| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| RHB did not broadcast news | Pope’s funeral | Pope’s funeral |
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| “NATO and region” meeting | Regional news |
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| Tihic on Partnership for Peace | BiH Delegation at the Pope’s funeral |
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| Milan Lukic’s letter | 18-year old young man drowned |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Pope’s funeral | Pope’s funeral | Report on Pope’s funeral |
| Numerous journalists in | BiH delegation at Pope’s funeral | Matijasevic on Popovic’s surrender |
| Issue of election of new Pope | Archbishop Puljic on Pope’s funeral | Report on Lukic’s letter to the media |
| Mourning Day in BiH | Mourning day declared in BiH | Report on RS Police strike |
| Oslobodjenje | Entire world bid farewell to Pope John Paul II |
| Dnevni Avaz | |
| Dnevni List | Magnificent farewell to the Holly Father |
| Vecernji List | Pope John Paul II: peacemaker and saint |
| Nezavisne Novine | Three million people attended Pope’s funeral |
| Glas Srpske | |
PIC/political developments/reforms | |
| RS Minister of Interior, Darko Matijasevic satisfied with the PIC Steering Board session
| TV Pink Milka Mrdja – Peace Implementation Council Steering Board stated that BiH had achieved progress in cooperation with the ICTY, but the cooperation was still insufficient since all war crime indictees had not been arrested. RS Minister of Interior, Darko Matijasevic said that RS MoI was carrying out activities in order to find and arrest indictees. “There are activities going on, and the their intensity is not going to be lowered nor they are going to be stopped until all war crime indictees do not be arrested”, said Matijasevic. Matijasevic added that he was satisfied with the results of the PIC Steering Board’s communiqué, which welcomes progress RS authorities achieved in domain of cooperation with the ICTY. BHT1, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Matijasevic: Progress in cooperation of RS with the Hague’ by V. P., Vecernji List pg 15 ‘Gratitude for cooperation with the Hague’ by B. S., Dnevni List pg 9 ‘MoI is intensively searching for persons from the public list’ by M. B., Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Matijasevic is satisfied only with compliments to RS’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘RS MoI intensively searches for Hague indictees’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘The police are not catching breath’ not signed – also carry Matijasevic’s statement. |
| BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic says: full cooperation with the ICTY has to be achieved
| TV Pink Dragica Tojagic – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic said that BiH had no alternative when it comes to NATO since it presented precondition for entrance to the EU, during a meeting called “NATO and region”. Ivanic added that BiH had met all technical terms needed for the admission to the Partnership for Peace, but still a political term had to be met – namely full cooperation with the ICTY. Ivanic added that the Army had to be professional, consisted of 6.000-8.000 soldiers, which would be much cheaper than numerous recruits. “Entities’ Ministries of Defence are performing activities with regard to recruiting. If there is no recruitment there is a question what these ministries are going to do, it seems as if a small ministry which should be in charge of a small, professional Army, consisted out of 6.000 to 8.000 soldiers”, Ivanic said. Military analyst Gostimir Popovic believes that BiH does not have to enter NATO in order to become EU member. He says that the price for entering NATO is too high and that BiH will have to take part in numerous operations all around the World, such as BHT1 Boris Gagic – BHT reporter said that Brussels expects from BiH to carry out the police reform, complete cooperation with the ICTY and abolishment of entities’ Ministries of Defence in order to join the EU. “BiH Ministry of Defence has to pass from entity level to the level of joint institutions. As I know, that is the only difference and I think that needs to be the moment when we establish the professional army”, said Mladen Ivanic, and added that in that moment a need for ministry of defence would cease. NTV Hayat – During the meeting in Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘NATO is the final destination of BiH on its path to EU’ by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘First professionalisation of the army, then abolishment of entities’ ministries’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Hague is the measure for everything’ by M. Dzepina – also carry Ivanic’s statement. |
| Terzic believes the key conditions for beginning of negotiations on SAA will be fulfilled until May
| BHT1 – BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, after he met with Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Luxemburg will support BiH on its path to EU’ by Nina – also reports on the meeting. |
| Terzic: PIC is satisfied with progress in reforms
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Peace Implementation Council is satisfied with progress in reforms’ not signed – carries an interview with BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic on his visit to Brussels and Luxemburg, in which he has stated he hopes progress in reforms will be continued and finally result in ASA negotiations with EU. He says it was clearly stated PIC was satisfied with the implementation of the Feasibility Study and it is expected from BiH to complete several remaining items, mainly of technical nature, to be completed by May. ‘Of course, it was emphasised we could not go any further without an agreement on police reform in accordance with European standards’, Terzic has stated. |
| Giesmann: BiH needs a new constitutional solution
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘BiH needs a new constitutional solution’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘A new constitutional solution in BiH is needed’ by VOA – In a statement for Radio Free Europe, the Head of Hamburg Institute for Peace and Safety Politics, Hans Joachim Giesmann has stated nationally and territorially divided BiH is not suitable for European integrations and he added BiH needs a new constitutional organisation. He claims the Dayton Agreement should be reconsidered and revised in order to establish internal safety and stabilisation in BiH. He believes military and police forces in BiH divided in two entities have a negative influence on stability of the country and the region. |
| BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic says: BiH should send its application for entrance to NATO, even though all necessary terms have not been fulfilled
| TV Pink Aida Hasanbegovic – NATO Commander to BiH, General Steven Schook said recently in Banjaluka that the full cooperation with the ICTY presented the crucial term BiH had to meet in order to enter Partnership for Peace (PfP). Member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic believes that Schook is wrong when saying that BiH should not apply for entrance to PfP this month, since it has not met all necessary terms. “Decision on application has been brought by BiH Presidency and the Presidency is the only institution which should withdraw the decision, I object such decision, since it would mean that those, who oppose BiH’s entrance to European integrations, since I think that we have to do our best in order to meet political terms and that we should not withdraw the application”, Tihic said. Tihic says that the cooperation with the ICTY presented the main obstacle. “The main reason lies in the RS, and RS should bring decisions regarding the issue, which is in BiH and RS citizens’ interests”, said Tihic. |
| Election Commission will annul election of delegates to Sarajevo Town Council | Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘ |
| Tihic: BiH Election Commission cannot annul election of delegates to Sarajevo Town Council
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Annulling of the election would be unconstitutional and illegal’ by A. M. – SDA Chairman Sulejman Tihic thinks the Election Commission would not bring the decision on the annulment of the election of delegates to Sarajevo Town Council after all because this would be an illegal act made against will of voters. ‘If there were any procedural errors, the Election Commission can order for these to be corrected, i.e. voting for some delegates to be repeated. However, it cannot annul a complete election process. This would be unconstitutional and illegal…’, Tihic has stated. |
War crimes | |
| War crimes indictee Vujadin Popovic decided to surrender to ICTY
| BHT1, NTV Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Popovic goes to the Hague’ by S. Karic, Dnevni List pg 10 ‘Vujadin Popovic voluntarily goes to the Hague’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Vujadin Popovic in the Hague Thursday’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Popovic volunteers as well’ not signed – Vujadin Popovic, indicted for war crimes in Srebrenica, has decided to voluntarily surrender to the ICTY. He resides on the Serbia-Montenegro (SCG) territory. Popovic decided to surrender after he met with Serbian Minister of Interior, Dragan Jocic. ICTY indicted Popovic for genocide, violating laws and customs of war and crimes against humanity. RTRS – RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic confirmed he had taken part in negotiations of ICTY indictee colonel Vujadin Popovic and added that this action shows good cooperation between RS and SiCG. Popovic will go to |
| Pavkovic to be transferred to ICTY by April 12 | NTV Hayat – General Nebojsa Pavkovic is going to be transferred to the ICTY, by April 12. Serbian Police seems to be familiar with Pavkovic’s whereabouts. Serbian Ministers said that new surrenders were to follow. |
| SDA calls on RS Government to publish list of persons involved in genocide in Srebrenica
| TV Pink, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘To make public the list of persons linked with crimes in Srebrenica’ by Agencies, Dnevni List pg 10 ‘To publish the list of persons linked with crimes in Srebrenica’ by Erna Mackic, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS Government should publish the list of persons connected with crimes in Srebrenica’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Removals in accordance with the list’ not signed – SDA called RS Government to publish list of persons involved in genocide in Srebrenica. SDA states that all such persons should be removed immediately. SDA called on BiH Prosecution to prevent those who had to be processed from running away. |
| Lawyer Radulovic: | Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Croatia had started the war’ by V. J. – ICTY had given its consent to process cases of war crimes, committed against Serbs in Bosanski Brod in 1992, at BiH Courts. According to lawyer Petar Radulovic this case attracts a special attention of public, because it contains evidence that |
| Law on cooperation with ICTY was returned for additional development
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘Draft law would spare the entities from the cooperation with |
| “Victims of war” Association demand trials before ICTY in 12 cases
| FTV – Association “Women victims of war” reacted on Friday on the information on request for transfer of 7 ICTY cases to the BiH judiciary. In a letter to the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, the Association demand trials before ICTY in 12 cases in relation to the genocide, murders, rapes, exile and ethnic cleansing in the areas of Prijedor, Foca, Visegrad and Sarajevo. Association also ask for rejection of the RS Government demands on pre-trial release of the indictees who surrendered voluntarily. |
| DA claims Mladic is in Pancevo
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Secret service of SiCG Army is guarding Mladic in Pancevo’ by E. S. – According to a source of DA, Ratko Mladic is currently in Pancevo, where he is hiding in a military facility – the building of former operative centre. |
Police issues | |
| Jandric: RS MoI Police officers cancelled the strike on 12th April
| RTRS – The announced strike of police officers of RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) was cancelled, the Chairman of RS MoI employees Union Dusko Jandric has stated. RS MoI hopes to have urgent negotiations for payment increase with RS Government after the recent conclusions adopted by RS NA. “We expect that RS PM Pero Bukejlovic will arrange an urgent meeting with the Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘No protest of the police’ by Bi. G., Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Protest of MoI was cancelled’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Protests of RS police were cancelled’ by Onasa, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Protests were cancelled’ by Z. M. – also reported on Jandric’s statement. |
| EUFOR Commander Leakey met SIPA, SBS, OSA, ITA and entities’ Police representatives
| TV Pink, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘EUFOR is ready to help SIPA, SBS and OSA’ by Srna, Vecernji List pg 14 ‘General Leakey asked for a joint approach’ by D. J., Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH must takeover the leadership in fight against crime’ not signed – EUFOR Commander, David Leakey said, during the meeting with representatives of agencies in charge of implementation of laws in BiH, they have discussed on specific ways of supporting EUFOR in fighting organized crime and it was agreed on integrated approach to focused operations. Leakey met with SIPA, BiH Border Service, OSA, Indirect Taxation Administration and entities’ Police representatives. |
| Colak: the most important task of BiH is to restructure the police
| Dnevni List pg 11 ‘Police reform cannot be realised through a move of a pen’ by D. Polovina – Mandic – BiH Minister for Security Basrisa Colak has stated the most important task of BiH is to restructure the police. ‘People are mistaken if they think they can do this by a move of a pen. First we need to harmonize our stances on the concept and then we need to adopt a law that we must implement in practice as well…’, Colak said. |
Legal proceedings | |
| Muselimovic: only Zoran Nikolic and his mistress will be protected witnesses in case against Covic
| Dnevni List pg 9, announced on cover ‘Four out of six protected witnesses in Lijanovici case have given up’ by Erna Mackic – carries a statement of Dragan Covic’s lawyer Josip Muselimovic, who claims the only protected witnesses against Covic will be Zoran Nikolic and his mistress. According to Muselimovic, the other four witnesses should have been Nikolic’s children, from whom the Prosecutor’s Office had never taken statements. According to unofficial information, revealing of the identity of protected witnesses might cause indictees to be detained in order to avoid them making an influence on witnesses. Vecernji List pg 15 ‘Nikolic and children are secret witnesses!’ by Zoran Kresic carries a similar report. |
| There will be no protected witnesses in trial to Dragan Covic | BHT 1 – Court of BiH decided that in the trial to former BiH Presidency member, Dragan Covic, and to the others accused in the case “Lijanovici”, there would be no protected witnesses. |
| Veselka Jeremic to testify in the case against Pavic and Dokic | BHT 1, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘An employee will testify against Dokic and Pavic’ by V. Popovic – Banja Luka County Prosecutor’s Office signed agreement on confession of quilt with Veselka Jeremic, from Pale, because of criminal act of misuse of official position and authorities. She will testify in the Court proceeding in the case against accused Marko Pavic and Branko Dokic, former BiH Ministers of Transport and Communications. Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘An employee will testify against Dokic and Pavic’ by V. Popovic inset ‘Branko Dokic should be removed on Monday’ – OHR Friday reiterated HR Paddy Ashdown expects from high-ranking officials to resign if an indictment was brought against them. Political analysts assess that, if same principles would be applied in Dokic’s case as in Covic’s case, Dokic would be removed on Monday, the day before he enters plea. |
| Investigation on Covic’s responsibility in sale of “Eronet” | Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Investigation on responsibility of Dragan Covic’ by M. Cubro – Mostar Canton Prosecutor’s Office is investigating on the responsibility of Dragan Covic in illegal same of “Eronet”, as Chief Mostar Canton Prosecutor Nijaz Mehmedbasic confirmed Friday. He did not reveal any further details. |
Economy/social issues | |
| Politicians’ stances on whether to support delay in realisation of law on war medal winners divided
| Oslobodjenje pg 3, announced on cover ‘The authority is aware it does not know how to resolve problems of the “lilies”’ by S. Se. – Upon the protest war medal winners held in Sarajevo Thursday, politicians commented on whether they would support the postponement of the implementation of laws on war medal winners. SDA’a Semsudin Mehmedovic says resolving of this issue had already taken too much time, Party for BiH’s Ismet Briga says the party would not support any legislative suggestion until the Government proves it had earmarked funds from the budget for realisation of such proposals, HDZ’s Ivan Madunic says HDZ would support such law and SDP’s Nermin Niksic says SDP would not agree that the law is implemented next year. ‘The Government must fulfil the promise and valorise without delays the status of approximately 2,000 members of the population that had lost their rights after the law on veterans was adopted’, Niksic said. |
| SDP criticises RS Govt over stopping EURED project
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Nationalistic blindness of RS Government’ not signed – SDP has condemned statements of RS Government by which it had invited on a boycott of EURED project, by saying this move of RS Government and PM Pero Bukejlovic was so far the greatest attack against development of a single economic space in BiH. |
| RS Employers’ Union Chairman Miljevic condemns RS Govt’s invitation to stop EURED | Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘RS Government cannot stop EU program’ by D. Risojevic – The Chairman of RS Employers’ Union, Damir Miljevic, Friday assessed resistance of RS Government to EURED project should not cause any greater problems in implementation of projects that have already been contracted. He condemned the invitation of RS Government to stop EURED project implementation. |
Miscellaneous | |
| DL: PDHR | Dnevni List pg 8, announced on cover ‘An American will run BiH after the British’ by Ivica Glibusic – HR Paddy Ashdown Thursday confirmed in Brussels he would leave BiH in November this year. According to unofficial information, he might be replaced by PDHR Larry Butler. |