OHR BiH Media Round-up, 8/8/2002

Dnevni Avaz: SFOR Commander writes fro Avaz – Gangs were hiding arms; Paddy Ashdown in Herzegovina – Only reform leads to new jobs

Jutarnje Novine: Head of the BiH Islamic Community sends a message to the FTV – You are extending pressures on the people to remain deaf and mute

Dnevni List: Interview with the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown – BiH must reform or it will not make it; Federation Government accepts international arbitration in Aluminum; Mijat Tuka responds to Avis Benes – I don not know who promised the funds

Vecernji List: Federation Government accepts international arbitration for Aluminum – Ashdown’s guarantees for arbitration; Washington’s NDI poll – high reputation of national political parties (SDA, HDZ, SDS), but SDP the strongest at the state level

Glas Srpski: RS Finance Ministry – Budget left without reserve

Nezavisne Novine: A decision by the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown – the BiH Prosecutorial Office at the state level

Euro Blic: Border crossing in Kostajnica between Una and Uncica; Ostoja Kremenovic – Provided money for July’s pensions

Vecernje Novosti: SFOR in search for Radovan Karadzic in Montenegro – Hunt from air

FRY Nacional: Jovica Stanisic protects the murderer of Buha

As part of his plan to implement his priorities of justice and jobs through reform the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on Wednesday also issued three Decisions to strengthen the criminal justice system in BiH. These decisions establish a Bosnia and Herzegovina level Prosecutor’s Office, amend the Law on the Court of BiH to include special panels for organised crime, economic crime and corruption and give the BiH level High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council the authority to select, appoint and discipline Prosecutors of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH. (Dnevni Avaz, p 4, Jutarnje Novine p 5)

Nezavisne Novine carry the picture of the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on its cover page, announcing his decision on BiH Prosecutorial Office. On page 3, the daily carries extensive report on three decisions of the High Representative to strengthen the criminal justice system. Glas Srpski (p 3) briefly reports on yesterday’s decisions of the High Representative and publicize the names of the members of High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of RS and BiH Federation. The daily also publicized the names of international members to the RS and BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.

The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, said on Wednesday in Mostar that BiH had to reform its system or it would fail. “The same is with Mostar, and for that reason we have to establish a system which will be functioning for the benefit of the people and not only for the good of politicians,” Ashdown told journalist following his meeting with the Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic. “The City Administration, whether one likes it or not, will in the future establish full cooperation and be a good partner of the international community in implementing all the projects serving for the benefit of the town,” Jahic said. (Dnevni Avaz, p 2, announced on the front page, Jutarnje Novine, p 3, Vecernji List, p 2, Slobodna Dalmacija, p 15 and last page, Vjesnik, p 2, Nezavisne Novine, p 3, Glas Srpski, p 3)

Slobodna Dalmacija carries a report from the HR’s visit to Citluk where Ashdown, following a meeting with the Association of wine producers of Herzegovina, said: “We talked about the barriers that exist in the trading of wine, creation of single economic space, wine industry that employs that much people and which can employ much more and about how to help this industry”.

Dnevni List (front and page 3, conducted by Miroslav Vasilj) carries a whole page interview with the HR Ashdown titled “BiH must reform or it will fail” in which the HR talks about the current state of affairs in BiH. Questioned to offer his view whether the economic issues in BiH can be solved without prior solving of national issues and to offer his view on the Croat issue in BiH, HR Ashdown says: “Let’s talk to economists, then we will see how much they mention Dayton. Never. Regarding the Croat issue, I must say that the people in Herzegovina will profit the most from the future reforms. Croats often tell me that they are the smallest in numbers people. But the figures are not important. The process of reform is in the interest of the Croat people. Who will benefit the most when BiH enters Europe? Most probably the Croats in Herzegovina, because of Croatia being near and because of abolishment of borders. Those are important things”

The OHR South called on the Federation Ministry for Social Welfare, Displaced Persons and Refugees to publicly disclose why the promised funds for the reconstruction of returnees’ houses have still not arrived in Mostar. “The Office of the High Representative South is very concerned about the performance of the Ministry in its reconstruction assistance program,” OHR South Spokesperson Avis Benes told journalists in Mostar on Wednesday. According to Benes, the Ministry promised in June 2001 it would invest six million KM in the reconstruction of houses for returnees to the Herzegovina-Neretva Cantona and the Eastern RS. (Oslobodjenje, p 3, Dnevni Avaz, p 9, Jutarnje Novine, p 3, Dnevni List, p 11, Slobodna Dalmacija. p 16)

Dnevni List (front and page 4) carries the Federation Deputy Minister for Social Affairs, Refugees and DPs, Mijat Tuka, who denied the aforementioned statement by Avis Benes that the Ministry promised six million KMs for reconstruction of 400 houses for returnees in Mostar. “The Ministry for Social Affairs, Refugees and DPs works in accordance to the program unanimously adopted by the Federation Government last year and I do not know who could have promised the reconstruction of 400 houses”, said Deputy Minister Tuka in Sarajevo yesterday.

Zagreb-based weekly Globus (page 17) under title “Paddy Ashdown removed 1,386 candidates for BiH elections from parties lists”, with picture of Ashdown, carries article about decision of Election Commission of BiH to eliminate 1,386 candidates. The text of the article mentions names of some removed candidates, such as Naim Kadic, former BiH Ambassador in Kuwait, Amila Omersoftic, former General Manager of BiH TV, Ismeta Dervoz, a singer from 80’s and Omer Macic, the Prime Minister of Herzegovina Neretva Canton, but nowhere in the text is mentioned Paddy Ashdown.

The European Trade Union of Graphic Workers will recommend the colleagues in Hungary to boycott printing of the ballots for the BiH October elections. If the Hungarian workers accept the recommendation, the ballots will not be printed. The same recommendation has been already sent also to the Slovenian and Croatian graphic workers. “If the Allamy Company employees do the same as our colleagues in Slovenia and Croatia, the elections will be brought into question,”Amer Toskic, the President of the BiH Graphic Workers Trade Union, told Oslobodjenje (p 6, announced on the front page).

Vecernji List (page 2) carries editorial signed by Robert Bubalo in which he speculates that Jasminka Putica, who recently resigned from position of judge of the Federation BiH Supreme Court, did that under threats. The author mentions the speech of Reis-ul-ulema of Islamic Community in BiH Mustafa Ceric who called Muslims to raise voice against court process in case Pogorelica. “His benign call may be interpreted in different ways. Someone might have understood this in a way to threat to the judge. Nonetheless, this is not the first case of involving religious factor in similar cases. One month ago Deputy Reis protested against Bosniak ‘Rats’ who ‘ratted’ to SFOR storage of weapons in East Mostar”, the author wrote.

At a session in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the BiH Federation Government accepted the key elements of the agreement on the international arbitration for the Mostar Aluminum Company. The purpose of the document is that the international arbitrators determine the disputed company’s ownership structure as the basis for its privatization. (Oslobodjenje, p 10, announced on the front page, Jutarnje Novine, p 3, Nezavisne Novine, p 11)

Vecernji List (p 3), Dnevni List (p 8) and Slobodna Dalmacija (p 15) carry reports about the Federation Government decision. Three arbiters, appointed by the Secretary of Arbitration Court from The Hague, should start working in Sarajevo before the end of the year. Vecernji List reported that the High Representative in a letter to Federation Prime Minister Alija Behmen expressed his readiness to engage himself in ensuring obligation of implementation of the arbitrary decision.

Oslobodjenje reports on the front page (continued on p 16) that the Sarajevo Cantonal Court’s Investigative Judge, Vladimir Spoljaric, will as soon as next week hear first witnesses in an re-opened investigation into the “Kazani case” (a mass grave near Sarajevo with found remains of mainly Serb civilians allegedly killed by the BiH Army members of the Bosniak nationality)

“If, by chance, only one of the remaining BiH Federation Supreme Court judges leave the office for any reason, we can, when it comes to the resolution of criminal matters, lock the doors of the Court and go home. The Court has been brought into such position only because the new judges have not been appointed, and 13 of us are doing the job for 30 judges, which is the number set by the Law on the Federation Supreme Court,” Vlado Adamovic, acting deputy Court’s president, told Dnevni Avaz (p 9, announced on the front page).

Regarding article published in yesterdays Slobodna Dalmacija that said that Federation Minister of Defence Mijo Anic gave money to ‘loyal’ soldiers in 2001, signed by Zvonimir Cilic (see yesterdays CRO Press!), Slobodna Dalmacija carries today reaction of Federation Ministry of Defence. The ministry’s reaction stated that the journalist who wrote that article never contacted the Ministry and that all allegations about Anic paying soldiers to be loyal and not allowing Financial Police’s audit are not true. “Problem is the fact that some people wanted the inspection to be conducted for only one component and only for 2001, which was politically motivated. Minister of Defence Mijo Anic personally invited Financial Police and other revision houses to control MoD, but for both components and for period 1997-2001”, says the reaction, signed by Assistant Minister Antun Mrkonjic.

Dnevni List (front and page 5), Vecernji List (page 2) and Slobodna Dalmacija (back page) reported that representatives of the Federation Interior Ministry held a working meeting in Mostar with interior ministers of all 10 Cantons and IPTF and SFOR representatives. One of the topics of the conversation was status of agencies for protection of people and property. “Our operational and intelligence reports point to the fact that a number of persons from these agencies are involved in all forms of crime”, stated Ramo Maslesa, Federation Minister of Interior.

Vecernji List (front and page 5) carries an interview with the West Herzegovina Canton Governor, Vinko Zoric, in which he, commenting on the charges pressed against him by the Federation Ministry of Interior on August 1, 2002, over the alleged abuse of office and authority, refutes the charges saying that the whole issue is a part of pre-election games. Regarding the charges itself, Zoric has been charged with the transfer of money from an account of the Grude Payment Bureau to his personal account in the Hercegovacka Bank, the money (233.000 KMs) which was to be invested in a water-supply project for Klobuk. The transfer of money occurred on June 9, 1998.

Dnevni List (page 12) carries an editorial signed by Ilija Sagolj in which the author says that an HDZ initiative to have Mostar as the capital of the Federation of BiH divided the citizenry, some supported it whilst some denied it. The author also says that the IC, ‘BiH mentors’, as Sagolj puts it, did not oppose the initiative and that despite that fact, the initiative was never seriously discussed by State and Federation bodies nor NGOs. “A question raises: ‘Was the initiative sincere or was it aimed to serve political games’, says Sagolj and goes on to recommend Mostar authorities to see the thing through. Sagolj continues: “If Sarajevo is the capital of BiH and Banja Luka the capital of RS, it would be logic to have Mostar as the capital of the Federation of BiH”.

Dnevni List (page 2) carries editorial signed by Ivica Maric in which he criticises letter of, as he said, “phantom Association of Citizens for Reconstruction of Trust among Citizens”. According to the author, “the letter addressed to the High Representative is filled with genetic coded hatred against “damn cross”, Croat national flag and anything that starts with letter ‘H’ (…) ‘Citizens’ protest because the High Representative stated that the reasons that are stopping returnees to Stolac of economic nature (…) it is obvious that a cross and Croat national symbols are humiliation for them, but the city mosque is not”, the author wrote.

The RS PIO decided to fire surplus of employees in order to cut its expenditures. The PIO also decided that, as of 10^th September, pensions will be paid through the bank accounts, for the pensioners who live in urban areas. The Director of the RS PIO, Ostoja Kremenovic, stated yesterday that the PIO is very close to provide 27,5 million KM, needed for payment of July pensions and 20% of May pensions (Glas Srpski, p 2, Nezavisne Novine, p 9, FRY Nacional, p 11, Blic, p 17)

Nezavisne Novine (p 5)reports that most political parties in RS and BiH Federation are getting ready to place their posters with election slogans that should be short, clear and effective, and suggest the voters for whom to cast their ballots. Here are some slogans, as reported by the daily: Coalition Economic Block – HKDU has two slogans, one for President and one for Coalition: “New President for new era” and “We create work”; GDS: “European partner – citizens know it”; HDZ: “All that values – we created together”; BiH Federation Party of Pensioners: “Together we are stronger”; BOSS: “It is time for BOSS” and “It is not impossible”; BiH Republican Party: “Decent and capable”; ProENS: “It is time for achievements”; DNS: “Decency for trust”; SP RS: “Work, bread and justice”; SDS: “Vote as Serbs”; SNSD: “Full steam ahead” and “Strong in action”; PDP: “To make it European and still Serb”; SNS: “Draw the line, vote for SNS”; SRS: “For Serb state, against crooks and traitors”; Alliance of People’s Renewal: “Honor, justice and development”; RS Republican Party: “The union of people with good will”.

Nezavisne Novine (p 5)quote the OHR Chief Spokesman, Julian Braithwaite, as saying that the international community and OHR do not support political parties and political leaders but reforms. Braithwaite did not want to comment on the request of the Democratic National Alliance (DNS) which requested the international community to take a stand on the statement by RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic, who said that the IMF credit to RS is a clear indication whom the international community supports. The IMF Resident Representative to BiH, Valerija Fikera, also did not want to comment Ivanic’s statement.

“The RS Government is ruled by powerful financial circles and to the detriment of citizens, and it is possible that is their joint work. Due to that we ask the Government and PIO Fund to explain publicly a way in which they collect money for pensions and how they distribute it, because there is something fishy in that”, the SNSD said. (Blic p 17)

Dnevni List (page 4) reported about visit of President of Republican Party and candidate for BiH Presidency Stjepan Kljuic presented his program in Mostar, stating that nor extreme rightists nor extreme leftists can bring solutions for citizens of BiH. He said that people who are against creation of state-level budget could not be leaders of BiH any more.

Brcko Pubic Prosecutor Zekerijah Mujkanovic said on Wednesday that 9 phantom companies had been uncovered in Brcko District thus far. These companies illegally earned 4.6 million KM. “It is obvious that the existing legal regulation is not completed and detailed leaving a possibility for appearance of such companies,” Mujkanovic said. (Nezavisne Novine)

“My election program for the RS will focus on complete implementation of constitutional changes, creation a multiethnic environment in the RS and fundamental reforms that need to be carried out in all segments of the society in this entity”, SDP Presidency member and a candidate for RS president, Mirsad Djapo said. He said that special emphasis would be put on resolving return problems and the problems of pensioners.

“A special challenge for my participation in the election is the fact that what lies ahead of the RS on the issue of harmonising constitutions is what we are already doing in the Brcko District. The multiethnic environment being built there, the experiences we gather and reforms being implemented are the guidelines for my future activities in the RS and a challenge for me to stand in the elections”, said Djapo. He said that the police have been thoroughly reformed in the Brcko District and that the RS police also have to go through reform in order to raise the level of transparency and professionalism and added that the same goes for the administration. (FENA, Oslobodjenje, Jutarnje Novine)

Ismet Dedeic, head of Brcko department for urbanism and economic development, said that the whole problem about Arizona market was politicised, because “this is not the first case that land in the District is taken away from owners because it has been in the interest of the whole community”. He emphasised that Italproject only has got 20-year concession to manage Arizona market, but the land belongs to District Government; therefore all citizens will have benefit from it. (Glas Srpski)

• High representative in Mostar
• Council of ministers to decide on Kostajnica border crossing document
• Where is the money for reconstruction in Mostar

FTV 1 (1930)

• Key elements of the agreement on international arbitration in Mostar Aluminum accepted
• Investment Bank approved loan to Agrokomerc
• Possible disarmament of Agencies for Protection of People and Property, Ramo Maslesa announced

RTRS (1930)

• Why judge Putica resigned at the end of Pogorelica case investigation
• BiH has to change the system or it will bust, warned Ashdown
• RS Pension fund cutting costs