News Headlines
- Anti-corruption team, led by Frowick, meets with Silajdzic
- Silajdzic to be guest on second TV BiH newscast
- Frowick and Pardew meet Bicakcic
- Petritsch to advocate and practice the concept of responsibility
- Mehrez Audouni has been BiH citizen since 1997 – BiH Foreign Ministry
- HDZ still requests revision of BiH citizenship and banishing of Mudjahedin from BiH
- SDP considers Audouni case to be serious blow to BiH credibility and requests Kreso schedule Parliament session to address naturalised BiH citizens
- NHI comments on issuing of BiH passport to Audouni
- BiH Federation delegation attends to session of European Council Parliament
- Law on BiH institutions, organizations and association only law that waits adoption – roundtable on conditions for BiH entering European Council
- UN General Assembly holds session
- International news
- Problems with gas distribution resolved
- Issuing of new privatization certificates starts on Tuesday
- Silajdzic meets representatives of Kuwaiti Investment Agency
- Decreasing BiH-Croatian economic trade imbalance – issue of newscast
- Co-operation between farmers from BiH Federation and RS removes entity boundaries
- ‘Promoting positive message through the media’ seminar begins in Sarajevo
- Sport
- Weather
- Interview with Silajdzic
News Summary
Anti-corruption team, lead by Frowick, meets with Silajdzic
The US anti-corruption team led by Ambassadors James Pardew and Robert Frowick conducted their first round of discussion with BiH officials. The main issues discussed with BiH Presidency Chairman Ante Jelavic was refugee return, the problems that block foreign investments and BiH citizenship of foreign citizens. Although there were rumors that there will be no investigation into corruption in BiH, after meeting with the Co-chairmen of the BiH Council of Ministers, Frowick stated an investigation would take place. Frowick’s task will be to support implementation of the Dayton agreement together with US Ambassador to BiH Thomas Miller. Over the next several months the work of this team will be focused on the refugee return process, economic restructuring, privatization and other important and necessary changes. BiH Council of Ministers Co-chairman Haris Silajdzic stated that he hopes that before the end of the year, this team will help BiH to establish the legal framework necessary for further development of BiH. Silajdzic stated that there would of course be all kinds of misuse and corruption if a state does not have boundaries, institutions and laws. Silajdzic added that it would be better for all those who have not fulfilled their tasks to prepare to leave the political scene, including him, because what is happening now is not in the interest of BiH nor its citizens.
02:33
Petritsch to advocate and practice concept of responsibility
High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch stated at the Peace Implementation Council session that he would advocate and practice a concept of responsibility. In his speech in Brussels, Petritsch stated that current life of the Dayton Agreement in BiH is reaching the breaking point and that the time has come for the BiH bodies of authority to take responsibility in resolving problems. Petritsch used his authority to annul the proposed appointments of BiH Federation Minister of Justice and Deputy Interior Minister. In his statement, Petritsch said that the procedure for this situation is clear and was discussed with Bicakcic and Covic on 15 September. Petritsch concluded by having said that the procedure has not been implemented and the nominations therefore are abolished. He added he expects the BiH Federation President to submit the names of candidates for his renewed consideration.
01:03
Mehrez Audouni has been BiH citizen since 1997 – BiH Foreign Ministry
After four days of speculation the BiH Foreign Ministry confirmed that Mehrez Audouni is a BiH citizen and has received BiH citizenship on 23 December 1997. In its statement the Ministry says that Audouni fulfilled all conditions for citizenship, including the fact that he spent 2 years in BiH, that as a member of the BiH Army, Audouni signed an oath of loyalty and respect to the Constitution, Law and other BiH regulations. The statement adds that there is no data on crimes committed by Audouni and if it is proven that this arrested person is the same person, the Ministry will start an initiative to deny him the citizenship. Assistant to the BiH Foreign Minster Fuad Sabeta stated that according to the data they have, there is likelihood that this Ministry did not issue the passport to Audouni. The BiH Federation Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday that CNB Interpol from Ankara requested verification of the passport’s authenticity.
03:09
‘Promoting positive message through the media’ seminar begins in Sarajevo
A six-day seminar on promoting positive messages through media is being held in Sarajevo’s Police House, sponsored by the Luxembourg Government. Media and education representatives attended the seminar, which was organized under the framework of the Royaumont process and BAHAI organization. Representatives held a press conference and stated that a united and extended Europe with the development of peace, stability, tolerance and dialogue is the main goal of the project.
01:14
Interview with Silajdzic
Appearing as a special guest on TV BiH, BiH Council of Ministers Co-chairman Haris Silajdzic stated that “corruption is the consequence and not the cause” of problems in BiH. “The cause is lack of BiH institutions and laws, we could have had them, and we did insist on everything that one state needs to function.” Silajdzic said quote “forces that are against the Dayton Agreement succeed in postponing BiH’s creation of a framework for the country” end of quote. Silajdzic stated he agrees with US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke that the political forces that obstruct Dayton should step out of the political scene. Silajdzic also stated that quote “instead of being at the forefront of Stability Pact implementation and a generator of progress, Bosnia is going to be an obstacle to the Pact because the forces that obstruct Dayton are still here and because the International Community did not have enough power to confront them. These forces want to continue achieving by political means what genocide started.” end of quote. As regards refugee return, Silajdzic said “people cannot return without the use of force because if they are prevented (from returning) by force, then force should be used to return them (to their homes).” He said that he quote “is not ready to listen to how the sides do not want to implement agreement, it must be known which sides, because I’m not on that side and neither is the CD Coalition. If delegates in the Parliament decide, for example as the SRS delegates did, that what is agreed in Madrid is not obligatory but mere a suggestion, then it is clear what it is all about.” end of quote.
12:20