LOCAL PRESS
Former ruling party denies claims by Vucic and Serbian intelligence officer (VIP)
The current crisis in relations between Serbia and Macedonia have shadowed the recent events when, during the change of power in Macedonia, Serbian authorities openly supported former ruling party VMRO-DPMNE and when one of Serbian intelligence officers from the Embassy in Skopje, Goran Zivaljevic, was present during the violence in Sobranje (Macedonian Parliament) in April.
While addressing the public on RTS, President Aleksandar Vucic spoke about this event for the first time and said that a member of Security Information Agency (BIA) “was not present during the violence in Sobranje on his own, or without the knowledge of Macedonian authorities”.
“Zivaljevic asked the highest representatives of executive authorities in Macedonia to be present and they have agreed with it and knew that he was present. Afterwards, this was used in a campaign against Serbia”, Vucic stated on Tuesday evening.
One day after Vucic’s statement, VMRO-DPMNE made a statement and denied his claims and stated that Serbian diplomatic representative and BIA member Goran Zivaljevic was not given consent to enter Sobranje.
“Considering that VMRO-DPMNE is now in opposition, within its capabilities, we have checked and determined that Macedonian Foreign Ministry, Government, Parliament, Interior Ministry or intelligence agencies have not received such request and such consent or approval was not issued”, the statement said. VMRO-DPMNE called the Government to check if this happened and if this would be the case, a document that approved such request should be published.
However, even after that, Zivaljevic stick with his claim that he entered Sobranje with the permit from Macedonian authorities and added that his mission was not a secret at all.
“My presence in Sobranje was not covert or hidden. My mission was not a secret, ill-intentioned and above all Macedonian intelligence services were informed”, Zivaljevic said in his first addressing to the public. He emphasized that he received a permit to be present in Sobranje from the counselor of Macedonian President for Security Sinisa Aleksovski.
“This man knew the reason for my presence and he was informed about it. My mission there was not a secret and it had good intentions regarding security of Macedonia in the context of cooperation that we had with Macedonian intelligence services” Zivaljevic said.
Kocijancic: EU welcomes dialogue between Belgrade and Skopje (Beta)
The spokesperson of the European Commission, Maja Kocijancic, stated on Aug. 23 that the EU welcomed the constructive approach to solving bilateral relations between Serbia and Macedonia. Mutual respect, good neighborly relations and strengthening bilateral cooperation remain the key for the European path of the entire region, said Kocijancic.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev agreed earlier on Aug. 23 for the two countries to solve disputes only through dialogue, and jointly work towards the preservation and improvement of friendly relations between the Serbian and Macedonian peoples and the two countries’ citizens.
Foreign Ministry: Staff returns to Skopje embassy today (Tanjug)
The personnel of the Embassy of Serbia in Skopje will start returning today, Aug. 24, and the ambassador will return on Aug. 31, the Serbian Foreign Ministry announced after a phone conversation between foreign ministers Ivica Dacic and Nikola Dimitrov.
The statement reads that Serbian Ambassador Dusanka Divjak-Tomic will request to meet Macedonian Prime Minister Zaev already on Sept. 1. On the basis of an agreement between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, the two ministries will solve all open issues through dialogue, with the aim of improving friendly relations between the two states and peoples, the statement reads. It was also announced that ministers Dacic and Dimitrov would meet in Nis on Aug. 25.
Joksimovic with UN Team Coordinator on Serbia’s bid to join EU (Beta)
Serbian Minister of EU Integration Jadranka Joksimovic on Aug. 23 met with Karla Hershey, resident coordinator of the United Nations team in Serbia, and discussed Serbia’s activities during accession talks with the European Union, the implementation of reforms and the modalities of UN assistance to Serbia, especially in areas important for joining the EU.
Joksimovic said cooperation with U.N. agencies had to be improved and that effort was needed to step up the economic and social development of Serbia, reads a ministry press release.
Hershey said all agencies operating within the UN were at Serbia’s disposal for any form of help and support in the execution of national strategies, especially in the context of achieving sustainable UN development goals by 2030, that is, the continuation of the EU accession process.
Joksimovic and Hershey agreed that even better coordination was needed among various sources of funding for UN and EU projects related to state administration reform, public finance management, the environment and other areas, the statement noted.
Stefanovic to Head SNS soon, Irena Vujovic candidate for Belgrade Mayor (Kurir)
Internal Affairs Minister and Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Presidency member Nebojsa Stefanovic could soon become the party leader because current leader Aleksandar Vucic trusts him the most and sees him as a close associate, Kurir daily says on Thursday.
“The party is looking at fundamental changes. Vucic is planning to stand down as party leader and, as things are now, Stefanovic is the most serious contender for party leader. He is one of Vucic’s closest associates and Vucic would actually remain in control of the party through him even after he gives up the top party post,” a Kurir source said.
The daily says that the SNS is readying a candidate for Belgrade mayor in the run up to the local elections in the city. According to the daily’s source, the current Savski Venac municipality Chief Irena Vujovic (34) stands the best chance of getting the post. She has been a member of the SNS presidency since May 2016.
REGIONAL PRESS
Bosnia and Herzegovina
B&H Presidency discusses B&H’s progress related to Euro-Atlantic integration (FTV)
The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) held a session in Sarajevo on Wednesday and discussed several topics, including the European Commission’s (EC) Questionnaire, changes to the Law on Elections of B&H and registration of military property.
Following the session, Chairman of the Presidency of B&H Dragan Covic held a press conference and said that B&H will need 100 translators to translate answers to questions from the EC’s Questionnaire, while this entire job will last around 60 days. Covic explained that translation will start after it is established which questions did not receive unified answers. Covic expressed expectations that B&H will activate the Membership Action Plan (MAP) for NATO by the end of 2017 and said that B&H has to register two or three military locations in order to activate the MAP. Covic claims that the current pace of registration is such that it allows B&H to register two or three locations by the end of September.
Covic stressed that the Presidency of B&H discussed the report on registration of military property submitted by the Minister of Defense of B&H Marina Pendes and it proposes registration of two locations in Travnik and Novi Travnik. Covic underlined that some other location may be registered as well but he does not want to rush to conclusions. Nevertheless, Covic warned that the number of those who want to slow down B&H’s path to join the EU and NATO for their own political purposes may increase.
Covic deems that numerous issues, such as construction of the Peljesac Bridge, came to focus in the recent period but they are the result of failure to act and new political strategies and tracks will continue to emerge as the 2018 elections are getting closer. Covic emphasized that it is necessary to amend the Law on Elections of B&H in order to be able to hold the 2018 elections in B&H. “I hope there will be enough bases to engage in parliamentary discussion and adopt the proposal which will prevent possibility of one people electing representatives of other peoples in the Presidency of B&H and the House of Peoples,” Covic stated. Covic pointed out that constructive talks are the key to every issue in B&H, which is why members of the Presidency of B&H will hold meetings with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of B&H Denis Zvizdic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of B&H Igor Crnadak and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of B&H Mirko Sarovic next week. Covic said that these meetings will be dedicated to possible adoption of the law on foreign policy of B&H, as well as other important topics such as the activation of the MAP and B&H’s path to join the EU.
Covic added that upcoming visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to B&H is very significant and it will be the opportunity to discuss numerous topics, including the border issue, infrastructure and the energy sector.
Dodik: RSNA should declare its stance on NATO (Srna, RTRS)
Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik stated for Srna news agency on Wednesday that the RS National Assembly (RSNA) should declare its stance on the NATO membership in order to avoid possible situation of becoming a NATO member state, without the approval of the RS. Dodik added that the number of bad decisions reached at the state level in the past two to three years, has never been this high. Dodik also said that the will of Serbs in RS cannot be ‘put in the hands’ of courts in Sarajevo and said: “The general mood in RS is not in favor of NATO, bearing in mind the past and today when we see NATO ignoring opinions of RS and encouraging courts to make decisions that suit them, so they could welcome these decisions. One day, without questions from anyone, they will proclaim that Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is in NATO. That is why is important for RS Parliament to align itself accordingly.”
Dodik also said that B&H is completely stuck on its EU path due to irresponsible politics of continuous failure of government at the state level in B&H. He called upon all those that are in the government at the state level to respect the deadlines and to push towards achieving progress, which they always brag about. “They have not done anything yet and in the meantime they have lost the parliamentary majority, so it looks pretty bad at the state level and it does not look like it is going to get better soon”, said Dodik.
B&H Presidency members Covic, Ivanic respectively meet with delegation of NCAFP (FTV)
Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Dragan Covic met with the delegation of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) led by President Rosemary DiCarlo in Sarajevo on Wednesday. Covic informed the delegation about political and economic situation in B&H, plans for his tenure as the B&H Presidency Chair and challenges on the Euro-Atlantic path of B&H. Covic and representatives of the NCAFP agreed that too much time and energy was wasted in the past and instead it should have been used to conduct structural reforms which will strengthen and secure the Euro-Atlantic perspective of B&H. Serb member of B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic also met with members of NCAFP and informed them about political situation in B&H, emphasizing that political situation in B&H and its region is not satisfying. Ivanic said that there is a need to improve trust among the countries in the region and cooperation through compromise. He added that closing problems from the past and leaving them in the past would lead to reducing tensions and relaxation of relations among neighboring countries.
Russian Ambassador Ivantsov: Russia is interested in stable and peaceful development of all countries in the Balkans, including B&H (Vecernji list)
In an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Petr Ivantsov, Vecernji list daily papers asked the Ambassador what Russia wants in the Balkans, especially in B&H. Ivantsov replied by saying that Russia is interested in stable and peaceful development of all countries in the Balkans, including B&H, where Russia is actively and consistently taking part in stabilization of B&H. The Ambassador added that, naturally, Russia has its interests in areas of economy, investments, industry, trade, culture, religion.
Asked to comment on accusations coming from Washington that Russia is destabilizing countries in the Western Balkans, the Ambassador said that Russia does not influence anyone and “is certainly not trying to ‘shake the situation’”. On the contrary, he added, reminding that Russia paid B&H its clearing debt in cash, not in goods and services, which was the case with other countries from former Yugoslavia. Asked to comment on recent media reports according to which there are attempts to move FSB (Russian Federal Security Service) agents from Nis, Serbia to Banja Luka, Ivantsov said he would like to put an end to this story once and for all, arguing that the Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in Nis was established in 2012 on basis of agreement between governments of Russia and Serbia with the aim to tackle humanitarian and technological disasters in the region, such as firefighting and fight against floods. He reminded that Russia and Ministry of Security of B&H signed in 2008 a memorandum on intention to cooperate in prevention of natural disasters, also reminding that a Russia helicopter took part in fire-fighting operations in areas of Konjic and Mostar in 2012 and it delivered humanitarian aid to victims of floods in 2014. Regarding the aforementioned memorandum, the Ambassador says it got ‘frozen’ in the Ministry of Security of B&H.
Asked how Russia would react if majority of citizens of B&H voted in favor of B&H joining NATO and if Serbs and Republika Srpska were against it, Ambassador Ivantsov says it is a hypothetical question, therefore he would not like to speculate. According to Ivantsov, it is down to peoples of a country to choose who to develop relations with, arguing that ignoring will of one of three constituent peoples would be against principles of the Dayton agreement.
Asked to comment on the Croat issue in B&H, the Ambassador says: “The problem does exist, one cannot get over it, and it is necessary to look for a solution and it should be done by all interested parties in the Federation of B&H together, within existing constitutional procedures”.
Asked whether the OHR should leave B&H, Ivantsov says Russia advocates closing down of the OHR in shortest possible time, adding that ‘our partners’ in the Steering Board (Peace Implementation Council) do not agree with Russia’s assessments.
Former Chief of Czech Army’s General Staff Sedivy: B&H and Kosovo are oases for terrorists’ rest and training (Glas Srpske)
Former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic Jiri Sedivy said that authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and Kosovo are not dealing efficiently enough with the phenomenon of Islamist radicalization. Furthermore, Sedivy added that the EU is not paying enough attention to the region of the Balkans, thus allowing terrorists to rest there and prepare for new attacks. According to Sedivy, the region of Balkans represents safe environment for terrorists, and they are able to establish their own logistic centers, train for new attacks and take a rest from complex terrorist operations in Western Europe. Former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic added that he does not believe authorities in B&H and Kosovo are directly supporting terrorists, but they are not doing enough, while economic issues and unemployment “make the region a fertile soil for constant strengthening and spreading of radicalism”. He concluded that the Czech Republic has to dedicate special attention to the Balkans, because once Western countries increase their security measures even more, terrorists will start planning attacks in central European countries, “and Balkans is only several hours of driving away from the Czech borders”.
Croatia
PM announces continuation of talks on border issues with Slovenia (Hina)
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday evening that the government’s policy and Croatia’s position was to continue the discussions on sea and land border issues with Slovenia. Meanwhile Slovenian Foreign Ministry state secretary Iztok Mirosic met with senior German government officials in Berlin on Wednesday and conveyed Slovenia’s position on an arbitration ruling on its border with Croatia. Slovenia insists on the implementation of the verdict. This stance was conveyed to the Secretary of State at the German Foreign Ministry, Michael Roth and the foreign affairs adviser of Chancellor Angela Merkel. According to Slovenian diplomat, Croatia’s stance regarding the arbitral ruling could also affect the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans and Germany, as he said, is aware of it.
fYROM
President Ivanov’s Office denies the statement of Serbian diplomat Zivaljevic (MIA)
The Office of Macedonia’s President Gjorge Ivanov issued a press release late Wednesday regarding the statement of former security adviser at Serbia’s Embassy in Skopje Goran Zivaljevic.
“The appointed adviser to President Ivanov is not an authorized person for reporting the movement and stay of foreign representatives and in this case, he acted in accordance with security protocols, for which he prepared and archived reports to the competent superiors. This fast reaction stated by President Gjorge Ivanov’s cabinet came after the statement by the security adviser of the Embassy of Serbia in Macedonia, and a member of the Security and Information Agency (BIA) Goran Zivaljevic, who received the approval to enter Parliament on April the 27th by Ivanov’s adviser.
The cabinet’s announcement states that “according to the laws in Macedonia, the competent state body for communication with foreign diplomatic representatives is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while a special service in Parliament takes care of the order in the building”.
“The Cabinet of the President is not competent, nor authorized to grant a residence permit and an approval for activities of foreign representatives and diplomats in Parliament. Zivaljevic’s statement is contrary to the facts. Macedonian services did not request any of his services. After he had finished his activities in Parliament, he sent messages to persons employed in the institutions, including the appointed adviser, that he was in Parliament in order to provide an alibi and to reduce responsibility for his actions. The facts say that on that critical day, before entering Parliament, the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia i.e. the diplomat, did not request a written or verbal permission from an authorized person or a competent state body, but, after finishing his report about his activities, which does not reduce his responsibility for his unauthorized stay in Parliament”, the statement added.
The President’s cabinet also said that “in the past period, they reacted to the Ambassador of Serbia, and asked him to stop abusing the name of the adviser, in order to use it as an alibi and to avoid responsibility for the unprofessional behavior of the diplomat”.
“The case regarding Mr. Zivaljevic’s unauthorized stay in Parliament is closed, after an agreement was reached between the services”, the statement added.
Earlier, Zivaljevic told Serbian press agency Tanjug that he had obtained a pass for entering Macedonia’s Parliament during the 27 April incident from the security adviser of the Macedonian President, Sinisa Aleksovski.
President’s aide says he’s not authorized to approve visits to Parliament, claims Zivaljevic’s looking for alibi (MIA)
I am not the one in charge of authorizing a visit to the Parliament of Macedonia or to any body of the state institutions, Sinisa Aleksoski tells MIA.
The national security adviser of the President of Macedonia has been pinpointed by Goran Zivaljevic, a Serbian intelligence officer, as being the person who had authorized him to enter the Macedonian Parliament during the incidents of 27 April 2017.
“I believe he did this to get himself an alibi through me and to justify his unauthorized and unprofessional behavior that is against the laws of the Republic of Macedonia. I would like to point out that I don’t know the reason for his presence in the Parliament that day,” Aleksoski says in an interview on Thursday.
MIA: Whether and when did you have contact with Mr Zivaljevic on the evening of April 27? Before, during or after the events in Parliament?
Aleksoski: At 8:23 p.m. on April 27 we started communicating after he texted me ‘state of emergency?’. I said no. At 8:37 p.m. he texted me once again, this time sending me a photo of him in the assembly hall, to which I replied ‘What are you doing there?’. This photo has never been released to be public.
I believe he did this to secure himself an alibi through me and to justify his unauthorized and unprofessional behavior that is against the laws of the Republic of Macedonia. I would like to point out that I don’t know the reason for his presence in the Parliament that day.
MIA: But, he says he has informed you about his actions in Parliament?
Aleksoski: I am not the one in charge of authorizing a visit to the Parliament of Macedonia or to any body of the state institutions. On the contrary, whenever I go to the Parliament, I make sure I have been properly invited and approved to do so by an authorized person. I do ask myself this: by whom was Zivaljevic sent to enter the Parliament and when, what kind of actions did he take there and whether he had asked at all for a written or oral permission from an authorized person or an authorized state body?
MIA: What did you and Zivaljevic talk that evening? Whether and when did you inform the President’s cabinet about it?
Aleksoski: We didn’t. I’ve already told you, he had sent me a message with a photo of him in the assembly hall, to which I replied ‘What are you doing there?’. Of course, I immediately wrote reports about the messages according to security protocols.
MIA: Is it a practice of the national security advisor of the President to communicate like that?
Aleksoski: My job description includes contacts with the diplomatic staff in the embassies that is tasked with security-related issues and cooperation with services all the while abiding by the protocols to file a report to my superiors, which is mandatory.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS
Kosovo’s destiny: Which path Serbia’s breakaway region may take (Sputnik)
With the “internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija,” proposed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic scheduled to start in September, Serbian politicians have been coming up with their own ideas on how to mend fences with Pristina without compromising Belgrade’s interests in the region.
Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic believes that partitioning Kosovo into Serbian and Albanian parts is the only possible way to resolve the long-running conflict. He also insists that Pristina should make up for the loss of confiscated Serbian property.
Trade Minister Rasim Ljajic proposes normalizing relations with Pristina without Belgrade recognizing Kosovo’s independent status. He believes that this should include full-scale economic cooperation with Kosovo, discussing the special status of the ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo and negotiations about Kosovo’s membership of all international organizations except the UN.
The prominent Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic believes that the “Cyprus model” of freezing the conflict pending a long-term solution to the problem would be the right way to go.
Liberal Democratic Party’s leader Cedomir Jovanovic proposes granting Kosovo UN membership. He argues that Serbia would thus be able to deny recognition to its former southern province and would give future generations of Serbs a chance to recognize Kosovo “in a normal way.”
Meanwhile, the only proposal by Pristina came from Kosovo’s ambassador to the United States Vlora Citaku, who said that a compromise solution was found in 2008 when Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia.
Serbian MP Sandra Raskovic Ivic, commenting to Sputnik Serbia on the variety of proposals coming from Belgrade and the complete absence of any options but one from Pristina, said that Serbs are a nation of individualists where each one wants to have his own opinion on everything.
“They say that where you have three Serbs you will have four parties. Albanians are different. They are obsessed with the idea of having a second country in addition to the one they got in 1913 – Albania. Some of them want a Kosovo Republic, others go for ‘Great Albania,’” Ivic said. “What they really want, however, is to live away from Serbs. However Serbia has a constitution and UN Security Council Resolution 1243 which ways that Kosovo is an inalienable part of Serbs. This means that we need to tackle the Kosovo issue with a cool head and avoid rash decisions,” she emphasized.
Kosovo, which has a majority population of ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a bloody war and NATO intervention.
However Serbia has never recognized Kosovo’s independence, considering the former province to still be a part of its territory, while Belgrade also supports the Serb minority living in Kosovo.
Ethnic Albanians make up 90 percent of Kosovo’s 1.8 million inhabitants, while it’s also home to around 50,000 Serbs.
Mass grave found near Koricanske Stijene, Bosnia (BIRN)
A new mass grave has been discovered in the locality of Koricanske Stijene, which in 1992 was site of a grisly mass killing of 200 Bosniak and Croat civilians.
Mujo Begic, chief of the regional office of the Institute for the Missing Persons of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) in northwest Bosnian town of Bihac, said a mass grave discovered on Wednesday containing a still unknown number of bodies may be linked to the 1992 killings in the area.
“We believe the mortal remains are associated with the persons who were shot at Koricanske Stijene in August 1992. We are waiting for the Court and Prosecution of B&H to issue a decision after which we will go to the field and perform an exhumation,” Begic told BIRN.
The Bosnian state prosecution said they would issue the order once the conditions had been met, but did not specify when it might happen.
In August 1992, members of the Interventions Squad of the Prijedor police shot about 200 men at Koricanske Stijene. They first ordered them to stand on the edge of the road and turn towards an abyss. After that, they shot them with automatic rifles. The killed persons had been taken out of a bus, which was a part of a convoy deporting Bosniaks and Croats from the territory of Prijedor, which was under the control of the Bosnian Serbs.
So far, 11 former policemen from Prijedor have been sentenced for the murders at Koricanske Stijene. One of them, namely Darko Mrdja, was sentenced by the UN court in the Hague, while the others were sentenced before the Court of B&H.
Some 12,000 people are still listed as missing in the Western Balkans, most of them in B&H.
