LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Europe, how come Catalonia cannot, but Kosovo can? (B92/Tanjug)

After the Catalan referendum and European Commission’s position that it was illegal, it must be clear how difficult it is to safeguard Serbia’s independence. President Aleksandar Vucic said this on Monday in Belgrade, responding to reporters’ questions during a news conference. “The question every citizen of Serbia has for the European Union today is: how come that in the case of Catalonia the referendum on independence is not valid, while in the case of Kosovo secession is allowed even without a referendum,” Vucic continued. “How did you proclaim the secession of Kosovo to be legal, even without a referendum, and how did 22 European Union countries legalize this secession, while destroying European law and the foundations of European law, on which the European policy and EU policy are based?,” Vucic asked. Tanjug is reporting that Vucic went on to publicly ask how he was supposed to explain European integration of Serbia to Serbian citizens now – although, without a doubt, Serbia sees its future in the EU, because of the type of society we striving towards, as well as for the sake of a better economy, and for other reasons. “So, how come Catalonia cannot, and Kosovo can – there will never be an answer on this given to the Serbs,” Vucic noted. Global centers of power played games they thought they could redraw borders in the Balkans because the region does not belong to the European Union – but now, when the chickens have come home to roost, the situation is very serious, he observed.

“This is the best example of the double standards and hypocrisy of the world politics,” said Vucic. He also remarked that during his visit, his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was interesting to all Western media journalists – while the meeting with Putin of Germany’s Sigmar Gabriel, the same day, was not registered by anyone. “It must be clear now how difficult it is to safeguard the independence of Serbia,” said Vucic, and added his message to everyone putting pressure on our country was to now take a vacation – because at least as far as our country is concerned, I will not listen to them anyway – let them deal with the chickens that are back home to roost.

A short while later in the day, B92 was able to receive confirmation that the president had called the prime minister, all members of her cabinet, and representatives of intelligence and security agencies for consultations. The meeting, scheduled to start at 16:15 on Monday, will deal with the Catalan independence referendum and EU’s statements regarding a lack of any parallels with the Kosovo situation.

Brnabic: Serbia respects Spain’s sovereignty (Tanjug)

Serbia respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Spain, which is a huge friend of the Republic of Serbia, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said. “Spain is a country that respects the Republic of Serbia and our positions, it was with us in very difficult moments and I would like us to respect the positions of our friends in that way,” Brnabic said in Novi Sad, where she opened a Digital Agriculture Centre at the BioSens Institute.

Dacic: Serbia supports Spain’s integrity (Beta)

Serbia supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Spain, alongside the country’s unity, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said in a comment on a referendum on Catalan independence. “Our position is clear and firm, and Spain is one of Serbia’s biggest friends,” Dacic said to reporters in Belgrade, adding that Madrid shared the same view on the territorial integrity of Serbia. The minister urged “all political actors not to toy with the issue,” adding that he couldn’t understand why some Serbian politicians had visited Barcelona and not Banja Luka.

Minister Dacic said that the Serbian stance on Catalan independence coincided with those of European institutions. Dacic added that all unilateral moves contrary to the legal and constitutional system of a state, and made without the consent of the central authorities, constituted a violation of international law. “This can happen to any state. Without international law, there is nothing to protect you but the love and grace of great powers, which is a changeable thing,” Dacic warned. He said that Kosovo had not applied for UNESCO yet, but that he was confident it would lose whenever it applied, adding that not everything can be solved by using force or money. “Kosovo’s deadlines at UNESCO are about to expire. They have not applied yet. We are waiting for them. Whenever they do, they should know that they will lose,” Dacic said to reporters in Belgrade. In a comment on a recent analysis by French President Macron and the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, saying that the European Union (EU) should open its doors to the new Western Balkans members by 2025, Dacic said that the European leaders had better discuss their own relations. “It is unclear whether the EU will survive until 2025 or not. If it does, here we come,” Dacic said, adding that he “is fed up” listening to the Balkans being described as “savage tribes that someone should let into the EU.”

Entry into the EU is a political matter, Dacic said, asking if anyone believed that Turkey had deserved to join NATO, but not the EU. “Turkey is a member of NATO, because they need it to be,” the minister said. “I think (the EU) needs us. They would rather have us there politically, than face new conflict in the Balkans,” Dacic said.

Dacic, Lavrov: Serbia, Russia relations on the rise (RTS/Tanjug)

Dacic stated after the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the support of Russia to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia is very important. Dacic and Lavrov noted that bilateral relations are at a very high level and that they are developing in all areas, to mutual satisfaction. Dacic, who is a co-chair of the Serbian part of the Intergovernmental Serbian-Russian Committee for Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, expressed special gratitude to the Russian Federation, President Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov for the consistent support that Russia provides to the most important issue for Serbia – is territorial integrity and sovereignty. He assessed that Moscow-Belgrade relations are at a high level and that the goal is to increase trade, which now exceeds 2 billion Euros, expressing the belief that this exchange could be even greater.
Lavrov commended bilateral relations between Serbia and the Russian Federation and added that the presidents of the two countries are in regular contact and that their dialogue helps the development of cooperation in all areas. The two ministers also spoke about the marking of 180 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, which will take place next year, and agreed that this jubilee should be celebrated.

REGIONAL PRESS

Dodik: Referendum on Court and Prosecutor’s Office of B&H or on status of RS are not issues that should be given up on (RTRS)

Republika Srpska (RS) President and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated that referendum on the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H, or on the status of the RS are not issues that should be given up on. Dodik specified that the RS should not give up on the right to hold referendums and underlined that referendum should remain something to cherish and develop in the RS, in order to preserve a possibility to independently decide on every important issue. The RS President added that no referendum, including the one on the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H, can be implemented without political unity. He stressed that referendum on this matter will be implemented if the RS opposition takes a clear stance that they are in favor of implementing it. In addition, Dodik commented on the public forum debate that the RS opposition organized in Banja Luka on Monday under the name ‘Assembly of People of the RS’. Dodik said that such event cannot be referred to as assembly of people, but rather a gathering of activists of parties from the RS opposition. Dodik is convinced that the opposition and the ruling parties in the RS will soon reach consensus on a certain issue that will be topic of a referendum in the upcoming period, and that citizens will declare their full support. Commenting on the announced referendum on independence in Catalonia scheduled to take place on Sunday, Dodik said that circumstances in Catalonia and the RS are totally different. In his opinion, Spain has resources to send police (to intervene) in Catalonia, while no army, police in B&H could influence institutions of the RS. He added that presence of the international community (IC) in B&H is visible and that the IC strongly keeps an eye on B&H. Dodik pointed out that the IC remains silent about the referendum in Catalonia that is basically an issue of concern for Spain and Barcelona. Commenting the statement by RS President Milorad Dodik, leader of SDS Vukota Govedarica stressed that if the RS should not give up on right to referendum, then it would be good idea to organize referendum on increase of excise duties. “Dodik is becoming ridiculous. He is resuming with his frauds and it will turn out the opposition is responsible for the fact he does not want to carry out the referendum”, underlined Govedarica. He reminded that earlier Dodik personally provided guarantees that abovementioned referendum will be implemented. “I would also like to remind RS President that the decision of the RS Assembly to organize this referendum was published in the RS Official Gazette some eight days ago and he should check if the Commission for the Referendum did anything regarding organizing this referendum”, explained Govedarica.

Cubrilovic: No request for discussions on referendum or resolution on military neutrality in RS Assembly have been submitted (TV1)

Speaker of the RS Assembly Nedeljko Cubrilovic confirmed on Saturday that the RS Assembly has not received a request for a discussion on suspension of decision on referendum on work of the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H. He added that the RS Assembly has not received a request on discussion on resolution on military neutrality of the RS either. Cubrilovic expressed expectation that new items, including decision on suspension of the referendum and the resolution on military neutrality of the RS, will be proposed during the next week in order to have enough items for the RS Assembly Collegium to meet and schedule the RS Assembly’s regular session. “There are currently several items that are ready for the RSNA Collegium, but not enough to convene the Collegium’s session”, Cubrilovic explained. Cubrilovic underscored that the Collegium will schedule the RSNA’s next session as soon as it receives enough proposed items for the agenda. Commenting on the ‘Assembly of People of the RS’ organized by the opposition, Cubrilovic said that all surveys show progress of SNSD and he is not so sure that such gatherings are a good thing, but he added that the opposition has right to address people however they want.

Opposition parties are preparing law on RS President that would allow his recall (EuroBlic)

EuroBlic daily learned that opposition parties in Republika Srpska (RS) are actively working on a law on the RS President, which would allow a recall of the President. The daily explained that opposition parties decided to take this step after RS President Milorad Dodik gave up two referendums within several days by which, in opinion of opposition parties, he humiliated the RS Assembly, RS institutions and citizens. Delegate Milanko Mihajlica (SRS RS) reminded that the RS Constitution stipulates that rights, responsibilities and the manner in which the RS President is elected or recalled will be defined by a law. Mihajlica also said that he thinks that the law should also define the use of funds from the budget of the RS President “because we think there is lots of abuse there”. “We will assess the best time to send this proposal to the RS Assembly having in mind the current situation related to the work of the RS Assembly”, Mihajlica added. NDP leader Dragan Cavic reminded that a draft law on the RS President was developed during the mandate of former RS President Rajko Kuzmanovic already but it was never adopted thanks to the current majority in the RS Assembly. Cavic added that the opposition parties will propose this law depending on the development of the political situation in the RS. Chair of SNSD Caucus in the RS Assembly Radovan Viskovic said that adoption of a law on the RS President “is more than nonsense” because responsibilities of the RS President have been defined by the RS Constitution. “It is obvious that the RS President is not a thorn in the eye of the opposition, but it is Milorad Dodik”, Viskovic said and added that both the function of the RS President and of the RS would be diminished by such law.

Dodik: This period is one of best periods of cooperation between RS and Serbia (RTRS)

Mahovljani-Drugovici section of ‘January 9’ motorway was opened on Sunday. Numerous citizens, as well as officials of  the RS and Serbia, including RS President Milorad Dodik and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attended solemn ceremony organized on this occasion. Dodik addressed attendees and said that the RS has been building roads and is going towards better future. Vucic congratulated to leadership and citizens of the RS for important result – construction of roads that are most important for the future. “Roads and bridges have been connecting people, but they also create jobs for young people”, explained Vucic. Also, Dodik stressed that this is new victory that will improve transport infrastructure and economic cooperation between Serbia and the RS. Vucic stated that Serbia will continue its help and support to the RS and the municipalities in the Federation of B&H that have majority Serb population. Vucic underlined that Serbia will help the RS, but also the Federation of B&H and everyone else who asks for Serbia’s help, because they want to develop good relations with Bosniaks, Croats and all other peoples. “The RS and Serbia are cooperating good, excellently. We are not theorizing much, we are not boasting too much, but we are doing concrete things for the well-being of the people both in Serbia and the RS,” Vucic underlined.

Members of UK House of Lords meet representatives of B&H parliament and the RS representatives (TV1)

Members of the International Relations Committee of the UK House of Lords, met with representatives of the B&H parliament on Friday. It was assessed after the meeting that corruption and situation in judiciary are crucial problems in B&H. The guests were also informed that B&H judiciary is not functioning, especially when it comes to serious crime and political corruption. Deputy Speaker of B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Mladen Bosic said that participants of the meeting agreed that the key problem in the country at this moment are corruption and lack of functionality of judiciary, adding that they also agreed another issues would be solved easier if this was solved first. Speaker of B&H House of Peoples (HoP) Barisa Colak noted that he openly said there is no single stance on joint future and that no serious progress was made during this year in terms of road to the EU. Colak also emphasized during the meeting it is necessary to work on economic and political issues. The guests underlined that there will be no change when it comes to the UK’s focus on B&H. B&H HoP Deputy Speaker Safet Softic stressed that they even announced a more active participation of the UK in certain assistance and support to political processes in B&H.

The delegation of the UK House of Lords also met with the representatives of institutions and political parties from the RS. Representatives from the RS assessed there is certain lack of understanding of the international community (IC) for the political situation in B&H. They also underlined that the RS does not accept NATO integration and intends to adopt a resolution on military neutrality. Speaker of the RS Assembly Nedeljko Cubrilovic expressed discontent with B&H institutions’ attitude towards the RS institutions. Head of SNSD Caucus in B&H HoR Stasa Kosarac said that the UK-German initiative was a good offer for B&H but it did not end up in good hands. “We want for the RS and its representatives to be asked for certain reforms and certain solutions that are ahead of B&H”, Kosarac emphasized.

High Representative Valentin Inzko met with the members of the UK House of Lords International Relations Committee. He said during the meeting that some politicians continue to focus disproportionality on divisive nationalist issues, calling into question their commitment to the Euro-Atlantic agenda as a genuine priority. He expressed concern that B&H risks lagging behind its neighbors, which is why he urged B&H politicians to stop bickering and focus on reaching the common ground necessary to achieve meaningful economic and social reforms. Inzko also said that some politicians continue to focus disproportionality on divisive nationalist issues, calling into question their commitment to the Euro-Atlantic agenda as a genuine priority.

Serbia honors officer who tried to blow up Croatian town (Vecernji list)

The former Croatian foreign minister believes that, with this move, Serbia admitted it had participated in the aggression against Croatia in the 1990s. A monument to an officer of the former Yugoslav People’s Army, Major Milan Tepic, who blew up an arms depot in Bedenik near Bjelovar in Croatia in 1991, when eleven Croatian soldiers died, was unveiled in Belgrade, reports Vecernji list. The monument to Tepic was inaugurated on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the events of 29 September 1991, when he intentionally blew up a weapons depot with 170 tons of explosives. The wreaths were laid on Friday by Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Labor and Employment Zoran Djordjevic, representatives of Serbian army and citizens.

Tepic, the commander of the Barutana weapons depot in the village of Bedenik, planned to blow up all four warehouses, but four Croatian soldiers prevented him and thus saved Bjelovar and the surrounding area from destruction. In his suicide move, 11 Croatian soldiers were killed.

“This monument, which we have unveiled today, is not just a sign of respect towards Milan Tepic and his family, but towards the entire Serb people. Thanks to this monument, Serbia is now a more just state, better than it was yesterday,” said Djordjevic during the ceremony.

In 1991, the Yugoslav Presidency proclaimed Tepic “a hero of the people” for “his outstanding feat in the fight against the enemy during the attack on the barracks in Bjelovar,” making him the last individual to have been awarded this award in Yugoslavia.

Miro Kovac, MP and former Croatian Foreign Minister, commented on the monument.

“The unveiling of the monument in Belgrade, in the presence of two Serbian government ministers, to Milan Tepic, who 26 years ago in Bjelovar destroyed a weapons depot and killed eleven Croatian soldiers and himself, is an unambiguous message that Serbia identifies with the military aggression on Croatia in the early 1990s. After this indirect, but very symbolic admittance of the aggression of the Yugoslav People’s Army and Serbia against Croatia, perhaps it will be easier to build normal neighborly relations. You cannot escape from the truth. And the truth about aggression is written in the proposal of the law on Croatian war veterans. Dealing with the truth is important in intergovernmental relations,” said Kovac, alluding to the recent proposal of the war veteran’s law which has drawn protests from Serbian officials due to its definition of the Homeland War.

Vulin in Sibenik: In every war there are as many truths as there are sides (HRT)

Serbian Minister of Defense Aleksandar Vulin attended the installation of the newly-elected Serbian Orthodox bishop of Dalmatia, Nikodim Kosovic on Sunday. On Friday in Belgrade, Vulin attended the raising of a monument to Milan Tepic, an officer in the former Yugoslav People’s Army, who in 1991 caused an explosion at the military storage facility in Bjelovar, committing suicide in the process and killing 11 Croatian soldiers.

Attending the installation of the bishop in Sibenik, Vulin could not avoid questions about this. “I could try to explain to you now that four Yugoslav People’s Army officers were shot on that day and that a court process is underway against the man that allegedly did this. It makes no sense for us to do all of this. In every civil war there are as many truths as there are sides in the civil war, and now for me to convince you  – that the Serbian truth is the truth for Croatia or the Croatian truth is the truth for Serbia – that’s not correct nor is it possible, nor should this be done”, said Vulin.

Veterans Minister Tomo Medved, Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, who were in Marija Bistrica declined to comment the statement by the Serbian minister of defense. Minister Medved referred to a statement by the Veterans’ Ministry on Saturday in which it states that Belgrade, by raising the monument to Major Tepic, has recognized aggression by Serbia and the former Yugoslav People’s Army against Croatia.

PM Plenkovic and Angela Merkel discuss border dispute with Slovenia (Jutarnji list)

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic met on Friday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a summit on the digital future of Europe in Estonia. Plenkovic and Merkel spoke primarily about the border arbitration dispute which Croatia has with Slovenia. Angela Merkel also met separately with Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar. Plenkovic told reporters afterwards that he presented to the German Chancellor the well-known Croatian position on the issue. Croatia claims that the border dispute is a bilateral issue, while Slovenia wants to implement the recent arbitration decision. Croatia left the arbitration proceedings two years ago because Slovenia had compromised the impartiality of arbitrators. “I expect an understanding for our position because the arbitration decision, even if there were no problems, cannot be carried out without the cooperation of both sides. Therefore, what will happen is the only thing which is possible, and that is a civilized dialogue between Croatia and Slovenia. We are advocating for this position without blackmails, without blockades and threats. We are not the ones who compromised the arbitration process. That is the main point and the reason why I will insist on this position. I will protect Croatian interests in all aspects,” said Plenkovic.

The Prime Minister said that he explained the position to Chancellor Merkel very clearly and “asked her and other stakeholders in the EU to understand that this is a matter which is primarily governed by the international law and should be resolved through a dialogue between the two neighboring countries.” He added that he did not want any unilateral moves from any side and that Croatia was not undertaking any such moves. “We are ready to address this issue which, realistically speaking, is not something about which drama exists in a wider European context,” said the Croatian Prime Minister. He added that he had also briefly met with Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar and that he would also talk with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, the president of the European Council Donald Tusk, and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

The European leaders are in Tallinn to discuss the digital future of Europe, as well as a series of challenges facing the European Union, which after Brexit is looking for a new model for the better functioning of the Union.

Preparations for Cerar’s visit to Zagreb to resume (HRT)

EU leaders attended a summit on Europe’s digital future in the Estonian capital Tallinn. However, for the Croatian and Slovenian prime ministers, it was an opportunity to lobby for support of their respective positions regarding the border arbitration ruling and hold their own bilateral talks. Both Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his Slovenian counterpart Miro Cerar, held individual meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. After his meeting with Germany’s newly re-elected leader, Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar told that the German Chancellor had understood his position very well. Cerar went on to criticize a statement made by his Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec on Thursday, in which his chief of diplomacy revealed that Slovenia was preparing to file a lawsuit against Croatia at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Cerar said that Erjavec’s statement had been of more use to Croatia than to Slovenia, adding that he had spoken to Erjavec about this and that he was confident this mistake would not be repeated. However, Erjavec responded by saying that Cerar was the one who had made the mistake, arguing that Slovenia shouldn’t hesitate now and claimed they had international law and the European Commission on their side. And in the meantime, after a bilateral meeting with Cerar on the fringes of the Tallinn summit, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced that the two leaders had agreed that expert working groups from both countries would continue a dialogue in order to prepare for Prime Minister Cerar’s visit to Zagreb. Plenkovic said that their conversation had been directed first and foremost on gaining the support of their colleagues in their respective governments for the dialogue to continue on a diplomatic level and on how to plan for Cerar’s visit to Zagreb, concluding that his invitation to the Slovene Prime Minister was still open.

Markovic: Opposition meeting disappointing (CDM)

Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said that the meeting of the opposition was not surprising, and that it was another disappointment coming from them. “Nothing new – it’s just another disappointment coming from the opposition. They even shouldn’t have met to send us such a message,” Markovic said in Bijelo Polje after the opening of the Franca factory. According to Markovic, such messages clearly confirm opposition’s irresponsibility towards its state and institutions, as well as towards the money they receive based on the 2016 elections to perform MPs’ duties – although they are challenging the elections now. “Their inconsistency and contempt is now shown towards the international community and relevant international factors that have recognized the elections in Montenegro,” Markovic said, pointing out that the 2016 elections have been recognized by the OSCE, the Council of Europe and all EU member states. These countries and these institutions called on them to end the boycott and start talks with the authorities, Markovic added. “Now, as deputy chairman of DPS, I say that DPS is waiting for them on Monday,” he added. The PM pointed out that the opposition MPs were expected in Parliament on Monday to discuss the fulfillment of OSCE recommendations and the improvement of electoral legislation. “If they demand exclusively new elections and do not want to return to Parliament, then I inform them that the new election date is October 2020,” Markovic said.

DF planning the return to parliament (Pobjeda)

On 2 October, DF will discuss further moves, after the rest of the opposition refused their platform, Pobjeda daily learns. Several Pobjeda sources said that on Monday, a precise plan will be brought forth, that includes selective and then total cessation of parliament boycott. There are several ideas, and the most likely one is to continue discussions with the rest of the opposition, and then return to the parliament. The plan could see representatives of DF in the parliament early October. Other options are non-existent, source said to Pobjeda daily. Part of the opposition, sans DF and Goran Danilovic’s movement United Montenegro, concluded on their meeting on Thursday that “they will not stop the boycott until the date of new elections is announced”. Selective cessation of boycott is meant to mitigate the reactions of the rest of the opposition and opposition media, who oppose the cessation.

Pence: Kosovo to ratify agreement with Montenegro (RTCG)

US Vice President Mike Pence called on Kosovo to ratify the demarcation agreement with Montenegro, the White House stated after Pence’s meeting with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, RTCG reports. According to the statement, US Vice President Mike Pence welcomed President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci to the White House today to reaffirm the United States’ support for a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Kosovo. Pence expressed appreciation for Thaci’s leadership, along with Serbian President Vucic, to advance the EU-facilitated dialogue to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “The leaders agreed on the importance of advancing reforms to strengthen the rule of law, fight corruption, and boost economic growth. The Vice President expressed support for the transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces via constitutional means and encouraged Kosovo to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro to resolve this longstanding issue,” the White House said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Kosovo President: US Will Be Directly Involved in Final Kosovo-Serbia Deal (VOA, 29 September 2017)

Kosovo’s president, Hashim Thaci, says U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has pledged that the United States will be directly involved in reaching a final agreement to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Thaci told VOA’s Albanian service after meeting with Pence on Friday at the White House that “Pence will be focused and maximally involved” in reaching a deal between the two countries. “I believe that this willingness of the U.S. administration and personally of Vice President Pence is a guarantee for the success of this process,” Thaci said.

He said he is confident the process will “lead Kosovo into a final agreement of normalization and reconciliation of Kosovo-Serbia relations and would open prospects for Kosovo’s integration into the United Nations.” A White House statement Friday said Pence “expressed appreciation for Thaci’s leadership, along with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, to advance the EU-facilitated dialog to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.” The White House said Pence and Thaci “agreed on the importance of advancing reforms to strengthen the rule of law, fight corruption and boost economic growth” and said Pence reaffirmed the “United States’ support for a sovereign, democratic and prosperous Kosovo.” The White House also encouraged Kosovo to ratify the border demarcation agreement with neighboring Montenegro “to resolve this long-standing issue.” Thaci told VOA that Pence called on Kosovo to solve the issues as soon as possible. He said Kosovo has “good neighborly relations with Montenegro” and stressed the importance of such ties. “No one can support you if you build bad relationships with your neighbors. We have a lot of problems with Serbia. We cannot open other problems with our neighbors that could cost us the integration processes” with the European Union, he said.

Thaci said the issue is in the hands of Kosovo’s parliament. The border agreement was signed in 2015 but has not had sufficient support in Kosovo’s parliament for ratification. The European Union insists Kosovo must approve the border demarcation deal before its citizens enjoy visa-free travel within Europe. Montenegro has recognized Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia, but Serbia vehemently opposes it.

VOA’s Albanian service contributed to this report.

Serbia’s Media Stage Blackout Over Pressure on Free Press (AP, 27 September 2017)

Serbia’s embattled independent media staged a blackout Thursday to warn against what they say is Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic’s muzzling of the press by intimidation, threats and financial pressure. Dozens of Serbian media outlets and non-government organizations darkened their web pages for one hour at noon, with a white inscription warning: “This is what it looks like when there is no free press!” Some newspapers appeared on newsstands with a black ribbon printed on their front pages as part of the protest dubbed “STOP media darkness in Serbia.” Protest organizers, in a statement, said the campaign aimed to alert the public “that the media freedom in our country is dying and that we all must fight to preserve it.” The initiative was prompted by the recent closure of an independent newspaper in southern Serbia and public attacks on journalists by a ruling party. Journalists in Serbia say the media situation has been worsening in the past years despite the country’s proclaimed goal of joining the European Union, which demands press freedom. Vucic, a former extreme nationalist who now calls himself a reformist, has dismissed the accusations of media crackdown as attempts to discredit his government. Critics say Western officials have turned a blind eye to Vucic’s stifling of democratic freedoms in Serbia as long as he cooperated in maintaining stability in the volatile Balkans. “These latest incidents are just a symbol of the media darkness in Serbia, which did not begin yesterday,” Slavisa Lekic, head of Serbia’s independent journalists association, told The Associated Press. “We have decided to open the eyes of the public and ask them to show solidarity with the journalists.” Serbia’s Culture and Information Ministry, which is in charge of the media, has not responded to an AP request for comment. The minister, Vladan Vukosavljevic, told the Insider news portal that he has been away on an official trip to China. Thursday’s action was boycotted by mainstream media and the official journalists’ association, which said the protest was aimed at dividing the press into “ours and theirs.” Vucic, a former information minister from the 1990s’ when independent media were fined and shut down, publicly has denounced any attacks and pressure on journalists. He says Serbia is working to improve its civil rights record as part of reforms needed for the country to join the EU. In a 2016 report, the EU said Serbia has “achieved some level of preparation” but still needs to “create an enabling environment in which freedom of expression can be exercised without hindrance.” Lekic said recorded cases of press intimidation have more than doubled in the past five years since Vucic’s populist coalition came to power, and says critical journalism has disappeared from the mainstream media and prominent journalists have been sidelined. Economic pressure on the media, he added, included preventing companies from advertising in non-government media, constant financial and tax inspections for independent media and open favoring of pro-government media outlets. The large number of registered media in Serbia — some 1,800 outlets — only serve to create a false image of pluralism, Lekic insisted. Draza Petrovic, the editor-in-chief of the liberal Danas daily, said the Serbian government views critical media as “enemies.” He expressed hope that Thursday’s action will prompt EU and other international officials to “see what is really going on here.” Thursday’s edition of the Danas daily came out with an addition dedicated to the Vranjske newspaper from the southern town of Vranje, which was known for investigating crime and corruption. The paper was forced to close down last week after 23 years. The newspaper’s manager, Vukasin Obradovic, said the decision was made after journalists and even family members, including his, received threats and the paper endured repeated financial inspections. The International and European Federations of Journalists this week expressed solidarity with Obradovic and denounced “the oppression many media and journalists are currently experiencing in the country.” “It was a wide range of very primitive forms of pressure that had only one aim — to stop us from publishing,” Obradovic told the AP. “This wasn’t only because we stood in the way of the ruling party, but because they don’t want information to reach the citizens.”

Russian Ambassador Ivantsov: attempts to drag B&H into NATO become more energetic in spite objection of half of country (Sputnik, 2 October 2017)

Speaking for Sputnik news agency, Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), Petr Ivantsov stated that attempts to drag B&H into NATO are becoming more and more energetic, but at least one part of the country is against that. He said that Russia deems that NATO membership does not contribute to strengthening of security of one country. “We object to further expansion of NATO to the Balkans. However, this is sovereign choice of peoples and countries. We see that there is no unity in B&H in B&H in favor of NATO membership. At least one part of country is against this”, said Ivantsov.  Asked if Russia and the US are currently confronted in B&H, Ivantsov said that these two countries have common interests, at least in wanting stability. “We do not want new conflict in B&H or in the Balkans in the whole. Our evaluations and access to many issues of development of B&H are different, but we are talking and at least until now, we tried to find reasonable compromises. The truth is that in the last four- five months politics and rhetoric of Americans towards Russia, became fiercer”, said Ivantsov. He added that Russia has no reason to assume that B&H could join anti-Russian sanction. Ambassador noted that there is nothing bad in Moscow’s interest to be present in B&H ad noted that Russia, as guarantor of DPA, politically supports B&H. “Influence is not such a bad thing. It all depends of the goals towards one aspire. Naturally, just as any other country, we want to be present in B&H and for our presence to be adequate to interests of our country. Our interests are in development of mutually beneficial relations in various sectors”, said Ambassador. When it comes to danger of B&H’s dissolution, Ivantsov said that he does not want to speculate about this: “We signed Dayton Agreement. Element of that agreement, besides equality of two entities and three constituent peoples is territorial integrity of B&H, we signed that, meaning we support territorial integrity of B&H as independent country”, said Ivantsov. Commenting speculation that in case if Kosovo secedes form Serbia, borders in the Balkans would be retailored, ambassador said that this is hypothetical question. “Dayton Constitution reads that B&H is integral country. It is a different question if peoples in B&H, purely theoretically, agree that there needs to be some different territorial organization in line with procedures stipulated by the constitution. However, I repeat, that is purely theoretical question”, said Ivantsov. Commenting the thesis that Russia is “pushing its interests in B&H through Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik”, Ivantsov said that it is natural for Russia to closely cooperate with Dodik in developing of relations with the RS.