LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: Presence of UNMIK in Kosovo important for Serbia (Tanjug/RTS/Beta)

Acting Serbian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met on 2 June on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Dacic once again congratulated Guterres on his election as Secretary-General of the United Nations, and expressed the readiness of Serbia to continue cooperation with this world organization, inter alia, in the context of its peacekeeping operations. He also informed his interlocutor that a UN house has been opened in Belgrade and invited him to visit Serbia. Dacic emphasized that for Serbia it is very important that UNMIK remains in Kosovo and Metohija with a neutral status under Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council. The UN Secretary-General pointed out that the position of the United Nations is clear, and that is that it is necessary for the mission to stay in this area because the problem is not solved yet. Other questions of regional security were discussed at today’s meeting. Dacic also spoke with Foreign Minister of Hungary Peter Szijjarto about bilateral relations between the two countries, cooperation in the sphere of energy and opportunities for Hungary to be the guest of the Agriculture Fair in Novi Sad in 2018. The meeting was also attended by Serbian Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Branislav Nedimovic and Minister of Economy Goran Knezevic, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vucic: Harsh debate with Tachi (Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the conversation that he had on Saturday with Kosovo President Hashim Tachi at the meeting in Slovenia, was one of the harshest they had so far. Vucic said, however, that it was better to tell the truth, exchange hard and harsh words in the dialogue than to have consequences in the field over piled up problems. He talked with Tachi at the meeting of the regional Brdo-Brioni process in Brdo near Kranj in Slovenia, where the leaders of southeast Europe countries were present. Vucic said that Macedonian President Djordje Ivanov was also harsh in conversation with Kosovo representatives and that they together showed what was the truth in behavior of people from Pristina and support for “Greater Albania”. “I quoted everything that they have said about Greater Albania… They tried to say that these were made-up things from Belgrade and I must say that Ivanov completely supported my arguments and he was very harsh, so it looked to some that we have created a block between Serbia and Macedonia against the two Albanian representatives, which has not been the case”, Vucic said. He emphasized that Thaci brought up ridiculous accusations that Albanian representatives referred to the relation of Serbian authorities towards civil society and that he replied by exposing everything he knew about the former commander of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Ramush Haradinaj, who was indicted by Serbia of crimes over civilians during the war in Kosovo in 1999. Vucic also said that he requested that Serbia should finally get “something encouraging from the EU level, because Serbs and Macedonians were waiting to get something good as a solution while being in a pressure pot”. He said that it was important that others, including German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who took part in the summit, could hear that conversation and arguments he had. Vucic said that he also conflicted with Tachi regarding the idea about forming a joint market in the region, stating that Tachi said that this was the idea to create a mini Yugoslavia. Serbian President added that Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said to him that this was a Russian idea, while Vucic replied that Russians did not know anything about that. Vucic also said that they discussed telephone codes, regional police and judiciary.

Dacic: European integration of Western Balkans should be accelerated (RTS)

Ivica Dacic said on Saturday at the Summit of presidents of the Brdo-Brioni Process that Serbia is aware of the numerous challenges that the EU is facing, but that they must not be an excuse for delaying or slowing down the process of European integration. Dacic pointed out that EU membership remains for Serbia one of the highest foreign policy priorities and we do our best that the reforms which we implement in line with the EU agenda bring good results. However, he warned, the fact that despite all the efforts that we have been making for years we have so far opened only eight and temporarily closed two chapters, is not encouraging, because if this pace continues, we will need a decade to just open all negotiation chapters. Serbia is ready to work more intensively inside the region on the promotion of regional integration, we will continue to do everything in our power to preserve regional stability, but these processes must not be a substitute for the process of European integration, but should rather contribute to accelerating the dynamics of our journey towards the EU, Dacic stated.

Dacic met in Brdo, near Kranj with his Slovenian counterpart, Karl Erjavec, and both officials shared their concerns over the situation in Macedonia, the Serbian foreign ministry reported. The two foreign ministers were pleased with Serbian-Slovenian relations. Dacic briefed Erjavec on the inauguration of Serbia’s new president, Aleksandar Vucic, and repeated invitations to Slovenia’s president and prime minister, Borut Pahor and Miro Cerar, to visit Serbia. The Serbian foreign minister said that it was in Serbia’s best interest that the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s properties in New York, residencies and diplomatic offices that had not been used for years, be sold as soon as possible. The two officials also talked about the next joint government session, in Slovenia this fall.

Djuric: Haradinaj is ripe for treatment (Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has stated that one of the former leaders of the terrorist KLA Ramush Haradinaj, who has been uttering increasingly aggressive threats to Serbia, doesn’t deserve a political reaction, but a treatment in healthcare institution.

According to him, the biggest problem is that Haradinaj, unfortunately, has serious chances of becoming the prime minister in our southern province, even though he is contributing to destabilization of state-of-affairs in the entire region.

Haradinaj told Presheva Jone on Sunday that the Presevo Valley will be one of the priorities of his government, as much as the north of Kosovo, and that the Albanians living in southern Serbia deserve to have Kosovo passports.

Djuric condemns attack on Serb List representatives (RTS/Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric most harshly condemned, as he put it, the “barbaric” threat and attack on Serb List representatives who were putting up election posters in Leposavic and said that the attacker Aleksandar Jablanovic’s place is in prison.

According to Djuric, the attack was conducted in the manner of Albanian extremists who were intimidating the Serbs in a similar manner for a decade and a half. “Unfortunately, we see there is no court epilogue. The prosecutor, an Albanian, didn’t recommend something that would be quite normal in a situation like this and in accordance with regulations that are valid in the entire world, and this is detention. As if nothing happened,” said Djuric. “This case also shows that the Kosovo Serbs are choosing between two lists at these elections. One suggested by Belgrade, this is only the Serb List, and others put forward by Pristina and that are aimed at using Serb votes for the creation of a Kosovo army, establishment of so-called borders of the false state of Kosovo,” explained Djuric. He says that Serbia will not and does not have the right to be silent reagrding this, and that gangsters such as Jablanovic should be behind bars.

Office for Kosovo and Metohija condemns Jablanovic’s attack (RTS)

Aleksandar Jabalnovic was arrested last night in Leposavic, after he had threatened with a gun Serb List activists who were putting up election posters. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija most harshly condemned Jablanovic’s attack, calling it a bullying attack. The Office appealed with all Serbian citizens in Kosovo and Metohija not to take in provocation of politicians whose candidates were put forward by Pristina in order to introduce confusion among the Serbs in our province. The statement reads that Jablanovic obviously knows that his political flirt with Albanian parties will be punished by voters at the elections and now, when he nothing to lose anymore, he is trying to de-legitimize the election process.

Selakovic: Name of prime minister designate between 11 and 15 June (RTS)

Secretary General of the Serbian President Nikola Selakovic has told RTS that we can expect the prime minister designate to be announced between 11 and 15 June. I am certain that the chosen option will be the best one for Serbia, notes Selakovic. He said in an interview for RTS that consultations with representatives of election lists will be conducted on 5 and 6 June based on Article 112 item 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and Article 18 of the Law on the President of the Republic.

SNS wants prime minister to come from its own ranks, names not discussed (RTS) The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) believes the next prime minister should come from its own ranks, SNS deputy leader Marija Obradovic said after consultations with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic today. Obradovic, who was heading a delegation of the “Aleksandar Vucic – Serbia is Winning” electoral list, said afterwards names were not discussed. Dacic: Question of prime minister-designate remains unsolved (Tanjug/RTS) The question of the prime minister-designate remains unsolved, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic said today after consultations with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the new prime minister. “I think you have sufficient political experience to know for sure that no spectacular decisions were made in today’s meeting. We do not even see this as a special conversation because we have been dealing with important matters and tasks that are ahead for us,” Dacic said.

REGIONAL PRESS

The annual leaders’ meeting of Brdo-Brijuni process (BHT1)

The annual leaders’ meeting of Brdo-Brijuni process took place in Brdo pri Kranju on Saturday. The meeting was hosted by Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, whose countries initiated Brdo-Brijuni process, and it brought together presidents and ministers of foreign affairs of countries that participate in this process. Honorary guest of this year’s meeting was German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The process aims towards strengthening regional cooperation and trust as well as speeding up the EU path of non-EU countries in the region. The meeting resulted in adoption of a joint declaration of countries’ presidents on cooperation and dialogue. Addressing the meeting, Pahor and Grabar-Kitarovic emphasized the need to set strengthening of political dialogue, creation of mutual trust, and reaching of solutions for open bilateral and regional issues as a priority. Pahor explained that the adopted declaration reflects the maximum that can be achieved at presidential level at this moment.

Croat member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic was at helm of the B&H delegation at this meeting. On the sidelines of the leaders’ meeting, Covic spoke to Steinmeier on which occasion Covic said that Germany is one of the most important partners to B&H when it comes to its Euro-Atlantic path. Covic also briefly met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Covic confirmed that he agreed with Vucic that improvement of bilateral relations between B&H and Serbia is of huge importance for the overall atmosphere of regional cooperation and positioning of the region as a safe and attractive area for investment. Vucic underscored the need to constantly work on regional peace and stability. In parallel with presidential panel discussion, ministers of foreign affairs held a series of talks and bilateral meetings with the focus on the summit that is set to take place in Trieste within the Berlin process.

Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Erjavec said that Slovenia supports the EU enlargement process of the region. Erjavec reminded that countries aspiring to join the EU need to implement all the necessary reforms to strengthen state institutions, rule of law, and fight against corruption and organized crime.

Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Davor Ivo Stier pointed out that peace and stability in South East Europe is in Croatia’s national interest. B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak stated that the institutions and overall capacity for implementation of reforms will strengthen through solving of specific issues within the countries and development of relations between the countries in the region.

The meeting was also attended by Macedonia’s President Gjorge Ivanov, Montenegro’s President Filip Vujanovic, Kosovo’s President Hashim Tachi and Albania’s President Bujar Nishani.

Addressing reporters following the meeting, Vucic stated that the words such as peace, stability, reduction of inflammatory rhetoric dominated at Saturday’s meeting of leaders of Southeast European countries, but added that peace and stability are not something that is given for good. Vucic also met Covic and the two officials underlined that B&H represents key to stability in the whole region, noting that priority is to ensure a stable and European B&H, in which all peoples are equal.

Dodik: RS becomes more and more notable, primarily thanks to Russian Federation (RTRS)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik ended his three-day visit to Russia on Saturday, where he attended the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. Dodik stated that he presented the RS in the best possible way and added that the RS is becoming more and more notable, primarily thanks to the Russian Federation. During his visit to Russia, Dodik met with representatives of ‘Zarubezhneft’, who denied all speculations on leaving the RS and the oil market in the entity. Dodik stated that Russia is very important for the RS, as a country that hosts political meetings on developing and improving economic and tourist cooperation. He added that the RS manages to keep the attention of Russia on a global plan, not allowing presentation of unilateral information on the RS, especially the ones coming from a High Representative. Speaking about details of the Forum, Dodik said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the need for strengthening of economy, respect for the others, peace, stability and sovereignty. India and Serbia were partner countries of the Forum. During the Forum, the attendees concluded that Russia has registered only minor loss after introduction of sanctions from the EU and that the West is actually the real looser in this case. Representatives of Austria stated that they advocate abolition of the sanctions imposed to Russia. The reporter concluded that, another successful meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a deal on parliamentary cooperation between the RS and St. Petersburg, numerous economic deals and meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, prove that the RS has secured its seat on big events, such as this one.

Dodik: Serbs will give up referendum, when they get stability within B&H (Klix/Srna)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik stated that the moment when security within B&H is secured to Serbs, as well as affirmation of the rights in line with the Constitution and Dayton Peace Agreement, he will publically say that there is no need for the referendum, but until that moment he does not want to stop thinking about that. He noted that the RS will very carefully discuss the issue of the referendum, and he does not want to speculate about that. “Let someone provide us stability within B&H, affirmation of the rights in line with the Constitution and Dayton Peace Agreement and I will come out publically and say there is no need for the referendum. However, if you are taking away our responsibilities, if you are constantly trying to deceive us and not to all us affirmation of development, why would we be in that? What is illogical in what I am saying,” said Dodik. He stressed that B&H is country of Muslims, but they only control majority of the Federation of B&H, while the RS controls entire state and public life in this region, it has good organization of its authority, it has will of the people for existence of the state, efficient government, territory. RS President stressed that former B&H, which was part of Yugoslavia, did not have and inter-entity border line and today it has. “Naturally, it is possible for it to become a border one day, why not?” said Dodik. He stressed that he never discussed RS’ secession form B&H, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Let us make things clear- secession was never topic of discussion with Putin, that it all a lie. It is impossible for an American diplomat, Hoyt Yee to enter Congress and tell untruths to Congressmen, based on this,” said Dodik, adding that this was a special lie aimed at turning Russia into a monster. “It is the same story always: you have Constitution, you have international law and we will support you in affirmation of your rights in line with the international law. In this regard nobody ever said: ‘Mr. Dodik, when will you organize this referendum, what can we do to help?’ That is mere speculation,” said Dodik.  On the other side, Dodik said, the RS is constantly under observation, adding that the RS made a serious success and made it clear to everyone that the RS has alternative and that nobody can forbid the referendum.

RS President said that he wants to develop the consciousness that this is the RS’ decision. “We have to make that decision, aware of out moment, aware of our historic necessity. There are necessary assumptions for that. Nobody in B&H trusts in B&H, with exception of couple of well-paid foreigners, who are trying to keep B&H alive. In the end, the world alone has changed. Three years ago, nobody talked about that,” said Dodik. He stressed that Hoyt Yee, who is member of old US Administration, told one thing before the Congress, which nobody said before and that is that B&H is in danger of being a failed country. “I do not think that it is in danger, it has failed long time ago and it is only being patched up,” said Dodik, explaining that it B&H survived only thanks to foreign Ambassadors. Speaking about relations between RS and Serbia, Dodik said that he has good relations with new President Aleksandar Vucic: “It is important to us that Serbia is stable, strong, developed and that we have very good relations, as we do now. I think that our special relations, secured by Dayton Agreement, have reached a new dimension and new content and it needs to spread and develop,” said Dodik.

Izetbegovic: We present situation in B&H in pessimistic light, but we have peace that also means stability (Dnevni list)

SDA President and member of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic said that despite all problems, B&H is progressing towards the EU and NATO and that the country’s vital economic parameters are positive. Izetbegovic noted that “we present situation in B&H in pessimistic light, but we have peace that also means stability” and that, according to official statistics, there are 1,200 new jobs in the real sector each month. He further noted that “B&H has its problems, one of them being that there is no more strong presence of the international community, which used to put in place all those who create problems. There is no that positive discipline on part of the international community and everything is now down to us, although many are trying different scenarios to see how far they can go, said Izetbegovic. The SDA President further noted that SDA is doing everything to improve relations with HDZ B&H, parties from Republika Srpska and SBB B&H President Fahrudin Radoncic, adding that many fabricate SDA’s mistakes and deny SDA’s successes on purpose. “It must be clear that SDA will not allow new entities or breaking down of the state, because the state is stronger than politicians,” said Izetbegovic.

First results of Croatian local elections, second round (HTV)

The President of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, on Sunday evening congratulated his party colleagues on, as he said, excellent results at local elections, as well as all other political parties and their voters, expressing confidence the newly elected local officials would be responsible in performing their duties in the next four years.

Zagreb (99% votes counted)

Milan Bandic 51.7%

Anka Mrak Taritas (HNS) 46.2%

Split (96% votes counted)

Andro Krstulovic Opara (HDZ) 46.1%

Zeljko Kerum 44.3%

Rijeka (95% votes counted)

Vojko Obersnel (SDP) 55.7%

Hrvoje Buric 42.6%

Osijek (99% votes counted)

Ivan Vrkic 62.7%

Ivana Sojat (HDZ) 33.9%

Dubrovnik (48% votes counted)

Mato Frankovic (HDZ) 55.1%

Valentin Dujmovic (HNS) 40.1%

Metkovic (31% votes counted)

Katarina Ujdur (MOST) 49.8%

Dalibor Milan (HDZ) 48.6%

Knin (85% votes counted)

Marko Jelic 59.8%

Josipa Rimac (HDZ) 38.3%

Varazdin (100% votes counted)

Ivan Cehok 68.5%

Alen Kisic 27.8%

Split-Dalmatia County Prefect (69% votes counted)

Blazenko Boban (HDZ) 54.9%

Miro Bulj (MOST) 40.1%

Osijek-Baranja County Prefect (96% votes counted)

Ivan Anusic (HDZ) 51.8%

Vladimir Sisljagic 45.7%

Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect (66% votes counted)

Nikola Dobroslavić (HDZ) 58.5%

Nikola Grmoja (MOST) 38.1%

Vukovar-Srijem County Prefect (82% votes counted)

Bozo Galic (HDZ) 55.7%

Tomislav Panenić (MOST) 42.4%

Varazdin County Prefect (100% votes counted)

Radimir Cacic 52.6%

Predrag Stromar (HNS) 43.6%

Markovic in Washington (CDM)

Prime Minister Dusko Markovic traveled to Washington on Sunday in order to submit to the US Montenegro’s accession documents, which will make our country an official member of NATO.

The ceremony in State Department will have Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, in attendance. The document will be submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Srdjan Darmanovic. Prime Minister Dusko Markovic will have a meeting with the US Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Washington.

Ivanov: EU to learn its lesson from its previous approach towards Macedonia and the region (Meta)

The European Union must learn its lesson from the effect of its previous approach towards Macedonia and the region, said the country’s president, Gjorge Ivanov in its expose at the meeting of leaders from the process Brdo-Brioni. He stated that the longstanding status quo situation with the integrations has deepened the crisis in Macedonia and has given an alibi to politicians to stray from the previously determined European road. “One of the key reasons for the stagnation even for the retrograde processes in the region was the insufficient engagement and not enough attention from the EU. We understand completely that the EU is facing with more crisis, but at the same time EU mustn’t allow another Balkan crisis to happen,” said Ivanov and also he mentioned that he expects Germany as a driving force in the EU to help the whole region. The Macedonian President has stressed that the EU should find a creative way for the opening of Chapters 23 and 24, stating that the opening of the negotiations about the judiciary, the basic human rights, justice, freedom, and security shall give the necessary boost for intensifying the reformatory processes. Ivanov has proposed that at the next summit of the Brdo-Brioni process, which should be organized in Macedonia, as a special guest to be invited the Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras including representatives of Bulgaria as a country that is presiding with the EU, official EU representatives and the King of Jordan, Abdula “taking into consideration the security challenges and the problems related to the migrant crisis as well as the need for collaboration with third countries regarding security.”

Dimitrov: New reform government ready to make Macedonia part of EU and NATO (MIA)

The new reform government is seriously prepared and firm in its determination to make Macedonia part of the EU and NATO, which is favorable not only for the country but also for the region and the accession process, Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said at a meeting of the Brdo-Brijuni Process. Strengthening the institutions, restoring the rule of law, promoting the culture of dialogue and compromise are Macedonia’s arguments for accelerated Euro-Atlantic integration, he said. Independent, solid institutions are the pillar of stability of countries, while EU should remain sincere in evaluating the reform and democratic processes, the new Macedonian FM said. “Our task is to work on qualitative transformation of our society, to ensure responsible governance and independent institutions. Our goal is to build modern European democracy, while EU should fairly valorize the reforms to that effect. The EU and NATO membership is our strategic priority,” Dimitrov said. On the event’s sidelines, Dimitrov had bilateral meetings with his Slovene, Croatian and Serbian counterparts, Karl Erjavec, Davor Stier and Ivica Dacic respectively, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Sunday. He also had brief conversation with German President Frank Walter-Steinmeier and Alain Richard, the French foreign minister’s special envoy for economic relations with the Western Balkans.

Nishani: Albania is preparing to become an EU member (ATA)

During his visit in Berlin, Albania’s President Bujar Nishani gave an interview to Deutsche Welle radio to say that Albania is preparing to become a member of the European Union not like a consumer, but as a contributor. President Nishani said that Albania can make a contribution towards security. “Nowadays, the European space is facing many issues of concern like terrorism, illegal emigration, climate change, poverty. Therefore, Albania and all the Balkans should promote cooperation and security. Likewise, the Balkans and Albania is situated at the crossroads to trade and economic cooperation between Europe and the other continents. Thus, I believe there is a real opportunity for my country to make a contribution”, said President Nishani. On the other hand, he emphasized the necessity for the European society to understand that Albania belongs to Europe.  And Europe should keep alive the process of the Western Balkans and Albania’s European integration because it’s the best mechanism for all the countries of the region for reconciliation, for increasing prosperity and working together, said Nishani.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Roland Freudenstein: EU’s dilemma in Western Balkans – short-term or long-term stability (European Western Balkans, 5 June 2017)

During this year’s GLOBSEC Forum in Bratislava we spoke with Roland Freudenstein who was a speaker at the GLOBSEC’s session Western Balkans: New Battleground of the Hybrid War. Freundenstein has been, since 2008, Head of Research and Deputy Director of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and, since October 2015, its Policy Director. He has contributed to debates and published extensively on European integration, international security, German-Polish relations, global democracy support and recently about the changes in the Middle East.

European Western Balkans: What do you see as the key security challenges in the Western Balkans at this moment?

Roland Freudenstein: I would say instability, weak democracies, lack of the rule of law, and the deliberate attempts by outside powers to destabilise these countries further.

EWB: Why are the rule of law and democracy important for the countries of the Western Balkans?

RF: The rule of law is important for every country in the world. It guarantees that citizens can live their lives freely and that the economies can prosper. If the rule of law is weakened, if there is no free and independent judiciary, no free media, the end result will be that people cannot live freely, entrepreneurs cannot invest freely with confidence into the future, and that is bad for the stability of the economy.

EWB: It looks like the Western officials are neglecting warnings of opposition parties in the Balkans, as well as some civil societies organisations about the situation and the state of democracy in the region. How would you assess those statements that insist on rather stability than democracy?

RF: This is the dilemma that the EU faces. Do you opt for short-term stability, which means not reminding the existing governments of their commitments to the rule of law and recognising democratic elections, or do you opt to say – there will be no long-term stability without these rules of the game, without respecting the rule of law. In a way, it is not actually a choice between stability and democracy, it is a choice between short-term stability and long-term stability. People tend to distinguish between idealists and realists. What we called idealists are long-term realists, because in the long run, political systems without guarantees and clear division of powers, free media and strong civil societies, will not be sustainable. A country that is not sustainable democracy will not be stable.

EWB: Because of the Junker’s statement that there will be no enlargement in the coming years, and because of the geopolitical situation in the region, it looks like the enlargement fatigue is really high. We know that Montenegro is opening chapters and Serbia is doing the same. What can we expect in the forthcoming period about the EU integration process?

RF: We have to start by asking if the perspective of joining the EU should be the only driver of reform and modernisation in the Western Balkans. Twenty years ago, in the countries of Eastern Europe, the main driver of the reform and modernisation was the desire for the reform and modernisation. The end purpose was not to join the EU but to westernise their countries in an irreversible manner. That means that the national elites and the majority of public opinion wanted their countries to become modern European democracies. The instrument for that was the EU membership. You had decided on a process in your countries and it was helpful to have an outside actor – the EU to give this process speed and direction. This was the purpose for the goal.

EWB: Do we see that in the Western Balkans?

RF: I do not think we are seeing it sufficiently at the moment. That is not primarily because the EU is lazy or fearful, or fed up with the enlargement, that is because in these countries the reform process has stalled in a dangerous manner, and in some cases, it has reversed. We are seeing backsliding to authoritarian forms of government. The EU’s behaviour is certainly not helpful. The main task is among the countries themselves in the Western Balkans to get back to speed and to momentum in the reform process.

Yes, there is an enlargement fatigue. That is partly completely normal and predictable result of the multitude of enlargements. In the past 15 years, the EU has enlarged like never before. Many citizens of the old EU countries complained that the enlargement has gone too quickly. Even though I believe these citizens are wrong, we have to acknowledge that this is the way they think. When Juncker declares a moratorium on the enlargement, it is those people that he wants to be on board. It may have a positive effect on those citizens but not on those countries that want to join the EU. Our politicians and leaders need to finally balance the messaging to different audiences – the leaders and citizens of accession countries as one audience and the citizens and the political parties of our own member states as another audience, and you need to bring them together.

EWB: You just said that we see the authoritarian tendencies in the region and because of that the process is backsliding, but also, we see support of Western European politicians, especially from the EPP group, who are supporting those politicians in the region. How do you see the official support of politicians who are marked by different NGOs and political factors as authoritarian?

RF: The key question is who is the authoritarian and who is the democrat. Naturally, about that question, there are strong differences. Not every NGO speaks the whole truth, they also have interest and political convictions. Just the fact that the NGO criticises a leader does not mean that the leader is a bad person. I do see tendencies within the EU and the EPP that I disagree with. There is a thinking that the short-term stability is a good thing and some people actually believe that the short-term stability and the long-term stability are the same. Some people also believe that most independent NGOs are actually themselves destabilising political systems and preventing the order from being restored. I would disagree with that notion but this is their argument. Let’s first tackle those debates in detail and look at what those NGOs are doing.

EWB: We recently got the Freedom House’s report on media freedom. Serbia was marked as a country with not that good situation regarding media freedom. How would you asses state of media freedom in the region?

RF: Recently there has been an inflation of indexes where quasi-scientific methods are used. While I do see it a value in trying to say that some countries are better than others in terms of media freedom, I have some doubts whether you can actually use scientific methods to prove that some countries are better than others. There is a rational argument to be made, and obviously, the media in these countries are less free than in some others, but I do not think there is a mathematical method to exactly determine this. There are differences in the way that Western Balkan countries let their own media operate and this needs to be addressed.

EWB: What do you see as the key external threats to the region – is it Russia, Turkey or some other country or maybe terrorism, extremism?

RF: Whichever article you come across you always find four countries named as threats – Russia, Turkey, China and the Gulf states. Terrorism and extremism are also threats in the case of influence from Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia. There is a very clear support for religious fanaticism that can lead to terrorism and jihadism.

When it comes to Russia, Turkey and China, they have a different style of operating. Turkey also relays on the religious factor but in a different way from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies, but on ethnic tensions and factors. China uses economic influence in a way which makes us wonder what their ultimate intentions are. With China, the direct effects of their influence in a political term is the most difficult to see at this point in time. China itself is being a dictatorship and a one-party state, which violates human rights on a broad scale.

Russia is waging its war on the West in the Western Balkans like it does in other parts of the world. Russia has started aggressive moves in Georgia in 2008, and it seems like in the Western Balkans it relatively recently started – in 2013 and 2014, when Russia openly opposed any NATO enlargement to further countries in the Western Balkans. Russia is betting on Slav-Orthodox Christian loyalties and cultural closeness to the Russia itself. But most ominously, Russia is simply using every aspect of an ethnic tension of political destabilisation of any kind of conflict to its own advantage, which means to the disadvantage of the West and of liberal democracy. That is the most potent foreign influence in the Balkans, which we need to counter in some way.

EWB: How would you connect the long-term and short-term stability issues? Is it important to insist on short-term or long-term stability taking into the account the Russian strategy towards the Western Balkans?

RF: Optimally, you would support both, but in this case, the long-term stability is more important. Unfortunately, it is easier to take things down than to build things up and Russia is profiting from that richly. We have to increase our efforts to help to straighten the rule of law and democratic procedure, NGOs and civil societies. These are the elements that would remind leaders in those countries that the majority of people do not want to become part of the authoritarian Russian empire and to go back to the state of institutionalised corruption. NGOs and civil societies are a key in being a counter weight to leaders that might be tempted by the Russian corrupt authoritarian model. Also, there should be conditionality for further cooperation in the process of bringing those countries into the EU – if there is backsliding there needs to be some direct negative consequence.

EWB: The most observable Russian meddling in the Western Balkans is seen in Montenegro. How do you see the consequences of Montenegrin membership in NATO for the region, especially for the countries who are aspiring to join the NATO, but also for Serbia who declared its neutrality regarding NATO and other military alliances?

RF: Montenegro will feel the positive benefits of NATO membership and that will be seen elsewhere. The other most important aspect is that the US President Trump have not spoken enthusiastically about further NATO enlargements and yet, under his watch, a new country is joining NATO. This is extremely important inside and outside NATO to demonstrate that there is the more continuity in US policy and that the NATO is still there and therefore send a signal to Russia. The most beautiful thing about the coup attempt is that it did not work and that it failed its purpose, which was to prevent Montenegro’s accession to NATO.

Regarding Serbia, it has to decide its own future – if it wants to remain neutral or if it wants to do constant military exercises with Russia, that is fine, but do not expect that in that case, Serbia’s integration into the West is going to go any faster. Some EU member states who are very active member states of NATO are going to start wondering about what are the strategic intentions of the political elites and parties in Serbia. If Serbia maintains neutrality, which in this case is helping Russia, I do not think it is helpful with Serbia’s integration to the West, because neutrality in this conflict is not really possible. Montenegrin membership may help to convince some people in Serbia that maybe this neutrality is actually a lot of nonsense and that it actually makes sense to join NATO.

This article has been produced with the support of the Balkan Trust for Democracy. The content of this article and the opinions expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the portal European Western Balkans and in no way reflect the views and opinions of the Balkan Trust for Democracy nor the German Marshall Fund of the United States.