Friday
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Election silence started | Robbery in Vitez | Ombudsmen meet Wnendt | Case of Todorovic couple |
| Security during elections | Demographics of BiH | USK docs confiscated | Elections tomorrow |
| Post office vehicle robbed | Del Ponte in | USC economic crime | Old currency savings in RS |
| TC police caught robbers | Trial to Blagojevic finished | Robbery in Vitez | BL Mljekara privatisation |
Saturday
| NTV HAYAT (18,55 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Flash news from BiH | Low elections turnout | Low elections turnout | Mauzer’s house searched |
| Return to | Elections in | Bush vs. Kerry | Elections in RS |
| Kragulj suspended | Elections in | Elections in | Election silence in |
| Face to Face | Iraqi issues | Elections in | Matijasevic in |
Saturday
| Oslobodjenje | Citizens directly elect mayors; Criminals judged before |
| Dnevni Avaz | Let’s vote; Terzic: We are trying to soften IMF’s stance on budget |
| Dnevni List | Meeting with Cardinal Puljic at Archbishop’s residence: Effendi Ceric distances himself from Islamists |
| Vecernji List | Elections: 4065 polling stations opening |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Local elections today |
| Nezavisne Novine | Citizens are electing; Search for TWRA documentation in Bihac; Head of RS Government Secretariat for Relations with the Hague Zivorad Mijatovic: Wartime archives must be forwarded to the Hague Tribunal |
| Glas Srpske | No Head, no aid |
| EuroBlic | Mladen Ivanic: It is time for the High Representative to leave BiH |
Sunday
| Oslobodjenje | Everybody celebrates victory; Podzic: Volunteers for |
| Dnevni Avaz | SDA leads in majority of |
| Dnevni List | Catastrophic turnout of voters |
| Vecernji List | New local authorities elected |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
Municipal elections 2004 | |
| Election Commission announces first preliminary results
| Dnevni Avaz Sun cover splash ‘SDA leads in majority of Sarajevo municipalities’, pg 2 ‘Votes for 45 BiH municipalities counted’ by L. Sinanovic, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Tonight, more complete results of the local elections’ by A. Terzic, also mentioned on cover, pgs 2-5 – Early Saturday morning, the BiH Election Commission announced the preliminary results of the municipal elections for municipal assemblies in 45 municipalities in BiH, out of which only 11 had votes counted in all polling stations. According to these, SDA won in majority of Oslobodjenje Sun cover splash ‘Everybody celebrates victory’ not signed – Oslobodjenje comments that nothing major has changed with regard to political powers since the last municipal elections. Daily however notes that Party for BiH has won less than previously, that certain changes did occur in municipalities with Croat majority and that the biggest surprise was SNSD’s victory in |
| Low turnout in elections
| NTV Hayat Sat, RTRS Sat, FTV Sat, BHT 1 Sat, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sun, pgs 10-11 ‘Citizens not interested in voting’, by D. Pasic, Dnevni List, Sun, front ‘Catastrophic turnout of voters’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Lowest turnout of voters in history of democratic elections’, by Erna Mackic – All media concluded that the turnout at the elections was very low. BIH Election Commission stated that 34, 27 % of the voters voted until NOTE: Main news broadcasts of the TV station broadcast results of turnout as given by the Election Commission at the press conference on 18.00. Note that at the press conference in BHT 1 Sat, Vecernji List, Sun, front and pgs 2-3 ‘New local authorities elected’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL and BHT 1 note that the local elections in BiH are marked with low turnout of voters, especially of younger population. BHT 1 Sat – This year only 2% of BiH citizens living abroad registered for elections, 10 times less than 4 years ago. Vecernji List, Sat, front pg ‘Elections: 4065 polling stations opening’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Test of political mood in BiH’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL on Saturday notes that these elections are different to previous elections because of facts that the citizenry will be for the first time electing heads of municipalities directly and because these are first local elections that are independently organized and funded by domestic institutions. RHB, BHT 1, FTV, RTRS on Friday also focused at the fact that these were the first elections entirely run by BiH authorities. Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Let’s go to vote’, pg 3 ‘Citizens electing 139 mayors for the first time’ by L. Sinanovic, Oslobodjenje Sat cover splash ‘Citizens directly elect mayors’, pgs 4-5 ‘4065 polling stations for 2.322.687 voters’ by A. Terzic – Pre-election coverage. |
| Security situation during elections satisfactory
| Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘Voting in Kozluk ceased’, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 2 ‘Incident in Kozluk’ – The official in BiH Election Commission has announced that due to the security incident [which included a fight and shredding voting lists], a polling station in Kozluk in Zvornik municipality was closed down. If municipal election board concludes that elections rules were breached, the elections will repeat in this polling station. Slobodna Dalmacija, Sun, pgs 10-11 ‘Citizens not interested in voting’, by D. Pasic, back pg ‘Municipal elections in BiH without incidents’, by B. Kristo, Dnevni List, Sun, front ‘Catastrophic turnout of voters’, pgs 4-5 ‘Lowest turnout of voters in history of democratic elections’, by Erna Mackic – The security situation during the elections was satisfactory, however there were 5 incidents, namely in Citluk, Ljubuski, Celinac, Bratunac and Siroki Brijeg. In first four cases, it was about violation of public law and order, whilst in case of Bratunac, a person attacked the president of (local) election commission. FTV Sat, BHT 1 Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 2 ‘False alarm on planted bomb’ by Onasa – The incident occurred in Capljina municipality, where the polling station was opened with 2 hours of delay because of the false bomb tip. RTRS Sat, NTV Hayat Sat – assess that there were no serious incidents during the elections. RHB, FTV on Friday reported that FBiH Interior Ministry and cantonal MoIs established HQ in charge of providing security during the elections. According to BHT 1, more than 10.000 police officers were engaged in providing security. |
| Kragulj suspended from mayoral run in
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Ljubisa Kragulj suspended from elections’ by A.T. – The BiH Election Commission has upheld the decision of the Election Council for Appeals by which candidate of the SDS for Banja Luka mayor Ljubisa Kragulj has been decertified for candidacy for that position. The Chair of BiH Election Commission, Vehid Sehic, stated for Oslobodjenje that Kragulj had violated the rules from Article 7 of the BiH Election Law by using inflammatory language during a show at TV Simic [for details, see Media Round-up for 15 September]. Kragulj has a right to appeal to the BiH Court Appeal Chamber. The decision was also made to suspend Sevalija Tanic, independent candidate for Brcko Assembly, on the same grounds, and to penalize RS Radical Party with 10.000 KM fine for speech held by Tomislav Nikolic in Bijeljina. Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘Ljubisa Kragulj’s candidacy suspended’ by Az. Malagic – SDS has also been fined with 10.000 KM due to Kragulj’s appearance in TV Simic. Kragulj’s candidacy was supported by SDS, PDP, Free Serb Party, Democratic Patriotic Party, SRS RS, SNS, SPAS and RS Pensioners Party. Oslobodjenje Sun pg 2 ‘ |
| Kragulj’s reaction to suspension
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘I struck organized mafia’ by M. Radetic – Ljubisa Kragulj commented that the decision to suspend his mayoral candidacy for |
| SNSD says it won over SDS in BL, Bijeljina, Trebinje | Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘SNSD won in Banja Luka’ by M.V., Oslobodjenje Sun pg 3 ‘SDS lost in Banja Luka, Trebinje and Bijeljina’ by V. Zivak – According to the SNSD’s unofficial information, the party won over SDS in Bijeljina, Trebinje and Banja Luka. In addition, SNSD says its mayoral candidates won in Rudo, Nevesinje, Laktasi, Celinac, and several other municipalities. |
| SDS says it won in 31 municipalities
| Oslobodjenje Sun pg 3 ‘SDS lost in |
| SDP says it regains primate in BIH
| Oslobodjenje Sun pg 3 ‘Mayors in Novo Sarajevo, Novi Grad, Cenar, |
| SDA celebrates ‘their biggest’ victory
| Oslobodjenje Sun pg 3 ‘Tihic announced victory’ by Az. Kalamujic – SDA leader Sulejman Tihic announced party’s victory in majority of Sarajevo municipalities, adding its mayoral candidates did well also in Center and Novo Sarajevo. SDA said it won in several municipalities of Tuzla Canton, Gradacac [however, SDP won mayoral run]. Party also did better in Zenica Doboj Canton in comparison with last elections. SDA and its mayoral candidates also lead in Mostar municipalities with Bosniak majority, and won in Konjic and Jablanica. Tihic announced SDA won in Srebrenica and Osmanici in RS. Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 2 ‘Tihic: This is our biggest victory!’ by A. Basic – SDA Vice President Bakir Izetbegovic said that party was never stronger. |
| SBiH says it stayed second strongest party in FBiH
| Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 2 ‘In the biggest number of municipalities, authorities cannot be formed without us’ by E.S. – The leader of Party for BiH, Safet Halilovic, stated that he was satisfied with the elections preliminary results. He added that in the biggest number of municipalities it will not be possible to form authorities without SBiH. He added that SBiH is still the second strongest party in FBiH. |
| HDZ claims Mostar mayor will be their member
| Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘Colak claims HDZBiH will have a future Mostar mayor’ by F. Vele – HDZ leader Barisa Colak announced that this party has won majority votes in 15 FBiH municipalities: Ravno, prozor, osusje, Orasje, Domaljevac Samac, Citluk, Siroki Brijeg, Busovaca, Kiseljak, Ljubuski, Stolac, Vitez, Kupres and Capljina. He added that the party did better in Mostar than in the last municipal elections, stating that he believes that future Mostar mayor will be from HDZ. |
| Covic: elected officials are alternative to HR
| Oslobodjenje Sun pg 9 “we’ll have capable people”, Vecernji List, Sun, pg 3 ‘Elected officials are alternative to High Representative’, by zk – Questioned to comment on journalist’s remark whether there is a point in having local elections when the foreign administration in BiH has broad authorities, the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, says the citizenry in BiH has to use their right and vote, thus showing that BiH has people who can assume the responsibility and lead the country. “It is time that powers of the High Representative of this magnitude ceased, and that people who have the responsibility assume the obligation to implement decisions”, said Covic. |
| SD: ‘War criminal – head of municipality?’
| Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 13 ‘War criminal – head of municipality?’, by Z. Z. – The author wonders how it is possible that a Bosnian Serb, Simo Zaric, who was sentenced by the ICTY to 6 years imprisonment because of crimes committed against the Croats and Bosniaks in northern Bosnia between 1992-1995 and who served his sentence, is running for the office of Head of Bosanski Samac municipality. SD notes that the bizarre situation was picked up by the Reuters agency. |
| McElhaney says direct elections for mayor of great importance for BiH
| Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 5 ‘Direct election of mayors is very important for BiH’s development!’, mentioned on cover, by Lana Sinanovic – In an interview to DA, US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney stressed that the direct elections of mayors were of great importance for development of BiH. McElhaney visited several polling stations, and commented what he saw saying that elections were well-done. |
| VL op-eds on elections
| Vecernji List, Sat, pg 2 ‘They are not the American dream, however…one should get out and vote’, by Zoran Kresic – carries an op-ed in which the author, despite criticizing the electoral system for the local elections in BiH, calling it complicated because of preferential system of voting, called on the citizenry to get out and vote for responsible politicians. Vecernji List, Sat, pg 6 ‘Deceptive possibility of choice’, by Ivica Pjanic – The author notes that the unsolved national issue(s) in BiH and unstable organization of authority in BiH have already determined the winners of local elections, which diminishes the real importance of elections. |
War crimes | |
| Matijasevic visits NATO: RS will fulfil obligations towards ICTY
| Oslobodjenje Sun pg 7 ‘We will fulfil all obligations towards the hague’ by Fena, Dnevni List, Sun, pg 2 ‘RS’ obligations towards The Hague will be implemented’, mentioned on front, by NINA – The newly appointed RS Minister of Internal Affairs, Darko Matijasevic, visited the NATO HQ in Brussels to talk to NATO member countries’ ambassadors about the arrest of war criminals. According to Minister Matijasevic, all obligations of BiH, RS and his ministerial obligations, will be fully implemented, claiming there is a political will within the RS authorities to cooperate with the Tribunal in NTV Hayat, RTRS Sat, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 8 ‘I have no doubts when it comes to arrest of Karadzic and Mladic’ by Tanjug – also covered Matijasevic’s visit to NATO and his statement. |
| Del Ponte in
| RHB, BHT 1 Fri, FTV Fri, RTRS Fri, Nezavisne Novine, Saturday, pg. 4 ‘Del Ponte: cases before the domestic courts in 2005’ by Agencies – Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on Friday stated that the countries of former Yugoslavia should accept ICTY as their court but she also said some cases would be transferred to domestic courts next year already. Del Ponte attended international conference “Confronting the past: post-conflict strategies for truth, justice and reconciliation in the region of former |
| Fassier in | NTV Hayat Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 8 ‘BiH must cooperate with the ICTY’ by Fena,Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 9 ‘Key to everything for BiH is the cooperation with the Tribunal’, – Senior Deputy High Representative, Bernard Fassier, who participated the abovementioned in Belgrade, pointed out to the undoubted need to have all war crimes suspects at large arrested. He added that the cooperation with the ICTY is a key demand for both BiH and SCG’s admission to Euro-Atlantic integrations. Nezavisne Novine, Saturday, pg. 4 ‘Serbia will cooperate with the Hague’ by Beta – SiCG Minister for Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajic on Friday told SDHR Fassier that Serbia is determined to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal. Fassier informed Minister Ljajic on the establishment of a department for war crimes in BiH and also informed him on the importance of the Srebrenica Commission report. |
| NN int with Mijatovic on RS archive demanded by ICTY
| Nezavisne Novine, Saturday, cover ‘Head of RS Government Secretariat for Relations with the Hague Zivorad Mijatovic: Wartime archives must be forwarded to the Hague Tribunal’ and pg. 6 ‘Demands of the Hague Tribunal must be respected’ by V. Popovic – In an interview to NN, the Head of the RS Secretariat for Relations with the Hague Tribunal, Zivorad Mijatovic, has said that, by October 6, the Secretariat will inform the Hague Tribunal on what wartime documentation the RS competent institutions have forwarded so far. He thinks that all war crimes indictees should surrender in order for RS not to be blamed for failure to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal. Asked whether he thinks domestic courts would act impartially in war crimes cases, Mijatovic said: ‘We do expect from domestic courts to be impartial, but we are not sure whether this will be the case. Domestic courts should not be a stumbling stone. We do not know whether these will be able to resist various pressures’. |
| RS MoI searches Mauzer’s house looking for war archive
| RTRS Sat – RS Interior Ministry searched a family house of Ljubisa Savic Mauzer, former chief of RS police administration killed in 2000 in Bijeljina. The search was carried out as a part of efforts to recover the war archive of the RS Supreme Commander demanded by the ICTY. Nothing was found. Oslobodjenje Sun back page ‘The search of Ljubisa Savic Mauzer’s house’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 5 ‘House of killed Ljubisa Savic Mauzer searched’ by Tanjug – also reported on the search. |
| Dutch Govt yet to respond to Srebrenica survivors’ lawyers’ offer
| Vecernji List, Sat, pg 4 ‘Lawsuit before Court of Justice on January 1’, by Eldina Medunjanin – A team of lawyers that represents survivors from Srebrenica is yet to receive a reply from the Dutch Government to an offer to pay financial compensations to the survivors in a out-of-court settlement. In case the Dutch Government does not reply, the lawyers will be filing a lawsuit against the |
| NIN on Mladic’s whereabouts | Dnevni List, pg 27 ‘Ratko Mladic did not want to go to Siberia’, mentioned on front, not signed – According to the Belgrade-based ‘NIN’ magazine, general Ratko Mladic is currently moving in areas of eastern Bosnia and western Serbia. According to NIN’s well-informed sources, Mladic even established contacts with Radovan Karadzic and his aides, but never established any ‘cooperation’ because it turned out that readiness to safeguard Karadzic was greater than to guard Mladic. |
Judicial issues / Investigations | |
| EU warns politicians’ pressures against
| FTV Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 4 ‘Some politicians do not respect BiH Court’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘Politicians’ attacks on BiH Court are unacceptable’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine, Saturday, pg. 4 ‘Political attacks on BiH Court are unacceptable’ by Srna, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 2 ‘Concern over lack of respect for BiH Court’, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 14 ‘No democracy without rule of law’, by D. Pasic – Chiefs of missions of EU countries in BiH expressed their concerns because some BiH politicians do not respect the competence of the BiH Court, which undermines the rule of law in BiH. Chiefs of missions underline that the rule of law is a basis of every European democracy and key to integration processes into EU, stating that political attacks (on |
| Update to confiscated Una-Sana Cantonal Government’s documentation
| Nezavisne Novine, Saturday, cover ‘Search for TWRA documentation in Bihac’ and pg. 3 ‘BiH Prosecution is searching for TWRA documentation’ by A. Sisic and M. Kaliman, EuroBlic, Sunday, pg. 3 ‘Bosnian traces of Bin Laden’ not signed – The article claims several collocutors close to the State Prosecutor’s Office and investigation bodies have confirmed that the search action at the Government of Una-Sana Canton premises has been undertaken with an aim to confiscate documentation of the Agency for aid to Third World Muslims (TWRA). TWRA was suspected of aiding a net of terrorist organisations in the world. The Head of the Special Department of BiH Prosecution for Fight against Organised Crime, John McNair, on Friday refused to comment on these claims. FTV Fri, BHT 1 Fri – Current USK Prime Minister Ismet Kumalic said that part of documents confiscated were from 1995-1998 period, however added that he was not sure what is being investigated. Confiscated documentation refers to period when Mirsad Veladzic was the Governor of USK. Cantonal Interior Ministry wasn’t included in the action. Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 11 ‘Investigation on irregularities in ‘Unsko-sanske sume’?’ by S. Dzanic – DA officially learns that confiscated documentation refers to the government’s decision with the regard to ‘Unsko-sanske sume’ company. |
| Update to Hercegovacka bank case, reactions
| Vecernji List, Sat, pg 3 ‘McNair did not offer Rupcic eight years in exchange for confession’, by Zoran Kresic – According to Marko Martinovic, a lawyer of former director of ‘Hercegovina osiguranje’ Miroslav Rupcic who is charged with abuse of ‘Hercegovacka bank’ funds, the Head of BiH Prosecution’s Special department for organized crime and corruption, John McNair, did not offer a deal to his client in exchange for confession. However, VL learns from sources close to the BiH Prosecution that McNair originally offered Rupcic a deal, meaning that Rupcic would be sentenced to 9 years in prison, which Rupcic had rejected, saying that he would accept a 6-year sentence. Apparently, McNair’s last offer was a prison sentence of 8 years. VL goes on to say that a source close to the Prosecution and Mr. Martinovic himself confirmed that Rupcic would meet McNair on Tuesday, however Martinovic does not want to reveal details pertaining to the future meeting. VL also reports that Ante Jelavic, who planned to defend himself alone after his former lawyer had resigned, decided to hire Dragan Barbaric, who was involved in the Leutar case. Barbaric will be meeting with Jelavic on Monday, after which he will be taking a decision whether to represent Jelavic or not. Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 8 ‘Marinovic: Settlement between BiH Prosecution and defence is not excluded’ by F. Vele – Martinovic stated for DA that the settlement with Prosecution was not excluded, however confirmed that McNair has not made any offer. |
| SD on Prce settlement
| Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 2 ‘Prce will charge Jelavic and others’, mentioned on front, by Zlatko Tulic – The author insists that Miroslav Prce was sentenced a milder sentence because he and Prosecution made a deal which specifies that Prce offered the Prosecution valuable information about other incriminated persons in the case. As for Jelavic’s destiny, the author insists the trials to him is a political lynch, because the indictment more often mentions him as a political figure, rather than someone who signed orders. |
| SD: Minister Halilovic illegally appoints director of administration in FBiH MoI
| Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 12 ‘Minister of Police breaks laws’, mentioned on front, by Zlatko Tulic – The daily claims that the FBiH Interior Minister, Mevludin Halilovic, illegally appointed one Medina Kocan to the office of Director of administration in the FBiH MoI, ignoring opinions of the Independent Board and OHR. SD reminds that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, specifically banned any appointments to such offices without abiding by the applicable procedure, meaning all candidates must be verified by the Independent Board. SD adds that Kocan does not meet a single criteria for the job, apart from being an SDA member. |
Other political issues | |
| Ivanic on HR: It is time to HR to leave BiH | EuroBlic, Saturday, cover ‘Mladen Ivanic: It is time for the High Representative to leave BiH’ and pg. RS2 ‘Time for the High Representative to leave’ by Srna, Glas Srpske, Saturday, pg. 2 ‘Time to say good-bye’ by S. Radjen-Todoric – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic thinks it was ‘the time for the High Representative of the international community to leave BiH’. In an interview to BN TV, Ivanic emphasised that the High Representative is transforming from an interpreter of ‘the Ivanic said: ‘We do not need a high representative that has the authority to remove and impose laws, but we need a high representative of EU that would help us to harmonise our laws with European standards’. |
| SDHR Wnendt meets Cardinal Puljic
| Oslobodjenje Sat pg 4 ‘Guaranteed right to the national identity’ by Fena, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 2 ‘OHR requests Cardinal Puljic’s help’, by dja, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 12 ‘Same rights for every people’, by Dinko Pasic – The Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, met on Friday with the Archbishop of Vrhbosnia, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, discussing a broad number of issues of concern to the Croats in BiH. SDHR Wnendt underlined that rights to cultural, religious, linguistic and other national identity must be guaranteed for all BiH’s citizens, no differences in criteria would be accepted. He added that the Rule of Law is basis for any European democracy and a key for the EU integration process. “The Rule of Law is what guarantees equal rights for all peoples, it’s vital if business are to invest, and vital if individuals are to get protection and justice” said SDHR Wnendt, adding that nobody can be allowed to be above the law. On education reforms Ambassador Wnendt explained that schools in BiH can be organized to reconcile two different priorities of education: preserving and developing one’s own identity while promoting mutual understanding and trust between the different ethnic backgrounds. SDHR Wnendt underlined the importance of fulfilling the requirements of the EU Feasibility and called on Cardinal Puljic to continue to support European values and European goals in BiH. |
| SDHR Wnendt meets Ombudsmen
| Nezavisne Novine, Saturday, pg. 9 ‘They want salaries amounting 5,000 KM’ by D. R., – The Ombudsmen Office has confirmed that three BiH Ombudsmen have not received their salaries for three months now, while employees of the ombudsmen Office in Sarajevo have received their salaries for the first time only couple of days ago. According to the article, the BiH Ministry of Finances have not accepted requests of Ombudsmen Vitomir Popovic, Safet Pasic and Mariofil Ljubic on doubling the amount of their salaries. They want their salaries to be equal to salaries of judges of the RHB, FTV Fri, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 9 ‘Ombudsmen must stay independent’ by Fena, Glas Srpske, Saturday, pg. 3 ‘Independence was put in jeopardy’ not signed – also covered Wnendt’s meeting with Ombudsmen. |
| DL int with Raguz on constitutional changes
| Dnevni List, Sat, pg 27 ‘Croats must create national infrastructure in BiH’, mentioned on front, by Ivica Glibusic – Carries an interview with the Speaker of BiH Parliament’s House of Representatives, Martin Raguz, in which he underlines limitations of the current constitutional organization of BiH, saying that the current set-up, which is in his personal opinion complicated, irrational, expensive and inefficient, represents an obstacle to joining European integration, which will be more evident in latter stages of talks with the EU. In that context, Raguz believes that the issue of constitutional changes will be opened after the local elections, noting that the domestic and international factors will tackle the issue more resolutely in the next two years. Questioned to comment on future position of the Croats in BiH, Raguz says the Croats in BiH must build a national infrastructure of BiH, including the scientific, cultural, political, media and economic infrastructure, which will secure dignity to the Croats in BiH and through which the Croats will be able to contribute to BiH. Raguz goes on to say that the task is not easy because there are tendencies to cement the current situation, which secures the Bosniak and Serb domination in the entities. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed calls on IC to impose changes to
| Oslobodjenje Sat pg ‘Threats similar to Karadzic’s’ op-ed by Mirko Sagolj – Op-ed refers to calls on to change the Dayton Peace Agreement, stressing that in many fields it is obvious that “Dayton has become irremovable obstacle for BiH to exit this situation.” Author reminds that even HR Paddy Ashdown and British Ambassador Ian Cliff say that Dayton is not long-term solution for BiH, and that it is up to local authorities to agree on changes. Op-ed furthers says that while Bosniak and Croat parties are in favour of this, RS parties strongly oppose giving an example of Dragan Cavic who warned in Belgrade that asking for DPA change could be dangerous [comparing this with threats made in early 90s by Radovan Karadzic.] Author concludes that it is not questionable that consensus of all three peoples is needed to change the Constitution, but reminded that RS was not created with the consensus either. “If IC could impose the |
| DL op-ed on constitutional changes
| Dnevni List, Sat, pg 30 ‘Bankruptcy of Dayton agreement?’, by Pejo Gasparevic – DL also notes that Bosniak and Croat politicians in the FBiH are becoming more vocal when it comes to the need for change of the Dayton Peace Accord, whilst the Serb politicians are the only ones who still resolutely defend the DPA. Welcoming the initiative aimed at carrying out changes to the DPA, the author says that a failure to carry out the changes would represent a trip to the past because the DPA, as it is, has been exhausted. |
| DA on appointments of ambassadors
| Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘Mandates to 31 ambassadors to expire in next year’ by M. Drinjakovic – DA learns that in the next year, the mandates to 31 BiH ambassadors will expire. Daily’s source in the BiH Foreign Affairs Ministry claims that the entire list carrying names of 31 ambassadors is to be replaced in the next year, adding that the changes should have happened already having in mind the short deadline for this. DA was not able to learn in BiH Presidency why the Presidency is late with the discussion on the appointments of the ambassadors. |
| UNDP survey on possibility of new conflicts in BiH
| Dnevni List, Sat, pg 9 ‘Croats are most peaceful people in BiH’, by Jurislav Petrovic – The daily carries excerpts of a survey that was conducted by the UNDP, which is related to possibility of re-opening of conflicts in BiH. Apparently, the interviewees were asked whether there would be new conflicts in BiH in case SFOR withdrew from the country. The survey was conducted in June and September 2004. The results show that the Bosniak interviewees (27,5% in June and 25,7% in September) believe there could be a new war in case SFOR withdrew. Results from the Serb interviewees are 28,1% for month of June, and 16,8% for month of September. Results for the Croat interviewees are 10,6% in June and 5,3% in September. |
Economic and social issues | |
| Association of old currency savings holders announce mass protests
| FTV Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 10 ‘Ultimatum to authorities’ – The Chair of the Association of the old currency savings holders, Svetozar Nisic, stated that the organization will organize mass protests unless the BiH authorities do something in order to solve theirs problems within two months. Nisic appealed to authorities to find a pay 200 KM per month to most vulnerable currency holders. RTRS Fri – RS owes over 774 million KM to its citizens for the old foreign currency savings. With the law on internal debt it is estimated that the amount will be paid in 30 years with the grace period of 21 years. |
| EC simplifies foreign aid rules
| BHT 1 Fri, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘Simplifying foreign aid’, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 5 ‘EU sees in BiH its future member state’ – The European Commission on Thursday has decided to replace the existing financial instruments for providing foreign aid with a simpler and more efficient framework, was announced by the EC Delegation to BiH on Friday. Instead of having numerous geographic and thematic instruments, which in time have turned into an ad hoc system, the new framework will consist of only six instruments, of which four are new. These are the pre-accession instrument for aid, the instrument for European neighborhood and partnership, the instrument of development and economic cooperation, and the instrument of stability. The two existing instruments, for humanitarian aid and macrofinancial aid, need not to be changed, and will be maintained. Concerning BiH, creating of a pre-accession instrument is of vital importance because it confirms support for BiH in the process of the EU enlargement as well as the EU’s commitment to view BiH as its future participating state. |
| Update to negotiations with IMF and WB
| Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘We are trying to soften IMF’s position on budget’, mentioned on cover, by F. Cardzic – On the first day of the annual World Bank and IMF conference held in Washington, BiH delegation lead by Prime Minister Adnan Terzic negotiated with the IMF high officials. “We have a chance to explain our position to the officials of these institutions. I think that, if anything else, we have opened the doors… so when IMF headed by Peter Doyle arrives to BiH for final negotiations on 11 October we could correct those things in the memorandum that we think are not that good,” Terzic stated explaining that this mainly refers to the IMF’s stance of the budget which doesn’t allow financing of the new institutions to be established. Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 5 ‘New stand-by arrangement with IMF under same conditions’ by Ad.H. – Daily learns that new stand-by arrangement with IMF will not have different treatment of BiH. |
| FTV on appointment of Milenko Sego
| FTV Fri – Following the appointment of the Milenko Sego to the position of the Chief BiH Auditor for BiH institutions, FTV carries that BiH presidency decided to award him with five years mandate, instead of a year as determined by the BiH Parliament. That way, says FTV, Chief Auditor for next five years will be HDZ candidate. Sego himself confirmed his five years mandate to Nezavisne Novine, but most Parliamentarians consider this as a fraud. “If that mandate is opposite to conclusions of [BiH] House of Representatives, we – as the Caucus – will start the initiative to… revoke… Presidency’s decision on appointing of Chief Auditor”- said Beriz Belkic, Deputy in BiH HoR. |
| Announcement of electricity price increase | Nezavisne Novine, Saturday, pg. 3 ‘More expensive electricity as of the New Year’ by P. K., EuroBlic, Saturday, pg. RS3 ‘They think electricity is too expensive’ by M. S., Glas Srpske, Saturday, pg. 4 ‘You pay what you spend’ by Lj. C – RS Government’s Work Group for development of a tariff system for electricity has suggested the implementation of a tariff system as of the beginning of the next year that would cause an increase in prices of electricity supplied to households. According to the Draft Tariff System, there would be no change in prices of electricity supplied to industry. |