LOCAL PRESS

Vucic, McAllister discuss rule of law, media freedom (Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and rapporteur for Serbia, David McAllister, talked in Belgrade on Aug. 24 about Serbia’s European path, internal dialogue on Kosovo and progress in the talks with Pristina. According to the statement issued after the meeting, Vucic informed McAllister about the course and plans for the internal dialogue on Kosovo and on ways to formalize the process.

Vucic and McAllister exchanged opinions on respect and implementation of principles of the rule of law and media freedom. They also talked about relations in the region and about what Serbia should do to speed up the process of European integration.

McAllister also met with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Aug. 24 and with Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on European Integration, Nenad Canak. Later on, McAllister met with the opposition representatives.

PM Brabic meets with EP official (B92)

PM Ana Brnabic met on Thursday with European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Serbia and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister. Brnabic told McAllister that, thanks to successful economic and political reforms, Serbia continues to securely join membership in the European countries, the Serbian government announced. She stressed that, despite numerous challenges on the road to full membership in the Union, our country is continuing its internal reforms.

“We do this not only in order to show our commitment to the European path, but also because the results we create contribute to improving the living standards and quality of life of all citizens and citizens of Serbia” Brnabic underlined.  The Prime Minister told McAllister that fulfilling the obligations necessary for opening accession chapters for Serbia does not mean the process of “striking out” items, but rather that directs our country towards a faster development and a society of the future.

“We never measured our progress on the basis of how many chapters we opened, and we will not do it in the future either. We will make progress on the basis of how many jobs we have created and how much we have improved everyday life for our citizens” Brnabic pointed out. She added that it is important that we as a society agree on the priorities and what we can do together and achieve in order to bring Serbia into the ranks of successful countries.  As she pointed out, Serbia will continue to be a reliable and credible partner to the EU in the upcoming period.

The Prime Minister welcomed the EU’s access to the evaluation of each country’s progress on the basis of individual merit, and expressed the hope that the EU Member States will recognize these efforts and set a timeframe for their accession to the EU, or leave open the possibility of joining new members in the next budget period.

Dacic, McAllister discuss Serbia’s further steps on EU path and situation in region (Beta)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and the European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Serbia, David McAllister, talked in Belgrade on Aug. 24 about Serbia’s further steps in European integration, the situation in the region, cooperation with the European Parliament and the most recent foreign policy issues in the neighborhood of the EU and Serbia.

According to the statement of the Foreign Ministry, during the meeting McAllister once again confirmed the unambiguous support to Serbia on the path of European integration, and reiterated the importance of reforms which the Serbian government was carrying out.

Dacic said Serbia would continue to realize its foreign policy priorities, in which EU membership was the strategic determination of the government, together with regional stability. He added that Serbia was determined to continue contributing to stability and peace in the region with its constructive actions.

McAllister offers support for Serbia’s European integration (Tanjug)

European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister said on Aug. 24 that he had had successful talks with the president and members of the Serbian Parliament’s Committee on Integration and reiterated support for Serbia on its road to integrating with Europe.

McAllister told a joint news conference with chairman of the Committee on European Integration and leader of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina Nenad Canak that Serbia had done a lot on its road to the EU, but that there was still much more to be done. He added that a large number of new chapters in talks with the EU had been technically readied.

“I would like for new chapters to open, but that does not depend on either the European Parliament or me, but on the member states,” he said. McAllister reiterated that he would remain rapporteur for Serbia despite being appointed chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee. He ended his address by saying “I love Serbia” in Serbian.

Chairman of the Committee on European Integration of the Serbian Parliament Nenad Canak said that a high degree of understanding had been achieved at the meeting and that the Parliament needed to fully support Serbia’s European integration.

McAllister meets several opposition leaders (Beta)

The European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, David McAllister, met in Belgrade with representatives of several opposition parties on Aug. 24. Democratic Party leader Dragan Sutanovac, Social Democratic Party leader Boris Tadic, Liberal Democratic Party leader Cedomir Jovanovic and Enough Is Enough Movement leader Sasa Radulovic met with the rapporteur.

Despite being invited, leader of the Movement of Free Citizens Sasa Jankovic and former presidential candidate Vuk Jeremic did not meet with McAllister. Jankovic said earlier that he would not attend the meeting for objective reasons. New Party president Zoran Zivkovic said that he had not been invited to meet with McAllister, adding that he expected to be invited when McAllister wanted to hear a serious opinion.

McAllister started a two-day visit to Belgrade on Aug.24. Ahead of his latest visit to Belgrade he said that Serbia had visibly progressed on the road to the EU but that there was a considerable amount to be done in establishing the rule of law, fighting corruption, as well as that free media were elementary to a functional democracy. The rapporteur previously visited Serbia on Aug. 12 when he met exclusively with President Vucic.

Borko Stefanovic: Brussels eyes are closed, we have to win the freedom ourselves (Danas)

The breakup in cooperation between the Movement of Free Citizens of Serbia (PSG) and the Democratic Party (DS) is a combination of unfortunate circumstances, which is not going to help them or the people. The cause of the breakup is known, but the reasons are probably deeper. Similarities between these two groups are immense. Sometimes it seems to me that two centrist and liberal parties do not understand each other in the same job, which is the improvement of a bad system.

Serbian Left (LS) has never been even considered as a possible partner by the PSG and the DS, but maybe now there will be some kind of new division on the political scene, said the leader of LS and the former high official of the DS, Borko Stefanovic.

Loneliness of LS on the left side of the political spectrum is limiting the maneuvering space of this party, because there is no visible partner for this non-parliamentary party. Nevertheless, Stefanovic confirms that the LS will participate in municipal elections.

“Now surely the confirmation of several famous columns, which are pre-ordered to do something, but not also to take down Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) on Belgrade elections, will follow. For that, a joint support to one candidate for the position of a Mayor is needed. But now it is clear, this never meant anything to the majority in the opposition. They believe more in the story of multiple columns, just like they believed that more candidates in the presidential elections could bring them a second round. LS will definitely participate in municipal elections and prove its strength, which was often underestimated. Are we going to go alone or with someone, that will be announced in time. It is important that we agree with someone regarding the things that need to be done” said Borko Stefanovic.

He agrees with the opinion that the program of SNS is not substantively different form the program of DS, and thinks that this kind of situation on the political scene is opening the possibilities for the parties which are not in the center, but on the opposite ideological ends.

“It’s not a secret that Vucic has copied the program of DS and LDP and continued with bigger force than how it was done before. Only through the Brussels agreement he made ten stepped out, towards the requests of Pristina. Economic model and the work issues are the same. He brutally usurped the institutions, media and public companies. People do not see the difference in their politics except in the style. Because of that, the left and the right in Serbia will get stronger” points out the leader of LS.

They share mutual perspective and have the same political enemies, but the left and the right political parties do not observe the visit of the European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, David McAllister, on the same way. Stefanovic agrees with the assessment of Bosko Obradovic, leader of Dveri, that all those who attended the meeting with McAllister are “servants of the West”. But leader of LS does not believe that those meetings are going to bring anything to the opposition or the people, because he considers that Brussels does not want to see real problems and is ignoring the violation of the basic democratic principles, by the government. Slogan “peace on Balkan” is obviously the priority of the West.

“Those who went to the meeting with McAllister are not people who are governed by the outsiders and the West. They should go for the meeting with the EP rapporteur, that is completely normal. But that meeting does not have any particular importance, because McAllister is not going to solve our problems, help the opposition or improve the situation in Serbia. He, just like the EU is keeping his eyes closed in front of economic, institutional and media chaos and the control introduced by this regime. And it is certain that he is not going to open his eyes. They favor Vucic and they don’t care about Serbia as long as there are no conflicts and the instability on Balkan. I find it more interesting that many in the opposition are still dreaming the year 2000 and that someone from outside is going to come and give them the power and the freedom. That is not going to happen. We have to do that ourselves and that is what the LS is fighting for” concluded Borko Stefanovic.

Vucic and Macedonian Ambassador discuss improvement of relations (B92)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic talked on Aug. 24 with the Macedonian ambassador in Belgrade, Vera Jovanovska Tipko, about the improvement of good neighborly relations and nurturing of friendly relations between the two countries.

The personnel of the Serbian Embassy began returning to Skopje on Aug. 24, after they were recalled on Aug. 20, with the explanation that “there was a very offensive intelligence activity” against the bodies and institutions of Serbia.

“We all believe that we should work hard and with responsibility on the improvement of our relations,” Vucic said at the meeting with the Macedonian ambassador.

He informed the ambassador that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic would invite Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to hold a joint session of the two countries’ governments, in Belgrade before the end of this year, the Serbian president’s office has stated.

Vucic and Jovanovska agreed for a joint meeting with the Macedonian president to be held after the appointment of Serbia’s national security adviser.

During the meeting, they also discussed the improvement of cooperation in all spheres, especially in economy, tourism and joint appearance on third markets.

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dodik meets Ivantsov; Dodik: I reject B&H CC’s decision on military property (RTRS)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik met with Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Petr Ivantsov in Banja Luka on Thursday. Following the meeting, Ivantsov stated that the stance of the RS regarding registration of military property cannot be ignored. He said that according to the Dayton Peace Agreement, no issue that regards entities, including military property, can be solved without entity authorities. According to Ivantsov, military property and membership in NATO cannot be connected.

Dodik told Ivantsov that he rejects the decision of B&H Constitutional Court that opens room for stealing of RS’ property. He stressed that RS institutions will protect their property and added that no decision that is of vital national interest can be made without consent of the RS. Dodik said that since NATO started interfering with internal matters, he does not exclude the possibility of organizing a referendum on membership in NATO in the RS. Following the meeting, Ivantsov said that it is not good to link the issue of military property with accession to NATO, because it becomes a political issue. He said that B&H will make a decision on membership in NATO, but added that consensus of all peoples is required.

Cubrilovic says RS must follow stance of Serbia with regard to NATO (EuroBlic)

In an interview to the EuroBlic daily, Speaker of the Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly (NA) Nedeljko Cubrilovic commented on political stances that Serb judges in the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H should resign because B&H CC has been making decisions detrimental to interests of the RS more and more often. Cubrilovic said that if he were a Serb judge in B&H, then he would have resigned for moral reasons.

“Outvoting in B&H CC to the detriment of Serb people and RS is more than obvious. I think I could not let myself to participate in the work of such institution”, Cubrilovic said but he reminded that B&H CC would be able to continue to work in line with its Rules of Procedures even if judges withdrew. Cubrilovic also claimed that the Rules of Procedures of B&H CC is unconstitutional.

Asked to comment on the stance of RS President Milorad Dodik that the RS NA should define a stance on the admission to NATO, Cubrilovic said that the RS should follow the stance of Serbia when it comes to the stance on NATO.

“We are too small both as people and as the republic to have our own way. I think that the necessity of holding the referendum is questionable. The RS NA should certainly define its stance and it also adopted a declaration some 10 years ago in which it presented a clear stance on the NATO”, Cubrilovic concluded.

Commenting on the stance of RS coalition parties on Dodik’s statement with regard to holding of the referendum on NATO, Cubrilovic said that this matter has never been discussed at any of the meetings of coalition parties and he added that discussion on the membership in NATO at this moment would represent waste of time because there are much more important problems citizens and economy are faced with. “On the other hand, we could not have ignored the decision of B&H CC to adopt a decision on property against the Constitution, laws and Dayton Peace Accords”, Cubrilovic concluded.

Ambassador Cormack welcomes B&H CC’s decision on military property (TV1)

US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Maureen Cormack stated on Thursday that she is glad the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H reached the decision on the manner of registration of military property in B&H. Ambassador Cormack urged all parties in B&H to respect the decisions of judicial institutions. Cormack noted that more than twenty military locations in the Federation of B&H have been registered to the state of B&H, adding that although that property is registered to B&H, it remains at the disposal of the B&H Armed Forces, the state and the local community. Ambassador Cormack stressed that after military locations in the RS are registered to B&H, they remain in the RS in the territorial sense.

fYROM

PM Zaev meets ALDE President Hans van Baalen (MIA)

The reform process of Macedonia’s new government, which should revive the country’s Euro-Atlantic prospects, enjoys the support by European liberal, democrats, Hans van Baalen, MEP and President of the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party, told Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on Thursday. The government is focused on reforms under the 3-6-9 plan, which sets strict implementation deadline, in order to provide a better living standard for citizens and turn the country’s strategic goal – EU, NATO membership – into reality, Zaev said at a meeting in Skopje.

Baalen commended the cautious settlement of the political crisis in Macedonia, as well as the government’s inclusive policies, which offer opportunity to citizens, NGOs, political parties to take part in the ongoing reform process and thus contribute to the country’s development.

Albania

Regional integration – Western Balkans PMs to meet in Durres on Saturday (ATA)

The office of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says that he will host an informal meeting of his Western Balkans counterparts this weekend. A statement said Thursday that the one-day meeting on trade, services, investments and digital economy will be held Saturday in the western port city of Durres. It will focus on boosting an economic growth project agreed upon last month at the Trieste Summit as part of the fourth European Union-Western Balkans summit. Though the EU’s official enlargement process is on hold until 2019, Brussels has been keen to show its commitment to the Balkans amid Russia’s growing influence in the Balkans, which Moscow considers a traditional area of interest. EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn and World Bank Vice President Cyril Muller will attend the meeting.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Calls for calm as Serbia and Macedonia act out Balkan thriller (DW)

Serbia has withdrawn diplomats from neighboring Macedonia – apparently for reasons of security. Observers suspect a political game involving Kosovo, NATO and the retention of power.

Alleged espionage, artificially created tensions and a lot of hot air are standard elements in a Balkan drama. But what the Serbian government did last Sunday is still highly unusual: it ordered embassy staff in the Macedonian capital of Skopje to leave for “urgent consultations” in Belgrade. Apparently, there was evidence of “offensive intelligence activities” against Belgrade, according to the brief statement issued by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Since Vucic could not or did not want to say more, the media rumor mill started buzzing.

“Scandal: The Macedonians have even spied on Vucic?” was the headline in the scandal rag Informer, the unofficial mouthpiece of the Serbian government. The rest of the popular tabloids attacked the new Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and came up with headlines like, “Zaev declares war on Serbia” or, “Zaev backstabs us.”

The two leaders later spoke on the phone and agreed to improve relations.

Aleksander Vucic and Zoran Zaev have committed to overcome “possible misunderstandings”

The secret involving a secret service man

In order to bring down the longtime autocrat Nikola Gruevski, the Social Democrat Zaev had strike a compromise with the heads of the Albanian parties in Macedonia. The deal included various concessions to the Albanians, who account for about a quarter of the population. That is how Zaev came to power at the beginning of June. The former Macedonia leader, Gruevski, has become the target of investigations for abuse of power, election fraud and massive corruption.

Ultimately, Serbian leaders backed Gruevski until the end because of the “Albanian question.” When his supporters stormed Skopje’s parliament at the end of April to prevent the formation of the new government coalition, video footage showed a Serbian intelligence officer heading the attack. Several members of parliament were injured, including Zoran Zaev.

The incident – which was embarrassing for Belgrade – was downplayed. The new Macedonian government is striving for a diplomatic approach to its neighbors. It is possible that this scandal has prompted Macedonian authorities to monitor Serbian diplomats in the country more closely, says Bojan Elek, a researcher at the Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BSCP). Officially, all spying allegations have been denied in Skopje. The Macedonian press, however, suspects that Belgrade has taken a spectacular step to modify and conceal intelligence activities against Zaev.

Kosovo, the bone of contention

Numerous observers suspect other reasons for the freshly-ignited dispute. At the end of October, the General Conference of the UN culture agency UNESCO is set to discuss the admission of Kosovo to the organization. Serbia does not recognize the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence – but Macedonia does. Two years ago, Kosovo, which is mostly inhabited by ethnic Albanians, narrowly missed out on UNESCO membership by a narrow margin – only three more votes were needed for the necessary two-thirds majority.

Although Zaev signalized in May that Macedonia would remain neutral in the next vote, there are growing signs that Skopje will vote for Kosovo’s membership. “We have this kind of information,” Vucic said in a radio program. Sources in Skopje say that Macedonia will follow the majority of EU members.

“The Serbian side may not understand that we are a multiethnic country. The government must always consider the interests of all citizens,” said the former Macedonian foreign minister, Denko Malesko in an interview with DW. He went on to say that the country’s stability should not be jeopardized with regard to the ongoing tensions between Macedonia and the Albanians. “We will probably vote for Kosovo’s admission to UNESCO – it suits our state interests.”

Surrounded by NATO

Ever since Montenegro, a small republic on the Adriatic coast, became a member of NATO, Serbia has almost completely been surrounded by members of the military alliance. The new Macedonian government is also aiming at quick NATO accession. The regime of the former ultra-nationalist Vucic in Belgrade passes itself as a pro-reform and pro-EU government, but NATO remains a taboo. The alliance bombed Serbia massively during the Kosovo war in 1999. Moreover, Serbian politicians always strive to maintain the best possible relations with Russia.

As a result, the Macedonian-Albanian diplomat Alajdin Demiri interprets the “hysteria” in Belgrade as an attempt to prevent Macedonia’s EU and NATO membership. “This is probably due to an attempt to support Moscow. I believe it is only the beginning and soon, new steps will follow,” Demiri predicted in a DW interview.

In order to clear the way for membership, Macedonia must first settle the dispute with Greece about the country’s name. Athens senses a territorial claim on the Greek region Macedonia of the same name. The new coalition in Skopje is obviously trying to reach a compromise. It would have a hard time if Belgrade no longer recognized Macedonia under its name –a threat made by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

Creating crises

The BSCP analyst Elek believes he has identified the governing patterns of Serbian leader Vucic: he artificially creates crises with neighboring countries – Croatia, Kosovo or even Macedonia to present himself as an intelligent and level-headed politician at home. The neighbors are perceived as a menace. “Then, the Serbian politicians come to the rescue and solve the problems,” he said.

So he is keeping his domestic audience in suspense. On the other hand, real problems have been pushed aside: the economic woes, the arbitrary distribution of jobs in the public sector based on party loyalty and media censorship.

On Wednesday, Vucic and Zaev had a phone conversation to calm the situation and emphasize the friendly relationship between the Serbs and the Macedonians. According to a joint statement, they want to maintain a dialogue, strengthen economic relations and support each other on their respective paths to the EU. The Serbian diplomats returned to Skopje on Thursday.