| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Labour contract in HNK | BiH delegation in Slovenia | Mandic released | Bank robbery in BL |
| Croats left Brcko Assembly | Bank robbery in BL | Trial of Ilijasevic | BiH and Slovenia |
| Kosovo negotiations | Labour Contract in HNK | BiH delegation in Slovenia | BiH Syndicate |
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| Bush on Iraq | Strike in steel mill | Iraq update |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH Elektroprivreda must import electricity |
| Dnevni Avaz | Prosecutor Zdravko Knezevic: Decision on investigation to be made this week |
| Dnevni List | “Drnovsek and Covic on inter-states relations”; “New Commission for re-organization of Mostar is being formed: OHR New Commission will be chaired by OHR” |
| Vecernji List | “Drunk Russian diplomats were shooting at citizens”; “Ljubljanska Bank is still waiting for solution” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Construction at tunnel Fatnik Polje-Bileca Lake: Fog in the tunnel |
| Nezavisne Novine | Successful action of Federal police in Sarajevo: Police arrested three members of a criminal group; Senior BiH delegation visiting Slovenia: Agreement on development co-operation signed; Serbia: Momcilo Mandic released from detention; Federal MoI launches investigation into FOSS leak of information: Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not give an assent for wiretapping |
| Blic | RS President in dark; Rodoljub Trkulja: damages of drought 250 million KM |
Political developments | |
| BiH Presidency visiting Slovenia
| Croat Radio Herceg Bosna, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Economic cooperation only in one direction’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Covic: We will resolve the Ljubljanska Bank problem soon’ – Slovenia’s expertise and experience are to help BiH in its efforts to join the EU, said President Janez Drnovsek after talks with the country’s three-member presidency, who started the official two-day visit to Slovenia on Monday. Drnovsek noted that BiH’s European orientation, which would contribute to the country’s stabilization, is not important only for BiH, but also for Slovenia, whose soldiers make part of the peace-keeping missions in the country, and the entire world. The BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic labeled Slovenia as BiH’s “partner and friend”, and expressed satisfaction over its support to BiH’s EU bid. According to Covic, bilateral relations are very good, notably the economic cooperation, which has been on the increase since the end of war in BiH. The economic cooperation is expected to be further boosted by a Slovene-BiH business conference that will be organized by the Slovene Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. Slovenia ranks among leading investors and foreign trading partners in BiH, with its exports to the country topping 492 million euros last year. BiH places sixth among Slovene trading partners, but has been recording a considerable trade deficit. The talks also touched upon unresolved issues between the countries, among them the foreign currency deposits of BiH savers in Slovenia’s former Ljubljanska Bank. “It is in both countries’ best interest to solve the issue so it will no longer burden relations between Slovenia and BiH,” Covic said of the question of the foreign currency deposits of Bosnian savers in former Ljubljanska Bank. Slovenia agrees that the issue of deposits should be resolved as soon as possible, however it is in favor of solving it within the framework of the succession negotiations, Drnovsek underlined. He added that Slovenia would like to see the succession process speeded up and possibilities for solving the issue re-examined and tackled in a more innovative way. BHTV – Alo Lizalovic, head of the Bosnian association for the protection of Ljubljanska Bank savers, told journalists on Monday that the Bank is owing 165,000 Bosnian savers more than 90 million euros. Council of Ministers appointed a commission for this issue, but head of commission Jure Pelivan said nobody consulted him before the official visit to Slovenia. On the sidelines of the visit, foreign ministers of Slovenia and BiH, Dimitrij Rupel and Mladen Ivanic, signed an agreement on development cooperation. The agreement, a similar one has already been signed with Serbia and Montenegro, is to simplify cooperation in providing Slovenia’s development aid for BiH. Slovenia is also hosting BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo, who is scheduled to meet Slovenia’s Interior Minister Rado Bohinc. Dnevni List (front page “Drnovsek and Covic on inter-states relations” and page 5, “Savers’ issue should be resolved through negotiations on succession of former Yugoslavia”, by Fena), Vecernji List (front page, “Ljubljanska Bank is still waiting for solution” and page 2, “Debt of Ljubljanska Bank is waiting for solution in package”, by Vladimir Zagorac), Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Agreement on development co-operation signed’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Any assistance is welcome’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Hope for Ljubljanska’s depositors’ also reported on the visit. |
| SDS, Serb Radical Party on initiatives for changing Constitution | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘SDS against Dayton revision’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8, Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Playing with fire’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 4 ‘RS is against the Dayton’s revision’; Blic pg. 7 ‘Violation of Dayton Agreement’, Dnevni List page 10, by Fena– SDS and Serb Radical Party see new trials of changing BiH Constitution and Dayton Peace Agreement as unconstitutional and dangerous. At the press conference held on Monday, these parties said they would not participate at round table on the declaration on urgency to change BiH Constitution, which will be held in Sarajevo on Wednesday. SDS and Serb Radical Party claim that the aim of this conference was not to lobby for the changes of the Constitution and Dayton Peace Agreement, but for obstruction of their implementation. Both parties said they do not welcome participation by any party at this conference, whose idea – as they claim – has not been supported by the international community in BiH. |
| Patriot interview with Sarovic | Patriot, pgs. 6, 7 & 8 by Ljiljana Kovacevic, ‘Deep commitment for reforms’ – In an interview to Banjaluka based weekly Patriot, Mirko Sarovic, SDS Vice President, says that political and other structures in Republika Srpska have focused their attention over the past months at the current the Republika Srpska Government led by Dragan Mikerevic. On this, he says that: “From various viewpoints – opposition, syndicate and coalition, which supports him – the results this Government achieved were discussed. Most frequent stance taken towards Government was extremely critical and aimed towards improving its work and performance.”He adds that success made by this Government also represents a success made by SDS, owing to which reason SDS cannot stay aside and leave an initiative upon other people. In his opinion, the issue on Government reshuffle may be raised. On reforms, he says that: “Our real goal is to attain a European presentation of BiH – but the presentation, that will be as decentralised as possible.” On defence reform, he expresses his full support to efforts placed by the Republika Srpska President, Dragan Cavic in this process. Regarding this, he expresses conviction that Cavic is doing all he can to preserve the constitutional position of Republika Srpska in defence system of BiH, but with necessary modernisation at the BiH level. On requests of Bosniak side (for change of Republika Srpska symbols), Sarovic says that the final goal of those requests is to have BiH Constitution changed and Republika Srpska abolished. On alleged rifts within SDS, Sarovic says that those rumours have no grounds at all, noting that SDS is currently in the post-election phase, when results – successes and failures – are analysed and outstanding problems are being resolved. |
| SNSD will not give up on idea of early elections – Dodik | RTRS, Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Key is in elections’ – “SNSD will not give up on the idea of early elections, which receives more support every day by other opposition parties and RS citizens,” stated President of the SNSD Milorad Dodik. He said at the press conference held in Prijedor that early elections in RS should be held simultaneously with municipal elections. SNSD will not accept any offers by current authorities or will it enter constructed authorities, stressed Dodik adding that work of current Coalition contributes the most to the initiative of early elections. Dodik claims that international community also bares part of the responsibility for the situation in RS, as it is in ‘absolute partnership with Coalition.’ He said: ‘This is obvious from the fact that everything is submissive to OHR activities, that many criminal actions occurred in the all levels of the current authorities have been registered only by OHR, that there are no processing against this.’ SNSD leader added that this party will not be the partner of the international community in implementation of those reforms which are not in the interests of the citizens. Dodik also announced that next week this and other opposition parties will make public strategy on the early elections. Blic pg. 7 ‘Cavic dissatisfied with the Government’ – Dodik added that during his talks with RS President Dragan Cavic, Cavic also expressed his dissatisfaction with the RS Government’s work. |
| DP on ongoing reforms
| Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Constitution is sanctity’, Blic pg. 7 ‘Bosniak politicians damage BiH’ – According to press release yesterday issued by PDP, PDP condemns the blockade of already harmonised solutions to issues like tax administration. Accordingly, PDP sought that Law, which should regulate this field, should urgently be forwarded for parliament procedure. PDP stresses that new reforms in BiH should not be launched before ongoing reforms on tax system, state security service and army are fully implemented. |
| DL: “Tihic is spreading inter-ethnic intolerance deliberately” | Dnevni List (front and page 8, by S. Kuzman) carries an article harshly criticizing the statement given by Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic saying that there are no Bosniaks at certain positions in the authority and some institutions, as well as, some moves made by Tihic and SDA. Among the other things the article says: “It is well known that there is a conflict between liberal and extreme wings within Your party and that you are taking sides of both these wings and that you are a curtain for all impossible gymnastic exercises of your party.” |
| OHR plans to set up new commission to restructure Mostar | Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘New commission for Mostar restructuring to be chaired by a person from OHR’, ONASA – The Office of High Representative is to form a new commission for creation of the statute and restructuring of the city of Mostar, a source from the international community in Mostar tells ONASA. The new commission will comprise two representatives from each party participating in the work of the Mostar city council, while the chairman of the commission will be appointed by the OHR. The former commission, in whose activities the OHR participated as an onlooker, failed to offer any solutions for restructuring of Mostar in three months of its work, because of opposition of the leading parties in the Mostar city council – the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) BiH. ONASA finds out that the directions for work of the commission will be eight principles set by High Representative Paddy Ashdown as guidelines for the future order in the city of Mostar. According to some earlier announcements from the OHR, the final statute and shape of the city of Mostar are to be defined by the end of 2003. Dnevni List (front & p 9, by Zvonimir Jukic) also carries that the International Community’s sources in Mostar reveal that the OHR will again establish a Commission to draft the Statute and the proposal for re-organisation of Mostar. Bringing the whole background to the Commission’s establishment and work, DL comments that the original Commission was a fiasco. The daily says that the idea to form a new Commission is the result of talks that SDHR Werner Wnendt has these days had with Mostar political party officials, adding this solution is similar to the one of DPs Associations. Saying that what will remain the same is Ashdown’s guidelines as a framework for the future organisation of Mostar, DL adds that 3 blocks which have diametrically opposite views on the issue are formed in Mostar and that Mostar political parties’ officials are divided between these blocks so that almost no relevant political party, except for Party for BiH, has a clear and unambiguous position on the future organisation of Mostar: the first block wants to maintain the current administrative-political organisation of Mostar and is lead by the SDA; the HDZ block advocates unification of the town but, within it, forces that want to dominate are still strong; the third one is led by returnees, independent intellectuals and distinguished Mostarians who aspire for unification on equal foot. |
| DL: “Darko Doko did not pass OHR’s vetting procedure” | Dnevni List (page 3, by Miso Relota) carries that according to unofficial information HDZ candidate for the position of the BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Darko Doko, did not pass the OHR’s vetting procedure because the OHR believes that Doko does not have necessary qualifications to perform this duty. According to DL, the OHR will demand from HDZ to hand over the name of another candidate, whose name is not known at the moment. |
| Clarke leaving the mission | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Susan Johnson instead of Henry Clarke’ – International supervisor for Brcko District Henry Clarke, whose mandate expires at the end of this month, will be replaced by Susan Johnson, who performed various duties in Israel and Romania. Clarke assumed his supervisor duty on April 19, 2003, replacing Gary Matthews. Sarajevo media also reported on the issue. |
| Croat representatives will not participate in work of Brcko District Assembly? | Dnevni List (page 5, “Croat representatives are leaving District’s Assembly?”, by Fena) carries that consultations with regard to the Election Law of the Brcko District were completed yesterday without reaching the political consensus. HDZ representative in the Brcko District Assembly Pero Gudeljevic stressed that Croat representatives do not have mandate to participate and give support to the law, which would reduce their number from the current 7 representatives to 3 or 4 representatives. Gudeljevic added: “We openly told President of the Assembly, that is, the Presidency and Supervisor Henry Lee Clark that the Croat representatives will not participate in the work of the Assembly and in passing of such Election Law.” Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
| Ashdown to address members of the both houses of the BiH Parliament | Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Ashdown to address members of the both houses of the BiH Parliament’, Dnevni List page 7, FENA – The second plenary session of the BiH House of Peoples and the House of Representatives is scheduled to take place in Sarajevo on Wednesday. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, is expected to address the deputies. |
| Editorial: “Orchestrated attacks against media” | Dnevni List (page 2, by Zvonimir Jukic) carries an editorial which among the other things says: “The last, orchestrated campaign of high and low ranked SDA officials, OHR and leaders of marginalized political parties against FTV and media in general is another proof of our nationalistic reality, but also of a shallow stand of the OHR, which as the main authority in this country did not react against new attacks against journalist’s profession but which joined them in these attacks and this is utterly perverse… Morbid Coalition of nationalists and the OHR directs its attacks against other media outlets trying to silence freedom of speech and give a false picture of reality. While the OHR is attacking ‘Slobodna Bosna’ and sometimes the other media outlets, Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic dedicates his public statements to FTV.” |
Security issues | |
| FBiH Supreme Court ordered no investigation against ex-intelligence chief
| BHTV, FTV, FENA, Oslobodjenje pg. 2, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not give an assent for wiretapping’,Dnevni List front and page 5, “Court did not authorize wiretapping”, by D.L. – The Federation of BiH Supreme Court has not ordered measures of monitoring and tapping of telephone and other conversations listed in Articles 205 to 210 of the Criminal Code, nor has it ordered special investigation activities listed in Articles 130 to 136 of the same law with respect to former Head of FOSS Munir Munja Alibabic. The Court said that it was not authorized to issue information on whether provisions from the Law on the Intelligence and Security Service of the BiH Federation have been applied with respect to a certain individuals. The court can only make assessments on whether certain evidence is valid or not, and whether a certain person has committed a criminal act or not with respect to its own decisions adopted in accordance with the law, it was announced. |
| Prosecutor Zdravko Knezevic: Decision on investigation to be made this week | Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 2 ‘Prosecutor Zdravko Knezevic: Decision on investigation to be made this week’ – In a statement for the newspaper, FBiH Prosecutor Zdravko Knezevic said that a FOSS report on the alleged illegal activities of a group headed by former FOSS Director Munir Alibabic was still being studied and analysed. The decision on whether an official investigation into the matter will be launched is to be made this week. |
| Mandic released from Belgrade prison | FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 3, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Momcilo Mandic released from detention’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 15, Blic pg. 18, Dnevni List page 10, by Fena – Gordana Mihajlovic, president of the Second Municipal Court in Belgrade, told journalists on Monday that the prison custody of Momcilo Mandic, the owner of Manco company of Belgrade, who was arrested in Operation Sabre (police action against organized crime after assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic), had expired and that the Serbian Supreme Court had not extended his custody. As she said, Mandic’s custody expired on September 7 and the Serbian Supreme Court concluded that “there are no grounds for extending the custody”. Mandic was arrested during Operation Sabre on 13 April, on suspicion that, through the Belgrade branch of the Privredna Banka Srpsko Sarajevo, he had facilitated an illegal transfer of 6 million euro from the country. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Apprehension of Momcilo Mandic ordered if he appears in the BiH territory’ – Following a Belgrade court’s decision to release Momcilo Mandic from custody, the BiH State Prosecution Office ordered his apprehension if he appears in the BiH’s territory. |
| Police arrested three members of a criminal group in Sarajevo | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Police arrested three members of a criminal group’ – Three persons were arrested in Sarajevo yesterday on reasonable suspicion that they belong to an organised criminal group responsible for the planting of explosive devices in the courtyard of S.M., as well as for many other criminal acts. Sejfo Sehovic, Commander of Police Station Novo Sarajevo, explained that Sunday explosion actually represented a confrontation between two criminal groups, adding that more information will be available in two days. |
War crimes | |
| RS submits report on Srebrenica to Human Rights Chamber
| BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Srebrenica case in Human Rights Chamber’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Republika Srpska Government delivered report on Srebrenica’– RS representatives on Monday confirmed that they had submitted the final report on all relevant information on the fate of 7,000 Srebrenica victims and the location of their graves to the Human Rights Chamber. The report should include information on the locations of mass graves and the results of the investigation into the events in Srebrenica in July 1995. The deadline for submitting the report set by the Human Rights Chamber expired on Sunday. Representatives of the Human Rights Chamber confirmed that they had received the report and that it will be translated over the next few days. After that, the chamber will give its final verdict on the report. |
| Srebrenica’s battery factory /Potocari memorial | Blic pg. 6 ‘Srebrenica to stay without battery factory’ – “High Representative Paddy Ashdown’s decision which says that the ownership of Battery factory has to be transferred to Srebrenica – Potocari foundation could not be implemented by the deadline, 25 September,” director of Battery factory in Srebrenica, Radomir Zekic, says. “Head of OHR Srebrenica, Charlie Powell, who is familiar with the issue, agrees that this decision could not be implemented within the deadline, promising he would ask Ashdown to prolong the deadline,” Zekic adds. He says that the factory will be handed over to the foundation when all conditions are fulfilled – to compensate workers for losing their jobs, owners of 55% of factory’s capital and users of factory’s premises. Zekic says that the Commission for compensation formed by the RS Government has not informed the factory’s leadership on steps taken so far in regard to these issues, that condition the implementation of OHR’s decision. Blic pg. 7 ‘It has been confirmed that Clinton will cut the ribbon’ – reports that the ceremony of opening of the Potocari memorial will cost some 465,000 KM, that will be provided by the entities’ governments. It has also been confirmed that former US President Bill Clinton will open the memorial centre on 20 September. |
Economic/social issues | |
| BiH Elektroprivreda must import electricity
| Oslobodjenje front page ‘BiH Elektroprivreda must import electricity’ – The BiH Elektroprivreda is forced to allocated money for extraordinary purchase of 100,000 tons of coal for the needs of the Tuzla Thermo-Electric power plant, as well as import of 57 million kilowatt hrs. of the power. According to a rough estimation, these purchase will requires approximately 8 million KM. |
| VL: Mijo Anic on Report on violating embargo on export of weapons to Iraq | Vecernji List (p 2, “Report with political background”, by Zdenko Jurilj) carries the former FBiH Minister of Defense Mijo Anic as saying that this is probably about a politically motivated Report as, during his tenure and especially after September 11 in New York and after the “Orao” affair, there were constant attempts to impose guilt for export of weapons from military factories from FBiH. He reminds of 2 Ministry of Defense’s inspections that were carried out none of which proved embargo was violated by FBiH. Saying he fears no legal responsibility for his acts, Anic says that, should it be proven that the Report content is true, the responsible ones should bear responsibility. |
| DL on solid waste disposal in Mostar | Reminding that only some 20 days are left in order to fulfill the conditions that the World Bank (WB) has set before the Mostar City Council in order for Mostar to get a 14 million KM loan for the solid waste disposal, Dnevni List (p 15, “Strategy of successful business and paying back the loan”, by S.B.) says that the City and Cantonal officials have been negotiating the issue with the WB for 3 years already. Explaining what the WB project is about (not merging of the 2 existing companies), Zarko Markic, the Head of Mostar City Administration’s Infrastructure Department, says for DL that the issue is not just about the solid waste disposal but that the failure to pass adequate decisions bring into question the historic solution for sewage system in Mostar. On the same issue, DL (p 15, “Coalition misinforms the public”, by D.L.) carries a reaction by Ivan Musa, the president of Mostar City Council, to the recent press release of the CD Coalition regarding the last City Council’s session. Musa denies any conclusions regarding the WB project were adopted at the last session. That is exactly why the HDZ caucus at the very same session demanded that a new session be convoked urgently and with the same agenda. On the same issue Slobodna Dalmacija (page 16, “Obstruction of CD Coalition”, by Z. Zekic) carries President of the HDZ Caucus Jadranko Lovric as saying that with many songs of praise and empty phrases the obstruction of CD Coalition representatives continue and finally this results in the obstruction of Bosniak representatives. |
| Fatnik Polje tunnel construction | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Fog in the tunnel’ – The Task Force for review of construction works at Fatnik Polje tunnel has not detected a single reason, owing to which the works at tunnel should not resume. One of the Task Group members noted that the team has not yet reviewed the contracts of payment with “Hidrogradnja” and London firm “EFT”. Another group, comprised of international experts, is performing review separately from the Republika Srpska Government Task Force, although it was planned that these two groups should perform the task together. Final decision on this issue should be made at the end of this month, after reports of both groups are reviewed. |
| Stirokart to sue RS Direction for privatisation | Blic pg. 6 – The management and Steering Board of the Stock Corporation ‘Stirokart’ Srbac have decided to sue the Republika Srpska Direction for Privatisation because of the sale of 30 percent of the state capital at the Banja Luka bourse on 22 August at the price of 210,000 KM. The initial price of stocks was only 7,484 KM and according to experts from ‘Stirokart’ it was smaller than the real value. “When we found that the RS Direction for Privatisation decided to sell 30 percent of the capital through the Banja Luka bourse at so low price, we immediately reacted,” director Goran Racic said on Monday. “The Steering Board has submitted a request to a competent court for the stoppage of further privatisation process, but because of holidays, a court did not reconsider the request,” Racic said. He added that a decision of the Assembly of Stockholders, which is the only one authorised to adopt financial reports, also was not respected. The Assembly of Stockholders made a decision at the end of July on the coverage of the losses from earlier period at the burden of the main capital and reserves, which the Direction did not respect, but it used the information for determination of the initial price on the basis of the balance of the company on 31 December last year. According to that balance, Stirokart had the loss of 1.3 million KM. |
| Trkulja on losses of drought | Blic pg. 7 ‘Damages of drought 250 million KM’ – Losses of drought in RS are estimated at 250 million KM. RS Minister of Agriculture Rodoljub Trkulja said that the Government could not compensate these enormous damages of drought, but it had provided assistance of 7 million KM for sowing in the coming fall. |
Education | |
| OSCE on education reform
| Dnevni List (page 4, “Beecroft: Common Core Curriculum protects right to linguistic culture”, by Fena) carries Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Beecroft, as saying that common core curriculum protects the possibility for the classes to be organized according to a particular curriculum, adding that “what is not protected is any sort of segregation”. Commenting on last weekend’s HDZ Declaration, Beecroft said some positive elements were noted bearing in mind that it acknowledged administrative unification was a fact and that one should carry on in line with BiH’s commitments towards the IC and BiH citizens. Vecernji List (page 4, “Unification of schools is a must”, by Zdenko Jurilj) carries OSCE Deputy Spokesperson, Zinaida Delic, as saying the OSCE has still not received HDZ BiH’s conclusions on education reform which were passed at the party’s Main Board session. She added the OSCE sticks to its principles defined in the Joint Strategy. Asked about much dust stirred on the issue in media, Delic replied that media often in their reports did not make it clear what the Document is about. VL adds that OSCE did not announce any possibility of sanctions in case HDZ Main Board’s conclusions are found to be in collision with the documents that were earlier signed under HDZ’s auspices. |
| HNC teachers’ strike | Dnevni List (page 15, “One out of five Union’s demands fulfilled”, by Z. Skoko) quotes Slavko Laus, the president of the Primary Education Unions (Croat), as saying that the Union is to continue the strike as signing of the branch collective agreement is only 1 out of 5 of their demands forwarded to the Government. He has said that teachers would return to work only on the conditions that their July salaries are paid, that 20% of their September are paid by October 1 and that final pedagogic standards are made in 2 months’ time. Sarajevo media also covered the issue. |
Incidents | |
| Drunk officials of Russian Embassy were shooting at people and policemen in Sarajevo
| Vecernji List (front page “Drunk Russian diplomats were shooting at citizens” and page 20, “Drunk Russian diplomats were shooting and running away from Police”, by Eldina Medunjanin) carries that two days ago two drunk officials of the Russian Embassy in Sarajevo were shooting from an airgun in a rented house located in Sarajevo settlement Kosevo. When their neighbor Rusmir Niksic tried to warn them to stop with such behavior one Russian wounded him in the neck. VL also says that they continued with their game with the guns even when the Police came to the spot and then the Russians tried to run away. According to Spokesperson of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior Dragan Miokovic since these officials have a certain degree of immunity, representatives of the Russian Embassy promised that they will hand over their names and statements and then the MoI will inform the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Russian Embassy apologizes for this incident and after the investigation they will decide on further steps. Dnevni List (page 44, “Officials of Russian Embassy were shooting at policemen”, not signed) also covered this incident. |
| Bank robbery in Banjaluka | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6, ‘Robbers took KM 24 thousand’, Blic pg. 6, Vecernje Novosti pg. 21 – At 07:15 hrs yesterday morning, two unidentified persons robbed Bobar Bank at Square of King Petar I Karadjoredjevic in Banjaluka. Wearing masks, the robbers took away around 25 thousand KM and fled. Members of Banjaluka PSC CID investigated the spot. No comment was made. |
| Desecration of graveyard in Sanski Most | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Orthodox Graveyard desecrated’ – In the time period from 28 August to 7 September 2003, unidentified perpetrator(s) desecrated the Orthodox graveyard in the village of Dosenovic near Sanski Most. The investigation into the incident is underway. |