LOCAL PRESS

Dacic and Tanin ahead of the United Nations session (RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic received today UNMIK Head Zahir Tanin within his regular visit to Belgrade ahead of the upcoming session of the UN Security Council on UNMIK’s work. They discussed the current, fragile security and political situation in Kosovo and Metohija, especially following the tragic murder of Oliver Ivanovic, and concerning the current events regarding the abolishment of the Special Court for KLA crimes. The topic of talks was also the perspective of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and UNMIK’s engagement. They pointed to the significance of further unreduced presence and operation of this mission towards creating conditions for a normal and decent life of the Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija. Dacic underlined that it is of outmost importance for the Republic of Serbia to maintain the current dynamics and format of UN Security Council sessions on this topic, especially in the context of efforts towards building trust and stability. Dacic voiced special gratitude for the invested efforts in the implementation of UNMIK’s mandate, along with the expectation that the Mission will continue with its implementation in the following period in accordance with UNSCR 1244 (1999).

Processing war crimes important for reconciliation (RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian Justice Minister Nela Kuburovic had talks in Belgrade on Tuesday with Adama Dieng, the Under-Secretary-General and special adviser of the Secretary-General on the prevention of genocide about processing war crimes in the region. Kuburovic notes that Serbia is devoted to that issue, which is seen through the work of the War Crimes Prosecution, as well as through strategic documents passed by the Serbian government. She says there has been much discussion lately about war crimes and regional cooperation, especially following the end of the work of the ICTY, whose work Serbia assessed as selective in relation to Serbian victims. Kuburovic underlines that Serbia is the only state that fully cooperated with the ICTY, that it responded to all of its requests and extradited all indictees, but that Serbian victims have not found justice before the court institution. Kuburovic says that Serbia is achieving with B&H cooperation in processing war crimes, unlike Croatia, where this cooperation completely lacks. Dieng says that with the end of the work of the ICTY there has not been complete reconciliation in the region and all states in the region need to work together on reconciliation and establishing stability, and that only processing of war crimes in these states can contribute to this. Kuburovic and Dieng agreed that the issue of processing war crimes and the resolution of the matter of missing persons was extremely important, as well as that in the future there would be no true reconciliation in all the regional countries if no political will existed for the resolution of war crimes, states the announcement.

Kuburovic: Court for KLA crimes followed by obstructions from very establishment (RTS)

Serbian Justice Minister Nela Kuburovic has told an evening RTS broadcast that the Special Court for KLA crimes in Kosovo and Metohija cannot be abolished, and that the court should be dealing with the “Yellow House” case. However, she notes there have been obstructions since the establishment of this court. She says that Serbia expects justice for all victims, especially for Serbian victims who didn’t find justice, especially before the ICTY, so that hope remains that the Specialized Chamber will start working. As regards the case of the Bytyci brothers, she says that it is still conducted before the Serbian War Crimes Prosecution and she believes it will be completed and perpetrators will be held responsible. She doesn’t believe that this case will be conducted before the Special Court, because it is explicitly prescribed what this court will be dealing with. “The Bytyci brothers case did not occur in Kosovo and Metohija and it exclusively remains under the jurisdiction of Serbian organs,” said Kuburovic. She has stated that Serbian judicial organs have not yet even received from Pristina the record from the crime scene of the assassination of Oliver Ivanovic. “For the time being there has been no progress, nor have we received information. Even though we have received a response to our request that we will receive a response expressly, if nothing more, at least the record from the crime scene, we haven’t even received this,” said Kuburovic.

The Chairperson of the government Commission for Missing Persons Veljko Odalovic has stated that everybody hoped that the proceedings before the Special Court will go faster, but that the establishment of this court is the only good news that the victims received over the past 20 years. “We believed that all this will go faster, we believed that the international community that supported the establishment of this court and imposed this on the Kosovo institutions, will be the one that will continue in the same manner. We believed that it will force them to intensify investigations, to issue indictments as they have been announcing and finally to bring before justice those who avoided justice,” said Odalovic. He says he hopes that command responsibility of those who headed the so-called KLA will be recognized in the processes before this court. He points out that numerous evidence on human organ trafficking was found and that the international community knew this but kept silent about this. “Silence is also a crime, and nothing else,” said Odalovic.

Serbia appreciates Vatican’s position on non-recognition of Kosovo (Beta/Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic spoke with State Secretary of the Holy See Cardinal Petar Parolin about the importance of improving bilateral relations and cooperation. During the meeting, which was held in Vatican, Dacic and Parolin also discussed the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. Dacic informed the Cardinal about the current issues in negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, and reiterated Serbia’s sincere commitment to dialogue. Parolin emphasized that the Holy See is paying particular attention to the developments in the Balkans and the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina. Dacic once again conveyed gratitude to Parolin on the principled position of the Holy See regarding the non-recognition of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Tajani: EU’s message is: We recognize Serbia’s progress (Tanjug)

The message I am bringing from the EU is that we recognize Serbia’s progress, that it is a bridge to other countries and that it is thus significant for it to get closer to the EU, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said in Belgrade. After meeting with Serbian parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic, Tajani said they had had a useful and successful conversation about contributions and progress in Serbia’s EU approximation and accession process. As he said, it is important that a large country like Serbia has a parliament that is the protagonist of these developments – while parliamentary diplomacy between the EU and Serbia is important. “I think we are on the right track,” Tajani said, adding that Serbia is a large European country in terms of culture, tradition and identity. The EP President emphasized that in the current situation in the Balkans the role of Belgrade is extremely important, because a stable Balkans means a stable EU. He explained that the six-month presidency of Bulgaria is an opportunity for the EU to further improve relations with important Balkan countries. “We have a problem with foreign fighters, terrorism and illegal migration,” Tajani said, adding that special attention should be paid to these global topics.
Tajani said he and Gojkovic also talked about Kosovo, and noted that it was important for the EU to see a progressive reduction of tensions and continuation of cooperation. He also announced that EU’s Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker would soon be visiting Serbia.
Gojkovic said after the meeting that Tajani’s visit was of great importance to Serbia, the region, the countries that are in the process of EU accession, but also for the EU itself. Tajani, as she said, highlighted the importance of Serbia as an important factor and key to stability in the region, both in political and economic terms. Gojkovic said that the topics today included the role of the parliament in the process of European integration, the importance of controlling the executive branch of government, strengthening the capacities of the parliament, and the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.  “Serbia and Belgrade expect the Pristina authorities to be committed to the Brussels agreement, as Serbia is, and our priority in this dialogue is to form the Community of Serb Municipalities,” concluded Gojkovic.

EC: Kosovo part of Western Balkans Strategy, EU members send annexes (Beta)

The European Commission (EC) strategy for the Western Balkans encompasses the entire region, EC representatives explained in reaction to allegations that Spain wanted Kosovo to be excluded from the document as it was not a state. When asked by journalists to confirm if Spain had handed a non-paper to the EC in Brussels, opposing the idea of including Kosovo in a process that might create the impression that Kosovo was treated as a state, the EC spokespersons, Margaritis Schinas and Maja Kocijancic, said that EU member states were still sending annexes to the strategy, expected to be released on 6 February, after which the document would be discussed by the EU Council of Ministers.

Spanish Embassy: Kosovo is not part of EU enlargement process (Politika)

Responding to the question as to whether Madrid will remain with its stand despite Brussels’ opposition, the Spanish Embassy in Belgrade quotes for Politika part of the document that their government had sent: “The Spanish position is very clear: the WB6 concept doesn’t correspond to the framework of EU enlargement dynamics. Kosovo is not part of the enlargement process and it has its own differentiated framework of relations, i.e. the Stabilization and Association Agreement. There has not been a change in the Spanish position.” Unofficially, the EC has sent to Madrid its high official in order to find a compromise solution. The Western Balkan 6 (WB6) abbreviation is used precisely to prevent the opposition of EU states that don’t recognize Kosovo’s independence since, this way, they are not talking about “six Balkan countries”. Western Balkan countries are mentioned as “partners” and not states in EU documents.

REGIONAL PRESS

Vucic’s statement that RS is Dayton-created entity triggers reactions (FTV)

At the trilateral meeting in Turkey on Monday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that Republika Srpska (RS) is an entity that was created in Dayton. “All we ask from you, Bosniaks, is that Serbs in the RS and everywhere else in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) feel safe. As we do not want to harm your territorial integrity, we ask you to have such relations towards the RS, which is a Dayton-created entity on the territory of B&H,” Vucic said. Reporter note that the statement was made after marking of January 9, which was ruled by B&H Constitutional Court as unconstitutional and added that Vucic did not attend the marking. Columnist Dragan Bursac stated that January 9 is pointless and added that this is a message to RS President Milorad Dodik to stop with mongering and scoring cheap political points. Leader of ‘United Srpska’ Nenad Stevandic said that an attempt of finding a way to aggravate relations between the RS and Serbia are in place. Political analyst Zarko Papic said that political events in B&H and the region are being created to increase ethnic tensions, to divert focus from more important topics, such as improvement of the living standard. He stressed that B&H has ethnic-based oligarchies that protect their looted wealth, for which they need territory. Papic concluded that certain politicians are ready to block the EU path of B&H due to their own interests, and added that progress on the EU path could lead to processing of certain political officials.

Results of meeting in Istanbul spark reactions (TV1)

A number of reactions have been registered after the trilateral meeting that Bosniak member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held in Istanbul on Monday. Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik immediately disapproved the fact that Izetbegovic attended this meeting instead of Chairman of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic.

“It is a serious precedent that only one member – and not the Chairman of the Presidency – goes to such meetings and tries to give them an entirely new dimension.” Dodik argued.

Commenting on Dodik’s criticism, Vucic told reporters that Izetbegovic attended the meeting as the Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency. “To be honest, Bakir did not present himself as a president but as the Bosniak member of the Presidency. That is how he presented himself, that is how he spoke. I could understand Dodik, but I think it is good when people talk,” Vucic said. The reporter noted that Dodik changed his rhetoric as soon as Vucic made this statement. This time, he said that the RS believes that Vucic was representing the RS in Turkey in the best possible way. SDS’ Mladen Bosic reminded that Dodik’s first reaction was an “attack” because the meeting was held without Covic, and then when he realized that he directly criticized Vucic in this way, he promptly changed his rhetoric saying all the best about Vucic and his efforts to advocate the RS at this meeting. According to SDS’ Borislav Bojic, any kind of dialogue – especially with participation of great countries such as Turkey – should certainly be welcomed. Therefore, he said that he cannot see any reason to create a problem out of such dialogue.

B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic (SDS) also welcomed the news on construction of two routes of the highway from Sarajevo to Belgrade, which he thinks is “excellent” if there is someone to finance this project.

B&H Minister of Security Dragan Mektic (SDS) stressed that anyone should take the chance to talk in the spirit of peace, tolerance and forgiveness. “I am not asking anyone to forget anything or for someone to be pardoned after everything that happened, possible crimes and criminal offenses, but let us please create conditions for future generations to live a tolerant and normal life here”, Mektic said.

Federation of B&H Prime Minister Fadil Novalic (SDA) underlined that the main goal of the abovementioned highway is to improve connection between the two countries. “The RS advocated the solution that should connect Belgrade and Sarajevo via eastern part of B&H, i.e. via Rogatica, Sokolac and Visegrad.  The Federation of B&H advocated the solution that this route should go via Tuzla Canton, Brcko, Orasje and Bijeljina. Compromise solution is that both routes will be constructed”, explained Novalic.

Representative of the RS Ministry of Transport and Communications Natasa Kostic reminded that the RS Assembly adopted earlier the RS Transport Strategy, adding that this document is a part of the Framework Transport Strategy of B&H adopted by B&H Council of Ministers (CoM). Kostic stated that considering the fact that the RS Transport Strategy set clear instructions for the RS authorities regarding activities in this sector, “discussion of any other options would not be justified at this moment.”

Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic said that Serbia is prepared to implement this project, adding that this country will propose forming of a joint work group of B&H and Serbia tasked to work on implementation of this project.

Chairman of the Presidency of B&H and HDZ B&H President Dragan Covic and Serb member of B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic believe that Izetbegovic’s visit to Turkey was a private visit. Ivanic stated on Tuesday that Izetbegovic’s visit to Turkey was not paid on behalf of B&H Presidency given that the visit itself was not previously discussed, noting that all talks are welcome but Izetbegovic could have only represent the stances of SDA at the meeting. He said he learned about results of the Istanbul meeting from media. Ivanic wonders how Izetbegovic thinks to implement the agreement reached at the meeting knowing that consent of institutions at all levels of authority in B&H is required. He reminded that entities decide on highways routes and in order to implement this Izetbegovic will have to ask for consent of RS President Dodik, RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic, Federation of B&H Prime Minister Novalic, as well as of HDZ B&H as the coalition partner at the Federation of B&H level.

SP RS leader Petar Djokic commented that he has nothing against such meetings if there is a chance that they will bring benefits to everyone.

Bosniak member of B&H Presidency and leader of SDA Bakir Izetbegovic said that he was surprised by abovementioned reactions, adding that he did not present himself in Istanbul as representative of B&H but as member of B&H Presidency. “I said to my collocutors that I can, along with them, look for solutions I will later offer to B&H”, emphasized Izetbegovic, adding that goal of his visit to Istanbul was to create ground for some projects important for B&H. He also underlined that Croat member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic and Serb member of B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic paid numerous visits to other countries, especially Croatia and Serbia, despite the fact B&H Presidency did not agree any platform for these visits. “It is always assumed goal of these visits is to make something good for B&H”, explained Izetbegovic.

RS President says he fully supports Serbia and its stances re Jasenovac exhibition (RTRS)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik stated that he fully supports Serbia and its stances when it comes to the exhibition ‘Jasenovac – pravo na nezaborav’ (Jasenovac – The Right Not To Forget’) which has been displayed at the UN Headquarters in New York. Dodik said that he does not understand the reactions of Croatian officials to the exhibition. Dodik warned that denying the scale of suffering in Jasenovac by official bodies of Croatia in malicious and extremist circles could be interpreted as an approval of crimes which is why it is extremely important for the entire region that Serbia in this way decided to additionally familiarize the world with the crimes against Serbs, Jews and Roma in this area.

Speaker of the RS Assembly Nedeljko Cubrilovic, on the other hand, said that Jasenovac was the only World War II concentration camp that was not founded by the Germans, but by the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Cubrilovic also said that he is outraged because of the reactions of Croatian officials to the exhibition ‘Jasenovac – pravo na nezaborav’.

Opposition parties in RS start presenting names of their potential candidates for posts of RS President and Serb member of B&H Presidency (RTRS)

Eight months ahead of the general elections in B&H, opposition parties in Republika Srpska (RS) started presenting the names of their potential candidates for the posts of RS President and Serb member of the B&H Presidency. PDP representatives announced that Mladen Ivanic will be their candidate for one of the two abovementioned posts. SDS, on the other hand, has three potential candidates for the two posts, including current B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic, Bijeljina Mayor Mico Micic and SDS leader Vukota Govedarica. Govedarica earlier expressed readiness to run for RS President. However, now Govedarica is saying that there are several potential candidates. “The SDS Main Board will discuss this situation and we will assess what is the best for the RS and which candidates will be a guarantee that programs will be implemented. Sarovic showed that he is successful and that he is performing his duties in the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) in a good way. Mr. Micic is a very successful mayor of a city which is significant for the RS, and he showed that he can win and that he enjoys great trust. We will reach a final decision at the session of the Main Board in February.”

Former SDS leader Mladen Bosic, on the other hand, hinted that Sarovic is SDS’ potential candidate for the post of Serb member of the B&H Presidency, while Govedarica and Micic are potential candidates for both posts.

Leader of PDP Branislav Borenovic stressed that it is paramount to create a winning concept in which the two joint candidates will have the full support of all political parties and the bloc which is wider than the Alliance for Changes (SzP).

Meanwhile, the ruling coalition in the RS – SNSD-DNS-SP RS – is yet to present its candidates for the upcoming elections and according to earlier announcements, the ruling parties will not reveal the names of their candidates before spring. President Milorad Dodik is yet to decide which post he will run for in the general elections.

B&H Presidency members to visit Brussels today (BHT1/N1)

Chairman of the B&H Presidency Dragan Covic, Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Serb member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic are due to pay a visit to Brussels on Wednesday. The presenter noted that after a series of unsuccessful attempts to reach an agreement on amendments to the Election Law of B&H, they will try to harmonize their stances at the meetings with President of the European Commission (EC) Jean-Claude Juncker and representatives of the European People’s Party (EPP). Prior to departure to Brussels Covic stated that topics of the meeting with President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Joseph Daul will be general topics and situation in B&H, with focus on the electoral legislation. The main topic will be the electoral legislation and an attempt that the EPP motivates ‘us’ to come up with a joint proposal of changes to Law on Elections of B&H. Covic confirmed that he, as the Presidency Chairman, scheduled a meeting with EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, who should be coming to Sarajevo in late February. Covic explained that topic of the meeting with Juncker is the EU road of B&H and the country’s attempt to get the status of an EU candidate. Covic said that that HDZ B&H’s proposal of changes will most probably fall in the Parliament of B&H, just as SDA’s proposal will most probably fall. According to Covic, if ‘we’ really wants it, the issue would be resolved within seven days. Izetbegovic said that they will discuss issue of amending of the Election Law of B&H during this visit, adding that he does not expect concrete solution to be reached during meetings in Brussels. Member of B&H Presidency said that changes of the Election Law should protect balance between civic and ethnic principle established by the Dayton Peace Agreement. He underlined that some have been claiming that the international community (IC) will impose certain solutions regarding this issue. Izetbegovic said that he calls on the IC to offer solution that will respect three elements: decision of the Constitutional Court of B&H (CC), the Federation of B&H Constitution and the warning of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council. Izetbegovic explained that the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council warned B&H that it must implement the ECHR’s ruling in ‘Sejdic-Finci’ case. “I am not optimist that some significant results will be achieved in Brussels”, said Bosniak member of B&H Presidency. Izetbegovic also said that SDA prepared Proposal of Amendments to the Election Law of B&H respecting all three aforementioned elements. He called on all political subjects capable to prepare better proposal that will respect these three elements to present it. He concluded that failure to adopt Amendments to the Election Law of B&H may jeopardize implementation of results of upcoming general elections.

Croatian President explains invitation to Serbian counterpart (Hina)

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has invited Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to visit Croatia in mid-February, her office said in a press release on Tuesday. It is time for Vucic to visit Croatia, the president said in a special address. “In good faith that both sides have a desire to overcome disputes and events which have kept us hostage to the past and to move forward to enable progress for our peoples and states, I have invited President Aleksandar Vucic to an official visit to the Republic of Croatia in mid-February. With this invitation I want to open a new page in our relationship,” she said, adding that her “constitutional obligations include the promotion and protection of… state and national interests.” “One of our key interests is the development of good relations with our neighboring countries. For this reason I am dedicated to advocating a policy of sincere dialogue and to resolving open issues in a positive atmosphere. In our relations with our neighboring countries from the former state, there are open issues mostly related to borders and other matters related to the dissolution and succession of the former state, but there are also issues that emerge from our joint history,” Grabar-Kitarovic said.

Grabar-Kitarovic said those issues “particularly burden our relations” with Serbia. “One hundred years have passed since the end of the First World War, unfortunately marking a century since the beginning of mutual controversy and conflict.” “Our views on many historical themes, especially those imposed by the 20th century, are not only different, they are often contradictory. I am convinced that both Croats and Serbs, as two old European peoples, with more than a thousand years of history and in many ways intertwined destinies, can and will finally find a path to a better future,” the president said. “Let us show everyone that a century has been enough time for us all to learn our lesson and to find the strength to turn the page for a new start and a better relationship. This is what I want and I am convinced that this is what Croats and all Croatian citizens also want.” She said the “path leading to this is through dialogue, agreements and concrete co-operation in solving problems and creating new developmental perspectives through a common European future.” “First and foremost, we have to resolve the fate of all missing persons from the Homeland War. This is not only a test of our humanity, it is also the foundation of true peace, from which we can begin to improve our relationship. Every mother has the right to find her child and her loved ones. It is our responsibility and obligation as leaders to do everything to help them,” said Grabar-Kitarovic. “Our permanent task is to protect and improve the position of national minorities, both of the Croatian minority in the Republic of Serbia and of the Serbian minority in the Republic of Croatia. The border issue is also an important issue which I believe we can address with dialogue. If we do not succeed in this way then it will be resolved through the international judiciary and on the basis of international law,” she added.

Politicians should “follow the example of our businessmen who have continuously year after year improved their cooperation and increased their investments”, she said. “This shows how connected our two countries are. I am convinced that the vast majority of our citizens are primarily interested in a better life and new job opportunities. That is why we must do more to further open this area for Croatian and Serbian businessmen to invest and cooperate.”

Grabar-Kitarovic said security cooperation and combating terrorism were important for both countries. “Croatian-Serbian cooperation is of utmost importance for the wider area of ​​South East Europe and must be a guarantee of lasting peace and stability. I therefore believe that it is time for a visit at the Presidential level.” “If this visit contributes to understanding the destiny of at least one of our missing defenders or civilians, I will consider the visit a success,” Grabar-Kitarovic said.

Prime Minister: We will not be drawn into stories and relations from World War II (HRT)

Responding to reporters’ questions about the new diminishing of relations with Serbia due to the controversial exhibit on Jasenovac at the United Nations in New York, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that there exists a clear stance by the government and Croatian society on the whole toward victims of the holocaust and victims of Jasenovac. Alluding to statements made by the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic related to the exhibit in the UN, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said: “Evidently there are certain ministers who not follow happenings well, they don’t look at, they don’t listen to what is happening, they don’t hear messages, they attempt with one exhibit in New York to instrumentalize the topic and return relations to the time of the Second World War. Croatia will not allow itself to be drawn into this story, we know what our values are, we know how to relate to the past, we know how to clearly articulate condolences to victims and condemn those that committed crimes,” said Plenkovic.

Plenkovic on Slovenian fines for fishermen: Croatia will respond with the same measure (Hina)

Prime Minister Plenkovic said that he regrets the fact that Slovenia is continuing with the unacceptable policy of one-sided implementation of the arbitration ruling. He added that Croatia will respond to fines sent to Croatian fishermen by Slovenian police with the same measure. “According to international law it is impossible to implement this kind of a judgment in a one-sided manner,” said Plenkovic responding to questions posed by reporters following the “Croatia at the door of the Energy Union” conference. “This choice of theirs to send fines to our fishermen is deeply wrong. These are one-sided acts. We have been prepared to respond to them like a serious country all this time and we will respond. Hence, Croatian police will return the same measure to violations of our territory by Slovenian fishermen in order to clearly show how firm our message is,” said Plenkovic. He noted that Croatian fishermen will not pay the fines. “We will find a mechanism to assist them in a legal manner and dispute all of these fines that Slovenian police have sent,” said the Prime Minister.

DF asks for reconciliation (Pobjeda)

Declaration on Reconciliation in Montenegro, recently proposed by Democratic Front (DF), describes Montenegro as a civic state but the emphasis is on the “reconciliation among the Orthodox majority” of the people. Declaration proposes that “Orthodox Montenegrins and Serbs be the first to take responsibility” for Montenegro’s future and to work together on overcoming “dangerous divisions they inherited”. DF proposed reconciliation “based on the traditions of Njegos’s Montenegro, resting on the Kosovo vow and respect for ancestors”. The signing of the Declaration took place on 27 January, St. Sava’s day, which is how DF wanted to emphasize the need for Orthodox people in Montenegro to reconcile and come together. The document was signed by DF leaders Andrija Mandic, Milan Knezevic and Nebojsa Medojevic.

Refugees rescued in Montenegro (CDM)

The Italian Erika boat with six crew members and 17 refugees, including three children, on board, sailed into the Zelenika port at about 10 am yesterday, the Maritime Safety. Ship transporting 17 people was at risk of submerging on a smaller rubber boat in international waters. Administration of Montenegro and the Police Directorate confirmed. The refugees are given medical treatment. The Erica vessel provided assistance to the refugees by accepting them on their vessel,” the police say. The 17 migrants include ten men, four women and three children. Eleven of them are from Syria, two from Morocco, two from Yemen, one person is from Afghanistan and one from Pakistan.

Nimetz’s statement after meeting with Kotzias: The waiting is pointless, it’s time for making decisions (Meta)

There is a momentum, it’s time for decision making, stated the mediator in the name dispute, Matthew Nimetz after the meeting with Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Kotzias.

Nimetz stated that the meeting was constructive and said that the Head of the Greek diplomacy have talked about the ideas that the mediator has submitted 2 weeks ago, has listened to the stances of the government and said that there is a will on both sides to reach an agreement.

“I think there is a momentum here. The waiting makes no sense here, it makes no sense at the northern neighbor, and generally it makes no sense at all. We are discussing this issue for the last 25 years and everyone knows the issues. It is time for making decisions and I think we have arrived there” said the UN’s mediator, without giving a precise deadline, stressing that there will be talks in the forthcoming weeks and the situation will have to be evaluated again. Nimetz didn’t want to reveal his ideas and proposals, as it may not be a good idea to comment what he has proposed. He pointed out that some of the ideas have leaked in the media, but stressed that for it can’t publicly discussed that. “Both of the governments can come up with their own ideas or I’m hoping they will use some of mine. I never give definite ideas as I’m a mediator and not a judge. I provide with ideas that I think are most useful in the moment” said Nimetz.

Previously, he had a meeting with Giorgos Koumoutsakos who is in charge of foreign policy within the opposition party New Democracy, but after the meeting, no statements were given to the media.

Kotzias: Greece to present four-point agreement to Macedonia (MIA)

Name proposals, irredentism, international and regional relations of Macedonia and measures for positive agenda are four points of the draft agreement which Greece is to forward to Macedonia by mid-February, Greek FM Nikos Kotzias told Greece’s state broadcaster ERT, MIA reports from Athens. Kotzias said that the agreement is still in formulation phase and firstly will be presented to the Greek, and afterwards to the Macedonian government. If approved, it will be the basis for solving the problem, and it should get green light from the parliaments of both countries thus opening Macedonia’s road to NATO and EU. This agreement will include all topics related to the name issue. Special chapter on irredentism, but also on topics related to the country’s future, its integration into international organizations and a positive agenda, how to further develop our relations, Kotzias said, explaining that the Greek side is still preparing a draft agreement, and he expects to be forwarded to the Macedonian government in the middle of February. He confirmed that (UN) mediator presented five concrete proposals, four names in Macedonian language and one Macedonia (Skopje), while in regard to the Greek positions he said that in his opinion the name should be complex containing the term Macedonia, “not to be in English, to be in the language or languages of this country, without translation.” As examples of the international experience of such a formula, Kotzias mentioned Sri Lanka as a country with one, untranslated name, and Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan as states, whose names are complex words and employ the same suffix “stan.” The first thing in the talks will be the name, the content of the name and adjective of the name, because the second element of the name will contain the term Macedonia as a geographical area. The second thing is whether the name will have one or two words. Thirdly whether it will be introduced in the language of the country or in the international language, and the fourth whether it will be translated or not, Kotzias said, MIA reports. In regard to the name negotiations, Kotzias reiterated his position that the name includes seven issues: the name, use of the name, the identity, the language, trade use, acronyms and signs. Kotzias explained that if Macedonian side backs the agreement, then it will have to be approved by the parliaments of both countries, in accordance with the constitutional provisions for approval of an international agreement.

Kotzias in the interview explained that Macedonia needs to make constitutional changes to any settlement agreement between the two countries, MIA reports. Asked about what should be changed in the Constitution, Kotzias cited the preamble and two Articles, without revealing further details. Any agreement that will happen, if it is not accompanied by constitutional changes, or if you want to say, adjustments, it can later be changed by any new prime minister from another political party. The current government of this country will find itself in a difficult position if the Constitution does not change, and it concludes international agreements and the next government will tell them that they acted unconstitutionally, Kotzias said, adding that Zaev’s government at this moment has no two-thirds majority to change the Constitution, and the first thing to do is open the process for changes.

We will not divide the problem into parts, Kotzias said, by which he indirectly rejected Nimetz’s proposal, published in the Greek media for the gradual solution of the issue. Kotzias said that he wants full use of the solution, which, according to him, means changing the Macedonian passports and ID cards. He supported this position by examples from his experience as an academician and expert on globalization. “When I became a minister, in order to explain to everyone, I always had an ID and a passport with me. And I always told them: What is the passport? international document. What is an ID card? internal document. What is an ID card in the EU? An international document, because it is in Latin alphabet. It is the dilemma that there are no classic internal documents like in the 19th century and there is a difference between them,” Kotzias explained in the interview.

Kotzias did not want to speak about specific time-frames for a solution, and if an agreement is not reached until the NATO Summit, he said that Macedonia without an agreement will not join the North Atlantic Alliance. NATO process is not that we want to get them into NATO, but they are seeking to be admitted to NATO. In the negotiations we use the fact that they want to become a NATO member, Kotzias said, while in relation to possible pressures from third parties, he underlined that he has sent a message to everyone, both to the EU, NATO, and to the US and Russia, not to interfere, because “the one that interferes is doing badly and does not want a solution to be found.”

Speaking about the derived words originating from the name, Kotzias told that the term “Macedonian language” was recognized by Greece in 1997 at the UN conference held in Athens.

“Do you know when the name “Macedonian language” is accepted in the UN? Do you know when the Greek side made the agreement for the first time for the language of this country to be called Macedonian? I’ll tell you. During the rule of Konstantinos Karamanlis in 1997. Do you know where this happened? It happened at a UN conference organised in Athens,” Kotzias told in the interview with Greece’s state broadcaster ERT, MIA reports.

Xhaferi: So far 17.000 amendments have been translated, submitted to block progress (Meta)

Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi says that up until now, 17,000 amendments have been translated, out of the 35,569 amendments that the opposition submitted for the Law on the Use of Languages. “There are members who have about 300 amendments, such as the case of Article 5, which will take time to be translated. It is obvious that this is a political issue and the amendments have been made to block the Law on the Use of Languages. Any possibility of the acceptance of an amendment would constitute a threat to the Constitution. In the parliamentary procedure, the law is in line with the Constitution, and there is no basis for it to be considered unconstitutional,” stated Xhaferi while briefing reporters.

DP gathers parliamentary group (ADN)

Democratic Party parliamentary group was gathered late this Tuesday to discuss the new strategy that will be followed after the opposition’s protest. During the meeting, the leader Lulzim Basha, asked by the MPs to continue and keep the same spirit as the one on 27 January in Boulevard.

He required to be continued with ‘protests’ in every meeting of parliamentary committees and sessions of the parliament.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Turkey’s Balkans role holds surprise appeal (Ahval, by Dimitar Bechev, 31 January 2018)

Watching Turkey’s military incursion into the Kurdish-held Syrian enclave of Afrin, one might well conclude Ankara’s foreign policy is all about fire and fury. That is not the case. Of course, what makes headlines are President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s periodic outbursts against other countries and their leaders. But there is a pragmatic edge to Turkey’s dealings with the outside world. The U-turn in relations with Russia in mid-2016 is the example par excellence. There are others too. Erdoğan has succeeded in cultivating reasonably positive relations with most Balkan leaders, who feel they can profit from Turkey in one way or another. A fresh illustration is the three-way meeting in Istanbul with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Bosniak leader Bakir Izetbegović.  Just think for a minute about the participants of this meeting. Vučić started his political career in the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party, rising to the rank of a minister of information under President Slobodan Milošević in March 1998.  Several months later, Erdoğan went to jail for his Islamist politics. The past is another country as they say, yet who would have foreseen those two shaking hands at a rally in Serbia’s Muslim majority province of Sandžak to the enthusiastic applause of the locals? Erdoğan and Izetbegović, son of late Alija Izetbegović, might come across as a more natural coupling. However, if you stretch your memory back to 2010, you would surely remember how Ankara rooted for Haris Silajdžić, Bakir’s competitor in the race for the Bosniak seat in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tripartite presidency. Now, for both Vučić and Izetbegović, Erdoğan is an ally of choice. Bosniaks traditionally see Turkey as an international patron, a sentiment reinforced by Russia’s ever-growing presence in Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority part of Bosnia. Vučić, too, is open to business. It was his third face-to-face meeting with Erdoğan in less than a year. Serbia, which signed a free-trade agreement with Turkey in 2009, is keen to attract extra Turkish investment. What is more, Turkey’s anti-Western turn and cordial ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a popular figure among many Serbs, goes some way in muting animosity. Needless to say, Vučić’s control of the mainstream media helps give rapprochement a positive spin as well. The complaints by Republika Srpska that Izetbegović has no right to speak on behalf of Bosnia in Istanbul, since he is not currently chairing the collective presidency, will not be given much airtime, to be sure. Courtships by both Belgrade and Sarajevo add to Turkey’s leverage in the Balkans. As does Turkish cash. One of the reasons Vučić and Izetbegović went to Istanbul was to seek mediation regarding a highway linking Belgrade and Sarajevo. Last October, Turkish Environment Minister Mehmet Özhaseki signed an agreement with his Serbian counterpart to finance a stretch of the road, but Bosnia and Serbia have not been able to settle on a route. While Sarajevo insists on a northern route passing through the towns of Brčko and Tuzla, Serbia, along with Republika Srpska, prefers a connection via the Sandžak. It counts on Erdoğan’s backing. Vučić calculates that southern route would benefit Muslim Sandžaklis, a strongly pro-Turkish and pro-AKP constituency. Monday’s summit failed to resolve the deadlock. But what matters is its symbolism. “It is a giant project, but Turkey is a great country, doing great things,” Izetbegović said prior to the talks. Vučić, for his part, vowed that Bosnia and Serbia would “never have trouble again”. So Turkey, tangled in conflicts with so many of its neighbours, appears as a constructive player for a change.

Part of the success is that Erdoğan has scaled back Turkish ambitions a few notches. Back in 2009-10, Turkey’s then foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, crisscrossed the Balkans to tout his country’s role as a trouble-shooter capable of supplanting the European Union and United States. Yet his initiatives, including the regular get-togethers with the foreign ministers of Serbia and Bosnia, did little to crack tough nuts such as the chronic constitutional impasse paralysing Bosnian politics. Turkey is not in the driver’s seat when it comes to Kosovo, the other top international issue in the region. It was also EU and U.S. diplomats who brokered an end to the protracted crisis in Macedonia. Nowadays Ankara is doing less in the region, but seems to do it better. Balkan governments seek Turkey’s favours: to stop refugees from coming in, bring Caspian gas into the region and secure investment. The likes of Vučić or Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov see plenty of good reasons to work with Erdoğan. Turkey is no alternative to strategic ties to the West, but there is no doubt it is a useful add-on.