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Topic
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Source
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Title
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Narrative
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SFOR
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Dnevni avaz
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SFOR satisfied with results of search
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Lt. Mark Hope, SFOR spokesperson, said that SFOR was satisfied
with the results of the search that was conducted in Banja Luka
two days ago. He refused to give more details about the search.
Nor could he clarify whether SFOR searched the apartment of Ljubinko
Mitrovic, who is the head of the office of RS Minister of Internal
Affairs Zoran Djeric. /The same in Nezavisne Novine, p.3 and Glas
Srpske, p.2/
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SFOR
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Nezavisne Novine
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Packett dismisses General Dragicevic
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On adecision of COMSFOR, Major General Virgil Packett, General
Drago Dragicevic, the Inspector General of the Federation Minister
of Defence, has been dismissed from his post. On 4 June this year,
COMSFOR signed an order on the temporary suspension of three more
Federation MOD official. "COMSFOR's order does not contain
reasons for Dragicevic's dismissal and the temporary suspension
of three more persons. I can only confirm that everything was done
in accordance with Chapter 14 of the Instruction To the Parties,
defined by COMSFOR," said one high-level official at the BIH
Ministry of Defence.
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SFOR
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Nezavisne Novine
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Bjelica remains in custody
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Lt. Mark Hope, SFOR spokesperson, said that Milovan Bjelica, President
of the Srpsko Sarajevo City Assembly, would remain in custody until
the investigation SFOR is conducting was completed.
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SFOR
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Slobodna Bosna
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"If need be, I will go to arrest Radovan Karadzic myself"
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A Slobodna Bosna journalist interviewed COMSFOR, US General Virgil
Packett on Wednesday 9 June, in the late afternoon at camp Butmir.
At the beginning of the interview, General Packett gave the impression
of a good-hearted and confident host. Instead of words of welcome,
he said: "Ask anything you are interested in," emphasising
that he had plenty of time for our paper. As the interview progressed
and most of our questions required answers as to why even after
nine years in our country SFOR had failed to arrest the most wanted
war crimes indictees (primarily Radovan Karadzic, wartime leader
of the Republika Srpska), General Packett's patience and relaxed
manner lost its intensity, and in the end the US general abruptly
ended the interview with our paper with the explanation that the
Slobodna Bosna journalist had plenty of information on war criminals
and their harbourers, and that there was no need for him to give
any additional explanation.
Q: General Packett, in mid-May you said that SFOR had tightened
the noose around Radovan Karadzic so much that "we can feel
him breathing." If this is true, then why have you not arrested
him yet? How, according to your information, has Karadzic been breathing
lately?
A: First, I want everyone to understand that this is one "all
inclusive." Therefore a lot of means, possibilities, and effort
is necessary, but when I say effort then I am referring to collective
effort. We have come close to the network that is supporting Karadzic
and even to those people who are members of this network.
Q: SFOR has the means and the capacity to arrest him, doesn't it?
A: That is correct, but we are still making efforts to see that
happen. There is enormous energy and this process will not stop.
So we can talk all you want about the past and why this hasn't been
done so far, however the energy that is necessary for something
like that is here now and it will not stop until Karadzic starts
answering for everything he did.
Q: If you have the means and the capacity, and if there is, as
you say, the necessary energy for it, then why is it so hard to
arrest Karadzic?
A: There is an enormous network of support that works for him.
We are constantly working on that, we are getting close to them,
we are getting closer.
Karadzic's "breath"
Q: It seems that you are still not that close to "feeling
him breathe?"
A: That is your opinion. When I do something, I would like for
you to be in my pocket to see it.
Q: You say that you are working on breaking up the network of people
who support Karadzic. The international community in BiH has also
taken steps in that direction. Is this network so strong that you
have failed to break it in all these years?
A: Yes it is, and this network is the one that is sucking the life
energy out of this country. The financing of such a network has
an effect on the financing of schools, other institutions, and the
infrastructure of the whole country.
Q: Yes, but in that way it does not effect SFOR's mission.
A: Actually, SFOR's mission is to provide a safe environment in
Bosnia and Herzegovina. And that is what we have done.
Q: Your mandate also includes arresting persons indicted for war
crimes?
A: SFOR has the mandate to provide support to the ICTY in The Hague.
Q: Of course, in such a way that it will, among other things, arrest
persons indicted for war crimes.
A: Yes, that is surely one of the ways in which this support can
be manifested. We are here to help make this process possible, but
that is not our responsibility, but the responsibility of this country.
Why is it that there is an opinion in this country that the international
community owes something to this country?
Q: The international community in BiH, as well as SFOR, was given
that mandate exactly because authorities in this country, that is
to say the authorities in the Republika Srpska, failed to arrest
persons indicted for war crimes. So far, the RS authorities have
not arrested one single indictee. This mandate was not given to
you by the citizens of this country, but by the Dayton Peace Accords.
Energy is most important
A: This country is actually capable of doing it. However, the leadership
of this country is not making it possible for this country to use
its capabilities.
Q: All right, is the problem then that you are waiting for the
local authorities to arrest Karadzic?
A: Well, for that purpose I wouldn't mind making myself available
just to see Karadzic arrested. However, before I get to him, I think
that somebody else is going to do it.
I say that there is a lot of energy that is going to bring Karadzic
before justice. The role of SFOR is to make that process possible.
And if an opportunity arises for us to arrest him, then we will
do so.
Q: One gets the impression that your latest public appearances
during which you practically announced that the arrest of Karadzic
was a matter of days, were actually SFOR's attempt to improve its
image after two failed attempts to arrest him. It never happened
before that SFOR hinted at its intentions before an arrest. Aren't
these encouraging statements more a display of impotence because
so far, practically before the end of its mandate and before the
NATO summit in Istanbul, SFOR hasn't arrested Karadzic?
A: I think you are actually confused about what our capabilities
are and the term collective effort with the local authorities to
make it happen. However, I will not restrict myself to history,
as you are now. You see, we can talk about the past, but I would
prefer to turn to the future and look at what the real possibilities
are for the persons indicted for war crimes to be brought before
justice to answer for what they did.
Q: Then, what are the real chances that they will be arrested?
A: There is the possibility of that happening every day.
Q: You believe that this will happen during your mandate?
A: Of course I believe that. And now I see a truly growing interest,
which is now bigger than ever, and I am speaking about the past
eight months of my mandate. Simply, the interest in Karadzic being
consigned to history is growing. This is my feeling that is based
on my contacts with people. More and more people have the impression
that this country is not progressing because he is not in The Hague.
People are fed up with it.
Q: I assume that you are referring to the people in the Republika
Srpska who supported him, because others were not in a dilemma about
whether or not he should be in The Hague?
A: I speak with people, some of them are from the Republika Srpska.
I did not say that this is a prevailing interest, but that this
is an interest that is starting to prevail. Radovan Karadzic is
becoming a burden that people are trying to get rid of. Simply put,
it is not an advantage to have Karadzic, but it is an advantage
to choose Europe before Karadzic.
Q: From time to time, the ICTY Chief Prosecutor says in public
that she has information that, for example, Karadzic is in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, and so on. She probably obtains this information
from SFOR?
A: Ms. del Ponte and I speak often and share information; in that
regard, we have a truly excellent relationship.
Q: If you know his whereabouts, then is the problem that there
are political obstacles to his arrest?
A: You can reach any conclusions you want. I do not wish to discuss
politics or possibilities with you, but I do wish to discuss the
energy that is growing more and more and which is necessary for
war criminals to be arrested. However, I would like to clarify something
- let me say that the search for indicted war criminals, as long
as there are any, will not cease. And if the decision is made for
the European Union to take over the mission here, they are already
committed to continuing this process. NATO headquarters will keep
the same possibility. And there is also this energy that will help
make this process easier. This is something that will not cease.
Q: How realistic is it to expect that Karadzic will be arrested
before the beginning of the Istanbul summit?
A: I think that this is very possible. There are 19 days left.
Again this is an excellent opportunity for this country to demonstrate
its true intention. History is behind us, I think that they should
not be looking for the possibility to present itself to them and
for somebody to hand him over to them, I think that they should
use this opportunity themselves.
"I search for him every day"
Q: Can I ask you if you know that Karadzic is hiding in Bosnia
and Herzegovina at this moment?
A: I search for him every day, but I will not discuss the details.
That is why I have his picture on my door, I think about him every
day.
Q: You are pointing to an SFOR poster offering a reward for information
on Karadzic and Mladic. How much has this method turned out to be
useful in collecting information?
A: Well, it was certainly a very efficient method in the case of
Saddam Hussein's sons in Iraq. I know that that is a different country,
but you asked me a question and here, I am offering you an answer.
It is obvious that in the case of Saddam's sons, those were people
who simply have a different approach. But I just want to say that
it is necessary for the citizens of BiH to understand that all means
will be used to make a brighter future possible for BiH.
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AF IN BIH
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Dnevni avaz
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Podzic hands over his duties to Durakovic
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The ceremony of handing over the duties from the outgoing Commander
of the VF 5th Corps, Brigadier Sifet Podzic, to the incoming Commander,
Brigadier Sead Durakovic, was held in the Adil Besic barracks in
Bihac yesterday. Brigadier Sifet Podzic will be appointed as the
Chief of the Joint Staff of the BiH AFs. (Photo on page 12) /The
same in Oslobodjenje (p. 9), Dnevni List (p. 4)/
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AF IN BIH
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Dnevni avaz
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Will 4,500 conscripts be sent homes? (Front page story)
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Unless Atif Dudakovic, Commander of the VF Joint Command, Sulejman
Tihic and Dragan Covic, members of the BiH Presidency, and Miroslav
Nikolic, Federation Defense Minister, find a solution to the highly
alarming problem of a lack of food supply in the VF at their session
today, the VF Command will be forced to send 4,500 conscripts home
until further notice. An extremely difficult situation with shortage
of food in the VF might put us in a situation where radical measures
will have to be used. Luckily, food suppliers have understanding
for our outstanding payments. The situation has been difficult for
the last several months, while only basic food products have been
provided this month," said Brigadier Hamza Visca, Head of the Public
Information Office of the VF Joint Command. (Photo on page 1, 3)
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AF IN BIH
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Dnevni avaz
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BiH NCOs learn about the doctrine of the US Army
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A seminar on the training of non-commissioned officers was organized
by the Joint Contact Teams Programme (JCTP) in Sarajevo yesterday
with the assistance of the US Embassy in BiH. "The purpose of this
seminar was learning about standards, the organizational structure,
defense doctrine and the mission of the US armed forces and informing
36 members of the BiH AFs about the role of a non-commissioned officer
in the system of training at tactical level," said Alena Begovic,
a representative of the JCTP in BiH. (p. 8)
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AF IN BIH
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Oslobodjenje
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Approved Bosniac officers are "second-rate"
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Commenting on the appointment of candidates to generals' posts
in the BiH AFs, Sulejman Tihic, Chair of the BiH Presidency, told
journalist during a one-hour conversation in the BiH Presidency
yesterday that SFOR had the final word on these appointments and
that there were many things about the vetting process that were
illogical. The candidates that were expected to pass the SFOR vetting,
primarily Selmo Cikotic, were not approved by SFOR. "I was convinced
while proposing the candidates that the nine Bosniac candidates
who were initially proposed would pass the vetting process. This
is especially true for Selmo Cikotic, who the US Embassy said to
be an extremely competent officer, but he did not pass the SFOR
vetting process," said Tihic, adding that the Bosniac officers approved
were "second-rate" compared to those who were initially proposed,
but that they were no less competent than the staff members from
the other two peoples. (Photo on page 6)
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AF IN BIH
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Dnevni avaz
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Approval for Brigadier Emir Redzovic was not withdrawn
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Despite speculation in the Serbian media yesterday that SFOR's
approval for Brigadier Emir Redzovic had been withdrawn, the paper
learned from the BiH Ministry of Defense that this information was
not accurate. "We have not been informed by SFOR about any changes
in its decisions, and we do not want to get involved in speculation.
It is well-known that the vetting is done by HQ SFOR, which is the
one making the decisions," said Enes Becirbasic, BiH Deputy Minister
of Defense. As of yesterday, no new results of the vetting process
of the remaining four candidates for generals' posts in the BiH
AFs were received from SFOR. (Photo on page 4)
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BIH - PARTIES
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Dani
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What is behind the formation of the Croat Bloc in BiH?
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Ivic Pasalic, formerly Franjo Tudjman's close assistant and one
of the Croat hard-liners who split with the HDZ, is considered to
be the founder of the Croat Bloc in BiH. Stanko Sopta also known
as Baja, Mijo Jelic, former HVO officers, and Ivan Bacak, former
senior HDZ BiH official, are considered to be Pasalic's closest
assistants in BiH. In fact, they are the ones who run the BiH Croat
Bloc and not Mario Vasilj, Ivan Madunic and Marko Krilic. Sopta
and Jelic still have an influence on the VF-H and the Croatian Army.
Pasalic recently sent the two of them to visit Mirko Norac, a Croatian
general suspected of war crimes, in the Rijeka prison. His aim is
to regain popularity by using ethnic tensions and Croatian war crimes
suspects who the common people consider to be heroes. Pasalic is
also counting on support from discharged Croat military and intelligence
officers (former SIS officers) who feel that they were abandoned
by the HDZ. On the other side, Barisa Colak, President of the HDZ
BiH, is in constants contact with Sopta, through whom the HDZ can
regain the trust of Croat officers, which was seriously undermined
after the breakdown of Croat self-rule. There are allegations that
Colak, if he loses to Martin Raguz at the next party elections,
could find his place in the Croat Bloc. (Photo on page 18)
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BIH - PRESIDENCY
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Jutarnje Novine
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Sulejman Tihic: It is high time for the international community
to reassess the existence of the RS
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At a briefing with reporters and editors yesterday, Sulejman Tihic,
the Chair of the BiH Presidency, said that, due to violations of
international law and breaches of the European Convention on Human
Rights, it was high time for the international community to reassess
the existence of the RS. He criticised the RS for not processing
a single war crimes case. Tihic also said that BiH should not be
admitted to the Partnership for Peace programme while war crimes
suspects were still at large. (Photo on page 2) /The same in Glas
Srpske (p.3), Blic (p. RS2)/
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BIH - USA
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Oslobodjenje
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Agreement to be signed between BiH and the US
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Today, the BiH Ministry of Defense and the US Dept. of Defense
will sign an agreement on procurement and mutual provision of services
between these two ministries. The agreement will be signed by the
BiH Minister of Defense, Nikola Radovanovic, and Major General Edward
L. Lafountaine, on behalf of the US Dept. of Defense. (p. 8)
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BIH - USA
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Jutarnje Novine
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US policy towards BiH will not change
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During his visit to Mostar yesterday, the US Ambassador to BiH,
Clifford Bond, stated that the US policy towards BiH would remain
the same regardless of whether the Republicans or Democrats were
in power, and that the US would continue to support BiH's sovereignty
and its efforts for joining the EU. This was Bond's reply to a journalist's
question about whether the US policy towards Mostar and BiH would
change with the incoming US Ambassador appointed several days ago.
(Photo on page 4) /The same in Dnevni avaz (p. 2), Nezavisne Novine
(p. 2)/
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CRIME
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Slobodna Bosna
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Showdown with mafia starts with arrest of Ferid Okic, a leader
of a group of criminals
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Albanian Ferid Salihi, who was born in Kosovo in 1967, was arrested
in Sarajevo last week by order of the BiH Prosecutor's Office and
on suspicion of having been involved in the trade in weapons, gold,
narcotics and trafficking of women. The BiH Prosecutor's Office
released this information, but stated that this person was named
Ferid Okic, who was residing in Tuzla. Okic, that is Salihi, is
charged by the BiH Prosecutor's Office with organizing and running
a group of about ten criminals. According to the Prosecutor's Office,
this group took part in at least three cases of kidnapping in Sarajevo
and Tuzla in the past several years. Ferid Salihi, or Okic (his
mother is Bosnian from the vicinity of Lukavac and in her counterfeited
personal documents Okic is entered as her maiden name, while his
father's last name Salihi is used in Kosovo), participated in the
kidnapping of Velimir Mandic in the center of Bijeljina four years
ago in order to extort money from his brother, Momcilo Mandic. Okic
took Mandic to the Park Motel in Srebrenik with his "group
of criminals", where he exchanged the hostage for KM 500,000
in cash. The Park Motel is owned by Sadinet Sido Karic, who is also
the owner of the Sidoil company, and who is one of the leading names
in the import of goods from Turkey. And this is how Karic and Okic
crossed paths because the weapons traded by Okic were brougt in
via Istanbul. A Slobodna Bosna source has confirmed that the arrest
of Okic was linked to Karic being released from custody last month
because, allegedly, in order to meet conditions for his release,
Sido Karic agreed to co-operate with the court and the Prosecutor's
Office, and Ferid Okic, who was well-known in the territory of the
FBiH as one of the first powerful Albanian mafia members in this
region, was the first to be sacrificed. The paper's sources in the
Federation Ministry of Internal Affairs consider that this was a
showdown between the Albanian and Sandzak (part of Serbia) mafia
over gaining a monopoly in BiH and that the opening of the "Okic
et al" case was meant to give a final blow to the Albanian
mafia, who are referred to as "Siptari" in police jargon.
(p. 14)
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HERZEGOVACKA BANKA
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Oslobodjenje
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Jelavic refuses to enter a plea
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Yesterday before the BiH Court, Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce, Miroslav
Rupcic, Ivica Karlovic and Father Ivan Sevo refused to enter a plea
because "they have not received the official court decision on their
request for the exclusion of Judge Bernard Boland as the judge in
the preliminary hearing." Their defence lawyers said that they had
learned about the decision from the media and not from the court.
However, Judge Boland entered the plea of not guilty for each of
the defendants to all counts of the indictment. Jelavic and the
other four defendants are suspected of being involved in economy
crime and embezzlement in Hercegovacka Banka. The court also decided
to leave Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic in detention pending their trial.
(Photo on page 3) /The same in Dnevni avaz (p.4), Jutarnje Novine
(p.4), Dnevni List (p.3), Glas Srpske (p.11), Vecernji List (p.3)/
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ICTY
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Slobodna Bosna
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Jovan Cizmovic, a former Karadzic' and currently Cavic's advisor
welcomed, Ashdown in Prijedor prison camps in 1992
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According to reliable sources close to the Hague Tribunal, the
ICTY Prosecutor's Office has been conducting an investigation against
Jovan Cizmovic, a former Radovan Karadzic's and currently Dragan
Cavic's advisor. Cizmovic, a Banja Luka lawyer and former co-ordinator
for the Serb Autonomus Provinces (SAO), enjoyed th undivided support
of Radovan Karadzic, Dragan Cavic and Paddy Ashdown who appointed
him to oversee the work of the RS Commission investigating events
surrounding the fall of Srebrencia in 1995. In 1992, an international
delegation led by Paddy Ashdown conducted an inspection of prison
camps in the Prijedor region. Karadzic sent Cizmovic to cover up
the traces of crimes in these camps and welcome Ashdown who was
then considered to be Karadzic's friend. (Photo on page 16)
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ICTY
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Dani
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Panic within Karadzic's network
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The information that persons who are or have in the past supported
Radovan Karadzic will be processed by the BiH Court is news that
will have a serious impact on those helping Karadzic. A reliable
and well informed source claims that Karadzic's messengers and intelligence
officers have become extremely active on both sides of the Drina
River collecting money for Karadzic's protection. In Pale, buildings
owned by Radomir Kojic, the owner of the Kristal Hotel on Jahorina
Mount and the Unipak Demining Company, have been under surveillance
of SFOR Italian Carabinieri for 15 days. Pale residents believe
that a "big fish" must be in these buildings. According to reliable
information, on 1 June, a long-time Karadzic bodyguard, who was
born in Hadzici, was seen leaving the building. Panic among Karadzic's
supporters in the Prnjavor region is spreading. Karadzic visited
Nemanja Vasic, the current Director of the RS Directorate of Roads,
two years ago in this region. While in Prnjavor, Karadzic used to
spend time in a villa owned by a businessman nick-named "Komerc
mali." Dani learned that Karadzic was in Prnjavor on 31 March 2004,
just a day before SFOR troops launched an operation in Pale during
which Jeremija Starovlah and his son Aleksandar were injured. (Photo
on page 8)
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INTELLIGENCE SERVICES
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Slobodna Bosna
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Before the war, police were "built' by Delimustafic, Mandic and
Stojic; today their job is entrusted to their drivers and assistants
- Dzuvo, Zaric and Cosic
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Even though the law on the BiH Intelligence Security Agency (OSA)
came into effect on 1 June, the agency will be united and become
operational in spring 2005. Almir Dzuvo and Risto Zaric have been
appointed as Director and Deputy Director of the OSA respectively.
However, Mladen Alpeza, the Croat candidate for the OSA Inspector
General, did not pass the OHR check allegedly because he had been
involved in Croat self-rule. But, the truth is that Ivan Vuksic
and Kristina Silic, Federation Intelligence Security Service officers
supported by the OHR, in fact lobbied against Alpeza. Ivan Cosic,
former Herceg-Bosnia Canton Minister of Internal Affairs, is most
likely to be the OSA General Inspector. Dzuvo and Zaric have already
taken over their functions. Dzuvo is expected to appoint Adi Sijercic
as co-ordinator for operations of the FOSS and RS Intelligence Service
(OBS). During the war, Sijercic was a military intelligence officer
close to Hasan Cengic. Dzuvo also plans to appoint Muris Druskic
as the Head of the OSA for Sarajevo. Druskic is also considered
to be a close assistant to Cengic. Dzuvo is often visited by Alistair
Sommerlad, the most influential British spy in BiH. Risto Zaric
will probably appoint Trifko Buha as a co-ordinator for FOSS and
OSA activities and the OSA Head of Operations. Their choice of assistants
clearly shows that they are not planning to form a unified and functional
agency but to extend the existence of three intelligence services
under one roof. (Photo on page 8)
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OHR
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Oslobodjenje
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Ashdown calls on Tihic, Paravac and Covic to consider resigning
from their current posts (Front-page story)
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Yesterday, Paddy Ashdown called on Sulejman Tihic, Borislav Paravac
and Dragan Covic to consider resigning from the Presidency. At the
same time he called on BiH citizens to think about the election
of a single head of state. Commenting on the results of the audit
of the financial operations of the BiH institutions in 2003, Ashdown
said that "after such a report, in normal countries top officials
would resign." "The auditor's report represents a basis for criminal
charges for the 'theft of public funds,'" he said. He urged the
BiH Parliament and BiH Prosecutor's Office to take appropriate actions.
After being reminded that the Council of Ministers and the BiH Parliament
had approved additional funds for the budget of the BiH Presidency,
Ashdown said that other state institutions should also be held responsible
for excessive spending of tax-payers' money. (Photo on the front
page and page 4) /The same in Dnevni avaz (p.4), Dnevni List (p.2),
Jutarnje Novine (p.5), Nezavisne Novine (p.3), Glas Srpske (p.2),
Vecernji List (p.2)/
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OHR
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Nezavisne Novine
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Donald Hays: RS Government obstructing audit of banks in RS
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Donald Hays, Principal Deputy HR, accused the RS Government of
obstructing the audit of banks in the RS, especially those banks
facing the most serious problems. He also said that the RS Government
had failed to appoint a supervisor for banking in the RS for a year,
even though the acting supervisor, Dusanka Novakovic, enjoyed the
support of all institutions. However, he did not know the names
of members of the RS Government who were obstructing her appointment.
Peter Nicholl, the BiH Central Bank Governor, announced that the
supervision of banks would be introduced shortly. (Photo on the
front page and page 3) /The same in Oslobodjenje (p.7)/
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RS - PARLIAMENT
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Dnevni avaz
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Mikerevic receives death threats
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Spokesperson for the RS Premier, Goran Radivojac, confirmed for
Fena last night that the Office of the RS Premier had received a
"threatening letter from the Al-Jihad Islamic terrorist organization"
several days ago, in which Mikerevic and the employees in his office
were threatened with death. Radivojac said that he had handed over
this letter to the relevant bodies of the RS Ministry of Internal
Affairs. "We have information that the location from where the letter
was sent has been established, and that appropriate steps will be
taken," said Radivojac. (Photo on page 12)
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TERRORISM
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Dani
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Are banned Islamic organisations still active in Bosnia?
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Saudi Arabian and US officials held a joint press conference on
2 June 2004 in the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington to announce
the new measures that they would take against Islamic humanitarian
organizations suspected of redirecting humanitarian funds towards
support of terrorism. After 11 March 2002, in their joint activities,
the Saudi and US authorities proclaimed the Al-Haramain offices
in 11 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa to be global terrorist
organizations. By decision of the Saudi authorities, this organization
was closed and all Saudi humanitarian work abroad was put under
the control of the Saudi National Entity for Charitable Work Abroad.
At this press conference on 2 June, BiH was mentioned as an illustration
of a phenomenon where humanitarian organizations that have already
been banned are re-emerging again. Asked whether the Saudi authorities
were able to close this and other organizations, Adel Al-Jubeir,
Foreign Policy Advisor to the Saudi Prince Abdullah, said: "We established
that the re-emergence of these organizations has very little to
do with the Main Office. For example, we banned the Al-Haramain
offices in BiH three times. When they opened for their second and
third time, we believe that this had nothing whatsoever to do with
Al-Haramain in Saudi Arabia and that there were individuals there
who changed the name and re-registered the organization, after which
we again banned their work." (Photo on page 20)
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WEAPONS SMUGGLING
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Slobodna Bosna
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Russian multi-billionaire Bout smuggled weapons in "Bosnian"
airplanes
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Almost nine years after the phantom flight of their Boeing 707,
officials of Air Commerce are not aware of the fact that the name
of their company was used by Victor Antaloevic Bout, one of the
biggest weapons smugglers in thr post cold War era and proven business
partner of Hasan Cengic, wartime logistics man of the BiH Army,
post-war businessman and deputy in the BiH Parliament. Bout's Boeing
707 did not only fly under the code of Air Commerce, but also kept
it even after Bout had founded his own air company Air Cess in Liberia.
It is not known how Bout found out the code of this company and
misused it, but it is assumed that he was helped by his business
partner Haasan Cengic. In spring 2003, UN experts for tracking and
control of the biggest weapons importers and exporters were in Sarajevo
and they were particularly interested in Hasan Cengic.
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