Friday
| Radio Herceg-Bosna (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30 hrs) |
| Reform of police forces | PDP board | Statement of Ivanic | New directors in RS |
| Opening of the old bridge | Reorganization of police | SFOR’s action finished | Reform of police structures |
| On NATO summit | RS appoints new directors | Police reforms | Verdicts in Orao case |
| New attacks of Al Kaida | Mostar’s old bridge | Opening of | Verdicts in Brcko District |
Saturday
| NTV Hayat (18,55 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| ICTY on Karadzic’s arrest | Two persons killed in Pale | Returnees in Glamoc | SFOR still on border |
| SFOR’s latest actions | Explosion in | Unemployment in BiH | SDS denies accusations |
| Grahovac on | Reactions to PDP request | Session of SDS Main Board | A couple killed in Pale |
| Hayat Central News review | FBiH Razvojna | Actions of SFOR | Fines for Matijevic&Misic |
Saturday
| Oslobodjenje | Brucellosis, Q-fever escalate in BiH |
| Dnevni Avaz | 50,000 new pensioners in the Federation?! |
| Dnevni List | Police divided, criminals unified! |
| Vecernji List | Herzegovinians are losing houses because of loans |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Failing grades to pupils and then instructions |
| Glas Srpske | Research of the US Agency “Associated Press” in BiH: US $ 20 million to Islamists; |
| Nezavisne Novine | Chair Boards of SDS and PDP held on removals of 59 officials: PDP demands extraordinary elections, SDS might leave authority; Action near Han Pijesak completed: SFOR soldiers were looking for Mladic; Haris Silajdzic: Entities must be destroyed at the same time; Police Reform Commission established: BiH to get state police by the end of this year; Bijeljina Basic Court: 18 months imprisonment sentence against “Orao” Director |
| Blic | Mladen Ivanic: Elections- only way out from the crisis |
Sunday
| Oslobodjenje | Srebrenica established as a district, compensation given to the families of the victims |
| Dnevni Avaz | SNSD leader Milorad Dodik: We will not fill holes in RS government!’ |
| Dnevni List | FBiH Minister of Culture G. Grahovac: It is bad that every manifestation that does not take place in |
| Vecernji List | Jams at border crossings started |
Political developments/statements | |
| PDP Main Board session
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS on Friday, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 5 ‘PDP demands extraordinary elections’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Coalition of Ashdown and SDA’ – After the session of the PDP Chair Board, Mladen Ivanic, PDP President, stated that PDP would demand from Dragan Cavic, RS President, to schedule early elections, and also from Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, to dismiss from duties all Ministries from SDA. He said: “Coalition between OHR and SDA is in act and Government has an obligation to prevent creation of expected concept.” According to him, PDP concluded that holding of extraordinary elections at this point in time is the best solution to the current situation RS is facing. He said PDP has not still made any decision regarding its further involvement in the work of BiH joint institutions, noting that “an attempt to cause destabilisation in RS would result in causing a crisis at joint institutions”. Ivanic said before he entered the premise (where PDP held session): “Regardless of power somebody might have, somebody must say enough to Paddy Ashdown!” According to NN inset 1 ‘Dodik does not trust PDP sincerity’ quotes Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, as expressing disbelief in announcement of Ivanic he would break up coalition with SDA. According to NN inset 2 ‘SDA: A wrong move’ quotes Seada Palavric, SDA Vice President, as saying that “it would not be wise from RS Government to remove SDA ministers from Government, since such move might cause crisis and would be in the interest of those, who do not support reforms”. Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Mladen Ivanic asks for early elections’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ivanic: Crisis in RS will cause crisis in BiH’, Slobodna Dalmacija Saturday last pg ‘Ivanic: Ashdown will not be able to behave this way any longer’ by A. Macanovic, Dnevni List Sunday pg 14 ‘Instead of stabilization Ashdown makes destabilization’ not signed also covered the issue. |
| Ivanic’s interview to EuroBlic
| EuroBlic cover and RSpg 3’Extraordinary elections – the only solution’ – In a brief interview to EuroBlic, Mladen Ivanic, PDP President, reiterates that scheduling of extraordinary elections is the only way out from the crisis in RS. He stresses that the most dangerous coalition OHR-SDA is in act, whose concept is to change constitutional position of RS. He also notes he would use his position of BiH Foreign Minister and inform all EU Ministers and NGO’s of most recent decision of HiRep and give his view on it. On this he adds: “I think this would have some effect and decisions undertaken by HiRep would be more thoroughly analysed. Instead of stabilisation, he has a destabilisation role, which is not the goal of international community. Nobody, NATO or anybody else, has asked him to do that – it was his own decision.” He also says that the real reason for removal of Zoran Djeric from the position of RS Interior Minister was because he opposed to establishment of a single police ministry at the state level. (Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Removed over opposition to a single Interior Ministry, Dnevni List Saturday pg 17 ‘Ashdown should elect Djeric’s successor’ not signed also carried Ivanic’s statement on Djeric’s removal) He also admits RS is the hostage of Karadzic, Mladic and other war crimes suspects, noting this issue must be resolved as soon as possible. |
| Reactions to Ivanic’s statement by OHR, SDA
| BHTV on Saturday, Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘OHR: Ivanic exposes himself to danger’ – “Ivanic is entitled to his opinion. However, by such statements he is exposing himself to a danger to be seen as the defender of the criminalized and corrupted politicians removed last week,” said OHR Spokesperson Suzana Pejcic. Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Early elections holding would stop the reforms’ – Deputy RS Prime Minister Omer Brankovic said that PDP leader could not (had no right to) request removal of SDA-nominated ministers from RS Prime Minister Mikerevic since there was a strict constitutional and parliamentary procedure for such cases. SDA Vice President Elmir Jahic assessed as ridiculous Ivanic’s claims that OHR and SDA were in coalition. He added that early elections if held might jeopardise and stop ongoing reforms. |
| SDS Main Board session
| BHTV, RTRS on Friday, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 5 ‘SDS might leave authority’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Authorities to Cavic’ – On Friday evening, SDS Chair Board completed a lengthy session (it lasted for 11 hours) held behind closed doors. NN source at SDS Chair Board confirmed that SDS might leave authority. The session saw election of new members of SDS Presidency and set criteria for election of new members of the SDS Chair Board. NN source also said that SDS might demand from Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, to dismiss from duties all Ministries from SDA. Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson, stated after the session that: “Chair Board of SDS condemned decision of High Representative regarding removals of 59 officials. It also assessed this decision is one of the most undemocratic decision in the post-Dayton BiH and also represents an expression of the tough force.” He did not want to state names of new members of SDS Presidency. As Dragan Kalinic confirmed, Dragan Cavic yesterday officially took over authorities of Party President. He would be representing SDS in the future. (NOTE: EuroBlic on RSpg 1 carries article under headline ‘Cavic to lead SDS, PDP demands new elections’ which carries information related to sessions of SDS and PDP Chair Boards, and also information from RS Government regarding new appointments – see below – first item under political section.) Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 7, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 “Cavic takes over authority of SDS president’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sunday pg 12 ‘New Presidency elected’ by A. Macanovic, Dnevni List Sunday pg 13 ‘Dragan Cavic new SDS leader’ not signed also reported on the issue. |
| Banks blocking accounts
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Banks launched blockades of accounts’ – NN learnt at BiH Central Bank that commercial banks in RS on Friday launched blockades of accounts of physical and juristic persons in accordance with the latest decision of High Representative, Paddy Ashdown. |
| RS Government finds replacements for dismissed officials
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘RS Government appoint acting heads of institutions’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, FENA – The RS Government decided at Friday’s session to appoint acting officials in the RS institutions, whose key people had been dismissed by High Representative Paddy Ashdown. Without revealing the nominees’ names, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic told a news conference that other posts would be advertised over the next week or two. He could not speak about replacements for Interior Minister Zoran Djeric and Economy, Energy and Development Minister Milan Bogicevic, adding that the parliament should pass its view beforehand. “If the government fails to muster a parliamentary majority, then we shall discuss this issue first of all with RS President Dragan Cavic,” Mikerevic said, adding that he had no intention to destabilize the RS with his actions. Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Acting directors in public companies appointed’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sunday pg 12 ‘Removed officials got replacements’ by A. Macanovic, Dnevni List Sunday pg 14 ‘Mileta Limic new acting head of Srpske Sume’ not signed, ONASA – The Republika Srpska (RS) Government appointed on Friday Mileta Limic to the position of the acting director of the company Srpske Sume for the period of 60 days and Bogdan Novakovic to the position of the acting director of the RS Republican Customs Administration. It also appointed Slavko Basic to the position of the RS Pension-Disability Insurance Fund. In accordance with the decisions of High Representative to BiH, the RS Government made several decisions on dismissals of former directors of companies and funds and on appointments of acting directors, who will perform duties until the completion of the procedure of election of new directors, read a press release from the RS Government Bureau for Public Relations. Nebojsa Zgonjanin was appointed to the position of the acting director of the Health Insurance Fund, while Dragan Mihajlovic was appointed to the position of the acting director of the public company Putevi (Roads). According to the release, a representative of the state capital in the company Telekom Srpske AD was ordered to urgently convene a session of the steering board, in order that a decision of the High Representative on the dismissal of Zeljko Jungic from the position of the director general be implemented, and to propose to the steering board to appoint Sveto Stojancic for the acting director. The government ordered the director general of Elektroprivreda RS to urgently convene a session of the steering board in order that a decision on the dismissal of director of ZDP Hidroelektrane Trebisnjica, Slobodan Saraba, be implemented. Ilija Stankovic will be proposed for the position. A representative of the state capital in Rafinerija nafte AD was ordered to urgently convene a session of the steering board, at which Savo Danilovic would be proposed for the director general in place of dismissed Ilija Drpa. A representative of the state capital in the company Petrol AD was ordered to urgently convene a session of the steering board and implement a decision on the dismissal of Director Momcilo Komljenovic. Andjelko Grahovac will be proposed to replace him. On the basis of a decision of the High Representative, the government also made a decision on the dismissal of director of Lutrija RS (Lottery) Dusan Beric, while Vaso Sehovac was appointed to the position of the acting director for the period of 60 days. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘On position for temporary basis’; Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Acting heads appointed’ also reported on the issue. |
| SDA supports Ashdown’s dismissal of RS officials
| Saturday’s Olsobodjenje pg 5 ‘In is unacceptable that BiH is being held hostage by RS’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘It is shameful that a party bearing Seselj’s name is registered in BiH’, Slobodna Dalmacija Saturday last pg ‘To abolish MoIs of two entities’ by D. Pasic, ONASA – The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) fully supports the decision adopted by High Representative Paddy Ashdown to sack the Republika Srpska officials responsible for lack of cooperation with the Hague tribunal (ICTY), Sefkija Cekic, a member of the SDA presidency, told a press conference in Sarajevo on Friday. This decision will have full effect only when efficient security system structures be set up, to support law enforcement and implementation of international commitments, as well as to ensure eventual apprehension of the persons indicted for war crimes, said Cekic. According to Cekic, this also includes abolishment of entity Interior Ministries in BiH, and trial of thousands of other war criminals who are not wanted by the Hague Tribunal. |
| Terzic expects no crisis in work of state institutions
| Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Temporary crisis in CoM’, FENA – BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic on Friday expressed confidence that there would be no crisis in the work of state institutions following the dismissals of SDS officials by the High Representative. “I expect the team atmosphere in the BiH Council of Ministers to continue and that my colleagues will come to their working places with clear heads next week”, Terzic said. He said that a certain political crisis was expected considering the fact that a large number of people from one political party have been banned from political work. “Both the High Representative and representatives of the international community, as well as we in BiH expected that crisis. What will happen next I don’t know, but I do know that reforms have to continue”, Terzic said. He added that reforms have no alternative and that this should be in the interest of all peoples and political parties in BiH. |
| More reactions to HR’s decisions on removals of SDS/RS officials
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Wrong address’ – Jovan Cizmovic, Political and legal advisor to RS President, said that HiRep’s decision on his removal could not be given to a person of his status, because it is a matter of misidentification. He stresses he worked for RS President as external associate, stressing he has been a lawyer for 27 years. He notes he is not a member of any political party. Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘The dearest “diploma”’ – Vesna Ecim Alojutro stated that reasons given for his removal are – mildly put – ridiculous. She said: “I am proud that Serb people did not remove me, but those who just talk about democracy. This is a pure example of occupation and violation of human rights.’ Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Defence denied’ – Zoran Zuza expressed his astonishment and surprise over decision of HiRep to remove him. He claims not a single accusation against him (given in explanation) is true Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Memory of Stalin’ – Mirko Delic said he would file a motion as soon as he gets decision on his removal, regardless of explanation and accusations OHR might ascribe to him. Savo Celickovic and Zvonko Bajagic also denied accusations against them. Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘He does not care for Law’ – Krstan Simic, Banja Luka attorney, said he has no knowledge of information that in any state, decisions without legal remedy can be passed, meaning against which no appeal or motion can be filed. He stresses that HiRep’s decisions seriously violate Convention of General Human Rights and Freedoms, which reads one of main rights is right for court protection. |
| NN interview with Haris Silajdzic
| Nezavisne Novine weekend supplement Revija cover and pgs 4-6 ‘Entities in BiH must be destroyed at the same time’ by Mirza Cubro – This is an interview with Haris Silajdzic, the founder of the Party for BiH, who is of the view that both entities in BiH must be destroyed at the same time, because the system of this kind does not suit a single citizen of BiH. He stresses that at the present time, we are correcting mistakes of Dayton Peace Agreement, and also mistakes performed after the Dayton. He criticises the international community for having accepted “status quo” situation in 1992 and after Dayton. He stresses international community could have used its Bonn authority and intervene at any point, but it did not, owing to which reason entities in BiH are nowadays more separate than EU states. |
| Dodik: We will not fill holes in RS government
| Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 5 ‘Dodik: We will not fill holes in RS government’ – Interview with SNSD leader Milorad Dodik. Dodik says that we have evidently entered into a crisis of government in RS and BiH although neither international nor BiH officials want to accept/admit this fact. He emphasized that SNSD will not fill the gaps in RS government. He also said that the early elections were needed in RS and that the issue of the war crime indictees apprehension, primarily of Karadzic, had to be resolved as soon as possible. |
| Wolfgang Petritsch on HR’s decisions
| Dnevni List Sunday pg 22 ‘Road of BiH towards Europe goes through Srebrenica’ by NINA – Commenting on the last HR’s decision on removals, Former High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch stated that Ashdown’s decision was necessary. |
| DL editorial on HR’s decision
| Dnevni List Saturday pg 11 ‘BiH in corridor of Europe, by P. Gasparevic – DL carries an editorial on the HR’s decision on removals in which the author says that the removals took place only a day after the NATO’s Summit in Istanbul took place during which it was decided that EUFOR takes over SFOR’s mission in BiH. The author says; “Although SFOR has not been formally abolished yet, the removals of 59 RS officials led by SDS President Dragan Kalinic can be considered as the first post-SFOR action of the EU in BiH.” |
| On future President of RS Parliament
| Vecernji List Saturday pg 2 ‘Either Croat or Bosniak will be President of RS Parliament’ by H – According to the Book of Rules, one of two Vice Presidents of the RS Parliament (either Tomislav Tomljanovic or Sefket Hafizovic) will perform duties of the President of the RS Parliament after the HR removed President of the RS National Assembly Dragan Kalinic. |
| DL on possible coalitions in Mostar on eve of local elections
| Dnevni List Sunday pg 5 ‘Safa’s spirit hovers over Mostar’ by N. Bise – DL carries an article on coming local elections with a special stress on Mostar. The author says that since High Representative Paddy Ashdown abolished the division of Mostar, SDA and HDZ cannot rely on old tricks and for this reason they are trying to form coalitions with other parties. SDA officials from Mostar count on post-election coalition with Party for BiH, however, according to the author the one must not forget that after the HR unified Mostar SDA was attacking the two most prominent officials of Party for BiH Safet Orucevic and Safet Omerovic. DL says that HDZ is in somewhat better position since their votes do not go to other parties to that extent as the SDA’s votes. The author also says that Party for BiH causes big headaches for SDA since at every elections Party for BiH is gets an increased number of votes that SDA counts on. |
| On situation in Stolac
| Dnevni List Saturday pg 5 ‘Is security situation in Stolac deteriorating again!?’, mentioned on cover, ‘Is Stolac becoming case city again?’ by M. Relota – According to DL unofficial information the main cross and concrete mounts for 12 crosses in Old Town in Stolac will be dismantled by force by the end of this month and the Federation of BiH Government will cover the costs of their dismantling. Head of the Stolac Municipality Zeljko Obradovic stated that he does not know when the deadline for dismantling of the main cross and concrete mounts for the crosses is, however, he confirmed that he wrote a letter to all relevant institutions regarding the behaviour of the Commission for Preservation of Monuments in which he stressed that the work of this Commission, its legal ground and its real goal are questionable. |
| C. Bond on USA engagement in BiH
| Vecernji List Sunday pg 2 ‘Bond is leaving, USA remains in BiH’ by f and Dnevni List Sunday pg 3 ‘Bond announced that he is leaving at new post soon’ by R. Radic – Celebrating the USA Independence Day, US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond stated that the USA is doing everything in order to support progress in BiH and the USA remains engaged in BiH through its Embassy and NATO’s Headquarters. On this occasion Bond also announced that he is leaving BiH soon. |
Police reform | |
| Ashdown: BiH must reconstruct police in order to join Europe
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Proposal for a single police by the end of this year’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Police reform condition to join Europe’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3’ BiH to get state police’ mentioned on cover “BiH to get state police by the end of year’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Martens lining up policemen’; EuroBlic RSpg2 ‘Belgian to reform police forces in BiH’, Vecernji List Saturday pg 2 ‘Police forces will be accountable to state Government’ by D. Jazvic, Dnevni List Saturday front and pg 2 ‘Criminals in BiH unified, police forces divided’ by M. Relota , FENA – On Friday in Sarajevo, Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and High Representative Paddy Ashdown presented activities of the new commission for the reconstruction of police forces in BiH and its head, Belgian Wilfried Martens. The commission’s goal is to help the BiH police reform and to set up effective police forces, which will be regulated in accordance to the European standards. Terzic said at a press conference that there were 18,000 policemen in BiH. They are organized in 18 units with unspecified links between them. “This shows a clear need for reconstruction of the BiH police forces,” Terzic stressed. “The commission will define the future structure of the police forces,” Ashdown said. “The BiH needs a police organization which will be able to fight organized crime and corruption effectively. If it wants to join Europe, BiH will have to reconstruct its police forces. There will not be an effective rule of law if there are so many police organizations in this country,” the High Representative stressed. The commission will consist of 12 members, three international and nine domestic experts. By the end of the year, the commission is supposed to present a report on findings and proposals for the future police structure in BiH. Head of the commission Wilfried Martens said that the first meeting would be held on 22 July. |
| EUPM welcomes establishment of police restructuring commission
| Sunday’s Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Commissioner praises the good move’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Commissioner Carty welcomed establishment of the commission’, ONASA – With regard to the establishment of the Police Restructuring Commission (PRC) the EUPM Head of Mission, Commissioner Kevin Carty, said that the EUPM welcomes and supports the body. “I feel honored to be selected member of the Commission. The need for restructuring of the police has been clearly identified and I know that this is well recognized by senior police officers of BiH,” Carty said. “In my capacity as EUPM Commissioner I can assure that the EUPM is fully committed to offer all of its professional expertise and experience to Chairman Martens and all other members of the PRC, in support of more effective and efficient policing in BiH,” he added. |
| BL Police Station 2 Commander fired
| Glas Srpske cover page report ‘Policemen sacked’; Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Sasa Misic sacked’ – Disciplinary Commission of the Banja Luka Public Security Centre decided that Sasa Misic, commander of B. Luka Police Station 2, and his Deputy, Nikola Matijevic, (who were previously suspended over the finding of RS MOI archive) “severely violated code of conduct” and were accordingly given the harshest disciplinary measure – termination of employment. NN source claims that Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director, exerted enormous pressure against Commission members to sack Misic and Matijevic. |
Crime/legal proceedings/war crimes | |
| SFOR ends search of military facility in Han Pijesak
| Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, RTRS on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘What was SFOR looking for in underground tow?’, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ‘SFOR soldiers were looking for Mladic’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Nobody was detained’; EuroBlic RSpg2 ‘Outcome of crisis not in sight’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, ONASA – SFOR on Friday ended a search of the wartime base of top Bosnian war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic, a statement by the peacekeeping forces said. The NATO-led Stabilization Force “search operation of the facility in Han Pijesak was concluded today”, the SFOR statement said. The peacekeepers said that the one-day search was a part of their normal operations, to ensure compliance with the 1995 peace agreement that ended BiH’s three-and-a-half-year-long war. The search was undertaken with the assistance of the Republika Srpska police and resulted in no arrests. Han Pijesak, located some 50 km east of Sarajevo, served during the war as the headquarters of Mladic, the RS Army commander at the time. One of the largest underground military facilities of the former Yugoslav army is located there. Mladic has been charged with genocide and other war crimes by the UN tribunal at The Hague, notably for his alleged role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of over 7,000 Bosniak men and boys and the more than three-year-long siege of Sarajevo. He is allegedly hiding in neighbouring Serbia although officials in Belgrade deny this. The search followed a decision by High Representative Paddy Ashdown last Wednesday to sack 60 RS officials for helping fugitive war crimes suspects, evade capture. |
| SCG’s Davinic on arrest of Mladic
| EuroBlic pg 2 ’Krga enjoys trust of VSO’ – In a brief interview to papers, Prvoslav Davinic, Defence Minister of SiCG, speaks of Serbian related issues, but also makes a reference to the issue of arrest of Ratko Mladic. This issue, according to him, opens every door and international community expects from SICG to identify the exact location of Mladic’s whereabouts. On this he adds: “There is a political will to arrest Mladic, but many problems, with which Serbia and Montenegro are faced make activities on this field incomplete and delayed.” |
| SFOR denies alleged promise to arrest Karadzic by July 4
| BHTV on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Fabricated Packett’s statement’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 – SFOR has firmly denied allegations of the Italian La Republica that the SFOR Commander Virgil Packett had said Radovan Karadzic would be arrested by the end of this week (by Sunday July 4). SFOR says that the most wanted Hague fugitive will perhaps be arrested in eight days’, eight months’ or eight years’ time, but that no one said that he would be arrested by Sunday. “To my knowledge, General Packett did not talk to journalists yesterday (Thursday), nor did he say that the most wanted war crime indictee, Radovan Karadic, would be arrested by Sunday,” a SFOR spokesperson said. |
| USA on closing down of ICTY
| Slobodna Dalmacija Saturday pg 6 ‘USA will not allow closing down of ICTY’ by VOA – A high-ranked official in the State Department, Charles English, stated that the USA will not allow closing down of the ICTY until trails against Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Anto Gotovina take place. Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 2 also covered the issue. |
| Bijeljina Municipal Court sentences 12 defendants in arms to Iraq trial
| BHTV, RTRS on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Former Orao Director sentenced to 17 months in prison’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ’12 people guilty of illegal arms export to Iraq’ mentioned on cover ‘17 months imprisonment sentence against “Orao” Director,Vecernji List Saturday pg 2 ‘Verdicts in ‘Orao’ affair pronounced’ by f Vecernji List Sunday pg 2 ’12 indictees sentenced to 75 months in prison’ by D. Ravic, ONASA – Of the 17 defendants in the Bijeljina Orao Aviation Institute case, the Bijeljina Municipal Court Council found 12 of them guilty, and sentenced them to imprisonment ranging from three to 17 months. The trial had shown that the Institute overhauled MIG-21 airplanes for Iraq, exported military equipment to the country, and trained its staff in 2001 and 2002, while Saddam Hussein‘s regime in Iraq was under the UN embargo. |
| Husband and wife Todorovic murdered in Pale
| TV Hayat, BHTV, RTRS on Saturday, Vecernji List Sunday pg 51 ‘Parents killed in front of their children’, mentioned on cover, by R. Soldo, SRNA – A woman and a man were killed in Pale at around 2200 on Friday, Serb Sarajevo police spokesman Radovan Pejic has confirmed to SRNA. They were murdered on the highway at the crossroads near the Majneks fuel station. Zeljko Todorovic and his wife were the victims, SRNA has learnt unofficially. Unidentified perpetrator or perpetrators opened fire from a car on Todorovics’ Caddy. Investigation is underway. |
| GS/AP on terrorists in BiH
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘US $ 20 million to Islamists’ – GS refers to “Associated Press” article recently published according to which terrorists close to Osama Bin Laden were in BiH. The article also reads that American and European intelligence services have been engaged in a secret war, spending time at mosques and Muslim humanitarian organisations in order to tail around 300 persons, radical Islamites. According to same report, intelligence officers are seated at Butmir. Julian Bower, SFOR Lieutenant Colonel, told AP that international forces are cautious, because terrorists might organise. |
| Former Brcko Mayor Kisic affair update
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Kisici and Dedeic to pay BAM 20 thousand penalty’ – Brcko District Basic Court on Friday passed verdicts against former Brcko Mayor, Sinisa Kisic, and Head of Brcko District Urbanisation Department, Ismet Dedeic, finding them guilty of having exceeded their authorities during the process of super structuring of apartment buildings in District. Two of them are to pay penalties of BAM 20 thousand each. Prison sentences of three months were passed against Assistant to Head of Urbanism Department, Olivera Dragutinovic and Mirsad Beslagic. Other four local government officials are to pay penalties of BAM 12 thousand each. |
| Vasic (production of heroin) affair update
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Investigation against Vasic was hindered by officials of RS police and customs’ – NN learnt at BiH Prosecutor’s Office that the investigation against Bogdan Vasic (citizen of SiCG charged with involvement ion production of synthetic heroin) was hindered and obstructed by officials of RS Customs Administration and Bijeljina police. |
| ‘Srebrenica established as a district, compensation given to the families of the victims’
| Sunday’s Oslobodjenje cover page ‘Srebrenica established as a district, compensation given to the families of the victims’, pgs 4-5 ‘Srebrenica women to sue Holland?’ – The international team of lawyers representing families of the Srebrenica victims will sue Netherlands since they hold Dutch Defence Ministry responsible for murder of approximately 10,000 people. According to Semir Guzin, a member of the team, the Dutch Government has seven days to respond to a proposal on financial compensation or a legal proceeding will be launched before the competent Dutch curt. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Srebrenica to get the status of district’ – Party for BiH leaders Safet Halilovic believes that Srebrenica should get a special status (as a district) within the state of BiH and that the justice for the town would be if it is not part of RS. |
Economic/social issues/health | |
| BiH veterinarians warn of alarming situation with infectious diseases
| FTV, FBiH Radio on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje cover page ‘Brucellosis, Q-fever escalate in BiH’ – The situation in BiH is extremely difficult and complex, with a tendency of escalation in the infectious diseases of Q-fever, brucellosis, rabies and TBC. This is the first conclusion from Friday’s session of the BiH Veterinarian Association. In Sarajevo Canton, 11 persons have fallen ill with brucellosis, 5 with Q-fever. Animals infected with these diseases have been registered in all the cantons in the Federation, although the largest number is in Hercegovina-Neretva Canton. The entity veterinarian regulations are not in line with the state-level veterinarian law. Therefore, the urgent establishment of a state-level agriculture ministry was suggested. The veterinarians claim that the situation is alarming and wonder if anyone would be interested in these diseases if this did not concern people. |
| Dnevni Avaz: 50,000 new pensioners in the Federation?!
| Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 5 ’50,000 new pensioners in the Federation?!’ – Management Team of the FBiH Pension-Invalid Insurance Fund has expressed concern about a possibility that the entity government signs a WB-proposed document on taking over of some 18,000 pensioners from RS. “Pensions (in the Federation) might be reduced by 19 percent,” said Nedzmija Resic, the Assistant Director of the Fund. |
| Op-ed by Polish Ambassador to BiH on internal debt settlement | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Internal debt’ by Leszek Hensel – The author of the op-ed on internal debt of RS is the Polish Ambassador to BiH. He is actually commending the adoption of the Plan of payment of internal debt, recently adopted by RS Government. He further brings some information related to internal debt settlement in Poland. |
| FBiH Government on execution of FBiH budget | Slobodna Dalmacija Saturday pg 16 ‘Big loss in budget’ by Z. Zekic – During the session of the Federation of BiH Government, that took place on Friday, the report on the execution of the FBiH budget clearly showed the lack of money and on the ground of this report the FBiH Government warned that there is a need to introduce financial discipline. |
| FBiH Government defined proposal of Law on Public Companies
| Slobodna Dalmacija Saturday last pg ‘Law on public companies sent to Parliament’ by Z. Zekic and Dnevni List Saturday pg 4 ‘Stricter control of companies with major state capital’ by M. Relota – During its session held on Saturday the Federation of BiH Government defined a proposal of Law on Public Companies and sent it to the parliamentary procedure, however, the FBiH Government also stressed a need to intensify control of business operations of economic entities in which state owns majority of capital. |
| On issue of old foreign currency savings
| Dnevni List Sunday pg 2 ‘Old foreign currency depositors should get proper compensation’ by M. Relota – Vice President of the House of Representatives of the Federation of BiH Parliament Josip Merdzo confirmed for DL that a meeting between Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays and representatives of Caucuses f HDZ-HNZ-CCD Coalition will take place tomorrow in the OHR’s premises at 12 o’clock. Merdzo said that their basic concern is treating of the old foreign currency saving and they (the aforementioned Coalition) will demand that this issue is regulated by a special law. |
| Hays at round table discussion on business in BiH
| Dnevni List Sunday pg 4 ‘Hays: State must give much better environment to businessmen’ by Zeda – On the eve of election of the best manager of BiH and Southeast Europe a round table discussion on the situation in BiH business and possibilities to overcome numerous problems was held in Zenica and Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays attended this event. On this occasion Hays stated that the state must give better environment to businessmen when taxes are in question, as well as, all other conditions for business. Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Governments unfortunately still act against and not in favour of businesspeople’ also covered the issue. |
| On lack of funds for Old Bridge opening ceremony
| Dnevni List Sunday front and pg 7 ‘It is bad that every manifestation that does not take place in Sarajevo is being brought in question’ by N. Bise carries an interview with Federation of BiH Minister of Culture Gavrilo Grahovac about the lack of money for the Old Bridge opening ceremony. According to Grahovac, the reason for all the problems that emerged with regard to the Old Bridge opening ceremony is an arrogant attitude of certain media and, perhaps, some structures in culture that have negative attitude towards every manifestation that does not take place in Sarajevo. Grahovac also said that he expects that in the next two days at the latest, the money that the FBiH Government is supposed to give for this purpose will be on the account of the Mostar City Administration. BHTV, FTV on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje, Vecernji List Saturday pg 2 ‘Opening of Old Bridge questionable’, mentioned on cover ‘Kupusovic wants half million KMs for bridge’, by H and Slobodna Dalmacija Saturday pg 6 ‘Opening of Old Bridge under question mark’ by M. Landeka also deal with this issue. |