Bosnia Press Review - November 11

Here are the top stories in Bosnia and Herzegovina's main newspapers. Balkan Insight has not verified the reports and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

President of the strongest Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) Party of Democratic Action Sulejman Tihic cancelled a meeting which was to be held on Thursday, 12 November, with senior representatives of other main parties representing Bosniak, Croat and Serb communities in Bosnia. The meeting was seen as a way to move forward a joint EU-US initiative to reform Bosnian constitution and break a long standing political gridlock, after Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said he would no longer participate in any multi-party talks organised by international officials. Tihic cancelled the meeting after several other party leaders said they would not participate.

OSLOBODJENJE

Bosnia coach Miroslav Blazevic said the atmosphere in the national football team was great ahead of play-offs for the 2010 World Cup. Bosnia plays Portugal on Saturday in Lisbon and in return match in Zenica on 18 November. Blazevic said that Portugal was one of the strongest teams in Europe regardless of the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the play-offs due to ankle injury. However, Blazevic said that Portugal had reason to fear Bosnia because his players are not outsiders.

GLAS SRPSKE

The decision by the Prosecutors of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reject criminal charges pressed by Bosnian Serb government in November 2008 against senior US diplomat Raffi Gregorian and eight other persons, including journalists, NGO representatives and international judges, is politically motivated and proves that no attempt was made to find the evidence to prosecute the case, believes Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. Activities by the group to portray as criminal the work of the Bosnian Serb government are absolutely obvious but they were encouraged to continue with them after prosecutors rejected the case, Dodik said.