| RADIO HERCEG BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Ashdown on education | HR on Srebrenica | SFOR’s operations | Cavic on SDA ministers |
| Croat World Congress | SDS supports PDP demand | Norac pleaded not guilty | Request of Osmanovic |
| Session of FBiH Gov. | Privatisation process | SDS supported PDP | RS PM on early elections |
| Primary education reform | Government crisis in RS | Operations of SIPA | HR on Srebrenica |
| Oslobodjenje | Tadic apologised over the date of inauguration |
| Dnevni Avaz | Payment of half of a backlog pension in 15 days |
| Dnevni List | Implementation of new Statute of City of Mostar: More than 600 employees of former municipalities not registered with MIO/PIO |
| Vecernji List | Vares: Barite mine a threat to whole of Balkans |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Miroslav Nikolic: Federation Defence Minister: Summer without new conscripts |
| Glas Srpske | Tragedy in Trebinje: Un-heard of tragedy: She murdered her daughters and herself; Secretariat of |
| Nezavisne Novine | SDS supports PDP demand: SDS also demands removals of SDA Ministers from RS Government; Osmanovic: Removals would jeopardise RS institutions; Mikerevic: I have not still received official stance; Family tragedy in Trebinje: Mother killed herself and two daughters with a bomb; Owing to suspicion Hague fugitives are crossing BiH border: Colak announces investigation at SBS |
| Blic | Tragedy in Trebinje: Hand grenade murders mother and daughters |
| Ljiljan | Srebrenica: |
| Slobodna Bosna | Karadzic’s associates/supporters moved from Pale and |
Economic/social issues | |
| FBiH Government decided on payment of the second half of a backlog pension
| Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 2 ‘Payment of half of a backlog pension in 15 days’, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Payment of a half of October (2000) pension’, FENA – FBiH Government on Thursday approved the payment of the second half of the October 2000 pension in the total amount of 20.935.700 KM. The funds will be transferred from the FBiH Budget to the account of the Federation Bureau for Pensioner and Invalids’ Insurance. The Government also accepted the Report on damages estimated at almost 24 million KM caused by the floods in April and March this year in the agricultural sector in the Federation. Dnevni List pg 5 ‘200 000 KM approved for flooded areas of Popovo Polje’, mentioned on cover, by M. Relota, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Half of overdue pensions in 15 days’ by D. Jazvic Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Funds for payment of second half of pensions for October approved’ by D. Pasic also reported on the session. |
| PDHR Hays: Law on Internal Debt protects soldiers, pensioners and 82 percent of old foreign currency depositors
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Law on Internal Debt protects soldiers, pensioners and 82 percent of old foreign currency depositors’ – In an interview for the daily, Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays said that the proposed Federation law on the internal debt was protecting the interests of the poorest population categories – the 82 percent of the old foreign currency depositors who will get back their complete savings in cash, as well as the pensioners and soldiers who will, according to the law, get more than 180 million KM. |
| Old foreign currency depositors announce: Criminal reports against Hadzipasic, Mikerevic, Ashdown? | Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Criminal reports against Hadzipasic, Mikerevic, Ashdown? – The President of the BiH Association of the Old Foreign Currency Savers, Amila Omersoftic, told the daily that the Association would launch legal proceedings against FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and HR Paddy Ashdown if they oppose legal rights of the Association members. |
| Update to Eronet/3rd GSM licence
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Negotiations between FBiH Government and HT Zagreb begin on Tuesday’, by De. L. – announces that talks between the HT Zagreb (Croatian telecommunications Zagreb) and FBiH Government on transfer of HT Zagreb’s share onto HT Mostar will begin on next Tuesday, July 13. DL reiterates that a decision as to who gets the 3rd GSM licence will be taken a day before that, on July 12, confirming that official Austria is lobbying for Eronet. Apparently, the Austrian Ambassador to BiH talked to the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, in order to award the licence to Eronet. |
War crimes | |
| Remains of 338 Bosniaks to be buried in Srebrenica memorial 11 July
| BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Arrival of 20,000 visitors expected’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ’20 thousand citizens would attend the funeral’, ONASA – The board organizing the commemorative service and burial of 338 victims of the Srebrenica massacre concluded at a meeting held on Thursday that all the preparations for the commemorative service and burial of 338 Bosniaks killed in Srebrenica in July 1995 had been completed. The commemorative service will take place on 11 July at 1200 at the memorial centre and cemetery in Potocari and, besides 170 buses from across BiH, the organizers expect the arrival of some 3,000 private cars. The organizing board called on all citizens and officials in BiH to attend the commemorative service in Potocari. BiH Presidency Chairman Sulejman Tihic and head of the Islamic Community in BiH Reis-ul-Ulema Mustafa Efendi Ceric are set to deliver speeches at the commemorative service. Representatives of the Republika Srpska Interior Ministry have informed the organizing board that they have taken all measures to ensure that this year’s commemorative service passes peacefully, adding that around 700 policemen are due to be assigned to secure the event, twice as much as last year. High Representative Paddy Ashdown has announced that, due to his absence from BiH, he would not be able to attend the commemorative service, but numerous representatives of diplomatic corpse in BiH as well as members of the RS’ government’s Srebrenica commission have said that they would be present at the event in Potocari. Organizing board chairman Abdurahman Malkic has said that the budget for the organization of the commemorative service amounted to 223,000 KM, adding he expected that the bodily remains of the identified victims will be transported from Visoko to Potocari on Friday. |
| Ashdown to give seven additional days to Srebrenica Commission to complete its task
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ashdown ordered the Commission to empty drawers’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Srebrenica Commission gets seven more days’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘New Ashdown’s order’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Additional time to Commission’; Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Possible extension of deadline to Srebrenica Commission’, Dnevni List, pg 16 ‘Ashdown ready to extend deadline to Srebrenica Commission’, not signed, FENA – High Representative Paddy Ashdown ordered the Srebrenica Commission to “empty the drawers” of all documents that have not been presented so far. He also informed the Commission that he would extend the deadline for another seven days, by July 17, if it demonstrates that these additional days will be fully used. Spokesperson for the OHR in Banja Luka Ljiljana Radetic told a press conference on Thursday that the High Representative expects the Srebrenica Commission, with the assistance of relevant institutions, to complete its work by then. “It is imperative that this job be fully finished and in a satisfactory manner”, Radetic stressed. |
| ‘Tadic apologised over the date of inauguration’
| Oslobodjenje cover page ‘Tadic apologised over the date of inauguration’ by Branislav Boskov – Newly-elected Serbian President Boris Tadic on Thursday admitted that the date of his inauguration had misfortunately coincided with the anniversary of the crime in Srebrenica. Tadic asked for understanding and acceptance of his apology since there had been no any bad intentions. Vecernji List, pg 19 ‘Tadic: It was not on purpose’, not signed also covered the issue. |
| Slobodna Bosna on Karadzic support network
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 5-8 ‘Karadzic support network transferred to Sarajevo, it includes Ivanic, Novic, Zaric, Vukovic, Mektic, Pekic…!’ By Emir Hodzic and Senad Avdic – According to the magazine, the SDS leadership supported by Ivanic’s PDP and with consent of the international community has in the past months transferred the centre for protection of war criminals from the entity’s to the key BiH institutions. The magazine claims that among others BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic, SIPA Director Sredoje Novic, BiH Intelligence-Security Agency Deputy Head Risto Zaric, SBS senior officer Slavisa Vukovic… were part of the war criminals support network. |
| DL: Prlic and others on pre-trial release as of July 19?
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Prlic and others on pre-trial release as of July 19?’, by Ivica Glibusic – According to DL’s information, there will be a status conference in the ICTY on July 19, which should among other issues, discuss a request filed by six BiH Croats, namely Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Slobodan Praljak, Milivoj Petkovic, Valentin Coric and Berislav Pusic, who request a pre-trial release. The news is confirmed by Prlic’s lawyer, Zelimir Par. |
Political developments/statements | |
| SDS supports removal of SDA ministers
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘SDS also demanded removals of SDA Ministers from RS Government’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Premier to make a move’; EuroBlic RSpg1 ‘Early elections would not overcome crisis’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘PDP request for removal of SDA ministers supported’ – Dragan Cavic, Acting President of SDS, stated after yesterday’s decision of the SDS Chair Board that the SDS would support PDP demand for removals of SDA Ministers form RS Government and appointment of new Ministers of Bosniak nationality. Cavic said: “SDS Chair Board concluded dismissals of SDA Ministers are inevitable owing to constant attacks of Sulejman Tihic, SDA President, against RS. SDS would support RS Government and take part in parliament majority. On the basis of its politics, SDS would do all it can to preserve the stability of RS institutions.”” He reiterated once more early elections would only make the situation more complicated. He also stressed that at BiH Parliamentary Assembly, SDS would be acting independently, noting it would no longer be “assistance stick” to any option. He also noted that in a principal and independent manner, SDS would be passing decisions, offering selective assistance to technical composition of authority, but not personal support at all. He noted: “SDS would not be either position or opposition.” SDS Chair Board decided to identify legal manner in which lawsuits against High Representative to BiH – over violation of human and civic rights and basic freedoms – could be filed at a state, whose legal system allows such sort of procedure. According to NN inset 1 ‘Stojicic is the candidate for RS NA Speaker’, SDS Chair Board proposed Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson and SDS MP at RS NA, as the new RS NA Speaker. Stojicic stated: “We are of the view we have parliament majority at Parliament. We are open for talks with both, position and opposition, in order to ensure a normal functioning of the RS Parliament.” According to NN inset 2 ‘Mikerevic: I am waiting for official stance’ mentioned on cover “I have not still received official stance’, Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, yesterday stated that he could not tell what steps he would undertake following SDS demand for removals of SDA Ministers, stressing that PDP has only handed an official proposal on this so far. He stressed he would wait to see deliberations at the RS NA session, on basis of which he would take lessons and make decisions, taking care of RS institutional stability. Igor Radojicic, SNSD Secretary General, yesterday commented on the SDS demand by saying that: “They are taking advantage of unpopularity of SDA in RS. It is all about pre-election campaign.” Slobodan Popovic, SDP of BiH Vice President, is of the opinion that the current ruling coalition would do all it can to remain on power. According to him, it would also try to prevent creation of parliamentarian crisis at BiH level. |
| RS Vice President Osmanovic urges Cavic not to support sacking of SDA ministers
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Radicalisation of situation in RS possible’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Removals would jeopardise RS institutions’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Stability jeopardised’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Crisis without ministers’, FENA – RS Vice President Adil Osmanovic on Thursday urged RS President Dragan Cavic not to launch and support the initiative for the dismissal of SDA-nominated ministers from the RS Government. He warned that the sacking of the three SDA ministers could seriously destabilise both RS and BiH institutions. Osmanovic stressed that SDA would use all constitutional and legal possibilities to keep its ministers in the RS Government. Osmanovic reminded of the possibility to launch the mechanism for the protection of the vital national interest before the RS Council of Peoples, which could significantly hinder the efficiency of RS institutions. He reminded that the SDA Presidency would hold a special session in Sarajevo on Friday to discuss the initiative for the dismissal of SDA ministers and decide on its further action. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Removals would jeopardise RS institutions’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Stability jeopardised’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Crisis without ministers’ – Sefket Hafizovic, RS NA Deputy Speaker, is of the view that Mladen Ivanic’s demand is not well-thought, noting such move would obstruct ongoing reforms’ processes. Omer Brankovic, RS Minister for economic affairs and coordination, said that SDA Ministers at RS Government would continue to work in the full capacity at RS Government. He noted: “We will be working until the last day the same way we have been working so far. Ivanic, Mikerevic and Cavic are informed of our activities.” |
| PDP on Osmanovic’s statement
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Adil mixes up terms’ – According to PDP press release issued yesterday, PDP yesterday assessed that Adil Osmanovic, SDA Vice President, “is mixing up terms” by stating that this Party would use RS Council of Peoples as a mechanism for blockade of political system. According to PDP, nobody has a right to place RS authority institutions in the function of party interests and political blackmails, as Osmanovic is doing. PDP further stressed that its demand for removal of SDA ministers is in full accordance with the RS Constitution. |
| Tihic: Protection of interests before Constitutional Court as well
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Protection of interests before Constitutional Court as well’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We will not allow removal of the Bosniak Ministers’ – “This is an attack on equal constitutional status of peoples in RS. We will do our best to prevent intentions of the people from SDS and PDPto remove our ministers,” said BiH Presidency Chairman and SDA leader Sulejman Tihic. He added that the entire case might end up before the BiH Constitutional Court. |
| Comments on Cavic’s interview for RTRS/early elections initiative
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘PDP to give up on demand for elections’ – NN reports that PDP has most likely given up on its demand for early elections, judging by the statement of Nevenka Trifkovic, Head of PDP Caucus at RS NA, and Dragan Mikerevic, RS Premier and member of PDP Chair Board. Mikerevic said: “We would lose a lot of time if early elections were scheduled… Early elections should be avoided.” Trifkovic is of the view that if proper functioning of RS institutions is ensured, conditions for early elections are not met. Below are some other comments on Dragan Cavic’s statement regarding early elections (RTRS interview on Wednesday evening). Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, assessed that current authorities are using this story about early elections in their daily political purposes, showing their will to stabilise SDS instead of finding the best solution possible for RS. Tarik Sadovic, Head of SDA Caucus at RS NA, is of the view that Cavic’s stance is logical and rational political thinking, which any analyst on BiH events would make. Milanko Mihajlica, President of RS Serb Radical Party, stated that regardless of the fact this party is ready for elections, other solution should be found. He also said elections would be inevitable unless current situation stabilised. Petar Djokic, President of RS Socialist Party, said: “It will be hard to get out from the current political crisis without early elections.” Marko Pavic, DNS leader, is still of the view early elections is the only solution to the crisis. Zekerijah Osmic, SDP of BiH delegate at RS NA, is of the view that “all Cavic’s, Ivanic’s and Tihic’s stories are political games. The people would still have bad authority.” |
| Feral Tribune on BiH politicians’ behaviour on eve of local elections
| Feral Tribune, pg 31, ‘War jargon’ by Ivan Lovrenovic – in light of recent political developments in BiH and behavior of leading politicians in that context (Cavic‘s admitting of Srebrenica war crime, Tihic‘s observations on the RS and Cavic’s reaction to them, reactions to removal of RS officials by the HR over non-cooperation with the ICTY), the author finds it interesting that the protagonists of the latest fierce arguments are coalition partners at both the RS and the State level. He adds that judging by the practice so far, many wonder if this is again about the old, run-down but still efficient pre-election game of programming voters to vote as “members of peoples”. Lovrenovic comments saying that everything in BiH seems to be in its old place adding it is premature to think that anything in the structure and mentality of local nationalisms changes and concludes by saying that Paddy Ashdown can prepare himself for a new one-year mandate, reportedly offered to him, with ease. |
| Ashdown harmonises education in three cantons with the state legislation
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Education laws in three cantons harmonized with the State Education Law’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘OHR imposed Laws on education’,Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Fines against Cantonal HDZ Boards abolished’ by N. Bise, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Ashdown imposed Law to Cantons as well’ by D. Pasic, Vecernji List ‘Laws on education imposed’ by D. Jazvic, FENA – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, has issued Decisions rectifying the failures of Central Bosnia Canton, West Herzegovina Canton and Canton 10 to bring their primary and secondary education legislation into line with the State legislation. With this Decision, the High Representative has addressed a situation which represented a challenge both to the Rule of Law and to the international obligations of BiH. Last year, the HDZ, together with all other parties, voted for the State Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education. This was a unanimous vote in the State Parliament. Yet since the end of last year, these cantons with HDZ education ministers have consistently failed to take action to harmonise their cantonal laws with the State legislation. “This could not be tolerated further,” the High Representative said when issuing these Decisions. “Necessary arrangements must be made in good time so that the children in these cantons are able to pursue a normal education, consistent with the best European practice before the start of the new school year. In addition, it must be made clear that flaunting the Rule of Law is simply no longer acceptable in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he added. With these Decisions, fines imposed on budgetary support to the HDZ in these three cantons will be lifted. Funds that have been withheld in the course of the sanction period will not be returned, but will be used for educational purposes in the relevant cantons, according to a press release issues by OHR on Thursday. |
| RS PM Mikerevic with Spanish Ambassador on situation in BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 16 ‘Existence of RS not in question’, by NINA – Republika Srpska Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, yesterday met with the Spanish Ambassador to BiH, Rafael Valle Garagorri, about the current political situation in the RS and BiH. PM Mikerevic expressed conviction that there would not be an institutional crisis in the RS and in joint BiH institutions, noting that the most favourable solutions would be found through a political dialogue. PM Mikerevic notes it is politically very damaging that some Bosniak officials are creating crisis by going public with positions that are contrary to Dayton Peace Accord, and BiH and RS Constitutions. Ambassador Garagorri hopes that the political crisis could be overcome through efforts of all three constituent peoples. |
| Statement of Day: Dragan Mikerevic | Dnevni List pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’, the RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, as saying: “Functioning of the institutions of authority must not be endangered.” |
| DL: SBiH and SDA not in pre-elections deal in Mostar
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Party for BiH did not cut pre-election deal with SDA’, by Zvonimir Jukic – President of City Board of SBiH for Mostar, Rusmir Cisic, claims that the SDA and SBiH did not reach an agreement on any pre or post election cooperation. Cisic notes that his party did talk to the SDA and other parties about different modalities of pre and post election cooperation, but did not reach an agreement with any of them. The statement comes as a denial of statements of Zijad Hadziomerovic, one of strongest SDA officials in Mostar, who stated that the SDA and SBiH cut a pre-election deal in Mostar. |
| SNSD and PDP to go alone in elections in Mostar
| Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Serbs from Mostar dissatisfied with decisions from Banja Luka’ by Sanja Bjelica – DL says that the only two parties with ‘the Serb prefix’ that are active in Mostar, the SNSD and PDP, will go independently in the coming local elections. According to the article, Serbs from Mostar are dissatisfied with such decision since they believed that only through the joint list they could get at least two Serb Councilors in the Mostar City Council, although the Mostar City Statute envisages 4 of them. |
| DL on status of employees in Mostar administration
| Dnevni List, front and pg 13 ‘More than 600 employees of former municipalities not registered with MIO/PIO’, by Vesna Leto – according to DL, 650 former employees of Mostar’s municipalities, which ceased to be on March 15 when the rights and obligations were transferred onto the City of Mostar, are not registered with the FBiH Pension/Disability Fund (MIO/PIO). According to Ivan Rogic, the Deputy Director of FBiH MIO/PIO, 350 employees of former municipalities with Croat majority have been unregistered with MIO/PIO on March 15, and have not been re-registered to date. Furthermore, Rogic says he personally talked to officials of the City administration of Mostar and suggested them to have a meeting and sort the situation out. According to a representative of the City administration, Gordana Divis, all the employees will be re-registered and the process is ongoing. |
| On meeting of Croatian World Congress Main Board
| Dnevni List pg 7 ‘International Community should be held accountable for its work in BiH’, mentioned on cover, by V. Vujovic, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘To organize BiH as Switzerland’ by D. Jazvic and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘To stop violence of foreign power-wielders’, mentioned on cover, by Z. Tulic – The meeting of the Croatian World Congress Main Board finished in Sarajevo yesterday. During this meeting, participants discussed the position of BiH and the position of Croats in this country. During this meeting the Resolution of the Croatian World Congress on BiH and Croat people in BiH was passed and it was sent to the Governments of the EU countries, USA, Croatia and BiH. Talking about contents of the Resolution, the President of the aforementioned Association, Simun Sito Coric, stated that BiH is responsibility of the western countries, however the international representatives have not convinced BiH peoples in permanent progress and in his opinion the Dayton Peace Accord, which stopped the war in BiH, turned out to be a bad solution for functioning of the state. Coric also stressed that the International Community should be held accountable for its work in BiH. |
| People’s Party Working for Prosperity appoints ‘Alternative High Representative”
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 7 ‘Josip Pejakovic appointed alternative High representative for BiH’, by F, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Pejakovic: Beginning of end of HR’s position in BiH’ by NINA – Among other things, during yesterday’s session of the Presidency of People’s Party Working for Prosperity, Josip Pejakovic was appointed the Alternative High Representative for BiH. Pejakovic stated that he would take care of majority of BiH citizens who are humiliated and deprived of rights. According to him, the whole project of the Alternative HR is actually the beginning of end of the HR’s position in BiH. Pejakovic added: “The end of the HR means that BiH will become a proper country, since BiH will not become a part of Europe as long as we have the HR.” Oslobodjenje pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Pejakovic new ‘high representative’’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Actor Josip Pejakovic appointed alternative high representative’ also reported on the issue. |
| Ivanic in Croatia
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Good relations between BiH and Croatia’ – Following last night’s meeting with Croatian President, Stjepan Mesic, Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, stated that relations between BiH and Croatia is improving in all fields, noting there are still some open issues unresolved, but these can be resolved through joint efforts. Ivanic also announced that a joint legal experts group would be formed, in charge of finding legal remedies for resolving issues like property. |
| BiH HoR speaker Raguz in SCG
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Cooperation is improving’; Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Solution for a complete inter-state cooperation’ – Martin Raguz, Chairperson of the BiH House of Representatives, stated after yesterday’s meeting in Belgrade with Zoran Sami, SiCG Parliament Speaker, that the officials of the Parliaments of SiCG and BiH have supported the proposal that both states in the future take part in sessions of Inter-state Council, which would improve their inter-state cooperation. Sami said parliamentary delegations have agreed it is necessary to improve relations between two states and establish cooperation at all, especially parliamentary level. Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Better cooperation by signing of agreement on borders’, by Miso Relota, Saraevo media also reported on the issue. |
| NN editorials on political situation in RS/BiH
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Comrade, effendi or genuine Serb’ by Miroslav Mikes – The author remembers the old times under social system, with more positive than negative approach. Moreover, he makes a reference to Mladen Ivanic, saying he was dedicated to science during the war, but later on established his own party and chose to be the copula between SDS and SDA on authority. Mikes is actually criticising Ivanic for chasing his personal and party interests more than anything, forgetting of his colleagues. He concludes the editorial by saying: “Is it worth losing friends from your youth-times, your unique roots for the purpose of temporary interests. Everything goes by, only real values remain…” Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Deja vu’ by Slobodan Popovic – The author is claiming RS and BiH is now faced with the most critical phase of economic and any other development so far. He claims that the ruling mechanism, “led by sterile and bureaucratic apparatus” is incapable of leading this state. He is also asking international community why it has selective approach in regard to removals, referring to examples of irresponsible money-wasting at BiH Presidency, BiH CoM, etc. He concludes the article by saying: “It should not be allowed that as several times before, we are gathered into national sheepfolds, when it would not matter whether somebody is a sheep or ram.” |
Security/investigations/legal proceedings/incidents | |
| BiH CoM adopted draft law on SBS
| FTV, RTRS, Oslobodenje pg 5 ‘A single law on crossing the borders’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SBS under Security Ministry’s jurisdiction’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Ministry of Security takes over competence over State Border Service’ by I. Tabucic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Single way of border supervision’ by D. Jazvic, FENA – BiH Council of Ministers on Thursday adopted draft law on the State Border Service (SBS), which puts the service under jurisdiction of the BiH Ministry of Security. After the session, BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak told journalists that the draft was aimed at harmonizing the initially passed law on SBS with the other state-level regulations primarily the Law on Ministries, the Law on the Council of Ministers, and the Law on Civil Service in BiH Institutions. “Earlier, BiH Presidency also had certain authorities over SBS,” said Colak. The Council of Ministers also adopted the draft law on monitoring and control of crossing the state border. |
| CoM appoints human traffic coordinator
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Coordinator with the lawsuit?’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Appointment of Samir Rizvo’, SRNA – The BiH Council of Ministers on Thursday appointed Samir Rizvo the coordinator for the fight against human trafficking and illegal immigration. BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak told a news conference held following the session that he was not briefed about the fact that the Sarajevo cantonal prosecution service had set in motion an investigation into Samir Rizvo for granting controversial naturalization papers to people from African and Asian countries and the fact that the investigation was halted because the set time for it had ran out before it was completed. Colak said that as a legalist he could respect only valid court decisions, that is, suspicion did not mean guilt. Commenting on journalists questions about Rizvo’s suitability for this post, Colak said that Rizvo passed all nomination procedures, but allowed a possibility that legal actions would be undertaken if there were some problems regarding these. |
| Colak announces investigation into BiH SBS
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Colak: Investigation at SBS’ mentioned on cover ‘Colak announces investigation at SBS’ – Barisa Colak, BiH Security Minister, yesterday stated that the BiH Security Ministry would launch investigation at BiH SBS (State Border Service), in order to investigate into claims that war crime suspects are crossing border between BiH and SiCG. Colak said: “We would do all we can to ensure maximal security of state border.” Mile Juric, SBS Head, did not want to make any comment on possible investigation. He said: “Unlike some other agencies, we have arrested three war crime suspects. By doing this, we have proved we fully implement our duties towards the ICTY.” |
| SFOR and MoI collecting weapons, arresting war crimes suspects in CBC
| Vecernji List, ‘’Harvest’ with hope to arrest war crimes suspects?’, mentioned on cover, by Ana Drmac – SFOR and Ministry of Interior in Central Bosnia Canton have been carrying out operation ‘Harvest’ in several municipalities in the said canton in past few days, collecting the weapons and ammunition from the war. VL notes that unlike previous similar operations, this time SFOR troops are searching households in an attempt to find the armament. Furthermore, VL notes that the presence of SFOR troops has caused disturbance among the citizenry, who suspect the real aim of the operation is to arrest war crimes suspects. In that context, the daily notes that one Ranko Milicevic AKA Rance was arrested on July 2, on basis of arrest warrant issued by the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo back in 1994. That’s a second arrest in the area of Kresevo in last two months carried out on basis of arrest warrant of Sarajevo Cantonal Court. VL suspects the arrests are being carried out on basis of lists prepared by former Bosniak intelligence service ‘AID’. |
| Tragedy in Trebinje
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘She murdered her daughters and herself ‘; Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ‘She murdered herself and two daughters with a bomb’; EuroBlic cover and RSpg 5 ‘Hand grenade murders mother and daughters’ – Dailies report on a tragedy in the Trebinje settlement of Gorica, which took place on Wednesday night (sometime before midnight), when Slavica Tripic (32) committed murder and suicide. Tripic activated hand grenade while in the room where her daughters Sara (8) and Sandra (5) were sleeping. According to autopsy report, Slavica decided to carry out this act owing to bad psychological state she faced with, caused by serious illness of her younger daughter (she suffered from leukaemia). |