| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Delegation of the Federal Government talked with Livno authorities | US Congress on Islamic NGOs | Trial against Stanislav Galic before ICTY | HR to appoint James Walker as head of commission for defence reforms |
| Dragan Covic visited Vares Municipality | World news | In Mostar, trial against Drago Palameta, begins | Farmers in RS seek support for losses caused by drought |
| Another attempt of appointment of the HN Cantonal Government fails | Entity governments launched “40 Days of Dialogue on Social Reforms” campaign | Ashdown on prohibition to entry EU for war criminal supporters | HR asks ban on entry into EU for 25 persons |
| HR demands renewal of trade relations between Trebinje and Dubrovnik | Delegation of the Federal Government visited Livno | US Congress on Islamic NGOs | SDP criticises all governments |
| Oslobodjenje | Firm of Minister Mila Gadzic’s brother blocked |
| Dnevni Avaz | Paddy Ashdown: I deliver a clear message to BiH authorities |
| Dnevni List | Izetbegovic’s administration helped Al-Qaeda activities |
| Vecernji List | Islamists threaten Mostarians |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | One army made of three small ones |
| Glas Srpski | High temperatures seriously jeopardise the crops: Drought takes KM 45 million ;Control of imported vehicles: Penalty along with customs fee |
| Nezavisne Novine | The construction works commence in Banja Luka prior to Pope’s visit; Julian Braithwaite, OHR Spokesperson: The list being prepared, Brussels to decide on ban; James Lyon, ICH Head in Serbia and Montenegro: RS authority protects criminals; Pelagicevo: Owner of gas station “Nikic” arrested |
| Vecernje Novosti | Five S&M Army’s Generals removed |
| Blic | Weapon and ammunition found in Celpak; Spasojevic: they will not ban my entry to the EU; Agronomists ask the Government to introduce emergency measures because of drought; Politicians allergic to resignations; Serbian and Montenegrian officials have not receive salaries for two months |
International community/OHR | |
| Ashdown tours BiH border with Montenegro, says smuggling decreased
| Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Herzegovina is not the Wild West anymore’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, mentioned on the front page ‘The border with Croatia should be closed for criminals as well’ – High Representative Paddy Ashdown on Wednesday visited several border crossings in eastern Herzegovina and said that smuggling and other illegal activities in the area have been decreased thanks to the BiH State Border Service (SBS). Ashdown said that it was certain that this was no more a place without the rule of law, but that the rule of law has not been fully introduced, however there has been a significant decrease of smuggling and other illegal activities. He noted that the area had been known as a “lawlessness region”, thus the SBS officials had to introduce principles of law and form a sovereign border. As part of his visit to the region, Ashdown made a guest appearance at the local Pegaz radio and visit Bileca. Dnevni List (front page and page 5, by ONASA, “I will stop practice of neglecting of Trebinje region”) also reports that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, visited the State Border Service in Trebinje yesterday visiting the border between BiH and Croatia at Ivanjica and patrolling the Bileca Lake together with the SBS, the location seen as the main route for smugglers in the area. The HR reportedly stated that he would initiate a making of a plan that would stop the practice of neglecting of the Trebinje region. “We must deal with the issue of reforms, like the reforms to the Elektroprivreda of RS, in which there is corruption and where stealing of common people takes place”, said HR Ashdown. Slobodna Dalmacija, front and page 16, by Antonela Vlaho, “For whole border – one night vision binoculars” carries an OHR spokesperson, Vedran Persic, as warning about the poor gear the SBS in Trebinje has. “I think it is impermissible that members of the SBS in the area have only one piece of equipment for night-time observation”, said Persic. Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Solid border lift visas’; Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘Protected BIH borders lead towards lifting of visa regime’ – Paddy Ashdown, HiRep to BiH, yesterday in Trebinje, stated that the international community and all citizens must support the work of the BiH State Border Service, because the protected and sovereign borders of BiH lead towards lifting of visa regime, which is of great importance for all BiH citizens. HIRep stressed the significance of good cooperation between border services of BiH and Serbia and Montenegro. Blic pg. 7 ‘Smuggling has not been stopped’ also reports on the visit. According to GS inset, HiRep denied claims of the Croatian media that his monthly pay is EURO 25 thousand, adding that: “I cannot recall precisely what my salary is. But I do know for certain that it is much lower than the mentioned amount.” (Vecernje Novosti pg. 3 ‘I cannot remember my salary’) |
| Globus: Interview with High Representative Paddy Ashdown | Croatian weekly Globus (pages 32 – 34, by Gordan Malic, ‘I am co-operating well with nationalists’) carries an interview with the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown. Asked as to why he is expecting from the national parties to be an efficient weapon in the struggle against their own inheritance, that is, the organized crime, the HR says: “I am less interested in the parties’ names than in the things that they actually do and advocate (…) I am blind when the colour of the national parties is in question. It is all the same for me whether they are nationalistic or ‘mainstream’ parties, their ideology is not that important for me, I am interested in their efficiency in the implementation of the reforms. In principle, I am avoiding to listen to what people say, I am more interested in the things they do.” The HR also announced that Principle Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, would pay a visit to Zagreb next week in order to agree details of direct bilateral co-operation between the Republic of Croatia and the OHR. |
Defence reforms | |
| BiH Federation army commander on new army by 2004
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Next year BiH will have the state army’, Oslobodjenje pg. 6, mentioned on the front page ‘Dudakovic against national (ethnic) armies’ – Commander of the BiH Federation Joint Command Atif Dudakovic has spoken in Sarajevo about the future BiH Army. According to Dudakovic, the Army must be a professional one. It must protect the interests of all citizens of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Dudakovic has announced a meeting with the defence ministers of both entities and the chief of the General Staff of the RS Army on Friday May 9 in Banja Luka, at which army reforms are to be discussed. The condition for BiH’s membership in the Partnership for Peace is the reform of the army in both entities aimed at forming a unified command. The re-structuring of the armed forces must be concluded by the end of the year, NATO Secretary-General George Robertson has warned, according to the media reports. There are several proposals on how the future army is to be organized. Dudakovic envisages a professional army under civilian command in the shape of a three-member Presidency and under democratic supervision. “To have national units formed into brigades, divisions and corps would always present a danger in becoming national, almost private political armies of certain oligarchies, I think. The time of the Ustashi, the Chetniks, the Mojahedin, partisans and the JNA (army of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) is over. This will be a new era and a new type of armed forces in 2004 which will be called the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Hercegovina. This professional army will have to protect the interests of citizens, regardless of what their names are and which nation they belong to,” Dudakovic said. Dnevni List (page 2, by E. Medunjanin, “Dudakovic: Bosnia must have Bosnian army”) carries the Commander of the Joint HQ of the Federation Army, General Atif Dudakovic, who yesterday stated that BiH needed thorough reforms to the defence system in order to remove the situation BiH has been in since the war ended. Dudakovic sees the reforms advocated by the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, as a basis on which a modern State army would be built on. “The army must be under civil command. I am against national units, because the times of Ustashas, Chetniks, Mujaheddin and Partisans has passed. Croatian army is in Croatia, Serb army in Serbia. BiH must have an army that would be recognizable as the Bosnian (army). I hope the period of silent demise of entity armies is to follow”, said Dudakovic. (Dnevni List, page 8, unsigned, “Dudakovic: New structure of army of BiH as of January”, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 16, by B. Magas, “Army without national insignia”) |
| SD on defence reform | According to Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 15, by Zlatko Tulic, “One army made of three small ones”) says the IC in BiH offered the BiH authorities five proposals on future possible organization of defense in BiH. Out of 5 of them, all sides in BiH reportedly favour a proposal according to which the future armed forces would be based on an idea of small standing national army. Apparently, this model guarantees the survival of national components in BiH. Moreover, the significance of the Standing Committee for Military Matters is highlighted in the sense that it would transform into the State Ministry (of Defence). |
| Defence Reform Commission to hold session today
| Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘Task – civil control over armies’ – According to Stjepan Pocrnja, Secretary General of the BiH Standing Military Committee, the first session of the BiH Commission for Defence Reform will be held today. Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, yesterday confirmed to NN that James Locher, the Chairperson of this Commission, arrived to Sarajevo yesterday, and held numerous meetings in the course of afternoon. According to Milisic, the first task of Locher will be to decide on work modalities of the Commission and then to focus on solving the problem of civil control over defence structures. Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘James Locher arrived in Sarajevo: Today he will meet with the military leaders and members of SCMM’ also covers the issue. Both Sarajevo dailies, Oslobodjenje on pg. 3 ‘Reformer from West Point’ and Dnevni Avaz on pg. 5 ‘Expert for defence reforms’, present Locher’s biographic data. |
Affairs/Fight against organised crime | |
| Oslobodjenje: Firm of Minister Mila Gadzic’s brother blocked
| Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 7 ‘Firm of Minister Mila Gadzic’s brother blocked’ – The BiH Federation Tax Administration on Wednesday issued an order for investigation into the operation of the Mostar Sajam (fair) company managed by Dragan Gadzic, who is a co-owner of the Soko Group and brother of the BiH Foreign Trade Minister Mila Gadzic. The investigation is to start today. The tax inspectors did not want to specify reasons for taking such an action. |
| List of 25 unwanted persons from BiH | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘OHR: The list being prepared, Brussels to decide on ban’ – Julian Braithwaite, OHR Chief Spokesperson, yesterday did not want to deny or confirm that Milenko Vracar and Dragan Spasojevic would most likely be include on the list of 25 persons from BiH, who will be banned from entering EU states. According to Braithwaite, “OHR is preparing the list of 25 persons from BiH, who will be banned from entering EU states. I cannot state the names of those persons. What I can say is that the list will include the names of those persons, who consist the net of organised crime, money laundering, and persons, who, in any means, support the war crime suspects.” He explained that the OHR will first forward the list to Brussels, where the final decision on this issue will be made. Milenko Vracar yesterday did not want to comment on these claims. According to GS, he said that the author of the NN text of yesterday will be given a chance and pleasure of proving his words and claims before the Court. Dragan Spasojevic is of the view that “there is no argument in support of such claims. I expect the international community to perform a detailed and qualitative control of my business dealings.” Spasojevic also denied any connection with the organised crime and net supportive of war crime suspects. Glas Srpske carries these two comments as a separate article, page 3, ‘I do not hide anything’. Blic pg. 7 ‘Spasojevic: I will not be on that list’ also covers the issue. Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘List goes to Brussels’ – Mario Brkic, OHR Spokesperson, yesterday stated that HiRep to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, forwarded a proposal to Brussels that Momcilo Mandic and Milovan Bjelica should be banned from entering EU states. He also said that the list of 25 persons from BiH, supportive of war crime suspects, is being prepared. Blic pg. 7 ‘Process is ongoing’ and Dnevni List pg. 5 also carry the statement. |
| Statement by ICG’s James Lyon | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 2, ‘RS authority protects criminals’ – In an interview to NN, James Lyon, Head of ICG in Serbia and Montenegro, says that the international community got in possession of documents on financial transactions of Milenko Vracar and Dragan Spasojevic. A number of those documents were offered to IC officials in BiH. Lyon also said that the bank accounts of these two officials may be blocked. According to him, the RS authorities are protecting Vracar and Spasojevic, because their activities before, during and after the war are known. In his view, RS is small, and everybody knows who owns what gas station, bank, etc… Lyon also said that the list of 25 persons from BiH will also include the people involved in oil industry, who are deeply involved in criminal activities. |
| Nikic arrested | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 6, ‘Owner of gas station “Nikic” arrested’ – Within the action called “Oil 2003’, RS police yesterday arrested Mico Nikic, owner of the gas station “Nikic” at Pelagicevo. According to Zoran Glusac, Spokesperson of the RS Interior Ministry, “RS police and RS Market Inspection detected eight hidden reservoirs at the gas station “Nikic”, that were used for illegal sale of oil and oil derivatives. The investigation against Nikic will be opened. However, I still do not know whether he will be kept in custody or released home after questioning.” According to NN inset, members of the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Branimir Nenic from Serb Brod at the gas station ManKo in Bijeljina. Nenic is one of 13 drivers, who were driving the trucks with oil for the company of “Nikic” from Pelagicevo. Nenic has been placed in custody for three days. Investigation on this case is ongoing. (Blic pg. 7) |
| Vuksic before Court on 13 May | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 3, ‘Ivan Vuksic before the Court on 13 May’ – The first hearing of Ivan Vuksic, the Acting Director of the Federal Intelligence Service (FOSS), suspected of having organised riots during the SFOR inspection at Hercegovacka Banka is to take place on 13 May. |
| Ferhadija riots: culprits still at large | Nezavisne Novine, page 5, ‘Two years after the incident still at large’ – Although it was two years yesterday since the riots took place in Banjaluka (during the attempted cornerstone laying of Ferhadija mosque in Banjaluka, when Murat Badic from Cazin lost his life, and over 30 ceremony participants and police sustained serious and minor injuries), none of culprits of the incident has served the prison sentence so far. Vukasin Boskovic, President of the Banjaluka Basic Court, stated that the convicts are not behind bars as yet, since the court sentence has not gone into effect. Majority of convicts and also Banjaluka Prosecutor’s Office have filed appeals at Banjaluka District Court. However, it remains unknown when the Court will decide on these appeals. |
| VL: “Islamists threaten Mostarians” | Vecernji List (front “Islamists threaten Mostarians” and page 3 “Radical Islamists threaten Mostar again”, by R. Soldo) reports that a family of one J. Juric from Mostar (NB: a Croat national) received two threatening messages and by the looks of it, both letters were written by the same person. The first letter was the Juric family received last Wednesday whilst four days later there was the new, more dangerous threat. Namely, last Monday unknown person(s) left a threatening letter, a hand grenade and a box with pyrotechnics in it at the doorstep of the Juric family’s flat on Vjekoslav Vrancic Street in west part of Mostar. Both letters contain insulting language and threats that the family would be killed if they do not leave Mostar. The hand grenade itself could not go off because the safety pin was in it. |
Political developments | |
| Bosnian Federation upper chamber halts debate on draft law on state service
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 9 ‘Voting on draft Civil Service Law postponed’, Oslobodjenje pg. 9, mentioned on the front page ‘Ashdown ‘interrupted’ session’ – A debate on the new draft law on the BiH Federation civil service was the main subject on the agenda of Wednesday’s session of the House of Peoples (upper chamber) in the Federation parliament. High Representative Paddy Ashdown sent a letter to the leadership of this chamber in which he recommended that the draft in its present form be not adopted. The House of Peoples board held a session and decided to interrupt the session. The letter by the High Representative says that the government’s proposal on the draft law on the civil service is not in line with the principles of the civil service reform and that it might have negative consequences with regard to BiH’s admission into the European Union. Ashdown emphasizes that he will not stand by and let the whole of BiH suffer the consequences of the BiH Federation government’s irresponsibility. BiH Federation Assistant Minister Dzemaludin Mutapcic said that the civil service agencies should be self-reliable and independent of other bodies, which is the biggest novelty in this law. The basic objections of the High Representative refer to the Article 5 of the law in accordance to which directors of administrations and institutions cannot have the status of state officials. The date when the session will resume will be set out at a later time. Dnevni List page 3, by Miso Relota, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, by Dinko Pasic, “Voting on law on state service of FBiH postponed” also report on the session. |
| Ashdown on importance of Civil Service Law | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘Federation might kill BiH chances to join Europe’ – Interview with the High Representative Paddy Ashdown during his visit to the Eastern Herzegovina. He delivered a clear message to the BiH authorities that there would be no compromise regarding the independence of civil servants. “Nothing can make more damage to BiH chances (to integrate into Europe) that its failure to create a system that will guarantee the independence and professionalism of civil servants,” warns Ashdown. |
| Tihic proposes change of BiH Constitution | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, mentioned on the front page ‘Tihic: I proposed change of BiH Constitution’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘BiH Constitution should be changed urgently’ – The Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, pointed out at defects of the BiH political system as the main reason for too slow implementation of reforms in the country. On Tuesday in Brussels, Tihic met with the senior EU officials including Chris Patten, the European Commission for Foreign Policy. “I pointed out at the constitutional provisions in BiH allowing the minorities at all levels of government to block all the processes without the existence of the adequate de-blocking mechanisms,” Tihic said. Glas Srpske, page 3, ‘Blockades in the Constitution’ – Sulejman Tihic, member to BIH Presidency and SDA President, at the meeting of the populist parties at European Parliament in Brussels, stated that “internal blockades” take a significant place on the list of problems ahead of BiH and Europe. According to him, the permanent problem is the issue of BiH Constitution and Annex 4. Statement by Tihic went on to say that: “Unless the changes, which will ensure functional, normal state, are made to the Constitution, we will not be able to move ahead and will be in a constant need of High Representative. At the present time, the political parties from RS are forming those blockades at all levels (BiH COM, HoR, House of Peoples).” |
| Formation of HNC Government | Dnevni List (page 14, by S. Bjelica, “Stumbling block – tenth position in Government”) reports that the continuation of the 20th session of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government was again interrupted yesterday because like the last time, the HNC Government got stuck on the first issue of the agenda that is the Proposal of HNC Government. Although the Prime Minister of the technical Government, Omer Macic, says the session was postponed because of consultations, the Prime Minister designate and the current Deputy Prime Minister, Miroslav Coric, call the whole deal a soap opera. According to Coric, the most disputable issue is the position of the Deputy Prime Minister, the issue the OHR has already declare itself on when it stated the position does not exist any more. “The tenth position wants to be created at any cost thus continuing parallelisms and special status of the canton”, says Coric. Vecernji List (page 4, by Zoran Kresic, “Petritsch’s amendments or sanctions”) notes that one cannot rule out resorting to sanctions that would be applied against a small number of people. According to VL, sources close to the OHR claim there could be sanction that would ban people from executing public offices. (also in Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, by Zoran Zekic, “Not giving up on office of deputy”) Dnevni List (front and page 14, unsigned, “Miroslav Coric carries sole responsibility”) reports that Bosniak ministers in the HNC Government yesterday addressed the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and the Head of OHR Mostar, Deputy High Representative Jean –Pierre Bercot, regarding the failure to appoint a new HNC Government. The letter reminds of the High Representative’s decision to enact amendments to the Federation Constitution from October 6, 2002 when it was said the decision was to be in force effective immediately. The Bosniak ministers see the decision as the legal basis for establishment of cantonal governments including the government in HNC. “Since the candidate for the Prime Minister of the Government, Miroslav Coric, did not propose names of candidates for ministers to the HNC Assembly, we believe that the sole responsibility to failure to establish the government in the canton lies with Miroslav Coric”. |
| SDP on Mostar restructuring | Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, by D. Kozina, “Mostar – city with four municipalities”) reports that the City Board of SDP Mostar yesterday presented their document on possible future reorganization of City of Mostar. According to SDP Mostar’s vision, the City of Mostar would be divided into four municipalities which would, according to the President of Board, Sead Djulic, prevent domination of any people. The Board also stress such division would erase the former confrontation lines in the city and announces that they would organize more discussions about the issue, despite the party is not involved in the Commission for making of the new Statute for Mostar. |
| Preparations for Pope’s visit to Banjaluka | Nezavisne Novine, pages 1 & 5, ‘Construction works prior to Pope John Paul II visit commence’ – The works on decoration of the plateau of the Banjaluka monastery of Petricevac for the reception of the Pope John Paul II on 22 June have commenced yesterday. |
| RS NA to resume session | Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘RS Parliament to resume session’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 19 – The Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly at today’s session should consider the Programme for resolving the problems of refugees, returnees and DPs in this year. The daily agenda of this session, which was interrupted on 30 April, also includes the Bill on amendments of the Law on Privatisation of State Capital in the RS. The deputies should also consider several draft laws, which include the Draft Law on Foreign Currency Business, Draft Law on Interior, Draft Law on Tourism and Catering and the Draft Law on Buildings, Business Facilities and Garages. The National Assembly should also consider the Programme of accommodation of families of fallen fighters and war invalids, the Proposal Decision on criteria for estimation of development of municipalities in the RS in this year and the Proposal of Statistic Research in 2003. |
| VL on intelligence in BiH | Vecernji List (front and page 3, by Zdenko Jurilj, “Intelligence service to be run by foreigner”) reiterates yesterday’s report that BiH will be getting a State intelligence service, which will see an end to the current entities’ agencies. According to VL, the information was confirmed by the OHR. Furthermore, VL notes that possible political conflicts regarding the intelligence issues in BiH will depend on the OHR influence. |
| DL: “Study on price of license for third GSM operator sent for an expert opinion” | Dnevni List (page 5, by D.L.) carries that Minister of Communications and Traffic in the BiH Council of Ministers Branko Dokic confirmed that the study of the Check Consulting Company “Price Water House” on the price of the license for the third GSM operator has been sent to domestic experts for en expert opinion. Dokic expects that this process will be completed soon and its results will be the ground for the issuing of the license. |
| Lagumdzija meet with representatives of US Council for National Security | Dnevni List (page 2, by D.L., “Current authority in BiH is not able to square accounts with crime”) carries that SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija talked with Greg Shult and Lisa Tepper, the Head for Southeast Europe in the Council for National Security of the USA. Lagumdzija informed them about the SDP’s judgements of the security situation in BiH and stressed that retrograde, nationalistic forces still endanger the process of democratisation. Lagumdzija also said that it is concerning that in spite of clear evidence about connection of broken, Serbian criminal groups with domestic criminals, the current BiH authorities do not do anything in order to remove the threat for lives and security of BiH citizens. Lagumdzija believes that this refers to possible connection of some criminal groups with the parts of the political forces close to the authority. Oslobodjenje also reported on the issue. |
| SDP: “BiH admission to EU by 2009 uncertain” | Dnevni List (page 6, not signed) carries that member of the SDP BiH Presidency Selim Beslagic stated at the press conference, which was held yesterday, that if the BiH authorities continue to work in the way that they were working in their first 100 days, it is uncertain whether BiH will realise its goal and enter EU by 2009. He added: “The things that the BiH Council of Ministers and the BiH Presidency did in the first 100 days only deserve a minute of silence.” (Oslobodjenje also reported on the SDP press conference) |
War crimes | |
| Chief war crimes prosecutor to visit US, Bosnia and Serbia
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Del Ponte to visit Sarajevo on May 19’ – Carla Del Ponte, the chief prosecutor of the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, will visit the United States, Bosnia and Serbia in May, her spokeswoman said Wednesday. During her May 12-15 trip to the United States, Del Ponte will meet US officials in Washington and UN officials in New York, said spokeswoman Florence Hartmann. Del Ponte, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), will travel to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo on May 19 and go to Belgrade the next day. |
| Krajisnik’s trial starts on Monday | Vecernje Novosti pg. 15 – The trial to ex-speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament Momcilo Krajisnik, accused for crimes in BiH, will start on Monday, 12 May, the press office of Hague tribunal said on Wednesday. Krajisnik is charged for genocide, crimes against humanity and breaches of law and customs of war. |
Economic/social issues | |
| Drought consequences
| Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Drought takes KM 45 million’ – The damage resulting from days-long drought in RS may result in the total damage of KM 45 million. The Association of agriculture and food production at the RS Chamber of Commerce is of the view that much more cereals than usually should be imported. |
| Privileges on car import | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Penalties along with customs fees’ – 157 requests for customs clearance of vehicles imported on privileges have been filed so far. The total of KM 266 thousand in fees was collected on this basis, while the total of KM 10,430 was collected on basis of penalties. |
| RS budget losses | Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Budget damaged for KM 100 million’ – NN source at RS Government claims that following the settling of debts and failure to calculate the interest rates on tax debts, which was performed as a part of reprogramming by RS Tax Administration, the RS budget has been damaged for the total of KM 100 million. According to NN source, Milica Bisic left behind many issues raising concern at RS Tax Administration at the moment, owing to her failure to calculate interest rates onto tax debts. And this was performed with the prior assent given by RS Government and RS Ministry of Finance. One of such issues is as to why Bisic allowed a special account be opened at Nova Banka, where the resources collected from forcible payment were kept for twenty days, when those resources should have been forwarded to th4 RS budget directly. |
| Social reform campaign in RS launched | Glas Srpske, page 3, ’40 days for changes’ – RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, yesterday announced the commencement of 40-day long campaign of the RS Government on social reforms, which will be organised in 15 cities across RS. According to Premier, these reforms will ensure the establishment of a more functional and sustainable system of social protection, which will then ensure more just, regular and efficient distribution of resources. Blic pg. 6 ‘Dialogue of hope for resolving crisis’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 19 ‘Say it – the Government is listening’ also report on the issue. |
| Fairs opened in Banjaluka | Glas Srpske, page 2, ‘Chance for development’ – RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, yesterday opened the 6th International Fair of Tourism and Sports “TURS 2003” and the 1st Fair of Media. In the opening arguments, RS POM said that tourism oriented activities of the RS have not been so organised as yet, but do have a good chance for doing that. |
| RS Elektroprivreda’s workers trade union’s appeal
| Blic pg. 6 ‘Fear of misusing the privatisation of Elektroprivreda’ – President of the Republika Srpska (RS) Elektroprivreda’s workers trade union Branko Djurdjevic has appealed to the deputies of the RS National Assembly not to vote for the proposed amendments to the Law on the Privatisation of State Capital today, “which will transfer the current competencies of the assembly relating to privatization to the RS Government and the RS Privatisation Agency”. “The adoption of these amendments would allow a small group of people from the RS Government and Privatisation Agency to make decisions on the privatisation of strategic companies such as Elektroprivreda,” said Djurdjevic at a press conference in Ugljevik on Wednesday. Djurdjevic appealed to the authorities and to all who decide on privatisation that the state remains the majority shareholder of Elektroprivreda and pointed to the bad experiences of states which have privatised their power industry. |