Friday
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| | | | |
| Old bridge: statements | Rajko Banduka arrested | Rajko Banduka arrested | Rajko Banduka arrested |
| Pensions in FBiH | Kristina Silic convicted | BiH MoD on sell of arms | Board for BiH breweries |
| Rajko Banduka arrested | Train accident in | Wnendt supports BiH MoD | Train accident in |
Saturday
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA(18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| | | | RS Government initiative |
| Covic receives generals | Ashdown on education | Cultural manifestations | Control of oil derivates |
| World news | World news | Kerater camp anniversary | War crimes investigations |
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| BiH hymn without text | Ashdown on education | Statement by Cavic |
Saturday
| Oslobodjenje | |
| Dnevni Avaz | The victory of peace; Softic: Draskovic tries to cover up genocide; Personal assistant to Ratko Mladic arrested; Weapons arsenal found in a house of police officer |
| Dnevni List | New Old Bridge opened |
| Vecernji List | Old Bridge opened |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Bridge over Neretva again |
| Glas Srpske | Mostar: Old Bridge opened; SFOR action in Bijeljina: Former Mladic’s secretary arrested; Verdict before BiH Court: Kristina Silic on probation sentence |
| Nezavisne Novine | SFOR in Bijeljina detained sergeant major in pension: With bees against Dayton |
| Blic | Ceremony in Mostar: Old Bridge awakes hope; Rajko Banduka detained: SFOR arrested former secretary of Ratko Mladic |
Sunday
| Oslobodjenje | Following arrest of Saudin Celikovic: Whose arms, mines and mortar shells was hiding a police officer from Lukavac?; Miletic: Police prevented an assassination; Bishop Komarica: Assistance to Croats in Swiss banks; By the end of year, BiH Embassy in Sophia |
| Dnevni Avaz | Outstanding pension on Wednesday?; Mostarians woke up early to see the Old bridge; Bulgarian street in Sarajevo; Radovanovic: Retired generals have their place |
| Dnevni List | Group of twenty criminals responsible for attacks in Mostar |
| Vecernji List | Scandalous: As many as 1100 terrorists in Federation |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
Old Bridge opening | |
| Old bridge in Mostar opened on Friday
| Note: All media carried an extensive number of articles and reports covering the opening ceremony of the Old Bridge in Mostar. Summary contains just the selection of most widely covered ones. RHB Sat, BHTV 1 Sat, FTV Sat, Oslobodjenje Sat cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Old Bridge born again’, Dnevni Avaz Sat cover page ‘Victory of peace’, Vecernji List, Sat, front and pgs 2-3 ‘Old Bridge opened’, by Meri Musa, Dnevni List, front and pgs 4-5, ‘New Old Bridge opened’, by Nermin Bise, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, front and pg 3 ‘Bridge over Neretva again’, by Ivo Scepanovic, Miroslav Landeka, Nezavisne Novine pgs 3-4 ‘A solemn opening of Old Bridge’ mentioned on cover ‘Old Bridge opened’; EuroBlic cover and RSpg1 ‘Old Bridge awakes hope’ – The Old Bridge in Mostar was ceremoniously opened on Friday night in a ceremony which saw participation of more than 2000 performers and which was attended by more than 500 senior guests in VIP seats. Some 60 state delegations from all over the world attended the ceremony, including delegations of South Africa, Belarus and Philippines. The Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, organized a cocktail party for all the guests on Friday afternoon, during which he stated that the idea of Europe had won in Mostar and that the biggest victors were citizens of Mostar. The guests were also addressed by the High Representative for BiH/EU Special Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and EU External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten. The guests also included Prince Charles, Directors of the World Bank and UNESCO, Italian Foreign Minister, etc. RHB Fri, BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, RTRS Fri all carried features on the preparations of the ceremony and announcements of the programme. |
| Tihic: Reconstruction of Old Bridge represents a victory
| BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, FTV Sat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Europe passes a history exam in Mostar and BiH’, pg 5 ‘Citizens of Mostar won’, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 3 ‘Reconstructed Old Bridge as road-sign to future’, by f, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 4 ‘Europe passed historical and civilization exam in Mostar’, by D. Kozina – The Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, stated that the reconstruction of the Old Bridge represented a victory of BiH as a multiethnic and multicultural community, on which BiH’s history was based. He added that the Old Bridge should be a permanent road-sign to BiH’s future. |
| Ashdown remarks on Old Bridge
| RHB Fri, Nezavisne Novine pgs 3-4 ‘A solemn opening of Old Bridge’ mentioned on cover ‘Old Bridge opened’, inset ‘Symbol of reconciliation in BiH’, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 3 ‘Bridge that connects Europe and Islamic world’, by h – Paddy Ashdown, High Representative to BiH, stated that “the methodical shelling of this bridge symbolized something wider than just the destruction of an historic monument – world famous though it was. It also symbolised the destruction of human things – above all, of the thriving multiethnic communities for which Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina were once so equally famous. And its reconstruction also symbolizes the extraordinary progress Bosnia and Herzegovina has made in knitting together communities so recently torn apart”. FTV Sat, Oslobodjenje Sat cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Old Bridge born again’, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 5 ‘Ashdown: Fear of the past overcome by hope in the future’ by E. Sarac – F. Vele, – HR Paddy Ashdown addressing those who gathered at the opening ceremony. FTV Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 4 ‘World-class ceremony in Mostar’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 3 ‘World-class ceremony in Mostar’ by Fena Vecernji List, Sun, ‘World-class ceremony’, by f– carries HR Ashdown’s comment on the organization of the Old Bridge opening ceremony: “Bosnia and Herzegovina has every right to be proud for the organization of a world-class event in Mostar yesterday. The Old Bridge opening ceremony demonstrated once again the talent and the energy of its people, presenting in the best light the rich cultural heritage of this country”, said HR Ashdown. |
| Patten: symbol of hope in future in which BiH is a part of EU
| RHB Fri, BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, Nezavisne Novine pgs 3-4 ‘A solemn opening of Old Bridge’ mentioned on cover ‘Old Bridge opened’, inset “Symbol of hope in future’ – The statement by Chris Patten, EU Commissioner for Foreign Relations: “Today’s date is of extreme significance for Mostar and the entire of BiH.’ He added that the opening of the Old Bridge “is symbol of hope for the future in which BiH will be a part of EU”, |
| Mesic, Sanader on Old Bridge
| BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Europe passes a history exam in Mostar and BiH’, inset ‘Mesic: Symbol of joint life and togetherness’, Nezavisne Novine pgs 3-4 ‘A solemn opening of Old Bridge’ mentioned on cover ‘Old Bridge opened’, inset ‘Stjepan Mesic: Mostar is again a world symbol’, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 2 ‘Mostar again has a symbol of tolerance’, by f, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 5 ‘Mesic: Bridge opening – sign of unity and cooperation of cultures’, not signed – The Croatian President, Stjepan Mesic, told journalists on Friday that Mostar again had a world famous symbol of cooperation, tolerance. RHB Fri – “I hope Mostar will never experience what it experienced during the last war,” stated Mesic. He added that all those responsible for demolition of the Old Bridge should be caught and punished. FTV Sat, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 4 ‘Satisfaction with reconstruction of bridge’, by Zoran Kresic – The Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, stated: “I want to say it is certainly a step towards the future, because we cannot change the past. We opt for future of cooperation, coexistence, peace, European values that we want to achieve in Croatia and BiH.” |
| Vuk Draskovic on Old Bridge opening
| Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘The time when there were no divisions between people was wonderful’, Nezavisne Novine pgs 3-4 ‘A solemn opening of Old Bridge’ mentioned on cover ‘Old Bridge opened’, inset ‘Draskovic: To reconstruct Cathedral’ – Vuk Draskovic, SiCG Foreign Minister, on Friday said that the Old Brdige opening gives hope in more positive future. He also expressed expectation that the authorities of BiH and Mostar would launch an initiative for the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Holy Ghost in Mostar destroyed during the war in BiH. |
| Mostar-Duvno Bishop Peric on opening
| RHB Fri, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 3 ‘Msgr. Peric: Is there coexistence whilst some mind the cross on Hum?’, mentioned on front, by Z. Zekic, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 2 ‘Bishop Peric sends letter to leaders of Mostar’, by M. M. – The Bishop of Mostar-Duvno Dr. Ratko Peric said he could not attend the Old bridge opening ceremony due to previous engagements. In his letter to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Bishop Peric amongst other things says: “We are also aware that the reconstructed Old Bridge cannot be a symbol of tolerance, coexistence and peace if the Christ’s Cross on Hum (NB: a hill overlooking Mostar) represents a religious thorn in side of a part of citizens of Mostar. We would love if the religious sign was considered a symbol of love and peace between people and God and among people, which is in fact its religious message.” |
| Reactions by Ivanic, Covic, Paravac
| Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘Creation of new BiH image’ by Fena – BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic said the most important fact concerning the opening of the Old Bridge is the creation of a new image of BiH, which was rather bad in the past. “Such an event is a wonderful manifestation of possibilities to present BiH in an entirely different light”, Ivanic said. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Europe passes a history exam in Mostar and BiH’, inset ‘Covic: It is not just a construction, it has a soul’ – BH Presidency member Dragan Covic stated that an opening of the bridge meant extremely much to him, especially as he was born just several meters away from it. Inset ‘Paravac: Elite of the world means support for BiH’ – BH Presidency member Borislav Paravac commented that the Old Bridge for him signified a symbol of joint life of three peoples in BiH. |
| Security issues: No incident during the opening ceremony; Police searched for 20 bomb-planets
| BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, RTRS Fri – About 2500 police officers provided security during the opening ceremony. RHB Fri, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 2 ‘Miletic: Ceremony passed without an incident’, Nezavisne Novine pgs 3-4 ‘A solemn opening of Old Bridge’ mentioned on cover ‘Old Bridge opened’, inset ‘Five suspicious persons fled to Croatia’, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 4 ‘Mostar: Five suspects fled to Croatia’, by H, Dnevni List, Sun, front and pg 3 ‘Group of twenty criminals responsible for attacks in Mostar’, by Nevres Dedic – FBiH Police Director Zlatko Miletic, talking on the security of Old Bridge opening ceremony, stated that on Friday afternoon the police has carried out searches after 20 people involved in bomb attacks in the past. Miletic explained that 5 of them have fled to Croatia, whilst several others have been summoned to informative talks. “We are especially looking for one person from this group, but the person is still hiding in the Mostar area”, said Miletic. Oslobodjenje Sun pg 5 ‘Police prevented assassination of a politician’, mentioned on cover, by A. Omeragic – At the press conference confirming that the Old Bridge opening ceremony passed without an incident, Miletic said that the group of those bomb-planters in the past also planned an assassination of a politician, which was prevented. BHTV 1 Sat, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 5 ‘No incidents’ Nezavisne Novine pgs 3-4 ‘A solemn opening of Old Bridge’ mentioned on cover ‘Old Bridge opened’, inset ‘Ceremony without incidents’ – also carried MoI statements that there were no incidents during the ceremony. |
| Op-eds on Old Bridge opening | Vecernji List, Sat, pg ‘Old Bridge connects again’, by Ivica Pjanic – VL carries an op-ed in which the author notes: “By connecting the banks of Neretva river, the Old Bridge is sending a message that perhaps there is still a hope for building of new European future”. Dnevni List, Sat, pg 11 ‘Old Bridge in recent history’, by Pejo Gasparevic – DL editorial comments the statement by the HR Paddy Ashdown who said that the reconstructed Old Bridge could be a foundation stone for reconstruction of BiH as a multi-ethnic state. Gasparevic says the statement by HR Ashdown means that the reconstructed Old Bridge should not be seen as a mono-ethnic (bridge) nor claimed by anyone (read Bosniaks). “Multi-ethnic BiH and possibly non-multi-ethnic Old Bridge would not go hand in hand”, writes Gasparevic. Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Old Bridge, old love’ by Amela Rebac – NN editorial says that Old Bridge Opening ceremony was a “D” day for Mostarians. Oslobodjenje Sat pg 2 ‘Confetti and reality’ by Gojko Beric – “New Old Bridge oens the perspective of the normal life in Mostar, but only in the sphere of symbolism. Everything else is in the hands of politicians and citizens of this, perhaps in the hearts of people irreversibly divided city,” reads editorial. Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘Pride and property of the entire world’ op-ed by Sanja Skuletic – “With its return, [the Bride] showed to entire world that it is possible to unite not only East and West, but South and North,” reads editorial. |
War crimes | |
| SFOR arrests Mladic’s personal assistant
| RHB Fri, BHTV 1 Fri, RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 3 ‘Mladic’s assistant arrested’, mentioned on cover, by V.Du., Vecernji List, Sat, pg 6 ‘Rajko Banduka, Ratko Mladic’s associate, arrested’, by bs, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 17 ‘Retired RS Army officer Rajko Banduka arrested’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 7 ‘Former Mladic’s secretary arrested’, by A. Macanovic, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 6 ‘Former Mladic’s secretary arrested’; Glas Srpske cover page story ‘With bees against Dayton’ [NB: headline refers to Banduka’s hobby as beekeeper] – SFOR on Friday morning in Bijeljina detained a retired RS Army Sergeant Major, Rajko Banduka, who, during the war, assumed the position of the Secretary to the RS Army General Staff, Ratko Mladic. SFOR announced he was arrested on grounded suspicion he was involved in anti-Dayton activities. |
| Ashdown says RS responsible for arrest of war crimes suspects
| RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 3 ‘I am not authorized to abolish RS’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 11 ‘BiH Politicians can rewrite DPA’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘I am not authorized to abolish RS’ – In an interview to the Vienna daily “Die Presse”, HR Paddy Ashdown stated that SFOR and NATO should not be criticised for the fact that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are still are at large adding that RS authorities are responsible for that. Ashdown reminded that RS to date has not extradited a single person indicted for war crimes. Asked why he doesn’t apply more pressure on RS officials, Ashdown noted he was limited by legal procedures. |
| OHR on arrest of war crimes suspects
| Oslobodjenje Sat pg 7 ‘Mikerevic’s excuse for failing to arrest Karadzic’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 9 ‘Mikerevic follows the tradition of finding excuses for failing to arrest Karadzic’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Mikerevic following “tradition”’, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 17 ‘Mikerevic uses excuses not to arrest Karadzic’, not signed – Answering to the statement by RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic in which he invited HR Paddy Ashdown to disclose where is Radovan Karadzic, OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic on Friday said that representatives of RS “have been coming up with excuses for not arresting Radovan Karadzic for many years now, and Dragan Mikerevic sadly appears to be following in this tradition. Until the leaders of Serbs in BiH start showing they take the international rule of law seriously, and are prepared to fulfil BiH’s international obligations to The Hague, they will remain responsible for preventing this country integrating further into NATO and the European Union.” BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri – “As long as RS politicians, leaders of Bosnian Serbs, do not understand that cooperation with the ICTY is their obligation towards the international law and Dayton agreement, they will be responsible for preventing BiH getting closer to to Euro-Atlantic integrations,” stated Vedran Persic, OHR spokesman. |
| SFOR interrogates Veljko Borovcanin
| Oslobodjenje Sat back page ‘SFOR interrogated Veljko Borovcanin’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SFOR interrogated Veljko Borovcanin’ – SRNA reports that SFOR on Friday interrogated Veljko Borovcanin, the former Serb Sarajevo PSC Chief, whom High Representative removed from position in February this year. He is on the list of persons suspected of giving assistance to the war crime suspects at large, especially Radovan Karadzic. Borovcaninsaid: “If any further summon is sent, I would respond to it. I will do all I can to prove my innocence and to ensure truth comes to the surface.” |
| Cavic on RS obligation to arrest PIFWCs and removals
| Nezavisne Novine pgs 4-6 in NN supplement “Revija” ‘We must destroy taboos of the past’ by Dragan Jerinic – This is a lengthy interview with Dragan Cavic, RS President, who stresses that anybody living in illusion that the issue on cooperation with the ICTY can be easily forgotten is lying. He notes that the issue on cooperation with the ICTY should move from the sphere of daily political issue into the institutions. On this he emphasises: “Authorities in charge must do their job. There is no space for politics here.” On HR’s decision on removals of 59 officials, he reiterates his stance and view it was a sort of political purge. He doubts any possibility that possible removals of SDA ministers from RS Government could cause crisis, noting if crisis took place, it would last for too long. RTRS on Saturday carried statements given in an interview to NN. |
| RSNA Speaker Stojicic on RS cooperation with ICTY
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘RS should not run away from cooperation with the Hague Tribunal’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘The Hague should not be a complex’ – Dusan Stojicic, RS NA Speaker, in an interview to RS NA news agency said that future RS approach to ICTY would ensure that Carla del Ponte, in her next report to UN SC, would be able to say that BiH is cooperating with the ICTY. And this would meet pre-requisites for BiH admission into PfP. He said: “If we do out part of the job, I am of the view that in the 10th year after the singing of Dayton Agreement, we would be admitted into PfP and launch talks on Stabilisation and Association Agreement.” |
| Karadzic’s posters in BL | BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 6 ‘Posters featuring Radovan Karadzic’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Posters with the picture of Karadzic at the bus and railway stations’ by SRNA – Unknown persons(s) on Friday have placed posters with the picture of Radovan Karadzic and wording “Guard Srpska” at the bus and railway station in Banja Luka. It is unknown who might have placed those posters. |
| SCG President on Mladic | RTRS Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 3 “All Mladic’s associates unders surveillance’ by Onasa – President of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic stated that Ratko Mladic is not hiding in military facilities of SCG Army in Serbia, adding that Mladic’s all former and present associates have been under surveillance. While in Mostar, Marovic also said that SCG must either proved that Mladic was not in its territory or to do everything possible to bring him before the justice [in case Mladic is in SCG]. Marovic also said that he also said this to Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic during their meeting. |
Defence and security issues | |
| Radovanovic introduces ban on sale of small and light weapons
| BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Deadline for sale of small arms established’ by M.K.S., Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 8 ‘RS and FBiH Armies reported 370.000 pieces of weapons as surplus’ by M. Kukan, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 6 ‘BiH will have to destroy 370.000 pieces of small arms’, by Dejan Jazvic, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 2 ‘Moratorium on export of small and light weapons’, by Vedran Vujovic, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 14, ‘BiH will destroy 280.000 rifles’, by F – BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, on Friday signed the Instruction on ban of traffic of small and light weapons, which sets the final date for cutting deals related to export of these types of weapons by 31 July 2004. It means that entities in BiH have 7 days to sell surplus weapons to foreign customers because, staring 1 January 2005, all the weapons that exceed the needs of the BiH armed forces will be declared surplus. Eventually, the surplus weapons will have to be destroyed. Estimates say that BiH armed forces need 92.000 of small and light weapons, which means that at the moment, some 370.000 pieces could be declared as surplus weapons. |
| OHR welcomes Radovanovic’s decision
| FTV Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 8 ‘Moratorium on sale of weapons an important step for BiH’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 8 ‘RS and FBiH Armies reported 370.000 pieces of weapons as surplus’, inset ‘OHR welcomes Radovanovic’s decision’ by M. Kukan– Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt on Friday expressed support to BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, for the Ministers decision to place a moratorium on the sale of surplus small arms from the armed forces of BiH. SDHR Wnendt in his letter that the moratorium is “a very important step towards fulfilling BiH’s international commitments and right-sizing BiH’s weapons stock”. “I am very pleased that you have adopted such a responsible approach to the sale of surplus weapons from the armed forces of BiH. I hope and expect this to open the door to funding for the destruction of the excess arms and ammunition”, concluded Wnendt in his letter. |
| SFOR founds arsenal of weapons in a house of a police officer from Lukavac | FTV Fri, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 49 ‘Arsenal of weapons and mines found in the house of police officer Saudin Celikovic’, mentioned on cover ‘Arsenal of weapons found in a house of police officers’, by H. Calic – SFOR troops, in a presence of EUPM, on Thursday searched a house owned by Saudin Celikovic, an officers of the Lukavac police station, residing in village of Gornja Dobosnica. They found a large quantity of firearms and explosive devices. Celikovac has been kept in detention, while SFOR confiscated weapons found. Oslobodjenje Sun cover page story, pg 7 ‘Whose arms, mines and mortar shells was hiding a police officer from Lukavac?’ by Avdo Avdic – Daily carries that its well informed source close to investigating team says that the investigators were stunned with the quantity of arms found in Celikovic’s house. It is interesting, says the source, that Interior Ministry knew nothing of its police officers possessing such arsenal and added that SFOR carried out the inspection following an anonymous call. Source adds that there is a chance that the weapons belongs to an organization which was hiding it with Celikovic, fearing Harvest operation. Daily also brings a statement by Celikovic’s wife who says that “Saudin is a good man and different people brought weapons to him to hide it from SFOR.” |
| Kristina Silic sentenced to a year under probation
| BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, RTRS Fri, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 8 ‘Kristina Silic sentenced to one year under probation’ by B.C., Dnevni List, Sat, pg 42, ‘Kristina Silic sentenced to one year under probation’, by V. P., Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘Probation sentence on Kristina Silic’ – The BiH Court, namely the presiding judge Branko Peric n Friday passed a verdict to Kristina Silic, the Head of the FOSS Special Operations Department. She was sentenced to one year suspended sentence for violation of security of persons under international legal jurisdiction. The State Prosecution charged her with endangering of security of former Head of OHR South, Colin Munro, during the Hercegovacka bank events in April 2001. |
| Miletic on terrorism in BiH
| Vecernji List, Sun, front and pg 3 ‘Scandalous: As many as 1100 terrorists in Federation’, by Robert Soldo – The daily was told by the Director of FBiH MoI Police Administration, Zlatko Miletic, that there were around 1100 people in the FBiH, who are in some way connected to terrorism, mostly Islamic terrorists. The number also includes members of the ‘Ravnogorski Chetnik movement’, who are, according to Miletic, active in Mostar too. Miletic did not explain what ‘the chetniks’ are doing in Mostar, he only mentioned that they were violating the constitutional-legal organization of the state. Miletic also mentioned that the Police did not have concrete evidence on existence of Al Qaeda in the FBiH, but he is sure there are organized groups of people, who, for example, committed crimes in Travnik. In that context, Miletic says there are two suspects and 12 of their associates for the murder of a local Croat, one Ante Valjan. “The direct problem are naturalized persons of African-Asian origin, and 741 have been awarded BiH citizenship. We determined that 70% of them have forged documents, for which some 20 persons from FBiH could be held responsible, including some public persons, because they made it happen”, stressed Miletic. Finally, Miletic noted that last year there was a case of planning of politically motivated murder, however, Miletic says he will talk about some other time. Oslobodjenje Sun pg 5 ‘Police prevented assassination of a politician’, mentioned on cover, by A. Omeragic – At the press conference on Old bridge security, Miletic also confirmed the presence of about 1100 people linked to Islamic terrorism in FBiH. |
| Covic meets generals
| RHB Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun og 8 ‘Accession to NATO is main aim of BiH Armed Forces’, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘Covic: I hope BiH will soon become a member of a large NATO Family’ by M.K. – Member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic hosted a reception for the newly appointment and retired generals of the BiH Armed Forces and the candidates for general’s positions. This reception was organized to mark the reforms of armed forces in BiH. Covic expressed hope that BiH will soon become a member of the Partnership for Peace. |
| Radovanovic on appointments to BiH Army and BiH MoD | Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 5 ‘All retired general have their place in BiH history’, mentioned on cover ‘All retired general have their place’ by M. Kukan – BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic says that by the latest decision of the BiH presidency the number of the officers that will be promoted to the rank of generals and will perform the most important duties in BiH Army is 13. He regards this process as the important part of the structuring BiH armed forces, adding that further appointments in Defence Ministry as next important step. By the end of year Radovanovic expects significant activities of improvements in defence field. |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown sanctions HDZ over education
| BHTV 1 Sat, RHB Sat, FTV Sat, RTRS Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 5 ‘Punished with 140.000 KM’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 2 ‘HDZ money to be directed to education’, Vecernji List, Sun, pg 2 ‘Money from HDZ to education’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni List, Sun, pg 2 ‘Fines against HDZ go to education’, mentioned on front by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sun, pg 12 ‘Re-allocation of HDZ’s money to benefit of education’, by F – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, has written to West Herzegovina Canton Prime Minister Viktor Lasic, Central Bosnia Canton Finance Minister Josip Kvasina, and Canton 10 Prime Minister Stipe Pelivan, to outline how the reallocation of the funds resulting from the deduction of budgetary funding intended for the HDZ in their respective Cantons will be made. The High Representative underlines in his letters that the accumulated balance of money from the HDZ’s fines should be used to advance European education standards in the respective Cantons. The High Representative has instructed the Cantonal Governments to establish temporary Commissions under the chairmanship of the Cantonal Education Ministers, and composed of civil servants and prominent educators. These Commissions will solicit bids for the funding of special projects or exceptional purchases by schools, educational charities or other institutions working with or on behalf of schoolchildren in the Canton. |
| Ashdown, Patten meet students in Mostar
| Oslobodjenje Sat pg 3 ‘Who will lead you to Europe?’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘It is a symbol for future’, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 12 ‘Ashdown to young people: You decide about future of BiH’, by V. Soldo – The High Representative for BiH/EU Special Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and EU External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, met with students of two Mostar universities on Friday to talk about current problems in BiH, process of integration of BiH into European integration and reform of higher education. In his message to the Mostar students, HR Ashdown stated: “You must have more trust in yourself. You are young and you must become angrier, protest in the streets if something that you are not supporting is happening. You have to be less complacent. Also, you have to get involved in the general life of the country. The current generation cannot lead BiH into the future. They are focused on what had happened”. Representative of the Students’ Association of University of Mostar (Sveuciliste, Croat pre-dominant), Mario Skocibusic, stated the Association would soon come up with a proposal how to solve the current situation in the area of higher education. RHB Fri – ”We had an extremely good discussion. The students we have been talking to are the future of BiH and I hope they would get involved in the process of their own Government. That’s what should happen in an open European democracy,” stated Patten following the meeting with students. Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 13 ‘Ashdown: Higher education in BiH is rubbish’, by Zoran Zekic – SD carries HR Ashdown as commenting the reform to the higher education in BiH. According to SD, HR Ashdown stated that “the higher education in BiH is rubbish”, backing his claim up by saying that a great deal of professors do not show up at lectures and that money is taken at exams. |
| Bulgarian President visits Sarajevo
| BHTV 1 Sat, FTV Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 6 ‘By the end of year, BiH Embassy in Sophia’, mentioned on cover, by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘Paranov opened street of Bulgarian Republic’, mentioned on cover, by E.A. – The BiH Presidency on Saturday met with Bulgarian president Georgi Parvanov in Sarajevo to discuss improvement of the bilateral relations between the two countries, economic cooperation and liberalization of the visa regime. “The former level of economic cooperation does not respond to our good friendship relations. We think that the opportunities are much bigger,” stated Sulejman Tihic after the meeting. Parvanov said that Bulgaria has experience in reforming military forces and that it is ready to assist BiH in reforming the armed forces and set up new legislation in the field. Paranov also attend the ceremony of an opening of the Bulgarian street in Sarajevo. |
| Ashdown: I am not authorized to abolish RS
| RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 3 ‘I am not authorized to abolish RS’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 11 ‘BiH Politicians can rewrite DPA’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘I am not authorized to abolish RS’ – In an interview to the Vienna daily “Die Presse”, Paddy Ashdown, High Representative to BiH, said that he cannot abolish RS, because it is his authority to implement Dayton Peace Agreement. He said: “International community will not be capable of working out the new Dayton Peace Accord. Such an intention would take more than one year, and the entire process of integration would halt and would destabilise the entire state.” |
| Sanader, Mesic meet Colak, Covic
| Vecernji List, Sat, pg 4 ‘Satisfaction with reconstruction of bridge’, by Zoran Kresic, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 3 ‘Constitutional change are key to future of BiH’, mentioned on front, by M. R. – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Croatian President Stipe Mesic held separate meetings with leaders of HDZ BiH Barisa Colak and Dragan Covic on Friday afternoon. Colak stated that they talked about the general situation in BiH. VL notes that topics included the HDZ BiH’s initiative of reorganization of BiH, and the HDZ BiH requested a support from the Republic of Croatia in establishment of a Croat channel on BiH state TV. DL reports that PM Sanader supported the latter. |
| Mikerevic on RS Govt reshuffle
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Agreement or rift’ – RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, announced today that he would hold talks with representatives of parliamentary parties next week to ensure that there is agreement on activities the Government plans to take in the upcoming period. Mikerevic said that he would talk with SDA but also with representatives of opposition parties, including SNSD and the RS Socialistic Party. He stressed that parties in the RS, regardless of being in power or in opposition, need to agree on key matters, which is the preservation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Oslobodjenje sat pg 7 ‘More tolerance in RS than in FBiH’ by M. Begic – Mikerevic added that there is no more tolerance for the attitude of a certain SDA officials that who constantly put a RS existence in a doubt. “This entity is Dayton creation, therefore it is a constitutional category,” stated Mikerevic in Doboj on Saturday adding he minded Sarajevo being obsessed with Serb representatives in state institutions. |
| Terzic meets Mikerevic
| Dnevni List, Sun, pg 5 ‘Necessary to continue already started processes’, by NINA – the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, and the RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, met in Mostar, discussing, amongst other issues, several aspects of the political crisis in the RS. PM Mikerevic stated in talks with Terzic that the reconstruction of the RS Government would not be carried out against constitutional provisions, noting that the national structure within the Government would be maintained. |
| Terzic meets Patten
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Less need for constant visits of European officials to BiH’ by F.C. – DA learns that EU Commissioner for Foreign Relations, Chris Patten, stated during the meeting with the Chair of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, that in the time of past CoM he was visiting BiH more often as he feels now that the current situation in BiH requires less visits of European officials. DA source states that Patten said that “[Patten’s] arrival to Sarajevo assured him that the situation here is much better than before.” Patten noted significant improvement in the field of judiciary. Source adds that Patten said that if BiH fulfils all it announced it would do to meet requirement to access Euro-Atlantic integrations, he would personally issue a recommendation for the beginning of the negotiations on the Stabilisation and Accession agreement. |
Economic and social issues | |
| PDHR Hays visits Kotor-Varos
| FTV Fri, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Speed up privatisation of Proleks and Jelsingrad’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Privatisation too slow’; Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘It is necessary to accelerate privatisation’ -Principle Deputy High Representative Donald Hays visited Kotor-Varos on Friday, where he met with Kotor Varos Mayor Radenko Cupic to discuss the economic situation in this municipality. Special attention was given to finding ways for overcoming problems in the privatisation of companies in Kotor-Varos. Hays said that in contacts with relevant authorities in the RS he would urge for the acceleration of the privatisation of “Proleks” and “Jelsingrad”, two Kotor-Varos’s largest companies in which all production stopped three years ago. They concluded that the security situation in Kotor-Varos is satisfactory and that there are no obstacles for the mass return. RTRS Fri – “Privatization process in RS is not going any where. Why? We had talks on carrying out the project by project, company by company. Let us see if we could privatized them to enable people who live here to get the job,” said Donald Hays. |
| Payment of outstanding pension in FBiH could starts on Wednesday
| Dnevni Avaz Sun cover page ‘Outstanding pension on Wednesday?’, pg 2 ‘Payment of outstanding pension on Wednesday?’ by Az.B. – DA brings that most probably the payment of the outstanding pension in FBiH will start on Wednesday. Director of FBiH Pension-Invalids Fund Nadir Kovacevic confirmed that this would happen if the money is on the Fund’s bank account on Monday [as announced by FBiH Government]. |