LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: I was personally struck by Amfilohije’s words (RTS) 

Commenting on RTS the statement by Metropolitan Amfilohije on Kosovo and Metohija, when he said that the policy of the Serbian president was leading to betrayal of Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says that he was struck by his words. “I was personally struck because I think that I didn’t deserve this, because he spoke about something that he thinks might happen in the future. Since I haven’t heard the statement of the Patriarch in Banja Luka, I think that I was on the verge of dropping a tear, starting to cry. I don’t want to hide how much these words struck me, but I can’t hide, I am an ordinary person. I laugh at everything voiced by my political opponents, but this had personally struck me,” said Vucic. He says that the best comment to Amfilohije’s statement was given by Serbian Patriarch Irinej, whom he is grateful for that. “I wasn’t struck by the Appeal that is signed by Kovic, that one from Dveri who hits women Obradovic, Marsicanin, and the one that would like to abolish Darwin. I was struck by the words of Metropolitan Amfilohije, by the words of Bishop Teodosije, if he signed it, he knows how much who has done for Kosovo and Metohija,” said Vucic. “I am asking Bishop Teodosije: how much has someone helped the Serbian church and Kosovo and Metohija as the one that he had commended, and whose name is Aleksandar Vucic,” said the President.

He says that it seems that in Serbia the greatest patriots are those who managed to lose Montenegro, those during whose reign the independence of Kosovo was declared, those on duty patriots who are ready for others to get killed and them to be wealthier. I will not respond to Metropolitan Amfilohije, because I will not respond to the Serbian Orthodox Church, I will not because this is not good for the people, I don’t want to divide the people, said Vucic.

Responding to the question on the role of the church in the society, Vucic said: “It is not up to me to comment the role of the church, but we want to hear their opinion from time to time.” He points out that over the past five years, since the Brussels agreement, there has not been a single ethnically motivated murder of a Serb in Kosovo and Metoija. “A hero is the one who protects Serb heads in Kosovo and Metohija, who fought for Bogdan Mitrovic. Do you know how long he would have been in detention if Serbia wasn’t strong? Four years,” said Vucic. The past four years are the only four years when the number of Serbs has not decreased in Kosovo and Metohija. Isn’t this a result, wondered Vucic. “Is that better, or would it be better that I have hit Thaqi with a fist on the head than talking with him, and to have 20 dead Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” he wondered.

Vucic underlines that he wants to resolve the problem of Kosovo, adding that he knows how small his chances are. “I want our children to have a future, because I want them to devote to growth, and not to hatred, to devote to digitalization, the IT sector,” said Vucic.

Responding to the question whether a solution of the Kosovo issue was possible within the Serbian Constitution, Vucic says that he is afraid that a solution is not possible. The question is whether we have the strength to speak the truth with ourselves and to protect what we have, and not to pretend that everything in the world belongs to us. I am afraid whether we will have enough strength,” said Vucic.

Responding to the question why he didn’t go to Banja Luka on 9 January for the celebration of the RS Day, Vucic says that he didn’t go because he should have gone to New York for earlier scheduled obligations. “There is one more thing because of which I didn’t go, but I don’t want to speak about that,” said the President. “I am not pushing myself to protect the RS because this is the job of RS President Milorad Dodik and he does this job very well. But it is impossible in my presence to allow that the RS is used by anyone for settling of accounts or to be a target of the attacks.”

Vucic meets with Hahn in Belgrade (Politika)

President Vucic received EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn in Belgrade on Friday.

They met in Villa Bokeljka to discuss the EU integration process and Serbia’s progress on that path, the President’s press service stated. Vucic and Hahn pointed out that all countries of the region should use this year’s Bulgarian and Austrian EU presidencies in order to achieve progress. Vucic said that Serbia would do everything to fully contribute to preserving peace and stability in the region.

Dacic sums up 2017: Serbia had wise policy, EU had good message (Tanjug/B92)

Serbia has been promoting its national interests through a wise and balanced policy, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Friday. This is true above all when it comes to the protection of its territorial integrity and sovereignty, he added. At the same time, Serbia continued activities aimed at achieving its key foreign policy priority and that is full EU integration, he told diplomats and editors of media outlets gathered at the Foreign Ministry’s New Year reception. Dacic also said he expected Serbia to open more EU membership negotiations chapters this year, and remarked that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker singled out Serbia and Montenegro as front-runners in European integration and announced a strategy for their successful EU accession by 2025. Dacic pointed out that this was the first time that a time frame for Serbia’s membership in the EU has been defined, which he said was a very good message. Dacic stressed he was satisfied with the results achieved in foreign policy during 2017 and said he hoped that during the Bulgarian EU presidency, the number of open chapters would be significantly higher – with the EU in this way recognizing Serbia’s efforts and give value to the progress made on the European path. Dacic recalled that Serbia opened six negotiating chapters last year, i.e., that 12 chapters have been opened since the beginning of the negotiation process, with two chapters temporarily closed. “This is certainly a success, but the number of open chapters should be higher, in line with our efforts and the results we have achieved in the negotiation process. I hope that during the Bulgarian presidency, the number of open chapters will be significantly higher,” Dacic said.

Dacic stressed that Belgrade is fully committed to the dialogue with Pristina under the auspices of the EU, adding that it expects Pristina to respect and fulfill its commitments. “Efforts have continued to ensure that all available diplomatic means are being used to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as to avert attempts to make Kosovo a member in various international organizations,” he said. He added that a firm commitment to developing relations with Russia has been supported by regular meetings between high ranking officials and regular and meaningful conversations between the two sides, something that was demonstrated by the recent visit of Serbia’s delegation to Moscow headed by President Aleksandar Vucic.

Djuric: Mitrovic should not have been in prison (Tanjug)

“Bogdan Mitrovic was placed behind bars only because he is a Serb and because they attempted to usurp his property. His release was the result of great commitment of his entire defense team and the great commitment of the Prime Minister and the entire team”, the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric said. He pointed out that there was not a single meeting, held with some of the high-level European or international officials, wherein President Vucic did not raise this issue reiterating that he will not stop until the justice is met and until Bogdan Mitrovic is released from custody.

He called for the release of other political prisoners Darko Tasic from Prizren, Zoran Vukotic from Vucitrn and all others who are behind bars only because they are Serbs. “Just as in the case of Bogdan Mitrovic when we didn’t stop fighting until he was released, we also will not stop fighting until the injustice towards our people is corrected,” said Djuric.

Patriarch Irinej: No divisions in Serbian Orthodox Church on Kosovo issue (Novosti)

There are no divisions within the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding the dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija. The position of the Church on our holy land is known and I firmly believe that there will be no differences on this issue,” Serbian Patriarch Irinej stated told Novosti.

He would not comment rumors on divisions, and is categorical in the stand that the Serbian people as a whole require unity in all fields and not only on resolving the complicated Kosovo knot.

Dodik: I chose to be arrogant and consistent (Politika)

Politika daily carried an interview with Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik who first of all commented the matter of marking 9 January as Republika Srpska (RS) Day. Dodik stressed that no date can be celebrated as a birthday, but the day that you were born on and the same goes for this holiday, which has been celebrated on this day for 26 years. He noted that there was no war on 9 January, 1992, when the RS was created, which for him, means that the decision on forming the RS was not a cause of the war, being that an armed conflict stated a couple of months later “when Muslims chose separatism”. “RS is creation from peace, which defended in the war what it has created,” said Dodik. As for absence of Serbian President and Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic and Ana Brnabic, Dodik said that Vucic sent a memorable card and several Ministers from Serbian Government attended the event. He underlined that relations with Serbia were never better. To those who have suspicions about this, Dodik said that they should wonder if so many Serbian guests would be present if Vucic was against that and added that he can only thank Vucic for everything that he did for the RS. “We are one people”, said Dodik, adding that Agreement on Special and Parallel Relations will soon be amended and they will adopt a declaration which will define ways for institutions to work on affirmation of Serb national rights.

Asked about “his rigid politics towards West” and if this could influence opening of new jobs, Dodik noted that he cannot be soft towards those who constantly dispute “our vital national rights”. He stressed that Ambassadors are not states, even though they manage the situation here. “I am not against America, or the EU or anyone else for that matter, but I am against their arrogance, holding of lectures in my country. That cannot pass, let them take offense”, said Dodik, adding that RS economy is not dropping and the number of employed persons is at the highest level in history. “Our policy is not rigid and includes respect. To be consistent is not the same as being rigid. I am not asking for a conflict, but I cannot be servile. We have opposition, which is soft enough,” said Dodik. He stressed that he respects everyone as a partner and collocutor, but supreme authority, to which he answers is the people. The RS President underlined that foreigners are running the country and they have taken over everything, including monetary politics, while local authorities are expected to bring foreign investors. He stressed that RS has favorable conditions and everyone is welcome and he is aware that people deserve better, but this issue is not only up to the authority. “We are surrounded by an impossible concept, called B&H, we have very little options at disposal,” said Dodik underlining that UK Parliament’s House of Lords is recommending B&H to go towards the EU, when that same UK left the EU.

Crnadak: Not even Sarajevo will recognize Kosovo (Novosti)

In an interview to Novosti, B&H Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak said that B&H will certainly not recognize independence of Kosovo nor it will discuss this matter during the mandate of current convocation of B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) and B&H Presidency. Crnadak also assessed that B&H is not a hotspot in the context of escalation of any kind of a conflict and added that “one does not need to be especially smart to realize that tensions here are constantly present”. Crnadak assessed that the greatest problem in relations between B&H and Serbia are Bosniak politicians and explained that relations with Serbia are very important for the RS “because we are the same people”. He also noted that it is in the best interest of the entire region to have Sarajevo accept the intention of Serbia to be a good neighbor who wants to work together with B&H to solve problem and make B&H’s journey towards the EU easier.

Asked if withdrawal of SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic from the political scene would improve relations of B&H with Serbia, Crnadak replied by saying that he does not want to connect problems in relations between B&H and Serbia to a single person, but he added that he honestly hopes that future generations of Bosniak politicians will have more readiness to compromise and tolerance and that they will turn towards future instead of living in 1990s.

Asked whether B&H intends to punish attackers on then Prime Minister of Serbia, currently President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in Potocari, Crnadak said that this case represents “the greatest political smear on B&H” and he added that nobody should have allowed this attack to be left unpunished. Crnadak thanked Vucic for his moderate reaction and “for not using this case to constantly raise tensions”.

Crnadak also expressed his regret with the fact B&H and Serbia did not reach an agreement on border demarcation during the latest visit of B&H Presidency members to Belgrade and assessed that Belgrade demonstrated more readiness to solve this matter than Sarajevo did.

Local elections in Belgrade to be held on 4 March (B92/Tanjug/RTS)

Serbian Parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic on Monday scheduled local elections in the city of Belgrade for 4 March. Local elections will also be held in Bor and Arandjelovac. Voters in these two towns and in Belgrade will on that elect councilors in the local assemblies, Gojkovic said.

The election campaign will start as soon as the decision is published in the Official Gazette.

Tadic: SDS will support DS (Tanjug/RTV)

The Social-Democrat party (SDS) will support the Democratic Party (DS) at the Belgrade elections, SDS leader Boris Tadic said. He told a press conference that the SDS will call for uniting of the DS work following the elections, and for former leaders of that party to agree that there is no better alternative since only the DS is capable of great victories. Tadic says that he had discussed this idea with Dragan Djilas and that he is also ready to discuss it with Sasa Jankovic, Dusan Petrovic and Dragan Sutanovac.

REGIONAL PRESS

The Guardian published report about paramilitary formation and mercenaries in RS, trained by Russia (Dnevni avaz)

As media reported that members of the organization ‘Srbska Cast’ (Serb Honor) attended the election assembly of Republika Srpska (RS) Veterans’ Assembly in premises of the RS Assembly and reported that this organization is a paramilitary formation, whose members come from criminal milieu. The Cabinet of RS President Milorad Dodik issued a statement on Saturday, noting that these are dangerous claims, which serve no purpose of informing citizens. The Cabinet rejects such speculation and they called on reporters to verify the facts before publishing them. The Cabinet also said that “Constructions that appeared on certain news sites that RS President Milorad Dodik, with support of Moscow, is forming paramilitary units are extremely dangerous and do not serve to inform the citizens.”

The Russian Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina also rejected allegations saying they are nonsense.

RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic stated that the RS has its Interior Ministry and these information are nothing “but bombastic speculations”. In a statement to the daily, President of RS Veterans Dusko Vukotic said that many untrue information were presented about organization ‘Srbska Cast’. He stressed that ‘Srbska Cast’ is neither paramilitary, nor armed organization.  RS Vice President Ramiz Salkic said that presence of ‘Srbska Cast’ members in the RSNA is unacceptable.

Covic meets Plenkovic in Split (Dnevni avaz)

Chairman of B&H Presidency and HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic met in Split on Saturday with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, on which occasion Covic stressed that the future of B&H cannot be built without Croat people. “I am glad that we have friends among both Bosniaks and Serbs and the most important thing is to strongly gather and organize united Croat people. This is the reason why we formed Croat People’s Assembly (HNS) in B&H, which extended a hand towards all political parties of Croat people in B&H,” said Covic. He added that they need to convey a message to all “those international representatives” who are trying to help in establishing of a modern society that future of B&H cannot be built without Croat people.

Plenkovic stressed that the position of Croat people in B&H is one of key, strategic issues for Croatia and he called on all those with dual citizenship to vote in B&H elections. “Assist legitimate representation of Croat people in B&H institutions. These elections can be extremely important for the long-term position, equality and constituency of Croat people in B&H. This is why, as a sisterly party, we will place an accent on engagement of a large number of our people, to vote and assist election success of HDZ B&H and Croat parties,” said Plenkovic.

MEP Fajon: I fear that election year in B&H will additionally slow down progress towards EU (Dnevni list)

Member of the European Parliament (EP) from Slovenia Tanja Fajon said that the ball is in B&H court and that she feels sorry there is impression that leaders in B&H do not want to use it. According to Fajon, there is too much attention to ethnically motivated divisions, which are often artificial, arguing they are useful for winning votes in the elections. According to the article, Fajon fears that the election year in B&H will additionally slow down B&H’s progress towards the EU, stressing that, on the part of the EU, there is the will for B&H’s progress, stressing the progress is in hands of leaders in B&H.

Croatian President attends informal lunch in Slovenia (HRT)

At the beginning of his new mandate the Slovene President Borut Pahor has organized a lunch on Saturday, for the heads of state of all neighboring countries – Croatia, Austria, Hungary and Italy. Only Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and Italian President Sergio Matarela showed up, as both the Hungarian and Austrian heads of state cancelled at the last minute. Hungarian President Janos Ader backed out due to pressing business in Budapest, while Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen cancelled due to illness in the family.

Speaking at the beginning of the lunch, President Grabar Kitarovic said that she had no doubt about attending the lunch, noting that Croatian and Slovenian bilateral relations were much broader in scope than a few unresolved issues, alluding to Slovenia’s unilateral implementation of the border arbitration ruling at the two countries shared maritime border. In her toast President Grabar Kitarovic said that at a time when the border issue dominated the headlines in both countries, it was even more important to continue to meet and to continue to encourage dialogue. According to the office of the Slovene president, the informal gathering is an opportunity to solidify good neighborly relations and bilateral cooperation. Pahor, who recently won his second mandate by a slim margin, campaigned on the platform that the border arbitration ruling should be implemented in full. Earlier in the week his met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the President of the European Council Donald Tusk in Brussels, calling on them to take an active role in forcing Croatia to recognize the ruling.

PM says he doesn’t need Slovene laws to determine border demarcation (HRT)

The Croatian Prime Minister has once again reiterated that Croatia and Slovenia are much closer to a solution to the border issue than it seems in the media. He added that Croatia has presented its model for resolving the issue to the Slovene side and that it can serve as a very good basis for finding a final resolution to the problem. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic reiterated Croatia’s position and reminded that throughout the entire process Croatia had conducted itself with a very high level of restrain, showing responsibility and maturity and avoiding any temptations to undertake unilateral action that could undermine relations between Zagreb and Ljubljana.

Earlier Slovene Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec told Slovene parliament that sooner or later Croatia would be forced to recognize the arbitration ruling and that his ministry was in the process of preparing a suit against Croatia before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Plenkovic commented on the threat of legal action from Ljubljana, by saying that he sees no basis for any such course of action as Croatia is not in violation of any element of EU legislation. He added that should Slovenia decide to continue down this path, Croatia would know how to respond accordingly. The Croatian Prime Minister reminded that even the arbitration had been above board, and Slovenia had not been caught in a material breach of the court’s fundamental principles, it would still only be possible to implement the arbitration ruling with the approval of both countries. Commenting on the Slovene government’s decision on Thursday to adopt a series of new laws in line with the border arbitration, specifically 4 Croatian villages near Savudrija Bay, which Slovenia annexed in 1994, but according to the arbitration ruling are to be “returned” to Croatia, Prime Minister Plenkovic noted that they were Croatian villages to begin with and that he didn’t need Slovenian laws to determine that those villages are within Croatian territory nor where the Croatian border lies.

Ease tensions in Montenegro and return to political dialogue (Pobjeda)

It will be important for the process of Montenegro’s negotiations with the EU to reduce the tensions and return to the political dialogue in Parliament, said the European Commission (EC) spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic. Kocijancic commented on the progress of the Western Balkan countries on EU path. She said that this year would provide a unique opportunity for the Western Balkans to take steps that will irreversibly bring it closer to the EU. “In order to achieve this, the countries of the region must give the highest priority to the necessary reforms in the field of the rule of law, judiciary and basic rights,” Kocijancic said. The EU, she added, would not make compromises on the criteria for membership, Pobjeda reports. She explained that the EC was currently working on two documents related to the Western Balkans. “The first is a new strategy that should be presented in February, whereas a regular annual ‘enlargement package’ is planned for April. It is supposed to provide a report on the situation in all countries involved in EU integration, as well as EC recommendations to each of them,” Kocijancic explained.

Rados: Parliament must not comply with DF’s requirements (Pobjeda)

Croatian representative in the European Parliament, Jozo Rados, believes that recent session of the stabilization and accession parliamentary committee, held in Montenegrin parliament and attended by the Democratic Front (DF) MPs, represents an example of undesirable dialogue between inter-parliamentary delegations. “We could not have a serious discussion on any agenda point. The opposition took our time by continuously accusing attendees, including Charles Tannock. Thus, we couldn’t discuss any crucial issue,” MEP Rados stated for Pobjeda.

Rados attended the session and described behavior of DF’s members as inadequate. “In my opinion, such sessions of the Parliament of Montenegro must not comply with requests of a political union that recently decided to return to the parliament,” said MEP Rados.

Commenting on speculations that Milo Djukanovic might run for the country’s presidency in 2018 and that the EU would not support such a decision, Rados tells no one has the right to interfere in anyone’s decision to run for country’s presidency and his/her possible victory.

Zaev to meet Tsipras in Davos on 24 January (MIA)

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will meet Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras during the World Economic Forum in Davos. Tsipras will meet Zaev on 24 January, a fact that confirms reports over large progress achieved at the last meeting between the countries’ foreign ministers Kotzias and Dimitrov in Thessaloniki. Regardless of the fact there is still no confirmation of this, the FMs will arrive at the Swiss resort on the same day. The government said a few days ago that a delegation led by Zaev will take part at the WEF in Davos on 25-26 January.

Kammenos wants a referendum in Greece concerning the name issue (Meta)

The leader of the Independent Greeks, Panos Kammenos , in his column on Sunday’s edition of the newspaper Dimokratia, says that a referendum will have to be held in Greece, on the “new name of the northern neighbor”. “The Greek people will have to decide this, without precedent in the history of mankind, the deviation of culture and the culture of another people,” Kammenos writes, explaining that any inclusion of the term Macedonia in the name would mean a decline in Greek culture and history. The coalition partner in the Greek government also pointed out that the government is now talking about a complex name with a geographical determinant, but in Tsipras’s pre-election program, nowhere is it mentioned that the compound name would include the term Macedonia.

Parliament ratifies the Treaty of Good Neighborly Relations with Bulgaria (Meta)

With 61 votes in favor and one abstaining, the Parliament ratified the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborly Relations and Cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria. MPs from VMRO-DPMNE and Besa, did not attend the sessions.

Speaking on behalf of the proposer, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov urged MPs to vote for the ratification of the Treaty because, he said, “it is necessary to influence the future and create friends”.

“Today we will do an important thing if you support ratification. In countries in our region, who are burdened with history, and history is very important, but we cannot act on it, we can only act for the future. It is good that both countries decided to get out of the safety of their trenches. It is nice to treat our neighbors as equals, and to create friends”, said Dimitrov.

The Macedonian Foreign Minister expressed regret that the opposition MPs were not in the parliamentary hall and explained that they should be present at the voting.

Lavrov: Russia will accept the name that Macedonia and Greece will agree upon (Meta)

Any kind of solution for the name dispute that will be agreed upon by Macedonia and Greece, and will be supported by the Macedonian Constitution, we, the Russian Federation, most probably are going to accept it, said the Head of the Russian diplomacy Sergey Lavrov, when he was answering a question posted by a Greek journalist at the annual press conference held by Russia’s minister of foreign affairs. Lavrov stressed that the name dispute between Skopje and Athens has long been in a “snooze mode” and it enlivened after the USA decided Macedonia should join NATO. The Head of the Russian diplomacy reminded that Greece is already a member of NATO and that it is not necessary that it should do appeasements, but that Macedonia should do that as it hopes to join NATO. “Regarding the revitalization of the effort for solving the problem with Macedonia’s official name, these efforts were long in a hibernation and got intensified only then when USA decided that Macedonia should join NATO. The essence of what is happening is I hope clear to everyone, as it is not about taking into account the joint and specific characteristics of two nations that are close, but that one of these two countries is necessary to become a member of NATO,” said Lavrov.

Rama message to Basha and Kryemadhi (ADN)

Prime Minister Edi Rama extended a public message on Sunday to the opposition a few days ahead of a forewarned massive protest in Tirana. While referring to the Democrat leader, Lulzim Basha and the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) chairwoman, Monika Kryemadhi as politicians who fear the justice the Premier invited them to put an end to the barricades and the obstruction of country’s European integration. “Talking about barricades in the present days means that you are blind, deaf and useless to the citizens’ interests. Differently from those politicians afraid of facing the justice the Albanian citizens worry about the European integration. Then this country will no longer be seen as left outside the united EU in spite being located in the heart of Europe,” said Rama. He also declared that the only success achieved by the opposition through boots launching or barefoot protests during these last 6 month has been to hamper this process.

Basha: Massive participation in opposition’s protest, clear political message (ADN)

Massive participation in the opposition’s forewarned protest of 27 January will be a message that will speak more than a political speech. The opposition’s leader, Lulzim Basha made it clear to the citizens in Vlora on Sunday that their participation would be a direct hit to a corrupted government elected through crime’s votes. “Citizens’ problems resolution is not among the priorities of a government elected with crime’s support. On the other side the citizens are obligated to pay a sum of EUR 200 Million due to a debt toward the Albanian Power Corporation (APC). This figure is paid each year by the citizens to five concessionaries, five pigs of crime and corruption who share their profits with Premier Rama. There no reason for a government whose fate is tied to that of the citizens to not immediately interrupt this criminal and corruptive relation, pay the debt to the APC and relieve the citizens from the unfair interests,” declared Basha. He stressed that the democrats are determined to take this step immediately after gaining power. “We will give to the citizens a government which does not send the money in the oligarchs’ hands but give it to the citizens. They will be able to bring down this corrupted government only through a wave of massive protests that will restore their right to free vote,” said Basha.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

U.N. mediator says ‘positive momentum’ in Macedonia name row (Reuters, 15 January 2018)

ATHENS – A United Nations mediator said on Monday there was “positive momentum” towards settling a 27-year dispute between Athens and Skopje over the ex-Yugoslav republic’s name. The row over the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), as it is formally known, has held up its prospects of joining both the European Union and NATO.

Macedonia took that name when it became independent in 1991 following the break-up of Yugoslavia. Greece has challenged it since, saying it implies territorial claims to the Greek region of the same name and of the ancient Greek kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great.

In an interview with Greek state television ahead of talks in New York on Wednesday with diplomats from both countries, U.N. mediator Matthew Nimetz said: ”In both countries there is a positive momentum. “I think the people in both countries are maybe ready to hear some solutions that are consistent with national interests but also have some element of compromise that would resolve the problem.” Nimetz said the new government in Skopje was “very interested” in resolving the issue. Athens has only agreed that the country be referred to internationally as “FYROM” until the row is resolved. That is the name under which it was admitted to the U.N in 1993 and the name which the EU and other bodies use for it. Greek government officials have suggested that Athens would try to focus on brokering an agreement that calls for a compound name with a geographical qualifier. Suggestions floated have included upper or northern.

Asked if he would present a new name in the latest round of talks, Nimetz said “there’s always a new way of looking at things … of course there’s nothing totally new, there’s no new magic, we know what the problems are.” Greeks are highly sensitive about the name issue. Nearly 70 percent said they did not want the term “Macedonia” used in any solution, a poll showed on Sunday, and rallies have been planned in Athens and in northern Greece in the coming weeks.

Geopolitical poker in the Western Balkans (ekathimerini, by Alexis Papachelas, 14 January 2018)

Many people wonder why the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s name reappeared all of a sudden. The answer lies in the geopolitical game that is being played out in the Western Balkans. The European leadership – Berlin, Brussels and the other important players – believes that 2018 will be a crucial year for the bloc’s interests in this neighborhood. Russia, meanwhile, is playing a lone hand and sees the Western Balkans as the European Union’s soft underbelly and a possible foothold. This is more than apparent in the case of Serbia, which is vacillating between Russia and the West. China is attending to its interests in a quieter manner, with major infrastructure investments in the context of the Silk Road initiative. And even Turkey and some of the theocratic Gulf states are looking to control the Muslim population in the region.

The European Union and the United States understand the challenges and are determined that all or most of the Western Balkan countries join the EU and NATO. For Brussels, a major prerequisite is that the many historical differences dividing these countries are settled. This is a long list and includes Kosovo’s status vis-a-vis Serbia as well as territorial disputes. In FYROM’s case, it is all about the name and European leaders do not want to leave the country out in the cold. They believe that Nikola Gruevski’s defeat has presented a rare opportunity for a solution but also predict that his more moderate successor, Zoran Zaev, will face a lot of opposition inside the country.

The peculiarities of the Trump administration mean that America both is and isn’t involved in this game. The fact is that it took the intervention of a mid-level diplomat to unblock the political crisis in Skopje. The US has influence in and knowledge of the region, but it is not yet clear how much significance it wants to give it. So far, it seems that the Balkan “account” is being handled by Vice President Mike Pence.

What does all this mean? That Greece has to play what is by and large a European game – something that both the prime minister and the head of the opposition are well aware of. Europe and the US want FYROM in NATO and in talks (along with Albania) for EU accession within the year. This is no easy feat as the domestic pressures will be significant in both Greece and FYROM. Athens has a strong hand because of developments but is weakened by the economic crisis. And the international players will play hardball in this game of geopolitical poker that has only just begun.