LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: I would introduce reciprocity to everyone (RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that Serbia’s moves towards Croatia had been forced. “We don’t wish for our relations with Croatia to be developing, and these are forced moves. We have used the same formulation as the Croatians in their note. They departed from all diplomatic frameworks,” said Dacic. He says the Croatian note was sent in an unusual manner so Serbia proceeded in the same manner. “We are prepared to react to every measure reciprocally. We need to react in order to protect the dignity of our state,” assessed Dacic. “Croatia as a EU member state should behave in a way to be an example to others, and to provoke conflicts,” says Dacic. He says it is not certain that Croatia will block the opening of Serbia’s chapters in June. “No country has understanding for such relations and Croatia cannot count on anyone’s support,” says Dacic. He says there are many problems from the past and Croatia denies crimes that were committed against the Serbia. “We cannot expect the EU to react against Croatia. I am afraid that at issue is an incurable disease when we speak about Serbian problems,” says Dacic. He says that the story on paying entrance into the EU is old. “They say this will be valid for everybody, not only for us and I think this is a very bad decision. Everybody likes to collect money and we should also behave in such a way. Even though I know that President Vucic would not agree with me, I would introduce reciprocity to everyone when it comes to visas, taxes, humiliation of our country…Once they feel that way, they would behave differently,” concluded Dacic.

Brnabic ready to sign what is necessary (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Thursday that she would be ready to sign any document regarding arrangement of relations between Serbia and Kosovo if this would be for the benefit of Serbian citizens, but she got mad when it was suggested that this would mean that she would sing the legally-binding document that the EU and US would expect of Serbia to accept it. “I will fight every day to find the best possible solution for Kosovo. I will sign whatever is necessary in order to secure safety, safe future and prosperity to Serbian citizens”, Brnabic said in the parliament while responding to the MP from the opposition People’s Party Miroslav Aleksic if she would be ready to sign a legally-binding agreement with Kosovo. Aleksic then ironically congratulated Brnabic for “admitting that she is ready to sign a legally-binding agreement”, after which Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic intervened and said that “neither the current Serbian President nor the current government would sign any kind of agreement that would include a chair for Kosovo in the UN”. Irritated by Aleksic’s provocation, Brnabic responded: “Why do you insist on me telling you what kind of agreement I will sign? You think that I will now, while we negotiate on the agreement of normalization of relations with Pristina, say what kind of agreement I will sign? If I tell you, then I have told everyone what the Government will do. That is not how it is done, this could be the way how you have done thing in your time when you have kept losing strategic points in diplomacy and in front of the International Court of Justice (ICJ),” she said.

Stefanovic: Maltreatment of Djuric will not remain unpunished (RTS)

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic has stated that the Serbian authorities have undertaken measures following the terrorist act against the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric and Serbian residents who live in the southern province, with the goal of such acts not to be unpunished. Stefanovic said in the Serbian parliament that Belgrade insists on the consistent implementation of the Brussels agreement in regard to the Community of Serb Municipalities. “The Prosecution for organized crime has launched an investigation. We are interrogating people and undertaking activities that need to lead to qualify the act and issue indictuments against the perpetrator and helpers. We know the people who took part in various acts against this act and we will wait for the opportunity for them to be available to our institutions,” said Stefnaovic in response to the question of Dveri MP Bosko Obradovic. “This kind of brutal behavior doesn’t deserve anything less than a serious qualification and if the competent authorities assess it this way, also as an Interpol warrant. We will try for these people to be detained, just as we haven’t stopped to try regarding the arrest warrants against Ramush Haradinaj and others,” said Stefanovic. He says that precisely for this reason the Brussels negotiations have stopped. He says that Belgrade will insist on the implementation of the agreement on the ZSO, on full implementation not partial, and recalled that the EU is the guarantor of the agreement and that it should insist on it.

EU calls for urgent implementation of agreement on ZSO (Tanjug)

The agreement on establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) needs to be implemented without delay, European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told Tanjug on Thursday. “We have been very clear in saying that a full implementation of agreements that have been agreed in the (Belgrade-Pristina) dialogue is needed urgently, and that covers the Association/Community agreement. It also covers other agreements, such as the agreement on energy,” she said in response to a question about a potential connection between establishment of the ZSO and a comprehensive agreement on normalization.

Serbian government adopts reciprocity measures to Croatia (RTS/Beta/Tanjug)

The Serbian government decided at Thursday’s session to introduce measures of reciprocity for Croatia, under which Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Republic of Croatia Damir Krsticevic is a person non-grata in Serbia. The government of Serbia has adopted measures of reciprocity in response to a note by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, of 21 April 2018, on the prohibition of the entry of the Serbian Minister Defense Aleksandar Vulin to Croatia. The Serbian government considers that such actions by Croatia are contrary to the spirit of good neighborly cooperation and respect for basic European values, which also include the freedom of movement of people. The Serbian government remains committed to building good neighborly relations with the Republic of Croatia, refraining from actions that may contribute to the violation of relations with its neighbors. Also, the Serbian government remains committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region and respecting European principles and values, in the interests of all citizens of Serbia and the region.

Vulin: Krsticevic is right, we are two worlds, I am an anti-fascist (RTS/Tanjug)

“I wished to respond this way to the statement of Croatian Defense Minister, Mr. Krsticevic, who had stated that him and I are two different worlds. I must say that Mr. Krsticevic is absolutely right. We are two different worlds. I belong to the world of anti-fascists, I am an anti-fascist,” Vulin told journalists in the Serbian parliament, after which he didn’t respond to any other questions.

REGIONAL PRESS

Tusk meets B&H Presidency members (Hayat)

President of the European Council Donald Tusk paid an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) on Thursday and, on this occasion, he met with B&H Presidency members. Tusk warned that any kind of tensions in B&H will bring nothing good, and assessed that B&H can move forward on the path of prosperity and stability. Tusk stated that Europe is aware of B&H’s issues but he stressed that it us up to B&H to solve them, with the help of European friends. “The EU really wants this current standstill to be adequately resolved and for it to be resolved in a way that will be in the best interest of your country”, Tusk said. According to Tusk, reconciliation and cooperation lead to peace, prosperity, and better living conditions for all citizens. Chairman of B&H Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic informed Tusk that the overall situation with relations in B&H is much better than the perception that has been created by media. Izetbegovic expressed hope that B&H will obtain the EU candidate status by the end of 2018. According to Izetbegovic, B&H has made steps forward on its European path in the last three years, from submitting the application for the EU membership to submitting the answers to the European Commission (EC)’s Questionnaire. Izetbegovic also assessed that B&H has made progress in terms of growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment. The B&H Presidency Chairman underscored that there is no alternative to the European path of B&H. Serb member of B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic pointed out the need to have a common stance when making steps forward. “We from B&H should encourage friends from the EU”, Ivanic said. Ivanic called for more optimism and more compromise, as well as less conflicts in performance of B&H authorities. Croat member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic considers that consensus in B&H Presidency cannot be reached on many things. “There are a number of open issues”, Covic stated. Covic agreed with the other two Presidency members that it is necessary to find common ground to solve the issues. Covic particularly singled out the need to solve the issue of amending election legislation “and many other security issues”. Covic referred to Tusk as B&H’s friend. Izetbegovic and Covic and Ivanic addressed the joint press conference after the meeting and presented different stances on certain issues, particularly regarding the Peljesac Bridge construction. Izetbegovic asked Tusk to help B&H resolve this disputable issue between B&H and Croatia in a manner that will satisfy all sides. Covic argued that this issue was unnecessarily included in the agenda of this meeting, and apologized to Tusk because of that stressing that the issue of Peljesac Bridge is not B&H’s issue but the Croatia’s one. Covic also thanked the EU for financing this project.

Dodik: Bosniak politicians are asking foreigners for solutions, such mentality will bury B&H (Glas Srpske)

President of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik said that Bosniak politicians have not made a single authentic decision, instead they are asking foreigners for solutions. According to Dodik, such mentality will bury B&H. President of the RS said that he does not know SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic’s opinion about the issue, but that he personally does not believe in a possibility of any kind of new war in B&H. Dodik also said that anyone who sits in Sarajevo on behalf of the RS must represent the RS, while representatives of the Alliance for Changes (SzP) represent Sarajevo in the RS instead. Dodik assessed that “they (SzP) are traitors because they are using institutional mechanisms to impose their will”.

B&H HoP session on changes to Election Law not held due to lack of quorum (TV1)

A session of B&H House of Peoples (HoP) that was supposed to be held on Thursday was not held after all due to lack of quorum, i.e. absence of three Croat delegates. Other delegates stated that this scenario was previously arranged and that this move is nothing by an attempt to buy more time and call the general elections without the so-called technical changes to the Election Law of B&H. Speaker of B&H HoP Ognjen Tadic stated that he does not want to give political comments on the current situation, but assessed that this situation reveals true intentions.

Deputy Speaker of B&H HoP Safet Softic (SDA) assessed that there is enough time if politicians reach an agreement on changing of the Election Law prior to the elections. Softic added that it will be hard to achieve this goal, bearing in mind that representatives of two parties failed to show up at Wednesday’s meeting. According to Softic, it is unlikely to change elections rules after calling of the elections, “because the game will already be launched”. Deputy Speaker of the B&H HoP Barisa Colak (HDZ B&H) said that one should bear in mind that the CEC had a negative opinion concerning the proposed amendments to the B&H Election Law, which stipulate optical scanning of ballots, introduction of video surveillance at polling stations and fingerprinting. Meanwhile, representatives of the B&H CEC said that implementation of this proposal of amendments to the B&H Election Law, which is being put forward five months and ten days before the general elections in B&H, puts the B&H CEC in front of an unrealistic task which could bring the implementation of elections into question. B&H CEC representatives also announced that they will call the general elections in B&H sometimes between May 7 and May 9. When it comes to the implementation of the verdict of the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H, B&H CEC representatives warned that this does not fall under their jurisdiction, stressing that they will publish results of the elections because, according to the law, they are obliged to have them by November 7, 2018.

Representatives of nine parliamentary parties fail to agree election rules for Mostar (BHT1)

Representatives of Mostar city boards of nine parliamentary parties held talks in Mostar on Thursday on the model of election of councilors to the Mostar City Council and amendments to the Statute of the City of Mostar. However, participants of the meeting failed to reach a concrete agreement on election rules for Mostar. Meeting participants said that they will state their opinions about the model of election of councilors at their next meeting given that several parties failed to submit their written proposals on amendments to the Statute of the City of Mostar. They concluded that it is necessary to change provisions of the Statute related to the number of councilors in Mostar City Council. Negotiations on the election rules for Mostar should resume on May 10.

B&H is on right path to MAP activation (Oslobodjenje)

US Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchinson held a press conference on Thursday, during which she commented Friday’s meeting of foreign ministers of NATO member countries within the North Atlantic Council (NAC) in Brussels. Hutchinson did not directly answer daily’s question about possibility of activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) for B&H in June, but she did say: “Last week I met with Chairman of the Commission for NATO Integration of B&H and we discussed the activities. I cannot tell you precise date for the MAP adoption, but B&H is certainly on the right path. The country is making progress, and that will be recognized.” The Ambassador noted that B&H has made progress in the process of registration of prospective military property: “Some other issues remain, but they are not in competence of B&H authorities.” Hutchinson stated she expects NATO member countries to maintain good relations with B&H and assist the country in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. Commenting the upcoming ministerial meeting, Hutchinson said that their main focus will be Russia and its actions aimed at global destabilization.

US General Clark: Russia wants to increase its influence in Western Balkans (Dnevni avaz)

US General and politician Wesley Clark said: “There is no doubt Russia is trying to increase its influence in the region. They have always wanted that! I remember one of my meetings in Moscow. During the preparation process for the conference in Dayton, I was in that city in 1995, together with my American colleagues from diplomacy and other sectors. Across from me was Russian Colonel General Chief of Main Operations Directorate of the Russian Army. He told me: ‘You Americans are coming to our part of Europe’.” He went on to say that Russians have always believed they can claim right to the Western Balkan region. Clark noted that Russians are using hybrid methods of warfare and all the benefits of the Internet and social networks in order to spread misinformation, increase panic and encourage conflicts. “Also, Russians are using trade, monetary policy, economy, commercial relations… Everything they need to achieve strategic goals of the Russian state,” said Clark and called on the US to get more engaged in the Western Balkan region. Clark also said that the EU must insist on reasonable demands and standards in B&H. “The citizens of B&H must be certain their country is not going to fall apart, that one part of it is not going to secede. I am talking about the RS.” Clark also said it is important for the US to strengthen its position in the region, and increase its investments.

Asked about position of Serbia, he said that he would like to see the country get closer to NATO, as well as the EU, because that would mean the end of separatist tendencies. During the interview, Clark suddenly warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have good intentions towards the region: “Russians know that majority of the people does not want to be a part of Russia, but a part of the EU. That is why they are increasing their influence. And they are using all available means to achieve that… In that campaign, bribery, corruption and undermining of the rule of law, political and other clientelism are especially important instruments. All that to ensure that Russian boot is firmly pressuring Balkans.”

Erdogan uses B&H to demonstrate strength to Europe (EuroBlic)

Although majority of European countries denied Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the possibility to hold his election rally in their towns, it seems as if B&H is unable to do the same since Erdogan might hold the election rally in Sarajevo in May. MP Dusanka Majkic (SNSD) argued that there is nobody able to react and prohibit the rally, having in mind the situation in security sector in B&H where most of top officials are in technical mandate. Majkic went on to say that B&H Presidency is unable to react too because B&H Presidency members cannot reach an agreement on anything while member Bakir Izetbegovic acts without any consultations with the other two members, while B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) cannot take a stance on even less important matters. “There are no institutions in B&H and when there are no institutions, then anything can happen”, Majkic said and added that it will be interesting to see reactions of the international community which is “often inconsistent so they raise fuss about some pointless matters, while they ignore matters which cause shock and distrust among everyone else”.

Security expert Dzevad Galijasevic said that this politically motivated Erdogan’s visit should be prohibited and he added that he believes the rally would be cancelled in case “Americans, British, Germans and High Representative Valentin Inzko told political subject that such rally cannot be held”. Galijasevic also added that it is quite certain that SDA and Izetbegovic will be Erdogan’s hosts and he concluded by saying that Erdogan’s intention is to show that Turkey is in the Balkans and that Europeans cannot prevent this. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) stated that it does not have any official information on Erdogan’s visit, therefore it does not have a comment on it. The Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior said that no rally was announced to it so far.

Wartime Bosniak commander arrested for crimes against Serbs (Nezavisne)

Former commander of the 5th Corps of the Army of B&H Atif Dudakovic has been arrested in the town of Bihac in B&H. Dudakovic is suspected of committing war crimes against Serbs in the fall of 1995. Several other persons, suspected of committing war crimes against Serbs during the war, from 1992 until 1995, have also been detained.  They have been arrested on the order of the Prosecution of B&H, while the investigation against Dudakovic lasted 12 years. According to institutions in Republika Srpska (RS) searching for missing persons, a total of 870 Serb civilians and 400 soldiers have been killed in 5th Corps operations during 1995 in the municipalities of Petrovac, Bihac, Bosanska Krupa, Sanski Most, and Kljuc, while more than 30 villages have been burned down. 21 mass graves have been found in this area, containing the remains of Serbs killed by members of the 5th Corps during a military operation dubbed “Maestral.” Over the past years, broadcasters in the region showed video footage of Dudakovic ordering war crimes and participating in them.  Dudakovic earlier denied his involvement in war crimes, claiming that these videos had been “edited” and his words “taken out of context.”

Will Croatia continue diplomatic war with Serbia? (Vecernji list)

Part of the government demands a tougher response to Serbia for banning Croatian Defense Minister Krsticevic, while the president reportedly wants to calm tensions. Now, the question is whether the Croatian government will react to the message sent by Serbia. It seems that opinions within the Croatian state leadership are divided. According to sources, before the yesterday’s decision, Croatia was considering the possibility of an immediate withdrawal of Croatian Ambassador to Belgrade Gordan Bakota. Others believe that such a move should be made only if Serbia takes another, more drastic decision. They believe there is no foreign policy damage for Croatia in this case, and that Croatia should wait and use its dominant position towards Serbia with regards to its EU accession negotiations, maybe taking a firmer stand on some of the unresolved questions between the two countries, such as the issue of the border on the Danube river. Still, some in the government stress that Serbia’s move is actually more severe than the Croatian one, since Krsticevic is also a deputy prime minister, while Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin is not. They want not only to withdraw Croatian ambassador from Belgrade but also to block Serbia’s negotiations with the EU. The talks should remain blocked “as long as Serbia does not stop advancing the Greater Serbia policy towards Croatia, and until it ejects convicted war criminal Vojislav Seselj from its parliament,” said a member of the Croatian government.

Serbia declares Croatian Defense Minister “persona non- grata” (Hina)

The Serbian government has decided to declare Croatian Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic persona non- grata, authorities in Belgrade reported on Thursday. “The Serbian government decided at its session on Thursday to adopt reciprocal measures against Croatia, under which Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic is not welcome to Serbia until further notice,” the government said in a press release. It said this was a reciprocal measure to counter the Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Ministry’s decision of 21 April declaring Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin persona non- grata in Croatia.

Krsticevic said on Thursday that the decision by the Serbian government to declare him persona non- grata was unwarranted, adding: “I never offended anyone or said something that was not true. I never went to Serbia or said anything bad.” “Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin and I are worlds apart. I am focused on developing and strengthening the Croatian military, strengthening the homeland security system in the interest of Croatia. In my job I am always guided by values, by my responsibilities, and most importantly, I never do to others what I wouldn’t want others to do to me,” Krsticevic told reporters in Zagreb when asked to comment on the Serbian government’s decision to declare him persona non- grata. “I was like that during the Homeland War, after my forced retirement and when I worked in the private sector, and now as defense minister,” he added. Krsticevic said that the Croatian decision was justified. “It was our response to provocations by Vulin, and any modern country which protects its sovereignty, dignity and national interests would do the same,” he stressed. “However, this decision is unjustified. It is a decision made by the Serbian government, I can deal with it, but it speaks much more about them,” he said. Asked to comment on the reason for the Serbian government’s decision, Krsticevic said it could be his involvement in the Homeland War as commander of the 4th Guards Brigade, or many other reasons. “What I did and what I do now is honorably serving Croatia,” he said. Asked how he saw further cooperation with Serbia, Krsticevic said he was always in favor of cooperation, adding that the Croatian military was cooperating with everyone, especially with key allies the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel and Sweden. “We need to cooperate. We are cooperating with our neighbors. Croatia always wants cooperation and dialogue and wants the focus to be on the future. Croatia is a member of NATO and the EU and is forward-looking,” Krsticevic said. He said that he was in touch with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and that he should be asked how Croatia would respond. The Minister of State Assets, Goran Maric, said it was never wise to compare the incomparable. “The Serbian minister deserved to be declared persona non- grata because of his comments about Croatia. This was not only hate speech and intolerance, but behavior unworthy of a minister.” Meanwhile, Most’s Nikola Grmoja failed to denounce the move, saying he believes that the HDZ will in fact benefit from Serbia’s actions. He said the controversy would regain the HDZ some of the voter confidence they lost by supporting the Istanbul Convention.

Prime Minister calls for joint commemorations at Jasenovac (Hina)

After representatives of some of Croatian minority communities recently boycotted the central state commemoration for the victims of the World War II Jasenovac concentration camp on April 22, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday called on all social stakeholders in the country, notably politicians, to attend central state commemorations and make effort so “that in the future we could have a single commemoration at Jasenovac.” Addressing a government session, Plenkovic said that a state delegation this past Sunday paid tribute to all victims of Nazism and Fascism and that the government’s position on the matter was very firm and clear.

“We reiterated that once again on Sunday, and we will continue doing so in the future,” he said.

For the third year in a row, this past Sunday representatives of the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Communities of Croatia, the Serb National Council and the Association of Anti-Fascist Fighters and Anti-Fascists of Croatia boycotted the central state commemoration for the victims of the Ustasha-run concentration camp and honored the victims at their own, separate commemorations. They said that their non-attendance at the commemoration was due to the downplaying of Ustasha crimes, for which they believe the state authorities share the responsibility.

Austria to conduct immediate trials for use of banned Ustasha symbols at Bleiburg (Jutarnji list)

The Austrian state prosecutors and judges who will issue immediate rulings for the use of Ustasha symbols will be present on May 12 at Bleiburg, where a commemoration will take place on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the Bleiburg events. As never before, Austrian politicians, both from rightwing and leftwing political parties, are united in a decision to vigorously prevent any attempt to use fascist symbols. All those who will not respect the rules will be expelled from Austria. Judges will issue immediate rulings for anyone carrying symbols of the Independent State of Croatia and the “For Homeland Ready” slogan, while Austrian police officers will respond to all attempts to use Ustasha symbols. Although some Austrian politicians have proposed a ban of the commemoration, Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz said he had no authority to ban the event. “It is organized by the Croatian Church. This means that it is not a decision for either the government or the federal prime minister. Of course, if there are violations of the Austrian laws, we will intervene,” said Kurz. At this year’s gathering, the Austrian authorities will explicitly forbid all usage of the Ustasha slogan “For Homeland Ready,” including on flags and T-shirts with the HOS coat of arms, although the coat of arms is often tolerated in Croatia. Austrian daily Kleine Zeitung published a commentary claiming that the event at Bleiburg, under the guise of a religious commemoration, was actually celebrating the Ustasha regime. “It is high time for Carinthia to make clear that it will not allow these people to damage the reputation of our province with their neo-Nazi activities.” Even more direct was the Austrian national television ORF, which described the event as “Ustasha gathering at Bleiburg.”

Progress Report instructs Montenegro (MINA)

This year’s Progress Report is clear, detailed and understandable, and states what Montenegro should do in the next phase of the European integration process, said German Ambassador to Podgorica, H. E. Mr. Hans Ginter Matern. At a meeting with the President of the Assembly’s Committee on International Relations and Emigrants, Mr. Andrija Nikolic, H. E. said Berlin wants to help Montenegro, because it is in the European Union’s interest that it and other Western Balkan countries become its members. Mr. Matern emphasized the need to reduce political influence on the judiciary, which, he said, is also stated in the EC’s report.

Mr. Nikolic added frequent communication with the Bundestag is very important for the Parliament of Montenegro, precisely because of its role in the decision-making process on the further stages of the integration processes of Montenegro and the countries of the Western Balkans.

Ivanov, Grabar-Kitarovic: Bilateral issues to be solved in parallel with Euro-integration process (MIA)

Macedonia and Croatia have exceptionally friendly relations and no open issues. Croatia is a great champion of Macedonia’s EU and NATO integration, while open issues with other countries should not stand in the way but solved in parallel with the accession talks, agreed President Gjorge Ivanov and Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic after a meeting in Skopje on Thursday. “We salute the European Commission recommendation for the opening of Macedonia’s EU accession talks and Croatia will do everything in its power for a decision on the start of negotiations in June,” Grabar Kitarovic told the joint press conference. According to her, open bilateral issues must be solved in parallel with the Euro-integration process. “I believe maturity and respect of international law should be demonstrated, leaving the two countries to find the solution by themselves, without imposing one from the outside,” added Grabar Kitarovic in reference to the name issue. She said the Union enlargement process should continue, because a standstill creates a vacuum that could be filled by third parties which are not interested in the countries’ progress. Ivanov welcomed Croatia’s constructive approach that bilateral disputes should not be an obstacle in the Euro-Atlantic path. “There are positive experiences regarding negotiations moving forward in parallel with discussions over a solution for an open issue. The Croatia-Slovenia model can be used in the case of Macedonia,” stressed Ivanov. Interlocutors exchanged opinions on the opportunities for cooperation in other fields of mutual interest.

“It is our joint objective to put Croatia among Macedonia’s top five trading partners in the coming years,” said Ivanov. Both presidents agreed that the Macedonian and Croatian communities in the respective countries significantly contribute to bilateral friendly relations.

Xhaferi meets President Grabar-Kitarovic (MIA)

Parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi held talks Thursday with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who is paying a two-day visit to Macedonia. Xhaferi expressed satisfaction Tuesday with the excellent, friendly relations between the two countries. Croatia’s support of Macedonia’s bid to join the EU, NATO is highly appreciated, Xhaferi said, voicing belief that the country will be invited to join in at the upcoming Alliance’s summit. Grabar-Kitarovic commended the substantial progress Macedonia had made for one year in building democratic society. Croatia, she said, is Macedonia’s sincere friend and will keep supporting its efforts to become full-fledged EU, NATO member as soon as possible. In this respect, she underlined the EU, NATO role in building a stable country that would attract foreign investors, which leads to overall development of the society. Grabar-Kitarovic also commended the number of women MPs in Macedonia’s Parliament, which, compared to Croatia, is almost twice as high.

The meeting was also attended by members of Macedonia’s Parliamentary Committee for cooperation with Croatia’s parliament.

Dimitrov and Kotzias end Vienna talks at a working dinner (MIA)

After their meeting with UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias had a working dinner, which ended their talks in Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday. Greek media has described the Dimitrov, Kotzias and Nimetz meeting as useful and positive, although it did not result in any significant progress in resolving “controversial issues”, MIA‘s Athens correspondent reports. “Although the climate is very positive,” Greek daily Kathimerini wrote, “it is clear that, in order to disengage from the current situation, the leaders of fYROM should make some serious decisions on the controversial issues erga omnes. It seems, however, that for the leadership of the neighboring country, the use of the new name inside is an extremely difficult matter, as is the revision of the Constitution. Nevertheless, there is progress on individual issues that also concern this issue.” According to Greek diplomat sources, the Nimetz meeting, which lasted more than four hours, was another useful meeting in the process. Talks will continue in the next weeks, Athens 984 radio reported, adding that no progress was made because both sides held their well-known positions.

Official Athens, judging by the statement given by Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, seems to be expecting from Macedonia to make concessions, as Greece is upholding its requirement that the new name be erga omnes and for internal use.

Responding to a question by MIA’s Athens correspondent at a news conference yesterday, Tzanakopoulos said that Athens “has advanced to half-way along the bridge and expects FYROM to do the same”. The two Foreign Ministers will meet again as soon as next week at a quadrilateral summit in Thessaloniki, Greece, on May 3 and 4, and yet again at a conference in Sounio, Greece, on May 11 and 12.

Name issue needs urgent solution, Juncker tells Greek parliament (MIA)

The name issue should be solved by you, I am not in charge of giving ideas or guidelines, but I will underscore the urgency that characterizes the name row settlement, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, said in an address in the Parliament of Greece. “Mr. President, I will say something before the MPs here that I have said recently when I was in Skopje, where the issue about the name of this country was raised. I am not in charge of giving directions, or ideas as regards the issue which should be solved between the parties in any case. But, allow me to underscore the urgency characterizing the name row settlement considering the complexity of the region,” Juncker told the Greek MPs. The EC President, amongst other things, in his speech referred to the countries in the region and their future in Europe, MIA reported from Athens. He called Greece ‘the backbone of stability in the region’ and said that the Western Balkans required European perspective. Also, Juncker elaborated that a recommendation for the opening of accession talks with the EU didn’t automatically set a date for start of negotiations.

“To be absolutely clear, I want to say that when the European Commission a week ago recommended accession talks be opened with Albania and FYROM, it didn’t mean that we have set a date for launching the negotiations. Attention! We shouldn’t rely on unrealistic announcements,” EC President Juncker said adding all candidate countries would undergo merit-based evaluations. Earlier in the day, Juncker held a press conference with Greek PM Alexis Tsipras after holding a joint meeting, which focused on issues in the sphere of economy, regional developments, i.e. the Western Balkans. With respect to the name issue, PM Tsipras said that Greece for the first time had been very decisive seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the name dispute noting that there were guarantees that the issue would be finally solved.

Bartol: NATO wishes to welcome Macedonia as its 30th member state (MIA)

NATO doors are open for Macedonia, Chief NATO Liaison Office Skopje Gorazd Bartol said Thursday at the conference, dubbed ‘Macedonia: Euro-Atlantic integration, new challenges and opportunities’. NATO sent a message saying that every sovereign country is entitled to choose own path; Skopje has chosen to join NATO and the Alliance wishes to welcome ‘you as its 30th member’, Bartol told the gathering. “The allies have agreed that NATO will invite your country to join in as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to name dispute is found. We wish to welcome you as the 30th NATO member” he said. He commended Macedonia’s success in regard to the European Commission’s recommendation for the country to commence the EU accession talks. The Alliance, he said, counts on Macedonia’s contribution to the NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. The necessary reforms for NATO membership are difficult, take time and money, but bring numerous political, economic benefits, Bartol said. He urged all stakeholders in Macedonia to join forces in implementing the reforms in the spheres of judiciary, media freedom, and multi-ethnic society.

Stoltenberg: It’s not up to Russia to decide about Macedonia’s NATO accession (MIA)

It’s only up to Macedonia and the 29 NATO members to make decisions about the country’s membership into the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday. At a news conference a day ahead of a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels, when asked to comment on remarks of the Russian Ambassador to Macedonia that the country could become ‘a legitimate target’ in times of conflict as soon as it joined the Alliance, the NATO Secretary General responded: “The whole idea that Russia will not accept some countries to join NATO is an idea of spheres of influences where powerful forces control smaller states. It contradicts everything NATO stands for.”

According to him, it is the right of every nation to pave its own path and security treaties since it is ‘a fundamental principle for NATO.’ Russia, Stoltenberg said, has pledged to follow the principle according to several agreements, including the 1974 Helsinki Accords.  “It is up to Skopje to decide about its own path and whether it wants to join NATO. Macedonia and the 29 NATO allies are the only ones that decide about this and no one else has their say in the process,” NATO head Stoltenger said answering a question by MIA‘s correspondent in Brussels. He said he welcomed the progress made in the name talks, MIA reports. The invitation extended to Macedonia to join the Alliance still stands, Stoltenberg mentioned.

Sekerinska to meet US Defense Secretary Mattis in Washington (MIA)

Deputy PM and Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska pays April 26 to May 2 a visit to the US.

Sekerinska will hold an official meeting with US Defense Secretary James Mattis on May 1 (Tuesday) in Washington. Strategic partnership between Macedonia and US will be affirmed at the meeting. The meeting is to take place ahead of NATO Summit in Brussels on July.

“The official US visit and the meeting with US Defense Secretary Mattis are taking place at a crucial period, two months prior to NATO Summit. It is an exceptional opportunity to show how much NATO membership is important to the Republic of Macedonia and also to show that it brings values for the NATO member states. The talks with the US Defense Secretary will focus on our strategic partnership, defense reforms and all those things that Macedonia can offer to NATO in terms to increased security in the region and European continent,” Sekerinska said.

She underlined that the in the past nine months our everyday focus was to restore the confidence of the Macedonian citizens in their country, but also to restore the confidence that the foreign partners had in the Republic of Macedonia. “We showed that the word is a word, that Macedonia fulfills what it announces, undertakes and promises. This is an opportunity to show that the Republic of Macedonia deserved, deserves to become a NATO member,” Sekerinska said before leaving for the US. During her visit, Sekerinska will meet Laura Cooper, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, senior officials of the US State Department and the Pentagon and will hold meetings in the US Senate and Congress.

She will meet Governor of Vermont and Commander of Vermont National Guard. The Army of the Republic of Macedonia has developed and overall cooperation with the Vermont National Guard as our partner in reforms and development of armed forces. Sekerinska will participate at the round table in Washington organized by the US Atlantic Council on topic “Balkan and NATO membership through the prism of Macedonia: high stakes in regard to global security and fate of democracy in a small country.” She will also take part at the round table of the National Democratic Institute on topic “Democratic renewal of Macedonia-Does it Work?” and will also meet Macedonian immigrants in US.

CDU/CSU MP’s reject Rama’s invitation to dinner (ADN)

The CDU/CSU parliamentary group has reportedly decided not to take part in the dinner ordered at China Club, where PM Edi Rama was scheduled to go on Wednesday. The leadership of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group gathered on Monday to discuss on many issues and one of the topics of discussion was the media campaign full of libel and defamation against MP Krichbaum in Tirana. The decision taken by group chairman Volker Kauder, very close to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, was clear: None of the CDU/CSU MPs should take part in the dinner ordered by the Albanian Embassy at China Club in the framework of Albania’s PM visit to Germany. Only CDU/CSU MPs were invited to dinner.

Rama returns from Germany, what was discussed with Merkel? (ADN)

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, held a press conference right after his return to Tirana on Thursday, coming back from his official visit in Germany. Regarding his meeting with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, he said that the discussions were focused on 5 priorities of Albania for the opening of the accession talks. “The meeting with the German Chancellor was an important moment in the visit because of the exchange of views on the progress report, the fulfillment of the preconditions said by her, as well as the preparation for the opening of the accession talks. I also met the President of the Bundestag, with whom we talked about the fulfillment of some reforms in order to achieve the right stage,” declared Rama. Rama could not deny that he was asked about the investigations against his former Interior Minister, Saimir Tahiri: “With Chancellor we talked about everything and every aspect of the progress report, especially on the judicial reform and of course for the progress achieved with the vetting process. We were asked on this issue by the Commission for European Issues and our position in this process. Tahiri is accused by the prosecution for drugs trafficking and passive corruption.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Now is chance for Kosovo deal, says Serbian president – but at what cost? (The Guardian, by Shaun Walker in Belgrade, 25 April 2018)

Aleksandar Vučić will accept independence only if Serbia gets something concrete in return

When Nato bombed Serbia in 1999, Aleksandar Vučić was information minister, enforcing censorship rules for the country’s president, Slobodan Milošević, who would later be indicted for war crimes. Nearly two decades later, Vučić himself is Serbia’s president. Claiming to have shed many of his former nationalist views, and brushing off accusations of authoritarianism, he is now seen by the international community as the man who could sign an agreement that would eventually bring reconciliation over Kosovo. The former province of Serbia pulled away from Belgrade under international supervision after the Nato air campaign, and proclaimed independence in 2008. Serbia still considers the territory its own. In an interview with the Guardian in Belgrade this week, Vučić said he believed there is now a brief window of “six months or a year” in which it might be possible to sign a deal. “We are ready to discuss every single issue, we are ready to take into consideration every single proposal that would mean a compromise solution,” he said, provided Serbia is offered something in return. The hope in Brussels is that a deal could be struck that would lead to Belgrade acknowledging if not formally recognising Kosovo’s independence, and would pave the way for Kosovo to take a seat at the UN and for both nations to begin a path towards EU membership. Vučić has been playing up these hopes, but in return wants a package of benefits for Serbia. He is already involved in regular EU-supervised dialogue in Brussels with Kosovo’s president, Hashim Thaçi, which attempts to implement the provisions of an interim agreement signed five years ago. Thaçi also told the Guardian last week that he expected a comprehensive agreement to be reached this year. Vučić has also spent the past months engaged in a whirlwind of meetings with western leaders, trying to convince them that they should offer a compromise solution that brings concrete benefits for Serbia rather than simply acquiesce to the facts on the ground. That Vučić could be the one to sign the deal is remarkable, given that in the 1990s he was part of the Radical party, which sought a Greater Serbia and supported the Serb political and military formations fighting in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. Vučić, however, is a man of contradictions. He dominates the country’s political scene, having transformed the presidency from a largely ceremonial role to the centre of power after moving over from prime minister’s seat last year. Unlike other domineering leaders, however, there are no wild gesticulations or frothing oratory. His voice rarely rises above a mumble, and he uses whispered emotional appeals, portraying himself as a tireless martyr for the Serbian cause.  “I am squeezed on a daily basis,” he said. “It’s mainly Kosovo to tell you truth. Everything else is peanuts. I have invested at least 400 days so far in the last four years since I became prime minister, only on Kosovo. It takes your energy out, and people don’t see it, they don’t understand it.” After meeting Angela Merkel in Berlin this month, he said he had not been able to sleep the night before and was unable to eat during the meeting because he was so nervous about the fate of Serbia. Vučić’s critics say this is all part of a carefully constructed image of a selfless fighter for Serbia that masks a raw drive to consolidate power. “This is kind of a new style in world politics, creating a public image as the ‘best’ person in Serbia,” said Boban Stojanović, of Belgrade University’s faculty of political science. “But actually we have corruption, little free media and are on the path to a one-party system.” The EU and other institutions have also criticised Vučić for a media crackdown, an accusation he brushes off, saying the media atmosphere is partisan on both sides and complaining of a “campaign 24/7 against me” from independent media. European leaders may be willing to extend credit to Vučić though, both because he is seen as able to deliver a compromise package on Kosovo that a weaker leader would not be able to sell to Serbian public opinion, and because of desires to counter Russian influence in the region. The European council president, Donald Tusk, who was in Belgrade to meet Vučić on Wednesday, said after their talks that he viewed the Serbian president as a soulmate and that Vučić was “living proof that you can be at the same time a strong patriot and a reasonable pragmatist”. At a time when relations between Russia and the west are at a low point, Vučić perhaps more than any other world leader is walking a tightrope between the two, insisting European integration is a top priority for Serbia while maintaining very close links with its traditional ally in Moscow. In a sign that he still performs a careful balancing act between past and present, he declined to say whether he would refer to nationalist Vojislav Šešelj, his former political mentor, as a war criminal, after a UN court in the Hague this month overturned an acquittal for inciting crimes during the 1990s. But he did say he regretted many of his own earlier nationalist outbursts. “Do you know someone in the entire world that is not a sinner? I haven’t met that guy so far. The difference is that I do acknowledge that and I was totally sincere with our people.”

Vučić is still only 48, and many say that with his appetite for power and sense of historical mission, he could be planning to stay around for the long haul, perhaps eyeing a decades-long reign of power in the mould of Milo Djukanović in neighbouring Montenegro. “I can guarantee it’s not going to happen,” said Vučić, briefly laughing before transitioning back to his characteristic beleaguered whisper. He said he would “most probably not” stand for the presidency again in 2022: “I don’t have that kind of energy.”