LOCAL PRESS

Final results: Vucic’s list won 44.99 percent (RTS/Tanjug/Politika)

The City Election Commission (GIK) announced last night the final results of the elections for the Belgrade City Assembly, according to which the list “Aleksandar Vucic – Because We Love Belgrade” has won 44.99 percent of the votes, getting 64 seats in the Belgrade city council.

“Dragan Djilas – Belgrade Chooses, People Win” gained 18.93 percent of the vote, or 26 seats in the city parliament. Having won 9.01 percent of the vote, “Aleksandar Sapic – the Mayor” will have 12 representatives in the Belgrade assembly. “Ivica Dacic – Socialist Party of Serbia, Dragan Markovic Palma – United Serbia” won 6.13 percent of the vote, or eight seats in the city council. GIK Chairman Zoran Lukic says that a certain number of objections has arrived and GIK will examine then, adding that he is sure that objections will not influence the election results.

The list “Aleksandar Vucic – Because We Love Belgrade” has won the most votes in 15 of 17 municipalities in Sunday’s elections for the Belgrade City Assembly, GIK announced. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won the highest percentage of votes in the municipalities of Sopot – 64.37 percent and Mladenovac – 61.37 percent. The SNS also won the highest percentage of votes in the New Belgrade municipality – 35.16 percent, while the list “Aleksandar Sapic – the Mayor” was second with 22.01 percent of the votes. The list “Dragan Djilas – Belgrade Chooses, People Win” won the highest percentage of votes in the municipalities of Vracar – 32.58 percent and Stari grad – 29.94 percent of the votes, while the SNS won 28.19 and 26.31 percent of the votes respectively.

Serbia recognized as key country for preserving stability in region (Beta/RTS/Tanjug)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic assessed during the talks with Acting Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korcok that the establishing of the approximate date of Serbia’s accession to the EU is an encouraging and positive decision, which will have a positive effect on the further accession process. Korcok stressed that Slovakia firmly stands for the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans. According to him, Serbia has been recognized as a leader and key country for maintaining stability in the region and Slovakia is firmly committed to being a constructive partner to Serbia and support on its road to the EU. Also, Korcok emphasized that for Serbia and the European Union, the most important is progress in the field of the rule of law. Brnabic thanked the government of the Slovak Republic for its solid position when it comes to preserving the territorial integrity of Serbia and not recognizing the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. Korcok assessed that there is progress in normalizing Belgrade-Pristina relations and expressed his belief that a solution acceptable to both sides will be found.

Solution for Kosovo sustainable only if in interest of both sides (RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said following the meeting with Acting Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korcok that Serbia cannot trade with the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. Speaking at a joint press conference with Korcok, Dacic said that Serbia is not asking for anything that would be special for the Serbian people in the province, but an agreement in the interest of all, in the interest of peace and stability in the region and the whole of Europe. Korcok pointed out that the solution to the Kosovo issue can be permanent only if it is acceptable both for Belgrade and Pristina, expressing the belief that this solution can be found.

He added that no one, or at least not Slovakia, dictates or gives the concrete advice to either side what should be put in the legally binding document, whereby the EU has made it clear what its expectations are. There is progress in the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade, Korcok assessed and expressed the expectation that Pristina will give its contribution, as Belgrade made it clear that it is interested in finding a solution. I think it is clear that Belgrade and Pristina can find a solution that will be acceptable to both sides, Korcok concluded.

Nothing has changed – Slovakia won’t recognize Kosovo (B92/Beta/Tanjug)

“The issue of Kosovo is difficult for Serbia – and one of the conditions put before Serbia. This is the case because the EU does not want to be put in the position of a judge,” Acting Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korcok told students at University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences. “As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed. We will not recognize Kosovo, not because of Serbia, although we understand your situation, but because for us this is a matter of principles, and we will remain consistent,” Korcok said. Korcok presented to the students a global picture of the EU over the last ten years, which he said had been the most challenging since this community has existed, adding that, it all started with the 2008 world economic crisis. “We took serious measures to stabilize the euro and just as we thought that the financial crisis was over, the crisis in Ukraine followed,” he said, adding that the problem is still relevant because there has been no agreement with Russia, and people are still getting killing in that part of Ukraine. Terrorism is another in a series of current problems that the EU has not been immune to, Korcok continued, and explained that this was a new phenomenon that has claimed many innocent victims in the peaceful streets of the EU. “And then Brexit happened. We lost an important EU member, people in the UK made this decision in a democratic way, I honestly think that this decision was wrong, and mistakes are possible even in a democracy,” he said.

However, Korcok continued, the good news is that the enlargement process has returned to the EU agenda, as confirmed by the Western Balkans Strategy presented at the beginning of February. “We are grateful that although you know about all these problems, you still want to become a member of the EU and believe in the idea of ​​the EU,” said Korcok.

Cadez: Western Balkans could be single investment destination (Tanjug)

The Western Balkans could be a single investment destination and a market of 18 million people, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia President Marko Cadez said at the Kopaonik Business Forum on Monday. Speaking at a panel on the Western Balkans as a regional economic space, Cadez said this was the reason why the joint Western Balkans chamber of commerce had established the regional online platform Investinsee.com. “We are trying to present this region as a single market – we are far from it being one, but we are trying to see how to coordinate the markets through promotion and a transparent framework,” he said. Businesses in the region face logistical costs that are three times those in the EU, Cadez said, adding that, for instance, one of objectives was to reduce the number of seals required from the present six to just one.

Serbian Orthodox Church to change its name (Novosti)

The new official name of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) will be the Serbian Orthodox Church – the Patriarchate of Pec, Novosti reports. According to the article, the procedure for the election of the patriarch will be simplified, and the head of the Church will be elected in a secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds majority of the votes of bishops. These are the most important changed envisaged in the proposal of the new Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, writes the newspaper. An important novelty is that the elected candidate will be called the Archbishop of the Pec, the Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci and the Patriarch of Serb and Littoral Lands, reports the daily, which had insight into the text. According to the new constitution of the SPC, the existing 13 eparchies will become metropolinates, while the new constitution is most likely to be adopted at the meeting of the highest Church body – the Holy Assembly – in mid-May. Work on the proposal began in 2012, with the establishment of a commission to review the existing constitution, and was headed by the metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije. The changes to the official name of the Serbian Church are explained by the desire to strengthen the connection with its historical center in the Patriarchate of Pec, but also with Kosovo and Metohija as the most important part of its jurisdiction. The most important changes in the constitutional text concern the procedure of the election of the patriarch, that leaves behind previous practice of holding “an apostolic draw” – i.e., randomly choosing one of the three envelopes containing the names of the candidates.

The draft of the new constitution suggests that patriarchs will be elected in the Patriarchate of Pec, while other possibilities include the Church seats in Belgrade and in Sremski Karlovci.

Serbian parliament starts spring session (Beta)

The Serbian parliament on Tuesday in Belgrade started the first sitting of the spring session, with about 30 items on the agenda. They include amendments to the laws on traffic safety, police, and public order and peace. The first sitting of the spring session started with a ceremony: the Serbian Army Honor Guard placed in front of the House of the parliament, and the sounding of the national anthem. The MPs will also consider draft laws on aliens, asylum and temporary protection, border control, records and data processing in the field of internal affairs, the National DNA Register, and the Unique Master Citizen Number (JMBG). Other proposed items on the agenda include amendments to the Serbian Citizenship Act, confirmation of several interstate agreements, election of the chairperson of the Council of Governors of the National Bank of Serbia and of the director of the Administration for Supervision of Financial Institutions, as well as the decision to terminate the mandate of a member of the Securities Commission, submitted by the Finance Committee. The parliament will further consider the proposal to elect the president and members of the Energy Agency Council, presidents of courts and the deputy public prosecutor, and to terminate the term in office of presidents of the Misdemeanor Appellate Court, the Basic Court in Novi Sad, the Commercial Court in Leskovac, and the Basic Court in Novi Pazar. Presidents of courts will also be elected on the proposal of the High Judicial Council, while deputies will consider dismissing and appointing members and deputy members of the Republic Electoral Commission – a proposal submitted separately by the parliamentary groups of opposition Enough is Enough Movement and of the Democratic Party.

REGIONAL PRESS

SDP, DF: Covic, Izetbegovic and Ivanic not to discuss Election Law during trilateral meeting (Fena)

SDP B&H and DF issued a press release on Monday, asking B&H Presidency members Dragan Covic, Bakir Izetbegovic and Mladen Ivanic not to take part in any kind of discussions concerning the Election Law of B&H, during today’s trilateral meeting with leadership of Serbia and Croatia.  “These two countries are not guarantees of Dayton Peace Agreement, as they like to knowingly misrepresent themselves, but exclusively parties liable to it, which means they have no right to interfere with B&H’s internal matters. If such talks would happen after all, then this would present an unseen precedent and degradation of B&H’s sovereignty, at territory of B&H, for which all members of BiH Presidency will bear responsibility”, reads the statement.

SDP and DF called on leaderships of three countries to try to resolve one of the series of open inter-state issues and to leave internal matter of B&H to be resolved in line with Constitution and B&H laws. SDP and DF mentioned the issue of B&H’s companies and the fact that their property in Croatia was never returned.

B&H CEC yet to decide whether to use 1991 or 2013 census for October elections (Oslobodjenje)

The B&H Central Election Commission (CEC) responded to a request of the Commission of the Banja Luka City Assembly tasked with appointment of members of the City Election Commission, and submitted information on the composition of the City Election Commission on January 18. B&H CEC stated that the election commissions must reflect multiethnic representation of the constituent peoples and others, taking the results of the last census in consideration. “In other words, the composition of the City Election Commission of Banja Luka will be determined based on the census in B&H conducted in 2013,” stated Secretary of the City of Banja Luka Assembly Igor Sukalo.

On the other hand, member of B&H CEC Suad Arnautovic believes that the 1991 census still needs to be used as a foundation, explaining that this census needs to be used until the Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Agreement is fully implemented.

Legal expert Vehid Sehic said that the Law on Elections of B&H clearly regulates this sector, adding that the 2013 census can only be used when forming the executive authority, but not for elected and appointed officials.

Former Speaker of the Republika Srpska (RS) Council of Peoples Momir Malic stated that one needs to differentiate the regulations from the Law on Elections dealing with the election process itself and the issue of representation of constituent peoples in the RS.

Daily concluded that since B&H CEC has caused confusion with the use of census, the public now believes different regulations will be implemented in the two entities.

Bosniak parties now request reduction of role of House of Peoples in order to support Law on Elections (Vecernji list)

Vecernji list learned that talks on changes to the B&H Law on Elections, which were carried out under mediation of US and European administration, got a new dimension “through blackmails presented to Croat side”. Namely, sources claimed that participants of the talks did not manage to break unity of Croat political parties when it comes to basic principles of the B&H Constitutional Court’s (CC) ruling on establishment of the principle of representation, so “immoral offers” were made to accept the Croat proposal but only if talks on reduction of the role of Federation of B&H House of Peoples (HoP) are launched. The article explained that, according to this suggestion, the Federation of B&H HoP should have a role similar to the role of the Republika Srpska (RS) Council of Peoples (CoP) which merely invokes protection of vital national interests. Pro-Bosniak and pro-Bosnian parties support such idea and the article noted that this proposal might even include the possibility of changing the way in which B&H Presidency members are elected to reduce the possibility of having Bosniaks decide who will be elected as the Croat member of B&H Presidency. Negotiators representing Croat political parties rejected the possibility of discussion on the role of the Federation of B&H HoP because this is the only institution “in the Federation of B&H through which the realization of hegemonic policy of Sarajevo can be prevented”. Finally, the daily reminded that the time for adoption of changes to the Law on Elections of B&H is running out and also reminded that this is the election year, so one could hardly expect any progress will be made especially having in mind Bosniak member of B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic said that Bosniaks will not give up civic principles when it comes to the way in which B&H Presidency members are elected. “Such statements, which are more an alibi than politics, actually convey the message that provoking of crisis will be the response to the ruling of B&H CC”, the daily concluded.

HR Inzko: We will give parliamentary parties opportunity to change Law on Elections by May, then IC will increase pressure (TV Alfa)

High Representative (HR) Valentin Inzko stated that the international community (IC) will give representatives of parliamentary parties an opportunity to reach an agreement on changes to the Law on Elections of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) by April, or possibly by early May, after which the IC will increase the pressure because it will not allow that B&H turns into ‘Mostar case’. Asked why he is not using the Bonn powers to impose changes to the Law on Elections, HR Inzko said B&H wants to join the EU and that it would be good that B&H is capable of solving the matter. “In any case I am currently not intending to join in with the Bonn powers, but of course they always exist. I will do it at the end, when all possibilities are exhausted”, said HR Inzko adding that the IC has foremost focused on the issue of filling of the Federation of B&H House of Peoples (HoP).

Hahn: B&H has to implement decision ‘Sejdic-Finci (Nezavisne)

In a written response to a question posed in the European Parliament, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn stated that any kind of changes to the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), contrary to European Convention on Human Rights or the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, are unacceptable. This means that any kind of changes that do not take into account the ruling in case ‘Sejdic-Finci vs. B&H’ will not be acceptable for the EU. “First and foremost, the European Commission believes that election reform has to improve democratic quality of election process. Decision ‘Sejdic-Finci’ does not require complete review of the Election Law, but targeted adaptation of the composition of the Federation of B&H House of Peoples”, Hahn wrote. This means, according to daily, that the EU sees composition of the HoP, and not the election of the B&H Presidency members, as priority. The Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations reminded that B&H has to implement the decision of the B&H Constitutional Court from December 2016, “which refers to certain election provisions in the Federation of B&H”. Furthermore, Hahn clearly explained what the EU expects after the elections in October: B&H, as he said, needs not only to carry out elections, but also to implement results and establish all bodies of legislative and executive authority as soon as possible, as it will be a basic test for democracy in the country applying for membership in the EU. “The European Commission will clearly assess whether B&H meets political criteria for the beginning of pre-accession negotiations, which includes fulfilment of European standards and standards in the field of human rights, including banning of discrimination based on ethnicity, which is explicitly prohibited by European laws,” Hahn wrote. Representatives of the EU Delegation to B&H also claim that the ruling in ‘Sejdic-Finci vs. B&H’ case has to be implemented. Spokesperson for the EUD Jamila Milovic-Halilovic said that “any proposal of changes to the Election Law has to be in line with court decisions and the rule of law, and get closer to European standards, instead of getting further away from them”. “We believe that all changes to election legislation should be approached through dialogue and compromise. Politicians must not be running away from their responsibility for finding such compromise”, said Milovic-Halilovic. She added that decision in case ‘Sejdic-Finci vs. B&H’ has not been taken off the agenda. “International obligations of this country will not disappear, and it is up to authorities in B&H to deal with them and meet them”, Milovic-Halilovic concluded.

Dodik: I will run for Serb member of B&H Presidency out of responsibility for RS (RTRS)

SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated on Monday that he will be a candidate for the post of a Serb member of the B&H Presidency because of the responsibility towards Republika Srpska (RS), but also because he wants to put an end to a policy which tried to destroy the RS in the previous period. Dodik said that he is not running for the Serb member of the B&H Presidency in order to defend the colors of B&H, but colors of the RS, as well as to show the RS’ constitutional position. Speaking about the candidate for the post of the RS President, Dodik said that because of coalition partners with whom SNSD representatives are negotiating, it would be unfair to say the name of the candidate, but that he can say with confidence that the candidate will be an important member of SNSD. Dodik emphasized that he is exclusively interested in interests of the RS and that he is not ready to change his political behavior and adjust it to some interests outside of the RS.

Bosic: I support Govedarica’s candidacy for post of RS President (TV1)

Speaker of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) House of Representatives (HoR) Mladen Bosic (SDS), commenting on the candidacy of SDS leader Vukota Govedarica for the post of the Republika Srpska (RS) President in this year’s general elections, said he supports Govedarica’s candidacy and assessed that the SDS leader is “a good candidate with a chance to offer something new”. According to Bosic, the political scene in the RS needs “a new wave” of politicians. Asked whether Govedarica should resign from the post of the SDS leader in the case he loses in the elections, Bosic said that such resignation is not a tradition in SDS, but he also expressed confidence that Govedarica will be elected the RS President.

The B&H HoR Deputy Speaker considers that SNSD will nominate incumbent RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic as a candidate that will run against Govedarica. Speaking about SNSD’s announcement of nominating a candidate that is a high-ranking official in this party, the B&H HoR Deputy Speaker assessed that this does not mean citizens will support such candidate. He referred to SNSD as “an autocratic party”. Bosic considers that there is “autocracy”, especially in the RS, and that RS President Milorad Dodik “is obviously not interested in approaching the fight against crime and corruption, for understandable reasons”. Bosic expressed hope that the time for the fight against crime and corruption will come. “I assume that will happen under the pressure coming from the international community (IC), particularly the EU”, Bosic added. Reflecting on the motion he recently submitted to B&H Constitutional Court (CC) requesting assessment of constitutionality of constitutions in cantons where Serbs are not defined as constituent people, Bosic stressed there has obviously been no political will to solve the issue of constituent status of Serbs in all cantons. Bosic explained that he filed this motion with the aim to draw attention to the issue of inequality, pointing out that one cannot advocate rights of citizens “in only one part of the country”.

Awarding RS President Dodik with plaque with golden coat of arms of Srebrenica Municipality proposed (Fena/RTRS)

Commission for awards and recognitions proposed at the session of the Srebrenica Municipal Assembly on Monday that Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik should be awarded with a plaque with golden coat of arms of the Srebrenica Municipality. The Assembly passed the proposal with Serb delegates voting in favor of this proposal, so Dodik should be awarded at a solemn session scheduled for March 11 – on the occasion of the Srebrenica Municipality Day.

Bosniak delegates rejected the proposal and asked Head of the Srebrenica Municipality Mladen Grujicic to withdraw this decision, but Grujicic rejected this so they left the session.  SDP B&H councilor in Srebrenica Municipal Assembly and veteran of the so-called B&H Army Zulfo Salihovic went a step further, announcing that he and his supporters will organize protests in Srebrenica on March 11, which is marked as the Day of the Srebrenica Municipality. Salihovic also accused all Bosniaks who do not share his opinion and support Grujicic of being traitors, quasi-Bosniaks and drunks. Grujicic said that what Bosniak councilors did on Monday was inappropriate and shows their perception of the RS President, the RS and the Serb people. “The policy here is being led from Sarajevo,” Grujicic stressed. Meanwhile, President of Srebrenica Municipal Assembly Alija Tabakovic (SDA), who together with the rest of SDA councilors also left Monday’s session of Srebrenica Municipal Assembly, deemed as unacceptable the ceremony which will be held on occasion of the Day of the Srebrenica Municipality, noting that SDA representatives will not attend the ceremony. Everything that happened at Monday’s session of Srebrenica Municipal Assembly rocked the ruling majority in Srebrenica composed of most of the parties from both the Serb and Bosniak block.

Croatia advocates for Election Law Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Hina)

Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric said in Mostar on Monday, after talks with the Chairman of the B&H Presidency and leader of B&H Croats, Dragan Covic, that the key to the survival of B&H Croats lay in amendments to the election legislation and the possibility to elect their own representatives to B&H state bodies. “I believe that legitimate representation of the Croat people at this moment is critical for the survival of Croats in B&H. A possibility for Croats to elect their own representatives lies in the B&H Constitution, in the roots of the Dayton Accords,” Pejcinovic Buric said, underscoring that this meant that the will of the electorate must be respected. “If a Croat member of the presidency is being elected, then he should be elected by Croats,” the minister said. She recalled that a similar message had recently been delivered by EU senior officials, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn. “During a ceremony at which B&H submitted its answers to the EU questionnaire, top officials from Brussels reiterated that the first major task before B&H institutions was to amend the election legislation so that Croat representatives could be legitimately elected at the elections, scheduled for the end of this year,” the Croatian foreign minister said.

Government receives the UK’s chief Brexit negotiator (HRT)

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic received the UK’s David Davis, the chief negotiator for Brexit, in Zagreb on Monday morning to discuss the status of Croatian workers once the UK leaves the EU. The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, was received by the Croatian Prime Minister and Marija Pejcinovic Buric, the minister of foreign and European affairs, at the government offices in Zagreb. Davis presented his government’s latest thoughts regarding the future relationship with the European Union and the current state of the negotiations. Talks focused on the importance of maintaining the rights of Croatian citizens who are living and working throughout the UK. Namely, the Croatian government wants assurances that there won’t be any barriers to travel and work for Croatians once Brexit is completed. Britain is one of the EU countries with measures in place that limit the freedom of movement of workers from Croatia until at least June 30th, 2018. Britain has the option of extending those limits for a maximum of two more years, based on current laws. Meanwhile, as a concrete deal between the UK and the EU regarding their imminent divorce remains in doubt, Croatia is interested in securing a favourable labour agreement in a post-Brexit world. A statement released by Croatia’s foreign and European affairs ministry underlined that a deal was in their mutual interest, especially regarding the free movement of citizens and commerce. The statement also noted that a deal reached sooner than later was necessary to avoid the unnecessary prolongation of uncertainty.

Basic court denied Knezevic’s request: DF leader must go to prison (CDM)

Podgorica basic court denied Democratic Front (DF) leader Milan Knezevic’s request to postpone serving prison sentence. “The convict shall immediately report to the referent for the enforcement of criminal sanctions of this court if the decision becomes final, in order to be referred to serving the prison sentence,” said the court’s PR Anja Krkeljic.

Knezevic’s attorney Adrijana Razic said she would appeal against this decision.

In his explanation of this decision, the president of the basic court, Zoran Radovic, said that Knezevic’s request should be rejected as unfounded and that the reasons indicated in the request would not justify postponing the sentence enforcement. It is pointed out that the medical expert in his findings and opinion stated that bodily injury, given the time when it was made, and the type of treatment that was indicated, did not represent an equivalent to severe acute illness.

Knezevic was finally sentenced to four months in prison over the attack on police officer Miljan Markovic on 17 October 2015.

Draginja Vuksanovic – SDP’s presidential candidate (CDM)

The Social Democratic Party’s executive committee unanimously decided to nominate the party deputy leader Draginja Vuksanovic as presidential candidate at upcoming elections. After accepting the candidacy, Vuksanovic said that the goal of the party that she represents was to return the state of Montenegro to its citizens. “Civic Montenegro has promised that it will have its representative. I want Montenegro to be the home of all its citizens. Today we all dream of a powerful and free Montenegro. We will be persistent in the struggle for such free Montenegro, where justice and law rule – a country that equally belongs to all citizens of Montenegro,” Vuksanovic said. SDP leader Ranko Krivokapic said that the party made a lot of effort to unite the progressive forces of Montenegro. He called to mind that SDP had issued a manifest stating that Montenegro was captured state, which was confirmed by the European Union. He emphasised that Vuksanovic entered the Montenegrin Parliament with the passion for the truth.

“She proved herself in our home, and she can present herself to the world. We will get the first female president of Montenegro,” Krivokapic is convicted. The presidential elections in Montenegro are scheduled for 15 April.

Following Zaev’s meeting with Mickoski, a consensus on reforms has been announced (Meta)

A possible consensus between the government with the main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, was mentioned by the Prime Minister and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, after the meeting with the President of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski. According to the government, and Zaev in a statement to the media, they discussed current political developments, ongoing negotiations with Greece, the Electoral Code and the election of members to the State Election Commission, as well as the possibility of returning the opposition to Parliament. Furthermore, Zaev expressed understanding regarding the opposition’s position, that until their MPs are released from custody, their parliamentary group will not return to Parliament. “I absolutely understand VMRO-DPMNE’s position on the people detained, that until they are not released, they will not return, but I want once again to say, that we have no intention of exerting pressure on the judiciary”, said Zaev.

Uncertainty arises over amendments to languages law as parliament session is scheduled for today (MIA)

Parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi scheduled a session for today at noon with an agenda that also includes the amendments to the Law on the Use of Languages, namely the 35,000+ amendments submitted by the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE. There is no information yet on whether the MPs will debate the amendments today and on whether ways are being sought to settle the situation that could block the Assembly. Or, it is also likely the lawmakers will skip these items and go directly to discussing other items of today’s session, MIA reports. In the event of a debate on the amendments, it could prompt the opposition MPs to return to Parliament to take part in the session.

Zaev meets with German MP Sarrazin (MIA)

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met on Monday with the member of Germany’s Bundestag, Manuel Sarrazin, who was accompanied by the German Ambassador to Macedonia, Thomas Gerberich. MP Sarrazin conveyed positive impressions from the official visit of PM Zaev and the government delegation to Germany saying he hoped that Macedonia and its government would continue to take the reform-oriented road and to implement policies of building friendships that opened the Euro-Atlantic perspectives of the country. “The support Macedonia gets from Germany is a major encouragement that Germany is focused on stable Macedonia and on stable Balkan countries, improving the standards of living taking into consideration the excellent economic cooperation and investments, and Macedonia’s accession to the EU,” stated Zaev. The interlocutors concluded that implementation of key reforms was in the interest of Macedonia, especially reforms in the judiciary that should ensure the rule of law. They also noted that all stakeholders needed to play their part in the processes in the current, vital period for the country, the government said in a press release. Furthermore, German MP Sarrazin as part of his visit to Macedonia also met with Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov.

Xhaferi meets with UN official Jenca (MIA)

Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi on Monday held a meeting with the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jenca. UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Skopje Louisa Vintion was also in attendance. Being a member of the United Nations since 1993, Xhaferi said, Macedonia has been actively contributing to all UN-led agencies and programs. “The country remains committed to respecting the duties stemming from the membership with respect to human rights, non-proliferation of weapons, fight against terrorism, climate changes and implementation to the Millennium Development Goals, and to supporting the UN-led peace mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL).”

Xhaferi told the meeting that the Macedonian Parliament on 22 December 2017 had ratified the Istanbul Convention (the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence), thus paving the way for implementing the convention in practice. As regards EU integration processes, Speaker Xhaferi underscored the commitment of the government and Parliament to implementing the required reforms, especially activities within the 3-6-9 Plan, and to taking steps aimed at improving good neighbourly relations by signing and ratifying the friendship treaty with Bulgaria and finding a mutually acceptable solution to the name dispute with Greece. The steps taken are expected to result in securing a positive report containing an unconditioned recommendation for the opening of EU accession talks and in being admitted into NATO this year. Jenca congratulated Xhaferi on his leadership skills in managing the situation in Parliament and in implementing the required reforms that are supported by the UN, the Parliament said in a press release. Also, Jenca thanked Macedonia for its participation in peacekeeping missions. “Though small in size, it demonstrates the country’s commitment to championing activities of the UN.” With regard to the name issue, the UN official said there was genuine momentum noting that the UN and its secretary general would support all efforts for the two sides to make a breakthrough and find a solution, which would play a vital role not only in bilateral relations, but also in the region’s stability. He stressed the importance of Macedonia having a consensus over strategic objectives, namely NATO and EU accession.

Edi Paloka to direct Inquiry Committee against Tahiri (ADN)

Edi Paloka will lead the parliamentary Inquiry Committee for drugs trafficking in Albania where is involved even former Interior Minister, Saimir Tahiri. The Parliamentary Committee will be composed by 11 members, six by the opposition parties and 5 by the majority. This committee will check the actions and inactions of state bodies in preventing and hitting the phenomenon of cultivation and trafficking of narcotics, including the case for which the Prosecution is investigating former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri, and also will be verified any suspicion of unlawful influence on the exercise of criminal prosecution independently by the competent bodies charged by law in the criminal investigation of this case.

Berisha: Cocaine caught, linked to PM and his brother (ADN)

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha declared on Monday that behind 613 kg cocaine caught in Durres, is linked Prime Minister, Edi Rama and his brother. He also accused the company “Arbi Garden” the one that ordered the container with bananas and 613 kg of cocaine has financed many times the Socialist Party. “Drugs coming from Colombia were addressed directly to the brother of the Premier, Olsi Rama. The drug that was marked out of Colombian authority, arrived at the port of Italy in which it was unlocked and came in the direction of Olsi Rama on 19 February. “Ask Erion Veliaj and verify how much money he received for the electoral campaign from this company”said Berisha. He added that PM Rama lied when he said that the action was made only by Albanian Police because the information came from Livorno where “Guardia Di Financa” had followed the truck in Malta and Durres.

Xhafaj: Cocaine seized, merit of Albanian police (ADN)

Minister of Interior Affairs, Fatmir Xhafaj warned on Monday that some important results of the anti criminal police actions will be made public soon. Speaking from the Parliamentary Session, he insisted that the operation where 613 kg of cocaine were seized in Durresi Harbor, was merit of the Albanian Police. “In this important operation was involved even prosecution. We are working to identify the authors of this criminal case. Albanian state police is involved in important operations with other partners as FBI, DEA and Europol in some anti criminal important operations. We are achieving good results,” said Xhafaj.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Agreement reached on name, use, and acronyms (Kathimerini, 5 March 2018)

An agreement has been reached between Skopje and Athens regarding the name, the scope of its use, and the acronyms, according to Greek daily Kathimerini. The newspaper says the negotiations have turned into a perplexing puzzle despite the initial optimism by Athens. The Greek government now has to confront the New Democracy opposition party, as well, which wants to see changes in the Constitution, even though “Skopje has ruled out the possibility of any changes to the Constitution, as demonstrated by PM Zoran Zaev’s interviews,” Kathimerini writes. “If there is progress in the negotiations, Athens may propose a simple amendment to the Constitution,” the newspaper writes. According to its sources, “an agreement has been reached on the name, the scope of its use (erga omnes) and the acronyms”. Despite the difficulties he may face considering Greece’s minister of defense Panos Kammenos‘s position in government, Tsipras is committed to solving the name dispute, Kathimerini says. In its article titled “Mines on Tsipras’s road”, the political daily analyzes the outstanding issues the Greek PM Alexis Tsipras has to face in the near future: the economy, and the name dispute.

A Macedonia By Any Other Name (Foreign Policy, by Yiannis Baboulias, 6 March 2018)

The Balkans desperately need help, but Greece won’t stop picking a fight over what to call its northern neighbor.

On Sunday, Feb. 4, the latest chapter of a 26-year dispute played out in Syntagma Square in central Athens. Hundreds of thousands of Greeks gathered in front of parliament to protest a potential deal that would conclude the dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the name of the latter country. A march in Thessaloniki two weeks prior also brought to the streets hundreds of thousands. Another is to follow in Patras soon. And these protests seem to be only the beginning of a wave that will peak this summer, when Greece and FYROM expect to conclude negotiations. Since 1992, when Yugoslavia fell apart, Greece has objected to the use of the name “Macedonia” by its neighboring country. Despite the fact it has since been recognized by most other countries as the Republic of Macedonia, Greece’s reluctance to come to an agreement over the issue has stopped it from joining NATO and working toward joining the European Union.

In theory, a deal should be easy: Greece and FYROM have already discussed proposals granting recognition to the latter for the name New Macedonia or Northern Macedonia. But the tightly packed crowds at Syntagma Square last month showed many Greeks will protest any name that includes the word “Macedonia” in any form — that is to say, they’ll protest any diplomatic solution at all. Under the shadow of a 140-square-meter flag hanging from a crane, the communal chant rang out: “Macedonia is Greek.”

History and conspiracy

The issue is clearly emotional, but the root of the problem is both historical and political. Since 1992, nationalist narratives have taken hold in both countries around the issue. In FYROM, especially under former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, the government tried to establish a direct link between modern inhabitants of Slavic Macedonia and Alexander the Great, a link which doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Greeks on the other hand, see a plan by dark forces to take over the Greek province of Macedonia, perhaps an echo from a post-World War II plan by Josip Broz Tito and Greek communists to establish a republic that included FYROM and northern Greece as part of Yugoslavia. But in practical terms, both narratives are false. While the administrative region Macedonia extended into FYROM and Bulgaria under the Romans and the Byzantines, no link can be established between the ancient Macedonians and the Slavic populations that arrived almost a thousand years later in the area. But equally, for all the following centuries, these peoples were indeed called Macedonian alongside Greek and Bulgarian populations. Furthermore, it would be impossible for FYROM to enforce any claim to Greek territory, as its economic power and armed forces are minuscule compared to its southern neighbor. However, among the demonstrators on Sunday, it was commonplace to believe the rumor that FYROM’s constitution includes such claims Greek territory — even as there’s an explicit mention in that document that FYROM doesn’t have any border disputes or claims toward its neighbors. Still, the narrative persists. “They are communists I’m telling you, they’ll sell off everything,” I overheard in a conversation next to me at the Syntagma protest. Prior to the demonstration, politicians of all shades had done much to fan conspiracy theories. Sofia Voultepsi, an MP with New Democracy, the opposition party in the Hellenic Parliament, said in an interview that “Tsipras has made a deal to sell off Macedonia in exchange for a debt haircut.” The same MP, who had served as a parliamentary spokeswoman in the past, had once accused the BBC of being ran by arms dealers.

An upended political landscape

But it’s a left-wing politician who has become the symbol of resistance to compromise: legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis, now 92 years old, who is widely known for his struggle against the Greek 1967 junta. Theodorakis, whose house was attacked with paint by anarchists the previous night over the Macedonia issue, said in a speech during the rally: “Yes, I’m a patriot, internationalist; I disdain fascism in all its forms, especially in its most deceitful and dangerous one, the left-wing one.” It is a major departure for a man whose name has been connected intimately with left-wing culture in the country. But it’s also symbolic of how the issue has upended many certainties in Greece. For the ruling leftist Syriza party, it creates a headache on the domestic front while they are under pressure by the United States to conclude a deal. Their coalition partners, the hard-right Independent Greeks party, although unwilling to collapse the government over the issue, are more sympathetic to the protesters. Opposition parties were quick to try and capitalize on these tensions. But for them, too, the issue poses problems: The center-right leader of the conservative New Democracy party, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was too slow to take a position on the issue, and when he did it was simply “we shouldn’t come to a deal now, let’s leave it for some other time in the future.” This allowed the powerful far-right faction of the party, headed by deputy leader Adonis Georgiadis, to seize the spotlight and push for a “no deal that includes the name Macedonia” position, which was quickly adopted by protesters. ND also fears that splits in the party over the issue could result in the creation of a new party further to the right and modeled after Italy’s populist, anti-immigrant Northern League.

The international implications

However much the Greek political landscape might be impacted by the ongoing negotiations, it’s developments in its northern neighbor that should be perhaps of more concern. Thanos Dokos, director of ELIAMEP, Greece’s most prominent foreign-policy think tank, told FP, “There is concern about stability in the western Balkans, which as far as the U.S. are concerned, centers around Russia’s efforts to gain footholds in the region.” Costas Douzinas, a Syriza MP who heads parliament’s committee on foreign affairs and is a law professor at Birkbeck College, University of London, agrees: “The Western Balkans find themselves in a trajectory of the formation of new nationalisms and unstable governments. The first priority is to avoid the breakdown of this geopolitical region, to not return to the ’90s.” FYROM has faced an onslaught of challenges to its political stability in the past decade. Gruevski’s government, mired in scandals, made a desperate grasp for power by attempting to politicize the judiciary and cracking down hard against protesters who demanded more democracy and transparency. Meanwhile, tensions between the country’s Slavic and Albanian populations have shown worrying signs, as evidenced by the violent clashes in the northern region of Koumanovo between an armed ethnic Albanian faction calling themselves the National Liberation Army and the national police in 2015. Gruevski, in his growing desperation following the wave of protests, and sensing he had lost the United States’ backing, turned to Russia for diplomatic support, sounding the alarm for both NATO and the EU. The solution promoted by the EU and the United States, is for Macedonia, alongside Serbia, to be inducted into NATO and the EU. “The EU realized it had neglected the Balkans, which has resulted in pretty ugly situations in economic, political, and security terms in the region,” says Dokos, the think tank director. “We’re seeing them now opening up again the possibility of expansion, mostly with Serbia and Montenegro, but other countries, too, to signal they if they’re willing to try, the door is open in the immediate future.” The prospect has significant implications for FYROM, but only if it can sort out its relationship with Greece. Athena Skoulariki, a lecturer in the University of Crete who specializes on the Macedonian issue, stressed that tensions with Athens “has created a lot of problems with the country’s accession program.” But a window of opportunity has opened for Greece now that Gruevski, the main culprit behind the promotion of the nationalist rhetoric around FYROM’s supposed origins, has lost power amid a swelter of corruption probes against his government. Along with a new prime minister, a new atmosphere — one more conducive to compromise on the naming issue — has emerged in FYROM.

Domestic political football

Whether Greek politicians will be able to take advantage of it however, is another issue entirely. In exchange for Greece’s recognition of the name New Macedonia or Northern Macedonia, FYROM has agreed in principle to cease publicizing any official links to Alexander the Great and ancient Macedonia, The country has already renamed an airport and highway as a gesture of good will. But this hasn’t placated feelings among Greeks. And it’s difficult to spare any of Greece’s political factions from blame. “The handling of the situation by the Greek government on a strategic level was positive, because they realized there was a window of opportunity to close this issue once and for all,” Thanos Dokos said. He blames the government, however, for avoiding any compromise with opposition parties, by springing the issue on them without consulting them first. “On a tactical level, reaching some understanding with other political parties and preparing public opinion, there I’m afraid they didn’t handle it well. They saw it as an opportunity to impale the opposition.” From the government’s perspective however, it is the opposition New Democracy that is being opportunistic. Douzinas, writing for the left-wing online daily EfSyn, put it thus: “New Democracy is not simply registering its different perspective on the issue but is actively trying to undermine trust [in the government] and create an atmosphere of terror, which would make citizens entrench themselves in their barricaded home and their ‘surrounded’ and ‘under threat’ country. Their aim is not the salvation of the ‘nation’s soul,’ but the creation of insecurity that will turn citizens against the government.” “Greece, as a country, has double the GDP than all the western Balkan countries put together.” he tells Foreign Policy. “It’s in Greece’s best interest to stabilize the region. Because Greek businesses are involved in the process, normalization will be an economic boost for Greece, too. We can be in a mutually growing with our northern neighbors, and their path toward the EU is evidence of that.” Dokos agrees that a failure to come to a deal would be a very bad outcome for both countries: “[If there’s no agreement] the current name might become permanent, a country that could be partner might be estranged and find itself open for others to play games in the Balkans, which Greece doesn’t want us the Balkans are its natural hinterland.” The stakes are high. “I’m less optimistic than I was two weeks ago,” Dokos says. “I’m not saying I’d rule it out, but I don’t think the odds are with coming to a solution at this point”. It’s indeed hard to see the room for compromise right now. But Greece, the EU, and NATO have too much riding on the outcome to let the present opportunity go to waste, however strong the emotions of everyday Greeks.