| RADIO HERCEG BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) |
| Public Administration | Mikerevic on RS situation | Export of wooden shackles |
| PDP on SDA Ministers | Demands of PDP | FBiH HoR on internal debts |
| Terzic on crisis in RS | Austrian president died | Official demands of PDP |
| Session of BiH Presidency | Bulldozer process | Regional news |
Note that reception of RTRS programme was interrupted last night in the
| Oslobodjenje | There is no money for old foreign currency savers |
| Dnevni Avaz | Haris Siljadzic: the highway construction is late due to slow administration |
| Dnevni List | Official |
| Vecernji List | Tropic heats are killing Herzegovinians |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Father of Valentin Coric guarantees with his winery for pre-trial release of his son |
| Glas Srpske | Over murder of Novica Lukic: Policemen charged; |
| Nezavisne Novine | Dragan Cavic: Early elections are worst option for RS; Milan Bogdanic: Commission cannot complete its work within stipulated deadline; Milorad Dodik: Ivanic and PDP cause crisis of RS institutions; Serb Sarajevo: Two special policemen charged with murder of Novica Lukic |
| Blic | The |
| Vecernje Novosti | Generals stay at home! |
Economic/social issues | |
| FBiH HoR discusses internal debts
| FTV, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 6 âThere is no money for old foreign currency saversâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 âHadzipasic delayed adoption of the law on internal debtâ, Vecernji List, pg 2 âGovernments asks for seven days for discussionsâ, by E. Me., Slobodna Dalmacija, Old savers want their moneyâ, by B. Kristo, Dnevni List, pg 7 âInternal debts still on holdâ, by Indira Tabucic, FENA â The FBiH House of Representatives discussed Wednesday the set of laws that should allow the implementation of the plan for the payment of claims/debts. The House will vote on these laws next week. The deputies discussed in urgent procedure the proposed law on changes to the law on establishing and implementing claims of citizens in the privatization process, the draft law on settling internal commitments/debts of FBiH and the proposed law on changes to the law on the privatization of companies. Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays called on representatives to adopt the law on internal debts settlement and stressed that any delay of the passage of this legislation would put at risk the presence of existing and the arrival of new investors, the creation of new jobs and the monetary and fiscal stability of the country. FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic told journalists that the Government is prepared to improve the proposed laws, especially solutions concerning old foreign currency savings. Representatives of the Association of Old Foreign Currency Savers urged representatives to pass a just decision and pledged to remain determined in fulfilling their rights. Association of Old Foreign Currency Savers Steering Board Chair Amila Omersoftic told journalists that the only fair solution would be to give savers shares in profitable companies. âIf old currency saving is taken out of the laws which address other claims by citizens it is a question if that would ensure more funds and result in a better economic modelâ, Hays said and added that he personally thinks that such a decision would be unfair to all. The House of Representatives will continue its session next week. |
| Party for BiH founder Silajdzic on BiH economic development
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 5 âHighway construction late due to slow administrationâ, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover âThere is no political will in BiH to stimulate economyâ, Dnevni List pg 5 âTo turn BiH in civic stateâ by D. P. Mandic, FENA â The founder of the Party for BiH, Haris Silajdzic, on Wednesday stated, at a debate organized by the Council of the Bosniak Intellectuals Congress (VKBI), that, if this were possible, it would be necessary to abolish the Entities and cantons in BiH, because this country is a too small space for this kind of economic fragmentation. In making opening remarks on âEconomic development of BiH â the present and the futureâ, Silajdzic stressed that BiH did not have a common/unified political will, which explains numerous absurdities. âBiH looks like a car with four hands on the wheel and this is why it is impossible to drive itâ, he said. Expressing support to BiHâs European integration, Silajdzic said that integration was disabled by the solutions imposed by the international community. He referred to this as the âDayton embargoâ and asked how BiH can move forward if its Entities are less mutually connected than the EU participating states. Dayton Accords has served its purpose, it was good under the given circumstances, but this is not the way to go on, said Silajdzic. The failure to launch the project of building corridor Vc as and many others, Silajdzic explains by the incomprehensible slowness caused by the lack of a single political will in the âfeudal BiHâ, calling on the international community to insure integration inside BiH before its admission into European structures. Silajdzic does not see that somebody in BiH has a goal. He also believes that there is no will for building the country, but instead for maintaining status quo, which is also the goal of the ânegativeâ part of the international community. |
| Bulldozer initiative third phase launched
| BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 9 âGovernments supported new reformsâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 âRequest for abolishment of membership fee in the Foreign Trade Chamberâ, Dnevni List pg 5 âFIPA is proposing abolishment of incomes to Foreign Trade Chamberâ, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, FENA â BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic and RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic officially marked the launch of the third phase of the Bulldozer process in Sarajevo on Wednesday. The launch was signaled by the establishment of the BiH Association of Employers. Overall coordination of the Bulldozer process will be gradually transferred to this association. The Association of Employers Founding Assembly Chair Esad Ibisevic expressed hope that this association would take a segment of the Bulldozer Commissionâs activities as soon as possible. The association members also requested the adoption of the law on the establishment of the economic-social council at the state level. Terzic expressed satisfaction with the fact that employers had gathered strength to get organised at the state level and by doing so sent to the all governments in BiH a clear signal that the establishment of a single economic space was being done for the sake of BiH citizens and not the international community. He announced that the Coordination Board for Development would adopt at this monthâs meeting a total of 355 measures for the next six months as a further stimulation for the creation of a more favourable economic environment in BiH. He also announced the start of open dialogue between the authorities, the Association of Employers and the banking sector. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said that the Bulldozer initiative was functioning, but that it could do much better. Many things are not harmonised and are being delayed and are not leading towards significant progress in economic terms, according to Hadipasic. âWe need a single economic space and common solutions, a simpler administration procedure, a single fiscal system, more financial discipline and moneyâ, the FBiH Prime Minister said. RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said that the RS Government is cooperating well with urgent reform task forces and that it used them as a resource. âWe shall continue to support urgent reform task forces because this helps the Government to adopt the right reforms and companies to create new jobsâ, Mikerevic said. Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays said that the establishment of dialogue between those performing economic activities and those regulating that filed was the most important achievement by the two previous phases of the Bulldozer process. He expressed confidence that OHR would be less involved in this third phase and reiterated that the international community would continue to provide necessary assistance to domestic structures. |
| BiH Presidency discusses auditâs report on the bodyâs 2003 financial performance
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover âThere were no office abusesâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 âThere were no abuses in spending of budget fundsâ, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 âAssets are spent in a transparent mannerâ, FENA â The BiH Presidency adopted Wednesday the report on implementation of the BiH Presidencyâs budget for 2003 together with the BiH Auditorâs Office report on financial operations of the body in 2003. The BiH Presidency analysed the audit report and adopted conclusions concerning the plan of measures that should be implemented in the next three months âin order to remove all shortcomings that have been repeating in audit reports for the last three yearsâ. The Secretariat of the BiH Presidency has been tasked to prepare a program of activities until the next session that will ensure the removal of all shortcomings. Dnevni List pg 3 âPresidency to be more ready for audit in Octoberâ, mentioned on cover, by V. Vujovic, Vecernji List pg 2 âCovic is not going at Tadicâs inauguration eitherâ, by D. Jazvic and Slobodna Dalmacija last pg âCovic and Terzic are not going to Belgradeâ by D. Pasic also report that during yesterdayâs session the BiH Presidency adopted report on the execution of the budget for 2003 discussed the audit report on the BiH Presidencyâs financial operations. With regard to this report Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated that they did not notice anything that would refer on the abuse of office in order to cause some damage within the BiH Presidency and that the same objections with regard to the BiH Presidencyâs financial operations were occurring from 2001 until 2003. Covic added that the BiH Presidency tasked its Secretariat to make a program of activities by the next session of the BiH Presidency in order to remove all shortcomings by the next audit that is to take place in October. |
| DL on 3rd GSM license: âOfficial Austria lobbies for Eronet!?â
| Dnevni List, front and pg 2 âOfficial Austria lobbies for Eronet!?â, by De. L. – The daily got a unofficial confirmation from a âsource from pinnacle of BiH Council of Ministersâ that the 3rd GSM licence will be awarded on July 12, however the source could not reveal whom the licence will be awarded to. Still, the source notes that subjects outside BiH are heavily involved in lobbying and apparently the Austrian Foreign Ministry is exerting great pressures that the licence be awarded to âEronetâ. In that context, DL reminds that the manager of âMobilkom Austriaâ, Boris Nemsic, recently made an offer to buy 50,5% of shares in âEronetâ for 24 million Euros and promised future investments into the company. |
| DL on electricity delivery to âAluminijâ
| Dnevni List pg 9 âOHR guarantees electricity delivery to Mostar Aluminij!?â not signed â Commenting on this week meeting during which contract on electricity delivery for Mostar âAluminijâ was signed, DL says that on this occasion Head of the OHRâs Economic Department Patrice Dreiski stated that the decision passed by High Representative Paddy Ashdown on December 31, 2003, according to which electricity cannot be sold unless domestic needs are met, must be completely implemented next year. DL also reminds that General Manager of âAluminijâ Mijo Brajkovic stated that signing of the aforementioned contract was a good opportunity to show to some companies that they cannot have monopoly, since those who have electricity (referring to Elektroprivreda of the FBiH) unfortunately did not attend signing of the contract. Brajkovic added: âThis is the problem that the OHR should deal with since the OHR has strength for it.â |
| Funding Old Bridge opening ceremony
| Dnevni List pg 3 âPresidency to be more ready for audit in Octoberâ, mentioned on cover, by V. Vujovic and Slobodna Dalmacija last pg âCovic and Terzic are not going to Belgradeâ by D. Pasic â Among the other things, during yesterdayâs session the BiH Presidency discussed the Old Bridge opening ceremony. After the session Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated that it has been demanded from the BiH Council of Ministers and the Federation of BiH Government to make transfer of funds in accordance with their decisions so that all planned activities regarding the Old Bridge opening ceremony would be carried out normally in the coming days. Also, the BiH Presidency believes that all these activities will be finished on time. Dnevni List, pgs 10-11 âResignations of Jahic and Beslic because of lack of funds?â, mentioned on front, by Sanja Bjelica – Carries one in series of articles that re-iterate claims that the opening ceremony for the Old Bridge has been heavily compromised because of lack of funds. According to Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, the ceremony shall be held, however the magnitude of the ceremony depends on the funds. Beslic explains: âUnless there is no money by Friday, Mayor Jahic and I will resign from Organizational Committee for opening ceremony for Old Bridge. In that case, the City of Mostar will take on the organization of the ceremony and organize a modest event during which we will open the bridge. I sincerely hope that the money will come, but in case it does not come, it will not be a ceremony of a state level, it will be City of Mostarâs, a modest one with participants from our city, it will not be pompous, no big namesâ. DL notes that the FBiH Finance Ministry informed the Department for Finances of City of Mostar that 500.000 KMs would be paid for the ceremony, but the money did not appear on the account yesterday. Deputy Mayor Beslic noted that there were always certain âgamesâ when Mostar is in question, however he said he would talk about it after the opening ceremony. |
| Update to blocking of SDS accounts
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 âSDS money coming to accounts of BiH institutionsâ â NN carries confirmation of RS Finance Ministry and OHR that on Monday, RS Finance Ministry ahs transferred the amount of almost BAM 33 thousand from the RS NA budget (intended for financing of SDS) onto the special account of the Finance Ministry and Treasury of BiH (opened with BiH Central Banka). |
| Auditors at âSrpske Sumeâ
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 âInternational auditors at âSrpske Sumeâ â Mileta Limic, Acting Director of âSrpske Sumeâ yesterday confirmed that as of Monday, special international auditors have been engaged in audit of financial dealings of âSrpske Sumeâ. They are doing this in accordance with authority of High Representative. According to NN, OHR yesterday confirmed audit at âSrpske Sumeâ is ongoing. |
| DL on military apartments in FBiH
| Dnevni List, pg 2 âMilitary apartmentsâ, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – The author is criticizing the FBiH authorities, the FBiH Minister for Physical Planning, Ramiz Mehmedagic, and Party for BiH in particular, over their engagement in the issue of return of 1500 military apartments to tenancy rights holders, saying that their plan to deny former JNA and officers who are serving in other armies at the moment from getting the apartment back is nothing but legalization of plunder, which also breaches the Dayton Peace Accord, High Representativeâs decisions, decisions of the Human Rights Chamber, CRPCâs decisions etc. âNone of that matters to the Minister, Federation Government and parliamentarians. It is important to achieve the narrow party goals. The sooner, the better, since elections are around the bendâ, concludes the author. |
Political developments/statements | |
| Memorandum on public administration reform signed
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 âBeing closer to EU standardsâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 â4.8 million euros for reform of public administration in BiHâ, SRNA – The RS and Federation of BiH premiers, Dragan Mikerevic and Ahmet Hadzipasic, and the chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, signed in Sarajevo on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding with the European commission for the reform of the public administration in BiH. Dnevni List pg 4 âPublic administration reform new exam for domestic authorityâ by E. Mackic also covered the issue. DL says that this Memorandum was signed as early as in December last year, however, it was necessary to make changes so that domestic authorities can take over the main role in the public administration reform. |
| Announcement of referendum for secession of RS
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 âTerzic: That is not way by which RS citizens can reach EUâ â According to the daily, in all major RS cities collection of signatures will be organised on July 10 for a referendum on secession of RS from BiH. The initiative has been launched by the RS Together to Truth Association. BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, Party for BiH leader Safet Halilovic, HDZ BiH Vice-president Josip Merdzo and SDU Vice President Sejfudin Tokic criticised the initiative saying this was not the way to resolve problems and reach EU. According to OHR Spokesman Vedran Persic (Dnevni Avaz pg 2 âOHR: BiH is the stateâ), a mono-ethnic referendum would not be good basis for making political decisions and would therefore not have legal effect. |
| Mikerevic hopes government crisis to be averted soon
| SRNA, FENA – RS Premier Dragan Mikerevic said in Sarajevo on Wednesday that the composition of the RS National Assembly would be completed, a new Speaker elected and the parliamentary majority defined within the next ten days, in order to avert an RS government crisis. “Failing that, we would most probably have to hold early parliamentary elections,” Mikerevic said. The RS premier pointed out that no-one in BiH needed a crisis of any description and that it was his duty to see to it that the work of institutions was not disrupted. Mikerevic voiced his hope that the political crisis, caused by the recent mass dismissals by the High Representative, would be quickly overcome and that the results of all these changes would become manifest within the next few days, without being reflected in the work of institutions. âI am optimistic about the future of BiH, development of democratic processes and its institutionsâ, said Mikerevic. |
| PDP officially asks for ejection of SDA ministers from government
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 10 âDismiss ministers from SDAâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 âPDP officially requested removal of ministers from SDAâ, Vecernji List pg 3 âPDP demanded removal of Ministers from line of SDAâ by f, Dnevni List pg 21 âOfficial demand for absolving of duty of SDA Ministers sentâ not signed and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 âTo remove RS ministers in Governmentâ by A. Macanovic , FENA – The RS Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) on Wednesday sent an official request to RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic to remove ministers nominated by the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) from the Government. The PDP wants Mikerevic to appoint other Bosniak ministers, as prescribed by the RS Constitution. The PDP statement underlined that the aforementioned request was sent in accordance with the conclusions of the session of the party’s main committee held on 2 July. “The reasons for the request for the dismissal of the SDA ministers in the RS government are obstructions to the implementation of reforms in the RS and persistent SDA activities contrary to the interests of the RS,” the statement said. The PDP added that it would back the government in its reform orientation and efforts to join Euro-Atlantic integrations. |
| Cavic: Early parliamentary elections the worst option
| BH Radio 1, Oslobodjenje pg 7 âCavic: Early parliamentary elections the worst optionâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 âCavic: I will use all the means to prevent crisis in RSâ, FENA – The President of the RS, Dragan Cavic, on Wednesday evening addressed the public via RTRS in connection with the recent dismissal of 59 high-ranking entity officials, mostly Serb Democratic Party members, by the High Representative of the international community in BiH. âThe recent decision by the High Representative to dismiss 59 Serb Republic officials is political retaliation which has shaken the authorities of this entity, but it is still not certain that this mean the holding of early elections,â Cavic said in the address. âMy objective is political stability, not instability. I believe that early elections are a last resort. Elections can take place as a consequence of the constitutional framework determined by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly or a blockade of parliament. In this case they would have to be called. However, I am more inclined to accept solutions that are commonplace in parliamentary life throughout the world – instead of elections, if it is impossible to retain a two-third majority, we should form another one,â he added. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 âI will not allow crisis in RSâ mentioned on cover âEarly elections are worst option for RSâ â In last nightâs statement to RTRS, Dragan Cavic, RS President, said that early elections would be suicidal for RS and would bring this entity into a political crisis. He said that early elections, which PDP demanded, would b the worst option, noting he would schedule elections only if constitutional pre-requisites necessary for doing that are provided. He said: âI do not want nor I will cause political crisis in RS. If parties want crisis, they will be held responsible for it.â Cavic last night did not exclude the possibility of seeing SDS join PDP demand for removal of SDA Ministers from RS Government. This move, according to him, would not cause political crisis in RS. He also said he had talks with Boris Tadic, Vojislav Kostunica and officials from RS and F BiH, and they expressed agreement with his view that RS does not need political and institutional crisis. He added: âSudden elections would be a source of instability. But, if elections took place within constitutional framework, those would be inevitable.â He stressed the priority task of RS authorities at the moment is to constitute RS NA. Cavic referred to removals of 59 officials as political purge, stressing that SDS would form a team of legal international law and human rights experts, who will be providing assistance to each individual removed, who expressed intention to file an appeal to HiRepâs decision. He also said team will be considering the possibility of filing a lawsuit against High Representative before any Court in any foreign state, where such suits can be performed. Cavic stressed: âThere is only one Ashdown, and 1.2 million Serbs in RS. SDS has 150,000 members and supporter, and there is only one Ashdown. There are people capable of running SDS amongst those 150,000.â According to NN inset 1 âTihic wants to be âNew Alijaââ, Cavic accused Sulejman Tihic of running clero-radical politics targeting RS and its people. He added: âThe hard stream of SDA is tightly linked with the most radical Clericalists from Islamic community in BiH.â He added Tihic wants to be âNew Alijaâ, who would be leading BiH on the basis of Islamic Declaration. âRadical politics is the most dangerous. It is an environment which creates terrorismâ, noted Cavic. According to NN inset 2 âKaradzic and Mladicâ, Cavic said that RS police is undertaking all measures aimed at locating and arresting war crimes suspects, stressing police has been engaged in extensive operational work for months now. He added: âIn case Karadzic and Mladic were located, RS would be freed of enormous pressures and the life of SDS would be mush easier.â According to NN inset 3 âPDP officially demands removalsâ, PDP yesterday addressed an official request to RS Prime Minister to dismiss SDA ministers from RS Government. (Glas Srpske pg 2 âTime for removalsâ) Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, yesterday stated that RS NA composition will be filled in the coming ten days time, new Speaker elected and parliament majority defined, in order to avoid crisis of RS Government. âEarly elections might be scheduled if this did not take placeâ, noted Mikerevic. (Glas Srpske pg 2 âDays of denouement comingâ) According to NN inset 4 âSDA: Possible elections in BiHâ, Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, yesterday stated that the PDP demand might lead to early elections in RS. He noted BiH now does not need early eletions. He is of the view this request does not lead towards stabilisation in BiH. |
| NN interview with Dodik | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 âPDP is causing crisis in RSâ mentioned on cover âIvanic and PDP cause crisis of RS institutionsâ â In a page long interview to NN, Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, yesterday called on ruling coalition in RS to urgently take a stance on the following issue: would parliament majority continue to function or early elections would be scheduled. He expressed readiness of SNSD to give its contribution to the stabilisation of situation in RS. He said that shifting of responsibility from one party to another only destabilises situation and brings RS institutions in danger. He noted: âI hope there will be enough political wisdom that we all find the best solution to stable and safe future of the RS. In the interest of RS, we should all renounce personal interests, motives, frustration and desires.â He said it is clear to everybody that HR Paddy Ashdownâs measures targeted one group of people from the authority associated with criminal activities, and not RS institutions. He added: âLatest decisions of HRâs do not represent an attempt to abolish RS. These decisions did not destabilise RS, because this is a personal political crisis, not institutional crisis.â |
| SD on current situation following removals of RS officials
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 âKaradzic and Mladic are crushing Serb entityâ, by B. Kristo – The author reflects on the events following the removal of 59 officials from the Republika Srpska saying that, apart from the confusion within the SDS and PDP, the removals did not trigger reactions by various associations of war veterans. Furthermore, the author claims that the harsh statements about withdrawing from the authorities and organization of early elections have taken a back seat, because âas soon as the heads cooled downâ, the SDS and PDP realized that they would not be enjoying a unanimous support from the Serb people the way they had hoped for. SD argues that the real consequence of removals is in coalition partners, the SDA and PDP, finally being honest to each other as seen in the recent statements. Finally, the author notes that the worst consequence is slowing down of reforms processes. |
| D. Covic on crises of RS authority
| Dnevni List pg 3 âPresidency to be more ready for audit in Octoberâ, mentioned on cover, by V. Vujovic â Asked after the BiH Presidency session to comment on the so-called crises in the RS authority, Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated that the BiH Presidency did not feel any crises and that representatives of all peoples who were submitting reports did it in an ordinary way. |
| âDefence and Foreign Affairs Dailyâ on HRâs decision on removals
| Dnevni List pg 21 âHR in BiH is destroying RSâ by M.R. â DL says that the US magazine âDefence and Foreign Affairs Dailyâ published an analyses under the title âAs it has been envisaged Ashdown is making first step to destroy RSâ which among the other things says: âHigh Representative Paddy Ashdown took steps on June 30 and July 1 to punish community of Bosnian Serbs. His step represents the first move in the envisaged attempts to completely change the Dayton Peace Accord from 1995 destroying the RS by giving authority to the Moslem leadership that was closely cooperating with Osama bin Laden since the beginning of the nineties.â |
| Paravac to attend Serbian president’s inauguration
| BHTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 âParavac at the Tadicâs as wellâ, SRNA – The Serb member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, will attend the inauguration of the newly-elected Serbian president, Boris Tadic, in Belgrade on July 11. All BiH Presidency members received individual invitations to attend the inauguration, Paravac’s cabinet confirmed for SRNA. “Paravac believes that the inauguration of the president is an important event for Serbia and marks the beginning of the end of the crisis in the functioning of the institution of the president of the republic,” an advisor to the Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Drago Vukovic, told SRNA. According to him, Paravac believes that the election and inauguration of the Serbian president will contribute to the development of the relations with BiH and thus with the RS. BiH Presidency members Sulejman Tihic and Dragan Covic will not attend the Serbian President Boris Tadic’s inauguration, but on that day the Presidency chairman Tihic will be in Srebrenica and the Croat member will attend the funeral of the Austrian president. According to Oslobodjenje pg 4 âCavic and Mikerevic will be on July 11 in Belgradeâ, RS President and Prime Minister, Dragan Cavic and Dragan Mikerevic, will also attend Tadicâs inauguration. BHTV, Dnevni List pg 3 âPresidency to be more ready for audit in Octoberâ, mentioned on cover, by V. Vujovic, Vecernji List pg 2 âCovic is not going to Tadicâs inauguration eitherâ, by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg âCovic and Terzic are not going to Belgradeâ by D. Pasic, FENA â The BiH Presidency did not discuss on Wednesday the invitation to attend the inauguration of Serbian President Boris Tadic scheduled for Sunday in Belgrade. âThis issue was not on the agendaâ, BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic told journalists. He said that every Presidency member received the invitation individually and that they would all individually decide whether to attend the inauguration. âI will certainly not goâ, Covic said. |
| M. Ivanic is paying two-day visit to Croatia
| Dnevni List pg 3 âReturn of refugees and Ploce Port main topics of talksâ by I. Glibusic and Vecernji List pg 2 âIvanic goes for tow-day visit to Zagrebâ by f â At the invitation of Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul, BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic is paying a two-day visit to Zagreb, where he will meet with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Zuzul himself. According to DL unofficial information among the other things, they will discuss realization of all the things that were agreed at the last session of the Inter-State Council such as securing of return of refugees by the end of 2004, Ploce Port, passage through Neum, double citizenship etc. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
War crimes | |
| Srebrenica Commission will not be able to make final list of missing persons
| Oslobodjenje pg 10 âList of missing persons will not be completed within deadlineâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 âList of missing persons from Srebrenica will not be made by July 17â, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 6 âCommission cannot complete its work within stipulated deadlineâ; Glas Srpske pg 2 âList is not finalâ, FENA â The Srebrenica Commission Chair, Milan Bogdanic, said that the Commission would not manage to determine the final list of the missing persons from Srebrenica until the set deadline, July 17, and it would therefore request the RS Government that a relevant entity organization or institution takes over this task. Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 6 âCommission cannot complete its work within stipulated deadlineâ; Glas Srpske pg 2 âList is not finalâ also covered the issue. According to the dailies, RS Government Bureau for Public Affairs noted that this request of Bogdanic was not discussed at Government session, stressing that at the session dated 1st July, Government made conclusions regarding further activities of Commission. âAt this session, Government concluded Commission has carried out tasks from its mandate by having filed final report.â |
| Around 20,000 people expected to arrive in Potocari on July 11
| FTV, FENA â The funeral ceremony for and burial of 338 identified victims of 1995 genocide in Srebrenica will be carried out on Sunday, July 11, at the Memorial Centre in Potocari, the Srebrenica Municipal Official and President of the Organizational Board for marking the ninth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, Abdurahman Malkic, told FENA. With this ceremony, the total number of victims from Srebrenica buried at the Centre will rise up to 1.327. Malkic estimates that approx. 20.000 people could attend the manifestation of marking the ninth anniversary of the genocide against the Bosniaks of Srebrenica. BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic will address to the participants. Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover âFuneral for 338 Srebrenica victimsâ also covered the issue. |
| RS Government to help commemorate Srebrenica “tragic events”
| BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 â30,000 from RS Governmentâ, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 â30,000 KM for marking Srebrenica anniversaryâ, FENA, SRNA – The RS Government will, as last year, help finance the marking of the anniversary of the tragic events in Srebrenica and to this effect will discuss at Thursdayâs regular session the proposal to approve funds from the current budget reserves to the tune of 30,000 KM. |
| Croatia to pay out war reparation requests
| Glas Srpske cover page story âBloody bills coming upâ â The article is about war reparation claims (260 filed so far), which Serbs from Croatia filed with Croatian judiciary. GS refers to the recent ruling passed by Zagreb District Court, according to which the amount of EURO 85 thousand should be paid out to the family members of Nikola Kosic from Podravska Slatina (who was murdered in 1991), and wonders this ruling represents an intention of Republic of Croatia to, âat least indirectly, admits its dependency was partly acquired over corpses of innocent people, mainly Serbs?â |
| USâ Grossman in SiCG
| EuroBlic pgs 1-2 âTime for extraditionsâ mentioned on cover âMladic to The Hague, Generals to Serbiaâ â Following yesterdayâs meeting with Vojislav Kostunica, Miroljub Labus, Vuk Draskovic and Prvoslav Davinovic, Marc Grossman, the US Deputy Secretary of State, yesterday stressed it is time Ratko Mladic and four military and police Generals were extradited to The Hague Tribunal. He also stated that when Ratko Mladic is in The Hague, US would support the idea of ICTY that other war crime cases are to be resolved by Courts in Serbia. He also said that the issue of cooperation with the ICTY is not an issue, which should satisfy US or Europe demands, but instead âit is a right and good thing for Serb peopleâ. According to EuroBlic inset âNo deal âMladic for Generalsââ, Florence Hartmann, Spokesperson of ICTY Prosecutor, yesterday strongly denied announcements that extradition of Ratko Mladic would ensure four generals are tried before SiCG courts. She said that there is no bargain with ICTY indictments. |
| Deal âMladic for four Serbian Generalsâ
| Vecernje Novosti cover page report âGenerals stay at homeâ â VN learnt from confidential sources that over the past days, the leading political quadripartite team (Serbian President, Parliament Speaker, Prime Minister and his Deputy) has reached a consensus with regard to issue of extradition of Serbian Generals and cooperation with the Hague. They agreed that it should first be determined whether Ratko Mladic were in Serbia, and then proposed that four Generals are tried before Serbian Courts. As VN learnt from its sources, the Americans have expressed readiness to support this idea. |
Security/investigations/legal proceedings | |
| EU head of missions support police reform in BiH
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 âBiH citizens deserve police forces capable of fighting crimeâ, Oslobodjenje pg 5 âEfficient and strong policeâ, Dnevni List, pg 4 âPeople in BiH deserve its Policeâ, not signed, FENA â The heads of missions of the EC and EU participating states welcome the forming of the Commission for Police Restructuring in BiH as an essential means for improving the overall structure of police forces in BiH. Their joint announcement states that the quality of police has already been significantly improved thanks to support of IPTF and now the EUPM; however, it is still necessary to establish a police structure capable of implementing the law. âThe people in BiH deserve police forces that will work in their best interest by combating crime, including organized crime and corruptionâ, the heads of EC, EU missions in BiH stated. |
| Update to RS police Visegrad action/murder of Lukic
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 âCharged with murder of Novica Lukicâ mentioned on cover âTwo special policemen charged with murder of Novica Lukicâ; Glas Srpske cover page report âOver murder of Novica Lukic: Policemen chargedâ; EuroBlic RSpg3 âCharged with murderâ mentioned on cover âTwo special policemen chargedâ â The Serb Sarajevo District Prosecutorâs Office yesterday pressed charges against two members of the RS Special Police Unit, Vedran Purisic and Drazen Bojic for the murder of Novica Lukic in Visegrad. Dusko Tomic, legal attorney of defendants, said he would file a motion on this classification of charges, claiming: âThis is not a proper classification of crime act. They can be charged with involuntary manslaughter, not the murder, since they had no intention to murder and were just carrying out orders.â According to NN inset âRS Interior Ministry will finance defenceâ, Dusko Tomic yesterday said that RS MoI is informed of charges brought against his defendants. He also said that Ministry informed his it would, after all, finance defence against two special policemen. |
| NN op-ed on security
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 âBiH and securityâ by Josip Blazevic â The author is referring to the latest Crisis Watch publication, which observed ânothing of importance took place in BiH, in regard to improvement nor deterioration of security situationâ. Accordingly, the change in BiH, regarding security issues, remains unchanged. He wonders whether this assessment would change following withdrawal of SFOR, referring to assessment of Senad Slatina, ICG official, who is of the view situation would deteriorate. The solution to this would lay in establishment of BiH institutions, which would no longer acquire international missions. |
| VL on pollution in BiH, depleted uranium
| Vecernji List, pg 3 âNATO is not providing the public with maps of areas contaminated with uraniumâ, mentioned on front, by Milo Jukic – features a story about pollution of BiH during and immediately after the war, noting that mass quantity of medicines had been dumped throughout the country. VL stresses the story about the depleted uranium, which NATO troops used during bombardments of RS Armyâs positions in 1995. In that context, VL argues that NATO has avoided to give BiH authorities the exact locations of bombarded sites. |