LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Kosovo problem blocking Serbia (TV Pink)

The relation towards Kosovo is an issue which blocks all of us, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday. “Until we resolve this, we will have a frozen conflict and we will never become free of it… This is a matter on which I have to be open towards the citizens of Serbia”, Vucic said in a lengthy interview for Pink TV. Vucic said that if today’s generation of politicians does not resolve the crucial matters, including the Kosovo one, their children will have to deal with them. That also means that Serbia has to be realistic and preserve that which can be preserved, he added. “We have to be realistic, rational and serious when I ask the people how we will have Serbian authority in Malisevo and Stimlje? We like most of all to lie to ourselves, to lie publically… This is a historical question; you can hardly blame Milosevic for that. Some will say – here he goes, he wants to recognize the independence of Kosovo. [However] if we leave this unresolved issue to our children, then our children will have to fight since it is a question of whether this will be resolved in ten, twenty or a hundred years”, he said. “The Serbs in Kosovo know that we have to be realistic so that they could be able to remain in their houses”, Vucic said. Elaborating on his call to the opposition to become included into the dialogue, Vucic said that he did this because he wanted to hear their opinion and see how they would resolve that problem but also because he “will not accept to be more responsible on this matter than them”.

Dacic: Lasting solution for Kosovo and Metohija is a prerequisite for Serbia’s progress (RTS/Tanjug)

A lasting solution for Kosovo and Metohija is a prerequisite of Serbia’s progress, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic says, adding that he wholeheartedly supports the proposal of President Vucic on an internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija. ‘We’ve managed to prevent the legalization of the unilateral secession of part of our territory through Kosovo’s membership in the most important international organizations, primarily the UN,” Dacic told Tanjug.

According to him, Belgrade is ready to discuss a lasting solution, respecting the legitimate interests of both the Serbian and Albania nations. “With the changes on the international stage and with Serbia’s new position as a credible and reliable partner, conditions have been created for an attempt at reaching a lasting solution. For Serbia’s strong position it is necessary to discuss internally the further strategy regarding Kosovo and Metohija,” said Dacic.

Led by the interests of the country and people, deprived of myths about the battles that are lost in advance, and deprived, as he put it, of the apocalyptic defeatism that everything has already been lost, Dacic says that one should look for sustainable solutions since peace and development is in the interests of both the Serbs and Albanians, and not further conflicts. “That is why the Socialist Party of Serbia supports President Vucic on an internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija, and it will take part in it with great responsibility and dedication, because this is of vital importance for Serbia’s future,” said Dacic.

Parties differently react to Vucic’s proposal on opening an internal dialogue on Kosovo (Novotel)

Vucic’s proposal was supported by the leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) Vuk Draskovic: “Our party will actively take part in this dialogue and it will offer specific proposals for Kosovo not to be any longer a symbol of death and defeat, but of life and victory of the earthly Serbia, and not of heavenly Serbia.”

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) thinks that one should enter a process of final resolution of the Kosovo problem at a moment when Serbia is not sufficiently strong: “History teaches us that such conflicts may last for decades and I don’t see why the rush to resolve that at this moment, except if the goal is not only to become an EU member, since we know that recognition of Kosovo will be the condition for this. Still, dialogue is welcome since the authorities since 2008, and even more since 2012, has the slogan ‘the EU has no alternative’,” DSS leader Milos Jovanovic said.

The leader of the Democratic Party (DS) Dragan Sutanovac doesn’t explicitly oppose the dialogue, but calls Vucic to “first answer what he had agreed in Brussels, and then to form the negotiating team for Kosovo and publicly announced his proposal of a solution”: “Vucic has been avoiding for years an internal dialogue on other spheres of life and the resolution of problems such as fight against corruption and crime, media freedoms, economic and social policies. At the same time, he imposes the topic of an internal dialogue on Kosovo and this shows that he wishes to avoid responsibility for issues that do not bring political points.”

Konstantin Samofalov from the Social-Democratic Party (SDS) thinks that the opposition parties should have a united stand on Vucic’s invitation: “Firstly, the topic should be launched in the media. In the context of talks that are conducted regarding the joint participation of the democratic civil opposition at the Belgrade elections, the opposition parties should agree on a joint performance on all other important issues.”

The leader of Dveri Bosko Obradovic thinks that the present authorities has leader recognized Kosovo and says he has no problem telling this Vucic in his face. “It will depend on the Dveri presidency whether we will respond to his invitation.

Gordian knot, but the sword in someone else’s hands (Blic)

Kosovo is a Gordian knot, but the sword for resolving it is not in the hands of either the Albanians or the Serbs, even though an illusion has been created and supported that it will be undone in the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations. Those who created it will be deciding on its destiny. Namely, the entity that emerged on the ruins of the NATO bombs, even though it formally has almost all prerogatives of a state and is recognized by a large number of countries, is essentially far from statehood. Political Science Professor from Pristina Nexhmedin Spahiu defines surgically precisely the systemic error in setting the Kosovo state: “Kosovo was created as a punishment for Serbia. Kosovo is so small that it isn’t a problem for the West for it to either remain or to disappear,” says Spahiu. The Kosovo political elites are also aware of that when they want to be honest with themselves, and especially the people who realize that the “Republika Kosoves” arrived as a gift, primarily, from the US, so hence the number of US flags in Kosovo seriously competes with the Albanian ones. “It is too early to explain to the Albanians that this is not a state nor will it be. The US is not what it used to be and Kosovo is becoming less interesting for it. The problem of Kosovo will not be resolved either quickly or easily since there is no readiness for creative thinking. The Albanians think they have independence, we consider this Serbian territory. I think that nobody in Serbia will accept independence of Kosovo either now or in the near future, and this is the key that excludes the change of the stand of the five EU member states that don’t recognize it. If, by some miracle, Serbia would even recognize Kosovo, then some of these countries would have an excuse for changing their stand, but some, like Cyprus, would not recognize it even then. Not to mention the two big powers Russia and China that will not withdraw their veto in the Security Council and it is not realistic to expect the issue of Kosovo’s UN membership to be placed on the agenda of the UN General Assembly without previously harmonizing this topic at the Security Council. The fact that you are not a UN member is a limiting factor for membership in numerous organizations,” the leader of the civil initiative ‘Serbia, Democracy and Justice” Oliver Ivanovic told Blic.

REGIONAL PRESS

Hahn sends letter to Zvizdic: Secure necessary internal coordination in B&H (Srna)

European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn sent a letter to Chair of the B&H Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic, saying that he is counting on him (Zvizdic) to secure internal coordination required for closure on signing of the Transport Community Treaty and enacting of the Law on Excise Duties. Warning that these issues have to be resolved by end of September, if B&H does not want to lose funds for the projects, Hahn reminded about the disappointing fact that B&H was unable to demonstrate its dedication and readiness for European path, during the Trieste Summit. “I express deep regret because of the fact that your country was not able to join other countries of the Western Balkans in signing of the Transport Community Treaty, which is an important step for improving of infrastructure and better quality of transport services in entire region”, stressed Hahn in the letter, which is in possession of Srna. Hahn told Zvizdic that the fact that his signature was missing on the important international agreement, which was being prepared for eight years presents a discouraging signal for B&H’s dedication to its European perspective. “B&H initialed Transport Community Treaty in February, which left your country with enough time to resolve open issues concerning its signing. Declaration from the Summit calls on B&H to sign the Treaty as soon as possible and I want to add that leaders of the region and the EU expect you to sign it as soon as possible”, stressed Hahn. Commissioner reminded that the EC in Trieste announced significant package of seven projects with the goal to improve transport and energy connections within Western Balkans and between the region and the EU. “This package contains four projects that B&H submitted for grant in total amount of 46 million Euros, which includes construction of three sections of Corridor Vc… as well as project ‘Luka Brcko’”, noted Hahn. He stressed that besides improving of domestic and international transport connections, these projects offer rare chance for opening of new jobs, attracting of new investors, increase of economic growth and finally improving of day-to-day lives of the people. “I earlier already informed you how much it is important to secure that all investments in infrastructure projects are in mature phase and ready for financing. In this regard, it is necessary for the country to have necessary fiscal space secured that together with the EU grants can withdraw loans of international financial institutions. as my services already warned you, EBRD, which is one of main partners in project of Corridor Vc, conditioned its support for these projects with adopting of the Law on Excise Duties,” reads the letter.

Cvijanovic: RS is not the problem, but incompetence of CoM (Srna)

RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic told Srna that the reason why B&H has not signed the Transport Community Treaty in Trieste, is not the RS, but incompetence of the B&H Council of Ministers to finish up any of the issues it dealt with. “The same thing was with the excise duties and set of laws defined by the Reform Agenda. Because of such relation the IMF arrangement is ‘frozen’ and funds of the EBRD and the EU have been blocked and now there is Transport Community Treaty. The attempts of B&H level to try to accuse RS are futile, because we demonstrated our stance towards reforms by fulfilling our obligations seven months ago,” said Cvijanovic. As for the thesis that the EC does not allow for competent minister to rotate during presentation of B&H’s stances within Transport Community, Cvijanovic said that this is matter of internal agreement, not of EU regulations. “I do not think that the EU is prone to additionally complicate things that are already rather complicated in Sarajevo. EU is interested in harmonized stance which will be agreed and presented on behalf of B&H and not who is presenting it. People from the EU told us they cannot change provisions from the Treaty and we accepted that with elaboration that if everyone in the region will survive them, we will as well,” said Cvijanovic. She noted that “all the shame” regarding the Transport Community is result of the fact that CoM has not done anything in months, in this regard, trying to bypass rules of the coordination mechanism. “Then they woke up from their hibernation and two and half year-long theatre paly and decided to accuse RS for their idleness. If they think about continuing this, they are free to do so, but I have to say that even European can no longer be so easily deceived by the empty talk. Anyway, they made it clear to them during the meeting in Brussels,” said Cvijanovic. She noted that as for the RS, they are asking to have their role in process of European integration, in line with constitutional competencies.

B&H HoR Commissions reject two more work reports of B&H CoM (ATV)

The Commission for Finances and Budget and the Commission for Foreign Trade and Customs of the House of Representatives (HoR) of the B&H parliament held sessions in Sarajevo on Monday, but failed to support the report on work performance of the Council of Ministers of B&H (B&H CoM) for the past year in the part under the commissions’ jurisdiction. At the same time, MPs from the opposition in the joint institutions reiterated that they would demand removal of Chairman of B&H CoM Denis Zvizdic and his cabinet, due to the extremely poor results of work of this institution. HoR of the B&H parliament is due to hold a session on Wednesday, July 26, at which it will discuss the 2016 Performance Report of B&H after the relevant discussion was postponed during the previous session of the HoR held on July 5. MPs from the RS opposition also stressed that they expect Zvizdic to voluntarily resign on Wednesday. Commenting on the issue, SDP MP in the B&H parliament Sasa Magazinovic said that it is clear that the B&H parliament will not green light the report on B&H CoM’s work, adding that if the current composition of B&H CoM fails to resign, they will launch an initiative for their removal. MP in the HoR of the B&H parliament Dusanka Majkic (SNSD) pointed out that, if someone is unable to lead a country, they should be removed.

SBB B&H MP in the B&H parliament Mirsad Isakovic criticized the work of B&H CoM stressing that this party’s stance in this regard remains the same. “However, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&H bears full responsibility in this case,” he argued.

On the other hand, Deputy Chairman of B&H CoM and B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic defended the work of this institution and stressed that the current convocation of B&H CoM achieved good results in 2016.

The reporter noted that a delegation of B&H CoM headed by Zvizdic spent as much as BAM 56,446 for just one trip to the United States, according to the 2016 financial audit report of B&H CoM Secretariat-General published by the Auditing Office of Institutions of B&H.

Dzaferovic: There will be no removal of Council of Ministers and FB&H government (Dnevni list)

Speaker of the B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA) said that removal of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) will not be on the agenda of the B&H HoR for a while, explaining it is a separate procedure that requires meeting conditions as stipulated in the B&H HoR Book of Rules. “There is no such initiative at this moment. In line with the Book of Rules, it is not possible to be on the agenda, and I hope it will not be sent into the procedure at all. In order to talk about it, a period of time has to pass after the initiative is submitted. Also, it must be sent to the B&H Presidency and the Council of Ministers for their declaration,” said Dzaferovic.

Newly elected President Meta wows to support EU integration (ADN)

Albania’s European integration is expected to be among the priorities of the newly elected president Ilir Meta. During a brief speech in presidency he reinstated the firm support toward this choice made by the Albanian citizens since the 1990. “Albanians have chosen the European path and I have always been a fervent support of this choice. I will support and encourage every reform that serves to the country’s European integration,” said Meta. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue as the only instrument that enables a functional democracy. “Democracy is a vital element for a country like Albania that has suffered 50 years of dictatorship,” declared Meta.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Albani: Joining EU only open to states which meet Copenhagen criteria (European Western Balkans, 24 July 2017)

Interview with Stephan Albani, member of the German Bundestag from the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU), and the Chairman of the German – South East European Parliamentary Group.

European Western Balkans: How do you see the role of Germany in the European integration process of Western Balkan states, especially taking into account the Berlin Process and the recently debated “Berlin plus”?

Stephan Albani: A consensus exists between the German government and parliament that we should support all of the Western Balkan states on the path to political stability and economic development. Nevertheless, we cannot, and do not intend to, provide shortcuts on the long path towards the EU: the criteria to be met for accession are right and important. But we can help these criteria to be met more quickly. This is the idea behind the “Berlin process” initiated by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In parallel to the EU accession negotiations, we want at EU level to help improve regional cooperation and support the region politically and economically. Important issues from our point of view are the fight against corruption, youth and academic exchange and civil society. These topics were also on the agenda of the fourth conference which took place on 12 July 2017 in Trieste. The Paris conference centred on youth exchange and led to the creation of the Western Balkans Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO). This year, the conference focused on infrastructure and economic development.

Under the heading “Berlin plus”, there are also discussions about the establishment of a free-trade zone with the region, as well as a special fund. It is the government which has the negotiating mandate, though. Despite the considerable progress made so far, as a parliamentarian I am very worried by the most recent domestic and foreign-policy disputes.

EWB: Do you expect any changes in German policy towards EU enlargement after the German parliamentary elections in autumn?

SA: I can only speak on behalf of my own party: as in the past, we in the CDU/CSU still support the accession perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans.  The region has great potential and is strategically important to the EU in view of Russian interests and its policy of destabilisation. Since we provided the states of Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina with an EU accession perspective in 2003 as part of the Thessaloniki agenda, supporting them on this path has been one of our foreign-policy goals.

Alongside cooperation with the region as a whole, we have also reinforced bilateral relations since entering government in 2005. In most of these countries, Germany has become the most important trade and development partner. At parliamentary level too, we cultivate mutual relations in the framework of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the States of South-Eastern Europe, which I chair. Nevertheless, joining the EU is only open to countries which meet the Copenhagen criteria. The most recent domestic and foreign-policy disputes represent a setback on this path, however – regardless of the results of the elections in Germany.

EWB: You previously claimed that Serbia is the factor of stability in the Balkans. How would you assess the actions of the Serbian government in regional affairs, especially regarding Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

SA: Serbia has by far the largest population and the biggest economic output in the region. In my view, this lends Serbia considerable importance both for stability and for the future development of the Western Balkans, though of course, the development of every single one of the states is also vital. Against this background, Germany has for many years provided support for the Western Balkan countries, both indirectly through the EU and directly through bilateral development partnerships.

Unfortunately, the EU progress report on the accession efforts recently gave cause for concern: there has been a lack of significant progress since last year, both regarding the rule of law and the fight against corruption. Serbia needs to accept its responsibility for stability in the region more than in the past.

EWB: Kosovo appears to be stuck in its European integration path. Also, the results of the recently held elections are inconclusive and might significantly postpone the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. How do you see the way forward for Kosovo?

SA: A lot will depend on the new governing coalition. I very much hope that the newly elected government will continue down the path towards Europe and will address the ongoing problems in the country. I am sure that future EU accession would bring greater security and prosperity for the country’s inhabitants.

The future development of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue established in 2012 also depends on the new Kosovar leadership. This dialogue has so far successfully achieved many important agreements which made life easier for people in the border region. Were this process to now come to a standstill, it would be a disastrous signal in the region and in the direction of Europe. Stabilising the situation in Kosovo is a decisive goal for us at the German Bundestag too: we recently, for instance, extended German involvement in the NATO-led KFOR stabilisation mission.

EWB: Parliamentary elections in Albania resulted in a clear victory for Edi Rama’s Socialist Party. There new government will surely face many challenges to undergo necessary reforms. How do you see the European future of Albania?

SA: During the election campaign, the Socialists expressed their support for comprehensive reforms to further pave the way into the EU. These include, for example, reforming the judicial system, which is regarded as corrupt. The absolute majority now gained represents a clear mandate from voters to move in this direction.

Nevertheless, I find the unprecedentedly low turnout of 46 per cent worrying. I very much hope that the new government rigorously implements its electoral promises, thus boosting the trust of Albanians in their democracy. The judicial reform mentioned is a key project for EU accession. It will soon become clear whether the blockade imposed so far by the opposition DP can now be overcome.

EWB: Macedonia finally has a new government after months of political turmoil and a looming threat of ethnic conflict. Do you believe that the new government will be successful in speeding up the country’s Euro-Atlantic path?

SA: Now that it has the domestic stability necessary, Macedonia, under the new government led by Zoran Zaev, can now concentrate once again on foreign-policy projects. These include, in particular, the path towards the EU and NATO. Macedonia has been an EU accession candidate since 2005. Unfortunately, corruption, crime and a weak judicial system are part of the everyday problems faced here, too.

The ongoing dispute with Greece over the country’s name is a further major obstacle on the path towards the EU. We can only hope that the EU’s mediation will allow a reasonable compromise to be found on this issue. Macedonia intends to resolve the disputed issues with EU member Bulgaria on 2 August 2017 by signing a treaty on good neighbourly relations. This is an encouraging step in the right direction!