LOCAL PRESS

Stefanovic: Only sovereign U.N. members can join Interpol (Beta)

It is Serbia’s position that only sovereign members of the United Nations can apply for membership in Interpol, Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said in Beijing.

According to a press release from the Interior Ministry, Stefanovic told the second-day session of the Interpol General Assembly that no geographical entity under international administration had ever become a member of Interpol.

“Interpol should seek to avoid politicizing its work, which is also strictly prohibited by the constitution of the organization. Referring to membership in the United Nations represents the only completely certain way to establish the status of a state and sidestep the trap of politicization,” Stefanovic said. He said any reading of existing Interpol documents toward admitting territories with undefined or disputed status, like entities under international administration regimes, or whose final status has not been resolved, would be a dangerous precedent and a threat to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states.

“In this context, Interpol would be moving outside its clearly and precisely established jurisdiction. In particular, it would mean violating the prohibition, established in the organization’s supreme legal document, its constitution, of taking any activity or intervention on issues that have a political background,” Stefanovic said.

The Serbian delegation is glad that the outline decision and the guidelines are very specific and state outright that only U.N. members can file for membership in Interpol, the minister noted.

Appeals Court frees Delta Holding owner Miskovic of some charges (Vecernje Novosti, RTS)

The Appeals Court in Belgrade freed Delta Holding owner Miroslav Miskovic of charges of inflicting damages on road companies and annulled a lower court sentence of five years of jail time and eight million Dinars in fines on charges of aiding his son Marko in tax evasion. The Appeals Court also ordered a fresh trial before the Organized Crime Section of the Belgrade Higher Court (a.k.a. the Special Court) on tax evasion charges over violations of criminal procedures, violations of the Serbian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The ruling, published on the Appeals Court web site, said the judges took the decision unanimously.

Miskovic’s arrest in December 2012, just six months after the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) came to power was a step widely believed to have had a key role in the rise in popularity of Aleksandar Vucic who was First Deputy Prime Minister at the time and his rise to become a key figure in the Serbian authorities, much more important than the Prime Minister at the time Ivica Dacic who stayed in that post up to 2014.

In that early period in power, Vucic insisted on dealing with local tycoons who were viewed by the public as having become rich in a suspicious manner and/or had influence on the political decisions of earlier authorities. Miskovic’s arrest had a strong symbolic importance at the time because he was perceived as the most influential Serbian businessman.

Vucic could not resist not commenting on the court’s decision, which he often does – although, of course, not either as Prime Minister, or now as the President he is supposed to do so.

As Vecernje Novosti carried, Vucic, apparently angrily, said to the daily: “There are the tycoons, let them run the state and steal everything that has been created in the meantime!”

Since he is not exactly known as a man of few words, it is certain that Vucic will comment on the decision in the case of Miskovic in the coming days – and in an even more comprehensive manner.

Chairman of the Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun told RTS that the decision of the Appellate Court on the final acquittal of Miroslav Miskovic was not a good message and expressed the hope that it would be different in the final form.

Milovan Drecun points out that he is completely surprised by such behavior of the court.

“I do not want to interfere, but I do not think it’s a good message, we have to have completely different behavior, the responsibility of those who are obligated to enforce the law, especially those who should sanction those who break the law,” Drecun said. He said that if we do not have orderly system then we will not have the expected development and improvement of the living conditions and added that he understands the reasonably vicious reaction of President Vucic. According to him, the influence of tycoons on the state in the period prior to the arrival of the SNS in power was enormous.

“They created a dinar course, influenced the passing of laws, economic movements, in order to increase their personal wealth. It was about time to stop all that and send a strong message from the state and show that they cannot do that anymore” said Drecun.

However, as he added, it seems that the attempt of a strong reform of the society and the state, creating a more favorable environment for economic development, does not properly follow certain courts or individuals in the courts and prosecutors’ offices.

“This significantly slows down reforms that we are trying to implement very intensively” said Drecun.

Campaign against former Belgrade Mayor Djilas heating up following speculation about his candidacy (VIP, Vecernje Novosti)

Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali continued on Wednesday his attacks on former Mayor Dragan Djilas, repeating his accusations that he left the city in 2013 with a public debt of more than a billion Euro and citing more examples of how the current city administration is allegedly superior to the Djilas administration. The cause for the sudden series of attacks on Djilas became clear when Vecernje Novosti reported that Djilas has allegedly decided to run in the coming city elections and has earmarked 10 million Euro for the campaign.

The opposition Democratic Party (DS) which Djilas headed from 2012 to 2014 said on Tuesday that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ordered his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) city councilors and their Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) coalition partners to launch attacks on tycoon Djilas. Even though Djilas said he is “still considering” his nomination, it’s obvious that Vucic’s signal let loose the machinery with the aim of lowering the former Mayor’s chance of election even before the city elections are called.

Vecernje Novosti said that Djilas is drawing up a strategy for the election battle in the capital and has set aside 10 million Euro for his campaign.

“According to our information, he has contacted a number of opposition leaders through people he trusts, asking them to rally around him and support him in the race for Mayor,” the daily said.

“According to unofficial reports, Djilas could meet by the end of this week with Sasa Jankovic, Vuk Jeremic and Dragan Sutanovac. Allegedly, an agreement has already been reached with

Movement of Free Citizens leader Jankovic, former Foreign Minister Jeremic but Djilas wants to rally a wide front which would include parties of both the democratic and so-called patriotic opposition. Sources said that contact has been made indirectly with the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), the Dosta je Bilo movement, Dveri and a number of smaller opposition parties,” Vecernje Novosti said.

“It’s especially important to Djilas to have the DS behind him because that party has a developed infrastructure and is the only one that can cover almost 1,200 polling stations which will be the number at the Belgrade city elections,” it said. Before publication the daily’s claims reached Vucic who is skilled at conducting campaigns and probably believes that Djilas could be a serious contender from opposition ranks. That is also why Mayor Mali and city Manager Goran Vesic attacked Djilas on Tuesday accusing him of bad management in the city.

Brnabic: Frequent dialog requisite for advancing regional cooperation (Beta)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Sept. 27 told a delegation of the British Parliament’s House of Lords that frequent dialog to resolve open issues was required in order to advance regional political and economic cooperation among West Balkan countries. She also stressed that Serbia was deeply committed to the Berlin Process and the implementation of agreed-upon regional infrastructure projects, the Serbian government said in a press release. Brnabic also said economic reform, regional stability and admission into the European Union remain the goals of the Serbian cabinet, the statement read. She thanked the envoys for the United Kingdom’s support to projects being carried out by the Serbian government as part of modernization, boosting the efficiency of state administration and creating the framework for providing electronic services to citizens. The PM stressed that membership in the European Union was also a priority for the Serbian government, saying she was pleased that the United Kingdom, in spite of Brexit, voiced readiness to help Serbia along the EU integration path.

Serbia joins EU battle group (Beta)

On Sept. 27, Serbia became a part of the European Union’s battle group HELBROC, which consists of Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece and Ukraine.

The note on Serbia’s joining the technical agreement on founding HELBROC was signed in Athens by the Chief of General Staff of Greece, Evangelos Apostolakis, during the visit by Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin, the Defense Ministry has stated.

“As you see, the Army of Serbia is held in high regard and all these countries have accepted our army’s participation without any conditions. The participation of our military will be at the level of one platoon of military police, up to five staff officers and, naturally, representatives of the office for civilian-military cooperation, and our participation will be operative until 2020,” Vulin said.

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kamaenos declared readiness for continued support and exchange of experience in the process of European integration, especially in Serbia’s engagement in the EU’s battle group HELBROC, where Greece is the leading country.

Vulin said this was important testimony of the operative capabilities of the Army of Serbia and great recognition of the state policy “which has managed to preserve military neutrality” and make sure that military neutrality in no way prevents the army from participating in the international fight against terrorism and regional initiatives, such as HELBROC.

During the visit to Athens, Vulin also met with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier on the Syntagma Square, and is scheduled to meet with Archbishop of Athens and the whole of Greece, Hieronymus II, on Sept. 28.

NATO “concerned” over Thaci’s rehashed “Kosovo army” plan (Vecernje Novosti)

NATO is concerned about a proposal to turn Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an armed force without constitutional changes, writes the daily Vecernje Novosti.

“The secretary general also conveyed this message directly to the Kosovo authorities. He also urged the Kosovo authorities to stay in close contact with Belgrade. NATO’s position on this issue has not changed,” reads the reply that the Belgrade newspaper received from NATO officials in Brussels.

It was announced earlier from the cabinet of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci that, unless they are able to secure the necessary Serb votes in favor of constitutional amendments, a draft law on the transformation of the KSF into an army would be sent to the Kosovo Assembly.

This draft was also sent to the Assembly in March, but was then withdrawn under pressure from Western countries and NATO.

“We welcome the willingness to involve all communities in a debate about the future of the KSF. NATO has been supporting the development of the KFS as a professional and growing multiethnic force for years. The structure, mandate and mission of the KSF are issues for local Kosovo institutions in accordance with their constitutional law,” a NATO official told the daily.

That the formation of an army is the primary goal of the newly formed government in Pristina is evidenced in Minister of Security Forces Rustem Berisha saying in Tirana on Wednesday – where he met with the Albanian defense minister – that “the strengthening of security institutions is a priority, which involves the transformation of the KSF into an armed force.”

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Zvizdic holds meetings with DF and SDP Caucuses to hear their suggestions re set of laws on excise duties (TV1)

Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic held separate meetings on Wednesday with members of SDP and DF Caucuses in B&H House of Representatives, with whom he discussed a set of laws on excise duties i.e. support to the new proposal of the law. Head of DF Caucus Damir Becirovic said after the meeting that he would first like to praise Zvizdic for selecting this approach. However, he stressed that DF’s stance on this matter remains unchanged and that they will wait for the new proposal of the law to be sent to the parliamentary procedure, which is expected either at the end of October or at the beginning of November. “We received more detailed information than we had before, we got information about sections, costs of sections that will be constructed, but I repeat, our stance remains unchanged…”, said Becirovic. SDP leader Nermin Niksic stated following the meeting that he would like to thank Zvizdic for making this step forward and selecting the new approach. “We clearly said that the text of the law which was in parliamentary procedure before is dead, as far as we are concerned”, he emphasized adding that SDP’s stance on this matter depends solely on the content of the new proposal of the law. Zvizdic deems that the talks he had were very useful, explaining that his intention was to present benefits that the excise duties carry along and to hear suggestions of MPs. Speaking about new features of the proposal of the law, Zvizdic emphasized that there would be a higher degree of transparency in collection and spending of funds. The B&H CoM Chairman will continue talks on this subject with other MPs in the following days. SDS stated that they will maintain their stance on objecting excise duties.

RS insists on rotating representation of relevant entity and state ministers in Transport Community (FTV)

Republika Srpska (RS) is not giving up on its request on rotating representation of relevant ministers in the Transport Community. RS Minister of Transport and Communications Nedjo Trninic said that Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Minister of Communications and Transport Ismir Jusko has no authority over the area of transport, unlike the entities, noting that he will insist on the application of the Coordination Mechanism in this case.

“I do not know what the state of B&H will represent when it has no authority over that part. We can agree on things in coordination,” Trninic underlined.

RS President Milorad Dodik stated that the RS is not in the Transport Community.

“We want to be in it and we will be in it. There are ways for us to achieve all of this. Ultimately, we will somehow hold out until 2018 and none of these people will no longer be in the joint institutions,” Dodik stressed. On the other hand, Minister Jusko did not want to comment on Dodik and Trninic’s statements, claiming that the Coordination Mechanism has nothing to do with the Transport Community and that excise duties on fuel are the only known condition of the European Union (EU). “While we are playing ping pong in giving statements, other countries will wisely prepare projects and use all funds of the European Commission (EC) that are at their disposal. I do not want us to be outside that team,” Minister Jusko underlined. FTV concluded that it is good that Dodik said that he will support an increase in excise duties on fuel, unless he conditions this with the Coordination Mechanism which, according to FTV, he is often using to condition all important processes in B&H.

Izetbegovic meets Ambassador Ferguson (Dnevni list)

Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Bakir Izetbegovic met with UK Ambassador Edward Ferguson. Izetbegovic and Ferguson exchanged opinions about the current political situation in B&H, with a special focus on implementation of reforms and meeting conditions on road to Euro-Atlantic integration. Two collocutors assessed that an early pre-election campaign additionally complicates relations among key political stakeholders and that the focus should return on implementation of reform processes. They jointly concluded it is necessary to make additional efforts at all levels in order to meet conditions for activation of the Membership Action Plan by end of the year, which would represent a strong message that it is possible to make important steps in B&H. Izetbegovic stated that a renewed involvement of the international community is necessary in order to resolve key problems and issues that currently burden political relations in B&H.

Dodik, Ivantsov discuss resolution on military neutrality (RTRS)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik met with the Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Petr Ivantsov on Wednesday in Banja Luka. Dodik informed Ivantsov about the current political situation in the RS, concluding that the situation in the RS is stable and all institution function in line with the law and the RS Constitution. During the meeting the officials also discussed the announced resolution on military neutrality, which should be discussed at the next session of the RS National Assembly (RSNA).

“The RS should follow the steps of Serbia regarding the matter of military neutrality, and a resolution should be discussed, because, as I am informed, that is also the will of the people in the RS”, said Ivantsov.

Dodik added that the people in the RS support the resolution on military neutrality and that they will be given an opportunity to confirm this at the next referendum about B&H’s joining NATO. “They want to take 20 military barracks and not to ask anyone from Banja Luka if he should put NATO troops in the Kozara military barracks. Then there is no need for the RS to make any kinds of decisions, because you have those people in Sarajevo that will gladly accept this and just like that, one morning you are a member of NATO. Do people here want that? I believe they do not. That is why my position is the way it is in this matter”, said Dodik. It is still unsure what the position of the opposition leaders in the RS will be in this matter.

“I have a feeling this is another big politicization of the matter, in an attempt to accomplish some other big plans. I do not know the content of this resolution and cannot give a comment about it”, said PDP leader Branislav Borenovic.

B&H Minister of Security and SDS member Dragan Mektic said that SDS will not support this resolution, because then the RS will fall into a spiral of blindly following the steps of Serbia in all matters. Military experts in the RS claim that the opposition in the RS will have to make up its mind about the resolution, because B&H will not be able to join NATO if the people in the RS do not support that move.

Ambassador Ivantsov meets with Cubrilovic, Stevandic and Govedarica (RTRS)

The Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Petr Ivantsov met in separate meetings on Wednesday with Speaker of Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly (NA) Nedeljko Cubrilovic, Deputy Speaker of the RSNA Nenad Stevandic and Leader of SDS Vukota Govedarica.

Cubrilovic informed Ivantsov that the RSNA functions stably and normally, and that that was shown during the previous session, when the opposition representatives tried to obstruct the work of the RSNA. Ivantsov discussed the current political situation in the RS and in B&H with Stevandic and Govedarica.

“The base of the RS is of course stability and it is a result of the fulfillment of all democratic procedures, including the parliamentary procedures. It is unacceptable for the incidents that happened during the RSNA session to be allowed in any case or ‘scenario’ “, said Ivantsov. Govedarica thanked Russia for its support to the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). He underlined that Russia is a guarantor of survival of the RS. In a statement issued by SDS, it was underlined that during the meeting with Ivantsov, Govedarica emphasized that the laws should be ruling the RS and not people violating laws. The SDS leader also stated that it was never intention of RS President Milorad Dodik to organize a referendum on the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of B&H and that his goal was to manipulate Serbs in the RS. Govedarica stressed that neither the Court nor Prosecutor’s Office of B&H are prepared to successfully fight against organized and economic crime and corruption, but were very active and biased in war crimes cases. Collocutors also discussed demographic situation in the RS and concluded that it is necessary to introduce measures that will prevent people from leaving this entity.

SDS leader Govedarica: SNSD’s claim of ‘Macedonian scenario’ in RS is pure nonsense (RTRS)

SDS President Vukota Govedarica asked if he is part of the ‘Macedonian scenario’ of overthrowing Republika Srpska (RS) authorities as claimed by SNSD, answered by saying “to put it simply, that is pure nonsense”, arguing it is the usual practice of the RS authorities, which labels the opposition as traitors thus causing fear among the people in an attempt to show it is only the authorities that can protect them. In this context Govedarica says the authorities are causing fears because they are aware they have brought the people to verge of existence, which is why many people are leaving the RS. Asked by the daily to explain the ‘taking over’ of the RSNA building, the SDS leader says “we did not take over the building, instead we blocked adoption of the daily agenda by using the model of passive resistance”. According to Govedarica, no ruling party in the RS ever refuted the opposition’s demands, “nobody from them ever said we are not telling the truth”. He went on to say that nobody had the right to remove from the agenda the audit report on RS budget because the law clearly stipulates the deadline by which the audit report must be discussed in the RSNA.

Asked if the situation could turn violent, Govedarica says it was the RS President, who started “this avalanche”, instead of protecting the Office for Audit. Regarding possibility of the situation becoming violent, Govedarica says ‘we’ showed we do not want violence, and want the Constitution and the laws to be respected, arguing he is worried with statements of the RS Interior Minister. “He has sent a clear message to everyone – if the ruling authorities are endangered, he is prepared for most serious forms of repressive measures, added Govedarica.

SDA, HDZ B&H and SNSD are parties with highest ranking (Fena)

According to a public survey carried out by ‘Ipsos’ agency in mid-September, SDA remains the most popular party in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with 31% support, followed by HDZ B&H (21%), SDP B&H (14%), DF (11%) and SBB B&H (7%). In the Republika Srpska, the most popular parties are SNSD (53%), SDS (22%), DNS (8%), PDP (7%).

B&H CEC says 2018 general elections will be held even without changes to Law on Elections (BHT1)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) claimed that the general elections will be held in 2018 but the reporter wondered how this can be done unless changes to the Law on Elections of B&H are adopted. The reporter also noted that a proposal of B&H CEC is not in line with the proposal of the Croat People’s Assembly (HNS) because, as they claimed, it is not related to same matters. The reporter noted that one of provisions is related to prevention of abuse of declaration of ethnic affiliation. B&H CEC noted that its proposal is only about technical improvements. Member of B&H CEC Branko Petric stated that fundamental changes, related to the implementation of decisions of the Court of B&H are political issues and are not included in B&H CEC’s proposal. The Coalition ‘Pod Lupom’ has no doubt that proposals of political officials must be made with the goal to implement court decisions and not with the goal to cause even more discrimination in B&H society. Dario Jovanovic from Coalition ‘Pod Lupom’ argued that the implementation of election results might be brought in question. Tijana Cvjeticanin from ‘Istinomjer’ said that there is a real possibility that the provisions of the Law on Elections of B&H might be invalid unless an agreement is reached. Cvjeticanin also assessed that HDZ B&H and SDA act as if those two parties are the only two legitimate sides in talks on changes to the Law on Elections of B&H. Drazena Lepir from Association ‘Ostra nula’ said that not holding the general elections would result not only in delays related to the European integration of B&H but it would also result in setbacks related to democracy in general.

SDA calls on SBB B&H to leave coalition or stop with obstructions (Oslobodjenje)

SDA issued a press statement on Wednesday saying that postponement of the session of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament on Tuesday has clearly shown true intentions of SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic.

“Holding of a session at which important issues were supposed to be discussed was conditioned by the SBB representatives with their demand for change in the Steering Board of RTVFB&H and composition of the Independent Board of police structure,” stated SDA and called on SBB leader Fahrudin Radoncic and his party members to stop with obstructions or to leave the existing coalition.

SBB B&H responded by saying that the party of Bakir Izetbegovic is trying to distract the public from another family affair and his close family members, who are to blame for the fact that Sarajevo has not had proper water supply in months. Also, stated SBB B&H, “SDA has shown it does not have intention to establish legally prescribed supervision in the said institutions and the Development Bank, which was agreed by the Collegium of the FB&H Parliament”. The party called on SDA to stop with privatization of RTVFB&H, as well as police-financial sector.

SBB B&H: OSA is under control of Izetbegovic and his wife (Nezavisne)

SBB Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) issued a press statement, saying that the Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) of B&H, as a strategically important intelligence agencies, is under complete control of SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic and his wife Sebija Izetbegovic, who are using it to discipline all their enemies inside SDA and elsewhere. The party also stated that President of the Constitutional Court of B&H Mirsad Ceman and his deputy Seada Palavric are former SDA members, while son of SDA Vice-president Sefik Dzaferovic was appointed cantonal prosecutor in Sarajevo and cousin of another SDA Vice-president Denis Zvizdic is prosecutor Dubravko Campara. SBB B&H also called on Izetbegovic to leave the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ organization and present paperwork on ‘Al Shiddi’ business transactions.

Croatia

Medved: Vucic has no basis to comment on Croatian laws (Hina)

Croatian Defense Minister Tomo Medved has said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has no basis to comment on the adoption of Croatian laws, adding that Serbia, as he claims, was an aggressor, and Croatia led a defensive war and won.

“Mr. Vucic has no basis to enter neither in to the domain of the Republic of Croatia nor comment on the adoption and regulation of our laws,” said Tomo Medved, commenting on the statement of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said that the adoption of the Law on Croatian Defenders “opens Pandora’s box”. Commenting on a parliamentary debate on a bill on war veterans’ rights, Medved said that most of the measures envisaged by the bill would take effect once the bill is adopted.

Montenegro

Demarcation done deal for Darmanovic, impossible for Pacolli (CDM)

Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic said that the demarcation with Kosovo was a done deal for Montenegro. Daramnovic met the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of Kosovo, Behgjet Pacolli on Tuesday.

“We understand the internal political processes in Kosovo. In this sense, we have nothing new to say. During the meeting, I expressed the conviction that the Kosovo institutions will decide to ratify the agreement, since the borders that existed in the former SFRY were confirmed by two commissions. As before, we will show patience in the upcoming period, with the expectation that Kosovo institutions will have a normal democratic capacity and will end ratification in a reasonable period,” Darmanovic said.

Commenting on this issue, Pacolli said that Kosovo authorities were aware of the signing a demarcation agreement, but that the difficulties Kosovo people face should be born in mind.

“Namely, we have quite tough composition of parliament and the ratification of this agreement is most likely impossible today. It must be the right day for that, the right time to meet again and shake hands with each other. We are just asking to go forward, not to make this issue something that will stop us from developing our relationship,” Pacolli said.

Darmanovic said that relations between the two countries are very good and friendly, with the possibility of their further improvement. According to him, special attention is dedicated to the topics of constitutional recognition of the Montenegrin national minority in Kosovo.

“We are confident that the issue will be solved in the Kosovo parliament soon,” the Montenegrin minister said.

The officials also discussed continuing cooperation in the economy area. They agreed that energy sector and tourism had a great potential for further cooperation. The dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is also supported.

“We support a strong dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Every step forward in this direction leads to the stabilization of our region,” said Darmanovic.

fYROM

Davutoglu commends Macedonia’s progress, says its future is in NATO (MIA)

Macedonia is already a successful story, making tangible progress and being a factor of stability in the Balkans, Turkish MP and former foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on Wednesday in Skopje. He congratulated Zaev on taking the PM’s office and his wisdom for ‘finding peaceful, stable solution to the political crisis’, which led to a formation of the new reform government.

‘Macedonia’s government is committed to reforms, vital for advancing the living standard of citizens, as well as for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration processes,’ Zaev said.

Davutoglu and Zaev agreed that Macedonia’s accession to NATO would contribute to the country’s stability and economic prosperity.

Gottemoeller: Montenegro’s entry into NATO means that the doors are open for Macedonia too (Meta)

NATO members and the international community were horrified by the violence in Parliament this April and we welcome the progress that has been made ever since, said NATO Deputy Secretary General, Rose Gottemoeller, at a joint press conference with defense ministers and foreign ministers of Macedonia, Radmila Sekerinska and Nikola Dimitrov, who are visiting NATO headquarters in Brussels. She reminded the message from the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, after meeting with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in June this year, that it is now important for all parties to overcome their differences and work constructively “to implement the necessary reforms, by strengthening good governance and rule of law in a multi-ethnic society.”

“This challenging reform agenda takes time and effort, but the country will benefit from the reforms and towards the achievement of Euro-Atlantic goals”, said Stoltenberg’s deputy.

Gottemoeller pointed out that the fact that Montenegro became the 29th member of NATO, shows that NATO’s doors are open and that the Alliance continues to support Macedonia on its path to NATO membership.

Defense and Foreign Ministers, Sekerinska and Dimitrov, at NATO Headquarters, are participating in the North Atlantic Council meeting with the Republic of Macedonia.

Court dismisses former PM Gruevski’s request to have his passport returned (MIA)

A Skopje court has dismissed a request of VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski to have the precautionary measures revoked and to have his passport returned.

“The criminal council of the department for organized crime and corruption of the Basic Court Skopje 1, acting upon a request of the accused N.G., has reached a decision dismissing his request as being unfounded,” the court said Wednesday in a press release. The precautionary measure ordering that Gruevski’s passport – including his diplomatic one – is seized temporarily, remains in force. The passport of the former premier was seized in July after Skopje’s Criminal Court approved a motion of the Special Public Prosecution in relation to a case codenamed Titanic about election fraud committed in 2013.

Albania set to pass law recognizing eight minorities, including Macedonian (MIA)

Albania recognizes the existence of eight national minorities, namely the minorities of Macedonians, Greeks, Egyptians, Vlachs, Roma, Montenegrins, Serbs and Bosnjaks.

This is included in a text of a bill on the protection of minorities in Albania. The draft-law, already being forwarded to the national parliament, foresees advancement of the rights of minorities.

Welcoming the move, the Tirana-based Macedonian Association ‘Ilinden’ underscores the fact that Albania is starting to show ‘a realistic picture’ about the minorities living in the country.

“It’s the reality of Albania when it comes to minorities. The law clearly specifies which minorities exist in Albania, there’s no recognition of a Bulgarian minority, despite the claims of some parties. All associations of the Macedonian community have been vehemently denying these claims over an alleged existence of a Bulgarian minority,” the organization says.

The first-ever law meets the recommendations of the EU on regulating the rights of the minorities in Albania.

Albania

Meta meeting with Haradinaj: Continuation of dialogue with Serbia in the interests of peace and stability in the region (ATA)

President of the Republic Ilir Meta hosted on Wednesday PM of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj.

Having congratulated Haradinaj on creation of the new govt. of Kosovo as well as on his appointment as PM of Kosovo, President Meta expressed his commitment to close cooperation with Kosovo institutions in the interests of further international recognitions as well as strengthening of European prospect.

Meta availed himself of the opportunity to praise PM Haradinaj and the new govt. of Kosovo for their willingness to continue dialogue with Serbia as a process without alternatives and to the benefit of peace and stability in the region.

President of Albania stressed the importance of regional cooperation as the key to promotion of stability, security and peace all across the region, adding that the Berlin Process is a great opportunity to increase regional cooperation and accelerate our common European prospect.

Meta appreciated the relations of NATO with Kosovo highlighting the importance of maintaining a substantial presence of KFOR to guarantee a safe environment in Kosovo and throughout the region.

Basha – Haradinaj: Full support for Kosovo on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration (ATA)

The DP head Lulzim Basha hosted on Wednesday in DP headquarters PM of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj. DP head Basha, during the conversation with PM of Kosovo Haradinaj, pledged full support for Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo. Basha describes the meeting with Ramush Haradinaj as warm and friendly, saying: I wished him success on his new duty and with plenty of responsibilities at the helm of Kosovo government” Basha goes on saying: I assured Haradinaj of DP’s full and overall support, including our contacts and relations with EPP and beyond, down the path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo as well as in the efforts of coping with other challenges.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Weakened Merkel is bad news for the Balkans (BIRN)

Like Britain’s Theresa May, Angela Merkel has come out of her general election looking a lot weaker than when she went in. Weeks ago, the talk was only of how massive her new majority would be. Now, like Mrs. May, she is back in office but not really in power. In some ways, she did worse than Mrs. May, who at least polled a respectable 43 per cent of the national vote. Mrs. Merkel, by contrast, limped home with under 33 per cent, the worst performance for the Christian Democrats, the CDU, since the late-1940s.

As the main opposition Social Democrats, the SPD, fared even more badly, there is no doubt she will head the next government. But the mathematics of assembling a majority in parliament look complex. As the SPD has refused to join a new coalition government with her, and as she cannot afford to go near the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, she will have to look for partners on the left among the Greens and on the right among the Free Democrats to get 50 per cent of the seats. Assuming this so-called Jamaican coalition ever takes shape – so named after the parties’ respective colors – it is hard to see it providing Germany – or Europe – with much direction.

For the Balkans, and for the would-be EU member states in the region especially, this is not good news.

Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are already inside the European club, and so can take more relaxed view of these goings-on. But Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia are still on the outside of the clubhouse, looking in. (The other states are so far off membership it perhaps matters to them less.)

A preoccupied, inward-looking Germany is just what they do not need.

One of the main advocates of the EU’s eastwards expansion, Britain, is already effectively out of the frame, busy trying to agree some sort of trading arrangement with Brussels before its membership card expires in the spring of 2019.

France was never much of an advocate of EU expansion, always fearing that the process would pull the EU eastwards away from its original Paris-Rhineland axis and dilute French influence.

It’s hard to imagine much energy coming from Italy or Spain, now increasingly convulsed by separatism in Catalonia.

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made a bold “state of the union” speech in mid-September hailing the revival of the European project in general and the revival of the enlargement process in particular. “The wind is in our sails,” he declared.

But Juncker delivered his upbeat speech before the wind started blowing in another direction, leading to shock result of the German election – shocking in terms of the strong showing of the anti-immigrant AfD, at least.

The idea had been that a revived France under Emmanuel Macron and a comfortably re-elected Merkel would lead this European renaissance together. But now President Macron is battling the formidable French unions over his planned economic reforms while Merkel is – where?

Whatever coalition she assembles, she will have to spend much of her time looking over her shoulder at the AfD and doing her best to make sure it does not poach any more of her right-wing voters. As for her possible Free Democrat partners, they are known for taking a very tough line on migration; they especially want speedier deportations of failed asylum seekers. It is hard to see them pushing hard for EU enlargement.

The Greens are friendlier to enlargement, but they polled less well than the Free Democrats and so would have the weakest voice in a putative “Jamaica coalition” government.

Not everything depends on the outcome of day-to-day politics coming out of Berlin, of course. Even with a preoccupied Germany led by a humbled Merkel, the enlargement process will, doubtless, inch its way forward.

But, without Berlin’s robust backing, the going is likely to be even slower than expected. The EU’s candidate states in the Balkans may have to get used to a prolonged stay in the waiting room.

Macedonia says planned register won’t replace census (BIRN)

Macedonia’s new Social Democrat-led government this week tasked the Information Ministry with starting work on a register of the population. However, this does not mean that the authorities are trying to avoid organizing a proper census, government spokesperson Mile Bosnjakovski explained.

“This tool will allow the conduct of electronic censuses, but that does not exclude a standard headcount. This is not going to supplant the need for a census, as the register has a completely different purpose,” Bosnjakovski said.

Unlike in many other countries, where headcounts are mere statistical operations, in Macedonia censuses have long involved delicate ethnic issues.

They relate above all to the number of ethnic Albanians in the country and to their frequent demands for greater rights linked to that number.

Macedonia completed its last census in 2002, shortly after a short-lived armed conflict in 2001 with ethnic Albanian insurgents had ended in a peace deal.

The 2002 census showed that 64 per cent of the population was Macedonian and 25 per cent ethnic Albanian. Roma, Turks, Serbs and other minorities made up the rest.

Based on these numbers, Albanians were granted the right to use their language as the second official language in those areas where they made up more than 20 per cent of the population.

A subsequent attempt at another nationwide headcount in 2011 ended in fiasco.

It was scrapped shortly after it began due to ethnic disputes. The main problem was whether the count should exclude people who had been absent from the country for over a year, which Albanians said was a way to reduce their numbers in the census.

Ethnic Albanians, who have left the country to work abroad in disproportionate numbers, wanted people living outside the country included in the count. However, the EU statistics agency, Eurostat, advised against this.

Macedonia’s new Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev, whose cabinet was formed in May, has long promised to complete the thorny task.

Before he was elected he said that he would do his best to organize a headcount within the first two years of his government.

Political analyst Albert Musliu said that while the new population register could help with local planning, from the economy to matters of education, a proper headcount was still needed.

He added that a census should not scare Albanians, fearing that they might lose the language rights they gained in certain areas if their numbers are fewer than expected.

“There is much internal migration from one municipality to another, so in the case of bigger migrations, some rights that are linked to those percentages could possibly be put in question,” he conceded. “However, the rule is that once rights are gained, they cannot be scrapped,” Musliu told Deutsche Welle on Tuesday.

A math professor at Skopje’s FON University, Risto Malceski, said he was not convinced that the government needed a population register, because he said such registers already exist in the Interior Ministry and in other institutions.

“I think that their (government) goal is to only show some activity,” Malcevski said.

He also believes that only a proper headcount can reveal how many Macedonian citizens actually live in the country, and how many have migrated.

According to data from the Interior Ministry, Macedonia has over 2.4 million registered citizens. But this includes those who now live aboard. Exactly how many live abroad is a subject of frequent speculation.

The most pessimistic estimate suggests that as few as 1.7 million people remain resident in Macedonia following two decades of sustained migration.