BiH MEDIA ROUND-UP Date: March 12, 2011 TV news broadcast on March 11, 2011 RADIO BN TV PINK BHT 1 (16,00 hrs) (18,00 hrs) (19,00 hrs) WN: Earthquake hits Japan Earthquake hits Japan WN: Devastating earthquake in Japan No BiH citizens harmed in Japan Lajcak: FBiH situation seems illogical BiH citizens in Japan safe Kusic sentenced to five years Dodik for referendum on BiH Court Crude oil prices soar No extradition request for Divjak Rendic released from prison RS Govt. to stabilize food prices NTV Hayat FTV RTRS (19,00 hrs) (19,30 hrs) (19,30 hrs) WN: Earthquake strikes Japan WN: Tsunami hits Japan WN: Earthquake in Japan OHR continues with talks No info on BiH expats in Japan Dodik for referendum on BiH Court SDP comments Lajcak’s statement BiH, active seismological area RS parties condemn Inzko’s actions No Interpol warrant against Divjak ‘Vitezit’ workers freeze hunger strike ‘Dobrovoljacka’ eye-witness account Dnevni Avaz Dodik cannot carry out arrests [Interview with High Representative Valentin Inzko] Oslobodjenje Referendum will decide on the Court of BiH [Dodik slams BiH judicial bodies] Dnevni List Disaster in Japan [report on destructive earthquake that struck Japan on Friday] Vecernji List Flood! [report on destructive earthquake that struck Japan on Friday] Glas Srpske Citizens will decide if they need BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office Nezavisne Novine Disaster in Japan [report on destructive earthquake that struck Japan on Friday] Dodik criticizes OHR and BiH judicial bodies, reactions Dodik: Inzko is HR of FBiH Radio BN – The RS President Milorad Dodik announced on Friday that he will take and Sarajevo, RS people the opportunity on the next special session of the RS National Assembly (RSNA) to will decide whether they propose a referendum where citizens would have their say on Court of BiH and BiH want such Court of BiH Prosecutor’s Office. After a meeting of the RS Crisis Team for Investigation of War Crimes, Dodik said that the referendum question would be whether Court of BiH and BiH Prosecutor’s Office are needed or not. Dodik said: “And for the people to vote on whether they need such Court of BiH and Prosecutor’s Office or not. The referendum will be binding in the RS. Of course, it will carry further implications. Namely, if the people say that these institutions are obsolete and that they do not enjoy support from the RS, then everyone from the RS will be asked to leave those institutions.” Presenter said that Dodik will assemble detailed documentation on processing of war crimes and searching for missing persons in the next 10 days. Dodik said: “There was also talk about the Court of BiH and the BiH Prosecutor’s Office persisting with their terminology of genocide and aggression, trying to paint a new picture of the character of the war.” Presenter added that Dodik was clear in saying that High Representative Valentin Inzko should step down and leave BiH, especially after interfering with the case of former BiH Army general Jovan Divjak and his involvement in formation of the FBiH authorities. Dodik said: “It is evident that he [Inzko] is the High Representative of the FBiH and Sarajevo, and that he has no business here. However, that is only imposed. They have a tendency to impose obligations unto themselves. Thus, you can see them today trying to assemble the FBiH authorities.”Pink, Hayat, BHT1 By Snezana Mitrovic, Tanja Alavuk – Head of the RS Government Coordination Team for War Crimes Investigation Stasa Kosarac said:”There is plenty of information indicating that Bosniaks are tried according to one law, whereas Serbs are tried by other laws. This is something that should be unacceptable for any BiH citizen. Of course, such institutions do not enjoy support from us from the RS.” Alavuk said that the Court of BiH declined to comment statements made by politicians. FTV – Presenter commented that this is Dodik’s first announcement of a referendum since he became RS President, adding that he did not organize the referendum he announced while he was the RS Prime Minister. RTRS – The RS Team for War Crime Investigation and Missing Persons will support Dodik’s initiative. The reporter said that of the 1,000 remains identified in 2010 only 20 were Serb. Stasa Kosarac from the RS War Crimes Investigation team said that the identification process has been stopped. Kosarac argued that he has proof that someone is abusing victims for the purpose of manipulation. To stop such manipulation the RS will create a database of all Serb victims. Dodik expressed support to creation of a fund for the defense of war crime suspects. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 2 ‘Referendum will decide on the Court of BiH’ by G. Katana, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Dodik announces referendum on BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office’ by V.S., Nezavisne Novine pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Referendum on BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office’ by Uros Vukic, Glas Srpske cover splash, pg 3 ‘Citizens will decide if they need BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office’ by Vedrana Kulaga, Zeljka Dobric, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Initiative for referendum on BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office’ not signed – also covered. ____________________________________________________________ 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) www.miabalkan.info “Media Intelligence Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the news summaries of its morning media briefs and media round-ups. The morning media briefs and media round-ups do not necessarily reflect the views of Media Intelligence Agency, which does not assume any responsibility for any consequences flowing from reliance thereon. The morning media briefs and media round-ups may not be distributed without the express prior written consent of Media Intelligence Agency.” Dodik: BiH is unsustainable Hayat – The RS President Milorad Dodik stated on Thursday that Bosniak politicians country and failed misused BiH institutions in case of the retired BiH Army General Jovan Divjak, which experiment of international shows that BiH is “an unsustainable country and a failed experiment of the community international community.” Dodik said that the country should dissolve in order to allow better life for its citizens. He called upon the RS Ministry of Interior to draft an action plan to arrest Divjak and wartime member of the BiH Presidency Ejup Ganic if they come to the RS. Vecernji List pg 13 ‘Milorad Dodik threatens with arrests and secession, Sarajevo calls for sanctions’ by Eldina Medunjanin – also covered. Inzko: Dodik’s interferes in Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Dodik cannot carry out arrests’ by Sead Numanovic – operative work of RS police Daily carried an interview with High Representative Valentin Inzko. Commenting onthe statement of RS President Milorad Dodik that he is the High Representative “only in Sarajevo,” Inzko said that “Dodik is stating his own opinion. The Dayton Peace Agreement and the UN Security Council state otherwise.” He argued that Dodik’s call upon the RS police to arrest wartime BiH Presidency member Ejup Ganic and retired BiH Army General Jovan Divjak “obviously crosses the line into unacceptable political interference into the operative work of the police,” but also raises “very serious questions regarding the rule of law and the constitutional order.” According to Inzko, “any arrest ordered by the RS President, or any president, would be illegal.” He argued that the state level institutions are in charge of war crimes, and judicial bodies in entities can process them if they are transferred from the state level. Furthermore, the state level is in charge of implementing international and inter-entity criminal regulations, which is specifically regulated by the Constitution. “This means that state- level authorities, not those in entities, decide on extraditions,” he added. Inzko stressed that all politicians and officials are obliged to respect BiH’s laws. Responding to accusations regarding his comments on Divjak’s case, Inzko said: “I am flattered that people think I have influence in Austrian media, and a little bit concerned that people think I could have influence on the Austrian judiciary.” Inzko noted that Divjak is known in Austria, and it would be foolish to expect his arrest to pass unnoticed. “Secondly, Austrian courts will analyze this issue from the perspective of valid legislation – and that is all.” Inzko added: “I understand that Serbs want the Dobrovoljacka case to be resolved. I want this too. But, when that happens, it will be a result of the work of BiH prosecutors, and it will happen before the Court of BiH. Honestly, those who attack the BiH judiciary are making this difficult, not easier.” US Embassy, OHR, political BHT1 – The US Embassy to BiH condemned the RS President Milorad Dodik’s call for parties and NGOs in FBiH dissolution of BiH. The written statement from the Embassy reads that the US fully condemn Dodik’s supports territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH, and opposes secession of any part statements of the country. Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Referendum will decide on the Court of BiH’, pg 3 ‘Dodik reminds us of Karadzic’ by J. Fetahovic – The OHR issued a statement strongly condemning Dodik’s call for dissolution of BiH, reminding all officials in the region that they are obliged to respect the Dayton Peace Agreement: “The OHR speaks on behalf of wider international community when it clearly states that all politicians and officials on all levels of government must respect the rule of law.” SDA stated that Dodik is “once more entertaining the public,” adding that “there is not a single democratic country in which executive officials or party presidents can issue arrest warrants.