LOCAL PRESS

Vucic, Rama agree they disagree on Kosovo (Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama agreed on a number of issues in the TV show Okruzenje (Neighborhood), primarily those concerning the future of their countries and better life of citizens, while their stands remained completely distant only when it comes to Kosovo – though they also agreed here that they will never have the same opinion on this. Vucic and Rama said that the disagreement between the two countries concerning Kosovo must not hinder the dialogue and cooperation, assessing that Serbia-Albania relations are not the biggest problem of the Balkans. Asked how is it possible to build good relations at all when there is still a different position on Kosovo, the Serbian Prime Minister said that we are talking with Pristina, that they call this a dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, while we call it a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, that we signed important agreements, that there is no reason for anybody to celebrate or to mourn, and that there will be many more such agreements. Asked what the biggest problem of the Balkans is, if this is not the relations between Serbia and Albania, Vucic said he considers B&H to be the most difficult Balkan issue. “I think this will be the biggest problem and I am not happy about it. We have excellent relations with B&H, we love Republika Srpska, but I think that I am right when I say it will be the biggest problem,” said Vucic.

Djuric: Frivolous and ungrounded ideas on reciprocity (Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has stated that the entire region is offering support to Serbia for the normalization of relations with Pristina and creation of the Union of Serb Municipalities (ZSO). “That is very important for us especially since the period of implementing the agreement is ahead of us when we need to retain the political momentum as well. We have clear support for implementing the things agreed,” Djuric told Tanjug at the Bled Strategic Forum. He underlined that everything that Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic had done towards reconciliation “of not only politicians but also nations in the entire region” is also highly appreciated”. He notes that the ideas of certain Albanian politicians on some sort of reciprocity in regard to the ZSO are frivolous and a bit silly, underlining they are ungrounded either in laws or in the political reality. “Certain local politicians in southern Serbia, Albanian politicians, even today voice their wish for some sort of reciprocity in regard to the ZSO. I can only say that we heard these ideas and that they seem a bit silly since the Albanians represent a clear majority in only one and a half municipality in southern Serbia,” said Djuric. He assesses these ideas are not very responsible towards the Albanians in southern Serbia who should be more a bridge of cooperation between the Albanians and Serb, and not, as he put it, an instrument of destabilization.

Vulin: ZSO is the roof of the Brussels agreement (Tanjug)

Serbian Minister of Labor Aleksandar Vulin says he hopes the ZSO will increase security for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. He voiced hope that increase of security will also mean higher security for all Serbs who wish to visit their Kosovo. “The ZSO is the roof of the Brussels agreement but we must be aware that it will be successful as much as the Serbs, who will be part of it, are successful and devoted,” said Vulin. “If we manage to overcome all divisions into north and south and pay attention to the Serbs who live in the enclaves, then the ZSO will be the real roof of the Brussels agreement and of all our efforts,” said Vulin.

EPS and Telekom submit request to Pristina for registration (Politika)

“Elektrosever” that should charge electricity to the Serbs in Kosovo will receive, as expected, a working permit within seven days. In accordance with the 25 August Brussels agreement, the Serbian Electric Power Industry (EPS) submitted to the Kosovo Agency a request for registering a daughter company that will conduct import, export and transit of electricity. “Telekom” has 23 base stations and seven facilities in the province. The Brussels agreement envisages for Kosovo residents to pay calling services according to domestic tariffs, same prices as if they are calling from any other part of Serbia. In order to be able to issue and charge electricity consumption in Kosovo, “Elektrosever” will sign agreements with the Kosovo Electricity Network (KOCTT). According to the Brussels agreement, Serbia is obliged to support, together with our company Elektromreza Srbija (EMS), the request for KOSTT to integrate into the European energy network. EPS also submitted a request for operation of its second daughter company that will supply electric energy, and it will receive a reply from the Kosovo authorities in October at the latest. Both sides to the Brussels agreement on energy remained at the initial positions only regarding the issue of property over the energy potentials, so the issues of the electric network (charging transport of electric energy in Kosovo), the “Gazivode” hydropower station and “Valac” substation remain unresolved for the time being. The Albanians want to put under their control the entire Gazivode Lake, whose two-fourths are on the territory of Serbia proper, referring to Kosovo laws and UNMIK decrees. The Belgrade negotiating team remains on the position that all those energy potentials are the property of the state of Serbia in accordance with the Serbian Constitution. The most important thing for the Serbian side is for Gazivode and Valac to remain under control of the ZSO, because in that case the money received from selling electric energy will go into the ZSO cash register.

REGIONAL PRESS

Constitutional Court deciding on referendum on 9 September (Srna)

The Council for the Protection of Vital Interests within the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska (RS) should consider the request by the Bosniak caucus on 9 September, and decide on the violation of vital national interest because of the decision to call a referendum on the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed this judicial institution. The meeting of the Council is scheduled for 9.00h. The Council decided on 10 August that the application by the Bosniak caucus in the RS Council of Peoples to establish the violation of the vital national interests of the Bosniak people in connection with the decision on calling a republican referendum is acceptable. The Council’s decision on application by the Bosniak caucus should be brought within next 30 days as the Constitution foresees. The RS parliament adopted on 15 July a decision on how the referendum question should be formulated. According to the decision of the RS parliament, the referendum question will read: “Do you support an unconstitutional and unauthorized imposition of laws by the High Representative of the international community in B&H, particularly to impose the law on the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office and the implementation of their decisions on the territory of the RS?”

Milan Dunovic: Let’s show economic patriotism (Klix.ba/Hina)

As is it is already known, the European Commission delayed the decision on the export of milk from B&H to EU countries due to the complaint of one of the EU member states, which was unofficially known that it is the Republic of Croatia. Milan Dunovic, the Vice President of FB&H, stated that this is an opportunity to show economic patriotism. “On 16 July, B&H was included on the list of countries that have permission to export milk and milk products in the EU with the possibility of appeal from EU member states within 20 days, and no one made an appeal within that time. However, on the day when the first shipment of milk from B&H should departure to the EU, we received information that one of the EU member states made an appeal or objected, and that the export of milk from B&H has been stopped. The EU Commission session for food is scheduled for 16 September, where all EU member states will have to declare on complaint and we hope that this whole process will be ended positively for B&H producers of milk and dairy products,” said Dunovic. He urged on all citizens of B&H to show economic patriotism and buy local, domestic products. “I would definitely like to invite all citizens of B&H to contribute to BH economy by their own example, and to show economic patriotism by purchasing local products. I also hope that this will become constant in our consumer habits,” said Dunovic. B&H Minister for Trade and Economy Mirko Sarovic said that Croatia had set conditions for the export of milk and dairy products from Bosnia to the EU in an attempt to obtain the customs free regime it had prior to joining the Union.

Dragan Covic: Friendly talks underway on border with Croatia, Serbia (Hina)

The Chairman of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic has said that negotiations on border demarcation have been stepped up with Croatia and Serbia and that they are now being held at an informal level so as to define acceptable solutions as soon as possible.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Presevo Valley demands the same association as the Serbs in Kosovo (Turkish Weekly Journal, 1 September 2015)

Albanian political representatives in the Presevo Valley warn that they will announce autonomy and united with Kosovo. The head of the National Committee of the Albanians in the Valley, Jonuz Musliu, says that this process must take place in compliance with the 1-2 March 1992 referendum. “Such act is also in compliance with international conventions and UNO Charter, which guarantees the right of self determination”, he says. Musliu notes that there will be coordination with Pristina and Tirana in order to demand reciprocity in relation to the rights that Serbs in Kosovo are given. We demand the same rights that Serbs are given in education, judicial system and police through the Association. We will first try and attain our goals through dialogue and then we will look into other measures”, he says. Musliu says that he has constantly asked for the Presevo Valley to be included in the talks between Kosovo and Serbia, but such request has been ignored. “We’re not demanding a war. We just want dialogue. We, in the Presevo Valley, have problems with Serbia’s discriminating policies. These policies must end once and for all”, he says. The same positioning was also taken by the mayor of Presevo, Ragmi Mustafa. He says that such request is not something new. According to him, Albanians in the south of Serbia, have demanded since the start of talks in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia, to benefit the same rights that Serbs in Kosovo benefit. Following the signing of the agreement for the creation of the Association of Serb Communes in Kosovo, there has also been a reaction by the Albanian National Committee in the Valley of Presevo, which demands support from Albania, Kosovo and the international community for the cause of Albanians in the Republic of Kosovo.

Macedonia Opposition MPs Return to Parliament (BIRN, by Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 1 September 2015)

Macedonia’s opposition is to return to parliament on Tuesday after a 15-month boycott as part of the internationally brokered June 2 crisis deal

As Macedonian opposition MPs return to parliament on Tuesday, one of their first tasks will be the election of a new special prosecutor, charged with addressing the illegal surveillance claims that have sparked a political crisis in the country. An inter-party working group facilitated by the EU should agree on the details for the new prosecutor within a few days and submit a bill to parliament. After that, the appointment of the special prosecutor is expected to be completed by September 15. The opposition bloc led by the Social Democrats, SDSM, will act as one group of MPs. In parallel with its return, it is expected to take a leading role in three important parliamentary commissions. SDSM spokesperson Petre Shilegov is due to lead the commission tasked with probing the allegations of mass illegal wiretapping. Two commissions overlooking the work of the secret services are also to be led by the opposition. The opposition MPs have been absent from parliament for 15 months. Last year, all 32 opposition MPs bar two submitted written resignations to the 123-seat parliament after alleging fraud in the April 2014 general and presidential elections. The opposition insisted that Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski’s ruling VMRO DPMNE party won both elections by fraud and demanded the formation of a caretaker government to prepare new elections. However, the boycott did not greatly affect the work of the parliament, as 89 of the 123 seats remained filled, which is more than two-thirds. Macedonia’s political crisis escalated in February when the opposition started releasing batches of compromising tapes of officials’ conversations. The opposition said the tapes support its claim that Gruevski illegally orchestrated the surveillance of over 20,000 people, including his own ministers. Gruevski has insisted that the tapes were “created” by unnamed foreign intelligence services and given to the opposition to destabilise the country. The tapes also pointed to government involvement in election fraud and abuse of the justice system and the media. They suggested the authorities also covered up the murder of a young man by a police officer. The return of the opposition MPs was agreed as part of the June 2 crisis deal brokered by EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn. Observers warn that it does not automatically mean the restoration of functioning democracy in the country. “The [ruling party] MPs have by now forgotten normal democratic practices and habits,” cautioned political science professor Zdravko Saveski. However, he added: “The majority in the next month or two may act as if they care for democracy and for people’s problems, so at least at the beginning this may bring positive change.” Last week, the opposition and NGOs criticized ruling party MPs for rushing through the approval of some 400 bills from several different fields, mostly without any debate in a shortened procedure – just days before the opposition was due to return. The June 2 crisis agreement also envisages the appointment of new ministers for the interior and for labour and social policy by October 20 from the ranks of the opposition, as well the appointment as of several other deputy ministers. The deal also stipulates that Gruevski should resign by December 15, 100 days before snap polls next April, to ensure he cannot interfere in the election process. Changes in some key bodies like the State Electoral Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Commission for Audio and Audio Visual Services and others, are also stipulated by the crisis deal, to ensure a level playing field for the forthcoming elections.

Macedonia Govt Threatened with New Wiretap Revelations (BIRN, Sinisa Jakov Marusic, 1 September 2015)

The opposition said that if no special prosecutor is appointed to deal with illegal surveillance claims by September 15, as previously agreed, it will continue releasing compromising tapes of officials

Opposition Social Democrats leader Zoran Zaev said on Saturday that if no agreement with the government is made to appoint the special prosecutor by the deadline agreed in a deal aimed at ending the political crisis in Macedonia, his party won’t hesitate to release more wiretapped tapes. “If we have a new prosecutor by September 15, then we have fulfilled one chapter of the [crisis] agreement. That means that the opposition will have somewhere to hand over the [illegal surveillance] materials,” Zaev said. “If this is not the case, the ‘bombshells’ will definitely continue and we will not give a second thought to it,” he added. The threat comes after the country’s warring political parties last week failed to agree over the new special prosecutor at a EU-facilitated working group tasked with seeing through the internationally-brokered crisis deal intended to democratise the country and prepare it for snap polls in April. But embattled Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told media that Zaev’s threat was the “usual folklore” used by the opposition whenever things don’t go its way. The crisis in Macedonia revolves around allegations that Gruevski’s government illegally orchestrated the surveillance of over 20,000 people. Among other things, the June 2 crisis agreement gave Macedonian politicians until September 15 to elect a new special prosecutor with full authority to lead investigations into claims about illegal interceptions of communications. Prime Minister Gruevski has insisted that compromising tapes of officials’ conversations, which the Social Democrats have been releasing since February, were “created” by unnamed foreign intelligence services and given to the opposition to destabilise the country. The tapes appeared to reveal the government’s involvement in election fraud and abuse of the justice system and media. They suggested authorities covered up the murder of a young man by a police officer. The talks within the inter-party working group are expected to resume on Monday and if all goes well should wrap in few days so that parliament has time to adopt the agreed changes needed for the new office. Other outstanding issues on the table include a revision of the electoral law and measures to ensure unbiased media reporting.