LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Recognition of Kosovo will never be condition for our EU membership (Tanjug/Beta)

The Kosovo and Metohija problem must the solved and a compromise solution must be found, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said in Sofia on Friday, adding that she guaranteed a recognition of Kosovo would never be set as a condition for Serbia’s EU membership. “The Kosovo issue must be solved for the sake of stability and security of the citizens of the region. A compromise solution must be found. It is insane to think Serbia will just recognize Kosovo’s independence, and that is never going to happen,” Brnabic told reporters. “It is insane to think Serbia will just recognize Kosovo’s independence – and that is never going to happen,” Brnabic told reporters, according to the agency. Brnabic, who on Friday took part in Summit’s Vienna Economic Forum panel, said it was impossible to set recognition of Kosovo – an autonomous province of Serbia – as a condition for the country’s membership in the EU – as five EU member-states do not recognize it either – and added that they never will. “That was never a condition, and I guarantee, it never will be a condition – but normalization of relations is demanded,” she said. Brnabic then stressed that it can’t be expected from Serbia to simply recognize Kosovo, and added that compromise is needed, where everyone will lose, but also everyone will win. “Serbia is ready for compromise, Serbia is constantly calling for compromise, but Pristina has not stepped outside its comfort zone. They call for a final solution – a recognition of independence – and that will never happen,” Brnabic said. According to her, the arrest in March of Serbian government official Marko Djuric was a big step back, but she added that one should look to a future that is possible is there is talk of a compromise. Speaking about the ongoing Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Brnabic said there had been several solutions on the table, but that Pristina’s response to those never arrived. Brnabic also told reporters in Sofia on Friday that she discussed the Kosovo situation with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, and revealed that she invited Boyko Borisov to visit Serbia in late June.

Dacic: Serbia to oppose attempts of Kosovo CoE admission (Tanjug/Beta/RTS)

Serbia will, in the most resolute manner, oppose any attempts to launch a procedure for admission of the so-called Kosovo to the Council of Europe (CoE), Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said at a CoE ministerial session in Helsingor, Denmark, on Friday. He added that, for the sake of improving protection of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law – Serbia supports continued CoE engagement in Kosovo and Metohija, while fully respecting UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and the status-neutral approach. Dacic also welcomed Croatia’s decision to make protection of national (ethnic) minority rights one of the priorities of its chairmanship, and added that Serbia assigns great importance to that issue, and is actively committed to contributing to, along with the CoE, continuing engagement in realizing that goal. “At the same time, we expect that all rights of members of the Serb national minority in neighboring countries will be fully respected in accordance with the Organization’s standards, including the issue of the rights of members of the Serb national minority in the neighboring countries to use their mother tongue and alphabet,” he said, referring to the Serbian language, and the Serbian Cyrillic script. “We also attach great importance to the freedom of assembly and association, which are guaranteed by the Constitution and relevant laws. In the past period in our country, considerable attention has been paid to enabling greater involvement of civil society organizations in the decision-making process at all levels,” he said. He expressed the expectation that the Council will react appropriately to the brutal assault on the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric on 26 March this year, who was subjected to torture and degrading treatment by the police in Kosovska Mitrovica. The minister also said that at the national level, a number of measures have been taken to fulfill the recommendations of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) related to Serbia, and that in that sense, a coordination team has been set up to steer activities toward implementing GRECO report’s recommendations.

Serbia and Azerbaijan always support each other (Tanjug/B92)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says Serbia and Azerbaijan have no open issues and support each other in terms of preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Monday – whom he invited to visit Belgrade – Aleksandar Vucic thanked Aliyev for supporting the territorial integrity of Serbia, and added that Serbia also supports Azerbaijan in this regard. “Mutual support exists and these positions will not change in the future. We respect your policy thanks to which you have preserved your country, its unity,” Vucic said, addressing Aliyev, and pointed out that this was especially important given that Azerbaijan is under pressure from various powers in its region.

“But you have managed to preserve the country and adjust other interests to the interests of Azerbaijan,” says Vucic.  Vucic thanked Aliyev for the welcome he received, but also for his engagement so far and everything he is doing to raise relations between the two countries to as high a level as possible. He added that a session of the Mixed Committee will be held soon, after a long pause. Vucic also said that he came to Baku along with half the government, because Serbia wants as good relations as possible in as many areas as possible. “Serbia has great significance for Azerbaijan, we highly value the policy of Aleksandar Vucic,” Ilham Aliyev said on Monday, summarizing the content of his talks with the Serbian head of state. Aliyev said they concluded that there was room for developing cooperation between the two countries, who have no open issues. Azerbaijan, he said, attaches great importance to the visit of the President of Serbia and believes that it will give good results. “After this visit, the dynamics of relations will be stronger,” Aliyev stressed. The Joint (Strategic Partnership) Action Plan that the two presidents signed on Monday is, according to Azerbaijan’s leader, a comprehensive, very important document that contains all the significant issues of relations between the two countries. “In international organizations, we support each other. In terms of territorial integrity, we always support each other and we believe that conflicts must be resolved in accordance with international law and UN Security Council resolutions,” Aliyev said in his address to journalists after the meeting with Vucic. Aliyev added that he highly appreciated Vucic defending the independent policy of his country. “Your people support you and we can only look forward to it. For Azerbaijan, Serbia has great importance. Mutual will is important, and it exists,” he concluded.

Serbian parliament adopts draft proposal on formation of Commission for investigating consequences of NATO bombing (RTS)

The Serbian parliament adopted with 156 votes the proposal of parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic on the formation of the Commission for investigating consequences of NATO bombing. Nobody voted against and nobody sustained from voting, while one MP didn’t vote.

MP of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the Chairman of the Committee for Health Darko Laketic will be the Chairman of the Commission, and the task of the Commission will be to receive all facts and circumstances in regard to the consequences of the 1999 NATO bombardment, as well as the impact on the environment, with special emphasis on the consequences that left the use of depleted uranium missiles. Among the first tasks of the Commission will be specifying locations where depleted uranium missiles were thrown, and parallel to this it will be investigating data from healthcare institutions. The Commission is obliged to determine the methodology of work at the first constitutive session. The Commission is obliged to inform the parliament periodically every six months about its activities and it is obliged to submit the first preliminary report with a proposal of measures by the end of 2020. Funds in the Serbian budget have been provided for the implementation of this decision. The Commission will also take over the experience of the Italian parliament in its work. The Italian commission was investigating the consequences of NATO bombing for 12 years. Pointing to the report written by the first head of the UNEP Mission Bakary Kante, which the UN didn’t publish because it was “destructive for part of the international community that supported the bombing, Gojkovic said there is also another report that was led by the former minister of ecology of Finland and which was also “destructive” for those who claim that there was absolutely no impact and problem with the fact that we were bombed with depleted uranium missiles.

Albanians have been after Serbian passports since 1999 (Novosti)

Albanians are coming to the municipality of Gracanica on a daily basis to request certificates of citizenship of the Republic of Serbia. This document is required in order to be issued Serbian ID cards and passports, Ljubinko Karadzic, president of the Interim Organ of the City of Pristina, located in Gracanica, told Novosti. In this way confirming reports published in Pristina media, Karadzic pointed out that Serbian documents are requested by Albanians of different ages and educational levels, while as far as Gracanica is concerned, most of them come from Pristina. In addition to those who already have Serbian documents and want to extend them, there are also many young Albanians who come for the first time with this request, said Karadzic. Novosti is reporting that representatives of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija explained that Albanians residing in Kosovo and Metohija can get passports issued by the Coordination Administrations, but that they still need to have visas in order to travel to many countries. However, with these passports, Albanians can travel to countries that do not recognize documents issued by Kosovo, such as Greece and Spain, the newspaper added. Albanian political analysts and those well acquainted with the situation in Kosovo are quoted as saying that Albanians have been submitting requests for Serbian documents since 1999, but also that a majority of those working in Western countries hold passports of the state of Serbia.

Fabrizi: Kosovo key issue in Serbia’s EU path (Blic/Beta)

“Normalization of relations with Pristina and progress in the fields of democracy and rule of law are the two main drivers on Serbia’s path towards the EU. Of course, Kosovo is the key element,” the Head of the EU Delegation in Serbia Sem Fabrizi told Blic. Fabrizi said the EU made clear how important the issue is, and that it is the reason why it provides “good services” in the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue.  When asked whether Serbia will have to recognize Kosovo’s independence, Fabrizi said the EU has a neutral stance on the issue and that the full normalization of the Belgrade – Pristina relationship is required, in the form of a legally binding agreement.  “The EU provides good service towards achieving that goal through dialogue,” he added.

Kukan: Macron not only one deciding on EU enlargement (Novosti)

The Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Cooperation with Serbia Eduard Kukan told Novosti that President Emmanuel Macron’s opinion that there should not be any EU enlargement until the block reformed itself was not shared by everyone within the EU. “It’s one of his ideas which I profoundly disagree with, and I’m not the only one who is against some of Macron’s stands,” Kukan told the daily in an interview. “But,” he added, “one should not underestimate what Macron is saying since France is a big country. Still, though strong, it’s just one of the voices.” Kukan said that France, Germany and Netherlands have always been strict regarding the EU enlargement. According to him, Macron belongs to a new generation of leaders and is very ambitious, but without a strong German economy he will not be able to implement his ideas in the EU. “That’s why, at times, it seems to me he is too romantic about reforms. In the end, there will have to be a compromise,” Kukan said. Commenting on the announced EU internal reforms by 2025, the date also tentatively set for a possible enlargement, Kukan said the first thing that had to be decided upon was in which direction the EU wanted to go. “Only then would we be able to say if the 2025 deadline could be met,” he said.  “Without such an important region as the Western Balkans, the EU is not complete or united. We need to be more accountable to our friends from the Western Balkans. If we are asking candidate countries to meet criteria, then we too need to keep our promises,” Kukan stressed.

REGIONAL PRESS

Delegation of Turkey led by Turkey’s President Erdogan visits Sarajevo (TV1)

The delegation of Turkey led by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in one-day visit to Sarajevo on Sunday. They met with Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency and SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic and the delegation of B&H Council of Ministers (CoM), and discussed the economic cooperation and trade relations between B&H and Turkey, as well as construction of the Sarajevo-Belgrade expressway that is supposed to be financed by Turkey. Addressing the joint press conference after the meeting, Izetbegovic stated that Turkey and B&H have excellent relations and they both tend to become the EU and NATO member states. He added that B&H supports Turkey and praises its work on preservation of stability of the region. “B&H and Turkey have the largest number of agreements signed and the economic cooperation between the two countries is increasing. Erdogan stated in his address that Turkey has no hidden aspirations towards B&H except for prosperity and that his country will continue supporting preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of B&H. He expressed hope that the upcoming elections in B&H will lead to preservation of peace and stability. “I hope that the elections in B&H will be an opportunity to strengthen our relations and that they will be held in line with democratic standards, in a transparent and fair manner”, Erdogan stressed. Commenting on the amending of the Election Law of B&H, he assessed that this is B&H’s internal issue that should be addressed by local politicians. Erdogan asserted that Turkey will exert efforts aimed at activation of the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) for B&H, concluding that his country will continue to support B&H in all fields.

Erdogan speaks at UETD pre-election rally in Sarajevo attended by 15,000 people; Izetbegovic: Erdogan was sent by God (TV1)

Within his visit to Sarajevo on Sunday, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the pre-election rally of the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD), which was organized at the Sarajevo’s Olympic Hall before some 15,000 people. They arrived from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), Germany, Austria and other European countries to support Erdogan. The rally was held under tight security measures. Erdogan said in his address that European countries that consider themselves a nest of democracy have actually failed the test, while B&H has proven to be a democratic country (because it organized the rally). “We will always be with B&H. We are not newcomers in Europe, since the first job of our fathers from Anadolu was to pass Bosphorus and go to Europe. Our ties with Europe have not been broken ever since”, Erdogan stated. I am addressing all brothers in Europe. This is the right time for unity. The voice that is being raised from Sarajevo is a prognosis for the upcoming elections. Stand up! You know our salute! A single flag, a single state, a single homeland!” Erdogan stressed. “Cherish your religion and language! If you lose that, you will be lost,” he added. Addressing the rally, B&H Presidency Chairman Bakir Izetbegovic told the audience that Erdogan was sent by God and that therefore they have an obligation to support him and choose the right side, adding that only a small number of votes is necessary for the right side to win and these are actually the votes of Turks from Europe. “Today, it is impossible to explain how come Turkey is handling such a burden and weight. So many enemies inside of it and along its borders, with millions of refugees it cares about like its own citizens. Turkey is not only handling this, it is also making further progress because you have the man that God sent to you – and his name is Recep Tayyip Erdogan! When God sends you such a man, you have the obligation to support him,” Izetbegovic stressed. Meanwhile, Izetbegovic’s wife Sebija Izetbegovic, General Manager of the University-Clinical Center in Sarajevo and Emine Erdogan, the spouse of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, officially opened the newly reconstructed Hematology Clinic on Sunday. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) donated more than 1.5 million euros for reconstruction of this clinic.

Erdogan’s pre-election rally sparks reactions in B&H (TV1)

The visit of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Sarajevo on Sunday and the pre-election rally organized by the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) in Sarajevo sparks reactions in B&H. B&H Presidency member and HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic stated that the Turkey’s President is welcome in B&H, the same as all friends of B&H. However, he reminded that there are divided opinions about the rally. “The fact is that the announcement on this rally caused a number of reflections from a different point of view from the entire EU. Friends from Austria, Germany and Switzerland have clearly stressed this problem and they thought that we are the hosts. I told them that I learned from media about this”, Covic stressed and expressed hope that the rally will leave no consequences.  Republika Srpska (RS) President and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik commented that he has no problem with Erdogan’s visit to Sarajevo, reminding that Erdogan is a great statesman of a big country and “everything is OK until we feel that representatives of that country are trying to interfere with internal affairs in B&H, which is a point when this has to be stopped and rejected as unacceptable.” “That is commitment of SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic and his policy to host Mr. Erdogan in this way. We will see what kind of consequences this will have…” Dodik underlined. Deputy speaker of the RS Assembly Nenad Stevandic stated that Erdogan’s visit shows that Ankara and Sarajevo have better ties than Serb representatives from Banja Luka and Sarajevo. He stressed that Serb have to strive towards cohesion, because Serb representatives in Sarajevo are a weak link. State MP Nikola Spiric (SNSD) stated that Erdogan’s visit shows that what is not possible in Europe, it is possible in B&H. He said that the visit conveys three messages, one for Bosniaks, second for Serbs and Croats, and third for Europeans.

International media report on Erdogan’s visit to Sarajevo (Dnevni avaz)

Numerous regional and international media reported on the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to B&H. Daily Mail noted that nobody expected B&H to stop Turkish politicians in holding of the controversial rally because of close ties between “leader of Bosnian Muslims” Bakir Izetbegovic and Erdogan’s AK party. Deutsche Welle noted that Erdogan held his only election rally outside of Turkey in Sarajevo after countries like Germany, Austria and Netherlands prohibited holding of such rallies in their territories. Deutsche Welle especially commented on relations between Izetbegovic and Erdogan and noted that “Izetbegovic calls Erdogan ‘brother’ and attends family celebrations of the Turkish President. In this poor and divided Balkans country, proximity to such charismatic leader helps Izetbegovic cement his power”. Washington Post reported that Erdogan in Sarajevo sought support of Turkish people outside of Turkey for reelection as the President of Turkey. Dutch Trouw.nl described Erdogan’s visit as “search for European platform which he found in B&H”. Ziare.com too published the news under the title ‘Erdogan holds election rally for Diaspora in Sarajevo after Europe rejected him: Who is next – Putin or Assad’. Reuters and Business Insider focused on Erdogan’s speech in B&H Presidency building, where he spoke about Turkish investments in B&H. German media, such as Zeit, said that Erdogan came to Sarajevo to seek support of Turkish citizens for upcoming elections.

Minister Pendes discusses activation of MAP (Glas Srpske)

B&H Minister of Defense Marina Pendes held a meeting with Secretary with the French Ministry for the Armed Forces Genevieve Darrieussecq. During the meeting, Pendes and Darrieussecq discussed bilateral military cooperation and activities B&H is taking with the aim of securing the activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) with NATO. Darrieussecq underlined that B&H has made significant progress and that it has to continue down the same path. She added that France supports continuation of reforms in B&H on the path of country’s integration in European Union and NATO.

B&H Ambassador to Israel Rajakovic denies having attended opening of US Embassy in Jerusalem but only reception organized by Israeli PM (N1)

According to media reports, B&H Ambassador to Israel Jelena Rajakovic attended the ceremony of opening the US Embassy in Jerusalem on 14 May. However, Rajakovic issued a statement saying that she did not attend this event at all. She reminded of the stance of B&H that the state – without presuming the future status of Jerusalem – supports the idea of the existence of Israel and Palestine as two independent states. “I am responsibly saying that nobody from the B&H Embassy attended a single part of the opening of the US Embassy in that town, neither the opening ceremony nor the reception. On the other hand, the Israeli Prime Minister and his spouse organized a reception at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 13 May for members of the family of US President Donald Trump, the US senators and congressmen, foreign diplomats and local officials and guests. That was the invitation I accepted,” Rajakovic was quoted as saying.

Opposition puts forward motion to dissolve parliament (Hina)

Parliament on Friday included a motion by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for parliament to be dissolved. The SDP claims that, in the wake of former deputy prime minister Martina Dalic‘s resignation, circumstances have emerged for citizens to be allowed to go to a snap election and decide on a new parliament which will elect a new government. The incumbent government has been compromised with the Agrokor scandal and has lost all credibility and legitimacy to act as the executive authority, SDP said. The decision to dissolve parliament would come into effect on the day of its adoption. Parliament also added 15 items to the agenda, including a government-sponsored bill to amend the child’s allowance act so as to extend the list of eligible beneficiaries.

Parliament rejected a motion by SDP and Zivi Zid for a bill on the terminal for liquified natural gas to be put in regular procedure rather than fast track.

Conflict of interest proceedings launched against former Minister Dalic (Hina)

The Conflict of Interest Commission on Friday launched proceedings against former deputy prime minister and economy minister Martina Dalic in a case it opened last week following a complaint and leaks of her email correspondence on the ailing Agrokor conglomerate, dubbed the Hotmail scandal. The Commission concluded that it was contentious that an informal group led by Dalic had drawn up a law, dubbed Lex Agrokor, bypassing procedure. Dalic did not act credibly nor transparently when she claimed that she had written the law, that everything had been done according to her directions and that she had nothing to do with attorney Boris Savoric, a member of the informal group, the Commission concluded, adding that Dalic had also disregarded citizens’ trust and the right to be informed of the real state of affairs.

The Commission will establish if there was an interest connection between her and the informal group.

Croatia ratifies European Partnership Treaty with B&H (Hina)

The Croatian parliament on Friday ratified the European partnership treaty between the Croatian government and B&H Council of Ministers, under which the two parties reaffirmed their determination to promote the European partnership and strengthen cooperation in the process of B&H’s accession to the European Union. The act ratifying the treaty was passed unanimously by 79 votes. The treaty was signed in Sarajevo in July last year and has already been ratified by the B&H parliament. “It is in Croatia’s interest to foster a high level of bilateral relations with B&H with a view to strengthening its long-term stability and security, particularly through support for the Euro-Atlantic integration processes in the country,” Zdravka Busic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, said while presenting the treaty in parliament.

She said that this would also help in politically empowering the Croats in B&H as one of the country’s three constituent nations.

Croatia to prevent migrants entering from B&H (Vecernji list)

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic told Vecernji List daily on Friday that Croatia would do everything to prevent the entry of migrants from B&H and announced support to the B&H authorities in dealing with this problem. She said that Croatia could deploy police officers through the EU border control agency Frontex to control the border at the Mali Zvornik crossing between B&H and Serbia. She added that the authorities in Zagreb were carefully monitoring the increased influx of migrants on the new route across Bosnia and Herzegovina and their attempts to get to EU countries through Croatia.

Brajovic to the opposition: Come and do something (MINA)

President of the parliament of Montenegro, Ivan Brajovic, told MPs from the opposition who are still boycotting the parliament to come and work for the salary they get. In the interview for MINA agency, Brajovic said that Democratic Front realized they won’t get anything out of a boycott. “One part of the opposition won’t come back to the parliament because their competences would definitely go through some in –depth analysis in the dialogue with other MPs, and they are all aware of their own competences,” said Brajovic. As he said, some of those MPs present themselves as saviors of the country but they still work together with declared opponents of key Montenegrin values. “But despite all that, the country and its institutions function properly. We won’t give up on the strategic objectives and negotiations,” said Brajovic.

He added that Montenegro would keep harmonizing with the standards of developed countries and that the whole process would finish by its accession to the EU. Journalists asked Brajovic to say something to the MPs who are still boycotting the parliament he said: “Come and do something, you’re being paid for nothing,” said Brajovic. He reminded that the biggest opposition group which came back to the parliament agreed with Milan Knezevic. Many of them don’t see the point in being absent from the parliament. “Their attempts to try to impose themselves on the domestic and foreign public as being the saviors of Montenegro are failing. Elections deny everything they do. Every time even more and more convincing”, said Brajovic.

The Report of the EC points out the need of the opposition to come back to the Parliament because that’s the responsibility of all political subjects.

Karakacanov: Montenegro is the most serious candidate for the EU membership (CDM)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of defense of Bulgaria, Krasimir Karakacanov, who is in a state visit to Montenegro, met with the Minister of defense of Montenegro, Predrag Boskovic, and said that our country is the most serious candidate for the EU membership. Boskovic reminded about the support Bulgaria gave to Montenegro during the reform of the Montenegrin defense system. He hopes that bilateral defense cooperation in the capacity of NATO ally will significantly be improved. “We’re focusing on strengthening regional cooperation. With joints efforts and promotion of Euro – Atlantic values we can contribute to the development of stable and prosperous region”, points out the Ministry. Karakacanov pointed out the importance of Montenegrin success on the Euro – Atlantic path and he promised that Bulgaria would give its complete support to Montenegro on its way towards EU. The two Ministers confirmed good bilateral cooperation and took into consideration new possibilities of its improvement.

Greece calls for ‘geographical or chronological qualifier’ (MIA)

In accordance with Matthew Nimetz‘s proposal, a name solution should be reached containing either a geographical or chronological qualifier, reads a statement of the Greek PM’s office apparently dismissing the latest proposal ‘Republic of Ilinden Macedonia’. The press release of Alexis Tsipras‘ office, issued on Saturday evening, comments on the statement of Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev, MIA reported. “We welcome fYROM’s acknowledgement that a name solution cannot be reached without adopting an erga omnes name. Nevertheless, we encourage our neighbors to continue to work together in an effort to find a mutually acceptable solution with a geographical or chronological qualifier in accordance with the package of proposals put forward by UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz,” reads the statement reiterating the necessity for implementation of constitutional revision.

Greek opposition leaders reject latest name proposal (MIA)

The proposal ‘Republic of Ilinden Macedonia’ fails to eliminate irredentist claims, concurred the opposition leaders in Greece. These include the leaders of the New Democracy, Movement For Change, To Potami and Greek communists KKE whereas the leaders of Golden Dawn and the Union of Centrists reject any proposal that would contain the term Macedonia. After briefing President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, PM Alexis Tsipras spoke on the phone with four opposition leaders to inform them about the latest name proposal put forward by Macedonia. As MIA previously reported, PM Tsipras told the party leaders that the government was seeking a compound name for overall use, urged for revision of the Macedonian constitution, seen as a prerequisite for the country’s accession to international organizations. As regards the name, the government refrained from in-depth discussions unless the preconditions were met, his office has said.

Gov’t: Name proposal contains chronological qualifier acceptable for both sides (MIA)

Republic of Ilinden Macedonia is a name that contains a chronological qualifier with ties to concrete historical dates and constitutes a realistic opportunity for reaching a compromise deemed acceptable by the two sides. We expect the proposal to be met with wide support in Athens, the government said Sunday. “This name makes clear distinction from the region of Macedonia in Greece, a distinction from every point of view. The Ilinden Uprising is a joint struggle of our multi-ethnic nation for social rights and liberties. And makes no territorial claims whatsoever to any neighboring country, including Greece. It is the same struggle of 1903 and of 1944, as well,” read the government’s statement. The Republic of Macedonia and the citizens, it added, have no territorial ambitions, they respect the principle of no redrawing of borders and the heritage of the Greek people and of Greece. “The government of the Republic of Macedonia will continue to negotiate with the government of the Republic of Greece until finding a definite solution to the 25-year dispute. We have never been closer to a solution, and the friendship between the two countries and the two nations has never been tighter. We will invest all efforts necessary to the maximum in this positive historic moment for the two countries,” the government noted.

Zaev: Republic of Ilinden Macedonia could lead to possible compromise with Greece (MIA)

The Republic of Ilinden Macedonia is the option considered by the premiers of Macedonia and Greece in Sofia last week as being ‘the most acceptable’, which was presented on Saturday at a leaders’ meeting in Skopje. “I briefed on the latest stage of the name negotiations. With utmost accountability, awareness and commitment to the state interests, I informed the President, the Parliament Speaker, the leaders of VMRO-DPMNE and DUI that the governments of Macedonia and Greece have discussed an option and a solution that might be acceptable for both parties. Republic of Ilinden Macedonia (in Macedonian Република Илинденска Македонија and in Albanian Republika e Maqedonisë së Ilindenit) is the possible compromise,” Zaev stated. This proposal, he noted, reinforces the foundation of our country. “Ilinden is our bright future, this name strengthens our identity and the Macedonian Ilinden is a guarantee for a multi-ethnic Macedonia.” Macedonia with the possible agreement will provide a final confirmation about the Macedonian language, a guarantee for the identity and for international codes, Zaev told reporters. “We will accept overall use for this name, whereas there will be stages for its use at home,” the PM said announcing that there would be a name referendum. The idea has been already backed by Greece. President Gjorge Ivanov, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski and DUI leader Ali Ahmeti were in attendance. The meeting was also attended by Deputy PM Bujar Osmani, Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska and Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov.

Republic of Ilinden Macedonia – an excellent basis for solution (MIA)

Our objective, to find a solution acceptable both for Macedonia and Greece, has been fulfilled with this proposed package, Radmila Sekerinska said Sunday. “The foreign ministers have agreed on a package that was upheld by the two premiers in principle. The objective to find a solution positive both for Macedonia and Greece, we believe has been met with this draft-package. Yesterday, the Prime Minister clearly stated that we believe the package is offering a chance to close the process with all the parties as winners,” the Macedonian Deputy PM and Defense Minister told reporters. The Republic of Ilinden Macedonia, she stated, represents an excellent basis for a solution, because it contains a chronological qualifier, coincides with important historical dates and shows that Macedonia has never and will never foster any territorial claims. “All elements in the solution correspond with the expectations and the demands of both Macedonia and Greece. They respond to our national and state interest and protect our identity. We will continue to seek a solution and to build friendship, because this time we believe that we are very close,” stressed Sekerinska.

Mickoski: No change of Constitution to change the name (MIA)

VMRO-DPMNE does not accept the Constitution to be amended in order the constitutional name to be changed, said opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski after Saturday’s leaders’ meeting in which PM Zoran Zaev briefed state and party leaders about the name talks. “We were informed about the proposal for the first time today, it will be presented to the party’s bodies before it informs the public,” Mickoski told reporters adding that the whole process was ‘shrouded in secrecy.’ VMRO-DPMNE’s position in view of constitutional changes remains unchanged, he added. “And the proposal presented by Zaev requires the constitution to be changed, i.e. a name for overall use,” Mickoski said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

The EU enters the Balkans as a fast player (Hurriyet Daily News, by Ariana Ferentinou, 21 May 2018)

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rally in Sarajevo—the only one to be held in Europe—ahead of the snap Turkish parliamentary and presidential elections has drawn a lot of attention among local and international media. Yet, the Turkish president also had other business in Sarajevo, which involved holding talks with Bakir Izetbekovic, the Muslim member of the three-member Bosnian Presidential Council. The purpose of the talks were to promote bilateral relations between Turkey and Bosnia in view of the recent developments in the Balkans. Erdoğan has been one of the leaders of the Muslim world who has shown a keen interest in developing his country’s relations with the Balkans, especially countries with a significant Muslim element, like Bosnia and Albania. But, he is not the only one. All of Europe has recently turned its attention to the once war-torn peninsula. Specifically after Romania and Bulgaria’s entry to the EU in 2007, the attention of the EU increasingly focused on the Western Balkans region, a neologism of a term coined to describe the countries of former Yugoslavia except Albania; in other words, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), and Albania. Since then, all these countries have been rushing into speeding up their accession processes to be included in the European club. A cartoon by well-known British cartoonist David Perkins captures this atmosphere beautifully. It shows the tall dark castle of the EU with its gate closed and aged cars around it, each with the insignia of a Balkan country frantically racing and trying to enter first. From that point of view, the summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 17, between the EU and the countries of the Western Balkans, was particularly interesting. It demonstrated how much Brussels sees the Western Balkans as the next area of its trade and economic expansion, as well as a crucial geostrategic region in its future policy plans towards Russia. Brussels seems keen to establish a firm presence in an area where the United States, Russia, China, and Turkey want to become key players as well. There is also an air of urgency to deal with age-old, unresolved bilateral disputes in order to convert this area of turmoil and political instability into an area of peace, trade, economic investment and western military might. Last week’s summit in Sofia brought together the heads of state and government from the EU states and leaders from six Western Balkan partners (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, the FYROM, and Kosovo). The remarks by EU President Donald Tusk indicated the urgency with which the EU sees its involvement in the area. “We reaffirmed our mutual commitment to the European perspective for the whole region … The EU is and will remain the most reliable partner of the entire Western Balkans. And in very concrete terms we discussed how to improve connections with and within the Western Balkans region.” The “concrete terms” were transport links, energy security, digital economy, business climate, and opportunities for youth. A new perception of “connectivity” among the Western Balkan countries was added to deal with common security challenges, which include cooperation in stemming illegal migration flow, and increasing cooperation to counter terrorism and extremism. Also included in the agenda were cooperation in fighting corruption and organized crime.

Tusk was very open on where the Western Balkan countries should look for their future. “I don’t see any other future for the Western Balkans than the EU. There is no other alternative, there is no plan B. The Western Balkans is an integral part of Europe and they belong to our community.” But an interesting “stipulation” of this urgency by the EU and NATO to accept the Western Balkan countries in their camp, is their demand to work fast on finding solutions to their bilateral disputes. Hence, after more than two decades, Greece and the FYROM have been immersed in their first tough pro-solution negotiations in the decades-long dispute over the use of the name “Macedonia” by the small Balkan country, as Greece claims the name can only be used by the Greek geographical district of the same name. Despite strong reactions in Greece, especially from the Greek Orthodox Church, nationalist circles, and opposition parties, the Greek government appears to be behind the belief that a solution to the name-problem would pave the way for further economic and strategic benefits in the region at a time when the Balkans are about to become a land of multiple opportunities. A last note about Bosnia-Herzegovina: While non-EU members of the Western Balkan countries have more or less set their schedule towards their entry into the union, Bosnia appears to be the most difficult case. Relations between its three communities are still problematic and although the country has applied for membership in 2016, it still has a long way to go. However, since 2010, Bosnian citizens can travel to Europe without a visa, something Turkey has not yet achieved.