Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
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| Pope’s funeral |
| Lozancic on Covic (Oslobodjenje) |
| Lopare in danger over landslides |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Pope’s funeral arrangements | PIC session | Demobilized veterans protest |
| HVO 13th anniversary | Transfer of the ICTY cases | PIC in session |
| FBIH Government session | Barisa Colak meets Elmar Brok | Terzic in |
| Transfer of ICTY cases | Conference in | Debate on BiH constitution |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Protests in front of FBiH Government | Demobilized veterans protest | Report on EU admission for BIH |
| False documents on disability | Two persons arrested for tax evasion | Report from |
| HR on PIC session | Asim Fazlic’s defence | Rehn on Feasibility Study |
| Law on cooperation with the ICTY | Prosecutor’s vehicle set on fire | Suspicious medicines in BL Clinic |
| Oslobodjenje | Andan and Zaric collaborators in Srebrenica crime |
| Dnevni Avaz | BiH Army) War medal winners request for resignations |
| Dnevni List | |
| Vecernji List | Unexpected turnaround in Lijanovici case: Secret witnesses without immunity |
| Slobodna Dalmacija |
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| Glas Srpske | Border across the house’ |
| Nezavisne Novine | Project of five economic regions in BiH suspended; I will go to |
| Blic | Kostic: We do not have medicines bought beyond regulations |
| Vecernje Novosti | On Pavkovic’s trail |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbia-related topics |
| Slobodna Bosna | Who are the Srebrenica crimes perpetrators at the high ranking positions |
| Dani | What does Lagumdzija want? |
PIC/Political Developments/Reforms | |
| HR Paddy Ashdown: PIC session was encouraging, optimistic
| BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Terzic praised, Cavic warned’, Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘BiH soon reaching turning-point’ – According to the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, Thursday’s Peace Implementation Council session is one of the most encouraging and the most optimistic ones so far, as far as BiH is concerned. PIC Steering Board concluded that BiH was at the historical crossroad of choice and the issue is whether it is able to bring the reform processes to the end. “The big block now is police reform. If it is not to be carried out on the basis of three principles presented by the European Commission: establishment of legislative and budgetary control at state level, establishment of police regions based on police efficiency not police control, and establishment of police structure that will not be under any political influence, BiH will receive no permission on May 19 to head toward the European integrations. All in all, this has been extremely constructive and optimistic meeting”, said Ashdown, in an interview for BiH media. PIC welcomes progress achieved by the BiH Government and in RS. “BiH authorities should complete the Feasibility Study terms, and there is another relevant issue, which is public broadcasting system, since HDZ opposes the proposed solutions. It asks for ethnical channel to be created which presents no part of the Feasibility Study and it opposes the |
| HR Ashdown meets with EU’s Solana: Transfer of ICTY indictees has to be accelerated
| Pink, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Obstructions in RS reduced/softened’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Significant progress needed to be made by May’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘No nearing to EU without police reform’, announced on cover ‘BiH on historic turning point’ by M.Cubro, FENA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, said that the transfers of the indicted war crimes suspects to the Hague Tribunal must not only be continued but also accelerated. “The ten-year old policy of obstruction in the RS is giving in to the constructive engagement in cooperation with the ICTY”, Ashdown told the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, on Wednesday evening in |
| BiH CoM Chairman Terzic addresses PIC, PIC discuss status of reforms in BiH
| Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘To define BiH’s obligations for start of talks’, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Negotiations in May after all’, by NINA, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘No nearing to EU without police reform’, announced on cover ‘BiH on historic turning point’ by M.Cubro, FENA – BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic on Thursday presented the members of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) in Brussels with the letter that was addressed to him by the EC Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, and with the activities BiH institutions will take for the purpose of completing the remaining commitments defined in the letter. Terzic welcomed this letter, because it confirms the preparedness of the EU to accept BiH’s next step towards European integration, was announced by the BiH Council of Ministers. It is necessary to clearly define the commitments of BiH and activities of the European Commission, which would lead to receiving concordance for beginning of negotiations on SAA during May this year. Participants of the PIC meeting talked about the ongoing reformatory processes in BiH, and analyzed the cooperation with the ICTY, the beginning of police reform, defense reform and review of fulfilling the elements defined by the Feasibility Study. PIC recognizes and accepts the progress realized in cooperating with Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Abolishment of entities’ defence ministries’ carried parts of PIC Communique supporting the work of DRC. |
| Cavic at PIC session: Compromise solution for police reforms must be identified
| BHT, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Srpska is not “a black hole” – Dragan Cavic, RS President, at the PIC session in Brussels, expressed conviction that the PIC session would stress that RS and F BiH are permanent and stable categories, stipulated by Dayton, as well as that any change of its status is out of question. In a phone statement to SRNA, Cavic said: “We have entered the phase when RS is no longer presented in PIC communiqués as “black hole”, the factor of impediment and dissatisfaction. On the contrary, RS is serving general progress, which is encouraging to everybody.” On police reform, he noted that it is clear that a compromise solution must be found by middle May. |
| Terzic visiting
| BHT – BiH Delegation lead by BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, have arrived to |
| European Parliament’s Brok: European Parliament ready to support beginning of negotiations between BiH and EU
| Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘ |
| Former HR Petritsch: Conference “BiH 10 years after
| Pink, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘To free from presence of international organizations’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, Vecernji List, pg 10 ‘Withdrawal of OHR’, by dj, Nezavisne Novine pg 11 ‘BiH cannot enter EU as long as OHR exists’ by A.Sisic, FENA – The President of the Main Advisory Board of the Association BiH 2005, the former high representative to BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, on Thursday in Sarajevo announced the Conference “BiH 10 years since Dayton and further”, which will take place October 20 and 21 in Geneva in organization of this association. Petritsch said that the Association BiH 2005 is not a state or an international organization, but that it is a civic initiative with international composition, because apart from BiH citizens, it also gathers the friends of this country from the entire world. Aim of the conference is to provide the platform for an informal dialogue on the future of BiH, and in the spirit of self-responsibility, this initiative is managed by BiH citizens, while the friends from abroad are helping them, said Petritsch. He added that this would not be another in the series of conferences on BiH because the preparations have been in progress for the past two years, including a series of seminars, and that |
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| Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Reform of BiH is necessary’ by VoA – The Sub-Committee for Europe of the Committee for international Relations at the US Congress House of Representatives concluded that almost a decade after the Dayton Agreement, BiH is still incapable of achieving the main foreign policy goal, which is admission to EU and NATO. It concluded it is high time BiH Constitution changed. |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Constitutional changes are necessary’ by Sead Numanovic – DA brings an interview with the Director of the international programmes at the Dayton University and a professor at Tufts University, Bruce Hitchner, who addressed the US Congress’ Subcommittee and briefed them on the situation in BiH. He urged the immediate start of the discussion on the constitutional changes and the changes itself, for which he believes would ensure that the elections in 2006 are a result of carried reforms. He insists that the international community should assist in this process, because it would also alter its presence in BiH. “If BiH starts with the EU stabilisation and association process, that those negotiations also have to include the issue of the High Representative’s Bonn powers,” says Hitchner adding that it would had been mistake is this was done earlier. “I think that BiH has to have a Constitution which would acknowledge the strong centralized authorities, some authorities should be given to entities and certain functions to the municipalities,” concludes the professor. |
| Dani int with the new
| Dani pgs 46 – 47 ‘BiH’s admission to EU is British interest!’ by Irham Ceco – In an interview to magazine, the new UK Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft, responds to the question whether the political future of BiH is in question by saying that “everyone is committed to single state structure in the country. We can discuss what is beneath it. But the very top of that structure is not questionable.” Expressing a support for the HR Paddy Ashdown’s work, Rycroft adds that BiH’s is currently on the right path leading towards joining the EU and NATO, stressing this is also in an interest of the |
| Tihic says BiH Army’s 7th Corps part of history of BiH’s defence
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tihic: We can join NATO only without entities’ armies’, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Tihic for single army and ministry’, by NINA, FENA – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic said in Travnik on Thursday at the ceremony marking the 11th anniversary since the establishment of the RBiH Army’s 7th Corps that this Corps is a part of the history of the defence of BiH, which should not be studied only by historians, but should be treasured by present and future generations as well. Addressing former 7th Corps officers and soldiers Tihic said that this Corps was established as a force for liberating the country and that its composition was Bosnian with soldiers from Central Bosnia and Bosanska Krajina, as well as soldiers from all other parts of BiH. He said that some are trying to present as equal individual crimes committed by members of the RBiH Army with planned projects, systematic and mass crimes committed by the aggressor and its supporters. “This is simply not possible and we will not allow this. This is why it is so important to establish the truth about the aggression against BiH and the suffering of our citizens. We need to be persistent and determined in this. All criminals must face justice. This is important because of the past and the future”, Tihic said. He said that failure to adequately establish the truth about past events should not be allowed to become a cause of new conflicts in the future. Courts alone will not be enough for establishing the truth. A joint state commission on the suffering of BiH citizens also needs to contribute to this, he said. Tihic also commented on reform of the defence and security system. He said that BiH needs to have a single defence system, without entity armies and ministries of defence. Only with such a defence structure BiH can become a member of the Partnership for Peace and NATO. |
| Lozancic: Covic could stay in Presidency in Parliament supports him
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH Parliament to decide on Covic’,mentioned on cover, by Az. Kalamujic – In an interview to daily, the FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, says that Dragan Covic could keep the position of the BiH Presidency member if the BiH Parliament decides to take his side. “HDZ Presidency has decided that [Paddy] Ashdown‘s decision was unconstitutional, illegal… However, HDZ doesn’t want to be a judge. We expect from the Parliament to take a stance on this issue at the plenary session of both Houses. So, we do not think about Covic’s successor, but will the conscious of the delegations finally start to work. If that happens, I don’t exclude possibility to see Mr Covic stay in Presidency. Otherwise the message to the public will be that BiH Parliament doesn’t want to deal with protection of the Constituion and the law of this country,” said Lozancic. He also harshly criticised Ashdown’s respond to his letter [in which he put his mandate at HR’s disposal], saying that HR “promotes the condition in which to make institutions of the BiH authorities worthless thus to show that the HR is the only power in BiH.” Slobodna Bosna pgs 22-25 ‘Dozens of domestic politicians cruse the world and spend money; rest is happy to just nod heads at everything Ashdown tells them’, mentioned on cover, by Suzana Mijatovic – SB also carries an interview with Lozancic in which he presents the same opinions as the ones mentioned above. |
| DL: Ivo Miro Jovic to replace Covic?
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic the most serious candidate!?’, by Nermin Bise – According to unofficial information the daily has got from sources close to the Presidency of HDZ BiH, the said body will take a decision according to which an MP in the BiH Parliament, Ivo Miro Jovic (HDZ), will be nominated to replace the removed member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic. DL goes on to say that contrary to statements of the HDZ President, Barisa Colak, who said after the last session of the HDZ Presidency that the body did not discuss the issue of Covic replacement, the HDZ Presidency did discuss the issue, whilst the public had been served a different story when the HDZ asked for resignation of the High Representative. DL’s source believes that the whole scheme was prepared by Covic, the IC and leaderships of the SDA and SDS. The source also claims that Covic and Colak have secured the support of SDS and SDA’s MPs for Jovic. |
| Colak wants BiH Parliament to declare itself about Covic removal
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 18 ‘Covic without successor’, by B. Magas – Carries the President of HDZ BiH, Barisa Colak, as commenting on the issue of possible successor to Dragan Covic. Colak says the HDZ has not and will not discuss about the name of a possible successor until the BiH Parliament has declared itself about the Covic removal. Colak notes that the HDZ expects the BiH Parliament to clearly declare itself about the recent decisions of the High Representative, for which the HDZ believes to be against the Constitution. “We also think that the Parliament has to condemn such behaviour of the High Representative and that he should not be allowed to do something like that any more. Namely, we request from international representatives that we equally apply and respect European laws and regulations”, says Colak. |
| Feral Tribune: Lamenting over Croat fate a lucrative job
| Feral Tribune, pgs 9-12 ‘Croats in Bosnia’, by Ivica Djikic, Igor Lasic – Carries an article that is dedicated to the current situation in BiH, with a special focus on the decision of the High Representative to remove Dragan Covic from the BiH Presidency. Saying that “the lamenting over the Croat fate” has become a lucrative job in BiH, as seen in reactions by many people from both BiH and |
| VL on Croatian authorities, HR Ashdown’s behaviour
| Vecernji List, pg 24 ‘When Ashdown commends Zagreb and ‘tells off’ Belgrade!’, by Milan Ivkosic – Carries an op-ed in which the author comments on the behaviour of Croatian authorities regarding processes in BiH and the role of the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in the whole scheme. When it comes to the former, Ivkosic harshly criticizes the Croatian authorities, both the previous and current ones, saying that the authorities are not doing anything to protect the sovereignty of the Croats in BiH because even |
| VL: SIPA Director Novic ignores BiH authorities’ decisions
| Vecernji List, pg 13 ‘Novic asking for foreigners’ opinion about Government’s decision’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL reports that the Director of SIPA, Sredoje Novic, asked for “opinion” of the OHR and EUPM regarding the recommendation of the Legislative-legal Committee of BiH Council of Ministers, which warned Novic that his decision to appoint his former deputy Dragan Lukac as the Head of Department for protection of VIPs was illegal. VL also carries an anonymous source close to the BiH CoM, which labels Novic’s behaviour as impermissible. The source adds that the BiH CoM could soon discuss the issue of Novic’s behaviour. On top of this, VL argues that Novic should have retired since the law says that a Police official with 40 years of service has to retire, and Novic apparently meets the criteria. |
| Boundary disputes in Bos. Kostajnica
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Border across the house’ by N.D. – The daily carries comments of the Bosanska Kostajnica population, who are concerned over the boundary placement in their town. The Serb officials claim that Bosniak and Croat outvoted them, hence the boundary lines sometimes divides the houses in two parts. Namely, Croatian authorities do not recognise the |
| Update to SDS-PDP relations: PDP does not fully support SDS
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SDS does not have a blank support of PDP’ by V. Popovic – PDP is not offering a blank support to RS Government for its every proposal and will define a stance on each issue depending from an offered solution, as PDP delegate at RS NA Vitomir Tomic has stated Thursday at RS NA session. He made this statement upon the refusal of PDP to support the Government’s draft law on forestry Wednesday. Tomic avoided giving a direct answer after he was asked whether PDP had decided to make this move in order to show PM Pero Bukejlovic he has no Assembly majority. ‘PDP had supported the election of RS Government, yet this does not mean we will blindly support its draft laws’, Tomic said. |
War Crimes | |
| Oslobodjenje/Slobodna Bosna: Adnan and Zaric took part in Srebrenica crime
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Andan and Zaric took part in Srebrenica crime’ by Avdo Avdic – A number of police and intelligence officers, including the RS Police Director, Dragan Andan, and the Deputy Head of BiH Intelligence Agency [OSA] Risto Zaric, are allegedly listed in the Srebrenica Working Group’s report as the persons who took a part in 1995 events in this region. Daily claims that a group of Srebrenica citizens disappointed with the fact that the Working Group submitted this list to the perpetrators and not to them, thus they approached to Oslobodjenje with the list of about 100 names from the report. Author also notes that daily’s sources confirmed that these names actually are on the list submitted to the OHR and judiciary. It mainly includes the members of the Bratunac and Zvornik brigades and Drina Corps. Slobodna Bosna cover splash ‘Who are the Srebrenica crimes perpetrators at the high ranking positions?’, pgs 18-21 ‘SB discloses most protected document in BiH’ by Mehmed Pargan – SB also publishes some names allegedly appearing at the list prepared by the Srebrenica Working Group. In addition to Andan and Zaric, SB points out to Sinisa Karan, current head of SIPA’s financial intelligence office, and adds that several sources from BiH Prosecution and the Group claim that RS Interior Minister, Darko Matijasevic, is also on the list. |
| ICTY official announces start of transfer of war crimes cases to BiH courts
| RHB, Pink, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Request for transfer of seven cases’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Hague Prosecution proposes transfer of seven cases to local courts’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Transfer of Hague cases onto local courts commenced’ by ONASA, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Eight demands to the Hague’ by M.Dz, ONASA – Representative of the Hague Tribunal Secretariat in BiH Mathias Hellman said in Banja Luka on Thursday that the process of transferring of Hague’s cases to national courts has begun and that the Prosecution so far forwarded to the Council for submission seven cases related to war crimes in BiH. These cases relate to 12 accused: Zeljko Mejakic, Momcilo Gruban, Dusan Fuster and Dusko Knezevic for crimes committed in Omarska and Keraterm camps near Prijedor; Gojko Jankovic, Dragan Zelenovic and Radovan Stankovic for rapes and other crimes committed at various location in Foca; Milan and Sredoje Lukic for crimes committed in Visegrad; and Dragomir Milosevic for shelling of Hellman told reporters the Tribunal’s Prosecution has also asked for ceding of processes against six persons accused for crimes committed in |
| Draskovic repeats Serbian secret service knows where is Mladic
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BIA knows where is Mladic’ by B. Boskov – SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, has sent a written statement to media repeating his statement given to the Financial Times last week that the Serbian Intelligence Agency [BIA] must know where is Ratko Mladic. The BIA director, Rade Bulatovic, reacted on Wednesday deeming Draskovic’s statement to be ‘damaging and senseless.’ However, in this issue Draskovic was supported by the non-parliamentarian Serbian Demo Christian Party [DHSS] of the former Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic. DHSS vice president, Zivojin Stjepic, told a press conference that Mladic is in |
| GS comments on Leakey-Schook statements re Karadzic, Mladic’s whereabouts
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘On short leash’ by M.Dzepina – The author is referring to the latest statements Steven Schook and David Leakey gave regarding whereabouts of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. She ntoes that their statements are not harmonised at all. Ostoja Barasin, military analyst, says that representatives of NATO and EUFOR adjust their statements in accordance with political needs, stressing: “Hence, they expert pressure against local politicians, aimed at achieving certain political goals, that cannot be achieved by some other means.” He is of the view that none of them knows where Mladic and Karadzic are, and they only speculate on their whereabouts. |
| Letter by Milan Lukic: I will go to
| Nezavisne Novine pg 7, announced on cover ‘I will go to the Hague only after those who had been giving orders to me’ by Milan Lukic – Hague indictee at large Milan Lukic has sent a letter to NN, in which he criticizes the fact his brother was killed by people who only wanted to preserve what they have looted during the war both from Muslims and from Serbs. He claims people who had killed his brother had committed crimes in Visegrad and are now “bosses” of Visegrad and Foca – Brane Savovic, Risto Perisic and Radomir Njegus. Lukic claims: ‘All Muslims in Visegrad and Foca were killed upon their orders’. He says he was working at the police at the beginning of the war and his commander was Risto Perisic, while Perisic’s chief was Branimir Savovic. ‘Only after they arrive to the place they belong to be – in the Hague – only after they reply to their real names – criminals – I would surrender, and I will surrender in order for Muslims to discover truth about their beloved ones, truth on how they have went missing because I know a lot, and I wish to express my condolences to all of them, they have earned it’, Lukic has stated in his letter. He also claims Savovic and Perisic have got rich by selling information on mass graves of Muslims to foreigners and he claims they have the information on mass graves only because they were the ones who have buried killed people in those mass graves during the war. He denies he was a close friend of Radovan Karadzic but he stressed: ‘Mladic was and will remain, in my opinion, a true hero and idol and Karadzic a leader of my people and, thanks to them, genocide from the previous (WW II) war against Serb people had not repeated’. He concludes his letter as follows: ‘I am ready at any minute to voluntarily appear at the Court, whether it is in Sarajevo or in the Hague, and to stand behind my words because what I am telling is true and truth and justice are slow yet attainable, and I will do so after I see indictments were brought against true criminals and after I get the possibility to look them in their eyes’. (NN editorial board noted the letter was sent to them from a protected e-mail address, and the only thing they were able to discover is that a server the sender had used is located in Brasil). |
| EUPM denies RS Government press release regarding mtg. Bukejlovic-Heller, talks on Srebrenica report
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Heller did not discuss Srebrenica Work Group with Bukejlovic’ by N. N. – EUPM Thursday denied claims brought in a press statement of RS Government’s Public Relations Bureau, in which it was stated that EUPM Advisor for RS Uve Heller thinks the Work Group for Implementation of Srebrenica Commission conclusions has done its talks in a professional and quality manner. EUPM press statement reads: “EUPM emphasizes that the quotes attributed to Heller were incorrect. During a meeting with PM Bukejlovic, he had discussed neither professionalism nor issues regarding the Work Group. The point of the meeting with Bukejlovic was to discuss certain issues with regard to annexes to the report.” |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| War medal winners held protest rally in
| RHB, BHT, FTV, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 3 ‘Golden Lily winners requested for resignations’, Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Golden Lilies tried to enter FBiH Government building by force’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Prime Minister Hadzipasic not giving in to Golden lilies’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 10 ‘Police prevents 200 veterans from entering Government’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Special police prevented clash with ministers’ by Ra.R – Sarajevo Canton police officers prevented intrusion of demobilized veterans of BiH Army into the FBiH Government building on Thursday. More than 300 winners of the most significant war decorations (Golden Lily) organized a protest rally demanding from the FBiH Government to regulate their rights and status. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘New law as of January 1 2006’ – At a session in Sarajevo on Thursday, the FBiH Government passed the draft law on right of the war medal winners and their families, and according to this law they have a right to monthly payment in amounts from 25 to 40% of average salary in FBiH. These persons stated that FBiH authorities deceived this population in its last pre-election campaign, because they said they will solve the status of this population but they actually repealed their only income of 129 KM, which was regulated by decision of the former government. Implementation of the law on rights of veterans and their families should start on |
| RS Government against economic regionalisation of BiH
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘RS Government against regionalisation of BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Project of five economic regions in BiH suspended’ by D.Risojevic – At Thursday’s session in Banja Luka, RS Government suspended project of European Union on five economic regions in BiH (EURED), which intersects the entity boundaries. RS Government Thursday called on municipalities not to involve in EURED project before a prior consultation with Pero Bukejlovic, RS Premier. RS Minister of Economic Affairs and Coordination Jasmin Seferovic said that certain models of economic regions were unacceptable and the Government demands suspension of projects until stances of entities’ Governments and District Brcko are agreed. The EC delegation to BiH, under whose patronage the project is implemented, expressed surprise over this decision. Frane Maroevic, EC delegation Spokesperson, assessed that “the statement of Minister Seferovic shows misunderstanding of the project and functioning of the regional economic development.” It is wired to EC delegation why Minister Seferovic, who presented RS Government stance, is sitting at EURED Steering Board. Maroevic added: “We will continue supporting these projects.” Dusko Jaksic, Director of Banja Luka Economic Institute, commented that the concept on five economic regions is completely unacceptable. He reproached EC for having failed to include single RS experts in creation of study and regional division. TV PINK – President of RS employers Damir Miljevic said that now is too late to cancel the project and that people cannot wait any longer. “The whole issue is about the politics since RS Government did not participate in division of economic regions” said Miljevic. BH TV 1, NTV Hayat, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Regions will not be accepted’ by G.Dakicalso reported on the issue. |
| RS Govt. allocates additional resources to RS MOI
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Additional amount of BAM 246,714 for salaries’ by S.G. – RS Government Thursday adopted decision on allocating resources intended for payment of gross salaries to RS Interior Ministry staff for March. The resources amount to BAM 246,714. All budget users will have decreased income for 2,6 % bar users employed at judicial, educational and cultural institutions. |
Legal Proceedings | |
| BiH Interpol deputy director released from custody
| Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Asim Fazlic released from custody’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9, mentioned on cover, Vecernji List, pg 25 ‘Asim Fazlic released from detention’, by rs – The deputy director of BiH Interpol, Asim Fazlic, accused of abuse of office for retaining or revealing confidential Interpol information, was released on Thursday from custody at the suggestion of prosecutor Jonathan Schmidt. Schmidt recommended that Fazlic be released from custody with the explanation that he no longer believes the accused could have an influence on witnesses whilst on bail. |
| Covic/Lijanovici case: There will be no protected witnesses
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘There will be no protected witnesses’, Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 8 ‘Unexpected turnaround in Lijanovici case: Secret witnesses without immunity’, by Zoran Kresic – VL got a confirmation from a source close to the BiH Prosecution that a judge for pre-trial hearing with the BiH Court, Stephen Swanson, has cancelled the status of protected witness to six witnesses in the ‘Lijanovici’ case that involves Dragan Covic, Mate Tadic, Zdravko Lucic and the Lijanovic brothers. VL could not reveal identity of witnesses. |
| Jelavic trials: Prosecution completes presenting of its case
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Prosecution presented evidences, now it is defence’s turn’, by Erna Mackic – Reports from continuation of trials to Ante Jelavic in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case. In his testimony, an expert witness Omer Ibrahimagic noted that according to the laws of FBiH, all foreign aid, including aid from |