Bih MEDIA ROUND-UP Date: April 21, 2011

BiH MEDIA ROUND-UP Date: April 21, 2011

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on April 21, 2011 RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA RTRS (12,00 hrs) (12,00 hrs) MEP Schultz in BiH Police arrests BL bank robbers Covic for Avaz about HNS Decision on Vucurevic expected Presidency adopts budget proposal ‘Carina’ operation suspects released

TV news broadcast on April 20, 2011 RADIO BN TV PINK BHT 1 (16,00 hrs) (18,00 hrs) (19,00 hrs) BAM 1 million stolen in bank robb. BiH Presidency adopt budget plan Presidency enacts budget draft Dodik comments referendum plan Vucurevic extradit. request in Reactions to HNS resolution Radojicic: RS can call referendum Inzko reacts to HNS SDP comments HNS, RS referendum Izetbegovic condemns HNS Kharcenko,Dodik meet in Banja Luka Daviddi meets Dodik NTV Hayat FTV RTRS (19,00 hrs) (19,30 hrs) (19,30 hrs) OHR reaction to HNS session HR Inzko comments HNS session Daviddi and Dodik met in Banja Luka RS parties react to HNS resolution BiH Presidency comments HNS Kharcenko, Dodik meet in BL BiH AF return from Afghanistan BiH Presidency adopts state budget Reactions to HNS BiH Presidency adopt state budget BiH AF return from Afghanistan BiH Presidency adopt budget plan

Dnevni Avaz Government to save money on veterans and civil servants (new austerity measures proposed in FBiH) Oslobodjenje Presidency to visit Karadjordjevo (BiH Presidency accepts invitation from Serbia) Dnevni List Stocks ‘went’ for small money (feature on sale of ‘Hercegovina Osiguranje’s’ property) Vecernji List Solution for BiH is in federalization (interview with leader of Party of European Social- Democrats Martin Schultz) Slobodna Dalmacija Features Croatia related front page article Nezavisne Novine AID controls security system (NN continues publishing wiretapped phone numbers) Glas Srpske Radmanovic outvoted (BIH Presidency passes 2011 Budget) EuroBlic Resolution of Assembly does (not) jeopardize RS (reactions to HNS) Vecernje novosti Two business zones (RS Government visits Mrkonjic Grad, promises new investments)

War crimes/judiciary BN Radio: 19th anniversary BN Radio - 19th anniversary of the massacre at Dobrovoljacka Street will be marked in of Dobrovoljacka Street Sarajevo on May 3. The event will be organized by a committee, which hopes to massacre to be marked ensure security for the gathering. The organizers noted that they will contact the May 3 Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior to make the necessary arrangements. A religious ceremony and a march in Dobrovoljacka Street will also be held. The organizers announced that they will issue strict guidelines for all march participants in order to ensure safety. The city of East Sarajevo and local veterans associations are also taking part in the organization of the event. RTRS - By Dejana Radovanovic Sarenac - commemoration for JNA soldiers killed on the 3rd May 1992 in Dobrovoljacka street in Sarajevo will be held on scene of the crime. After the candles are lit in Dobrovoljacka street, Orthodox memorial service will be held at the church in Miljevici and flowers will be laid at the memorial cross on Military Graveyard. Preparations are marked with bitter taste of last year’s commemoration when strong police forces were protecting the commemorators from the gathered protesters. Nezavisne novine pg 6 ‘Hold commemoration on crime scene’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Commemoration for soldiers on crime scene’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Dobrovoljacka street’ not signed, also covered.

Serbia receives request for BN Radio - Prosecutor’s Office of BiH stated it has filed a valid request for the extradition of Vucurevic extradition of former Head of Trebinje Municipality Bozidar Vucurevic. Prosecutor’s Office of BiH’s spokesman Boris Grubesic dismissed speculation regarding the validity of the request and its contents. He stressed that the office is willing to answer any questions regarding the request. Serbian officials confirmed that a request for Vucurevic’s extradition was received on Wednesday. Pink – reports that the Higher Court in Sabac received BiH extradition request for Vucurevic. Spokesman for the court Slobodan Vlaisavljevic said that Vucurevic will have a hearing on Thursday. RTRS - By Svjetlana Markovic - Vucurevic’s lawyers are certain that he will not be extradited to Croatia. “I expect that he will be free tomorrow or in the worst case scenario extradited to BiH.” said Vucurevic’s lawyer Svetozar Pavlovic. Hayat, FTV, Vecernji list pg 11 ‘Court receives request from BiH for extradition of Bozidar Vucurevic’ by ri, Dnevni list pg 5 ‘Serbia gets BiH’s extradition request’ not signed, ______For further information please contact MIA Media Monitoring Unit: MMU Head Arijana Luckin-Pavlovic (033 283 783); Deputy MMU Head Tanja Arapovic (036 512 639)

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Vecernje Novosti pg 13 ‘He denied responsibility’ by V. Mitrovic, EuroBlic pg 17 ‘Request for Vucurevic’ not signed, Nezavisne novine pg 6 ‘BIH judiciary provided valid document’ by N. Krsman, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Vucurevic interrogated upon request of BiH’ by V.K., Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘BiH request for Vucurevuic’ by Tanjug – also reported.

Court of BiH: Start of BHT1 - trial of Sasa Baricanin started before the Court of BiH on Wednesday. Baricanin war crimes trial Baricanin is charged with a series of war crimes perpetrated with his wartime associate Veselin Vlahovic Batko. Baricanin is charged with several counts of abuse, torture and three murders. The first three witnesses testified about the outbreak of war in Sarajevo’s Grbavica district and the terror endured during the occupation of Grbavica. FTV, Nezavisne novine pg 7 ‘Nine witnesses against Batko’s associate’ by D. Muminovic, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Trial for crimes of Grbavica started’ by J.G. – also reported.

Court of BiH: Defense RTRS - By Branka Kusmuk - BiH Minister of Defense Selmo Cikotic testified at the Minister Cikotic testifies in court (Court of BiH) in the case of four Bosniaks who are accused of war crimes war crimes trial committed against Croat civilians and prisoners. At the time when crimes were committed Cikotic was the commander of the Operational group ‘West’ of Army of BiH. Cikotic answered questions about jurisdiction over more than 300 Croats who were imprisoned at the Bugojno ‘Iskra’ stadium. Cikotic claimed that civilian authorities were responsible for inhuman conditions and torture of imprisoned Croats. Cikotic said that Army of BiH was taking care of the prisoners just after they were captured and that the prisoners were almost immediately in jurisdiction of Bugojno authorities. The defense showed orders given by the military structures concerning the treatment of the prisoners. Cikotic claimed that he saw some of those evidence today (Wednesday) for the first time. In addition RTRS reports that Cikotic replied ‘I do not know’ or ‘I do not remember’ to many questions asked by the defense. Vecernji list pgs 2-3 mentioned on front ‘State minister in court for crimes against Croats in Bugojno – did not remember a thing’ by V. Rupcic, Z. Cilic, A. Drmac – reports that Cikotic stuck to his earlier claims that the military did not have the jurisdiction over POWs at ‘Iskra’ stadium despite documents he was presented. Daily claims to be in possession of some of the documents, which were labeled ‘highly classified’ and which were sent by the commander of the Operational group ‘West’ of Army of BiH to the then commander of the 3rd Corps of Army of BiH Enver Hadzihasanovic. One of the documents allegedly reads that ‘’there are 23 prisoners, who due to gravity of committed acts, deserve a special treatment’’. According to the daily, the said 23 prisoners went missing after that and mortal remains of 3 of them only were recovered. Daily believes that Cikotic’s appearance before the court announces a turn because until now he (Cikotic) enjoyed some sort of ‘’protection’’. Nezavisne novine pg 4 ‘Ready to confess responsibility for crimes against Croats’ by D. Muminovic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘hadzic admits, Cikotic denies’ by agencies, also carried.

BIH, Serbian prosecutor’s FTV - working groups of the Prosecutors’ Office of BiH and Serbian Prosecutors’ Office offices’ working groups for War Crimes met in Sarajevo on Wednesday and finalized a draft of agreement on finalize evidence sharing evidence sharing between two offices. Dnevni list pg 5 ‘Sharing of evidence about draft war crimes’ no signed – reports that the text of the draft (NB: daily does not report on contents of it) will be delivered to the countries’ justice ministries for final assessment. Aim of the agreement is also to remove difficulties in terms of parallel investigations. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Agreement of Serbia and BiH soon’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘There will be no parallel investigations?’ not signed, Vecernje Novine pg 19 ‘Exchange of evidence on war crimes’ by S.M., also reported.

Econ. related issues RS Government discusses Pink - during Wednesday’s session held in Mrkonjic-Grad, the RS Government took a ‘Upper Drina’ project decision about conditions, criteria and the way how to choose strategic partner for hydroelectric system “Upper Drina”. Investment value of this project will be around 500 million Euros. RS Minister of Economy, Energy and Development Zeljko Kovacevic said that the investments will be secured with the choice of strategic partner. Kovacevic concluded that strategic partner will own 51 percent while RS Government will have a 49 percent stake in the system. RTRS - By Momcilo Ostojic – notes that the RS will continue to work on options to build hydroelectric plant ‘Buk Bijela’, which will a part the ‘Upper Drina’ system. RS Government announced that they are searching for a strategic partner, preferably foreign, for this project. Glas Srpske pg 6 ‘Investment worth EUR 500 million’ by Slobodan Dakic, Vecernje Novosti cover splash, pg 17 ‘Two business zones to be build’ by M. Filipovic – also reported.

EuroBlic: Construction of EuroBlic pg 11 ‘Forgotten concession contract on Vrbas’ by Valentina Dzodzo – ‘HES two plants on Vrbas Vrbas’ consortium obtain the concession to build two hydroelectric power plants on uncertain, concession Vrbas river back in 2006. However, the RS Government has not yet approved the holders may sue RS implementation of the planned project. ‘HES Vrbas’ considers possible lawsuit and Government compensation claim from the RS Government, but the Government refuses to comment this case. The article reminds that several environment protection

organizations opposed the construction of new power plants.

Other issues of interest BiH Armed Forces unit BHT1 - By Mirko Divkovic - the first BiH Armed Forces (AF) unit returned from a 6- returns from Afghanistan month tour of duty in Afghanistan. The unit was attached to the Dutch ISAF contingent and Dutch instructors helped train and qualify BiH troops for new equipment prior to deployment. BiH Armed Forces captain Esad Ahmetovic stressed that Dutch officers in Afghanistan were impressed by the level of training and operational readiness exhibited by BiH troops, some of whom had vast combat experience from the war in BiH. Six units received citations for their service. Hayat – welcome-back ceremony took place at the ‘Eagle’ base near Tuzla. Due to excellent abilities of BiH soldiers, NATO HQ in Sarajevo expressed desire to send more BiH soldiers to peacekeeping missions. According to the presenter, the commander of NATO HQ in Sarajevo Brigadier-General David Enyeart said that he spoke with the Danish commander in Afghanistan, who told him that he wants more soldiers of BiH AF, because their dedication to duty and professionalism were on higher level than his own troops. FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘BiH Armed Forces members return from Afghanistan’ by N.N., Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Danes admitted that BiH soldiers are better than them’ by E. Huremovic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘They successfully guarded the Danes’ by Almir Seckanovic, also covered.