LOCAL PRESS

Johnson: Without immunity for RSHC in Nis; Vucic: It’s our decision to make (RTS/Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met in Belgrade on Tuesday with US Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on European and Regional Security. Vucic told a joint press conference that they had mostly discussed economy, but also open talks on all important political issues. He said that he had talked with the U.S. senator about his idea of an internal dialogue on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. “These talks are not easy for us at all, the majority of EU states have recognized Kosovo’s independence; we haven’t and that is the context in which we are looking to enhance Serbia’s friendship with the US,” Vucic said.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Johnson praised Vucic’s leadership role and stressed the importance of Serbia for regional peace and stability. Replying to a reporter’s question, Johnson said he hopes that the citizens of Serbia realize that their economic security and prosperity depend on the country siding with the Western democracies and its orientation towards a market economy. He also voiced the expectation that Russian national deployed in the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center in Nis will not be awarded diplomatic status as Moscow expects Belgrade to do. Giving them diplomatic status would not serve the interests of the economy and investments from western countries, he said. “In order for capital to come here, you need as little corruption as possible and rule of law, as well as indicators that the state is really moving towards market capitalism and stability, but, unfortunately, Russian President Vladimir Putin is demonstrating the opposite,” said Johnson. Complementing Johnson’s words, Vucic said that Serbia passed its decisions independently and in line with its own interests, stressing that we haven’t been exposed to any kind of aggression on that occasion. “In line with the interests of an independent and stable Serbia, we will make decisions,” underlined Vucic. He thanked Johnson for the sincerity and openness and added that the Republican Senator has always been this way, just as our position. He said that we had different stands regarding Kosovo and Metohija, but we can always discuss that in an open and sincere way.

Vucic said that Serbia would fight for our people whom it considers to be innocent, as is the case with Bogdan Mitrovic, who was arrested in Suva Reka. “We have been checking in our archives whether there is a possibility that he has done something bad, but there are not even the slightest indications. I am afraid that behind this there is an attempt of some sides to prevent any kind of dialogue, and to influence their internal scene,” he said. “Are we going to fight for our people whom we consider to be innocent – you bet we will,” said Vucic, adding we should wait to hear something more in the coming days with what is Mitrovic possibly charged.

Djuric: Inexpressible pain and disappointment of families of missing (Tanjug)

The families of missing persons throughout the former Yugoslavia are experiencing this day with the feeling of inexpressible pain, but also disappointment over the inefficiency of those who have the jurisdiction and power to determine the fate of more than 10,000 people who went missing during the war, the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric said. The last of those conflicts, the one in Kosovo and Metohija, is specific in that a large number of people went missing precisely before the eyes of the international forces, which arrived in the region of our southern province with the mandate to prevent bloodshed, but they didn’t know or didn’t want to stop the bloody feast that went on for days and weeks after their deployment, said Djuric. He said in a statement that around 5,800 people went missing in the conflict in Kosovo and Metohija, and light is being shed on 1,658 of them and 540 of them are Serbs and other non-Albanians. However, today, I don’t wish to divide the victims on Serbs and Albanians, because if the two nations are bound by anything today, then it is the bitter pain over the loss of so many lives, and this pain cannot be cured with silence, evil or dreams about revenge, notes Djuric. Serbia is undoubtedly prepared to do everything in order to close the unclosed page of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, because these conflicts will not be really finalized until that happens, said Djuric.

Kuburovic to request ICTY to release Mladic to Serbia for medical treatment (Tanjug)

Serbian Justice Minister Nela Kuburovic will send a letter to the ICTY asking that Ratko Mladic be provided with all adequate conditions for his medical treatment, Tanjug reports. It is stated that the request will be sent considering that Mladic is seriously ill, something that has been pointed out by the members of his family and his defense. Tanjug was told at the Serbian Justice Ministry that the Ministry would also support the defense counsel’s proposal to, if necessary, grant Mladic temporary release so that he could receive medical treatment in Serbia.

Vucic, Thaci, Mogherini to have informal meeting in Brussels (B92)

On Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci will meet in Brussels. The informal meeting is organized by the head of European diplomacy Federica Mogherini. According to B92’s Marina Maksimovic, who is reporting from Brussels, the informal meeting will take shape of a working breakfast that will begin at 08:30 hours CET, while the participants will later in the day hold a press conference. European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic, meanwhile, told a press conference that Vucic, Thaci, and Mogherini will exchange opinions during an informal meeting, and prepare a new form of dialogue.

REGIONAL PRESS

Leaders of SNSD, DNS, SP will demand from RS Assembly to adopt document on neutral military status (RTRS/TV1)

Leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik, leader of DNS Marko Pavic and leader of SP Petar Djokic held a meeting in Banja Luka on Tuesday. After the meeting, the officials revealed that the ruling coalition in the RS will demand from the RS Assembly to adopt a document on a neutral military status. The leaders stated that this issue will be discussed at the first session of the RS Assembly this autumn. The leaders announced that among other things, RS MPs will discuss which officials signed documents to speed B&H’s road to NATO, as well as the issue of suspension of previously adopted Declaration on the road to NATO. The reporter noted that thus, the RS Assembly is expected to assume the obligation on further demilitarization of B&H and finally, adopt a document on neutral military status. Addressing media after the meeting, Dodik stressed that Serbia already adopted a decision on a neutral military status and that the RS is yet to adopt such document. Commenting on the decision of B&H Constitutional Court (CC) on registration of military property Veliki Zep in Han Pijesak, Dodik, Pavic and Djokic reiterated that the decision is unconstitutional and legally groundless. The officials said that the RS prepares a response to legal violence of judicial institutions of B&H and that is adoption of amendments to a law, stipulating that there will be no registration of the military property at request of bodies outside of the RS, without the consent of the RS Assembly. Besides, the officials said that without the consent of the ruling majority, the RS Assembly will not discuss the interpellation of the opposition on work of the RS government, which they characterized as an attempt to destabilize the RS. According to Dodik, the RS government already responded through its periodic and annual reports, which is why members of the ruling parties will not support putting this issue on the agenda of a session of the RS Assembly. During the press conference, Dodik reminded of growth of economic indicators in the RS and emphasized that during the first seven months of 2017, the RS registered increase of revenues even without intervention of international financial institutions. Dodik concluded that bearing in mind the aforementioned economic indicators, the interpellation of the opposition is groundless as well as an audit report of the Supreme Office for the RS Public Sector Auditing, which he characterized as tendentious and made for political purpose. In this regard, he called on Chief Auditor of the Supreme Office for the RS Public Sector Auditing Dusko Snjegota to resign, or else he will be removed.

Dodik also said that the RS will not change earlier conditions regarding the Transport Community Treaty, i.e. rotation of competent representatives of B&H and harmonization of a decision on proposed projects in B&H. “What we demand is that the decision on accepting the Transport Community within the Council of Ministers includes agreement of three governments. That means activation of the Coordination Mechanism, which stipulates that representing in the Transport Community and deciding on projects must be reached through consensus”, Dodik added.

Snjegota: Information in audit report are true (Nezavisne/RTRS)

In a statement given to Nezavisne novine, Chief Auditor of the Supreme Office for the RS Public Sector Auditing Dusko Snjegota stated that he remains firm about stances presented in the audit report on the state of the RS Budget. Snjegota stressed that information presented in the report is true, while representatives of the opposition in the RS strongly opposed the aforementioned request.

Leader of PDP Branislav Borenovic, leader of SDS Vukota Govedarica and leader of NDP Dragan Cavic held separate press conferences on Tuesday and said that the request for Snjegota’s removal is a precedent and that it violates legal and constitutional order of the RS. According to the leaders, the resignation or removal of Snjegota is unacceptable.

Reacting to the ruling coalition’s announcements related to the Euro-Atlantic integration of the RS and B&H in general, Govedarica stated that NATO is not a paramount issue. “I do not see who is asking us to join NATO at the moment. However, it is obviously that the man (Milorad Dodik) wants to engage the RS in conflict because he has nothing else to offer to people living in the RS”, Govedarica assessed. According to Govedarica, there is no need for such a declaration. Borenovic assessed that the RS authorities are now using B&H Constitutional Court (CC)’s decision on military property for political purposes. Borenovic considers there are more important issues to currently deal with than it is the issue of NATO membership. Cavic criticized the RS authorities for speaking about registration of military property, which he still finds unacceptable, while they are not speaking about property that tycoon Buda Stankovic “and similar to him are taking away from citizens of the RS”.

On the other hand, members of SDA said that there is no alternative to B&H’s joining NATO and that that is one of the most important foreign policy goals. SDA also emphasized that when it comes to registration of military property on to state of B&H, everyone must abide by that decision made by B&H’s Constitutional Court. Speaker of the B&H House of Representatives and member of SDA Sefik Dzaferovic said that no decision made at entity level can affect or change a decision made at state level.

Inzko attends roundtable discussing status of Serbs in HNC (TV1/FTV)

A roundtable titled ‘Non-constituent status of Serbs in Constitution of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton’ was held on Tuesday. It was concluded that the decision of the Constitutional Court of B&H, as well as the decision of former High Representative Paddy Ashdown, according to which Serbs in this canton are equal as other peoples in B&H, is not being implemented. High Representative Valentin Inzko, who attended the event, said that non-constituent status of Serbs in HNC means defeat of institutions and rule of law. He further noted that this decision is very important and that all cantons are requested to respect the decision on constituent status and equality of all peoples. Unfortunately, he added, the decision has not been implemented by some cantons yet. President of Coordination of Board of Serb Organizations in Mostar Dusan Golo said that the main problems Serbs are facing in this canton refer to employment, financing of cultural institutions, education and use of alphabet and ethnic group of subjects. According to him, the employment issue is crucial and only a few Serbs are employed in public companies and institutions. Representatives of SDA and HDZ B&H were invited to attend the roundtable but they did not show up. SDP’s delegate in HNC Assembly Vesna Sardazic, the only Serb delegate, claims that she sent amendments to the HNC Constitution a year ago but they have not been included in the agenda by now. She hopes the amendments will be on the agenda at the next Assembly session. Professor Mile Dmicic calls for securing of constituent status of Serbs, which will help solving basic life issues. The reporter concludes that Ashdown’s and B&H CC’s decision is being ignored and rights of Serbs, guaranteed by the FB&H Constitution, are neglected. Participants agreed that Serbs are still not treated as constituent peoples in constitutions of some cantons and urged cantonal authorities to urgently correct this injustice. The Coordination of Serb Associations in Mostar requested the cantonal authorities to make sure the HNC Constitution treats Serbs as constituent people as well as to make sure this is implemented in field as well.

SIPA is arresting members of Wahhabi movement (Dnevni avaz)

The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) of B&H is conducting an operation aimed at arresting members of the Wahhabi movement in B&H. Dnevni avaz learns that the operation is being carried out in Sarajevo’s Buca Potok district and that the SIPA surrounded a house of one of suspects. Spokeswoman for SIPA Kristina Jozic confirmed for ‘the daily that the SIPA is carrying out certain activities on order of the B&H Court and the B&H Prosecutor’s Office arguing that “at this moment we cannot release other information to public”. The daily learns that SIPA in fact raided the house of 23-year old Jasmin Hadzic. “Premises that are being raided are brought in connection with a person that has been deported to B&H from area of Republic of Austria”, said the B&H Prosecutor’s Office, which could not reveal more details in interest of the investigation.

Dimitrov: The process for resolving the name dispute has just begun (Meta)

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov, did not want comment on exactly what was said at this morning’s meeting with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias. He said it would not be correct to comment that they would only discuss confidence building measures, taking into account that trust is crucial to good relations. “It’s necessary to determine what is most important for Greece in this matter, to explain what is most important for the Republic of Macedonia. It is clear that the process, both formally and substantially, is under the auspices of the United Nations. The negotiation process has begun, after Nimetz’s visit and after his meeting with Kotzias in Brussels, and we will see how long it will last and how intensive it will be”, said Dimitrov. He emphasized that the new government has begun a series of serious corrective measures in accordance with the Interim Accord. “This ministry and this government take seriously the obligations that we have undertaken. We seriously understand the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia and we will be very principled and very firm in regards to the excursion that happened in Canada”, said Dimitrov, pointing out that Macedonia does not like maps of big countries, but a map of a Greater Europe. When asked if there was still optimism about joining NATO by the end of the year, he said enthusiasm builds high expectations and pushes us forward, however, that membership does not only depend on us, but also on Greece. It also depends on how fast we will manage to take the criticism from the Warsaw Summit, which relates to accountability, the rule of law and freedom of the media. “The key issue is not when, but whether we want to strengthen our future as a society and a nation, so that we do not wonder every other day whether it will be and what will happen to Macedonia. In conditions when the region is overwhelmed, it is important for us to take our fate into our own hands and to do everything we can”, said Dimitrov.

Anevski hands in his resignation due to family reasons (Meta)

The President of the Council of Public Prosecutors, Petar Anevski announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing from his position as president due to personal and family reasons, and he would not comment further on his decision. He added that he resignation as President of the Council has nothing to do with other officials who have resigned in recent weeks. The Council will consider his resignation at a session on Thursday. Anevski was re-elected as president of the Council of Public Prosecutors in September, last year, and was in office for another term.

Ljiljana Spasoska is appointed as Acting Public Prosecutor (Meta)

The Council of Public Prosecutors has appointed Liljana Spasoska as an Acting Public Prosecutor which will assume the office of the discharged Marko Zvrlevski until the appointment of a new public prosecutor of Republic of Macedonia. Even according to the Public Prosecution’s annual schedule she was appointed as Zvrlevski’s deputy. The parliament dismissed Zvrlevski on 17 August. On 22 August, the government commenced a procedure for appointment of a new Public Prosecutor i.e. it proposed the parliament to publish an advertisement for appointment of a new public prosecutor. The government’s proposal was put on the agenda of the first incoming session of the parliament set for 4 September.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

As Crisis Brews in the Balkans, the West Looks On (Stratfor, by Cameron Munter, 29 August 2017)

In the first six months of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, five foreign policy challenges have dominated the national and international spotlight. China’s expanding economic and military role, Russia’s tenuous relations with Europe and the Middle East, ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Syria, threats stemming from North Korea and Venezuela, and Europe’s future amid rising populist movements in the United Kingdom and France have taken center stage among the world’s policymakers. Through it all, it has been easy to forget that, not so long ago, much of the world’s attention was fixed on the Balkans. As war raged on Europe’s doorstep, many feared the resulting instability would ignite a wider conflict. The horrific fighting and lives sacrificed, particularly in Bosnia (from 1992 to 1995) and Kosovo (in 1999), eroded decades of achievement across the region. And the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics — a symbol of world peace and collaboration — seemed like a distant memory. Today, the wars that brought an end to Yugoslavia are also fading from view. The last major act of violence in the area — the burning of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade in 2008, an event I recall vividly having served as the American ambassador at the time — happened almost a decade ago. In the years since, the challenges of the Balkans have slipped from the front pages, as well as from the minds of most leaders with a stake in the region. And yet, many of the underlying problems plaguing the Balkans are still unsolved. The Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war in 1995 provide a rickety and often unworkable structure for self-governance; Serbia and Kosovo have not yet reconciled, a necessary step if both are to achieve their self-proclaimed goal of membership in the European Union; domestic challenges still linger in Macedonia and in EU member state Croatia; and the region’s best and brightest are leaving in search of opportunity elsewhere. Meanwhile, the region’s enormous potential for economic development, from tourism to innovation in information technology, is being explored only marginally. Without question, geopolitical issues and ethnic tensions are bubbling to the surface in the Balkans once again — to the region’s potential peril. The question is, will Western leaders take notice and step up in time?

Eager for Economic Aid

The good news is there’s hope for progress, and in this case, it starts with the economy. The Western Balkans need economic support, as was made clear at a recent meeting of the Berlin process adherents in Trieste, which focused on regional economic integration. To this end, the European Commission plans to channel 48 million euros (nearly $57 million) into new financing opportunities in the private sector that will promote connectivity projects, support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and boost regional economic cooperation. These efforts are intended to establish a framework that could lead to deeper collaboration and away from beggar-thy-neighbor policies by countries competing for handouts from the European Union. At the same time, there have been many cases of business leaders who haven’t let borders get in the way of their work, spurring the drive for closer collaboration ever forward. External parties are making a mark on the region’s economies as well. China, for instance, has shown significant interest in investing in the Balkans’ infrastructure as part of its Belt and Road Initiative — an ambitious, multinational program that has become a policy priority for Beijing. China already has had a discernible impact on several projects in the region, including a high-speed rail line connecting Belgrade and Budapest; the Adriatic highway, which will link Albania, Montenegro and EU members Greece and Italy; and the port of Piraeus, which a Chinese company has purchased to create a shipping route from Greece through the Western Balkans to EU markets.

The Solution Starts at Home

But now, more than ever, the Balkans are interested in engaging more closely with the West to help address the region’s budding problems. European leaders, most notably Germany, continue to watch the region as Russia maintains its presence — to the consternation of some observers — in Serbia’s energy sector. Despite its often-difficult relationship with the region, the United States will need to make its presence known there once again. After all, Washington has considerable interests in the Balkans, particularly the NATO-led Kosovo Force and foreign direct investments. (According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States invested $147 million in the Western Balkans from 2003 to 2012.) Moreover, it is equally important that the people of the Balkans have a clear and accurate understanding of the consequences of the rising influence of China, which will be active in the region for years to come. This is not to say that foreign actors are the panacea to the region’s emerging issues. Rather, it’s crucial that not only governments but also key societal players in the Balkans — from businesses to universities to nongovernmental organizations — work with outside forces to help shape the future of the region. Resolution begins from within.  Indeed, some measure of hope can be taken from the fact that Belgrade and Pristina have opened a dialogue intended to ease tension between them. Meanwhile, Macedonia’s new government, which rose to power in June, has already made great strides in improving relations with its neighbors by addressing possible solutions to a dispute with Greece over the recognition of Macedonia’s name; by pledging increased cooperation between Skopje and Tirana; and, after two decades of negotiation, by signing a friendship treaty with Bulgaria. Nevertheless, this progress will need to accelerate as other problematic developments, including heightened flows of migrants to the region from Africa and the Middle East, exacerbate the rise of the Muslim, Croatian and Serbian nationalist voices that underpin ethnic and social discontent. The Western Balkans will better cope with these challenges only with assistance from the rest of the world. The Balkans could still prove to be a surprising success story in the years ahead. But as the region drifts beyond the attention of prominent global leaders, its chances of sinking back into the instability of its past will only increase if the world continues to watch from the sidelines.