDA’ – reports Palavric withdrew from her position at SDA and SDA Caucus at HoR. Inset ‘Recall Palavric’ – SDP’s Damir Masic says the appointment of Palavric represents a direct interference of politics in judiciary and he assessed the election as yet another manipulation of BiH nationalistic authorities. SDP believes Palavric will not be able to conduct tasks as a judge in an independent manner and they claim she is not a person with high moral qualities, noting she had participated in creating of coup d’etat and orchestrating of a political court process against independent journalists and representatives of opposition parties. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20 ‘SDP: Defeat of judiciary’ by D. Pasic – SDP on Palavric appointment.

On-line survey: Croat politicians are biggest danger to BiH Croats

Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘Croats’ biggest enemies are – Croats’, by Milan Sutalo – According to an internet poll conducted by Mostar-based pincom.info internet site, out of 1615 people that responded to the poll entitled ‘Who endangers Croats in BiH?’, as many as 57% stated that it is in fact the Croat politicians that are responsible i.e. the biggest danger. VL concludes that the ordinary people are realizing that politics has become a profitable job.

VL analysis: HDZ still rules in Croat majority areas

Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Fiasco by opposition’, by Tomislav Kvesic – Following the victory of an HDZ’s candidate in elections for the mayor of Grude last weekend, VL claims that the ‘sensational’ research conducted by the American Republic Institute from September 2005, according to which the united Croat opposition in west Herzegovina would be victorious, turned out not to be accurate since the elections showed that the HDZ is still a ‘sovereign ruler’ in majority of Croat areas.

Altered Law on Citizenship to be put into effect next week

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Expulsions to commence’, pg 3 ‘BiH to expel persons with illegal citizenship’ by M.Cubro – Dragan Mektic, BiH Deputy Security Minister, Wednesday confirmed that the BiH authorities will expel all naturalized BiH citizens, who are to be deprived of BiH citizenship (assigned to them in the period from 6 April 1992 to 31 December 1995). He said that “Commission, that is to be formed soon, will go through citizenship’ certificate assigned over the past 13 years. If proved that persons obtained citizenship in an illegal manner, they would be written out from Book of Citizens and would have to leave the state within 15 days time or they will be expelled.”

Complaints of Bosniaks and Croats with regard to the Law on RS Holidays sent to HR

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Complaints of Bosniaks and Croats came to Ashdown’ by N. Diklic carries that Chairman of the RS Council of Peoples Remzija Kadric stated that he demanded protection of vital national interest with regard to the Law on RS Holidays as the RS CoP Chair, not as a Bosniak. He added: ‘In this case this law should have been returned to the RS Govt and not to the entity Constitutional Court. This shows that the rights of peoples guaranteed by the RS Constitution do not respect at all and that Bosniaks and Croats are being ignored.’ Kadric added that because of this law he complained to the OHR and he expects that Paddy Ashdown would withdraw this law.  

Spiric: BiH making efforts to become a state contributing to global problem-solving process

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Spiric thanked to EUFOR’ by Agencies – Nikola Spiric, Chairperson of the BiH HoR, who is attending the session of the West-euroepan Union’ Assembly, stated that 10 years after Dayton, BiH is making great efforts to become a state, that would contribute to global problem-solving process instead of being a state producing such.

Serbian officials say same principles to be applied on Kosovo as on BiH

Novi Reporter pgs 22-23 ‘Within domain of nice wishes’ by Slobodan Durmanovic – In statements given to weekly, Aleksandar Simic, Advisor to Serbian Premier Kostunica, and Branko Radujko, Advisor to Serbian President Boris Tadic, give their views on two issues they link: independence of Kosovo and self-determination of RS. Both of them stress the principle of non-alteration of borders in the Balkans should be applied, noting that when the problem of Kosovo is to be settled, attention should be given to the fact how the issue of BiH has been resolved. 

Osl. op-ed on negotiations btwn Belgrade and Pristina

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Without compromise’ by E. Krehic comments on the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and the author says that the two sides have completely different stands and that it is hard to reach a compromises. The author quotes EU High Representative for Common and Security Policy Javier Solana who said that ‘perhaps, the solution would be painful for one of the sides.’ The author comments on this statement by saying that this is exactly the case with all other issues in Balkans.

Economic, judicial and property issues

FBIH Parliament concludes discussion on Agrokomerc: Govt and management to prepare plan and presenting in three months

RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Three months for resolution’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 – The FBiH House of Representatives on Wednesday tasked the FBiH Government, in cooperation with the management of company Agrokomerc in Velika Kladusa, to find means to ensure funds for paying out overdue taxes and contributions for the purpose of ensuring launch of production, company’s legal operations (unblocking of accounts) and creating the possibilities for ensuring that employees in Agrokomerc have health insurance. The Government has been tasked to find the solutions to ensure funds for paying in contributions for 194 workers of Agrokomerc eligible for retirement. In addition, company’s management and the Government have been tasked to prepare a project for resolving the problems and to present it to the Parliament in three months the latest. BHT 1 by Sanita Lisica-Biberovic – “Now it is very clear that actual FBiH Government is responsible for the situation in Agrokomerc, and that it does not intend to take any new steps (in order to solve problems of Agrokomerc). In fact, they want to completely and definitively destroy Agrokomerc”, stated DNZ’s Rifat Dolic criticisng the conclusions. FBiH Government wants to sell Agrokomerc, because it is the only way for this company to start producing food once again, stated FBiH Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Marinko Bozic. The main problem is that many documents, necessary for the start of the privatisation, are missing; it is not even clear how many facilities Agrokomerc possesses, and which ones are under the mortgage. Agrokomerc will probably have new owner by the May 2006; BHT reporter speculates that it could be one of the following three companies: Slovenian ‘Kolinska’ and ‘Droga’ or Croatian ‘Podravka’. Hayat, FTV, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Ensure payment of contributions for 194 workers’, not signed – FBiH HoR on ‘Agrokomerc’also reported.

‘Covic and others’ case: Witness Nikolic refuses to testify

BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Nikolic cannot stand to continue giving testimony’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘Key witness refuses to testify’, by Erna Mackic – Former protected witness, Zoran Nikolic, refused to continue with his testimony in the ‘Covic and others’ case on Wednesday, claiming he is not mentally fit to continue with the testimony. According to the presiding judge, Richard Gebelein, the questioning of Nikolic will continue on Friday, and unless he is not fit to testify, it will be Robert Livingstone who will be questioned, because he was Nikolic’s liaison with the (BiH) Prosecution. (also covered by Vecernji List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Suspicious witness embarrassed BiH Court’, by Zoran Kresic, Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21 ‘Protected witness – refuses to testify’, by F)

Humphreys urges establishment of state Agriculture Ministry

Hayat by Alem Karamesic– During the Conference on competitiveness of BiH economy, Head of EC Mission in BiH Michael Humphreys stated that establishment of BiH Ministry of Agriculture is essential. Gathered foreign experts have stressed that establishment of the Ministry, passing of necessary laws, better cooperation between authorities and farmers and education of personnel are essential for establishment of competitiveness of BiH products. Director of USAID Howard Sumka stated that agriculture sector in BiH has lots of potential, but much more has to be done to make it competitive. “This review that we have made, has stressed lack of coordination between various institutions and levels of power. That is only one of problems in agriculture. It is clear that state role should be strengthen trough special Ministry, which would also be a progress in integration to the EU,” said Humphreys.  It was stressed during the Conference that establishment of BiH Ministry wouldn’t undermine authorities of Entities, being that progressive economy is key of successful enlargement of the EU. PINK, RHB, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ministry of agriculture at BiH level soon’ by N.Krsman, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘BiH still at the end of list of 117 countries’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘BiH’s agriculture at bottom’, by Marko Banozic – also carried Humphreys.

Foreign currency savers sue Ashdown and Hays over abuse of office

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Criminal reports filed against Ashdown and Hays’, by Mensud Zorlak – President of Association of old foreign currency savers, Amila Omersoftic, explains that the Association filed criminal reports against the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and his former deputy, Donald Hays , in November last year, charging them of participation in illegalities connected to privatization of banks and efforts to legalize the plunder of savers. Omersoftic says the two abused their offices, regretting that the case-files have been put on hold in the respective prosecution.

Terzic in Brussels : Macroeconomic stability of BiH achieved

FTV, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Create ambiance for foreign investments’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘To create an ambient for foreign investments’ by SRNA, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Next challenge – investments’  – The Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, and representatives of international financial institutions and European countries concluded at a meeting in Brussels that the next challenge BiH was going to face is the process of corporative restructuring and creating an investment-friendly ambiance in BiH. It was also concluded that the economic policy in BiH, which was being led by the BiH CoM and IMF, achieved desired results in ensuring macro-economic stability of BiH.

OHR: RS Finance Min. should address ITA

Hayat, RTRS– OHR Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic stated that request for changing a coefficient for distribution of means from single ITA account, due to which the RS Government has allegedly been damaged for Km28 million, should be addressed to ITA Steering Board.EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Dispute over taxes’ by M. S. – RS Finance Ministry Spokesperson Radmila Mihic stated that if ITA Governing Board had been able to resolve the issue of illegal way of distribution of the collected indirect taxes, RS Government would not have asked for OHR’s help.

FBiH Investment Bank is ready to help in recovery of ‘Energopetrol; HVB bank prolongs activating mortgage

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘FBiH Investment Bank is ready to help in recovery of ‘Energopetrol’ ’ by M. Kukan learns from well-informed sources close to the FBiH Government that two days ago in the FBiH Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mining a meeting between representatives of this Ministry and the FBiH Investment Bank took place during which it was concluded that the FBiH Investment Bank can help recovery of ‘Energopetrol’ (EP). DA explains that this means that in case that this initiative gets the support of the FBiH Government and the FBiH Parliament EP would remain in ownership of the state and it should not be sold to foreign partners. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘HVB Bank prolongs activating of mortgage for 2 months’ by M. K. carries that HVB Central Profit Bank replied to FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic that it accepts to prolong activating of mortgage over 25 best Energoptrol’s gas stations. Hadzipasic himself confirmed for DA that HVB Bank met this request. He added that he believes only 20 % that the contract with INA-MOL would be signed due to the complete atmosphere related to the affair ‘Energopetrol’. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Confiscation of property from “Energopetrol” suspended’ by M.Rener- also reports.

RS denies JNA real-estate belongs to BiH only

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘RS denies JNA real-estate belongs to BiH only’ by Az. Kalamujic – Representative of RS Government at the Commission for state property of BiH Nemanja Draskovic confirmed that members of the Commission from F BiH and from RS have different interpretations of the International Treaty on Succession of Former Yugoslav Property. He explained F BiH representatives believe all former Yugoslav property now belongs to the state of BiH, while RS representatives disagree with this stance. RS representatives believe it is the task of the Commission to define which of the property belongs to BiH, RS, F BiH and Brcko District.

Gligoric: Ruling majority prevents investigations into how foreign donations were spent

Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Obstructions of ruling majority regarding donations’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – Abolishment of the BiH Parliament’s Investigative commission, which looked into ways how foreign donations were spent in BiH, and transfer of the task onto the BiH CoM, represents a well through-out plan of the parliamentary majority to prevent the commission from collecting the information and presenting them to the public, says the commission chairman, Tihomir Gligoric.

ITA’s Antic: Better results in collection of indirect taxes expected in 2006

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘VAT to ‘harvest’ 1,8 billion KMs’, by Nebojsa Dimitrijevic – carries the Head of analytic department with the Indirect Tax Administration, Dinka Antic, who notes it is expected that 3,6 billion KMs will be collected on account of indirect taxes in BiH in 2006, of which approximately 1,8 billion derives from the VAT. This should represent an increase in collection of indirect taxes by 9-10% when compared to 2005.

VL op-ed: VAT is way to go for BiH, fears are unjustified

Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Fear of VAT’, by Petar Grubisic – Carries an op-ed in which the author commends the introduction of VAT in BiH, saying the VAT will bring order to the BiH’s fiscal system, reduce grey economy and fill up the state budget. Grubisic also notes that the fear of the VAT of many people in BiH is unjustified, claiming that there was similar situation in Croatia when Croatia was introducing the VAT, however it turned out to be the right move, which was later commended by VAT’s biggest opponents.

Defence and security issues

FBiH HoR discusses FBiH Defence Ministry

Hayat, FTV, PINK, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Lawsuits against Ministry of Defence amounting to 32 million KMs’ by B. Kristo – The FBiH House of Representatives on Wednesday debated the FBiH Government’s Report on activities, status and problems in the FBiH Defense Ministry, but the vote on the report was postponed so that the Government could consider the remarks made by the representatives and expand this document. The representatives criticized the Government for not stating the FBiH MoD’s debt and who would pay it because as of next year all the competencies of this ministry will be transferred to the state-level. The debts will be left to the Federation, said the representatives. FBiH Defense Minister Miroslav Nikolic said that the termination of FMO would produce numerous problems because the key issues in transferring the defense competencies to the state level have not yet been resolved.

OSCE official: NATO cannot be entered with a small budget

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘NATO cannot be entered with a small budget’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview to Oslobodjenje, Head of OSCE Department for Security Cooperation and Deputy International Co-chair of Defense Reform Commission John Drewienkiewicz stated that the military budget does not depend on the International Community and added that the necessity to earmark funds for defense derives from the decision of BiH Presidency to enter NATO as soon as possible. He also presented some technical details with regard to the defense reform.

Radovanovic on BiH’s membership to PfP

Hayatby VoA’s Omer Vatric– During the 10^th Assembly of Defence Ministers of USA and 10 South-East European countries held in Washington on Tuesday, US Defence Minister Donald Rumsfeld stated that lost of progress has been made on regional cooperation on security and support to NATO’s PfP program. BiH Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic expressed hope that BiH will become the observer in this year and in next a member of SEDM initiative, on its way toward PfP, where only one obstacle remains. “I consider that only one obstacle exists and that is the issue of full cooperation with the ICTY. There is progress in that area; obviously countries, NATO members who are deciding on that are demanding even a higher level and I think that in practise it means arrestment and extradition of remaining three people who are at large, including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Matter that is commented sometimes is weather there are any other conditions? Conditions were set in 2001 and all other conditions have been fulfilled, so in a moment when ICTY Chief Prosecutor gives appraise that BiH has established a full cooperation with the ICTY, whatever that means, I think that BiH is in PfP”- said Radovanovic. Radovanovic confirmed that he ha met with Minister Rumsfeld, where he expressed gratitude for BiH’s participation in Iraq and where they talked about ongoing reforms in BiH, to which Rumsfeld expressed full support. Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Radovanovic at meeting in Washington ’ – also report.

Alkalaj: NATO wants to share intelligence with BiH

Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘NATO helps BiH form national security agency’, by L. Sinanovic – The BiH Ambassador to Brussels and Head of BiH’s Mission to NATO, Sven Alkalaj, told DA that a senior NATO delegation in charge of security issues with the alliance is visiting BiH with an aim to reach an agreement with BiH authorities that will enable exchange of intelligence between BiH and NATO. Alkalaj says the recommendation is to form a (BiH) national security agency that will be coordinating exchange of classified information with NATO.

Joint Commission for security policy fears BiH armed forces’ peace could provoke terrorism in BiH

Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Peace missions could be cause of terrorism in BiH?’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – The Joint Commission of BiH Parliament for defence and security policy discussed a report on participation of (BiH) armed forces in peace missions abroad. The report, among other claims, says that the BiH’s mission to Iraq , despite strengthening good ties with the US , could cause misunderstandings about the character of the mission and even serve as a cause for terrorist activities in BiH. The Commission wants the BiH Presidency to discuss the issue and take decision about continuation of BiH armed forces’ peace missions.