LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Italy expects continued dialogue with Pristina and even better relations with Albania (Tanjug)
Serbia and its citizens require a strong stimulation for the continued implementation of reforms and in this it is counting on a bigger support of all the friendly countries of the European Union, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Rome. In Rome, Vucic held separate meetings with the Italian President Sergio Mattarela and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, and he told the reporters that the talks had been “very correct”. “Our talks essentially related to the Italian support to Serbia’s European path which will, it seems to me, be even stronger. Italy believes that without Serbia, as a member of the European Union, the EU is not complete”, Vucic said.
Vucic added that, in the meetings with the Italian government top he, among other, also discussed the issue of regional stability. “President Mattarella underlined several times that they perceived Serbia as a pillar of stability and that they expect of us a continued dialogue with Pristina and even better relations with Albania”, Vucic said. He announced that he would initiate a trilateral meeting between the representatives of Serbia, Italy and Albania with the goal of a better mutual connection and taking part in joint projects. He added that he would first discuss this with the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama so as to define the areas in which the three countries could connect more closely and take part in joint projects. As reported by Tanjug news agency, in Rama’s cabinet this idea was greeted in a positive way and it was stated that the invitation to a joint trilateral meeting was “very welcome”.
Dacic: Thanks to friends, Kosovo will not join UNESCO (RTS/Tanjug)
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has stated that Kosovo will never join UNESCO thanks to Serbia’s friends. Opening the 18th Congress of the International Federation for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (FIELAC) at the John Naisbitt University in Belgrade, Dacic mentioned only some of the large Latin American countries that haven’t recognized Kosovo. These countries include Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, Jamaica, Venezuela, Equador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Trinidad, Barbados, said Dacic. “I learned all this when preparing for UNESCO. Kosovo will never join UNESCO because of our friends,” said Dacic.
Patriarch Irinej: What is given away is lost forever (RTS)
The Serbian Orthodox Church will reply to the invitation for an internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija, Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) was told. “We appeal on our officials to never give their consent to the alienation of Kosovo and Metohija, because what is taken by force can be returned, but what is given away is lost forever, and Serbs and Serbia must not allow that,” Serbian Patriarch Irinej said.
Higher Court requests ‘valid’ indictment for continuing proceedings in ‘Srebrenica’ (RTS/Tanjug)
The War Crimes Department of the Belgrade Higher Court informed Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Snezana Stanojkovic on Tuesday that her request for continuation of criminal proceedings in ‘Srebrenica’ case is incomplete. Stanojkovic requested continuation of court proceedings against persons charged with committing war crimes against civilians in Kravica village near Srebrenica in 1995.
REGIONAL PRESS
B&H Presidency holds session (BHT1)
The B&H Presidency held its regular session in Sarajevo on Tuesday, at which it took note of the Information from Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&H (B&H CoM) Denis Zvizdic on the undertaken and remaining activities related to the preparation of responses to the European Commission’s (EC) Questionnaire. Following the session, Chairman and Croat member of the Presidency of B&H and leader of HDZ B&H Dragan Covic and Serb member of the Presidency of B&H Mladen Ivanic told reporters that all activities related to the Questionnaire will be completed by September 2017 at the latest. “I was certain that we would complete the Questionnaire by the end of the third or fourth month at the latest, so that we could eventually make certain changes during the sixth month. Unfortunately, that did not happen. According to today’s (Tuesday) report of the Chairman (of B&H CoM), the Questionnaire should be completed by the end of September at the latest,” Covic explained. On the other hand, Ivanic emphasized that Zvizdic informed them that certain progress was made when it comes to EC’s Questionnaire, noting that the Chairman of B&H CoM sounded optimistic when he said that B&H will be able to meet the new deadline.
B&H HoP fails to send amendments to B&H Election Law into further parliamentary procedure (BHT1)
The House of Peoples (HoP) of the B&H parliament held a session in Sarajevo on Tuesday, but failed to send into further parliamentary procedure the proposal on amendments to the Election Law of B&H. Thus, the proposal will not be on the agenda of the session of the House of Representatives (HoR) of the B&H parliament, which is due to be held on Wednesday, July 26.
B&H HoR’s CLAC dismisses B&H CoM’s Work Report (BHT1)
The Constitutional-Legal Affairs Commission (CLAC) of the House of Representatives (HoR) of the B&H parliament held a session in Sarajevo on Tuesday, at which it failed to endorse the Council of Ministers of B&H’s (BiH CoM) Work Report for 2016. Four members of the Commission voted for the Report, while four voted against it.
Commission Chairman Damir Arnaut (SBB B&H) said that the rejecting the Report gives a clear picture of B&H CoM Chairman Denis Zvizdic and his ability i.e. incapability.
CLAC member Lazar Prodanovic (SNSD) stated he will not vote in support of the report at B&H HoR session on Wednesday, underlining that BiH CoM has been functioning without support of parliamentary majority for quite some time. He noted it is unlikely stable authority will be established before the 2018 elections.
Momcilo Novakovic (NDP) said he plans to support the report on B&H CoM work at the session of B&H HoR, because vote of no confidence is impossible at the moment as it would lead B&H into even deeper crisis.
Meeting of party leaders in Mostar canceled (Srna)
The planned working lunch of the B&H Presidency Chair Dragan Covic and members of B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Mladen Ivanic, which was scheduled to take place in Mostar today, was canceled because some participants were unable to attend. Covic earlier announced meeting between B&H Presidency members and party leaders, as preparation for series of meetings between political leaders in September.
Izetbegovic rejects to attend meeting of leaders in Mostar (Dnevni avaz)
SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic earlier stated he will not attend the meeting of leaders organized by HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic in Mostar on Wednesday. He deems it is necessary and adequate to organize a meeting at state institutions with an aim to speed up implementation of the Reform Agenda and process of European integration and Euro-Atlantic integration of B&H, which should be attended by leaders of all political parties composing the ruling coalition at the state level and the leaders of the political parties that signed the Statement on Commitment of B&H to Implement the Reform Agenda.
Radoncic tells Covic he will not come to meeting if Izetbegovic does not come (Dnevni avaz)
SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic will not attend the Mostar meeting either. Namely, he talked to Covic on the phone and told him he expects Izetbegovic will not attend the meeting in a way that he intensifies the rhetoric and continues pre-election campaign, he has been leading for months. Radoncic also told HDZ B&H leader he will not attend the meeting if Izetbegovic does not appear either, because this would mean failure of intention to hold talks in a broader capacity.
Government accepts Agreement with Bulgaria (Meta)
Late last night, at a special session, government accepted the report on the past negotiations for the agreement for friendship, good neighborly relations and collaboration with Bulgaria and also they accepted the coordinated text, the government’s press service announced. “Government has made a decision that determines Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Zoran Zaev to sign the agreement of friendship, good neighborly relations and collaboration between Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Bulgaria. More precise information will follow for the public”, said in the statement. The Prime Minister and the ministers also discussed the implementation of the reform “3-6-9” plan, and concluded that it has been developing with good dynamics, taking into account that in three weeks’ time, out of a total 73 planed measures, quarterly, 23 of them have been realized or addressed.
Rama: Mutual effort to understand fully one another (ATA)
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted on Tuesday to an article written by the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic who presented to his nation the reasons behind the question of negotiating on Kosovo and why that is an important question for the future of the country and the Serbian people. There is still a long way to go, writes PM Rama on Facebook, to come out of a tunnel of a grave history of bloody atrocities, like the history of the Balkans is, where during the recent years are taken steps towards a breakthrough which until recent years even the most optimists could not even imagine. “This piece of writing by Aleksandar Vucic, the newly-elected President of Serbia, could not be imagined a few years ago, although as they say, the devil is in the detail, and words and deeds are oceans apart… And Kosovo remains, like the Serbian president puts it, the Gordian knot, whose cutting or not cutting, through its recognition or not recognition from Serbia, I add, is the crystal clear choice between the darkness of the tunnel and the light of coming out of it”, writes PM Rama. But certainly, he writes further, this is a choice which leads into the daylight, the strenuous and mutual effort to understand fully one another, through a relentless and rather painful dialogue, on behalf of love for the children of our two peoples and responsibility for the future in peace and prosperity of our two nations.
Bushati – Dimitrov: Joint meeting during fall in Pogradec (ATA)
Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati held a meeting with Macedonian counterpart Nikola Dimitrov on Tuesday. In a press conference following the meeting, the two foreign ministers underlined the need to cooperate as the only path towards a safe Euro-Atlantic membership. Both ministers announced the joint governmental meeting between Albania and Macedonia in fall this year in the city of Pogradec, Albania which will set priorities on strategic and cooperation projects that serve both countries’ development and the region alike, following the Trieste Summit. In addition, Bushati underlined the importance of our neighbouring country and said that the democratic stability, ethnic harmony and equality related to social and governmental concept mainly among Macedonian and Albanian community is significant to Macedonia and to our country as well as to the democratic stability, regional cooperation and advancement towards Europe and Euro-Atlantic integration. Minister Bushati praised the Macedonian counterpart and Prime Minister Zaev to the ambitious reforms process as well as the so-called “3-6-9” plan aiming to a more democratic and developed Macedonia towards opening EU and NATO accession negotiations. He reassured his Macedonian counterpart that Albania will utterly support Macedonia’s NATO membership. Referring to Ohrid framework agreement minister Bushati said that a part of it is already integrated within PM Zaev’s government programme which also changes the attitude towards Albanian. Whereas, the Macedonian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov said that the meeting was constructive and the common decision was to go beyond political statements and to focus on more concrete projects. According to the Macedonian minister agreement was reached on basis of a more strategic sustainability in Balkans. “We are willing to cooperate with our neighbours and pleased that we enjoy Albania’s support to integration processes,” Dimitrov said. The two interlocutors also underlined the importance of a better economic and trade cooperation in order to boost both countries potentials.
Haradinaj’s message to President Meta (ADN)
The Alliance for Kosovo’s Future leader, Ramush Haradinaj addressed a message of felicitation to the President of the Republic Ilir Meta. Through this message he voiced the confidence that Meta will play a key role in the modernization of the Albanian state in quality of country’s president. “I cordially congratulate you for the assumption of office of the President. I am fully confident that our two countries relations will be further enhanced during your presidency,” said Haradinaj, addressing to President Meta. He also expressed the certitude that president Meta would provide an unconditioned support to the new state of Kosovo.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS
New Movement Pledges to Tackle Bosnia’s Old Problems (Balkan Insight, 26 July 2017)
A new political movement is promising a fresher, younger approach to tackle the corruption and political self-interest that dominates the country’s politics – but many disillusioned voters remain sceptical. “Young people that are gathered around this particular idea… do not look at politics as a way to make extra profit, and that could be a great advantage for this movement,” Ivana Maric, a political analyst from Sarajevo, told BIRN when asked for her opinion about the People’s Independent Block – Movement for Europe. The People’s Independent Block – Movement for Europe is the new face on Bosnia’s stale political scene. It was announced in mid-July in the state parliament in Sarajevo, and its official inauguration is expected to take place in September.
While the party may be new, and although it seems to be attracting some new, young members, its leaders are well known on Bosnia’s political scene. The party is built around Senad Sepic, Fuad Kasumovic, Sadik Ahmetovic and Salko Sokolovic – all former senior members of the main Bosniak ethnically-based party, the Party of Democratic Action, SDA. All four – who are also delegates in the House of Representatives of the state parliament – have recently left or were expelled from the SDA, which has been facing growing internal tensions and power struggles in recent months. Speaking at the official presentation on July 17, Sepic said that they want to “bring politics and institutions to the people, where they belong”. Despite the fact that all four party leaders come from a Bosniak party, Sepic stressed that their goal was to contribute to an atmosphere of dialogue and mutual respect, and to face up to and resolve problems with young and fresh faces in politics. The speeding up of Bosnia’s EU and NATO integration processes will be one of the top priorities of the Movement for Europe, Sepic added. The emergence of the new movement triggered mixed responses and heated debates among analysts, civil society activists and ordinary people in the country, which has in the past seen several new parties or new party leaders promising responsible and corruption-free politics, but eventually proved to be just as self-interested and corrupt as all the others.
A fresh start?
Enver Kazaz, a well-known college professor from Sarajevo, doesn’t see the Movement for Europe as a completely brand-new option for the country. “At the moment, we don’t know what their ideological platform is. They have all left the SDA but we can still see elements of the conservative politics in their behaviour,” Kazaz told BIRN, adding that in his opinion, some of the people gathered around the movement “do not understand EU values”. Kazaz also stressed that most of the politicians involved in the initiative come from the local level and as such may not have the capacity to challenge and deal with entity- or state-level politics. He also said that it is unclear whether the Movement for Europe will remain essentially a Bosniak option, or whether it will try to establish itself as a more of civically-minded party that would eventually include Croats, Serbs and others. But Amna Popovac from the Mostar-based Citizens Group Social Democrats’ Initiative was much more optimistic, telling BIRN that she supports fresh political ideas. “There are plenty of people who have concrete, good results behind them, and therefore I believe they will be able to get the voters’ trust,” Amna said. She added that that the establishment of new political parties “is the best way to change something in Bosnia and Herzegovina and we can expect to get more parties like that in the coming months with people who used to be part of the dominant political parties”. She particularly stressed the importance of including young people in new parties, which in her view will eventually attract more young voters to participate in elections. “I do not expect young people to become particularly interested in these [general] elections [in 2018], but by engaging young people on the [parties’] lists, a certain number of them will come out and give a voice to someone who is young, which is still better than ignoring elections,” Ivana Maric, a political analyst from Sarajevo, agreed.
Velma Saric, the CEO of the Post Conflict Research Centre said that she believes that “only grassroots movements can bring significant changes to Bosnia and Herzegovina and everything else that is happening isn’t the change that we need”. “It is hard to say that those who used to be part of right wing-oriented political parties can now offer new values,” Saric told BIRN, while also stressing the importance of engaging more with the country’s youth. “I can see that young people here are depressed and uninterested in these politics; they just want to leave. No one is trying to offer them solutions and that is the reason why they don’t vote,” she said. “At the moment, Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided in so many ways and maybe, just maybe, this movement can bring tensions down, but even that isn’t going to be enough for real changes,” she concluded.
Slobodan Blagovcanin, a project manager of the Youth Resource Centre Tuzla also told BIRN that he was not “a great optimist” about the new Movement for Europe. “I believe that young people need to be animated in a completely different way to go to the polls, and this, for now, does not seem like the right way,” Blagovcanin said. He suggested that though his work with young people, he has found out that they do want to be involved in politics, but want to be able to focus on youth issues and not shallow high-level political debates. All the experts however agreed that no miracles should be expected from the Movement for Europe at the 2018 general elections.
A deficit of hope
While most political analysts, NGO officials and civic activists were interested in this new development on Bosnia’s political scene, even though they could not agree on its potential significance, ordinary people in the country expressed deep disillusionment with the entire political scene and little hope that change is coming. “I am not engaged in politics, I only care about economic plans. I will vote for those who offer that,” Vanja Tesanovic, a 22-year-old student from East Sarajevo, told BIRN. “I don’t like this situation at all. They are just talking about how divided we are, but in the end, we are just poor and worried,” she added. “No one likes this situation in which we have crises every few months. I hope we will have politicians who can work better for us, not for themselves in the way they do now,” said 30-year-old Vedrana Knezevic from East Sarajevo. “If I don’t find that kind of name on the list, I am not going to vote, that is for sure, and at the moment I don’t see that option,” she added. “We are struggling to survive and all they do is bring up topics that we can argue about,” said Alma Sehanovic, 28, who sells newspapers and magazines at a newsstand despite having a diploma. “In the morning, when people are buying newspapers, you can hear that they are tired of this situation and the same stories all over again,” she added. Adis Zekovic, 19, will have the opportunity to vote for the first time at the 2018 general elections, but doesn’t hold out much hope that there will be anyone worth supporting at the ballot box. “To be honest, I am not into politics, but what is there to be interested in? They just want us to feel like we [Serbs, Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs] hate each other and that is all,” Zekovic told BIRN. “I hope that someone will come out and offer us some realistic plan for how we can strengthen the economy; in that case, I will vote, but with this situation now, I don’t believe it is going to happen,” he said.
Macedonia’s New Leaders Set Sights on NATO, EU Membership (VOA, 25 July 2017)
Macedonia’s defense minister reaffirmed her government’s commitment to joining NATO and the European Union, saying in an interview that the nation’s new government fully understands that success or failure is in its own hands. “Nobody will bring it to us,” Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska told VOA’s Macedonian service. “We need to work toward it, to be accountable for the progress. And the international community’s support will follow.”
In office since May 31, the government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has placed its highest priority on reforms aimed at preparing Macedonia for integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. European Union leaders have declared their readiness to work with the new government, and the Zaev cabinet has responded with an agenda listing concrete reform priorities. At the same time, there is a renewed push to resolve a long-running dispute with Greece, which has opposed NATO membership for Macedonia as long as it shares the name of a neighboring Greek province. Political life has largely stabilized in the former Yugoslav republic since supporters of the previous conservative government stormed the parliament three months ago to try to prevent the transfer of power to Zaev’s Social Democratic party. Sekerinska was brutally attacked in front of news cameras during the incident, but she said in the interview that her government is looking to the future, not the past. “We have to make up for the time lost during the tenure of the previous leadership. We cannot expect anybody to be more ambitious and more interested in Macedonia becoming a NATO member than Macedonia itself,” she said. Sekerinska listed media freedom, civil society, rule of law and judiciary reforms among the areas in the most urgent need of improvement. “That is a huge task, but we need to show that we are serious about NATO.” Sekerinska said she is looking forward to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s scheduled visit to the region next week as an opportunity for Macedonia, in a co-host role, to build closer ties with “the most important strategic partner.” “This is a very important sign that the United States, the key player in NATO, considers the Western Balkans a zone they can support and invest in.” Asked whether the new government is concerned about Russian influence in Macedonia, Sekerinska said its priority is to “reach out and build relations with other countries.” “However, our message to them, including to the Russian Federation, is that while we are interested in having close bilateral relations, the strategic decisions will ultimately come from the Macedonian institutions and the citizens of Macedonia,” she said. “Joining NATO and the EU is our goal, based on the broadest consensus in the country, and these questions have been decided, and will be decided, only by the citizens of this country.” As one of the top recruiting centers for the Islamic State group, Macedonia is plagued with a growing risk of terrorism and violent extremism. Sekerinska said the threat is universal and requires intelligence-sharing among the countries. “Macedonia can certainly contribute in securing the region’s stability, but to do that effectively, we need to refocus the institutions designed to fight these threats. In recent years, they were misused for political assignments, to fight the opposition, instead of working on the job they were designed to do,” she said. While acknowledging that will take time, Sekerinska said the new government is determined to become a partner in the fight against today’s global threats.
