Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 9 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) |
| No news on Gotovina extradition |
| Protests in |
| RS and |
TV news broadcast on 8 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Gotovina arrested | Gotovina arrested in | Gotovina arrested |
| HR on Gotovina’s arrest | Ashdown on Gotovina’s arrest | Details on arrestment |
| Del Ponte on ICTY indictees | Rehn on Balkans road to EU | Croatian reactions to the arrest |
| Regional news | Ivanic on | BiH reactions to the arrest |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Ante Gotovina arrested | Gotovina arrested | Rehn on West Balkan countries |
| CoM in session | Croatian reactions to the arrest | Gotovina arrested |
| Nadja Dizdarevic collapsed | NATO and EU on the arrest | Reactions to Gotovina’s arrest |
| Jankovic transferred to | | Del Ponte in |
| Oslobodjenje | 10 KM to poor ones as of January 1? |
| Dnevni Avaz | Gotovina arrested in |
| Dnevni List | General Ante Gotovina arrested |
| Vecernji List | Gotovina arrested |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Gotovina arrested on |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ante Gotovina was arrested |
| Glas Srpske | To |
| EuroBlic | Forged passport betrayed Gotovina |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| US: RS and
| |
| | |
Ante Gotovina arrested | |
| Ante Gotovina arrested
| |
| Ashdown: Gotovina’s arrest increases pressure on
| |
| EU/NATO welcome arrest, urge apprehension of Karadzic and Mladic
| BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 24 ‘EU and NATO: Karadzic and Mladic must be apprehended’, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘ |
| Bukejlovic: Gotovina arrest to accelerate arrest of other ICTY suspects; Jovic: Del Ponte should be ashamed for saying he hid in monasteries
| BHT 1 by Boris Grubesic– Arrest of Ante Gotovina provoked many reactions in BiH. RS authorities stated that arrestment of Gotovina should accelerate arrestment of other ICTY fugitives. RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic stated: “But in any case this is giving certain signals that, on these territories of BiH and |
| Del Ponte angry with
| BHT 1 By Vesna Simic– ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte visited |
| BN Int with Andan: Gotovina’s arrest to put more pressure on RS/
| BN TV ‘Puls’ magazine by Suzana Radjen-Todorovic – In an interview to BN, the RS Police Director Dragomir Andan commented the arrest of Ante Gotovina stating that this even will now raise a level of pressure to locate and arrest Karadzic and Mladic. Pointing out that the RS MoI has improved the cooperation with the ICTY to great extant in comparison with even 2004, Andan says that RS police has been collecting information on Mladic/Karadzic for a long time and exchanging it with Serbia. Commenting 5 December meeting with the Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte, Andan Del Ponte expressed satisfaction with the way things were going on. He concluded that RS MoI confirmed that no ICTY war crime indictees were in the RS. |
| Nacional: Mladic willing to surrender for 100 million €
| Nacional (Belgrade daily) pg 3 ‘Give money, I’ll give myself’ announced on cover ‘I will peacefully go to the Hague for 100 million €’ by E. N. – A source close to Belgrade diplomatic circles claims Ratko Mladic is willing to surrender if he is paid the sum of 100 million €. Reportedly, a scenario on surrender was already prepared for Mladic and this scenario is quite similar to the one in accordance with which Ante Gotovina was arrested on Thursday. |
| DL op-ed on Gotovina arrest: People from
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Gotovina – a scapegoat’, by Arijana Beus – Mostar-based Dnevni List comments on the arrest of general Gotovina saying that unlike politicians from Croatia, who dare not say much, many associations, defenders and citizens from Croatia and Herzegovina are in grief because of the arrest. Beus notes that Gotovina’s destiny is good as sealed, and that possible convicting sentence to him would also convict whole of |
| ICTY transfers Jankovic case to
| BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Gojko Jankovic transferred to Sarajevo’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Jankovic was transferred to Sarajevo’ by |
Political developments | |
| Talks on const. changes: FBiH parties harmonized stances
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Positions on BiH House of Peoples, Presidency harmonized’ by A. Malagic– At the meeting with the representative of the US Institute for Peace Donald Hays held on Thursday in Sarajevo, the representatives of the FBiH parties harmonized their stances on constitutional changes, i.e. on possible changes to the BiH Presidency and BiH Hosue of Peoples. Hays stated that today he is to continue talks with |
| Brkic (
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Politicians with Hays about Presidency’, by I. R. – On the meeting Donald Hays held with representatives of HDZ, |
| VL: Lozancic not happy with Hays separately meeting parties from RS and FBiH
| Vecernji List, pg 10 ‘Constitutional changes strengthening entities’, by Zoran Kresic – Notes that the FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, who met with Donald Hays on behalf of the HDZ, complained to Hays about the way he organized his visit to BiH because Hays decided to separately meet parties from the RS and FBiH. Lozancic stresses it brings into question the future participation of Croat parties in the talks because mentioning of entities at meetings at Brussels and Washington was being avoided because the HDZ demanded it. Inset ‘Fulfilling of Serbs’ expectations’ notes that Hays presented a concept (of constitutional changes) that would suit the Serb side, which would in reality strengthen the entities and weaken the state. |
| HDZ’s Relota: this is just a continuation of | EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘It is difficult to reach a compromise with stubborn Tihic’ by Nedeljka Breberina – HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota confirmed Donald Hays met representatives of this party and added this was just a continuation of Brussels and Washington talks and it was unrealistic to expect there would be any specific solutions in this round of talks. |
| Hays to meet
| EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘It is difficult to reach a compromise with stubborn Tihic’ by Nedeljka Breberina – Donald Hays, would hold a meeting with representatives of |
| OBN/ VL interview with McElhaney: current constitutional talks are just beginning of process
| Vecernji List, pg 12 ‘Current talks are just beginning of constitutional changes’, by Dejan Jazvic – Carries an interview with the US Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney, in which he talks about the constitutional changes in BiH. His ultimate message is that the current talks are just a beginning of a long process in which the US Government has a stronger role (than before). According to McElhaney’s understanding of the |
| SD comment: One should not expect much from constitutional talks
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘Hays’ diplomacy ‘on rocks’’, by Blazica Kristo – Comments on the constitutional talks process, claiming that, if one is to judge by statements and behaviour of BiH politicians, the process will end up in a blind alley. SD underlines statement by |
| Feral Tribune: Requests for abolishment of RS are unrealistic, especially when view from regional context
| Feral Tribune, pgs 22-23 ‘Pristina on Vrbas’, by Ivan Lovrenovic – commenting on the process of constitutional changes, Lovrenovic argues that the American ‘guarantees’ of the survival of the RS have a pragmatic goal – to facilitate reaching of an agreement in Serbia regarding the future status of Kosovo. The author notices that the SNSD leader, Milorad Dodik, used the situation to release a test balloon by warning in an interview to Reuters that “Serbs could be asking for independence unless this position of the RS is endangered, using the same argument like Albanians from Kosovo, who advocate independence from |
| Rehn on Western Balkans: To EU through reforms
| PINK, BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘To EU through reforms’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘We must not give illusions to the countries of Western Balkans’ – EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, said on Thursday that the road of the Western Balkans countries towards membership in the EU will be long and hard, but the Union will not close its doors to them because the EU cares that the Balkans “exports” stability, instead of “importing” instability. “Many years will pass until the official membership of those countries in the EU… This is why we must not provide them with any false illusions”, Rehn told the conference dedicated to the future of the Balkans, organized by the Institute “Friends of Europe” in Brussels. He added that |
| Police Reform Directorate was established by CoM
| BHT1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Police areas maps to be determined by simple (51 percent) majority’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Police Reform Directorate was established’ by M. C., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Directorate was established’ by Srna – During its session, Council of Ministers has passed a decision on establishment of Directorate for police reform, which will work in composition of the CoM with one-year mandate. It was decided that members of the Directorate will not include persons performing any political or executive function but only experts. Deputy to BiH Minister of Security Dragan Mektic explained that Directorate will be composed of nine members, whereas each people will be equally represented. “All decisions should be reached trough consensus, but wanting to avoid the situation of eternal consensus, where it is impossible to reach it then voting will be conducted, where simple majority wins” said Mektic adding that if the full support cannot be ensured for a proposal, majority vote will decided with obligatory support of EUPM. Hayat – also reported. |
| DA, NN says SNSD to decided on participation in RS Govt on Monday; Blic: SNSD does not want to form a coalition with those who on power in RS; Politicians’ comments
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘SNSD is thinking about vote of no confidence to Bukejlovic’s Government’ by N. Diklic – SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated that members of the SNSD Executive Board would decide on Monday whether PDP members would demand voting of no-confidence to the RS Government and RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic. He stressed that the privatization audit in the RS is the only pre-requisite that he sets for taking over the RS Government. Dodik added that members of the Executive Board would also discuss initiative of DNS’s Drago Kalebic about vote of no confidence to the RS executive authority. DA inset ‘Law on privatization audit is being prepared’ carries Bukejlovic as saying that for the next year he plans to draft Law on Privatization audit and he added: ‘I am aware that I would be faced with opposition to this initiative of the RSNA an some groups however I am determined to cope with these problems.’Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Decision of SNSD on Monday’ by V. Popovic – similar to DA report, but EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Agreement between Cavic and Dodik is crucial’ by Rajna Radosavljevic published contradictory information that Dodik stated the party does not want to form a coalition with those who were on power in RS until now because RS needs thorough changes. ‘If |
| BHT 1: Dodik to become RS PM in January? | BHT 1 ‘Javna tajna’ current affairs programme by Zoran Sarenac – According to BHT1 sources, Milorad Dodik is to become new RS Prime Minister in January. Allegedly, |
| Ivanic in
| PINK – BiH Minister of Foreign Affaires Mladen Ivanic took part at the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council [EAPC] a daylong summit in |
| Rycroft warns deadline for draft higher education law expires today
| RTRS, Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Deadline for higher education law expiring’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 12 ‘Rucroft: to invest in youth through education’ by E. D. – UK Ambassador to BiH Matthew Rycroft warned on Thursday that the deadline given to the working group established in agreement between BiH premiers and education ministers from both entities to develop a draft law on higher education expires tomorrow. He said that this working group formed of experts on higher education was able to make significant progress in this field despite numerous difficulties, but that much remains to be done. “I hope that all those involved in this process will be willing to make the necessary compromise”, Rycroft said. He refused to give details on consequences if the group fails to finish the work on developing the draft law by Friday. |
| Conference in
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘There is strong lobbing in order to preserve status quo in BiH’ by E. Sarac – At the invitation of the Washington Centre ‘Woodrow Wilson’ founder of SBiH Haris Silajdzic participates in the work of the conference called ‘10th Anniversary of Dayton: Thinking about post-conflict building of state’. Silajdzic stated for DA that in his address to participants of the conference he said that BiH needs a new Constitution and that entities represent obstacles for BiH’s progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration. He added that Dragan Mikerevic talked after him and that he expressed a different opinion. According to Silajdzic, there is strong lobbing of those centers of powers that are trying to preserve a status quo in BiH and that support cosmetic constitutional changes. DA says that Principle Deputy High Representative Lawrence |
| DA vs. Cavic: Why Cavic is not arresting war criminals, instead of criticizing participating at OIC summit | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Why Cavic is not arresting war criminals’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 – SDA issued a press release reading that RS President Dragan Cavic, with his statements to the media describing SDA President Sulejman Tihic as a clero-nationalist, has said more about himself and his views of Islam and the worshipers of Islam. The part added that representatives of more than 60 countries are taking part in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) |
| Jovic: Croats in BiH are fighting to survive
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Jovic: Memories on time of violence must not be a cause for new conflicts’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘In accordance with Swiss key’ not signed – BiH Presidency Chair Ivo Miro Jovic said in Sarajevo on Thursday that BiH, its peoples and citizens, deserve a better future, and will have it once all enjoy equal freedoms and rights guaranteed under the BiH Constitution and charters on human rights. He made this statement during talks with Swiss Ambassador to BiH Urs Breitter. Jovic said that “today one people in the heart of democratic |
Economic and social issues | |
| BiH CoM: entities, district ensured required money to tackle negative impact of VAT introduction
| PINK by Aida Doric – BiH Council of Ministers representatives met with entity and cantonal Ministers for Labour and Social Policy to discuss the consequences of the VAT introduction and methods to decrease them. If the prices of goods raise due to VAT, beneficiaries of public welfare, including pensioners with income under KM 200, will have right to receive additional incomes from the social care programme. BiH CoM Chair’s Advisor on economic issues Zlatko Hurtic, said that through their budgets, both entities have provided the financial resources for this purpose. He said that FBiH has ensured KM 25 million, RS KM 21 million and Brcko District KM 3 million, which has satisfied the requirement of the BiH CoM to ensure 50 million KM for this purpose. In case of raising prices, it is possible that also some other categories enter the social care programme, said reporter, adding that FBiH Government provided KM 32 million for disabled persons. FBiH Government will establish VAT monitoring teams, which is another activity in order to control the prices. Currently the authorities are searching for the best solution on how to make these social programs more available to the endangered category of citizens. FTV – It has been estimated that 50 million will be used for about 800.000 people in BiH , whereas additional means will be distributed trough Centres of Social Work, which was confirmed by Representative of FBiH Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Asim Zecevic. Oslobodjenje cover page ’10 KM to poor ones as of January 1?’, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Social welfare centres in charge of help’, by D. P. Mandic, Nezavisne novine pg 9 ‘Those in jeopardy from F BiH can ask for an additional help’ by R. Cengic – also reported. |
| FBiH Govt: measures adopted to alleviate VAT consequences
| FTV, Hayat, |
| HR on VAT introduction: ‘Take care of those who fish in troubled waters’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Ashdown: Take care of those who fish in troubled waters’ by S. Numanovic – High Representative Paddy Ashdown stressed that introduction of a VAT would cause ‘turbulences’ at the beginning, but that BiH would have considerable benefit of the VAT. He added: ‘I do not expect inflation, but increase of some prices will take place. The true danger are profiteers, who try to fish in troubled waters. They will try to make profit out of the VAT and you have to take care of them. I expect that media reveals them and says who they are in public.’ Asked as to when positive effects of the |
| Rycroft: ‘International Community supports preparations for VAT introduction’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘International Community supports preparations for VAT introduction’ – Commenting on consequences of the VAT introduction British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft stated that going from one system to another has always been complicated, however it should bear on mind what benefits it would bring to the state at the end. Rycroft added: ‘There are still 3 weeks left before the VAT introduction. Although it is responsibility of BiH institutions, the International Community fully supports their efforts exerted for the VAT introduction preparations.’ |
| Free ITA hotline opens
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Free info-line on VAT as of today’, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Free-of-charge phone line on VAT as of today’ by N. N., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Phone in service of citizens’ by D. Z. – Indirect Taxation Administration today opens free info-line on VAT. |
| FBiH Tax Administration and Pension Fund fear VAT could jeopardize pensions
| Vecernji List, pg 48 ‘VAT could slow down pensions!’, by Zoran Kresic – According to a press release of the FBiH Tax Administration, directors of the FBiH Tax Administration and FBiH Pension/Disability Fund, Midhat Arifovic and Nadir Kovacevic respectively, are concerned that the start of implementation of VAT could affect the payment of pensions because there is fear that employers could be reducing payment of contributions to the Pension Fund. The two directors agreed to intensify inspections to make sure that contributions do get paid properly. |
| RS Government developed draft 2006 budget in the amount of 1.49 billion KM; Bukejlovic: should ITA fail to pay the money to RS, RS withdraw its support
| PINK, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Budget amounting 1.49 billion KM was foreseen’ by M. S., Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘Law on privatization audit will be developed as well’ by D. Risojevic – RS Government has developed draft budget for 2006 in amount of KM 1.49 billion, which is 11% more than a last year. The Government also adopted Economical Policy for 2006. RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic said that Economical Policy aims are: to intensify the reforms that should secure the raise of gross product, speeding up the privatisation process, reducing the inner debt and public expenses, export stimulation, reducing unemployment and active part of RS in talks on Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Bukejlovic said that he expects this budget to receive necessary support, although his Government has no parliamentary majority. Bukejlovic said that stability and function of system is an issue here. RS Government still has to discuss the OHR’s remarks on RS authorities’ obstructions on key reforms. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Either money or we will withdraw’ by G. Dakic – in addition to the above reported, the article also quotes RS PM Pero Bukejlovic as saying they will try to, once again, find a solution with ITA for the disputable amount of 28 million KM of collected taxes that should have been forwarded to RS, otherwise RS would withdraw its members from ITA Governing Board. |
| Mostar Mayor demanded loan for western part of city only/Reactions
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4 and 5, mentioned on cover ‘Loan for western side’ by A. Becirovic carries that Mostar Mayor Ljubo Beslic sent a letter to Federation of BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic in which he warns that, among the other things, Mostar has been burdened with the Kuwaiti loan amounting to 17 000 000 KM, that was granted to former Mostar Municipalities with Bosniak majority. In his letter Beslic proposes that another loan also amounting to 17 000 000 KM be secured for Mostar and that it would be spent in the part of the city with the Croat majority. Beslic also says that the OHR and representatives of political parties support this proposal. Asked to comment on this claim Head of |
| HT Mostar Union against collection of RTV tax via phone bills
| Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘There will not be disconnections of phones because of RTV tax’, by Danijela Kozina, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 20 ‘Collection violates law’, by F – The Union of employees of HT Mostar (Croat telecommunications Mostar) decided to contest with the BiH Constitutional Court the decision to collect the RTV tax via phone bills. The |
Judicial issues | |
| DL, SD on ‘Covic and others’ case: Indictment is likely to be crushed
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Indictment against ‘Covic and others’ to fall apart?!’, by Erna Mackic – Commenting on the trials in the ‘Covic and others’ case, the author reckons that the situation in which a former protected witness Zoran Nikolic is refusing to testify because he is allegedly mentally unfit and in which it is uncertain whether former director of FBiH Customs Administration, Zelimir Rebac, will testify because of health problems (he attempted suicide a few months ago) could be positive for the indictees i.e. that the indictment could be falling apart. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘Key witness is – mentally incompetent’, by Zlatko Tulic – according to SD’s information, the defence teams have enough evidence that will show that Nikolic, who refuses to testify, is well known for his deceives and blackmails, which could result in another disgrace of BiH judiciary. |
|
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘East Sarajevo Regional Court to decide on the verdict’ by A. Sisic – Judge of Sokolac Basic Court Jefraim Cosic on Thursday stated that |
| DA op-ed: More money should be given to Special Department for Organized Crime and Corruption
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘McNair’s warning’ by H. Orahovac carries that Prosecutor John McNair has warned many times that more money should be allocated from the BiH budget for the Special Department for Organized Crime and Corruption with the BiH Prosecution and the author believes that McNair’s demand is completely grounded. The author praises the engagement of this Department and he believes that this Department would be even more efficient with more money. |
| Osl. op-eds harshly criticizes that | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Judge Palavric’ by Z. Dizdarevic harshly criticizes the fact that Seada Palavric has been appointed a Constitutional Court judge and the author believes that this appointment is contrary to basic understanding of democracy. Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘In jaws of politics’ by H. Baksic harshly comments on the same issue and the author says: ‘By the election of instant-expert Seada Palarvic fragile illusions about the intention to build a rule of law disappeared.’ |