| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Mostar Statute | HDZ refuses proposal | Trial of Milakovic delayed | Day of Republika Srpska |
| PDP criticizes HR | RS unsatisfied with SIPA | Investment in Zenica | Cavic’s reception |
| SDA answers to OHR | New 8 victims in Iraq | Tihic’s respond | BiH Court |
| BiH has terrorists sleepers |
| HDZ refuses proposal | TV subscription |
| Oslobodjenje | Sulejman Tihic responded to OHR’s 10 questions: Europe neither wants judges and prosecutors with war past; Ashdown’s recommendation to parliamentarians: it is shameful to think of yourself only |
| Dnevni Avaz | SDA President reacted ‘because of public’: Tihic answered to 10 questions; Paddy Ashdown for DA: We cannot allow failure in Mostar |
| Dnevni List | Referendum in Mostar’s municipalities with Croat majority too?; OHR, not SDA politicises appointment of judges and prosecutors |
| Vecernji List | Exclusive: Paddy Ashdown takes temporary decision on Mostar today: Further employments in public administration are being frozen |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | HDZ wants referendum in city of Neretva; Solution for Mostar discriminates Croats |
| Glas Srpske | NO GLAS SRPSKE TODAY |
| Nezavisne Novine | Republika Srpska Government versus Republika Srpska PIO Fund: BAM 800 million frozen, while pensioners starve; Reacting on information that Al Q’Aida recruits in BiH: BiH authorities incapable of preventing young men go to battle fields; ESI: BiH with ten cantons, Republika Srpska and Brcko; Trial for trafficking in people: Milorad Milakovic ready to co-operate with Prosecutor’s Office; Marking Republika Srpska Day: Cavic says Republika Srpska has been created in order to last, not to vanish |
| Blic | Survey of ‘EuroBlic’ – the Day of the Republic: Few reasons for celebration; Drama at ‘Zabela’ |
| Slobodna Bosna | Do Sandzak people rule Bosnia? |
| Dani | Scandalous death treath to ‘famous politician from SDP’: Zlatko Lagumdzija to end up like Zoran Djindjic? |
| Ljiljan | Paddy Ashdown: Your older politicians do not think of this country’s future |
Mostar Statute issue | |
| HDZ rejects Winterstein’s proposal for Mostar Status
| BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Exception should not be make’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘High Representative in Mostar today’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Croats goes out to referendum’, Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Referendum in Mostar’s municipalities with Croat majority too?’, pg 5 ‘Colak’s letter to Ashdown and ambassadors’, Slobodna Dalmacija front ‘HDZ wants referendum in city of Neretva’, pg 14 ‘HDZ wants referendum’, pg 14 ‘Colak writes Ashdown about Mostar’ – The representatives of the HDZ Mostar City Committee in the Commission for Drafting the Mostar City Statute reject recommendations by Commission Chair, Norbert Winterstein, contained in the Statute. [Winterstein proposed that Mostar is organized as a single municipality, and that the City Council is elected in seven constituencies.] The press release, issued following the HDZ Mostar session in the presence of party’s president Barisa Colak on Thursday, explained that HDZ believed that those recommendations could not have resulted from the requests, debates and compromises of the parties participating in the work of the Commission. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘We will have referendum’, RHB – The HDZ also announced a referendum among Mostar Croats on whether they support Winterstein’s proposal. “Representatives of the three peoples were not able to agree on the most important issues in the attempts to make the Statute of the City of Mostar, due to the fact that the representatives of Bosniaks were asking for exclusivity of the election system for the city council which never happened in the European practice.” – stated Vesna Pinjuh, member of the HDZ city board. FTV – Vesna Pinjuh further explained party’s requests: “We demand same solutions for the election process in entire BiH. Mostar can’t be used as the experiment site for experiments which have not been undertaken anywhere else.” RHB – HDZ president Barisa Colak send a protest letter to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown stating that current proposal would result in inequality of citizens in the election process. HDZ also finds that the Winterstein’s proposal is not in line with earlier principles set by OHR. Barisa Colak said in the letter that“solution for election rules for Mostar should not the leave the framework of the existing election law of BiH, and that city of Mostar should not be the precedent in other units of local self-rule in BiH.” Colak allows that special rules for Mostar exists with the condition that such solution are applied in all other multinational municipalities, urging for an agreement to be reached on the issue. “The High Representative Paddy Ashdown will visit Mostar on Friday where we will meet with the representatives of the political parties that were involved in the process of the city reorganization in the Commission lead by Norbert Winterstain” – stated at the press conference OHR Spokesperson Vedran Persic. He also announced that Ashdown would emphasise that there will not be compromises with wishes of the Mostar citizens on establishment of single city administration with guarantied power sharing. “Two principles that HR will not give up on are removing of parallelism and preventing domination of one of the constituent peoples over the other.” – said Persic. |
| BHTV 1: reactions from other Commission members | BHTV 1 – Following HDZ’s announcement of rejecting Winterstein’s draft Mostar Statute, SDA representative Fatima Leho confirmed her party will not give up on proposal for single City with 6 municipalities. SDP warned about potentially dangerous proposal of ethnic election units, and its representative Zoran Peric comments: “Unfortunately inter-ethnic relations have become the only issue. Mono-ethnic election unit may be dangerous since it may open new question for whole BiH”. Party for BiH supported the solution presented by the Commission Chair Norbert Winterstein. The final decision to be made by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown is due next week. |
| DA, VL claims Ashdown to bring three temporary decisions today | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Paddy Ashdown today announces temporary decisions on Mostar’, Vecernji List front ‘Further employments in public administration are being frozen’, pgs 2&3 ‘Ashdown freezes employments in Mostar’ by Jozo Pavkovic – The dailies learn from IC source that Ashdown will take three temporary decisions about Mostar and that he will make a final decision in some 20 days time. Apparently, the aim of the measures is to prevent further damages to interests of citizens of Mostar. The three temporary measures will be: freezing of allocation of publicly owned land; freezing of further employments in the City administration; freezing of further allocation of public/business premises in the city of Mostar. |
| DA interview with Ashdown on Mostar | Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 5 ‘We cannot allow failure in Mostar’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview with DA, the HR Paddy Ashdown states that “Mostar is the black hole, Bermuda triangle of BiH, whose unsolved status only damages both the citizens of that city and also the entire country.” Noting that he pointed out to Chairman of BiH Presidency Dragan Covic that upcoming investment conference in Mostar will not bring results expected if the city is divided, Ashdown also said that another event, an opening of Old Bridge, will go unvisited and unnoticed if the situation in the city is not changed. HR claims that the situation in Herzegovina cannot be tolerated anymore: “I hope that the solution will be find by the local politicians, and not me. However, we cannot allow more failures in Mostar. There were too many, and each of them negatively reflected upon BiH stability.” |
| Oslobodjenje interview with Ashdown on Mostar | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘I will prevent any trial to divide the City’ by Se. K. – Paddy Ashdown stated on Thursday, a day before his Mostar visit that he would apply three principles when it comes to this city: “It is clear that there is no solution for Mostar which would be build on trust, as there is no trust. I understand that to some extent, it is human, and that is why there should be guarantees. There must not be another chance for establishment of parallel institutions and division of the city, and I will prevent every trial of that kind. We cannot either rely on the reason of people on power, as they are not reasonable.” The High Representative firmly stressed that he will try to have consensus reached. Asked what will happen if consensus fails, Ashdown answered: “If I don’t succeed in that? I will solve the whole thing on my own.” Noting that there will be a lot of pressure from all sides in upcoming period, HR concluded: “Pressures are dangerous mean. I will not react to it. Hey can forget about that. I will not respond to the pressures. I have only one goal and that is the interest of all Mostar’s citizens.” |
| Vecernji List interview with Ashdown on Mostar | Vecernji List pg 3 ‘I could not imagine worse start to year’ by Jozo Pavkovic – VL carries an interview with HR Ashdown, concentrated on the Mostar issue. Asked to comment on the Croat officials’ complaint regarding the proposal of electoral system for Mostar envisaged in the Proposal, HR Ashdown says: “I have seen it and I will say this. If it is good that the Croats have a special way of protection at the Federation (of BiH) or State level, why not enable the other to have the same in Mostar. Because if you want the calculation, I can tell you that the Croat vote is five to six times more worth than, for instance, the Bosniak vote. Therefore, there ought to be the same criteria, if something is requested at the State level, it should be accepted at the local level too”. |
| DL editorial on OHR and Mostar issue | Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Paddy organizes referendum?’ by V. Kljaic – Noting that HR Paddy Ashdown will have a difficult task in Mostar during his visit today, author of the editorial says he is eager to see as to how the HR will oppose the facts to two referendums organized by SDA and the one that HDZ shyly announces, adding that he believes that it is clear to everyone that after visit of the HR we shall not be using term ‘Mostar Municipalities’ any longer. According to the editorial, excellent understanding between SDA and HDZ has become obvious again. The author goes on to say that these two parties are Siamese twins that cannot go one against the other. The author concludes: “All that Lord Ashdown can do is that he also announces the referendum at which the citizens of Mostar would declare themselves on the following question: Do you agree that the OHR and Party for BiH be shoulders for heads of the Siamese twins? I am 100 % sure what would be the result of the referendum, however, it is better that I do not talk about it.” |
| SD editorial claim Mostar solutions discriminate Croats | Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 14 ‘Solution for Mostar discriminates Croats’’ by M. Erceg – SD editorial on Mostar issue says that according to the proposal of Norbert Winterstein the votes of citizens will not have the same value and thus discrimination among citizens is being created at the very beginning. The author says that this is a consequence of too big noise raised by Bosniak political parties who claim that Bosniaks will be sidelined by Croats, that Mostar will be turned into a Croat capital etc. Editorial reads that this also means that Croats will be filling a treasury to a great extent, however, the power equally will be shared equally. The author also says that this is not calling on discrimination of anyone but calling on respecting of democratic standards, standing for functional and rational organisation of the City of Mostar, as well as, the other towns in BiH. |
| NN editorial on Mostar | Nezavisne Novine pg 7 Again about Mostar’ editorial by Josip Blazevic– “If Ashdown decides to equate the national quotas and vital national interests at the level of city councils, but also failing to implement the same system in similar multi-ethnic communities in the FBiH, he would create the worst city in Europe of Mostar, and not the second city for horrors, as recently stated by the American diplomat and one of main “founders” of Dayton Peace Agreement, Richard Holbrooke. The introduction of national quotes and vital national interests at the city council of Mostar is another nonsense, which would again turn Mostar into a special island in Bosnia and Herzegovina according to legal structure. What is even worse is that it would turn into the city, where it would be impossible to live.” – reads the editorial. The author concludes that “raising the issue of vital national interest… would result in further delays in resolving issues of life importance for all citizens of Mostar”. |
| SB on Mostar issue | Slobodna Bosna pgs 57-59 ‘10.000 Croats more than Bosniaks live in Mostar today and HDZ will not let that to be passed by!’ by Danka Savic – Following the announcement by OHR of Mostar being one of priorities for the beginning of this year, article writes that after the events in past year “OHR is now in much less satisfying situation, as its mediation in the work of two Commissions to date proved not to be of large efficiency, and a lot of time has been wasted. The agreement between the political parties was not reached and it is logical to expect that Ashdown will have to bring decision” reads article estimating that the chances for something to change are extremely small as “no political party is willing to give up on their positions for even a millimetre.” It further gives detailed history of the Mostar Commission work and proposals for the City’s Statute, citing each party’s individual stands on it, and at the end once more repeats that HR will have to impose the decision, specially since in February the donor conference is expected to take place in Mostar and due to upcoming local elections. |
Judicial issues | |
| SDA, Tihic answer OHR’s questions on judiciary
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘Europe neither wants judges and prosecutors with a war past’, Dnevni List front, pg 2 ‘OHR and not SDA politicizes process of appointment of judges and prosecutors’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Serbs run police of Republika Srpska’,pg 6 ‘Politicisation of appointment of judges’, RHB – SDA issued a press release signed by its Vice President Seada Palavric, which reads that the Party, not its President, invited and asked OHR, EUPM and High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council to publicly answer to the 10 questions related to the appointments in judiciary and the issue of discrimination against Bosniaks. Press Release also reads that OHR Press Office given advices to Sulejman Tihic, to address his concern to appropriate Constitutional Courts, are unnecessary and indecent. SDA is aware that BiH cannot join EU without independent and professional judiciary, which is free of political influence. BHTV 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Tihic answered to 10 questions’, pg 3 ‘Tihic’s ten answer to OHR’ – However, Sulejman Tihic responded to 10 questions asked by Paddy Ashdown, noting he was responding for the sake of BiH citizens despite the fact that it was ‘unusual that a member of the State Presidency and President of the strongest political party answers the questions of IC officials.’ The letter reads: “It is known that neither we nor your have achieved any significant progress with our and your partner, SDS, on changing the ethnic structure in judiciary and police in Republika Srpska. We did not accept amendments on constitutions because they do not provide equal protection in RS and Federation, but we do implement them. There are perhaps 49% Bosniak policemen in BiH, but all commanders are Serbs in RS and out of 11 police commanders in Federation only one is Bosniak. Out of 9 key judges and prosecutors only one appointed is a Bosniak and there is no way to correct this mistake. Ignoring problems and arrogance create only additional problems. Persons… were appointed at key position despite the fact they did nothing to sanction war crimes in RS… It will be impossible to go toward the EU with people with such bad war-period record. I warned you earlier about these problems and I don’t think this is appropriate level of discussing issues.” |
| BHTV 1 feature on appointments in judiciary | BHTV 1 by Lejla Redzovic – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown is reported as having no intention to change any of HJPC decisions regarding judicial and prosecutorial appointments, and continues to insist that all judges and prosecutors should work without any political pressure. In addition he stressed that single HJPC should be established by the end of March at the state level. Ashdown stated at the press conference: “BiH can not be recognized as modern democratic state without independent judiciary. Politicians need to forget period of communism and warfare when they use to influence judges and prosecutors. If it does not happen then we can’t go to Europe.” On the other hand, SDA president Sulejman Tihic claims that national balance was not respected during appointment process: “International community have a leading role because they can influence selection and provide ethnic balance.” Chairman of HJPC Jan Erik Oja: “By the end of process we’ll achieve ethnic balance from 1991, but it can’t be done with mathematical precision. Small number of Bosniak and Croat applicants applied in RS.” Opposition parties think this misunderstanding will show whether national parties are reformatory force as HR claimed following the elections. Slobodan Popovic from SDP commented: “Love [between HR and national parties] is in crises and we’ll see if he recognizes them as forces for implementation of the reforms.” |
| Ashdown on judiciary in Ljiljan | Ljiljan cover splash ‘Paddy Ashdown: Your older politicians do not think of this country’s future’, pg 18 ‘Ashdown: Next six months will determine future of BiH’ by Mirsad Sinanovic – In an interview to Ljiljan magazine, HR Paddy Ashdown commented on the current debate over judicial appointments: “Look, politicians must not interfere with the work of judiciary and police… What Mr. [Sulejman] Tihic is saying is based on incorrect numbers. For instance, 49% of prosecutors are Bosniaks, which indicates that Bosniaks are very much represented… [Also, High Judicial and Prosecutorial] Council still did not finalize its work… I believe we should do the following: Council should be given a space to finalize its work. When they do their part of the work, I am sure that ethnic balance of personnel will be respected, and that nobody will be unequal. If Council doesn’t do their job well, than intervention should follow. Only than I will join those who are dissatisfied.” |
| Dani op-ed on judicial appointments | Dani pg 3 ‘Terrible endangerment’ op-ed by Senad Pecanin – “If the beginning of the past decade belonged to the Serb campaign on their own endangerment, that the beginning of this year passes in light of aledged Bosniak endangerment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The vocabulary, style and ‘arguments’ are the same, only media and ‘protectors’ of their people are new”, writes Pecanin in the introduction of the editorial. He further estimates that “there are some essential differences in motives… While motives of Serb ‘endangerment’ are being investigated with anatomical precision by the Hague Tribunal, the motive of Bosniak campaign… is the protection of heritage of decades-long straggle against endangerment of Bosniak people.” Noting that better “defenders of the endangered people feel, the worse it is for endangered people” Pecanin argues that the campaign is being lead at the moment when parties realize that they stay without political influence over judiciary and policy. “Bosniaks are truly endangered, but before all it is to their own credit, that is thanks to the election of those who are fighting against its endangerment” – concludes ironically author. |
| SB op-ed on on judicial appointments | Slobodna Bosna pg 4 ‘Tihic’s high voltage and Ashdown’s low level’ op-ed by Senad Avdic – On the same subject, Avdic critically writes of the way OHR addressed its 10 questions to BH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic and Ashdown’s previous criticism of Slobodna Bosna, however ironically asks to “act as Tihic’s lawer for the moment” in trying to answer the questions whether Tihic knows that without independent judiciary BiH cannot join EU: “He is lawyer and he knows it all! But, who gave you right Lord Ashdown to believe that Bosniak member of the BiH Prresidency and the party he heads cares about BiH becoming the EU member state?!” Author further concludes that the Bosniak campaign against judiciary appointments was necessary for SDA “to first of all save itself from legal persecution – and that is impossible in the environment of professional police and independent judiciary.” At the end Avdic writes: “The entire story… has nothing to do judiciary, or police, or endangered position of Bosniaks. It is only manifestation of panic fear within ruling authorities of the possibilities to have grounds of rule of law in this country. Without full party control over police and judiciary these authorities are not authorities, neither reformatory nor non-reformatory – they are automatically transferred into well organized gang without a chance to deal with police or judiciary, as police and judiciary will deal with them!” |
| BH court postpones hearing in human trafficking case | FTV, RTRS, BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 4 ‘Milorad Milakovic ready to co-operate with Prosecutor’s Office’ – BiH Court has postponed the first hearing of Milorad Milakovic and another 9 suspects indicted for trafficking in people, including slavery, prostitution, forging of documents and other crimes. This is the most serious case of organized crime before BiH Court, while Milakovic has been reported to be known as one of the key figures in the human trafficking in the Balkans. Indictees asked for postponement since they prosecutor’s documents were not accessible to their defence lawyers previously. The new hearing is expected to take place on 17 February. |
| OHR welcomes first verdict by BH Court in human trafficking case | Dnevni List pg 4 ‘BiH valid partner in fight against organized crime’, Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 18 ‘2,5 years of imprisonment to mother and son because of smuggling of Turks’,Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Positive verdict for trafficking in people’, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘BiH Court proved to be able to fight the crime’ – The Spokesperson for OHR Vedran Persic stated that HR Paddy Ashdown welcomed reports that BiH Court has passed its first sentence for crimes involving people smuggling on Tuesday. The offence involved bringing Turkish citizens illegally into BiH. Persic quoted Ashdown’s statement: “I am particularly pleased that this smuggling ring was broken through resolute crime-fighting by the State Border Service and the Office of the BiH Prosecutor. The Court of BiH acted promptly, effectively and independently, and this is a positive development for BiH’s reputation in Europe. The effective functioning of the respective BiH institutions, particularly the newly established State Court, shows that BiH can be a full partner in the fight against organised crime and corruption, which often uses BiH as a transit route for smuggling anything from people to drugs and arms. It is also a testimony to the quality of those professionals in the State Court appointed through the HJPC process.” Ashdown also used the opportunity to remind that the professional intelligence agency and single HJPC were the key elements in successful fight against organized crime. |
Security and defence issues | |
| RS officials on intelligence, defence and police reforms | RTRS by Danijela Djukic – On the occasion of the Day of Republika Srpska, RS President Dragan Cavic organized a reception for members of Army, Police and former prisoners of war. Cavic stated in his speech that the Law on BiH Intelligence Agency should be passed by the end of March, but also stressed that it was necessary in the next ten days to provide the new solutions for the Service that will suit the requirements of both the entities and the BiH State structure. He emphasized that stated that it was unacceptable for the reform of police forces to be implemented without involvement of the authorized personnel from RS: “Two days ago from unofficial sources I have been informed that the reforms of 6 laws in package are being prepared. Those laws are regarding the reorganization of SIPA; and they are directly influencing the status of the Ministries of Interior of the entities and will lead to the full reorganization of the police forces in BiH.” – said Cavic. RS Interior Minister Zoran Djeric stated that the reform in the Ministries of Interior would not lead to the unification of the police forces on the level of BiH adding that this would be an absurd: “There are attempts to create new police institution at the level of BiH. We think that the OHR and the High Representative and representatives of International community are in favour of decreasing the administration, but instead of making rationalization and professionalism of the existing structures, new structures are to be introduced and they will lead to more administration.” RS Defence Minister Milovan Stankovic stated that army is to expect the reduction of 4000 soldiers and number of employees in the Army will reduce to 479. RS President Cavic also reiterated that the first BiH Defence Minister should come from the RS and that the RS is prepared to shortly propose the person for this function. Blic pg 13 ‘Post of the Defense Minister to Srpska’ – “We will persist on this. We have serious arguments for this, including constitutional ones”, Cavic said. He added that the RS stance on this was “irrevocable and final”. He expressed hope for understanding from the representatives of the Bosniak and Croat peoples in the joint institutions. BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Republika Srpska has a candidate for defence minister’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Djeric: There will be no single BiH MoI’, pg 9 ‘RS will soon propose state Defence Minister candidates’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS ready to propose Defence Minister’, ‘There will be 4000 troops in RS Army’, pg 3 ‘Establishment of single BiH MoI is an absurd’, pg 7 ‘RS representatives have a series of objections’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 10 ‘Cavic says Republika Srpska has been created in order to last, not to vanish’, Blic pg 12 ‘New laws – police reorganization’, pg 12 ‘Djeric: Without joint MUP at BiH level’, Vecernje Novosti, p 5, ‘RS will not let go of the police’ – Zoran Djeric stressed that the objections he gave to some issues in the police restructuring where of professional nature, however added that soon be some political ones could follow. |
| Reactions on NN report on Al’Qaida in BiH | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘BiH authorities incapable of preventing young men go to battle fields’ – Reacting upon article in NN regarding recruitment of young men in BiH to fight at battle fields in Iraq, Afghanistan and Chenchya published on Wednesday, Sredoje Novic, SIPA Director, and Barisa Colak, BiH Security Minister, denied any knowledge into such information, noting that BiH authorities cannot prevent young men from leaving BiH and going to fight along with Islamic radicals in Iraq and other states. According to Novic, what BiH can do is to close the organisations, which arrange and organise these activities, but for compiling this sort of information, BiH needs a proper intelligence agency, which it still does not have, according to Colak. NN carry an inset with the statement by Julian Braithwaite, OHR Communications Director, saying that BiH needs a single professional intelligence service that can play an effective role in all these issues. He concludes his statement by saying that BiH needs a strong “state court and prosecutors service capable of ensuring that those who threaten the state of BiH, and its citizens, face justice.” FTV – After several recent actions SFOR has not yet provided any information on results, but also said there were no evidences of recruiting and training of terrorist in BiH. Banja Luka based daily Nezavisne Novine used unidentified source from SFOR for reporting on recruiting of new terrorist from ‘vehabija’ structures in BiH and their training before sending to Iraq. Dave Sullivan, spokesman of SFOR, denied such information: “We don’t have strong evidences about training and recruiting of terrorists in BiH. If we had such information we would have worked closely with local authorities and undertaken detailed investigation”. |
| SB on the leading positions in future BiH Intelligence Agency | Slobodna Bosna pgs 5-7 ‘Proposed candidates for the OSA leadership – Zaric, Dzuvo and Elpez – seriously in question due to their war and post-war biographies’ by Suzana Mijatovic – Article reads that three months before the deadline for the beginning of the work of the BiH Intelligence Service, OHR was submitted with the names of three candidates for the most responsible duties within the service [director, a deputy and chief inspector]. According to unofficial information, CoM Chair Adnan Terzic nominated current Chief of state Anti-terrorist team Almir Dzuvo. BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic nominated current director of RS intelligence Risto Zaric, and HDZ leader Barisa Colak listed ‘less known’ Mladen Elpez. “However judging from the OHR and US Embassy reactions… even now it could be assumed that the least chances lie with OBS Director Risto Zaric” writes magazine, giving background of his past, and stating that RS already prepared itself to nominate current RS Interior Minister Zoran Djeric in case of Zaric’s failure. Author claims that other two candidates also do not satisfy criteria, adding that Dzuvo’s candidacy was not endorsed even by Sulejman Tihic due to their war and post war activities. Article concludes that regardless to who will be appointed as the leader of future BiH Intelligence, it is hardly going to be professional service as long as radical changes are not made in the current personnel structures of the entities services, estimating that RS and Fed officers will keep spying on each other even after the merger. |
Political issues | |
| PDP criticises OHR for holding press conference on Orthodox Christmas day
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Ignoring holiday’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘OHR ignores biggest religious holiday of Serb people’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Conference on Christmans ignored the biggest Serb holiday’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘PDP: OHR ignores Orthodox Christmas’, RHB – RS PDP issued a statement on Thursday reading that the extraordinary press conference held on January 7, on Orthodox Christmas, by the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, “represents an elementary lack of understanding for the feelings of a part of the population in BiH”. The announcement further states: “Such an inappropriate move of OHR represents ignoring of the greatest and most joyful holiday of the Serb people.” PDP regards this was improper and can contribute to the spreading of the thesis on partiality of the High Representative and his too great closeness to Sarajevo. |
| Ashdown slams parliamentarians over initiative to increase benefits
| Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘It is shameful and scandalous to think only of yourself’ by Senka Kurtovic – The High Rep Paddy Ashdown called the initiative of the BiH parliamentarians, on the Law of their rights and obligations proposing the new benefits for representatives and delegates, shameful and scandalous. “Every person in BiH would be shocked and furious if such Lw would be adopted by the Parliament. Such idea followed quickly after the recent increase of Parliamentarian’s salaries. Now they hope that, if adopted, the Law on rights and obligations will provide them with the 10 times higher pension from the average one in Federation and that they could go into the pension with 20 years of service only. Parliamentarians should discuss how to improve the lives of its fellow citizens, and not only to work for themselves.” – stressed Ashdown. However, the HR expressed his doubt of whether he should do something about this initiative, adding that it was not his job “to stop people doing something stupid” and commended Sefik Dzaferovc, who was the only to refuse the increase of the salary. At the end, Ashdown concluded that it would be a “tragedy for this country not to use extraordinary chances in this year. The four main issues are Mostar, SIPA, Intelligence Service and single Judicial Commission at the state lelvel. If we do not achieve by the end of February, or if we do not make any improvement, that will be a great catastrophe.” |
| Solana on BiH
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘BiH a test for united Europe’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Solana: EU soldiers to take over mission in Bosnia from NATO’ – – The EU High Commissioner for Foreign Security Havier Solana announced during his visit to Ireland that EU would take over even more responsibility in the Balkans. He presented the first joint strategy of the Union for Balkans: “We are ready, in addition to police and monitoring activities, to do more for BiH including taking over NATO responsibilities. BiH is the first example and test of integrated efforts to transform post-war society to country eligible for membership in the EU.” |
| ESI proposes new constitutional structure of BiH | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS is now the biggest canton’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘BiH with ten cantons, Republika Srpska and Brcko’ – The European Stability Initiative has proposed the new constitutional structure of BiH. According to this proposal, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska should be abolished, and BiH should be composed of 12 autonomous units: 10 cantons, Republika Srpska and Brcko. Republika Srpska would remain a single unit as now and the biggest in such a federal structure. As ESI document reads, such a proposal followed talks ESI recently had with leading politicians and important persons from BiH public life. Dani magazine pgs 19-23 ‘Abolish Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska – federal unit’ – brings translation of the full text of the proposal by ESI. |
| Ashdown on ruling parties in Ljiljan | Ljiljan cover splash ‘Paddy Ashdown: Your older politicians do not think of this country’s future’, pg 18 ‘Ashdown: Next six months will determine future of BiH’ by Mirsad Sinanovic – In an interview to Ljiljan magazine, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that contrary to the ‘current obstacles before us’ he was not dissatisfied with the performance of the ruling authorities in 2003. Stressing that next six months would determine BiH future, as EC will look into the results regarding conditions laid down following the approval of the Feasibility Study. Asked to comment the initiative by several members of the European Parliament to change the Dayton Peace Accord, Ashdown answered: “Dayton was good, as the war was ended, but it is not good for building the state. In Republika Srpska they are also aware of the need to change some things… If we are to change the Dayton, we are going to do it ourselves. So, only citizens of this country can change Dayton… Reforms change Dayton, we don’t need a prince on white horse.” |
| DL editorial on BiH image in the world | Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Image of Bosnia and Herzegovina’ by Pejo Gasparevic – The author argues that by judging from articles in foreign press and statements of foreign diplomats and moves of international factors in BiH, it would not be wrong to say that BiH is treated as a unresolved and neurotic creation. The author reckons that BiH, in 8 and half years since the war stopped, had 3 “champions” that created a bad image of BiH in the eyes of the IC. Namely, the SDS, “which agitated the IC with its lack of co-operation”, the HDZ BiH, “which drove the IC mad by advocating the third entity” and finally the SDA, “with its offensive loud wailing on inequality of Bosniaks in the judiciary (which the IC denies with arguments) and by refusing to abolish the three Bosniak majority municipalities in Mostar”. Gasparevic argues that the latest example of carelessness for the image of BiH was when the Elektroprivreda of BiH terminated its contract with “Debis International” on supply of electricity to “Aluminij”, which was to be in force until end of 2004. |
| VL editorial on ruling authorities and Ashdown | Vecernji List pg 2 “Motifs and European future” editorial by Dejan Jazvic – The author wonders as to what High Representative Paddy Ashdown can do if every time domestic politicians bring him in the position that he either has to admit his defeat or use his powers. The author states issues of Security-Intelligence Service and Mostar and says that, unfortunately, these are not the lonely examples, which confirm that BiH is far from being able to go alone along the European way. The author concludes that some other interests and motifs are still more important in BiH than the European future. |