Friday
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Cantonal Court in Mostar | Shooting in Sarajevo | Security in Sarajevo | RSNA Session |
| New Mostar structure | BiH Defence Minister issue | Electricity issues | Econ. Criminal Charges |
| Status of Catholic Church | CoM action plan | RS Police- SFOR | Ombudsman’s Position |
| ‘Political Will’ statement | SFOR actions | Privatisation website | ‘Political Will’ statement |
Saturday
| NTV Hayat (18,55 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Rotterdam Film Festival | HR discontent | Crimes in Brcko | Reforms in BiH |
| BiH Judge in Strasbourg | Mostar’s conference | Drugs production | War crimes arrest orders |
| Guest Safet Orucevic | Eid greetings | Srebrenica Commission | ‘Coup d’état’ case |
| Olympic Games | Child’s supplement in BiH | Eid greetings | Tackling crime in RS |
Saturday
| Oslobodjenje | SDA plan to dismiss the Government fails?; New shooting in Sarajevo: Clash in front of Assembly; Protests: It is time for Sarajevo citizens to be safe |
| Dnevni Avaz | Eid message by effendi Ceric: Success depends on ourselves; Halilovic accuses Prime Minister |
| Dnevni List | Acquittal for the Mostar four; Frano Ljubic, chancellor of Mostar University: Ashdown plants hatred in BiH with his decision; Ahmet Hadzipasic: OHR does not have to protect me in my party and my state |
| Vecernji List | Chancellor of Vrhbosnia Archdiocese Ivo Tomasevic: Catholic Church still working illegally; Protest in Sarajevo: Citizens want safe city |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Background of Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic arrests: American services behind the arrests; After decision on change of Mostar Statute: Personal IDs will not be changed? |
| Glas Srpske | RS Pensioners – Paying of other people bills; Darkness as destiny; Rich people do not look at sky; Wedding parties heat refugees; Parrots drink and swear |
| Nezavisne Novine | RSNA asks for investigation on production of narcotics in RS; BiH Presidency Chair, Dragan Covic: “FBiH Government reshuffle will not influence Mostar Conference”; Former Sarajevo Special Police Unit members: “We are put away because we know too much”; Adnan Efendic wounded in shooting in Sarajevo; FOSS follows Gligoric and Lagumdzija |
Sunday
| Dnevni List | Announcement of blockade of Vinjani Donji border crossing: Minister Doko blocking the border!? |
| Vecernji List | Construction of roads is big problem in BiH: 92 kilometers of roads built during last year |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
Note: Due to Eid holidays, Dnevni Avaz and Oslobodjenje were not published on Sunday.
War crimes | |
| Cantonal Court in Mostar acquits 4 persons charged with war crimes
| BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, RHB Fri, Vecernji List Sat pg 2 ‘‘The four’ acquitted again’, Dnevni List Sat front splash, pg 43 ‘Acquittal for the Mostar four’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sat, pg 15 ‘Acquitting sentence for former HVO troops’ – Mostar Court Council, presided by the judge Mladen Jurisic, on Friday in repeated trial found Zeljko Dzidic, Mato Anicic, Erhad Poznic and Ivan Skutor, accused on committing war crimes, not guilty. They were charged with committing war crimes against civilians and war prisoners during the Bosniak-Croat conflicts in 1993, and more specifically for the disappearance of 13 BiH Army members. Mladen Jurisic, stated that there were no firm evidences that these former members of Croat Defence Council [HVO] arrested, tortured, and illegally held members of BiH Army or Bosniak civilians. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Dzidic, Anicic, Skutor and Poznic released from war crimes charges’ – Members of the families of 13 Bosniaks said that the verdict was another injustice against Bosniaks. Mostar Cantonal Prosecutor Ibro Bulic stated that he was shocked with the verdict, adding that the Court Council made mistakes in assessing the evidence and announcing that the Prosecution would submit the appeal. |
| Update on Zeljko Jankovic arrest | FTV Fri, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘There was almost a conflict between Bijeljina police and SFOR troops’ – “During the arrest of Zeljko Jankovic Luna there could be conflict between RS police and SFOR with tragic consequences, as Bijeljina police due to not being informed went into chase for civilian vehicles used in this action”, stated Chief of Bijeljina Public Security Centre Mile Pejcic. He explained that Bijeljina local police has even stopped the vehicles SFOR used in the arrest action, but after learning about the operation let them to leave towards Tuzla. “It was desirable for SFOR to inform us about the action, even though they are not obliged to do so”, said Pejcic added that after being informed police support SFOR and participate the search of Jankovic’s apartment. Dnevni Avaz and Oslobodjenje carry statement by SFOR that Jankovic is still held in detention. |
| BHTV 1 feature on arrest of war criminals | BHTV 1 Fri by Sanita Lisica – Commenting on the actions to arrest the war crime suspect Radovan Karadzic, carried out in the last several years, reports says that the main question is whether they were “for real or only a charade?” She further remarks that the last actions of SFOR in Pale were unsuccessful, as many to date, in spite of the SFOR claims that were getting closer. “SFOR conducts operations 24 hours a day. The information we gathered in Bijeljina, during the last action, are being analysed and I can say that the circles around the persons charged for war crimes, are closing down”- said Dave Sullivan, SFOR Spokesperson. “I don’t think they realise that there is a leek of information within SFOR, because I can’t imagine that every failed action because of something else than that someone in SFOR gives announcements to those people in advance”, comments Seada Palavric, SDA Vice President. “The most tragic fact is that those people who are making promises would like for Karadzic and [Ratko] Mladic to be taken away, but they would like someone else to do it so they wouldn’t have to. Maybe the destiny of Zoran Djindjic scared many of them”, said Zlatko Lagumdzija SDP President. Citizens in Sarajevo and Banja Luka mainly believe that all of this is a charade and that if SFOR wanted to capture top war crimes suspects they would a long time ago. |
| Srebrenica Commission submits report to RS Govt | FTV Sat – The Commission investigating the events in Srebrenica in July 1995 has submitted a report on its work to the RS Government. Commission announced it was expected to start with the collection of the evidences from both foreign and local institutions in next few days. This will also include the ICTY, who is supposed to deliver the documents regarding the cases already processed and of those only in procedure. President of the Commission Marko Arsovic said that ICTY representatives said that they would fully support the work of the Commission. It is expected that the Commission will get insight into an indictment of Ratko Mladic. Commission has intention to make a map, which would present the exact locations of the events in Srebrenica, including the positions of the mass graves. According to Marko Arsovic Commission will be able to meet the deadline given by RS Government – 12 June – but not the one given by OHR, which is 15 April. |
Mostar | |
| US, France support Ashdown decision on Mostar
| RHB Fri, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘America supports Paddy Ashdown’ – US Government supports the decision on Mostar Statute brought by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown. “The Statute ensures unified City Administration with appropriate power division and other mechanism to protect rights of all citizens in Mostar. It will create a ground for safe and prosperous future of Mostar”, stated Richard Baucher, Spokesperson for the US State Department. Dnevni List Sat pg 2 ‘State Department supports ASHDOWN’s decision’ – The French Embassy to BiH also supports the new Statute and the High Representative in its implementation. The Embassy says that the new Statute rejects every form of divisions among the citizenry and calls for co-existence, therefore “France calls on all BiH politicians to make its implementation easier”. |
| SDA will seek constitutional refutation of decision to abolish municipalities in Mostar | Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Constitutional refutation of the decision will be required’ – SDA President Sulejman Tihic stated for Oslobodjenje following the session of the SDA Presidency on Friday that his party was not entirely satisfied with the Mostar decisions: “We express our satisfaction over the establishment of the single and unified Mostar has been established, as well as over abolishment of parallelisms in City Administration… However, we do not agree with the abolishment of municipalities as the units of local self rule, way of election of the city mayor and a number of counsellors in city council.” Stressing that SDA was supporting the work of the Mostar Commission, Tihic however said that SDA did not support the selection of the mayor, claiming that as of now every leading person in Mostar would be a Croat. He also added that Croats will be dominant in City council. “We will try to change given solutions through parliamentary procedure. We will also ask refutation of the constitutionality of the High Rep decision regarding the abolishment of city municipalities”, said Tihic adding that Croats also announced the same initiative. Nevertheless, SDA Presidency concluded that its officials will participate in the implementation of the High Rep Mostar decision until the final solution to the issue. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘SDA not entirely satisfied with solution for Mostar’, Nezavisne novine pg 5 ‘SDA is not satisfied with abolishing of Mostar’s municipalities’ – carry press statement following the SDA Presidency session. Dnevni List Sun pg 3 ‘Yes to Ashdown’s decision, but not at all costs’ – According to Zijad Hadziomerovic, member of the SDA Presidency and Head of Mostar’s Municipality Old Town, a dialogue about imperfections of the decision should be established during the process of implementation of the HR’s decision. |
| SNSD supports Ashdown’s decision on Mostar | RH B Fri, Vecernji List Sat pg 4 ‘SNSD for implementation of decision’, FENA – SNSD President Milorad Dodik said today that SNSD representatives will take part in the implementation of the decision on the new Statute of Mostar City imposed by High Representative Paddy Ashdown even though he does not support imposed solutions in principle. He told a press conference in Banja Luka that SNSD would participate in the implementation of the decision and creation of preconditions for changing it through legal and democratic procedure in order to ensure the establishment of a single administration in Mostar based on rule of law and equal representation of all constitutive peoples and citizens. |
| SBiH supports Ashdown’s decision on Mostar | Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Decision in interests of all citizens’ – Vice President of Party for BiH Sahbaz Dzihanovic stated at the press conference on Friday that his party supported the decision of the High Representative regarding Mostar, despite some discrepancies. He stressed that the decision stopped agony and apartheid that took place in the city for more than 10 years: “This decision finally abolished the division on ethnic base. It is encouraging that the new structure of administrating Mostar will be established, and that it would be ensured that all vital functions will be in the city jurisdiction.” |
| Orucevic on Mostar decision | NTV Hayat Sat – In an interview to NTV Hayat’s Central News, former Mostar mayor Safet Orucevic was asked to comment the new Mostar Statute as imposed by the High Representative: “I think this statute is good enough, and it confirms an idea of united city. I personally support this decision of the High Representative. Of course, the Statute has its poor aspects, but with a bit of good will and well-intended politicians, I think the time has came for this city to become organized in the way its citizens want it. Let me emphasize some important aspects: all the main services will be preserved in 6 city areas, and they will function the same way the municipalities have been functioning. Secondly, in the City Council no one can be outvoted, which prevents any kind of ethnic majority. It also excludes any kind or parallelism.” Commenting SDA objections to Mostar decision, Orucevic strongly opposed it adding that his former party has completely changed its policy towards Mostar protecting Bosniak national interests: “But if we had gained our national interests in eastern Mostar, many Bosniacks from other municipalities would be left aside. This would open the Pandora’s box in the entire BiH, as well as the possibility for other peoples to demand an establishment of ethnically oriented municipalities… I certainly hope that the IC will remove all those politicians who are prepared to obstruct the idea of united Mostar.” Former Mostar mayor also said that there was a chance to prevent HR from imposing the decision, however stressed that all previous initiatives were “ruined” by radicals. |
| Reps of returnees associations on Mostar decision | Dnevni List Sun pg 13 ‘Ivanisevic: Serbs finally become equal’ – The leader of Association of Serb returnees to Mostar, Mirko Ivanisevic, says “the Serbs have, owing to the decision of the OHR on restructuring of Mostar, become an equal people with a guaranteed minimum quota of councilors, which is not the case anywhere else in the FBiH”. Saying that the Association supports the High Representative’s decision, Ivanisevic notes that the Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats in other local communities should get the same rights the Serbs in Mostar got. DL also carries the President of Association of Bosniak returnees to Mostar, Ibrahim Rahimic, who says: “There are no more minority peoples in Mostar, there are no political terms such as east and west Mostar. All Mostarians can now say it is their city as a whole”. |
| UHSP: Mostar Statute unacceptable | Vecernji List Sat pg 2 ‘UHSP: Statute for Mostar is unacceptable and detrimental’ – The United Croat Party of Rights (UHSP) assesses the Statute for Mostar “unacceptable and detrimental to Croats”. UHSP wonders “what sort of democracy are we talking about, what is the system in which the will of people is not observed, and in which suggestions of political parties and its leaders and suggestions of religious leaders are not taken into consideration”. |
| HDU unhappy with Ashdown’s decision | Slobodna Dalmacija Sun pg 11 ‘HDU: Politicians let people down’ – The Croat Democratic Union (HDU), led by Miro Grabovac Titan, is reportedly unhappy with the HR’s decision. “By enacting the decision on organization of Mostar, the High Representative used his powers in order to strengthen his position of many representatives of IC in BiH. On the other hand, domestic political representatives elected by the people dodge every responsibility, and instead of fighting for position of their people, they let the others do it, in the same time declaring themselves as victims”. |
| NN on Mostar decision
| Nezavisne novine pg 3 of supplement ‘Party for BiH turn the scale in decission’ –NN claims that they found out unofficially that High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, allegdly has promised to HDZ that there will be 35 seats in the City Council but with no national quota, claiming this took place a day before the decision. However, a maximum quota is result of Ashdown’s meeting with leaders of Party for BiH in Mostar. NN claims that this concept of Statute of Mostar is result of Ashdown’s friendship with Haris Silajdzic. |
| Survey shows Mostar citizens in favour of unified city | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Citizens of North are for unified Mostar’ – Daily carries that the results of survey conducted in the Mostar by Partner agency showed that 72% of its citizens were in favour of the unified city. In addition, 91% of Mostar North Municipality supported this, denying the statement by its Head Salem Bubalo who previously claimed that “there was no mood for single Mostar in this municipality.” |
| Oslobodjenje editorial on Mostar decision | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Ashdown’s key decision’ op-ed by Mirko Sagolj – Remarking that SDA and HDZ have been fighting over the Mostar issue for years waiting each to ensure domination of its people over the city, author says that the Mostar decision was the key one made by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown during his mandate. He also claims that while HDZ was trying to preserve Croat domination, SDA – as the party of less numbered Bosniaks – was working towards keeping the absolute power in three Bosniak municipalities, while both policies meant the division of Mostar. “Ashdown himself said that the talks and negotiations on Mostar lasted for about 800 hours. Realizing, probably, that Mostar was a key issue for entire BiH, Ashdown dedicated to it a lot of time and attention”, reads editorial also praising multiethnic parties – SDP, SDU and Party for BiH and Safet Orucevic – for supporting the decision. |
FBiH Govt reshuffle | |
| Dzihanovic on SDA initiative to dismiss FBiH Govt
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4&5 ‘SDA plan to dismiss the Government fails?’ – FBiH vice president Sahbaz Dzihanovic stated for Oslobodjenje that it would be contra-productive to replace the FBiH Government and the FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic. He added that it would be necessary to estimate potential consequences of such plan, especially having in mind that in 2004 Federation Government has to speed up the reforms in the field of state security, intelligence, army, energy, education, and the system of pensions and protection for veterans population. Therefore, the Vice President wonders whether it would be possible to establish the new, quality, government able to complete all these obligations, also announcing that the decision on respond to the SDA initiative will be agreed on Tuesday together with Federation Vice President Desnica Radivojevic and President Niko Lozancic. Oslobodjenje concludes that the FBiH government reshuffle plans will probably not be carried out following consensus of the FBiH leadership. In that case, the SDA will have to pass the initiative to the FBiH Parliament. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Decision on Federation Government dismissal next week’ – Avaz claims that according to Sahbaz Dzihanovic the decision on the SDA initiative to dismiss FBiH Government will be brought on Friday. |
| SDA expects Hadzipasic to resign | Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘What SDA objects to the Government’ – The letter SDA President Sulejman Tihic sent to Federation leadership reads that the new government would be significantly changed from the current one. He also listed 13 reasons for the Government dismissal. Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘If Hadzipasic doesn’t resign’ – SDA Presidency on Friday did not discuss the request for the dismissal of FBiH Government that party President Sulejman Tihic sent to Federation leadership. “We expect Prime Minister Hadzipasic to resign in order to solve the current situation. If that doesn’t happen and if it is not possible to find joint solution between leaders of FBiH, SDA will commence with the initiative before the FBiH House of Representatives”, claims Oslobodjenje to be conclusion by the SDA Presidency. |
| Hadzipasic: ‘Tihic will not make me to resign’ | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Tihic will not make me to resign’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘I shall not resign’ – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic stated for daily that he did not intent to file resignation despite the fact that the SDA President Sulejman Tihic publicly asked him to do so. Admitting that the government was not able to fulfil promises given during the elections, Hadzipasic stressed that this was the case due to the parties’ interference: “This looks like trading and personal ambitions. Somebody doesn’t like my behaviour style and the way of communication.” SDA, says Hadzipasic, has not enough arguments to dismiss him: “It is impossible to lead the battle and to win at all fronts. We had to face with the garbage that was compiling for eight years. You don’t expects us to clean that for eleven months?!” FBiH Prime Minister blamed ruling political parties for a number of problems, such as Aluminij, FBiH Army and solution to the status of veterans. He refused to comment the speculation that he has a support within OHR. Dnevni List Sat front, pg 3 ‘OHR does not have to protect me in my party and my state’ – In addition to Hadzipasic’s comment, DL also carries a comment by the Republika Srpska PM, Dragan Mikerevic, who says the events surrounding the FBiH Government will affect the work of the RS Government. “I have an excellent co-operation with Hadzipasic. In case of crisis within the governments, there would be a halt in the reforms and that would influence the work of our government. We would lose the necessary momentum. I think it will not come to that and that the sense would triumph over emotions”, says PM Mikerevic. |
Other political issues | |
| Parties invited to sign ‘Statement on Political Will’ against abolishment of entities
| RHB Fri, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Invitation to all political parties to declare themselves against abolishment of entities’, Nezavisne novine pg 4 ‘SNSD, DNS and SPRS with Statement against abolishing of RS’ – The leaders of political parties that signed ‘Chapter for Future’ – SNSD, SPRS [RS Socialist Party] sand DNS [Democratic Peoples Union] – stated in Banja Luka that they would not accept the changes to the constitutional structure of BiH which would lead towards the abolishment of entities. Following often demands to change the BiH structure, and its Constitution defined by the Dayton Peace Agreement, these three parties prepared the document titled ‘Statement on political will’ and offered it to all political parties from RS, but also from BiH, to sign it all together on Tuesday. The statement rejects a possibility of carrying out the activities related to change of BiH Constitution which would lead towards abolishment of the entities. President of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, stated at the press conference that if other political parties in BiH don’t accept their initiative, their next move will be to suggest the idea of “building BiH as asymmetric community, in which RS as entity would not present a disturbance.” RTRS Sat – Marko Pavic, DNS President, stressed that the statement on political will is a product of an initiative to stop with speculations on changes to Constitutional and Dayton’s structure of BiH and RS. Petar Djokic, SPRS President, stated that RS as entity would not cause any damages to functioning of BiH. |
| Ashdown dissatisfied with slowing down reforms process
| BHTV 1 Sat, RTRS Sat – In an interview to Jutarnje Novine, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that he was not satisfied with the cease of the reforms implementation at the beginning of this year. Ashdown added that if the process is not accelerated the doors of EU and NATO will be closed for BiH. He also said that it was too soon to say whether he would be the last the High Representative in BiH, and added that this could be known in the middle of this year. |
| BHTV 1 feature on implementation of 16 EC posed conditions | BHTV 1 Fri by Mirela Cosic – In addition to the appointment of BiH Minister of Defence, BiH has a long way towards the EU. In order to fulfil the sixteen conditions laid down in the Feasibility Study by the end of June, BiH Parliament would have to pass new 44 Laws. However, according to the plan of BiH Council of Ministers, which is supposed to lead BiH to signing an Agreement on Stabilisation and Accession, I addition to the political will, large amounts of money are required. Chairman of CoM Adnan Terzic, doesn’t see this as an obstacle towards the fulfilment of the plan, as by signing the Agreement, the investment founds raging from 2 millions to a billion KM would become accessible to BiH. The budget of BiH has not yet been passed, the main reason being that the amount of means to be transferred to BiH institutions from the entities has still not been defined. In fact, FBiH still hasn’t passed its budget; the delegates have only adopted the draft and according to FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic that should take place at the next session of FBiH Parliament. RS Government will not present a treat to fulfilment of sixteen priorities, according to RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic, but there are different attitudes on the laws which have to be passed, such as the Law on Intelligence Agency. Plan of the Council of Ministers regarding 16 conditions has been divided into five sections. |
| DA int with Hays: ‘Strengthening of municipalities enables better implementation of reforms’ | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Strengthening of municipalities enables better implementation of reforms’ – In an interview to DA, Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays talked about advantages of the cooperation between mayors and municipal heads in BiH, stressing that the inter-entity division line should not be an obstruction in that process. Remarking that the democracy relies on the local self-rule, Hays says that the activities carried out in the last few months on intensifying the cooperation between majors is in the interests of citizens, as it would provide with “better services… cheaper health system, education, security, ecology, agriculture… If we want a single economic space, the only way for that is to have municipalities, based on their own interests, work together.” PDHR Hays also stressed the importance of the direct election of the majors, which will be implemented in RS as of this year, “which increases participation of the citizens and parties in political processes which become more transparent.” |
Economic issues | |
| BiH gets privatisation website
| BHTV 1 Fri, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Joint Federation and RS presentation’, Vecernji List Sat pg 4 ‘Privatization web site presented’, Dnevni List Sat pg 7 ‘Everything about investment possibilities at one place’ – Representatives of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) presented in Sarajevo on Friday the new BiH privatisation website. Setting up this website has been one of the practical steps initiated by the Privatisation Working Group, which brings together all of the relevant ministries agencies and international organizations under the aegis of the BiH Economic Coordination Board. This is the first website with information on privatisation of all BiH companies, including their privatisation programs. It also also provides with various documents, publications, lists of tenders, opening and closing dates and the privatisation plan for this year. The website www.privatizacija.ba presentation was also attended by the BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic, Principle Deputy High Representative Donald Hays and FIPA representatives attended the presentation. FTV Fri – Chairman of Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic has confirmed that the privatisation process has been stopped during the past two years, slowing down the path towards reaching self-sustainable economy. Both entities Prime Ministers Ahmet Hadzipasic and Dragan Mikerevic claim that they have same interests when it comes to privatisation of the strategically important companies. |
| Covic on Mostar Investment Conference | BHTV 1 Sat, RTRS Sat – International Conference in Mostar will take place on 26 and 27 February. Dragan Covic, Chairman of BiH Presidency, is of opinion that BiH has a great chance to send a positive massage to the world at this occasion. He also explained that the projects in the field of energy, communications, agriculture and tourism will be considered at the conference. |
| Mtg on Electricity Tariffs and Aluminij | Dnevni List Sat front, pg 5 ‘Negotiations on price of electricity continue’ – The FBiH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, FBiH Deputy PM, Dragan Vrankic, general managers of Elektroprivredas of BiH and Herceg Bosna, Enver Kreso and Vlado Maric respectively, general manager of “Aluminij”, Mijo Brajkovic, a representative of the IC and four representatives of the FBiH Ministry of Energy and Industry held a meeting on Thursday, discussing the issue of price of electricity for “Aluminij”. DL stresses the meeting was public, despite some attempts that wanted to present it as if it was organized without the knowledge of the competent minister, Izet Zigic. In that context, DL learns from the PIO of the FBiH Government that Minister Zigic was absent because he is on sick leave. FTV Fri – Directors Enver Kreso and Vlado Maric, along with OHR Chief of Economic Department Patrice Dreiski, agreed that FBiH Government must find a way to equalize electricity tariffs all buyers on the FBiH territory. |
| Srdjanovic on Aluminij | Nezavisne novine pg 11 ‘Aluminij will have electricity until March 31st’ – Two Elektroprivreda companies in the Federation of BiH will continue to provide electircity for Aluminij until March 31, this year, said Mile Srdjanovic, from FBiH Ministry of Energy. If Aluminij does not sign contract with offered prices Elektroprivreda will stop providing electricity to HZ HB Elektroprivreda. This electricity is distributed to Aluminij. |
| SBiH accuses Hadzipasic over Aluminij case | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Prime minister Hadzipasic is also involved in hidden games around Aluminij’ – Party for BiH claims that “Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, beside some officials of the international community, participates in the hidden games around delivery of electricity to Aluminij at the non-competitive prices.” Party says that lobbying and pressures against Elektroprivreda management and Industry Ministry, as well as the fact that the meetings on the subject held in the last couple of days did not include authorized Ministers, has an aim to provide monopoly position. SBiH President Safet Halilovic said that these “games… bring into question legality of functioning of all legal institutions that should deal with the issue” and called for urgent establishment of electricity price in accordance with the market criteria. |
BiH Defence Minister issue | |
| Sarovic proposes a merge of two ministries or abolishment of one to ease appointment of BH Defence Minister
| BHTV 1 Fri – The final deadline for reaching an agreement on appointment of the first BiH Minister of Defence is 15th February. After the first negotiations in Lukavica, leaders of BiH Parties have maintained their positions each claiming that the duty should be performed by their candidate. Leaders from RS, according to SDS Vice President Mirko Sarovic, have offered two solutions to the situation. First one is for Defence Minister and his Deputies to rotate every year. The second solution envisages abolishment of one Ministry, or a merge of the Ministry for Refuges and Displaced persons with the Civil Affairs Ministry, which would bring a number of Ministers to nine making equal number of posts held by each ethnicity. “If we would have eight Ministries, which means that one would have to be abolished or merged with the other, plus the Chairman, it wouldn’t be so important who would get this position, because it would be divided by three”- said Sarovic. “When it comes to this second suggestion, about the rationalization of the Ministries in order to fulfil the Constitutional principle, the principle of the nationality representations, we are certainly open for negotiations. And I think – if that or some other suggestion will solve this issue – we are ready for a compromise.”- said Barisa Colak HDZ President. SDA and HDZ are unanimous that the first suggestion is against the law on Council of Ministers, stressing that second one was also unacceptable. According to the information from the Cabinet of BH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic, SDA would accept that Minister of Defence is a representative of ‘others’. Parties’ leaders won’t speak about the nominations and individuals for this job, but it is certain that new Minister will be a civilian, who is out of military service for at least three years and at the end his nomination will have to be accepted by OHR. |
| Tihic meets Cliff, Bond: Defence Minister to be appointed soon
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Soon appointment of Defence Ministry’ – Member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic and BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic met with the UK and US Ambassadors to BiH, Ian Cliff and Clifford Bond, assuring them that the deadlines regarding the defence reforms will be respected. Advisor to Tihic, Edin Dilberovic stated that this includes appointment of Defence Minister, adding that Tihic informed Ambassadors that the Minister and other leading officials will probably be appointed next week. |
| Ivanic on BH Defence Minister position | RTRS Sat – Mladen Ivanic, BiH Minster of Foreign Affairs, stated that the international community has no influence over the selection of a Ministry of Defence, but that it requested for this appointment to take place as soon as possible. Ivanic was asked whether the Minister would be a Serb: ”It is very hard to answer that question. Of course, majority of political parties from RS would like to see Serb selected. However, that is a subject to harmonisation of parties who are a majority. SDS, SDA and HDZ will select future BiH Minister of Defence.” |
| Becirbasic on BH Defence Minister | Dnevni List Sun pg 7 ‘Becirbasic: We do not have information about agreement’ – The Secretary General of the Standing Committee for Military Matters (SCMM), Enes Becirbasic, told Fena that the “appointment of BiH Defence Minister and two of his/hers deputies should have been completed by end January and confirmed in the Parliament by mid February, but unfortunately, we still do not have information that the competent institutions have agreed upon the appointment”. |
Legal issues | |
| Follow up on Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic arrests | Vecernji List Sat pg 5 ‘Muselimovic: Position of BiH Court is unacceptable’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Position of BiH Court unacceptable’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Muselimovic claims that reasons for rejecting appeal are unacceptable’, FENA – Ante Jelavic’s lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, argues that the position of the BiH Court, which says the issue of competence of the court should not be discussed, is not acceptable, believing it is the main issue in the whole case. Dnevni List Sat front, centerfold ‘Excerpts from prepared indictment against Jelavic and the rest’ – DL carries part 1 of excerpts of “possible” indictment against Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Rupcic, Ivan Azinovic and Miroslav Prce. According to DL, documents belonging to the special department for organized crime (of the BiH Prosecution) show how the suspects re-routed funds coming from the Republic of Croatia that were originally allocated for the HVO through the “Hercegovacka bank” and a group of companies, the funds that were used to the benefit of the suspects and a network of individuals, companies and interest groups that were linked to them. |
| RSNA ‘heated’ discussion on import of chemical substances used for illegal drugs production | BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Dodik asked for Djeric’s resignation’, Nezavisne novine cover, pg 3 ‘Parliament asks for urgent investigation on production of narcotics in RS’, Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘Investigation directed at associates’ – SNSD representative in the RS National Assembly Milorad Dodik regards RS Minister of Interior Zoran Djeric responsible for the affair of importing the acetic acid anhydrides, for which he should resign. During discussion on the RS Government’s Report in regard to misuses in importing the mentioned substances at the extraordinary RSNS session on Friday, Dodik said that the RS MoI is responsible for omissions that happened in regard to importing of acetic acid anhydrides. Zoran Djeric emphasised that RS MoI issues compliance only for the safe transport of dangerous substances, and that the Ministry of Health is authorised for approving the import of such substances. Minister of Health Marin Kvaternik said that they have been approving this import, but that they stopped on demand of MoI. RTRS Sat – Milorad Dodik, SNSD President stated that 60 tons of the substance, imported by Intersped from Brcko, RBS from Bijeljina and Terpretin from Visegrad, have not been cleared through customs but it was approved by MoI. “I think that this affair … showed unprofessional work of MoI. It give us right to believe that MoI is behind this dirty operations.” BiH Prosecutor’s Office initiated two investigations on import of dangerous substance, believing that it has been used for production of illegal drugs. |