LOCAL PRESS
Vucic: Kosovo to get full independence, sovereignty in the future (Pink TV, Beta)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on May 5 that Kosovo would enjoy full independence and sovereignty in the entire territory in the future. Vucic said in an interview with Pink TV that this would be the consequence of refusing his solution, but did not specify what he had offered, and to whom. “What I offered was impossible to accept, because of extreme pressure from certain states and their intelligence agencies, who mobilized entire networks, political, media, and others” Vucic said in the interview. The president confirmed that he had never publicized his plans, but that the question to his opponents was why they were attacking him then.
Vucic said that those criticizing him first said they never heard a single solution from him, but they attacked him nevertheless. “Do you see the level of hypocrisy? You say you never heard what the offer was about, and I agree, but why did you attack it. That’s why you took my head off, metaphorically speaking, without knowing what’s it about, yet now when I say that it was rejected – you say that you never heard of it” Vucic pointed out, asking why was he attacked when no one wanted to hear him out.
He added an internal dialogue was organized, but part of the opposition never proposed their solutions to the Kosovo issue. “Part of the opposition had never offered its own strategy for Kosovo. I am asking you now, what the solution can be, except that Kosovo, not because I want it to, or because I am recognizing it, will enjoy independence and sovereignty throughout the entire territory in the future” Vucic said.
The Serbian president said on May 3 that his idea of demarcation was refused because “our people, and most of the world, thought differently.” The position, as he put it, “will cost Serbia dearly in 20, 30 or 50 years, when it is considered” Vucic said. “I know that demarcation is not going to happen because no one save a few brave, rational people, who understood Serbian interests, would accept it. I do not support an independent Kosovo within the borders that have been recognized by (the president of the European Movement of Serbs in Kosovo) Rada Trajkovic or Angela Merkel, but my ideas have failed, because our people and most of the world thought differently” Vucic said to reporters. At the same time, in an article that he wrote for the Kurir, President Vucic wrote that the problem of Kosovo could not have been resolved without Europe, and that “some opportunities should not be missed, and Berlin was certainly one of them.” “Not all of the Balkans understand that though…(Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush) Haradinaj and (Kosovo President Hashim) Thaci underestimated Europe, Merkel, and Macron” Vucic wrote.
Zivkovic: Vucic’s argument that citizens refused demarcation a bid to evade responsibility (Beta)
The New Party leader, Zoran Zivkovic, described Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s statement that the citizens of Serbia would have a high price to pay for refusing his idea of demarcation between Serbia and Kosovo as “unworthy of a man”. “His words were undignified. He keeps saying there is a good solution for Kosovo but has never said what that is” Zivkovic said, adding that that was how Vucic was trying to escape personal responsibility. Zivkovic accused Vucic of shifting responsibility to the citizens of Serbia, “while at the same time creating a coalition with war criminals and profiteers in Pristina.”
Jovanovic: Western forces rejected demarcation in Kosovo, not citizens (Beta)
President of the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia Milos Jovanovic said that the idea of demarcation with the Kosovo Albanians had fallen through not because it had been rejected by Serbian citizens, as President Aleksandar Vucic claimed, but rather because it had been rejected by certain Western forces and the Albanians themselves. Had they been asked, the citizens of Serbia would have rejected the idea, too, said Jovanovic, recalling that demarcation was contrary to the Serbian Constitution and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244. Jovanovic said that the idea was “contrary to the vital interests of Serbia, because accepting the secession of Kosovo with a minimal correction of the administrative line, would open the way for the further geopolitical destabilization of the country and would irreversibly jeopardize its future.”
Jeremic: Vucic is shifting responsibility for Kosovo to the citizens of Serbia (Nova S)
People’s Party leader Vuk Jeremic said that the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated that “his idea of a demarcation in Kosovo has failed, because the people thought differently” has put a heavy blow on Belgrade’s negotiating capacity and has sent a message that the Kosovo side will get everything which was demanded in the declaration of the Pristina Parliament.
“I ask Vucic whether he is at least a little bit embarrassed to blame the people for a defeat of historical proportions.” Vucic relativizes his responsibility in a completely bizarre manner. There is no longer any reason for the Kosovo side, at least while Vucic is in power, to goes even inch below what he said they will get. This is not something you do in the international negotiations” Jeremic.
Jeremic recalled that Vucic was a member of the Serbian government as the minister of information in 1999, when “the heaviest blow to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia was inflicted, when the bombs were falling and the Serbian army had to withdraw from the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.” “Later, after 2012, when Vucic was alpha and omega of the negotiation process, this process was completely unnecessarily erected from a technical to a high political level. Now, Pristina only needs a chair in the UN, everything else was handed over, while in return nothing was gained, except the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which is a dead letter on paper” Jeremic said.
Jeremic said that the opinion of the International Court of Justice did not confirmed Kosovo’s independence, because that court said that the status of Kosovo must be decided by the UN Security Council, this is where Russia and China have veto power. “Because of the position of Russia and China, Belgrade obtained a strong ticket as a result of this opinion of the court. The court said that Pristina did not violate international law with the declaration of independence, and then explained that international law does not know the act of secession” Jeremic said. Jeremic pointed out that the International Court of Justice gave the Security Council the right to decide on the status of the issue.
Opposition protesters say want to know what Vucic’s plan for Kosovo is (Beta)
Participants in the “One of the Five Million” protests asked Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on to explain what his plan for Kosovo was. Anti-government activist actor Branislav Lecic said he wanted to hear Vucic say what were the consequences that Serbia was supposed to suffer for, as president Vucic put it, the citizens not wanting to support his demarcation plan for Kosovo. “What is your plan for Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic, what kind of demarcation are you talking about? The people need to know that which concerns them, which could shape their destiny. With whom did you divide Kosovo? The ‘consequences will be terrible,’ you say. Does that mean that in ten or 20 years we will suffer consequences for refusing your nonexistent plan? What consequences, Aleksandar Vucic? Tell us, we want to know!” Lecic said in his speech at the Terazije square in Belgrade.
Dacic: Agreement with Pristina possible by the end of the year (Tanjug)
Conclusion of the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina by the end of the year could be possible, but only if Pristina would show a will for a compromise, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said for Russian Vesti. “If they want a compromise, we are ready to talk” Dacic said. When asked if he was considering the territory exchange scenario, he said that this was one of the scenarios, but “it did not happen, because Kosovo imposed tariffs on the commodities from Serbia, and Serbia afterwards stopped the dialogue”. Dacic also said that there was a foreign influence on the opposition protests in Serbia by those who would like to present the political situation in Serbia as unstable, but they would not succeed in that. “It is very interesting that in the countries of the region that were following advices from the West, protests never happen, and at places where the leaders are protecting national interests, there is unrest” Dacic noticed. “But they cannot destabilize the situation. They only have the opportunity to cause incidents and create an image of instability” Dacic said.
Dacic: Pristina resolution without effect, they are just playing a bit (FoNet)
For the first time in history the terrorists who expelled one nation accuse the state of genocide, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has said on Monday, commenting the news on Pristina’s resolution demanding Belgrade to “recognize a genocide” the FoNet news agency has reported.
According to him, Pristina’s leaders “lost a compass” since their moves no one in the world could understand any more, adding “the Serbs were expelled from Kosovo, not the Albanians.”
“It’s obvious that Pristina’s madness never ends” Dacic said. “It seems the Albanian leaders are panicking due to political defeats everywhere and because the Special Court for their war crimes was formed. They don’t know what they are doing.” He added that “anyway, this so-called resolution will have no effects. They are just playing a bit.”
Mogerini remains the only mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina (Vecernje Novosti)
Federica Mogerini remains the only mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, a spokesperson for the EU foreign policy chief has said. Speaking for Vecernje Novosti, Maja Kocijancic made the comment after it has been hinted that Germany, and France, in particular, could assume an active role in the process. Kocijancic said that “any engagement in support of the EU-facilitated dialogue, including a possible new meeting, is welcomed,” and emphasized that Mogherini was “carrying out her mission.”
“Our contacts are continuing. For example, the high representative Mogherini will participate in a Brdo-Brijuni meeting in Tirana on May 8-9, and she is ready to convene the dialogue once again. It is also clear that the Kosovo government should abolish tariffs (on goods from central Serbia) to enable for a quick renewal of the dialogue” Kocijancic is quoted as saying.
Referring to the meeting held in Berlin last week, Kocijancic stressed that this gathering provided an opportunity for an informal exchange of views that was “open and frank.”
“The meeting also gave an important signal for the involvement of the two (EU) member states, Germany and France, along with others, to continue to, with more commitment, support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina” she said.
Opposition’s Free Zone tent near Serbian presidency building (Beta)
Opposition activists and participants of the One of the Five Million protests on May 4 formed a so-called Free Zone, by setting up one tent in the park near the Serbian Presidency building, and announced that they would read out “free news” every evening. Before that, the demonstrators gathered in downtown Belgrade, listened to the usual speakers and marched in protest against the authorities. So-called free news on the state of the Serbian media were read out in front of the Presidency building, from a truck with a sound system, and certain statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other senior officials were commented on, too. A sound system has also been set up outside the tent, along with the slogan It Has Begun. A large portion of the park near the tent was soaked with water from sprinklers which had been working non-stop. The organizers said that various programs would be held in the “free zone” every day from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. MPs and other public figures will talk with citizens. “This is the free zone for the liberation of Serbia” said Jugoslav Kiprijanovic, an official of the Dveri movement. The movement’s leader, Bosko Obradovic, announced on May 5 that after Belgrade, “free zones” would be formed throughout Serbia. He called that “a new development aspect” of the opposition protests. The reason for the “free zones” is that, according to Obradovic, the institutions and media in Serbia are currently “being held captive.”
Vucic: Free Zone is unimportant, I have no problem with that form of protest (Pink TV)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the opening of an opposition “free zone” near the Serbian Presidency building was not particularly important and that he had no problem with that protest. “I have no problem with that, I pass by, wave at people – good day, goodbye, I wish you all the best, and that is it,” Vucic told Pink TV. He said he had not heard any opposition program yet. “What matters in politics is what you are going to offer people, a plan, a program, that is what I have neither seen nor heard from them,” said Vucic, adding that he would offer citizens jobs, highways, salaries, and pensions. In his previous statement, on May 3, Vucic said the parliament was the only place for a conversation with the opposition, and that he had never even heard that anyone from the opposition wanted a dialogue with him. “Me organizing party – party meetings, I am not interested. I do not want to cooperate with those who robbed the country, but talks can be held within parliamentary caucuses” said Vucic. He stressed that no one could get him to talk with someone if he did not want to.
Dacic: KLA leaders now want to put somebody else on trial (Vecernje Novosti, Tanjug)
Ivica Dacic says he doesn’t believe an initiative to establish a court for crimes allegedly committed by Serbs in Kosovo will receive international support. The foreign minister and first deputy PM said that Pristina’s announcements on the initiative to form such a tribunal is viewed in light of the attempts to find a balance with the work of a specialist court dealing with the “Kosovo Liberation Army” (KLA). The KLA is a former armed formation of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, considered by Serbia to be a terrorist organization.
Dacic spoke for the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti after president of the Kosovo Assembly Kadri Veseli, a former KLA member, announced that the initiative would soon be before the Assembly. “It is difficult for me to even imagine that anybody from the international community would support the establishment of a tribunal in Kosovo that would be controlled by former KLA leaders, now dressed in politicians’ suits, and who could easily find themselves before the specialist court for KLA crimes” said is Dacic. The minister added that he did not know why an international tribunal for the alleged crimes of Serbs in Kosovo would be established when this job was already in the hands of The Hague Tribunal. “Therefore, I think that the sole aim of such announcements is to calm the Kosovo public at a time when more and more invitations for KLA leaders to appear before the specialist court should be expected” Dacic concluded.
Serbian PM attends ceremony at Croatian WW2 death camp site (RTS)
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Sunday attended the marking of the Day of Remembrance for the victims of Ustasha crimes in Donja Gradina. According to the Serbian government, Brnabic said that we must insist on the truth about Jasenovac every day, just as we insist on the truth about Auschwitz.
“The presence of all of us here, from year to year, forever, is our duty, our responsibility, our pledge for the future in which we will know that we value life and freedom, love for the homeland, but also love and respect for another human being, regardless of religion, nation, belief, or all of our differences” Brnabic said. Our presence here is a necessity and a confirmation that we will never forget the difficult, unimaginably horrible times that our people lived through and survived, the Prime Minister added. According to Brnabic, Serbs, Jews, Roma – innocent people, women, children and old people were killed at this place. They were murdered mercilessly and cruelly, without any indication of humanity, in the name of fanatical ideas, insane and unreasonable hatred, she pointed out and repeated that we would not allow the crime to be forgotten. Jasenovac is the symbol for crimes in the whole territory of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), she repeated. Every day we must insist on the truth about Jasenovac, just as we insist on the truth about Auschwitz. As the world knows about Dachau or Mathauzen, it must also know about Ciglana, the Old Fairgrounds or Jadovno, Brnabic said.
In order for this not to repeat, in order to correct mistakes from the past and to leave to the coming generations a clear memory of the inviolability that happened here during the Second World War, we will make much more efforts to nourish the memory of the victims in Jasenovac, to protect them stronger and more decisively from oblivion and to show our respect for them and everything they represented, which we need to present today, the Prime Minister pointed out.
Therefore, we will invest significant funds in the reconstruction and construction of the Memorial Center of Donja Gradina for the personal commitment of the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and this will be only the beginning of the renewal of memory and respect, Brnabic announced.
Regional News
Chairman Dodik: Belgrade-Pristina relations and manner in which that will be solved is matter of sovereignty of Serbia (RTRS)
Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated that the Belgrade-Pristina relations and the manner in which that will be solved is a matter of sovereignty and integrity of the state of Serbia. Commenting on different interpretations of the recent Western Balkans summit in Berlin, Dodik said that officials from Republika Srpska (RS) will do everything to prevent threats to the position of Serbia and to make sure that B&H respects territorial integrity of Serbia, by not recognizing Kosovo as independent state. Dodik called on international stakeholders not to apply double standards in “such a small region”, assessing that it is not a good practice that something applies to Kosovo, but cannot apply to the RS. “In recent days, it is possible to hear different statements on the issue of demarcation in the region and inviolability of borders. Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers in technical mandate Denis Zvizdic was loudest in that, when he went to Berlin to present personal views without consulting the authority that he leads” the B&H Presidency Chairman underscored. The Presidency Chairman went on to say that Zvizdic insisted that demarcation in the Balkans is complete, due to his fear that the issue of Kosovo could directly reflect itself on B&H. “However, he (Zvizdic) was not specific about whether he meant that demarcation was carried out with Kosovo within Serbia or outside of it” Dodik added. He stressed that the RS authorities want the RS to regain “its status stemming from the Dayton Peace Accords”.
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs says Serbia advocates military neutrality, B&H will never become NATO member state (FTV)
Commenting on the enlargement of the Western Balkan area in the NATO, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic told that Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) will never become a NATO member state, because this is impossible without the consent of Republika Srpska (RS). Dacic emphasized that the fact that NATO member states are surrounding Serbia will not change the position of B&H or the position of Serbs. He said that Serbia wants concrete relations with the NATO, especially because of the NATO mission in Kosovo, but Serbia will not join the alliance bearing in mind previously-negative experience that Serbs have. According to Dacic, Serbia will never accept an agreement that envisages recognition of Kosovo. In his opinion, an agreement is maybe possible by the end of the year if Pristina shows a wish for compromise.
PDP: Minister Pendes set to submit first Annual National Program with Chairman Dodik’s consent (N1)
PDP stated on Saturday that SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic’s statement, in which he said that he and his partners SNSD and HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) have found a way to activate the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) and form the future Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H, will be confirmed as early as next week. According to PDP, B&H Minister of Defense Marina Pendes is set to submit the first Annual National Program (ANP) for NATO, which would enable moving towards activation of the MAP of B&H. PDP Spokesperson Anja Petrovic underlined that this will be done with the consent and approval from Chairman of the B&H Presidency and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik. According to Petrovic, PDP believes that Dodik is now falsely accusing the opposition of advocating NATO integration, although all documents related to NATO were signed by SNSD officials.
Spokesperson for SNSD Radovan Kovacevic said that neither SNSD nor its leader Milorad Dodik will accept activation of NATO MAP for B&H. Kovacevic went on to say that any unilateral action concerning B&H’s Annual National Program (ANP) will lead to destabilization of B&H. Kovacevic underlined that Dodik informed President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan about this during his recent visit to Turkey.
Croatia
President: It is devastating that Serbia allows radicals’ assembly in Hrtkovci (Hina)
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic stated that it is devastating that the Serbian authorities allow persecutors of the Vojvodina Croats to gather again in 2019 in the town of Hrtkovci after they conducted expulsions of local Croats in early May in 1992.
“It is devastating that in 2019 the Serbian authorities allow the gathering of those same persons in Hrtkovci, the byword for the suffering of the Croats in Vojvodina” the president said on Saturday afternoon in her comment in reference to the Hrtkovci convention of the Serb Radical Party (SRS) which on Saturday re-elected its leader, Vojislav Seselj, whom the Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) in The Hague sentenced to 10 years in jail for expulsions and deportations of the Croats from Vojvodina and Serbia.
The SRS held its convention in Hrtkovci today (May 4) and on May 6, 27 years ago leaders and supporters of that party held a rally in that Vojvodina village at which Seselj read out the names of “undesirable” local Croats. In the following days, about 700 residents left the village due to pressure and threats.
There were no official reactions from Serbian authorities to demands that today’s SRS gathering be banned.
The SRS leader and ICTY convict Seselj said during his party’s meeting in Hrtkovci that the Radicals’ ideology remained unchanged, and he persisted in denying persecution of Croats from Hrtkovci. He also demanded that Serbia should introduce a penalty of life imprisonment for all those who say that war atrocities in Srebrenica amount to genocide. Seselj said Croats were not deported but that they willingly left after they swapped their properties. “I did not commit a crime and I will prove it. All Croats who left Hrtkovci had swapped their property and that is not deportation, especially not a war crime” said Seselj.
Last year, the Appeals Chamber of the MICT, the successor to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), sentenced Seselj to ten years’ imprisonment for crimes against humanity over the inflammatory speech in Hrtkovci which it found resulted in the deportation, persecution, displacement and other inhumane acts against Vojvodina Croats. When that final ruling was handed down, Seselj did not have to go to jail because the time he spent in detention in The Hague was credited to the sentence.
Montenegro
It’s important to keep the U.S. attention on the region, says Djukanovic (TMN)
At the Sedona Forum in Arizona, Montenegro’s President Milo Djukanovic touched on the historical role the United States of America had played on the Western Balkans in the 1990s and emphasized the importance of holding the U.S. attention on the region, along with the European Union’s. He also pointed out to growing challenges referring to the Euro-Atlantic Partnership nowadays, as well as to its (Euro-Atlantism) importance for the USA, Europe and the whole world. In this context, President Djukanovic called for all the countries to be decisive in defending the Euro-Atlantic system of values.
Djukanovic was a speaker on the panel named ‘Why is the American Leadership (Still) Important?’ while the former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake had the introductory speech at the same panel. Beside President Djukanovic, the panelists were John C. Rood, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy within the Department for Defense and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island. Ex-senator Kelly Ayotte from New Hampshire moderated the panel discussion.
After the discussion, President Djukanović awarded a posthumous Montenegrin star medal of the first degree to the wife of Sen. John McCain, Cindy, for his extraordinary contribution to the Montenegrin independence and achieving the key foreign policy priorities of our country, i.e. NATO membership.
President Djukanovic, inter alia, reminded of the words of Sen. McCain who had said the Montenegrin independence referendum was maybe the most significant democratic project in Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. “He encouraged us to be a role model for the countries of the region and to keep promoting the ideals of Western civilization, as well as the transatlantic values” said President Djukanovic. Ms. McCain thanked President Djukanovic for remembering Sen. McCain and stressed the fact that he used to be a great friend and supporter of Montenegro and its citizens.
Republic of North Macedonia
SDSM and DUI declare victory with Pendarovski (Nezavisen vesnik)
Stevo Pendarovski declares victory in the second round of the sixth presidential elections in the country. He is expected to take office soon after the State Election Commission announces the final results of Sunday’s vote, after which an inaugural session in should be scheduled in the Parliament. In his second attempt, after losing to outgoing President Gjorge Ivanov in 2014, Pendarovski secured victory as a candidate of the ruling coalition, led by SDSM and DUI. In the decision-making circle, opposition candidate VMRO-DPMNE Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova lagged behind Pendarovski significantly, compared to the first round on May 21, when the difference between them was reduced to just over four thousand (322,581 to 318,341 votes), while the third candidate Blerim Reka won nearly 80 thousand votes.
By 18.30, a turnout of 44.55 percent was registered as opposed to about 42 percent by the end of the Election Day on April 21. Thus, the condition for these elections to be successful has been fulfilled, although they have passed into the smallest mobilization of the electorate so far, and therefore in great uncertainty as to whether the census will be achieved.
SDSM’s first assessment was that the elections were successful, free, fair and democratic, with a reached turnout threshold. “North Macedonia organized crystal clear, fair and democratic elections, which is appropriate for a European, modern and democratic country” SDSM Secretary General Aleksandar Kiracovski told a news conference Sunday evening. After the announcement of the initial results, party supporters began to gather outside the SDSM headquarters. Even the leader of DUI Ali Ahmeti came to the headquarters on Bihac Street, as Pendarovski was promoted as a consensual candidate for the presidential elections.
The election results also showed that the opposition actively participated in the second round, contrary to the demands for a quiet boycott of VMRO-DPMNE’s membership. However, during the day, VMRO-DPMNE received reports of irregularities and allegations that the police were being abused for election purposes.
VMRO-DPMNE’s Secretary General Igor Janushev again suspected electoral engineering and said that “anything other than victory cast a shadow on the election process and raises doubts about a likely electoral engineering and election fraud”. ”We are leading in many municipalities. The people demand justice. The government has been dethroned, “Janushev said. Janushev said that irregularities had been recorded across the country, including family voting, ballot stuffing, voters’ intimidation, etc.
SEC President Oliver Derkoski, meanwhile, before closing the ballot boxes assessed that the elections went well held in a peaceful and dignified atmosphere with no major irregularities.
“Sunday’s elections were held in a peaceful and dignified atmosphere, no major irregularities were reported,” Derkoski said.
Petar Bogoevski from the reform wing of VMRO-DPMNE, after the news that the needed turnout threshold has been reached, announced that the country has avoided political crisis, which posed a great threat to the statehood. “A political crisis has been avoided, which threatened our statehood, the president has been elected and that is the most important thing! Which of the two candidates will be official is only folklore… Congratulations to all the citizens who showed political maturity and statehood capacity” said Bogoevski.
Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi congratulated citizens on the reached turnout threshold, noting that they understood the message of the importance of voting for the country. According to him, it is not the right time for early general elections, and getting a date for accession negotiations is most important. “I expect from the new president to fulfill his constitutional obligations, regardless of personal perception,” Xhaferi told Sitel.
Kriva Palanka yesterday, according to the data from the voting until 18.30, retained the first position according to the turnout of the citizens. 70.49 percent went to the polling stations in Kriva Palanka, while the turnout in Gevgelija was 66.17 percent, Bitola – 53.26, Vevcani – 65.23, Demir Hisar – 67.12, Dojran – 65.2 percent, Kavadarci 61 , 15, Karposh 55,91, Krusevo 66,97, Makedonski Brod 66,87 percent, etc. The lowest turnout is in the municipality of Zelino – 15,42 percent, while low turnout was recorded also in Centar Zupa – 17,43 percent, Gostivar, Lipkovo and Tearce with about 23 percent, followed by Shuto Orizari with 26.91 and Arachinovo with 30.65 percent.
The preliminary results arriving at the SEC showed Pendarovski in the lead – at the beginning of two to one, and at times the difference was three to one. Mainly it was about results from municipalities of mixed ethnic population, and then the difference began to decrease when the votes from the East of the country started arriving. However, Pendarovski completed the decisive round with more than 51 percent.
This time again, as in the first round, the lowest turnout was registered in the municipalities with mixed ethnic population, especially where the majority belongs to the Albanian ethnic community. It is interesting that in several municipalities, such as Tetovo and Gostivar, where the Albanian candidate Reka was in the lead in the first round, there was now a slightly lower turnout than on April 21. Therefore, in the municipalities where Pendarovski was in the lead, such as Chair or Saraj, turnout this time was clearly higher, which may be indicative of greater mobilization of the DUI electorate, as opposed to the opposition voters from the Albanian bloc, which remained neutral before the second round.
Siljanovska accepts defeat, says it was the result of deep ethnic and political divisions (Republika)
Siljanovska accepts defeat, says it was the result of deep ethnic and political divisions
VMRO-DPMNE candidate Gordana Siljanovska – Davkova conceded defeat in the second round of presidential elections against Stevo Pendarovski, the candidate of the ruling SDSM – DUI coalition. In her concession remarks, Siljanovska decried the deep ethnic and political division in Macedonia, after ethnic Albanians voted nearly unanimously for Stevo Pendarovski, overturning her comfortable winning margin among ethnic Macedonians.
To win nearly 370.000 votes, to win nearly 50.000 additional votes from the first round, coming from different groups of voters, that is truly a great inspiration for me. I know that the candidate of the Government won, but I don’t feel that I as an individual, or as a VMRO-DPMNE candidate lost the battle, Siljanovska said.
Siljanovska pointed out to the deep cleavage revealed at the elections, when she carried most Macedonian municipalities, somewhere narrowly, somewhere with double digits. But at the same time, village after village in the ethnic Albanian districts delivered completely one-sided results such as 2.000 – 15, 1.500 – 22, 4.300 – 57, all in favor of Pendarovski.
It is a valid question whether this leads toward reconciliation and unity, or whether it signifies deep division inside the country, on several bases, of ethnic partition and whether the slogan “go forward together” truly means what it says, Siljanovska said, referring to the motto of the Pendarovski campaign.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
President Djukanovic: Europe must stimulate the Balkans (VOA)
The European Union, EU, can and must stimulate the Western Balkans again because other countries won’t wait and do nothing, President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, told in an interview with the Voice of America (VOA). Mr Djukanovic doesn’t think there’s a threat of new violence in the Balkans, but warns that, having in mind the history of the region, the integration process must be prevented from going downwards. He believes that it is necessary for Belgrade and Pristina to continue with the dialogue, and believes in the consensus of the international community referring to the final solution of tense relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
VOA: You took part at the Berlin Summit ahead of your visit to the United States. After certain progress in the Balkans has been achieved, it seems to be regressing again. Negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo are halted, the views of the leaders of the two countries are too different, the governing coalition in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains dysfunctional, North Macedonia still hasn’t got a date for negotiations despite the name dispute being settled. Does the Balkans go one step ahead and two back?
Djukanovic: We can certainly agree this is not the golden stage of the policy of the Euro-Atlantic integration in the Western Balkans. Let us recall that, unfortunately, we took this road later than other countries of Central and Eastern Europe due to the war crisis in the former Yugoslavia. Then we had a period of stressed euro enthusiasm in the region, and I would say the EU’s attention of a better quality. Now, I think, we are at the stage when the enlargement policy and the Western Balkan integrations are not the topmost priority thanks to the various crises Europe has been passing through and the fact the European parliamentary elections will be held this year. On the other hand, it is obvious that the problems we have carried over from the nineties still exist. We have managed to solve the relations between North Macedonia and Greece, but there are two other issues – relations between Serbia and Kosovo and the functionality of B&H. And the third factor we should pay attention to is the fact that these two first circumstances in a way encouraged other countries, or as we like to call them ‘the third parties’, to take part in creating the future of the Balkans from standpoints which are neither Europe’s nor NATO’s. Therefore, we are talking about platforms that oppose the system of values cherished by the European Union and NATO. These are the facts.
Is it right to make a conclusion that you have taken while asking this question, well, I would not be so pessimistic. Given my experience and the outcomes of the Berlin Summit, my overall impression is that there are still chances for the European integration, i.e. for fostering stability and better future in the region. There’s still a possibility to reach the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, which would resolve the second issue from the agenda, so that the Balkans and Europe can focus on improving the functionality of B&H. I still believe in the European perspective of the Balkans. I think the EU integration is the only way for bringing greater stability, i.e. faster democratic and economic prosperity of the region.
VOA: And the third parties are…?
Djukanovic: First, there’s an obvious and huge political influence of Russia. We felt it in our own case in October 2016. And one should note that there are other countries in the Western Balkans as well. We see that China has great impact not only in Central and Eastern Europe, but also in whole Europe. I don’t want to condemn it. On the contrary, we all should see a completely new reality – that China is economically evolving and that it shows its interest to be internationally present and globally important. We can also notice some other countries in the region, e.g. Turkey and Iran, which is also present in a certain sense especially when we analyze some relations that exist between the Balkans and that part of the world.
The halting of the process of European integration and further implementation of the European values in the WB other countries don’t just watch by doing nothing, and we cannot be angry about that as they themselves want to promote their policies, not only in their countries but worldwide. These all are some additional challenges to the WB and EU as well.
There’s no doubt that every part of Europe, including the WB, would have to be in the zone of EU’s primary responsibility while the EU must be much more active in creating the conditions for the Balkans to rapidly respond to those challenges, adopt standards, adopt European system of values and become a member of the united Europe. I’m not talking about dates. I agree that every Balkan country should become the EU member state if it first meets all the necessary requirements for that, but I remind of the fact we can do a lot meanwhile. For example, why should we construct the infrastructure in the region with the non-European funds? Why shouldn’t Europe show its competitiveness and primary responsibility for the development of this European region as well?
VOA: Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said divisions within the EU and between the European countries and the United States have boosted the risk of ethnic conflicts in the Balkans. Does this mean there’s a possibility of violence in the Balkans?
Djukanovic: I would agree with the basic statement of President Thaci. So, unlike the 1990s, when problems in the Western Balkans stemmed from the internal misunderstandings in the former Yugoslavia, it seems to me that today a large part of the problem in our region is caused by some issues taken from the global scene. Therefore, this is something that needs to be addressed even in the context of those policies developed by the third countries, whose interests are contrary to the European ones. Those countries play their games in the Balkans and the Balkans is not of their primary interest. Unfortunately, the Balkans again represents the central point for resolving some issues that have no geographical or political ties to it.
However, I wouldn’t be so pessimistic as President Tachi is. Right now, I really don’t see any chances for war conflicts or some serious instability in the Western Balkans.
What we are talking about and what we warn of is that, having in mind the history of the Balkans, we shouldn’t wait for too long or allow any downfalls. We have to work with great responsibility in order to continue with the policy of the WB integration thus ensuring the adoption of the European system of values and preventing any possibility of repeating the history.
VOA: Does the existing EU has strength to encourage the region to move forward and is it possible without strong US interference?
Djukanovic: I think that Europe can do and that it must do it. The European continent is the place of our joint life. And when I say this, I do not say it as an inferior Balkan resident who looks at the European Union with eagerness and is just thinking about how to use money from the European fund. No. I’m telling this as a European. Our joint interest, the interest of all of us who live on this continent is that Europe should be prestigious globally. The European Union represents a driving force for the European continent. And this driving force is responsible for the development and stability of each country. If the WB is the last priority of the European continent, then it’s logical that the EU will contribute to it so that it can overcome the obstacles and join the contemporary Europe. When I’m speaking about Europe, I never forget the importance of the Euro-Atlantic partnership.
VOA: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Hoyt Yee, recently noted that it was not realistic to expect that some WB countries would join the EU by 2025 and that the reforms in the Balkans were not real. What do you think about these statements?
Djukanovic: Well, of course, everyone has the right to have the opinion. Mr Hoyt Yee is not someone who does not know the situation in our region so he has right to make his own assessments. Montenegro will be fully ready for the EU membership by 2025. Of course, I should go back to the basic question: will the European Union be ready for the new enlargement? At this moment, despite some views that the EU’s door is open, we see some obvious differences in the opinions of some very important political actors. I believe part of those different views are consequences of the crisis in Europe and part are consequences of the pre-election rhetoric ahead of the European parliamentary elections.
I believe soon after that we would have better situation so that we can have clear views on the vision, and that is, the united Europe. If the vision exists, then we have to create a clear policy of dynamic of the European perspective of the WB. In case the vision is confirmed and we create such a policy, I have no doubts that Montenegro will be able to meet all the requirements and thus join the EU in 2025.
VOA: As I mentioned, there is no progress in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina. The Serbian president said the demarcation had failed and that he did not want Kosovo to be independent. Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, is against the demarcation. What would be the solution to this issue, in your opinion? Is the demarcation idea excluded or it’s still on the agenda?
Djukanovic: I strongly advocate for the continuation of the dialogue, that is, to finally solve this issue that has been a matter of discussion for months. This was one of the topics at the Berlin Summit and I had some proposals. And here’s what was our opinion on this matter: let’s discuss this issue without focusing on the responsible ones for the halt. Let’s agree on a moratorium for the existing differences and let’s define how much time we need to find the solution through dialogue, and then, all the issues that moved us away from discussion would be irrelevant. I don’t think this is impossible. As you know, the Summit in Berlin is over and the new one is scheduled to take place in Paris. It will be organized soon with the purpose of continuing the already initiated dialogue. Therefore, the dialogue must continue. In case this really happens, I am completely sure that positive outcomes are likely to happen.
As you know, we from Montenegro believe that we should not give priority to the idea of exchanging territory. Let’s call it whatever we want, someone calls it the exchange of territory, someone the demarcation, someone else as drawing of borders still not precisely drafted. But let’s talk about what’s most important. We believe that it’s extremely important for the Balkans and other countries as well, the idea of multiethnic democracy to be realistic. I’d like to recall that this was the cause of war crimes in the 1990s when some Balkan countries, mostly mono-national, mono-religious and mono-cultural, were trying to find support for their idea. Finally, the idea of multiethnic democracy won but it’s obvious some old ideas still exist, seeking to find support after a long time.
I won’t say the proposal in the negotiations between President Vucic and his Kosovo counterpart Thaci are of that kind, but I do want to say that we have to think carefully about our proposals so that no one ever thinks about the slightest possibility of returning to those destructive ides from the 90s. As a man who strongly believes in multiculturalism and as a man who is very proud of the fact the multiethnic democracy survived in Montenegro even in the 1990s, I believe I have a duty and right to warn of this matter in any conversation about it. Finally, I’d like to remind that there will be difficulties in the process of ensuring a unique or exclusive approach in resolving relations between Serbia and Kosovo, and that many from the region and Europe as well are waiting for that moment in order to express their own opinions and demands.
VOA: The United States says it’s open for all solutions even when it comes to the demarcation. A part of Europe, especially Germany, is against it. Who will win in this case?
Djukanovic: I believe the consensus will be reached. You’re right, there are some different views on this matter, and in our region as well. Finally, not every solution proposed by the two leaders is the best one. Sometimes those solutions might be fatal, as was the case with Bosnia in the 1990s, which immediately reflected on the whole region. Therefore, I strongly support the continuation of the dialogue between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo. I’m in touch with both of them and I absolutely believe in their good intentions.
I think the international community, Europe and the U.S., will be even more included in this matter. For now, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of France Emmanuel Macron expressed their interest in this issue, and we know that President Trump also sent letters on this topic, so I consider it’s possible to reach the international consensus. And this is important for another thing as well. If the final solution would eventually mean correction of the Banditer model, i.e. a mere administrative demarcation on the territory of former Yugoslavia, this would require absolute guarantees. And the same guarantees would have to be of highly international character in order to avoid serious consequences. That is why I think it’s very important to reach the consensus at the international level as well and I’m quite optimistic. I think it’s possible.
VOA: You said Montenegro was ready to contribute to the dialogue in a constructive manner and that you communicated with President of Serbia. Tell us more about the relations with Mr Vucic and the relations between Montenegro and Serbia.
Djukanovic: Over the last decade or decade and a half, we have had different experiences. Just before the independence referendum, after it and in times of recognizing Kosovo, our relations were very bad. After that, change of power in Belgrade brought a phase of very good political relations when it seemed there were no crucial political issues to disagree with. Now we have a new phase, i.e. a part of the political public and media from Belgrade are expressing critical views about Montenegro. I link this with the Serbia-Kosovo issue. It seems to me that a part of Serbia’s public wants to compensate the unfavorable circumstances in this matter by their exaggerated care for the rights of Serbs in the region. Again, we’re dealing with the kind of paternalism which already caused many problems in our neighborly relations and the region as a whole.
The political or media interpretations from Belgrade sometimes exaggerate and stagger neighborly relations that we firmly considered as being good. I believe the neighborly relations should be further fostered. I’ve been trying to give my personal contribution, and, regardless of some negative statements, I won’t let them provoke me or distract me from my primary responsibility, and that is, to represent the national interest of Montenegro. The national interest of Montenegro is ensuring stability in relations with all the neighboring countries and countries of the region.
VOA: The Economist recently published article saying that you are Europe’s most durable leader and that last protests showed many people think you have been in power for too long. Is there a democratic society without changing power?
Djukanovic: I am always talking about true democracy if the election results express the free will of citizens. And I don’t think we’re talking about democracy if any group in a country believes it has the right to change power just because it’s fed up with a policy of an individual. That’s not democracy. That’s violence. On the other hand, I understand that people might think some individuals are in power for too long. Such situations often happen among people, in families or some other relationships. And that’s why I won’t tell anything new when I say that for the democratic stability, it’s good to have competition.
I would like to see more powerful opposition as I’m convinced strong competition brings better quality. The party I’ve been running would have been much better if only it’d had worthier opponents. Unfortunately, that was not the case and that’s why it was always winning in the elections. Thanks to the opposition failures, people in Montenegro expressed absolute trust in our policy. People didn’t neglect our disadvantages, they saw them clearly, but, having in mind the challenges in those hard times, they made wise decisions.
VOA: Opposition keeps emphasizing that there are no conditions for free elections in Montenegro and that institutions cannot act. What do you think about their complaints?
Djukanovic: Their complaints are completely irresponsible and ungrounded. You wouldn’t believe me if I tell you the Montenegrin society is ideal, without crimes, corruption and drawbacks. Let us be so critically distrustful towards these sayings of the opposition, which has the right to be dissatisfied because in the past 30 years they are constantly losing. Is there any reason for me to believe in their assessments when it comes to the quality of the elections in Montenegro? Allow me to remind you that no election in Montenegro has ever been held without the close monitoring of our international partners. OSCE was giving suggestions on how to improve our election system and that is what we were doing.
No election was held without the observers of the Council of Europe, OSCE/ODIHR and various countries that expressed interest in monitoring the quality of the election. In the end of all those elections, it was concluded that the election results reflected the free will of Montenegro citizens. Do you really think NATO or the EU would accept a country that the opposition is constantly criticizing? I understand their anger, which is the consequence of their inability to present themselves as a real alternative to the ruling coalition.
VOA: Thousands of citizens are protesting in Montenegro. Will you respond to their demands?
Djukanovic: It’s an integral part of democracy in a society. We’ve never used a word or any act to prevent them from their right to convey their views and their expectations, especially when it comes to civic protests, as they include people who don’t have a possibility to be in the parliament and express their views. On several occasions, we told them we were ready to talk with them whenever they wanted, on issues that bothered them and that might improve their status and the status of democracy in our country. They never responded to our proposals because they do not want to talk.
VOA: Based on evaluations of the international organizations, freedom of media in Montenegro is in decline. The Committee to Protect Journalists says there are no conditions for the work of independent and investigative journalists in MNE. What would be the following steps?
Djukanovic: I’ve read those evaluations. It’s not so important that I disagree with them because I really think there are conditions for media freedom in Montenegro, and that the state itself has never done anything to impose limitations on media expression. On the contrary. It seems to me that we have significantly improved media freedom in Montenegro and we managed to do that for a short period of time – a decade or two. And many people noticed, not just we from Montenegro, that media in our country is unusually and harshly critical of the ruling coalition for which it does not bear any consequences.
If it’s about some inconvenient individual actions taken against a citizen, yes, we are aware of this problem and we’re trying to solve it. And I think we are moving forward. Some of the cases are already solved and by using rigorous punishments, we will prevent the repetition of similar cases and thus stop those who are settling a score with the media just because they are not satisfied with the reports on themselves or their businesses. Whenever you receive a warning from the relevant international addresses, it’s something you should pay attention to and act accordingly. I’m sure we will successfully get rid of all the reasons for the complaints.
VOA: How do you plan to do that especially when it comes to the work conditions of investigative journalists?
Djukanovic: As for the legislative framework, everything’s more or less aligned with the EU laws. It’s necessary the relevant institutions to act in order to prevent the smallest incident or any deviation from rules and good intentions determined by the strategic documents. I think the competency and responsibility of the institutions are the most important issues that the Government of Montenegro has been dealing with and will keep doing it in the next period.
