FENA - September, 2004 (deployment of troops to Iraq, NATO membership, Srebrenica victims, IFAD)

090104 am
SA5203: 31.08.2004 09:14
MORNING SERVICE
SESSION OF THE COMMISSION FOR DEFENCE AND SECURITY POLICY
SARAJEVO, August 31 (FENA) – The Joint Commission for Defence and Security Policy and
Monitoring of Defence and Security Structures at State level on Tuesday considered the Bill on
participation of members of the BiH Armed Forces, state officials and other employees in
peacekeeping missions and other activities abroad.
The Acting Chair of the Commission, Bosko Siljegovic, told the press that codifying the final
proposal of the said law, which will regulate the matters on participation of BiH Armed Forces in
peacekeeping missions abroad, has been postponed for seven days.
- The Commission has suggested the working group, which comprises representatives of BiH
Defence and Security Ministries, to prepare the text of the bill that will also include the matter of
participation of police officials in peacekeeping operations, explained Siljegovic, expressing hope
that this law would be on the daily agenda of the next session of the BiH House of
Representatives, scheduled for September 7.
Deputy Chair of the Commission Sefik Dzaferovic said that today’s meeting also included
considering the Bill on the State Border Service (DGS) and the Bill on Monitoring and Controlling
State Border Crossings, which was proposed by BiH Council of Ministers.
The adoption of these laws, he said, is a commitment BiH has taken over within the 16 priority
conditions for opening the negotiations on Stabilization and Association with the EU.
According to the Commission Deputy Chair, Branko Zrno, the daily agenda of today’s session
also included the Report on occupied posts in the BiH Defence Ministry, which currently functions
at the level of 28 percent.
Noting that personnel occupancy in this ministry is a precondition for accessing Euro-Atlantic
integration, Zrno expressed hope that the situation in this field would be improved in the next
month.
In response to a journalist question on the grounds of which law BiH Presidency has issued the
Decision on deploying BiH soldiers to Iraq, i.e. whether they can be deployed to this country
without passing the said law, officials of the Commission said that BiH Presidency, in accordance
with the Law on Defence BiH, is authorized for making such a decision, and that “it would be
logical” to issue a relevant law before enforcing it, which would also treat the matters of
organizational and technical nature (the matters of withdrawing from the mission, eventual
compensations for damages, etc.).
(Fena) gk
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FSA5206: 31.08.2004 09:19
MORNING SERVICE
REMAINS OF 20 VICTIMS FROM SREBRENICA DISCOVERED AT MASS GRAVE BLJECEVA
BRATUNAC/SARAJEVO, August 31 (FENA) – The experts for exhumations on Tuesday have
discovered the remains of some 20 victims from Srebrenica in the mass grave Bljeceva in

Municipality Bratunac. The bodies were not exhumed today because the works are still in
progress on opening the grave.
According to the Chief of Tuzla Department of the FBiH Commission on Missing Persons, Murat
Hurtic, the grave is over 20 metres deep, and approx. 4 metres wide.
(Fena) gk
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FSA5208: 31.08.2004 09:35
MORNING SERVICE
MIKEREVIC MEETS IFAD DELEGATION
BANJA LUKA, August 31 (FENA) – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and Minister of
Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Rodoljub Trkulja on Tuesday held talks with a
delegation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The Fund is currently crediting its third project in RS and BiH titled “Development of cattle-
breeding and rural financing”.
Director of the IFAD Sector for Near East, North Africa and South-east Europe Abdulmajed
Slama informed Prime Minister Mikerevic about the previous projects of IFAD in BiH, and
underlined the excellent cooperation this organization has with the RS Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water Economy in implementation of the mentioned ongoing project, was
announced by RS Government’s Bureau for Public Relations.
The IFAD delegation also briefed Mikerevic that the Fund, within this project, through the Italian
Government, has provided US$ 328.000 for supporting establishment of a network for collecting
milk and its products in the area of municipalities Rogatica, Kalinovik, Nevesinje and Berkovici.
Mikerevic underlined the significance of IFAD projects for improving the overall social situation in
BiH, and expressed hope that the Fund would continue investing in development of agriculture in
RS, which has substantial resources in this field.
(Fena) gk

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FSA5207: 31.08.2004 09:25
MORNING SERVICE
REMAINS OF 56 VICTIMS DISCOVERED IN MASS GRAVE STARI KEVLJANI
PRIJEDOR/SARAJEVO, August 31 (FENA) – The remains of five victims were exhumed on
Tuesday from the mass grave Stari Kevljani in Municipality Prijedor, told Fena representative of
the FBiH Commission on Missing Persons Jasmin Odobasic.
Since August 13, when the exhumation at this location was launched, to date the remains of 56
victims have been exhumed. The experts have also discovered documents indicating that the
victims were inmates of detention camp Omarska.
The remains are being moved to the Sejkovaca hall in Sanski Most, where they will undergo
anthropological processing and autopsy. DNA analysis will be performed for all the bodies.
Exhumation at this location will resume Wednesday.

(Fena) gk
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FSA5209: 31.08.2004 09:45
MORNING SERVICE
DOKIC AND CHO ON ELECTRIFICATION OF RAILWAY DOBOJ-TUZLA-ZVORNIK
SARAJEVO, August 31 (FENA) – BiH Minister of Communications and Transport Branko Dokic
on Tuesday received the General Director of company DAEWOO, M.G. Cho, who informed Dokic
about the degree of preparing the feasibility study, on which the Korean Government is working
through this company, which concerns electrification of railway Doboj-Tuzla-Zvornik.
This study is a donation of the Korean Government as a contribution to development of the
railway sector in BiH, was announced by BiH Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Cho informed Dokic that the study would be completed in two months the latest. In addition, he
expressed the preparedness of the Korean Government to credit the electrification of railway
Doboj-Tuzla-Zvornik with very advantages conditions.
BiH Minister of Communications and Transport expressed gratitude for the offer and requested
that the Korean Government forwards the official proposal for crediting so that the Council of
Ministers could consider it.
The meeting was also attended by the General Director of the BiH Railway Corporation, Borka
Trkulja, and Deputy General Director for Infrastructure Ivan Knezovic.
(Fena) gk
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MARKETING - tel/fax: 033 445 346; mob: 061 200 527; e-mail: marketing@fena.ba IT FENA - e-
mail: otprema@fena.ba; fena-info@fena.ba

(SFOR media summary, 10/06/2003) Occupation of Franciscan Monastery Scit by SFOR members who detained a number of individuals in the area of Prozor/Rama because of their resemblance to Ante Gotovina

https://www.nato.int/sfor/media/2003/ms030610.htm

Main News Summary Tuesday, 10 June 2003

Topic	Source	Title	Narrative
SFOR	Slobodna Dalmacija	Occupation of Franciscan Monastery at Scit unseen since Partisans burned it downs during WWII	On Sunday, after small children received Communion in the church at Scit, Spanish and Italian SFOR members carried out an invasion of the area of Gornja Rama with helicopters and APCs. SFOR tanks surrounded the Franciscan monastery at about 10.00 hours and wanted to search the monastery and the House of Peace. Soldiers wearing masks, in full combat gear, jumped out of the helicopters, pointed strong reflectors at the settlement, raided houses and detained some men, thus causing great stress to the residents of this area and trauma to the children. The spectacular charlatan behaviour of Spanish and Italian SFOR members caused great damage to the reputation of SFOR and unnecessary war trauma to the local population. They carried out a military occupation of the Franciscan monastery at Scit as has not been seen since WWII, when Partisans burned down the monastery. (p. 17)
SFOR	Dnevni avaz	SFOR looks for Ante Gotovina in the House of Peace at Scit (Teaser)	On Sunday, SFOR carried out an operation in the area of Prozor/Rama with the purpose of arresting Ante Gotovina. Apart from inspecting vehicles and asking for ID cards of the Rama citizens, the soldiers of the Spanish Contingent and members of the Italian Carabinieri entered the yard of the House of Peace at Scit, which is situated in the Franciscan monastery. "SFOR members arrived at about 22.00 hours in full combat gear, wearing masks on their faces and with their rifles pointed. I went outside and asked them what they wanted and who they were looking for. I was told briefly that they were looking for a person that is a threat to our and their security, and they wanted to enter the monastery. I prevented them from entering by saying that I would inform the Vatican about what was going on in five minutes if necessary. They changed their minds about entering the monastery but did not leave the yard of the House of Peace until midnight. I suppose that they were looking for Ante Gotovina. It is bad that SFOR soldiers did not have a search warrant and did not allow us to talk to their commander during the operation," said monk Mato Topic, the guardian of the Rama-Scit Franciscan monastery. SFOR soldiers detained Jozo Mestrovic and Luka Faletar during the operation. "They told me to stop one hundred meters from my house. They checked my documents, and compared my appearance to some photo they had with them. They did not have an interpreter, but luckily, a local chaplain who could speak Italian was passing by. He told me that I would have to go with the Carabinieri and to tell my wife to pick up the car," said Luka Faletar, one of the two persons who were detained in the SFOR operation. He was taken to Camp Butmir by car. "It was almost 02.00 hours in the morning. I made a statement and they concluded that I was detained because of my resemblance to General Gotovina. The taking of a statement lasted for two hours, after which I was taken back to Rama by car," said Faletar, physical education teacher at the elementary school in Rama. He especially pointed out that SFOR soldiers had not treated him badly either on the way to Butmir or on the way back. We learned from the local residents in Rama that the operation of SFOR was still going on. According to Nezavisne Novine, Mestrovic was told that he was indicted for war crimes, after which an indictment against General Ante Gotovina was read to him. After he convinced them that he was not Gotovina, he was taken to another room, where he stayed until Monday morning, when he got his personal belongings back and was released. The same thing happened to Luka Faletar. Mestrovic and Faletar announced that they would file a lawsuit against SFOR for fear suffered, false accusations and violation of their human rights. The same paper reported that the Rama Police Administration was informed about the operation of SFOR only after checkpoints had already been set up in Gornja Rama, which was just before SFOR members raided the yard of the Scit Franciscan monastery. The Rama Police Administration was asked to send one of its patrols. Members of the Rama Police Administration went to the scene yesterday. The police confirmed that SFOR had detained two persons, Luka Faletar and Jozo Mestrovic, in order to check their identities, after which they were released. (Photo on page 3) /The same in Oslobodjenje (p. 6), Jutarnje Novine (p. 3), Dnevni List (p. 9), Slobodna Dalmacija (p. 17), Nezavisne Novine (p. 3), Glas Srpske (p. 3)/
SFOR	Dnevni avaz	No war crimes suspects were among those arrested in the area of Prozor	SFOR members detained a number of individuals in the area of Prozor/Rama on Monday because they believed that one of those detained was Ante Gotovina, who is wanted for war crimes by the ICTY. However, confirmation of the identification of these individuals showed that Gotovina was not among those arrested. SFOR released these individuals after having concluded that none of them were war crimes indictees. The detention was carried out in accordance with SFOR's mandate and was an example of a common and coherent international operation. MNB (SE) confirmed on Monday that its members, in co-operation with MNB (NW), had carried out an unannounced search of the river peninsula Dronjici in the area of Prozor/Rama on Sunday. (p. 3)
SFOR	Oslobodjenje	Weapons collected during Operation Joint Resolve XXIX	MNB (SE) has reported that it carried out Operation Joint Resolve XXIX last week, in co-operation with all MNB members. "MNB (SE) members collected 54 rifles and pistols, 33 hand grenades, four rifle grenades, two mines, 17,305 rounds of various ammunition, 3.4 kg of explosives, and 73 bayonets, home made hand grenades and knives," MNB (SE) reported in its press release, adding that an SFOR patrol stopped a vehicle during the operation, and found the driver of the vehicle in possession of drugs. Members of the local police are carrying out an investigation into this case. (p. 4) /The same in Dnevni avaz (p. 12), Dnevni List (p. 14)/
SFOR	Slobodna Dalmacija	SFOR is proud of operation	Brigadier General Gianmarco Chiarini, Commander of MNB (SE), stated on Monday that he was proud of this operation that was carried out quickly and unnoticed, and that it showed once again the will and the possibilities of SFOR members to maintain a safe and secure environment no matter where they are at any given time. (p. 17)
SFOR	Nezavisne Novine	Milakovic and his associates to be remanded in custody for another two months	"A decision was made on 6 June for Milorad Milakovic, Ilija Gavranovic, Mladenko Rosic and Niko Aleksic, who are suspected of human trafficking and prostitution, to be remanded in custody for another 60 days," Bozo Mihajlovic, the State Prosecutor handling this case, told the paper. "The suspects were to be released today after being in custody for 30 days and at my proposal, they were remanded in custody for another 60 days. The Prosecutor's Office did not want to wait for the last day to extend their detention, which is today, as we have far too much work to finish," said Mihajlovic. (Photo on page 4)
SFOR	Nezavisne Novine	Dragan Vasiljevic: "I was not racketeering, but arranging meetings"	Q: What did they ask you about in the SFOR base in Tuzla, after you were arrested on 8 May? A: All sorts of things, starting from my identity to working together with them. They asked me about Ljubomir Borovcanin and asked me if I was in contact with him. They asked me about all persons from a list of Hague indictments and not only about Borovcanin. I am not in contact with any of them. I have not been on good terms with Borovcanin for more than two years for some personal reasons. (Photo on page 6)
SFOR	HINA	SFOR releases two persons taken into custody on Sunday	The NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday released two persons who were taken into custody on Sunday during an operation in the area of Prozor-Rama municipality. SFOR today stated its troops had arrested two persons, while eyewitnesses claimed the troops were looking for Croatian General Ante Gotovina, a runaway indictee of the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. During Monday, SFOR troops were checking vehicles at several locations in the settlement of Scit near Rama, Rama police officials confirmed. The check-up and search of vehicles at Scit was carried out by fully equipped SFOR troops, local police said. The interior ministry of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, which covers the territory of Prozor-Rama municipality, stated that it had not been notified about the operation.
AF IN BIH	Dnevni avaz	Continuation of English in Federation Army	Yesterday, the Federation Ministry of Defence signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Defence of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. With this agreement, signed by the Federation Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, and the British Ambassador in BiH, Ian Cliff, members of the Federation Army will continue to receive English classes until 2005. Ambassador Cliff announced that there is the possibility that the programme be extended after 2005, while Defence Minister Nikolic expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the UK for its assistance to the Federation Army in that matter. (p. 4) /The same in Dnevni List (p. 4), Nezavisne Novine (p. 4)/
AF IN BIH	Dnevni avaz	SDS: accuses opposition: RS opposition votes against its own conclusions	Yesterday, the SDS spokesperson, Dusan Stojicic, stated that the opposition in the RS had not voted for the conclusions of the RS National Assembly regarding defence reform, thus deciding to act outside of the RS institutions. He added that such behaviour by the RS opposition was beyond comprehension, especially taking into consideration that it was the SNSD had advocated the reforms and accession to the Partnership for Peace in 1999. He added that the RS Parliamentary session held last week had been an excellent opportunity to achieve a consensus on the matter, but that the RS opposition had not had enough courage to do it. (p. 8)
BIH - EUROPE	Oslobodjenje	Regional co-operation to accelerate BiH's accession to EU	At a meeting held on Monday, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of country members of the South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP) signed a joint statement, which read that the main objective is for all the countries of the region to become members of the European Union as soon as possible and, thus, fully take part in creating the future of Europe. "The regional co-operation in South East Europe has never been as dynamic and substantial as it is today," said Mladen Ivanic, BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ivanic stressed that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs were encouraged by the fact that the EU Presidency programme, the conclusions of the European Council of March this year, and the recent contacts between the European Commission and the European Council and Parliament, have confirmed that the future of the West Balkan countries is in the European Union. "In this light, we expect that the summit in Thessaloniki on 21 June will be a new and significant step in further strengthening of relations between the EU and the West Balkans countries. We have welcomed the results achieved so far and confirmed the readiness of the country members to increase their efforts in order to continue implementation of necessary reforms," Ivanic said. The statement cites that the SEECP country members are prepared to go on fighting organised crime, corruption and terrorism, which hinder stability and economic prosperity, and discourage foreign investment in Southeast Europe. According to Ivanic, the Ministers agreed to eliminate visa regimes, while still considering the obligations of country members towards the EU. The Ministers also welcomed the accomplishments of the region in all aspects of free transit of goods. Among other things, they discussed the improvement of the current and the construction of new traffic infrastructure, development of electricity markets, recognition of university degrees, and refugees and displaced persons' issues. The next summit of the heads of states is scheduled to take place in Sarajevo at the beginning of 2004. (Photo on p.8)/The same in Jutarnje Novine (Photo on p.4), Glas Srpske (Photo on p.2), Dnevni List (Photo on p.5), Nezavisne Novine (Photo on p.2), Dnevni avaz (Photo on p.4)/
BIH - PARTIES	Oslobodjenje	SDA and HDZ agrees on division of power in Hercegovina-Neretva Canton	Late last night, eight months after the elections in BiH, the SDA and HDZ finely agreed on the establishment of power in the Hercegovina-Neretva Canton (HNK). The future Cantonal Government will consist of four Bosniac ministers, three B-Croats and one B-Serb. Also, the Cantonal Premier of the Cantonal government will be a B-Croat. Unofficially, Oslobodjenje learned that the Cantonal Premier will be Miroslav Coric, Minister of Internal Affairs, Goran Bilic, Minister of Education, Science and Culture will be Zeljko Raguz, and Minister of Traffic and Communications, Stjepan Krasic. As for Bosniacs, the Minister of Finance will be Semin Boric, the Minister of Justice, Kemal Isakovic, the Minister of the Economy, Samir Sunagic, and the Minister of Town Planning, Tarik Djulic. The SDA spokesperson, Elvir Jahic, told Oslobodjenje that the HDZ and SDA had agreed that the premier with the approval of the political parties would propose the Cantonal B-Serb Minister of Health. He added that the final list of names of future ministers would be most likely known on Tuesday. (p. 4) /The same in Dnevni avaz (p. 4), Dnevni List (p. 2)/
BIH - USA	Dnevni avaz	BiH Presidency awaits approval from the House of Peoples	After the BiH Parliament House of Representatives consented to the ratification of the agreement between BiH and the US regarding the transfer of persons to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, approval from the state House of Peoples is also required. "At the moment, we don't know when a session of the House of Peoples at which this agreement will be discussed is going to take place," Dnevni avaz was told in the BiH Parliament. After the House of Peoples gives its consent, the agreement will be ratified by the BiH Presidency and, subsequently, this information will be publish in the BiH Official Gazette. The US Government will be informed of the ratification through the diplomatic channel. (Photo on p.2)
BIH - USA	Glas Srpska	Agreement with the US ratified too early	Momcilo Novakovic, President of the SDS Caucus in the BiH Parliament Assembly, considers that the decision to ratify the agreement between the US and BiH on the exemption of US citizens from the International Criminal Court was made too early. In his opinion, this issue should have been set aside until a conference in Thessaloniki in order to clarify it. (p.2)
BIH - USA	Jutarnje Novine	EU reaction is awaited	President of the Serb Democratic Party Caucus in the BiH Parliament House of Representatives Momcilo Novakovic stated that it was hard to say if BiH would suffer any consequences because it had signed the Agreement on Non-transfer of US citizens to the International Criminal Court with the US. On Friday the House of Representatives had ratified this Agreement. Novakovic said that the SDS and HDZ (Croat Democratic Union) deputies had insisted that this issue be postponed until a conference in Thessaloniki, when more precise and clearer stance of the European Union would be known, but other deputies did not accept their proposal. (p.4)/ The same in Dnevni avaz (p.8)/
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS	Oslobodjenje	Former director of Zagreb Airport becomes employee of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affair	On 1 April, the key partner of Dragan Covic in establishing the Soko Air Company that went bankrupt, and replaced director of the Zagreb Airport, Tomislav Leko, got a job with the BiH Ministry of foreign Affairs as advisor to the Deputy Minister, Lidija Topic. Oslobodjenje learned from a reliable source that Leko was appointed to that post despite the fact that he had not been an employee of the Ministry, nor had he had an employment book. The main reason that Leko got the job was his connections with Dragan Covic, Presidency Member, and other various interest groups related to the Soko Company. Those connections were a sufficient reference for Lidija Topic to hire him as her advisor, and on 20 April she notified the General Affairs Department of the BiH Foreign Ministry about her decision of employ Leko with the Ministry on 1 April. The way he acquired BiH citizenship was also very questionable, and the police made a report on that issue. The Federation Police opened an investigation into the way that Leko's name had been added to the Records of BiH Citizens in Donji Mamici Police Station. Allegedly, the Grude Police Station added his name in the Records of BiH Citizens after requests. (p. 4)
ICTY	Dnevni avaz	Ivica Rajic can be transferred to The Hague	The Croatian Supreme Court rejected an appeal of Ivica Rajic and confirmed the decision made by a first instance court to transfer him to the Hague Tribunal which had indicted him for slaughtering at least 16 Bosniac civilians in the village of Stupni Do in central Bosnia. Thus, the Croatian Supreme Court confirmed the decision made by the Zagreb Cantonal Court at the end of April to transfer Rajic to the Hague Tribunal. The decision of the Supreme Court is final and although the Defence has a possibility of filing a lawsuit based on the Constitution, there are no more legal obstacles to Rajic being transferred to The Hague. If the Croatian Minister of Justice signs a decision to transfer Rajic, the only question that remains is how and when Rajic will be transferred to the Hague Tribunal. (Photo on page 2) /The same in Dnevni List (p. 3), Nezavisne Novine (p. 3)/
INCIDENTS	Oslobodjenje	Mufti Office in Travnik demolished	On Monday at 07.45, a break-in at the Mufti Office that occurred over the weekend was reported to the Police Station in Travnik. The criminal police performed an on-site investigation and established that the windows and lights had been broken, the telephone cables torn up and computers and other office equipment destroyed. The inventory and equipment in the meeting room was either damaged or destroyed. According to the first information, nothing was stolen from the premises, but two vulgar messages, in English and Bosnian, were found in them. The total damage has been assessed at KM 20,000. (p. 31)
OHR	Jutarnje Novine	Ashdown comments on reform of public administration in BiH	Yesterday, High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that BiH needed a thorough reform of the public services. He added that the current administration in BiH could be described as outdated, too numerous, indifferent and inefficient. He also said that the established inter-ministerial working group would consider the organisation and structure of the public services in BiH, as well as efficiency of the work and services provided by the administration. He pointed out that such considerations might also lead to the downsizing of the civil service employees. He stated that, currently, 64% of the Gross National Product in BiH was spent on politicians and administration, whereas Slovenia spends 43%, Albania 31%, and most European countries spend less than 30%. (p. 5) /The same in Dnevni avaz (p. 2), Glas Srpske (p. 2)/
TERRORISM	Dnevni avaz	Pogorelica at a standstill	According to information available to Dnevni avaz, the Pogorelica case is currently at a standstill. Since April, when the three suspects were faced with Rohan Gunaratna, a court expert from Sri Lanka, the Federation Supreme Court Investigative Judge Mirjana Perisic has not scheduled any other hearing. During the last hearing, suspects Bakir Alispahic, Irfan Ljevakovic and Enver Mujezinovic and their attorneys requested that questions posed by Gunaratna be sent to them in writing. As they did not receive anything to date, Alispahic, Ljevakovic and Mujezinovic have decided to contact the President of the Federation Supreme Court, Amir Jaganjac, and the BiH Presidency members to warn them that this process, in which they are victims of classic political fabrication, has been unnecessarily prolonged. (Photo on p.5)

Back to Media Summary Please Note The portions of articles in this report are summaries from the originals. They have been derived and translated from available open source, newspapers, periodicals, TV and radio broadcasts. They reflect the opinion of the particular media or the media's sources. The use of articles and quotations does not necessarily reflect SFOR's official opinions or policy, nor are they official endorsements of any kind. Any offence is not intentional. The primary objective is to make available a variety of regional media summaries. Produced by: PEACE STABILISATION FORCE; PIO MEDIA ANALYSIS, SARAJEVO NOTE: Your feedback is always appreciated; please contact us at cpic_analysis@sfor.nato.int

FENA 27/09/2004 - Finding a strategic partner is very important for privatization of military industry, whose annual production is potentially worth approx two billion KM, underlined FBiH Prime Minister. Ambassador McElhaney underlined the interest of the U.S. Government for the situation in BiH.

092704 es

FSA0412: 27.09.2004 04:41

BiH - SWEDEN

SWEDISH PARLIAMENTARIANS VISIT ZENICA

ZENICA, September 27 (FENA) – Zenica Municipal official Zakir Pasalic today held talks with a Swedish parliamentary delegation about the social and economic situation in BiH.

The guests underlined that the Swedish Parliament is monitoring the post-war events in BiH with great interest. They are satisfied with BiH’s admission into the Council of Europe, and will continue supporting BiH on the road of becoming a modern, stable and a prosperous country.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0413: 27.09.2004 04:48

SARAJEVO - ROME

HAMAMDZIC MEETS PUCCIO

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – Director of the Italian-Slovenian Cultural Centre in Rome Gianni Puccio today met with the mayor of Sarajevo, Muhidin Hamamdzic.

Puccio is paying a visit to Sarajevo in order to get acquainted with the current economic situation in the city and the requirements for helping various institutions, such as kindergartens, institutions for children without parents, the homes for the aged, the centres for persons with special needs, etc.

           

The mayor of Sarajevo thanked Puccio on the preparedness to help the citizens of Sarajevo.

Puccio announced his new visit to Sarajevo in the next month, when he will officially provide help to some of the said institutions.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0414: 27.09.2004 04:56

FBiH - RAILWAYS - CONTRACTS

FBiH: SIGNED CONTRACTS ON RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND PASSENGER TRAFFIC

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – FBiH Minister of Traffic and Communications Nedzad Brankovic and General Director of FBiH Railways Narcis Dzumhur today signed the Contract on financing maintenance of railway infrastructure worth 19 million KM and the Contract on co-financing the services of railway passenger traffic worth 5, 8 million KM. 

The contracts are based on the recently adopted Law on Financing Railway Infrastructure and Co-financing Passenger and Combined Traffic, which was designed in accordance with the best European practice, was stated.

Aim of these contracts, said the signatories, is to insure the necessary level of security and maintenance of railway infrastructure, as well as to encourage cantons and the Federation to revitalize railway passenger traffic.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0415: 27.09.2004 05:07

BiH - KUWAIT

TOPIC MEETS PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM KUWAIT

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – BiH Deputy Foreign Minister Lidija Topic today received a delegation of the Parliament of Kuwait, headed by Awad Bard Al-Finze.

Topic expressed hope that this visit would contribute to development of bilateral relations, as well as to attracting new investments from Kuwait to BiH.  

Considering that the Kuwait parliamentarians expressed particular interests for investing in the sector of tourism in BiH, Topic underlined that tourism is one of the five priority areas in focus of the domestic authorities, whose development would result in making BiH economically self-sustaining.

She added that the main message BiH officials wish to convey to the world is that BiH is a politically stable country, which is turning to intensive economic development.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0423: 27.09.2004 05:25

FBiH - USA

HADZIPASIC MEETS McELHANEY

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic today held talks with the U.S. Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney, about the future cooperation in privatization and economic restructuring.

“Continuation of successful cooperation with American partners is significant for the recovery and the economic development of BiH”, said Hadzipasic, noting that this support is particularly welcome in the metal industrial and energy sectors.

Finding a strategic partner is very important for privatization of military industry, whose annual production is potentially worth approx two billion KM, underlined FBiH Prime Minister.

Ambassador McElhaney underlined the interest of the U.S. Government for the situation in BiH.

“Within the future cooperation, we need to make joint efforts to provide for the political stability and implementation of economic reforms”, said McElhaney, accenting the need for removing bureaucratic obstacles.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0422: 27.09.2004 05:16

BiH - EXHUMATION

ROGATICA: REMAINS OF 13 VICTIMS EXHUMED FROM A MASS GRAVE

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – The remains of 13 victims have been exhumed from a mass grave located at Dizdareva njiva in the village Seljani, Municipality Rogatica, member of the FBiH Commission on Missing Persons Sadik Selimovic told Fena today.

The grave was opened on Friday, and is presumed to hold another six bodies, according to Selimovic.

The victims were men, local residents, who were taken out of their houses in June of 1992, separated from their wives and children, and murdered at Dizdareva njiva.

Exhumation of the mass grave at Seljani is in progress. Apart from this grave, the expert team of the FBiH Commission on Missing Persons will in the next ten days also be carrying out exhumations on other locations in Municipality Rogatica.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0410: 27.09.2004 04:36

BiH - PARLIAMENT

BiH/PARLIAMENT: HOUSE OF PEOPLES SESSION

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – BiH House of Peoples today adopted the Report by the Joint Commission on harmonizing the text of the Law on Public Procurement.

The Report was adopted in the House of Representatives previously. When the law was adopted in different texts, it was necessary to harmonize them.

Thus, the Law on Procurement in BiH is finally adopted.

Further, the House of Peoples consented with ratification of the Agreement on Financial Cooperation in 2002 between BiH Council of Ministers and the German Government, as well as with ratification of the Convention on establishing the Council for Customs Cooperation, and the Agreement amending the Framework Agreement on the river Sava basin.

The delegates also adopted the conclusion of the House’s Collegial, which requests from the Constitutional-Legal Commission to hold a session on Thursday, September 30, in order to consider the set of judiciary laws necessary for prosecuting war crime cases in BiH.

The next session of the House of Peoples should be held on Thursday.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0428: 27.09.2004 05:39

SCG - RS

BELGRADE: TADIC AND CAVIC ON COOPERATION WITH ICTY

BELGRADE, September 27 (FENA) – Cooperation of Serbia and RS with the Hague Tribunal must be full and it is not a matter than can be discussed, instead it is a key condition for integration into the European Union and NATO, was mutually ascertained by Serbian President Boris Tadic and RS President Dragan Cavic, who have met today in Belgrade.

“Cooperation with the Hague can only be full. The war crime suspects must go to the Hague and face the judicial-court system there, there is no dilemma about this”, Tadic told the press after meeting with Cavic, was reported by Hina.

Cavic declared that “time is running out and that the RS is quite aware what are the consequences of failing to fulfill the commitments towards the ICTY”.

Tadic and Cavic concluded that the Serbian and RS institutions must establish better cooperation in fulfilling the commitments toward the Hague Tribunal, and added that both sides must “raise the operational measures to a higher level”.

Talks also focused on working of the Srebrenica Commission, which should complete the final report about the crimes in Srebrenica in 1995 by the end of September, announced Cavic, adding that “political will” now exists in the RS for the Serb people to “face the bad things from the past”.

It is necessary, they stressed, that all persons responsible for this crime are sanctioned, but, it is also necessary to focus on the suffering of the Serb people in the former Yugoslavia during the war conflicts of the 90s.

Tadic and Cavic supported the Dayton Accords, declaring that “bringing this agreement into question might cause instability in BiH and the region”.

(Fena) jc

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FSA0435: 27.09.2004 05:50

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT OF EVENTS FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

STATE INSTITUTIONS:

SARAJEVO: 10:00 – BiH PRESIDENCY CHAIR SULEJMAN TIHIC VISITS CANTON SARAJEVO

12:00 – BiH PRESIDENCY MEMBERS RECEIVE COMSFOR MAJOR GENERAL VIGIL PACKETT

NOVI TRAVNIK: BiH PRESIDENCY MEMBER DRAGAN COVIC VISITS NOVI TRAVNIK

ENTITY INSTITUTIONS:

ZENICA: 11:00 – FBiH GOVERNMENT DELEGATION HEADED BY PRIME MINISTER AHMET HADZIPASIC PARTICIPATES IN THE CEREMONY OF OPENING THE GENERAL BiH FAIR “ZEPS 2004”

SARAJEVO: 11:30 – PRESS CONFERENCE OF FEDERAL DEFENCE MINISTRY ON THE OCCASION OF SIGNING THE DOCUMENT ON TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT ON MEASURES FOR BUILDING TRUST AND SECURITY IN BiH (FBiH ARMY HOUSE)

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

SARAJEVO: 11:30 – INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS’ PRESS CONFERENCE - UNITIC

SIROKI BRIJEG: 12:15 – THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, PADDY ASHDOWN, VISITS SIROKI BRIJEG

POLITICAL PARTIES:

SARAJEVO: 11:00 - PRESS CONFERENCE OF GDS

11:00 - PRESS CONFERENCE OF LDS

CULTURE:

SARAJEVO: 19:00 – OPENING OF EXHIBIT BY TURKISH ARTIST BALKAN NADZI ISLIMJELI - TURKISH CULTURAL CENTRE

20:00 – PROMOTION OF THE BOOK "MY SON AN ADDICT" – MULTIMEDIA CENTRE MAK

20:30 – PROJECTION OF FILM "BAHTALO DROM" - CAFE KARABIT BiH ART GALLERY

EDITORS ON DUTY:

MORNING AND AFTERNOON: FERID KORIC

AFTERNOON AND EVENING: FAIK IMAMOVIC

tel. 00 387 33 44 53 36

fax: 00 387 33 26 54 60

e-mail: fena@fena.ba

EDITORS ON DUTY IN MOSTAR:

08,00 - 14,30 – DRAGO KEZIC

14,30 - 21,00 – DANIJELA PERIC - SILIC

tel. 00 387 36 31 92 22

fax. 00 387 36 31 94 22

e-mail: desk.mostar@fena.ba

(Fena) jc

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MARKETING - tel/fax: 033 445 346; mob: 061 200 527; e-mail: marketing@fena.ba IT FENA - e-mail: otprema@fena.ba; fena-info@fena.ba

FENA 14/09/2004 - BIJELJINA, September 14 (FENA) – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic on Tuesday confirmed that he would issue the decision on appointing the new Entity minister of interior on Wednesday because he has been informed by OHR that there are no remarks or suggestions to the candidate nominated for the said function.

091504 am

FSA7647: 14.09.2004 09:55

MORNING SERVICE

TERZIC AT BiH FOREIGN TRADE CHAMBER ASSEMBLY

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – It the determination of BiH Council of Ministers to contribute to boosting exports and reduction of the foreign trade deficit by supporting domestic production, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic said on Tuesday at the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber (VKT BiH) Assembly.

Delegates of the Assembly were considering, among other matters, the analysis of BiH’s foreign trade with the world in the first seven months of this year.

VTK Vice-president Petar Milanovic said that certain positive movements have been noted in the exchange and in creating a more advantageous business environment. According to him, it is expected that the foreign trade traffic will exceed 12 billion KM by the end of the year, of which 3 billion KM refers to exports and 9 billion KM refers to imports.

Despite the increase in exports, said Milanovic, the foreign trade deficit should exceed six billion KM by the end of the year.

“The information on the foreign trade deficit is worrying, but we are encouraged by the fact that the exports are growing faster than imports, and that the structure of imported goods is changing, considering that production mechanization is now being primarily imported. There is a realistic perspective that production in BiH will start to replace imports, which is the primary objective”, said Adnan Terzic, adding that activities are in progress on strengthening and creating the institutions that will protect the market from disloyal competition and non-qualitative products, and passing the necessary legislation. 

Terzic emphasized that the goods and the market in BiH should be viewed in the context of European integration and accessing the World Trade Organization (WTO). We are not in the position to impose restrictions and bans of imports because these measures would help us in the short term, but hurt us in the long term. 

“We are dedicated to boosting exports and this is why we have recently organized visits of our businesspersons to Libya and Russia in order attempt to conquer these markets”, said Terzic, calling on the businesspersons to analyze the possibilities for signing a free trade contract with the Russian Federation.

(Fena) fi

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FSA7619: 14.09.2004 06:58

MORNING SERVICE

SABETA RECEIVES CoE MONITORING TEAM DELEGATION

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Secretary of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP), Fuad Sabeta, on Tuesday received the delegation of the Council of Europe Monitoring Team, headed by Tim Cartwright, was announced by BiH MVP.

They concluded that BiH has fulfilled its commitments from the first and second year of participation in the Council of Europe.

Sabeta indicated that the matter of implementing the obligations is never questioned by the lack of political will, but most frequently lack of funds.

He added that BiH authorities are aware that meeting of the CoE post-accession criteria leads to opening of EU doors to BiH. 

The Monitoring Team leader commended the fact that BiH continues with signing, ratifying and implementing the key conventions and laws on which the Council of Europe insists.

The CoE Monitoring Team is paying a four-day visit to BiH as of Tuesday. During their visit, members of the Monitoring Team will hold talks with representatives of BiH institutions at State and Entity levels, which are authorized for fulfilling the post-accession criteria.

 (Fena) fi

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FSA7624: 14.09.2004 07:07

MORNING SERVICE

SABETA MEETS VARGA

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Secretary of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP), Fuad Sabeta, on Tuesday met with the Ambassador of Republic Hungary to BiH, Istvan Varga, was announced by BiH MVP.

This meeting was organized as part of the preparations for the consultations between BiH and Hungarian foreign ministries, which will take place September 29 in Sarajevo.

It was arranged that the two ministries would consider activities on preparing bilateral agreements, initiate preparations of new agreements and talk about the possibilities for liberalizing the visa regime.

Sabeta underlined the problem of the lack of transport permits for BiH transporters. 

Ambassador Varga informed Sabeta that this matter is defined by the bilateral contract and that it is now under jurisdiction of the Hungarian Ministry of Economy and Transport.

Sabeta proposed that the delegations of the two countries should also sign the Agreement on establishing a framework programme for financial cooperation. 

(Fena) fi

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FSA7626: 14.09.2004 07:15

MORNING SERVICE

MIKEREVIC: NEW RS MINISTER OF INTERIOR TO BE APPOINTED ON WEDNESDAY

BIJELJINA, September 14 (FENA) – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic on Tuesday confirmed that he would issue the decision on appointing the new Entity minister of interior on Wednesday because he has been informed by OHR that there are no remarks or suggestions to the candidate nominated for the said function.

“It is up to me to issue the decision on appointing the minister tomorrow. I hope that I will now be able to transfer the responsibility to the person who will work 24 hrs per day”, said Mikerevic. 

He refused to state the name of the new minister.

(Fena) fi

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FSA7629: 14.09.2004 07:40

MORNING SERVICE

SESSION OF THE STATE COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES AND DPs

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – BiH Commission for Refugees and DPs on Tuesday accepted the Feasibility Study of the Council of Europe Development Bank for the project that refers to accommodating the occupants of collective centres, alternative accommodation and eventually the cases of spontaneous return. 

“The project will be realized in the beginning of the next year, and it is worth 12 million euros”, President of the Commission for Refugees and DPs Ivica Marinovic told a press conference, adding, “our participation in the project is estimated at four million euros”. 

The CoE Development Bank’s Feasibility Study was accepted today with an intervention that the selection of subscribers should be based on specific databases of UNHCR from 19 collective centres.

The Commission has formed a list of municipalities in which joint projects would be implemented during 2004.

Marinovic said that the Project “Tomorrow” and joint projects select 26 areas with 40 municipalities and Brcko District.

Project “Tomorrow” is implemented by the European Commission in cooperation with the State Commission, and it is worth 8 million euros – where each commission will provide 4 million euros. The joint projects are estimated at the 18, 25 million KM.

In addition, the RS has also nominated the locations for recovering its collective centres in municipalities Srebrenica, Prijedor, Bratunac, Doboj and a part of Sarajevo in RS.

(Fena) fi

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FSA7627: 14.09.2004 07:26

MORNING SERVICE

JAN PETERSEN VISITS BiH HIGH JUDICIAL AND PROSECUTORIAL COUNCIL

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Foreign Minister of Norway, Jan Petersen, on Tuesday visited the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (BiH HJPC).

Petersen held talks with the Council’s President, Judge Branko Peric, Director of the HJPC Secretariat Elmira Pasagic, and member of the Council Sven Marius Urke, about the results and further activities in the judiciary reform, was announced by HJPC.

HJPC President underlined the significance of the court system reforms for the future of BiH and expressed gratitude to the Government of the Kingdom of Norway on its exceptional support in the overall reform achievements and establishing a single HJPC.

Elmira Pasagic and Sven Marius Urke informed Petersen about the main aspects of reform, reorganization of courts, the process of reappointing judges and prosecutors, as well as about further directions of judiciary reform and its priorities.

Judge Peric presented Petersen with a certificate of gratitude on behalf of the BiH HJPC on the contribution of the Kingdom of Norway in judiciary reform, and expressed hope that the successful cooperation between Norway and HJPC would be continued. 

(Fena) fi

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FSA7632: 14.09.2004 07:53

MORNING SERVICE

EC: THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF BiH INSTITUTIONS TOWARDS EU MEMBERSHIP

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Delegation of the European Commission to BiH on Monday organized a meeting with the senior representatives of executive authority in BiH for the purpose of discussing the institutional preparations of economic and financial institutions in BiH before the continuation of its European road.

Talks were also motivated by the soon completion of functional revision of these two segments of BiH society, was announced on Tuesday by the European Commission Office in BiH.  

“BiH is irreversibly moving towards the European Union and is in a phase when it must strategically plan its development, considering that membership in the EU envisions that a country must take over the obligations that come from the membership by fulfilling the necessary economic and political conditions required by the EU laws, which require adequate administrative structures”, was announced.

In the context of the Stabilization and Association Process, the European Commission regularly assesses a country’s administrative capacities. In the process of making the assessment, the focus is on the main administrative structures necessary for applying the legal decrees of the European Union, the functions each of these structures must perform and the specific capacities necessary for performing these functions. In BiH case, this assessment is made through the Feasibility Study.

Defining the economic policy and its implementation, the sector of fiscal and monetary policy, customs and foreign trade are the crucial factors for the economic development of BiH and its further progress towards future membership in the EU, was announced by the EC.

Participants of the meeting have analyzed the current institutional framework and openly exchanged opinions about the possible further development of BiH institutions for the purpose of insuring an efficient and speedy inclusion of BiH society into European integration.

(Fena) fi

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FSA7635: 14.09.2004 08:05

MORNING SERVICE

AMBASSADOR CLIFF ORGANIZED RECEPTION FOR MEMBERS OF ANGLO-BOSNIAN BUSINESS FORUM

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Ambassador of Great Britain to BiH, Ian Cliff, on Tuesday organized a reception for members of the Anglo-Bosnian Business Forum (ABBF), an informal association of British companies and their business partners in BiH, was announced by the British Embassy in BiH.

Ambassador Cliff talked with BiH businesspersons about improving the business cooperation between the UK and BiH, and the past experiences in cooperation between the companies from BiH and Great Britain.

ABBF was established in 1997 with an interest in promoting trade and investment between the UK and BiH.

Activities of the Forum are coordinated by the Commercial Department of the British Embassy, and its membership includes UK companies active in BiH; local companies with UK commercial interests (including agents and distributors of UK goods and services); and BiH partner organizations, such as Chambers of Commerce and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).

(Fena) fi

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FSA7643: 14.09.2004 08:41

MORNING SERVICE

BiH PRESIDENCY SESSION ON WEDNESDAY

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – BiH Presidency will hold a session on Wednesday. 

The daily agenda includes the following: the Statement by the UN Security Council Chair (4999th session, June 25 this year); Proposal decision on concluding the Memorandum of Understanding between BiH and the National Public Agency of the Italian Government – Formez; Proposal decision on consenting with appointing the ambassadors of Great Britain, Israel, and the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Proposal decision on accepting the Agreement on the Development Credit between BiH and the International Development Association (IDA) for the Project of Urban Infrastructure.

(Fena) fi

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MARKETING - tel/fax: 033 445 346; mob: 061 200 527; e-mail: marketing@fena.ba IT FENA - e-mail: otprema@fena.ba; fena-info@fena.ba