LOCAL PRESS

Alliance, friendship between Serbia, Russia confirmed (Tanjug/Novosti)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. Brnabic underlined that Serbia is grateful to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for the invitations he made to President Aleksandar Vucic to visit his country by the end of the year, as well as for the invitation to participate in the festivities marking the 75th anniversary of victory in World War II next May and emphasized that this is a great honor for Serbia and a confirmation of alliance and friendship. We are grateful to the Russian Federation for firm support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, as well as for support against the membership of the so-called Kosovo in international organizations, Brnabic stressed and reiterated that Serbia is committed to continuing the dialogue with Pristina in order to reach a compromise solution. Brnabic and Medvedev discussed her upcoming visit to Moscow, during which a free trade agreement will be signed between the Republic of Serbia and the Eurasian Economic Union. Of particular importance is cooperation in the fields of energy, railways and high technology, as well as military-technical cooperation. Last year, the Russian Federation was Serbia’s third foreign trade partner, fifth in terms of exports and the fourth largest in terms of imports. Brnabic and Medvedev also discussed energy and infrastructure cooperation projects. The construction of a gas pipeline on the territory of Serbia has started from the border with Bulgaria to the border with Hungary, jointly implemented by the public gas company Srbijagas and Gazprom. Also, the project of reconstruction and modernization of the open railway on the section Stara Pazova-Novi Sad is underway. Brnabic and Medvedev highlighted during the talks the importance of fostering the anti-fascist values that are the foundation of modern Europe, as well as respecting the large number of victims of the Serbian and Russian people in the fight for freedom during World War II. They laid wreaths together at the Belgrade Liberation Memorial Cemetery and the Red Army Monument, to mark the 75th anniversary of Belgrade’s liberation in World War II.

Brnabic thanks Abe on balanced stand in Kosovo case (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is on a three-day visit to Japan on the occasion of the crowning ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhitо, met today with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Brnabic told Serbian reporters in Tokyo that during the meeting it was noted that the economic and political relations between the two countries are improving, as evidenced by the increased presence of Japanese investors in our country. Brnabic said she thanked the Japanese Prime Minister for political support and a balanced stance on the Kosovo and Metohija issue. Japan did recognize Kosovo, but in the two most important cases, Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO and Interpol they were abstained, Brnabic said, adding that in such a way Japan was on Serbia’s side.

Vucic: Two infections hit Albanians (TV Prva/B92/Tanjug)

I am worried about the potential escalation of conflict in the region, but we are working to prevent it from happening, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. He said that he is concerned about the possible destabilization and escalation of conflicts in the region and that Serbia is doing everything to prevent it, as well as that our country must arm itself, as all the countries around us do. “I am always concerned and we are doing everything we can to prevent destabilization in the region. This Novi Sad initiative with Albania and Northern Macedonia is very important to us as it is also a peace and political initiative, but also economically important for us,” said Vucic visiting TV Prva. He says Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia and other smaller countries are arming themselves in accordance with their capabilities. “We see who is also arming Albanians in Kosovo and what helicopters are being marketed by Montenegro and we are closely monitoring all that,” the Serbian President said. “You have to think about radar – electronic warfare and interference, everything is working on a different level now. Why is everyone arming themselves in the world – there is no longer one police officer in the world, and there are many players,” Vucic said. “Everyone cares about themselves and knows that there is no more unity, as it was when 19 countries invaded Serbia and everyone is looking at how to protect themselves. Will this be a source of conflict in the future … We must not be weak because someone will always find the ‘Leibniz principle of sufficient reason’ if we present an easy prey,” Vucic said. He says Albanians are terribly nervous because they see that things are not going as planned. Vucic also said that two infections hit Albanians. “It was an infection caused by the votes obtained by the Serb List, which seemed so infectious that they had to do it, and the other that they made calculations as to whether and how to include Pacolli’s party into the government. That’s why they made a scandal,” he explained. According to him, there is neither poison nor any infectious reaction, that everything is nonsense that shows the level of nervousness and what everyone is prepared for.

Dacic, Borisov discuss economic, political topics (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met with Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Yuri Borisov, as part of the visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Dacic and Borisov discussed upcoming activities and sessions within the Intergovernmental Committee on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, of which they are co-chairs. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of cooperation within the Committee. Dacic informed Borisov, who expressed interest in the developments in Kosovo and Metohija, about the situation there after the recent elections, as well as about the prospects for the continuation of dialogue. Dacic once again expressed his gratitude to the Russian Federation for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, as well as for supporting the resolution of the Kosovo and Metohija issue through dialogue.

REGIONAL PRESS

Izetbegovic expects constructive proposal on Election Law of B&H to be presented by HDZ B&H at meeting on 28 October (N1)

SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic announced after the inaugural session of the SDA Presidency in Sarajevo on Friday that a new round of negotiations between SDA and HDZ B&H is expected to take place in Mostar on 28 October. He stressed that he expects HDZ B&H to present a constructive proposal on the Election Law of B&H that will be in line with the EC’s stance and rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. “We welcome the readiness of HDZ B&H to additionally improve relations. With this in mind, we expect concrete steps and ending the blockade in the process of formation of authorities at the level of the FB&H, i.e. to start the formation of the FB&H structures in a way decided in the elections a year ago,” Izetbegovic told reporters after the session. He added that SDA Presidency decided that it is necessary to form B&H parliament commissions as soon as possible in order to stop violating the law. Izetbegovic confirmed that negotiations at B&H Presidency aimed at finding a solution to the current political stalemate are underway, but he gave no details on some concrete agreements or the date when B&H Council of Ministers (CoM) might be formed finally. SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic told N1 that he discussed key issues, especially the issue of B&H’s Annual National Program (ANP) for NATO and the formation of authorities, with SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic on Thursday. Radoncic said that he learned that certain progress in negotiations was reached and political leaders are close to a joint solution. He noted that politicians have dealt with populism too much lately, which reminds him of the situation from six or seven years ago when the process of formation of authorities lasted for 16 months.

PDP addresses press conference in regard to Dodik’s accusations (BNTV)

At the press conference held on Sunday, representatives of PDP commented latest accusations of leader of SNSD and member of B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik against the opposition parties in the RS due to their activities that are allegedly in opposition to interests of the RS. Honorary leader of PDP and former member of the Presidency of B&H Mladen Ivanic said that during his mandate in the Presidency, no competence of the RS was transferred to the B&H level. He stressed that in the previous period SNSD and not he was working on bringing B&H closer to the NATO. He also stated that in the period when they were part of ruling authorities at B&H level, SNSD adopted a decision requesting activation of NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) for B&H, adding that the Presidency of B&H adopted the decision expressing interest of B&H to become a member of the NATO in the period when an SNSD’s representative was a member of the Presidency. Ivanic presented documents proving his claims. Ivanic underscored that the Foreign Policy Strategy of B&H for period 2018-2023 adopted during his term in the Presidency does not talk about the NATO membership or speeding up B&H’s path towards this organization. “In my term, I managed to turn the story on the NATO membership into the story on cooperation with the Alliance,” explained Ivanic. He emphasized that Dodik’s accusations against opposition parties in the RS are evidence of his inability, because he failed to do anything in Sarajevo in the first year of his mandate. Ivanic also stated that Dodik has been attempting to make the opposition responsible for problems he has with one political option at B&H level. Ivanic reminded that Dodik failed to fulfil his promises, including one that a flag of the RS will be displayed in premises of the Presidency of B&H during sessions of this body, that he will attend sessions via video-link, that he will request abolition of the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of B&H and B&H Armed Forces (AF). Vice President of PDP Igor Crnadak said that in the first year of their work in Sarajevo, Dodik and SNSD managed only to provide some positions for Nikola Spiric and Nebojsa Radmanovic. Crnadak underlined that B&H did not impose sanctions against Russia, because PDP’s members in B&H institutions, namely he and Ivanic were against it. He went on to say they also prevented export of weapons to Ukraine and recognition of Kosovo as a country. Crnadak reminded that after he warned Dodik might bring B&H to the verge of a war due to announcements regarding abolition of some state institutions, the leader of SNSD withdrew and stopped with insisting on abolition of B&H ITA and B&H AF.

Borenovic: Dodik demonstrates anxiety by attacking opposition leaders (ATV)

Leader of PDP Branislav Borenovic did not like what Dodik said for RTRS, arguing that his public performance is full of hate and lies and he even dared to send a message to Dodik, “to be a man”. RTRS – Borenovic also stated on Friday that Dodik is expressing all his anxiety through imaginary attacks on the opposition leaders in the RS. Through the statements made on Thursday, Dodik showed that he is only interested in taking all the power and control, according to Borenovic. Borenovic called on Dodik to say if he accepted the activation of the MAP or not. Borenovic said that the statements of Dodik illustrate all his fear and powerlessness even at the very announcement of the possibility that he might end without the posts in Sarajevo. Borenovic added that Dodik has shown again that all he is interested in to grab power and control over budgets, judiciary, services and destinies of people and for this reason he showed his nervousness with invented attacks on opposition leaders. Borenovic argues that Dodik’s story about legitimacy is culmination of hypocrisy since in 1998 Dodik formed the RS government with two out of 83 representatives with the assistance of SFOR tanks. Borenovic added that schizophrenic policy of Dodik has made 300, 000 citizens to move abroad, debs are bigger than even, there are unresolved murders, corruption, crime, nepotism etc. Borenovic concludes that these are the results of Dodik’s policy. Borenovic also said that it is clear that Dodik does all of this because of the final agreement of SNSD, SDA and HDZ BiH to send to Brussels the first document for activation of the MAP.

Dodik meets Medvedev (RTRS)

RTRS carried a report about the aftermath of the Russian Prime Minister (PM) Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Serbia on Saturday. According to RTRS, aside from economic connections through energy projects, the most important message of the visit is that the Serb people and the Russian people will stand together against forgery of the history of the WWII and that Russia will not allow unilateral solutions for Kosovo or violation of the Dayton Agreement. Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik met Medvedev in Belgrade on Saturday and informed him that for the RS, the most important thing is to prevent unilateral reporting from Sarajevo at the session of the UN SC in November. Dodik stated following the meeting with Medvedev to media: “It is very important for us that the Russian Federation understands the situation in B&H and that it acts in the UN SC over its Ambassador and to explain the complete situation based on facts and not speculations as the High Representative often does it. Of course, this was the topic of tonight’s conversation”. The reporter noted that during part of their conversation that was open for the public, Medvedev showed that he monitors the situation in B&H by asking Dodik to present the current situation in B&H and in the RS. Commenting on the meeting with Medvedev in Serbia on Saturday, he assessed it as very successful and added that Russia is ready to construct a pipeline in the RS. He said that the “TurkStream” is basically the “Balkan pipeline stream” that is being constructed as some kind of replacement for what was called the “South Stream”. Dodik explained that there are many problems bearing in mind that Bulgaria still has not given definitive permits to pass over its territory bearing in mind the EU policies in this area. He added that once all this becomes operative in Serbia, it will also become operative in the RS. Dodik underlined: “I find that this is one of the most important projects for us, for securing supply to people and the entrepreneurs with a cheap energy source”. In this regard, Dodik stated that the meeting with Medvedev was another opportunity to confirm their commitment to construct the pipeline in the RS, adding that the support of the PM was important for new steps in this direction. Commenting on announcements of the opposition parties from the RS, i.e. SDS and PDP to create a parliamentary majority without SNSD, Dodik stated: “They can do this. This is not a problem. They understand everything wrong including our message. There you go, do this. There is no problem”. Dodik argued that unlike SNSD, the opposition parties were not authorized by the people who voted in the elections to interpret interests of the RS. He emphasized: “This does not mean that they (the opposition) should listen us, but they certainly must hear us”. In his opinion, behavior of the opposition parties “gave the right to Muslims to manipulate with the Serb national interests”. According to Dodik, the opposition parties from the RS are trying to practice their political activism at the level of B&H, bearing in mind that they are marginalized in the RS. Dodik underlined: “I even think that for authorities of the RS and the RS itself it is maybe unnecessary to keep on thinking about entering authorities and to use this ‘damaged’ mandate in any way. So, they can continue like this or they can form (the new majority). We will not bother them. However, we will of course have our policy towards this”. He went on by saying that the RS turned out to be capable to confront everything that is harmful for the RS and that comes from Sarajevo, even when the parties had their people in the B&H Presidency and full composition of the CoM. He said: “And yet, they failed to do anything. This time, they will also fail to do anything. These are some small, annoying parts of their behavior that is against the RS, like adoption of the operational plan for realization of the opinion of the European Commission (EC). This is something that should have been coordinated with authorities of the RS because authorities of the RS have a significant number of issues that they must solve on their own. We cannot introduce a principle here according to which someone from Sarajevo will order us what to do, like they (the opposition) did it this time. This is the problem. This is the problem. There is no other problem”.

City of Bihac to cease to provide assistance to Vucjak migrant camp as of Monday (BHT1)

BHT1 carries that the City of Bihac will cease to provide assistance to the Vucjak migrant camp as of Monday. This means that Vucjak camp will be without water as of Monday, as well as that garbage which is being collected at the camp will no longer be picked up and transported to a landfill. However, representatives of the Red Cross confirmed that they will continue to provide daily meals to the migrants at Vucjak camp. BHT1 noted that there are currently about 600 migrants at Vucjak camp although a few days ago, there were about 2,000 migrants there. Migrants staying at Vucjak told BHT1 that conditions in this camp are extremely bad, as well as that they lack police protection and doctors. BHT1 recalled that the City of Bihac so far allocated more than BAM 100,000 for the Vucjak migrant camp. Bihac Mayor Suhret Fazlic recently said that the Bihac authorities did not get one BAM from any authority level in B&H. “We do not believe that we are those who should solve the humanitarian and primarily human issues of migrants. As of next Monday, we will cease to provide any kind of services on Vucjak. We will let the crisis escalate and in that way try to force the competent, state organizations and institutions to do their job,” Fazlic said, adding that if this does not produce results, people from Krajina will organize a wild camp of people from Krajina in front of the B&H parliament’s building in Sarajevo. Meanwhile, the B&H Ministry of Security stated that it has been asking the local authorities for quite some time to provide an adequate location where a new reception center for accommodation of migrants located in the area of Una-Sana Canton (USC) would be built. The B&H Ministry of Security added that before the winter, there is a plan to construct another reception center for migrants near Sarajevo in order to additionally unburden the area of USC. The operational group for coordination of activities and monitoring of the migrant crisis in the USC will convene Monday in order to try to come up with a solution to the issue of functioning of Vucjak migrant camp and possible escalation of the migrant crisis in Bihac area.

RS Police Director Culum requests creation of registry of migrants in B&H (ATV)

Director of the RS Police Darko Culum said that it is necessary to create a database of the identities and movement of migrants in B&H. He proposed this to the members of the European Commission and EU police agencies. Culum added that it is no secret that there are migrants who could endanger security in B&H. He stressed that a database would help in tracking people who pose a security risk even before they enter B&H. “It is necessary to create such database so that everyone who wants to, can perform a background check of people who can pose a security threat,” said Culum. He added that B&H is taking the biometric data of the migrants and registers them, but has no database to compare the data. The slow processing of data regarding the identity of migrants slows down criminal processing of migrants who commit crimes in B&H. Analysts believe that such a database is necessary in order to manage the migrant crisis in all countries. They do not expect B&H to fight off the migrant waves very soon, because of which it is necessary to establish such a registry. Security analyst Slobodan Zupljanin said that in every country the migrants pass through collected data of migrants where they could gather enough information which would enable them to make decisions about migrants, including those who plan to seek asylum. It is suspected that currently there are 7,000 migrants in B&H.

Zaev: Elections on 12 April, census after that; Spasovski – interim prime minister (Republika)

After Sunday’s leaders’ meeting, Prime Minister Zaev informed that it was agreed early parliamentary elections to be held on 12 April next year. The proposal was accepted by all party leaders. Moreover, the prime minister said that 100 days before the date for the snap parliamentary elections, the state would have an interim government as of 3 January, and the census could be completed after the elections. Zaev added that one electoral district was acceptable for SDSM. The SDSM leader informed that he was going to a meeting with the coalition partners tonight, where it will be agreed on who will be part of the interim government and who will succeed him as prime minister. Oliver Spasovski will be interim Prime Minister in the interim government, sources from the leaders’ meeting told Republika.

Pendarovski: We have state consensus that we continue our path to the EU (Republika)

Following the first part of the leaders’ meeting at Villa Vodno, President Pendarovski said that EU leaders’ decision to not open accession talks with the EU was discussed. He noted that the meeting is focused on two topics, the first being the conclusions of EU leaders, and the second being early parliamentary elections. I asked to reaffirm our position that we continue our path to the EU. Our country is in a similar situation for the third time, Pendarovski said, explaining all three situations, but unlike the previous ones, this time Macedonia has fulfilled all preconditions, Pendarovski said. He stressed that all leaders agreed that the only path for the Republic of Macedonia is Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We have a clear state consensus that all relevant political leaders are behind us to start accession negotiations with the EU as soon as possible and to become a member of the union, Pendarovski said. He said all leaders had agreed with the new methodology announced by the EU for the possibility of a return to the negotiation process if some of the closed chapters had a setback.

Mickoski requested, the other leaders agreed Macedonia to respond to declaration of Bulgarian government (Republika)

In the first part of the meeting, party leaders discussed the adoption of a declaration reaffirming the country’s commitment to the European integration path. All leaders agreed to support it.

As party sources told Republika, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski urged the leaders to respond to the Bulgarian government’s declaration that, among other things, “the Macedonian language and the Bulgarian fascist occupation must not be mentioned”. The other leaders reportedly agreed. In the second part of the meeting, leaders will discuss the election date. VMRO-DPMNE’s positions are clear – elections are a logical follow-up to this government’s defeats, to be organized in accordance with constitutional and legal norms, no time to lose, especially as a period of reform that must ensure progress is following.

Ahmeti: The most important thing is that the elections are democratic (Republika)

Following the leaders’ meeting, DUI leader Ali Ahmeti said that this was the most constructive meeting ever. He reiterated that all political parties in the country are unanimous that the state must start negotiations with the EU. Regarding the parliamentary elections that Zaev announced for 12 April next year, Ahmeti said the most important thing was that the elections are democratic. The DUI leader added that it was agreed that the country would ratify the NATO protocol and pass the defense law.

Gashi: Sun will shine for all citizens, especially for the Albanians (Republika)

At this meeting, two important issues were discussed, namely the new context after the failure to start of negotiations and the second topic was the elections, said Alternative leader Afrim Gashi.

We talked in principle when the elections could take place and we talked about it being very important for this parliament to ratify the agreement with NATO and that is why we came up with the date, 12 April, which we hope will be good for everyone, especially that this date will be good for changes among the Albanians, Gashi said.

Rama: EU decision, a clash of great powers (ADN)

Speaking at a press conference on Friday following the disagreement of EU leaders to reach a unanimous decision on opening accession talks with Tirana and Skopje, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said this decision is profoundly a consequence of the EU’s internal problems and member states’ different approaches to the Union’s future. In support of his argument, Rama noted that the Council has not issued any documents at the conclusion of the meeting because there were no meeting key points. According to him, Albania has fulfilled all its tasks and that the government has no responsibility for the decision. “This is a clash of the great powers and a ‘game’ of approaches and interests that is far greater than Albania and the region. We will continue to build a European Albania here in our country because that’s what the whole process is about,” he said. Rama said the blame lies with the European Union bloc. Rama added that Albania will continue the reforms launched. “We will continue to make reforms for our country. We will continue electoral reform. We will continue to reform our institutions. We will start implementing justice reform to make Albania better. We have to make a reform that no one has asked for. This is a game of greats. It is a game of great interests than us. But I have said that the process of integration is a process of internal transformation, not a process of pleasing others. We have received a refusal to consider. Responsibility is lies within the EU. It is absurd to think that this decision is a consequence of failure to perform duties. This is not the case at all. We have accomplished our tasks. France is among the EU’s founders and wants new rules in its home. What is essential is to continue to build European Albania here in our country,” Rama said. Asked whether he would ask the parliament and the people for a motion of confidence, Rama eliminated the possibility of calling early elections. “I would ask that of the French Parliament, but I don’t know why I would ask that of the Albanian parliament,” he replied. Rama has categorically denied the thesis that North Macedonia was sacrificed for Albania, as it as well received a “NO” from the European Council to open negotiations with the EU. Speaking to reporters, the head of the Albanian government said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had never wanted the two countries to split. He also said that Albania deserved more than anyone else the opening of negotiations, while calling the thesis a sermon by those who, according to him, wanted to destroy Albania. “We are at a milestone for us and for Europe. It is a temporary moment. Germany has never wanted division. Albania has done more than any other country before the opening of negotiations. Albania has been asked much more, as the road has become more difficult,” concluded Rama. Regarding President Macron‘s statement about the high number of Albanian asylum seekers in France, the premier claimed that Macron made use of it for domestic politics, while making the French government responsible for not working to reduce the asylum application process such as Germany did. He also denied that Albanian organized crime in the Netherlands was as concerning as the country has claimed. In addition, Rama confirmed that he would soon meet with Kosovo’s parliamentary election winner, Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, while expressing hope that with the new Kosovo government he would fill the gaps created by the old government.

Interior Minister says Albania stands at inappropriate moment in EU’s door (ADN)

Interior Minister Sander Lleshaj states that the refusal of Netherlands to open negotiations for Albania is purely political, while adding that maybe this is not the appropriate moment for Albania to stand in EU’s door. “The Albanian government is responsible for the criminality that takes place within the territory of the Republic of Albania. The criminality that is taking place in the Netherlands is the responsibility of the Dutch government to address it fundamentally.

However, in cases where Albanian perpetrators commit crimes in the Netherlands, we feel a responsibility to cooperate with the Dutch authorities, a responsibility which we have taken very seriously. I can tell you that the Dutch side’s assessments of our cooperation in the fight against crime in the Netherlands are also very positive. Their stance on the negotiations is a purely political one. It is not a question of Albania or North Macedonia, but they do need time to discuss issues related to internal EU problems. We just happened to be at an appropriate moment at the EU’s door, maybe,” concluded Lleshaj.

Basha: It would be huge lie to say we didn’t expect it (ADN)

After the European Council decided to say ‘No’ to the opening of Albania’s negotiations with the EU, DP leader Lulzim Basha spoke in a press conference saying it would be a great lie if they said they did not expect it. “It would be a great lie to the Albanians to say that we did not expect this decision. Since the Bundestag’s decision to impose 9 conditions on Albania, it was clear that the best possible EC scenario would not make a more positive decision than that. DP and I personally, as I have shared with fellow citizens on other occasions, have worked hard to persuade our German friends of Angela Merkel to turn their no into yes. Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Chancellor Merkel and our sister party,” Basha said.

Negotiations, Vasili condemns PM for EU’s refusal (ADN)

Vice Chairman of Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), Petrit Vasili held this Sunday Prime Minister Edi Rama and Socialist Party (SP) responsible for North Macedonia not achieving the opening of EU accession negotiations. Referring to the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron that “starting membership negotiations with only one country would be a terrible mistake for the Balkans,” Vasili stated that France did not allow the two countries to get separated. Previously, Vasili argued that SP liars came out and said that only President Macron was against, but the truth is that most of the countries were in favor of opening negotiations with Macedonia and against the opening of negotiations with Albania. “Here’s how the Renaissance Liars deceived for France too, here’s the fact. They came out and said that only President Macron was against. The truth is that most of the countries were in favor of opening negotiations with Macedonia. Whereas, most of the countries were against the opening of negotiations with Albania. It was France and President Macron who did not allow the two countries to get separated, and Macedonia was penalized because of Edi Rama and Renaissance”, stressed Vasili. “The negotiations did not open because of a ‘reptilian’. Edi Rama owes Albanians a lot, as he left them outside EU due to his evil and dirty governance. Meanwhile, he crawls at the broken legs of a chair, but can a ‘reptilian’ govern anymore the Albania of Eagles?,” said Vasili.

For the good of the country, Edi Rama must resign (ADN)

In a press release, Secretary for Foreign Relations of Democratic Party (DP) Arben Kashahu underlined this Saturday that Prime Minister Edi Rama must resign for the good of Albania.

Kashahu declared that PM Rama put his personal wealth and power before Albania’s European future once again and marked him as the main obstacle of negotiations’ opening failure. He accused Rama of setting in motion the propaganda mechanism so as to blame EU for this failure and not holding himself responsible about it. Besides, Kashahu stressed that Albania can join the EU without PM Rama. “Edi Rama put again the interest of his personal wealth and power before the interest of Albanians and the European destiny of Albania. He has set in motion the propaganda mechanism to blame the European Union, not acknowledging any responsibility to himself for why the negotiations were not for Albania again. It’s not Europe’s fault! The main obstacle to not opening of negotiations is Edi Rama. He has six years that he has been blocking the Albanians’ dream of becoming part of the European family with his malgovernment. Therefore, it should be clear to all, if Albania wants to join the European Union, it will happen without Edi Rama. For the good of the country, Edi Rama must resign,” stated Kashahu among other things.

Italian Premier to propose restart of Albania’s accession talks soon (ADN)

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared that he will propose the accession talks with Albania and Republic of North Macedonia restart in November. This declaration of Conte came following the failure of EU to reach a unanimous decision for opening of accessions negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, for which he was very disappointment calling the decision as a “historic error”. France was one of the countries that strongly opposed the opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, saying that they have yet to do in order to deserve the opening of accessions negotiations, even though it recognized the important reforms undertaken by both countries.

CDU/CSU urges Albania – N. Macedonia to continue reforms (ADN)

Deputy Chairman of Christian Democratic Union of Germany and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CDU/CSU) Parliamentary Group Johann Wadephul appealed this Sunday on Albania and North Macedonia to continue their efforts for reforms. Following the negative decision for not opening the negotiations, Wadepuhl stated that if both countries remain on course, France will not be able to stop EU accession negotiations once again. Besides, he declared that the Bundestag if following the reform agenda so as to make a decision and Germany stands for a European perspective of Western Balkans. “I call on both countries to seize the European Council’s negative vote as an incentive to continue all reform efforts. If these were followed, the suspicious would be strengthened. If both countries remain on course, Paris will not be able to halt accession negotiations for a second time. The Bundestag is in pursuit of the reform agenda for its decision. Germany stands for a European perspective of the Western Balkans,” underlined Wadephul.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Heads of EU institutions: Not giving a date to Skopje and Tirana is a historic mistake (Agencies, 18 October 2019)

BRUSSELS – Failure to set a date for the start of accession negotiations between North Macedonia and Albania is a mistake, concluded President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker at an afternoon press conference in Brussels. “I personally think that this is a mistake and I will not comment further,” Tusk said. He said the two countries must not give up and that he believes they will one day become full members of the EU. “To our Macedonian and Albanian friends: Please do not give up! I understand your frustration, but you have to understand that the EU is a political body and it does take time, but I have no doubts that one day you will be full members of the EU”, said Tusk. The European Commission president, too, said that when he took office five years ago, he said there would be no enlargement because there were no countries ready for negotiations, but he was surprised. And Juncker said the European Council made a mistake by not giving a date.

“Five years ago, I said that during the five years my mandate there would be no new enlargements. Many were disappointed, but it was clear there was no progress. And yet progress has been made. Yesterday the question was whether there were candidates to start negotiations and many countries said there were candidates who were fully prepared. That is it. And I think it was a historic mistake,” Juncker said. His successor Ursula von der Leyen stated that she regrets the decision not to open accession negotiations. “I firmly believe that the both countries have made enormous efforts to approach European standards. It was very important for me that they get a positive signal”, said von der Leyen. President of the European Parliament David Sassoli reminded that Parliament’s decision is that the green light should have been given. “We feel that if the EU asks for sacrifices and changes to be made and if those sacrifices are implemented, we should stick to our word”, he stressed.

McAllister: We have failed our European friends and allies (European Western Balkans, 18 October 2019)

BRUSSELS – Following the postponement of opening EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister stated that this is a bad day for Europe, which was built on overcoming internal and external divisions. “The European Union was not able to show leadership, courage and strategic vision. Failure to take bold decisions undermines the EU’s stability, predictability and credibility in the eyes of our partners and friends”, McAllister stated. He added that the EU has failed a test of its ability to deliver on its commitments when its partners deliver on theirs. “By failing to recognise the visionary leadership and painful, in-depth reforms and to deliver on our promises, the EU risks giving up its leverage and signaling that other actors are free to pursue their agenda in the region”, McAllister stressed. “Our non-decisions have failed our European friends and allies. The window of opportunity opened up by the historic Prespa agreement and judicial reforms in Albania is now closing”, he added. McAllister said that a small minority in the Council is responsible for the fact that Europe comes out divided, instead of advancing unity and reconciliation in the Western Balkans. These member states have also discredited the European Parliament’s position, which supports the unconditional opening of negotiations.

Macron’s veto undermines Balkan stability, Greek MEP says (EurActiv/AFP, by Sarantis Michalopoulos, 21 October 2019)

French President Emmanuel Macron’s veto against the accession of North Macedonia to the EU will open the door to external influence in the Western Balkans region, according to Syriza’s MEP Stelios Kouloglou. “When Macron decided to exercise his veto, he took into consideration neither the political stability of the Western Balkans, the importance of external influence, nor the people of North Macedonia. He just played his game with Germany,” Kouloglou said, speaking to North Macedonian television over the weekend. “I understand the frustration, but you have to wait, because I believe that the EU’s position will change,” he added. “At the very least, we can achieve the decoupling of the candidacies of North Macedonia and Albania.” Kouloglou’s  leftist Syriza party signed a name change agreement with North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran  Zaev earlier this year. On Sunday, North Macedonia’s political leaders agreed to hold early elections in April, after the EU blocked the start of membership talks. “We have reached a consensus for the elections to be held on 12 April 2020,” Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said after the meeting of main political leaders with President Stevo Pendarovski. Meanwhile, on Friday, EU leaders failed to agree on opening Skopje’s accession negotiations, mostly because of opposition from France. Denmark and the Netherlands have also joined France’s opposition. The issue is now put on hold until next spring. Zaev has proposed a snap election as a result of the EU decision, which he called a “historic mistake.” Zaev will resign on 3 January and a technical government will be appointed. Under the law, the prime minister must resign 100 days ahead of the polls, and a technical government that will include both the ruling coalition and the opposition is to be voted in by parliament. However, “the unanimous view of all parties is that Euro-Atlantic integration is our goal… and these aspirations of the country will remain,” Zaev told reporters after the meeting. Zaev and his Social Democrats came to power in 2017, ousting the right-wing party of former strongman Nikola Gruevski, who had dominated the country for a decade. Since then, his government has poured all of its political capital into putting North Macedonia on the path to NATO and EU membership.

EU-wide disappointment

The vast majority of EU countries have expressed their disappointment with France’s stance.

Roland Freudenstein, policy director of Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, the official think tank of the European People’s Party (EPP), told EURACTIV.com last week that the stance of Macron’s government isolated the country, adding to several “recent setbacks of French European policy”. “There is the problem of the Union’s credibility in the Western Balkans as accession talks were promised at a political level, as well as the danger that these countries are being pushed into the open arms of Russia, China and Turkey if the EU doesn’t show that it is serious about enlargement,” he said, adding that Paris “also damages the EU’s regional interests”. MEP Nathalie Loiseau of Renew Europe told EURACTIV that thousands of Albanians come to France and seek asylum: “How can we open negotiations with Albania?” she wondered.  She said Albanians go to France without a visa and then request to benefit from refugee status, which is often denied to them. “Either thousands of Albanians deserve refugee status, which in itself questions whether Albania can be an EU candidate. Or human traffickers and the mafia are operating from Albania to Western Europe and encourage illegal migration. Therefore the fight against organised crime needs to be improved in Albania,” the French politician said.

No elections in Albania

However in Tirana, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has ruled out any scenario for elections.

“Not only we won’t go to early elections, we will carry on working like before. On 19 October the sun will rise again. Albania has no need to go to early elections, because the country did all it had to do for this process,” he said. “If early elections could resolve the problem between France and Germany I would seriously consider them”, Rama added.

EU running scared from fascism, says Kosovo’s likely new PM (The Guardian, by Patrick Wintour,  21 October 2019)

In exclusive interview, leftwinger Albin Kurti condemns bloc’s decision to halt Balkan enlargement talks

The leftwinger set to become Kosovo’s surprise new prime minister has condemned the EU’s decision to halt further Balkans enlargement, saying it showed western leaders had forgotten the lessons of two world wars and instead were in retreat in the face of fascism and populism.

Albin Kurti said the stance could damage the chances of Kovoso reaching a deal with Serbia, which has refused to recognise it as independent since the end of the 1998-99 war, as Belgrade has less incentive to act without the prospect of EU membership. France caused dismay in the region at an EU summit last week by blocking Northern Macedonia and Albania from starting accession talks, so destroying Serbia’s chances of reaching the EU in the foreseeable future. French president Emmanuel Macron insisted that Europe needed to focus on its internal reforms.

“The EU was formed as a response to fascism, but is now running scared in the face of populists and fascism,” Kurti told the Guardian. Criticising Macron, he said: “You cannot say first we need internal reform in the EU and then external enlargement – they go hand in hand. Europe is such an important historical project that no one man can be its author, directing or leading it. We have always seen that when [the outgoing EU Commission president] Jean-Claude Juncker said there would be no further expansion in the next five years, the situation in the Balkans got much worse. “Yes, the EU is important for the Balkans, but the Balkans is very important for the EU. Berlin and Paris should know this well, and it is really sad, for all of us, that they forget this. In a couple of decades, historians will write there were not two world wars, but just one world war with two episodes, and it all started in Sarajevo.” Kurti’s leftist Albanian nationalist movement Vetëvendosje (Self-determination) emerged as the strongest party following snap elections last month. Imprisoned for 18 months by Serbian police during the height of its military conflict with Kosovo in 1999, Kurti, 44, finds himself on the verge of power, promising to end Kosovo’s two decades of neoliberalism. He is currently in talks with the centre-right party LDK, which came second, on forming an administration, in which a minimum of 30% will be women. Kurti predicted an agreement within a month and says his priority is jobs and justice, not reaching a deal with Serbia. After years of failed prosecutions against corruption, he promised to end what he considered the judiciary’s capture by the state. He said he was interested in UK-style unexplained wealth orders and a new vetting process led by a dynamic chief prosecutor. “We need to produce our own homegrown Eliot Ness, and he must become the most famous person in the country,” he said. “We have almost 200 prosecutors, but some lack knowledge and some lack courage, and some lack both. They have to be liberated from the state.” Facing mounting debt and emigration, Kurti said he was also determined to end the huge skills gap in the labour force, focus on technical education and reducing industry’s dependence on the crippling interest rates of foreign-owned banks: “We must make our country liveable and persuade more people to stay in our country.” But Kurti will be under international pressure to reach an agreement with Serbia. The US has just appointed a new special envoy to revive the dialogue between the two countries.. He warned that the 100% import tariffs that his predecessor slapped on Serbian goods will be lifted only if there are full reciprocal measures on freeing Kosovo’s trade into Serbia. He said Belgrade also had to end its international diplomatic campaign to persuade countries to derecognise Kosovo. “If they want to start dialogue, they should explicitly stop the slander about our right to statehood,” he said. Serbia, for instance, has opposed Kosovo’s membership of Interpol, Unesco and the Council of Europe. “Serbia should face its own past, instead of looking at Kosovo and Albania through military binoculars. Serbia needs some introspection.”

Kurti said his three-stage programme will start within a bottom-up dialogue with Serbs in Kosovo on practical cooperation, for example in agriculture, followed by a review of the real-life impact of the 33 agreements signed with Serbia under EU auspices from 2012, and finally a meeting with Josep Borrell, the incoming EU foreign policy chief. “We cannot afford another failed dialogue. It must have clear principles,” Kurti said. Borrell has promised to go to Kosovo as his first overseas visit. Kurti said he was totally opposed to land swaps with Serbia, an idea pursued this year by Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci, the president of Kosovo. “Whatever new border you form, there will be Serbs or Albanians on the other side, and they pretend you can do it peacefully.” Serbs fear that his true agenda will be to seek some kind of confederation with Albania, so marginalising the Serb minority in northern Kosovo. Serbia has already condemned as provocative his decision to meet foreign diplomats at his party headquarters with an Albanian flag behind him. He said Kosovo’s official flag was imposed on the country with a ruling that it contain no red, no black and no eagle, “as if we were declaring independence from Albania, and not Serbia”. But he vowed in his official capacity as prime minister that he will retain and respect the official flag of Kosovo: “I have more important tasks than rearranging the furniture in the prime minister’s office.”