LOCAL PRESS

Vucic, Thaci discuss solving historical dispute between Serbs and Albanians (Beta)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said that he met with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Sofia on 1 March, with whom he discussed continuing the dialogue between Belgrade and

Pristina and solving the historical dispute between Serbs and Albanians. “We talked about when to continue the dialogue in Brussels and how to try to solve the historical dispute between Serbs and Albanians and that is all that I can tell you,” Vucic said in Sofia where he spoke with

Thaci on the sidelines of a Western Balkans Six and EU leaders’ summit. Vucic said that he frequently talked with Thaci because that was his job. “It is always better to talk than to do anything else that could be bad for Serbs and Albanians. That is my job, nor is Mr. Thaci overjoyed but that is our job and our obligation,” he said. Vucic said that key theme of the summit with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after his tour of the region, where he presented the EU new Strategy for the Western Balkans, was further progress toward the EU. Vucic also said that solving political differences and border issues were discussed and added that it was no easy feat. According to the Serbian president, there was talk of establishing a regional economic zone and meeting 115 criteria which have already been given to each country and territory and that it was important to finish that before a summit in Sofia in May.

Borissov: Juncker’s visit to the region shows importance of the Western Balkans (Tanjug)

Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov had a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, whose Balkan tour ends today in Sofia. They headed a meeting with the leaders of the Western Balkan countries in the Bulgarian capital, said the government press office. Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Borissov for the clear focus of the Bulgarian EU Presidency. “The region is an integral part of Europe and its inclusion in the common European area of security and economic development is of strategic importance for the long-term stability of the whole European Union,” said Borissov. Borissov emphasized the need for support by the European Commission in infrastructure and digital connectivity projects. “Building strategic infrastructure will boost free trade, investment, competitiveness and capital movements, and cooperation in the field of education and culture will ensure reconciliation and good neighborly relations,” Borissov said. Speaking after co-hosting a summit of Western Balkans leaders in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia on 1 March, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he would be returning to Brussels even more convinced that the place of the Western Balkans countries was in the EU.

Juncker reiterated the possibility of Western Balkans countries becoming EU members in 2025, but at this stage, none of the countries met the conditions to do so. He said that this was so, while there had been a lot of progress towards readiness for EU accession. Juncker said that the EU remained strongly committed to the European prospects of its partners in the Western Balkans.

Juncker described the results of Bulgaria’s rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU so far as “very good”.

Harmonisation of legislation with EU acquis until late 2021 (Beta)

The Serbian government adopted on Thursday at the proposal of the Ministry for European Integration and Minister Jadranka Joksimovic a third revised version of the National Program for the Adoption of the Acquis of the European Union (NPAA). NPAA is the most significant and most comprehensive document in the process of European integration of Serbia, since in addition to harmonizing the complete domestic legislation with the EU acquis, it also requires the strengthening of administrative capacities during accession negotiations with the EU, as well as long-term financial planning and responsible budget planning. According to the NPAA, a full harmonization of the legislation with the EU acquis is planned by the end of 2021, followed by the period of monitoring the implementation of regulations until membership. The goal of the government is that by the end of 2021, Serbia be fully prepared for EU membership, regardless of the date of formal closure of accession negotiations and the acquisition of full membership.
For the first time, the NPAA envisages the obligation of domestic institutions to strengthen administrative capacities in the field of European integration. Bearing in mind the dynamics of accession negotiations and an increasing number of opened chapters, it is necessary to provide capacities both for the preparation and development of new regulations and for their efficient implementation.

Dacic calls Comoros to reconsider Kosovo decision (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has called on the leadership of Comoros to reconsider the decision to recognize Kosovo, made in 2009. Dacic, who is visiting the island nation, pointed out that this decision went against the principles for which that country is fighting where their territorial integrity is concerned, and that Serbia and Comoros share ties of friendly relations from the era of the former Yugoslavia and its leader, Josip Broz Tito. “We who face similar problems, should support one another. In that sense, we would like to ask the government, the president, and the cabinet to withdraw recognition, because Kosovo is like Catalonia – and we are in favor of dialogue, of course, but we are against unilateral acts,” said Dacic. Serbia is a friend of Comoros, Dacic said, adding that Serbia supports the territorial integrity of that country. He pointed out that our country has similar problems with its territorial integrity, because, as he recalled, there is unilateral separatism, a secession of a part of its territory, which has been supported by some Western countries that have double standards when it comes to your region. “In that sense, I asked my counterpart that Comoros reviews the decision to accept the independence of Kosovo, which was adopted in 2009. And I would like to point out that Ben (El Fardou Ben Nabouhane) – one of the best players to come to our biggest football club, Red Star, came precisely from Comoros ,” said Dacic. Yugoslavia and Tito supported the struggle of Comoros for independence, Dacic recalled, adding that immediately after this country gained independence in 1976, Yugoslavia established diplomatic relations. “We also voted in favor of all resolutions in the UN General Assembly concerning the territorial integrity of Comoros, and we will continue to do so, while we want to develop overall cooperation in all areas,” Dacic said. He said that while visiting Comoros, he discussed the signing of a friendship agreement between our two countries, as well as agreements on economic, cultural, educational cooperation, mutual visa abolition, and tourism development, adding that he expects his counterpart to visit Serbia, as well as a meeting between the two presidents.

Vulin: Deployment of Montenegrin officers support for Kosovo (Tanjug)

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said on Thursday Montenegro’s decision to send two army officers to the KFOR mission was a political message of support for Kosovo’s independence and that Serbia could not welcome the move. The deployment of the two officers is not aimed at improving the security of citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, Vulin said when asked to comment on the decision.

Election silence starts (Beta)

Election silence ahead of elections for the Belgrade assembly began at midnight Thursday and will last until 8 p.m. on 4 March, when polling stations close. According to the law on electing delegates and election silence which pertains to local elections as well, political campaigning is prohibited 48 hours before election day and on election day until polling stations close.

A total of 24 lists will compete for seats in the Belgrade City Assembly. A total of 1,606,693 voters are registered for the vote and they will cast their ballots in 1,185 polling stations.

On Sunday, local elections will be held in Bor, Arandjelovac and Sevojno in addition to

Belgrade. Altogether 16 observers, six domestic and ten foreign, have been reported for observation of the election. Results of the election should be announced within 24 hours from the closing of polling stations, i.e. until 20.00 hrs on Monday. The constitutive session should be organized within 60 days from the announcement of final results.

REGIONAL PRESS

Dodik on construction of Russian-Serb center in Banja Luka (Dnevni list)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik stated on Thursday that everyone has a legitimate right to build a religious cultural center, adding that a location has been picked in Banja Luka where a Russian-Serb religious cultural center will be built. Dodik explained that the Russian-Serb center, whose construction will commence this summer, will span over 6,500 square meters, and will include a church and other facilities that will promote Russian culture. The RS President stressed he hopes Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will accept his invitation and visit Banja Luka then.

Moscow: Students from B&H and Ambassador Mujezinovic take picture holding wartime flag of B&H (RTRS)

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina media have published a photograph of students from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) at a study trip to Russia. The students met with B&H Ambassador to Russia Mustafa Mujezinovic at the Red Square in Moscow and took a picture with him. Students, who allegedly come from all parts of B&H, and Mujezinovic took a picture holding the wartime and not the official flag of B&H. Representatives of the Cabinet of Serb member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic told Srna news agency that Ivanic will ask for Mujezinovic’s removal at the next session of the B&H Presidency. B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak also strongly condemned Mujezinovic’s move, confirming that he already informed the B&H Presidency about it.

Former HR Ashdown before UK parliament: Part of culpability for situation in B&H is on Brussels and Washington (Dnevni avaz)

Former High Representative in B&H Paddy Ashdown warned a few days ago before the UK Parliament that ideas of “Greater Serbia and Greater Croatia” are being developed again, and that he was led to this conclusion by recent statement of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who advocated closer cooperation of Croatia and Serbia regarding B&H. “What I read about what he said has led me to think: Someone again wants to draw borders of the region on a napkin. That is dangerous and people reaching out for that must be reminded how did it go for their predecessors in that job,” stressed Ashdown. He also said that the Independence Day is an important day but that functionality of the state is above everything. “This and such state will serve citizens and will be part of the European Union. Anything that distracts from that job is unnecessary. Although, B&H politicians proved to be geniuses for distraction over the past 25 years”, he stressed. Ashdown called for immediate implementation of reforms, acceleration of road to the EU and leaving unimportant topics aside. He is of opinion that functional B&H equals to peace and stability in the region and further. “Your country must be service to citizens. In order to become that, it must be sustainable, stable and functional. Whoever thinks that this is not necessary and that dysfunctional and torn B&H is not threat to peace, lives in a dangerous delusion”, Ashdown was quoted as saying. He emphasized that behavior of Moscow proves his words, adding that Russians filled the gap that opened in the region due to lack of the West’s action and due to games of local politicians. According to him, the Kremlin is not only destabilizing the Balkans but the entire world. “If citizens of B&H want to live in a country that is a training ground for Russian and similar games, O.K., I respect your choice. If you do not want that, then please stop fighting over nonsense, stop paying attention to politicians who have been throwing dust in your eyes for decades, scaring you with others, and start building a functional, economically, securely and politically stable state, which is ruled by law, and not by clientelism of a handful of people in parties that keep on holding the power”, Ashdown concluded.  Inset ‘Military without politics can do nothing’ – According to Ashdown, a part of culpability for situation in B&H is on Brussels and Washington. Commenting the idea of opening a US military base in Brcko and stationing a UK battalion at the Tuzla Airport, he said that military can do nothing without politics. “Resoluteness of Brussels is necessary. The EU must clearly say that retailoring of borders in the region is not an option, that there is no division of Kosovo, that B&H must be a functional state and that this is not jeopardizing anyone by any means. I am sure that leaders of the EU and governments in the key countries in the EU mean that, but there is a lack of translating this into a firm and focused policy, which must be implemented”, Ashdown was quoted as saying. According to him, as the time is passing by, the West has less and less time to act calmly, because problems in the Balkans are multiplying.

Prime Minister happy with Historical Council’s recommendations (Hina)

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that the recommendations adopted by the council for dealing with the consequences of undemocratic regimes on how to treat insignia of totalitarian regimes “is a valuable, well-balanced and useful document”, which could serve as the starting point for the continuation of dialogue of that topic. Following these recommendations, the government will, accordingly, adopt its decisions at the time it finds to be appropriate, Plenkovic said. The document compiled by the 17-member council “is a contribution which we have not had to date in the Croatian public,” Plenkovic said. Thanking the council for its efforts, Plenkovic commended its members – political scientists, lawyers and jurists – for their intensified, substantiated and prudent dialogue that resulted in the document. The document consists of two parts, and the first part is the starting point and description about the experiences of the Croatian society in the 20th century when the country was faced with totalitarian regimes. The government will consider this particularly for activities in connection with education of young generations about those regimes and their repercussions for the society and divisions in the Croatian society, he said. The second part of the document refers to possibilities of improvement of the legal framework. The Justice Ministry and the Public Administration Ministry will consider those recommendations, Plenkovic said. Plenkovic finds it essential that the document clearly condemns totalitarian regimes including the 1941-1945 Nazi-style Ustasha regime, Nazism, Fascist regime and Chetnik movement. He underlined that the recommendations also note that the “For the Homeland Ready” salute had an anti-constitutional character. The salute could only be allowed in the future in exceptional situations and very restrictively, he said in connection with the council’s suggestion that the salute can be used only for commemorative purposes for slain members of Croatian Defence Forces (HOS), the armed wing of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) during the Homeland War.

Political parties attack Historical Commission conclusions (Hina)

Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Davor Bernardic said on Wednesday the council for dealing with the past had adopted a shameful conclusion on the Ustasha salute “For the Homeland Ready” by “making it acceptable in exceptional situations.” “This means the salute will be visible only a few kilometers from Jasenovac,” he said in a press release, referring to the site of a WWII concentration camp. “We condemn in the strongest terms this decision whereby Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and the government are allowing the interpolation of the official salute of the Nazi and fascist NDH (Independent State of Croatia) in memorial plaques of HOS in a public area. Once again, the defeated and pernicious Ustasha ideology is being allowed to destroy Croatian society in the most perfidious way,” the SDP said in the press release.

The SDP believes that those in power “can’t resolve serious problems” and that “the Prime Minister’s indecisiveness and incompetence is being fully revealed.” Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), which is a crucial member of the ruling coalition, said on Wednesday evening that the solution proposed for ‘For the Homeland Ready’ salute did not solve the situation but made it more complicated. “It would be better if the council had done nothing. These non-binding recommendations would stir up confusion among the law enforcement authorities,” Pupovac said. The Croatian Serb leader said that he looked at the conclusions with concern and anxiety. The Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) said that the conclusions were as expected. This parliamentary regional party said that it would insist on the adoption of the draft law it proposed on the matter, banning the Ustasha salute. The non-parliamentary Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) criticized the conclusions adding that members of the HOS units, former Croatian Defence Forces, that were the armed wing of the HSP during the Homeland War, could not accept the recommendations. They insist that not only HOS members but also other soldiers defending Croatia in the Homeland Defence War used the salute. The HSP found the conclusions to be “too dangerous for the national unity” and that they were in line with “Yugoslav Communist policies”.

Region in EU is not a dream but reality (RTCG)

Speaking after co-hosting a summit of Western Balkans leaders in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia on 1 March, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he would be returning to Brussels even more convinced that the place of the Western Balkans countries was in the EU.

Juncker reiterated the possibility of Western Balkans countries becoming EU members in 2025, but added that “not that I want to offend anyone” but at this stage, none of the countries met the conditions to do so. He said that this was so, while there had been a lot of progress towards readiness for EU accession. Juncker said that the EU remained strongly committed to the European prospects of its partners in the Western Balkans. He noted that in Sofia in May 2018, there would be an EU-Western Balkans summit. The main theme would be not the accession of the countries of the region to the EU, but migration issues and the economic situation of the region. Juncker expressed his expectation that the Western Balkans summit in Sofia would see clarity on the work that would be done so that a region, so important for Europe, would improve its connectivity. Joining the EU was not a dream, it is something that could be achieved, he said, adding that no concessions could be made on the criteria for accession. Juncker described the results of Bulgaria’s rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU so far as “very good”. He hinted that the media was failing to take cognizance of this. He noted that the European Council, Commission and the Presidency had, in the early hours, reached agreement on the directive on posted workers, while progress was being made on the reform of the Dublin Agreement, which governs the handling of refugees received in EU countries. Juncker’s statements in Sofia, made at a briefing along with his co-host of the meeting, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov, came at the close of a seven-day tour of the countries of the Western Balkans, undertaken in the light of the European Commission’s strategy for the Western Balkans.

The meeting was attended by Prime Ministers of Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia – Edi Rama, Dusko Markovic and Zoran Zaev, Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo – Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Taci and Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Dragan Covic.

Support for Montenegro’s EU integration (RTCG)

Prime Minister Dusko Markovic met in Sofia with Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria and President of the Council of the European Union Boyko Borissov. It was jointly estimated that the forthcoming period should be utilized as much as possible for the European integration in the context of the Strategy of the European Commission. Congratulating Bulgaria on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Markovic said that the key challenges and the highest priorities of the whole region, in addition to stability, are the development of infrastructure and boosting the economy. Prime Minister Borissov expressed full support to Montenegro in European integration. Prime Minister Markovic stressed that Montenegro is dedicated to reforms and that its goal is quality. The meeting also focused on concrete development projects and activities.

Zaev: There is a chance for Macedonia to commence EU accession talks this June (MIA)

Macedonia has a chance and expects to obtain a clear recommendation in April and a date for commencing the EU accession talks in June, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told reporters on Thursday in Sofia. Zaev attended a working meeting in Sofia of the Heads of Government of Western Balkan countries with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, hosted by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, whose country currently holds the EU Presidency, Macedonia’s government said in a press release. The message of the working meeting is that the EU needs good news from the Balkans and that the countries in the region are expected to show efficiency in implementing regional initiatives, namely economic cooperation, political stability, fight against corruption and crime. Speaking to members of the media after the meeting, PM Zaev said that the top EU officials had reaffirmed that the Union was committed to integration process of the Western Balkan countries. “Today, the high representatives of the European Commission have said that now the Western Balkans perspectives for joining the EU are serious,” stated Zaev. Substantial financial support in billions of euros for the countries in the region with respect to infrastructure has been also announced, according to him. Moreover, Zaev added, a message was relayed that ‘reform implementation should serve as beacon in these processes.’ The Euro-representatives encouraged the Western Balkan leaders to keep championing regional cooperation and infrastructural connectivity. They also notified their expectation for the Western Balkan countries to make reform progress in key areas, namely the judiciary, media, public administration, intelligence service and police. Zaev also extended gratitude to his Bulgarian counterpart Borisov. ‘A substantial part of Bulgaria’s EU Presidency is dedicated to friends and neighbors, which deserves high appreciation,’ Zaev said.

Zaev: Settling of name dispute – beneficial for Macedonia, Greece and EU (MIA)

Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expects for the name dispute with Greece to be settled soon, saying that it would be beneficial for Skopje, Athens and the European Union.

There are best chances at the moment for resolving the long-standing problem, which will open Macedonia’s road to the EU membership, PM Zaev told reporters after a meeting of the Heads of Government of the Western Balkan countries and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Sofia. “I am certain that the problem could be solved for the benefit of Greece, Macedonia and the EU. Our goal is for Macedonia to obtain a date for commencing the EU accession talks by June. It doesn’t mean that we cannot solve the (name) issue in March as well. The sooner the better,” Zaev said. Asked about the protest in Skopje against the name negotiations and the friendship treaty with Bulgaria, Zaev said ‘Macedonia is a democratic country, hence everybody is entitled to protest, but the government has to take care for the citizens wellbeing’. Speaking about Macedonia’s and the EU prospect of other countries in the region, Zaev said the EU members should not be afraid of the Balkans. “The Balkan countries nourish European values and may be credible partner to the EU members,” Zaev said, expressing satisfaction with the intensive EU engagement in and financial support of the region.

Greek media target Juncker after DW interview (MIA)

Greek media have targeted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Thursday’s editions following his interview with Deutsche Welle, in which he uses Macedonia’s constitutional name and says fYROM is a “bureaucratic term,” MIA reports from Athens.

“The EC president referred to fYROM citizens as “Macedonians’ and also said the country’s name was ‘a bureaucratic term” reports CNN.gr. The online-edition of newspaper Proto Thema reads that Juncker’s statement comes a few days after Angela Merkel welcomed Zoran Zaev in Berlin as “the Macedonian Prime Minister”, recalling that the EC chief had also used term ‘Macedonia’ in the past, but realized his mistake and corrected it. Now, the paper adds, he accepts the name, without any hesitation, in the midst of difficult talks. “This repetition violates, among other things, EU’s obligations and represents indirect pressure on Greece. It seems that partners choose a clear position in this diplomatic duel, weakening the Greek side,” reads “Proto Thema”.

The newspaper says Europeans are attempting to take Skopje further away from the sphere of Turkey, Russia and China. “While essentially burning the Greek ‘red lines’, they have decided to enhance the European influence on the Balkans through Skopje’s urgent integration. They do not care if fYROM PM Zaev seems to say much but does little to reject irredentism,” reads “Proto Thema”.

Rama: Waiting recommendation for accession negotiations (ADN)

Prime Minister, Edi Rama urged on Thursday that European Union should recommend the opening of the accession negotiations with Albania. Speaking after the meeting between the Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans and the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, Rama said that the situation seems positive and the next thing to expect is the recommendation for the starting of negotiations. “Is worth mentioning to the Albanians, the very positive view of this trip, which is the reference to the member countries regarding the progress of Albania, where we expect a positive recommendation and then the approval of the member countries for the opening of the accession negotiations,” said Rama. He added that the recent police operation had a very positive impact and was maximally valued as the cargo full of cocaine “escaped” to the controls in EU countries. “The recent police operation was maximally appreciated. 613 kg of cocaine seized was the largest quantity caught by us, but before moving to our country, the track “escaped” to the controls of EU countries. This was a legitimate operation of our law enforcement agencies, without signaling from our partners,” underlined Rama.

Negotiations with Greece sort out all pending issues (Panorama)

Minister Bushati described the process of negotiations with Greece as a positive moment and a result of the process kick-started a few years ago to get all pending issues with Greece sorted out in a package, categorizing them in three groups. “We have first the group of issues that carry historic weight originating from the war law. Secondly, the group related to current consular services, recognition of driving licenses and a number of issues concerning the Albanians living in Greece and thirdly, issues of strategic character pertaining to conclusion of border regime, such as marking the maritime areas in compliance with the Convention on Sea Law and finalization of the land part with an agreement on management of border incidents and border pyramids,” Bushati said. There are 39 meetings at the level of Foreign Ministers, bilateral meetings or via multilateral platforms, 4 diplomatic mechanism meetings, including in-depth discussions on these issues. Meanwhile, the meeting between PM Rama and Greek counterpart Tsipras on the sidelines of the NATO summit in June 2017 came to agreement that apart from diplomatic mechanism, the Foreign Ministers of the two respective countries in tandem with their teams would sit down and thrash out the details of the package, as the meetings in Crete and Korca. Meantime, President Ilir Meta has decided to appear at the Foreign Committee to answer questions regarding the request submitted by Minister Bushati for the authorization for the maritime border. The spokesman of the President, Tedi Blushi told Panorama daily that the head of state is ready to go to Parliament whenever the Foreign Committee summons him.