LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic on ban: Haradinaj told me this was false news (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic has stated that Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj had told her that it was false news that entrance was banned to Serbian officials into Kosovo and Metohija, RTS’ correspondent reports. “I have heard from Mr. Haradinaj that it was false news that Serbian officials were banned visits to Kosovo and Metohija. I am surprised that false news are being spread in Pristina by advisors of the so-called foreign minister, but this is now lowering tensions in the region,” said Brnabic.

Dacic: This plan and project is no longer a secret, nor is it a kind of conspiracy (Sputnik/B92/Tanjug)

Pristina cannot lead independent foreign policy, as Kosovo and Metohija represent integral part of Serbia, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic states. That is the reason why Pristina cannot have common foreign policy with Albania, Dacic stressed, commenting on the agreement between Pristina and Tirana. “Constant failure with which so called foreign policy of Pristina is faced, starting with withdrawal of the recognition of Kosovo’s independence on the part of 13 states, to denying them membership in Interpol as well as in other relevant international organizations, obviously makes them very nervous”, Dacic told Sputnik. He reiterated that nothing will help Pristina as their “foreign policy” defeats will continue, until they understand that they have to be ready to make agreement with Belgrade, to the mutual interest of both sides. He pointed out that this calls for the reaction of the international community, as this is an obvious attempt to create so called Greater Albania. “This plan and project is no longer a secret, nor is it a kind of conspiracy. The attempt of its implementation is underway in front of our eyes,” Dacic warned. He added that Serbia, as sovereign country, will continue to lead an independent foreign policy.

Drecun: Pristina did not opt for a peaceful resolution of problems (RTS)

The ban for Serbian officials to enter Kosovo and Metohija is yet another in a series of unilateral moves whereby Pristina wishes to escalate the crisis that has been created with the introduction of 100 percent taxes, the Chairperson of the Serbian parliamentary Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Milovan Drecun told RTS. He says that such moves, unfortunately, will continue. He opines that Pristina wishes to, by intensive, provocative and often violent moves, create conditions for not resuming the dialogue. According to him, the goal of these moves is to provoke a conflict with the Serbs or Serbia that would be an excuse for the unification of Kosovo and Albania. Drecun recalls that Pristina and Tirana had signed an agreement on a joint foreign policy and that this is proof that Pristina has not opted for a peaceful resolution of problems and a compromise solution, but wishes to lead to new clashes and destabilization of the region.

Djuric: Pristina wishes to make Kosovo and Metohija a ghetto under open skies (RTS)

Pristina’s decision to ban entrance to officials into Kosovo and Metohija is a slap to Europe’s face, to the developed civilized world, a slap to every idea of agreement anywhere in the world, the Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS). “With this decision, Pristina wished to isolate the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, to cut off any communication with their state Serbia. Serbs are limited freedom of movement, freedom of choice, they are limited the most elementary human right,” says Djuric.  “Pristina needs to finally stop playing with fire and Europe needs to finally stop being silent since they see that Pristina is not respecting agreements. The EU has mechanisms and the western state, whose baby is Kosovo and Metohija, to stop this insanity and I call them to stop and ask what else there needs to happen, what else do their darlings in Pristina need to do,” said Djuric.

Dacic in Poznan: What is the point of the Summit if some EU leaders claim there is no enlargement (Beta)

In Poznan on 4 July, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic raised the question about the purpose of the Berlin Process, after the statements of certain EU leaders that there could still be no talk of the EU’s enlargement. “A question slowly arises about the purpose of these meetings. Especially at a time when some of the most significant European leaders say that they have no intention of speaking about EU enlargement. If that is the case, then we really do not understand the purpose of these meetings,” Dacic said, alluding to a recent statement by French President Emmanuel

Macron. Dacic said this at the forum of foreign ministers of countries participating in the Berlin Process, within the summit of the Western Balkans and several EU countries. “We are advocating the quicker progress of Serbia and Montenegro towards the EU, because we are not pleased with the dynamic, as well as the starting of negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, and for Bosnia and Herzegovina to do what is necessary to start the EU membership negotiations,”

Dacic stated.

REGIONAL PRESS

Czaputowicz says EU cannot be completely united without Western Balkan countries (BHT1/N1/BN TV)

The sixth Western Balkans Summit has started in Poznan, Poland. On Thursday, the Summit focused on a forum of the civil sector and business forum. Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz stated that the EU cannot be completely united without the Western Balkan countries, stressing that strengthening of cooperation with the Western Balkan countries can ensure stability and development of that region. B&H delegation at the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan includes Chairman of the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) Denis Zvizdic, B&H Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak and B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic. Crnadak stated he once against called for putting an additional pressure on Pristina in order to remove sanctions imposed against Serbia and B&H, adding that taxes that are actually sanctions have destroyed the two countries’ economies and prevent regional cooperation. Sarovic said that it was mentioned on the first day of the summit on Wednesday that B&H uses large part of grant funds from the EC and has important projects and investments primarily for development of road and energy infrastructure. Sarovic said that after Pristina introduced customs tariffs to goods imported from Serbia and B&H, the CEFTA has been undermined. Sarovic reminded that a delegation from Pristina also attends the summit and that during the event, they will see whether there is room for talks on the tariffs. Sarovic emphasized the need to undertake a number of measures in order to remove obstacles for economic development in B&H and the region. Addressing media, he stated that the CEFTA is a good platform that B&H maybe did not use to its full extent due to among other things, lack of strategic documents.

SDA criticizes Minister Bevanda for failing to attend B&H CoM session, calls on HDZ not to block institutions of B&H (Glas Srpske)

SDA issued a statement on Thursday, which reads that Minister of Finance of B&H and high-ranking HDZ B&H official Vjekoslav Bevanda’s failure to attend the most recent session of the Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H represents an irresponsible act, which makes the functioning of state-level institutions even more difficult and additionally complicates political situation in the country. Furthermore, SDA reminded that the B&H CoM was supposed to make decision on temporary financing of institutions of B&H. “We are calling on HDZ not to block the institutions of B&H on behalf of SNSD,” reads the statement issued by SDA.

RS parliament completes its fifth regular session by adopting number of draft laws (RTRS/N1)

The RS parliament completed its fifth regular session on Thursday by adopting a number of draft laws, reports and strategies that representatives discussed in the previous three days. Among the more interesting items on the agenda was the report on the work of the RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) in 2018 which was adopted with an assessment of successfully accomplished jobs and tasks which is reflected in the favorable security situation in the RS. The opposition in the RS parliament responded to the positive statistical data by saying that the police must never again allow for a case such as the David Dragicevic case to happen again, i.e. allow omissions which lead to a drop in confidence in the work of the police. The report reads that the case of murder of Banja Luka businessman and owner of the ‘Sector Security’ company Slavisa Krunic and his bodyguard Zarko Pavlovic in Glamocani was clarified owing to fast reaction of police officers, and that the murder of Damir Ostojic in Banja Luka was partially clarified. The report also reads that the ‘Dragicevic’ case and the murder of Milos Ostojic in Istocno Sarajevo have not been clarified yet. Representatives of the RS MoI stressed that invented affairs, paramilitary and para-police information, and fake allegations on training of children in Russia during 2018 have affected the police work. Opposition MPs presented a number of critics against the work of the RS MoI, stressing that this institution is under political impact. They reminded of several cases of severe murders that have upset the public in the RS, calling on police to work professional and on the RS authorities not to influence the work of the police work. Concluding the RS parliament’s fifth session, RS parliament speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic announced that a special session of the RS parliament will be held on 16 July, without specifying what could be the topic of the special session.

Wigemark: It is wrong entire burden of migrations fell down on USC (EuroBlic)

Head of the EU Delegation to B&H Lars-Gunnar Wigemark reiterated on Thursday that it is wrong that the entire burden of migrations fell down on the Una-Sana Canton. “Just take a look at Serbia, it has 18 accommodation centers which are evenly distributed in the entire territory of the state,” Wigemark added.

Dodik: Police from FB&H will not be engaged at borders with Serbia and Montenegro (ATV)

Chairman of B&H Presidency and leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik said on Thursday that members of the FB&H Ministry of Interior (MoI) or cantonal MOIs will not be engaged at B&H borders with Serbia and Montenegro, because it is not stipulated by the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). Dodik underlined that the DPA clearly says that police from one entity cannot enter territory of other entity without consent of that entity. “The RS did not give such consent and will not give it,” explained Dodik. He went on to say that attempts to do abovementioned activities are aimed to destabilize the RS. Dodik also said that members of B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) that is working in technical mandate can pass any decisions, adding that the RS will not allow violation of the DPA.

Pendes: There is no legal ground to deploy B&H AF at borders with Serbia and Montenegro (ATV/RTRS)

Chairman of B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) Denis Zvizdic said on Tuesday that B&H CoM tasked B&H Minister of Defense Marina Pendes to urgently prepare decision on engagement of engineering unit of B&H Armed Forces at locations used by migrants to illegally enter B&H and to send it to the Presidency of B&H. Pendes stated on Thursday that there is no legal ground to deploy members of B&H AF at borders with Serbia and Montenegro. Pendes explained that B&H AF members can be engaged only temporary in line with the decision of B&H Presidency in case of natural disasters or accidents, noting that this form of engagement is possible in a way to use engineering units of B&H AF in certain locations in order to block these locations – not to station them there.

Inzko visits Tokyo, discusses authority formation in B&H with Japanese officials (Oslobodjenje)

High Representative Valentin Inzko arrived in a visit to Tokyo on Thursday, where he met with several Japanese officials. During the meetings, Inzko underlined the importance to form the state-level authority in B&H as soon as possible, and he expressed concern over numerous issues that need to be resolved – rule of law, good administration and emigration issue. The High Representative pointed out the role of Japan as one of the biggest donors to post-war B&H. He held a lecture at the Sophia University in Tokyo, where he underlined the need to organized coexistence in harmony.

Darmanovic: Without enlargement, the EU will face problems too (RTCG)

If the EU fails to integrate Western Balkans, it’s going to be its problem too, not only ours, said the Montenegrin Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic at the Summit in Poznan. “Of course, it’s more important for us, but if the EU fails to integrate WB, if it fails to absorb WB states as its equal members, it’s going to be a great symbolic failure and then it will cause many problems. I don’t believe that’s going to happen, I believe in the European future of our region,” said Darmanovic.

DP to file criminal charges against CEC (ADN)

Secretary General of Democratic Party (DP) Gazment Bardhi announced this Thursday that Democratic Party (DP) is going to file criminal charges against Central Election Commission (CEC). Bardhi accused PM Edi Rama of increasing participation by at least 8% or about 280,000 voters, using CEC, which he called the Central Stealing Commission, adding that chairman of this institution, Denar Biba has had a special role in this deed. Furthermore, aforementioned Secretary General declared that DP has full data on how the voting scheme of 30 June was manipulated, adding that in co-operation with 3 administration employees, they have run the gravest criminal operation of forging and manipulating the polls, due to having received orders from Edi Rama’s political headquarters to declare false participation in favor of the Socialist Party’s (SP) political interest. In conclusion, Bardhi declared that DP has decided to file criminal charge for alleged massive electoral crime and for assignment of Denar Biba, ending with any other criminal part of the administration of the Commission that has participated in the violations of law, constitution and democracy. “Since June 30, Edi Rama has been exposed to Albanians as the only prime minister in Europe who has manipulated his one-man anti-constitutional voting with 1 candidate. It has increased participation by at least 8% or about 280,000 voters, using the Central Stealing Commission, specifically the kamikaze boss of this institution, Denar Biba. The Democratic Party has full data on how the fraudulent and unconstitutional voting scheme of 30 June was manipulated. At the Central Denar Biba Stealing Commission, in co-operation with 3 administration employees, they have run the gravest criminal operation of forging and manipulating the polls. Having received orders from Edi Rama’s political headquarters to declare false participation in favor of the Socialist Party’s political interest, Denar Biba and his three accomplices in the crime, demanded the CEAZ chairmen the result they owe. They provided this through polling station commissioners, where about 280,000 ballot papers were filled to fill the quotas set by Edi Rama and his staff of manipulating anti-pollutions. The Democratic Party has decided to file criminal charge for this massive electoral crime and for assignment by Denar Biba and ending with any other criminally part of the administration of the Commission that has participated in the serious violations of law, constitution and democracy,” stated Bardhi.

Justice reform is outside politics’ hands: Murrizi declares (ADN)

Albanian deputy parliament speaker Myslym Murrizi declared on Thursday that the justice reform cannot be directed by both parties anymore. Furthermore, he says that he has doubts on whether both parties will be able to direct it well enough and that it is outside the hands of politics. “This reform is a pilot project in Albania, where the EU and the US found an invention to create justice out of parliament’s hall. Reform can no longer be directed by both political parties, I have my own reserves on whether they will be able to do it well enough. Justice Reform is now outside the hands of politics. The concern of political leaders is: Come on, we go back to state 0 to undo what we did. Even Rama is part of this game,” stated Murrizi.