LOCAL PRESS

Vucic and Thaci on Sunday in a new round of dialogue in Brussels (RTS, Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci are scheduled to meet on Sunday, June 24, at a new round of dialogue in Brussels, Tanjug learned from European diplomatic sources. The European Foreign Service said that the two presidents should discuss above all reaching a comprehensive agreement on the normalization of relations, while the implementation of the already reached agreements will be the second place of the agenda.

The high-level dialogue between Vucic and Thaci was held on March 23 in Brussels. Then, too, a comprehensive agreement was discussed, but the president of Serbia insisted the most on the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO).

Before the meeting of the two presidents, on Friday and Saturday, another round of the technical talks should be held by the delegations of Belgrade and Pristina.

The EU did not want to comment on Monday’s bilateral meeting between the EU and the Pristina delegation. Pristina has so far refused to continue the technical dialogue with Belgrade, conditioning its presence by changing the agenda and the focus “from the Community of Serb Municipalities to all unimplemented agreements, including on energy.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed that he received an invitation to continue dialogue with Pristina and that he will meet with Hashim Thaci on Sunday. The President stressed that there is no talk about the exchange of territories, as suggested by Thaci’s adviser, Rexhep Hoti.

“I received an official invitation and the Delegation of Serbia will definitely go. It will be present in Brussels on Friday, which is for a media less attractive meeting, and on Sunday, I will meet with Hashim Thaci,” Aleksandar Vucic told reporters. He pointed out that Serbia has no preconditions.

“Serbia has never set the conditions for dialogue, and we were always ready for the dialogue, which will begin on Friday. We will see whether it will be extended on Monday, as there was such an idea, because an intergovernmental conference is held on Monday,” he said.

Vucic said that he is neither an optimist nor a pessimist, and that the job of the state delegation was to protect the interests of our people.

To those who say that some other agreements should be respected, Vucic said that they must read the general energy agreement of 2013, which does not speak about what they would like.

“This is a general agreement, even for that agreement, the implementation of the Community of Serb Municipalities is needed. I can read them what they signed and initialed, so they don’t speak nonsense” said Vucic as a message to Albanian politicians from Kosovo.

FM says Serbia is aware of Pristina’s “secret list” (TV Prva, B92)

Ivica Dacic says Serbia is aware of Pristina’s secret document – a list of countries to be pressed to change their negative stance on Kosovo’s independence. Also, Pristina plans to exert pressure on these countries in order to gain membership in certain international organizations, and there is in addition a list of countries in charge of applying that pressure.

Tanjug is citing Srpski Telegraf, which is reporting that countries that should exert pressure have been selected for their influence and closeness with those who need to be “disciplined.” It is stated that Austria, the US, Germany, Italy, France, the UK and others are on the list of those working for Pristina, while their targets are Armenia, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Jamaica, Mexico, Nepal, Slovakia, Tunisia, Zambia and other countries.

Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic confirmed on Tuesday morning for Prva TV that Serbia has known about these plans of Pristina for a long time – “it’s just that the list has now appeared in public.” He said that Pristina, apart from this so-called secret list is also undertaking a whole range of activities together with some Western countries.

“They are organizing meetings to affirm their independence, it is known who is in charge of which country, who speaks with whom,” Dacic said.

Commenting on media reports about Pristina paying lobbyists to lobby for Kosovo’s independence, the foreign minister said that this is not a secret, and that it concerns two lobbying firms: one from France, and the other from the United States.

And when asked about Serbia’s response to such activities, he said that “our answer is visible because more and more countries are withdrawing their recognition of Kosovo, because it is a fortress built on false grounds, a castle neither in the sky nor on the ground.”

Most of these countries face constant pressure and indecent proposals, Dacic added.

Asked if Serbia would hire lobbyists to advances our interests, Dacic said that when his predecessor Vuk Jeremic served as foreign minister, Serbia hired the Podesta lobbying firm – “but that cooperation did not end well because that firm lobbied for the Albanians at the same time.”

“For now, we have not hired anybody, but I think we should and that this should be done because all countries in the world are doing it,” Dacic said.

According to him, the price depends on who is engaged, as well as on who is being lobbied – that is, “real lobbying firms” charge fees that range from 600,000 to 2 million dollars a year.

Hoti stirring up Fascist dreams of a Greater Albania (B92)

The division of Kosovo is not on the agenda, but if it were, it would imply that Kosovo takes Sandzak and a part of south Serbia, said the deputy leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Rexhep Hoti, agencies reported on Monday. He stated that therefore that option was not possible and that the authorities in Pristina had so far on numerous occasions rejected it as a possibility.

In response to Hoti’s statement, the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo warned that every public presentation of pretensions towards other’s territories was a threat to the stability of

the region and directly influenced the deterioration of inter-national relations in Kosovo. It was stated that, with his latest provocation, Hoti was again bringing up the Fascist dreams on the creation of the so called Greater Albania, and also the so called “Green Corridor” on the

Balkans.

“Hoti’s hostile rhetoric rests on a false notion of one’s own strength, as well as on fear because of the fact that throughout the world it is becoming increasingly apparent that the support to Albanian separatists in Kosovo had been a mistake and that their criminal creation, formed on violence and the violation of international law, is unsustainable”, announced this body of the

Serbian government.

The president of the Serbian parliament’s Board for Kosovo Milovan Drecun also responded to Hoti’s statement, underlining that it revealed what the real intentions of the Albanians were.

Kosovo problem should be solved quickly – German ambassador (B92)

Before to joining the EU, Serbia has to solve the problem with Kosovo, and a quick solution would be good for everyone. That is what the ambassador of Germany to Serbia, Axel Dittmann, said. The German ambassador told Cukanovic said that Serbia “should work to normalize relations with Kosovo” and that “both sides should respect the Brussels agreement, but first normalize relations.”

“It is important that Serbia and Kosovo solve problems because we in the EU do not want conflicts between countries. History teaches us that unresolved border issues cause problems and we do not want that, so – it is true that, before membership, the problem with Kosovo must be resolved,” he stressed, and added:

“We’re watching what’s happening and supporting both parties in reaching a solution, but the speed is dictated by the negotiators. The truth is, a quick solution would be best for everyone.”

Asked whether Germany will, along with other countries, be more involved in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Dittmann said that the dialogue is being conducted with EU’s facilitation, and that his country is involved, but let Brussels play its role.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

RS President Dodik and Serbian Minister of Defense Vulin discuss improvement of cooperation in field of defense (TV1)

A Serbian delegation, led by Serbia’s Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin arrived to Banja Luka on Monday. Vulin met with Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik and the two discussed further cooperation of the two countries in projects in the field of military industry. During his meeting with Dodik, Vulin stated that Serbia will invest EUR 7.2 million into the RS military industry. He added that the investment is part of Serbia’s effort to help and strengthen the RS economy. The contract for the overhaul of the combat system of the Army of Serbia that will be conducted by company ‘Kosmos’ from Banja Luka was signed on Monday. Through this contract ‘Kosmos’ will get EUR 2 million, and the contract was signed by representatives of ‘Kosmos’, Serbian company ‘Jugoimport’ and Serbian Ministry of Defense. The signing of the contract was attended by Vulin, Dodik and RS Minister of Industry and Energy Petar Djokic.

Dodik said that there is mutual will for cooperation in this field between the RS and Serbia. He emphasized that the RS officials wish to raise the production in its military industry in the upcoming period, for which they received full support from the Serbian Ministry of Defense. Vulin confirmed that the cooperation of the RS and Serbia in the field of military industry was agreed at  the recent meeting of Dodik with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

Vulin said that ‘Kosmos’ company will receive around RSD 100 million from Serbian Ministry of Defense. “In line with orders from the Supreme Commander of the Army of Serbia and the agreement with the RS President Milorad Dodik, Serbia’s Ministry of Defense has secured RSD 850 million for various needs of the RS defense industry, that is, for the restoration of tank and aircraft engines,” Vulin told reporters.

Komsic: Serbia is ‘arming’ Dodik’s separatist regime (TV1)

DF leader Zeljko Komsic commented Monday’s signing of contract between representatives of ‘Kosmos’ company, Serbian company ‘Jugoimport’ and Serbian Ministry of Defense. The contract represents further cooperation of the RS and Serbia in field of military industry. Komsic said that this represents “arming of Milorad Dodik’s separatist regime by the Serbian Ministry of Defense”. Komsic pointed out that such a contract can only be signed between two countries. “It is unacceptable that the ministry of defense of a neighboring country, that is committed to respecting the Dayton Peace Agreement, agrees on arming Dodik’s separatist regime. The RS has no army, so that poses a question whether the Army of Serbia will once again perform some actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). We know the consequences of those actions in the past – genocide and ethnic cleansing. I call upon the B&H Presidency to swiftly react to this”, said Komsic.

HDZ 1990, HSP B&H and HS sign agreement on joint participation of these parties in upcoming elections (FTV)

Representatives of HDZ 1990, HSP Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and HS signed an agreement for the joint participation of these parties in the upcoming elections. They stated that they will show Croats that they have the possibility of choice and that the Croat bloc will be supporting them, as well as other Croat political parties. President of HDZ1990 Ilija Cvitanovic said that they want to show the Croat people that they have the possibility of choice and that they are not in the business of dividing the people but restoring their faith of the people in the ones that are supposed to represent them. President of HSB&H Bozo Skopljakovic added that Croats can now choose and that their joint agreement named ‘Croat Unity’ will be one solution for B&H and the Croat people. The three parties criticized the ruling parties for causing disappearance of Croats from parts of B&H. One of the goals of the coalition is to stop discrimination against Croats. President of HSPB&H Nikola Raguz stated that he believes that the Croat people have seen how bad the work of HDZ B&H is, and he confidently expects that the coalition will win at all levels in B&H. The names of the candidates of the coalition will be released within the next two weeks. Presenting their coalition and discussing their political program and plan of action has been planned for their next meeting that will take place in Mostar.

SDP Presidency welcomes Venice Commission’s opinion that election of Federation of B&H HoP delegates can be regulated at entity level (Dnevni list)

The SDP Presidency welcomed sending of the Proposal of Law on Constituencies in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the parliamentary procedure, which is endorsed by five political parties: SDP, SDA, SBB B&H, DF, Our Party. SDP Presidency expressed satisfaction that the Venice Commission experts confirmed SDP’s earlier position that the issue of election of delegates to the Federation of B&H House of Peoples can be resolved at the level of entities.

SDS sends proposal of amendments to Law on Excise Duties through urgent procedure (BN TV, TV1)

SDS Caucus in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) House of Representatives (HoR) submitted on Monday the initiative for adoption of amendments to the Law on Excise Duties of B&H in urgent procedure. The amendments would annul the law on increase of excise duties on fuel, which was adopted in December. NDP MP in the B&H HoR Momcilo Novakovic said that he is not sure if these funds are used for someone’s campaign, but it is evident that oil distributors are well-organized every time they have to increase the fuel prices. SDP B&H MP in the B&H HoR Sasa Magazinovic argued that roads are not being constructed although the money is being collected, while prices are constantly increasing. Independent Bloc MP in the B&H HoR Senad Sepic also reminded that there are no new roads, new employments or new values. “Therefore, the excise duties that were adopted in such way six months ago should be annulled,” he stressed. The B&H HoR is expected to convene on Wednesday. TV1 reported that this SDS’ initiative is currently supported by SDP B&H, Independent bloc and DF. The opinions on this matter will be given by SDA and SBB B&H on Tuesday. HDZ B&H MPs stated that they supported the current Law and have no intention on voting for SDS’ proposal.

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik said on Monday that SDS is creating obstructions in B&H again, because without excise duties, the highways will not be constructed.

SDS leader Vukota Govedarica responded to Dodik, saying that he is surprised that Dodik calls this move “an obstruction”, when it is only aimed at protecting the interests of the citizens, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the fuel prices.

The increase of fuel prices in B&H over the past weeks happened due to significant increase in global oil prices in 2018 and had nothing to do with the fuel excise duties that increased in February this year, the European Union Delegation (EUD) to B&H stated on Monday.

Croatia

EU remains neutral in Croatia-Slovenia arbitration dispute (Hina)

European Commission spokesman Margiritis Schinas said on Monday that the Commission had decided to stay out of the Slovenia-Croatia arbitration conflict and not to give its opinion on Slovenia’s claim that Croatia violated the European Union law, urging the two neighboring countries to find together a solution to their border dispute in a friendly manner.

“The Commission will continue to act as an honest arbiter in finding an amicable solution, and we stand with a view that the solution should be found in talks between the two member states” Schinas said.

Slovenia has said it will file the lawsuit independently before the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. Slovenia’s Prime Minister Miro Cerar said on Monday that the case against Croatia would be filed in July.

Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic said on Monday that the European Commission’s decision to stay out of the Slovenia-Croatia arbitration conflict was expected.

“We expected a decision like that. It is along the lines of what we have been talking about. This is a bilateral issue and our proposal, after Slovenia compromised the arbitration procedure, was to once again approach it in bilateral talks,” Jandrokoviv said in an interview with the Hrvatski Radio national radio broadcaster. I think that this is a very clear message to the Slovenian side that the solution to the border dispute needs to be found through bilateral talks, Jandrokovic said.

US Assistant Secretary of State to visit Croatia (Hina)

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs A. Wess Mitchell, who is visiting Europe this week, will arrive in Zagreb on Tuesday to discuss with senior Croatian officials the situation in Croatia and the region as well as Croatia’s contribution to regional stability and energy security, according to a press release from the State Department.

After Zagreb, the US official travels to Prague, to participate in the U.S.-Czech Republic Strategic Dialogue, meet with Czech officials, and deliver a speech co-hosted by the Prague European Summit and GLOBSEC.

On June 21-22, Assistant Secretary Mitchell will visit Brussels, Belgium. There he will meet with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. He will also discuss areas of U.S.-European cooperation with EU officials, and he will give a speech at Carnegie Europe, says the press release. Mitchell is visiting Bucharest, Romania, on Monday, to meet with senior officials and independent analysts and discuss with them regional security and economic cooperation.

fYROM

Macedonia in EU remains fYROM: spokesperson (MIA)

Until the name agreement between Greece and Macedonia is fully implemented, the European Union will continue to call the country with its temporary name, said a spokeswoman.

The agreement is reached, but several steps remain to be taken in order to be completed, in official communication we will continue to call the country Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as it was the case in all of our statements so far,” stated Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman of the European Commission.

Berlin urges all sides to support Athens-Skopje agreement (MIA)

Berlin welcomes the agreement between Athens and Skopje for resolving the name dispute, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday. He also urged the political forces in both countries to support the deal and expressed concern over the protests taking place in Skopje.

“We were very pleased to see that the two foreign ministers signed the agreement yesterday. We expressly welcome this and it allows some optimism. At the same time, it is a source of concern that there are references and even violent demonstrations in Skopje opposed to the agreement,” Seibert said.

From the point of view of the German government, he added, the agreement constituted “major progress for both sides”.

“This agreement can remove obstacles to the cross-border development of trade and infrastructure, it will contribute to regional stability. We are convinced that, if there are parties that shortsightedly insist on nationalist positions, they are harming the agreement and many people in the region, who hope for stability and economic prosperity. The two heads of government made possible this truly significant compromise, which can end a dispute that has lasted for decades. The German government appeals with emphasis to all sides, to all the political forces in both countries, to support this compromise solution,” he said.

FM Dimitrov: EU’s political focus on region shouldn’t be sidelined (MIA)

The political focus of the European Union on our region should not be sidelined having in mind that it is surrounded by EU member states, Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said Monday in Sofia.

“This is a region which, geographically speaking, is not on the sidelines of the EU, it is an island surrounded by EU member states. This, itself, is a sufficient argument that the political focus of the EU on the region shouldn’t be sidelined… And we don’t have the luxury this attention not to be taken seriously,” Minister Dimitrov said, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As a special guest, Dimitrov addressed the session “Integration and connectivity of the Western Balkans – a new impetus to EU Enlargement Policy” of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) as part of Bulgaria’s EU Presidency. He thanked Bulgaria’s Presidency for its ‘generous support and shining a light on the region.’

The Minister presented the historic steps Macedonia had been taking in an effort to close outstanding issues with its neighbors and to implement domestic reforms, stated the press release.

As part of the conference, FM Dimitrov held several bilateral meetings and brief talks with parliamentarians from several EU countries, including his host Kristian Vigenin and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.

In the meetings, Dimitrov informed his interlocutors about the progress in bilateral relations with Greece and upcoming steps and challenges. He sought assistance from the European partners in opening the European path for Macedonia, considered of vital importance in implementing the name deal with Greece, said the press release.

“A positive decision from the EU at the same time will fully recognize the reform results at home,” state the Minister. Furthermore, the statement added that the interlocutors congratulated FM Dimitrov on displaying leadership, sincere political will and courage in the process of reaching a mutually acceptable solution between Macedonia and Greece.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Slovenia to sue fellow EU member Croatia over border ruling (Reuters)

Slovenia will take neighboring Croatia to court because Zagreb is unwilling to implement an international arbitration ruling on the border between the two European Union members, Prime Minister Miro Cerar said on Monday. The case against Croatia will be filed at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in July, he said. Slovenia and Croatia both declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 but have so far failed to agree on parts of their common sea and land border.

“The government will on Thursday confirm the decision to file the suit … I expect the suit will be filed by the middle of July,” Cerar told a news conference.

A year ago, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled that Slovenia should have “uninterrupted access” to the international waters in the Adriatic Sea.

The dispute has chiefly affected fishermen from both countries who are being fined by the other state for illegally crossing the border. The Hague court’s ruling is final and binding but Zagreb has said it is not valid because Croatia withdrew from the arbitration process in 2015. This followed the leaking of a recording in which a Slovenian judge on the panel improperly exchanged confidential information with the Ljubljana government. The judge resigned and the court continued with the case, saying the incident had not compromised its ability to reach a verdict.

Slovenia asked the European Commission in March to issue its opinion on the matter but earlier on Monday Brussels said it would not do so.

“I am very worried about the silence of the Commission … I believe politics prevailed over the law in this case,” said Cerar, adding the rule of law is “one of the fundamentals of the European Union”.

Croatia believes the dispute should be solved in bilateral talks although the two countries turned to arbitration in 2009 after failing to resolve the matter themselves in almost two decades.

The dispute has prompted a change in the EU’s expansion strategy, which was released in February and states that countries will no longer be able to join the bloc before resolving their border issues.

Another former Yugoslav republic, Macedonia, signed a deal with neighboring Greece on Sunday to settle a long-running dispute over its name. The agreement paves the way for the country’s possible admission to the EU and NATO.