LOCAL PRESS

Dacic: Serbia respects principle of sovereignty, political independence (Tanjug)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said today that Serbia attaches great importance to cooperation with the Non-Aligned Movement and wants to continue joint efforts to support multilateralism and a global order based on respect for international law. Dacic said at a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku that Serbia expresses full support to the respect for the principles of sovereignty and political independence as the basis on which international peace and security should rest, as well as fostering friendly relations and cooperation between states.

However, Serbia unfortunately experienced in its own example the consequences of disrespect for international law, territorial integrity and sovereignty, faced foreign military aggression in its territory, persecution of the population and destruction of centuries-old cultural and religious heritage and the attempt of secessionism, he added. Serbia, while defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, is also defending international law, the UN Charter, the supreme authority of the Security Council for the preservation of international peace and security, Dacic said. He underlined that reaching a political solution to the Kosovo and Metohija issue is a national priority for Serbia, which, despite Pristina’s unilateral moves, remains committed to finding a compromise solution to the issue, which will ensure lasting peace and stability. He underlined that Serbia strongly opposes any attempt to impose unilateral, unlawful acts because they, among other things, do not contribute to an atmosphere that could lead to the resumption of the dialogue. Dacic recalled that, in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was an autonomous province of Serbia and under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Dacic thanked all the states who did not recognize Kosovo’s independence and said that over the past two years, respecting Serbia’s argumentation, 15 states in total had withdrawn their decision to recognize Kosovo, and underscored that Serbia highly appreciated that act. He urged all the states that had recognized Kosovo to reconsider their decision and the far-reaching consequences of the precedent, not just for Serbia and the Balkans, but also for other countries in the region and the world, to withdraw recognition and give dialogue and finding a solution within international law and in line with Resolution 1244 a chance.

House of Representatives unanimously passes “Bytyqi” Resolution (RTS/Tanjug)

For the first time, the U.S. Congress’ House of Representatives unanimously passed on 22 October H.Con.Res. 32, a resolution regarding Serbia’s state-sponsored murders of three American citizens. clearing its way for passage by the full congress. The resolution’s unanimous passage shows widespread and growing displeasure with Serbian President Aleksander Vucic’s handling of the Bytyqi Brothers’ case. H.Con.Res. 32 recounts the factual history of the Bytyqi case, including the involvement of Vlastimir Djordjevic and Goran Radosavljevic in the murders. It also references President Aleksandar Vucic’s broken promises in the case, and states that “progress in resolving this case, or the lack thereof, should remain a significant factor determining the further development of relations between the United States and the Republic of Serbia.”

EU will not explicitly ask Serbia to recognize Kosovo (Tanjug/Politika/B92)

Assistant at the Faculty of Political Science Milan Krstic believes that the European Union will not explicitly ask Serbia to recognize Kosovo. Krstic emphasizes that even five EU Member States do not recognize Kosovo’s independence, nor does he expect a change in the format of the talks – organizing an international conference to address the Kosovo problem, for instance.

“It is possible for the EU to take the standpoint that reaching compromise solution is necessary as soon as possible, and that it ‘directs’ Serbia towards giving up any idea of a territorial exchange, demarcation, division of Kosovo or any other option that involves changing borders,” Krstic stated for Tanjug. Reacting on President Aleksandar Vucic’s statement that he “heard from the Americans that the Union had changed its stance and could seek recognition from Serbia,” Krstic says that the EU will not explicitly formulate a request for recognition of Kosovo, as this would not be acceptable to either Spain or other EU countries that do not recognize Kosovo and Metohija’s independence. Asked if the framework of the talks could be changed, Krstic believes that the negotiations will continue within the existing technical and political dialogue under the EU’s auspices, as this implies the presence of the United States, but so far it has been at a less visible and lower level. “I think that the US presence in the dialogue will now be at a higher level and that bilateral and multilateral meetings between Belgrade and Pristina will be intensified, and the so-called ‘shuttle diplomacy’ led by US and EU mediators will play a very important role,” Krstic explains. By appointing a Special Envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, United States have indicated that they intend to take a more important role in the process, but that this does not mean that the EU will withdraw. “The EU will continue with the same, if not greater, intensity to engage in this dialogue because certainly the final outcome is related to the EU’s accession negotiations with Serbia through Chapter 35, which requires Belgrade to normalize relations with Pristina in order for Serbia to become EU member,” Krstic stated. Regarding Moscow’s role in resolving Kosovo problem, Krstic says that much will depend on the Russian Federation as well, because, as he stated, if finalizing the deal implies the membership of Kosovo in the United Nations, it would imply that Moscow does not put a veto on such a decision. “Russia has to be talked to and it will also be an actor involved in the implementation of the deal, if it comes to it, which implies a chair for Kosovo at the UN,” he says, adding that he does not believe that Russia will enter the negotiations in the way EU and US had done. “Russia will not, in this sense, formally be part of the dialogue, but essentially, it will be involved,” Krstic concluded.

Bilcik: My first step is to help Serbia progress on EU path (RTV)

The European Parliament new rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilcik told Radio and

Television Vojvodina (RTV) that the European Council’s decision not to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia was a historic mistake, but that it did not directly affect Serbia’s road to the EU, whose most important aspects were the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the continuation of reforms. “This decision is a historic mistake, I hope we have enough time to rectify it. It is important to send a credible signal to all of our partners in the region, including Serbia, that the EU is serious about enlargement. This decision by the Council does not directly affect Serbia’s road to the EU, whose most important aspects are the dialogue, domestic reforms, Chapters 23 and 24 and other criteria that need to be met,” Bilcik said. He said that his first step as rapporteur for Serbia would be to work actively and help Serbia progress on its EU path.

REGIONAL PRESS

Zvizdic with Palmer and Cormack in Washington: ANP is condition that should be met (TV1)

Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic met in Washington with Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and US Special Representative for Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer and former US Ambassador to B&H Maureen Cormack. Collocutors underlined that rule of law is of key importance for the EU and NATO integration of B&H. They agreed that adoption of the Annual National Program (ANP) is a condition that should be met because the process of the NATO integration is recognized as an issue of rule of law and represents increase of security. Zvizdic stated that he is certain future will show that pro-western forces in B&H, seeking peace, stability and economic prosperity will overpower retrograde forces, which return B&H to the period before the 20th century. Palmer said after the meeting that B&H is one of the most important stability factors in the area of the Western Balkans. Zvizdic told reporters after the meeting that B&H expects further support of the US, as this country understands the political situation in B&H and can easily recognize both pro-democratic and counter-democratic forces. “They are aware that B&H is one of the most important stability factors in Western Balkans. They absolutely correctly understand our (B&H) European and NATO integration and we have received full, undivided support for those two most important foreign-policy goals of B&H” Zvizdic said.

Dodik: Zvizdic is not in charge of creating B&H’s foreign policy (Srna/RTRS)

In a statement for the Srna news agency, Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik said that “Denis Zvizdic, although he is unlawfully at the helm of several institutions in B&H, is not in charge of creating the foreign policy of B&H”. Therefore, Zvizdic’s trip to the US and his activities over there may be treated as his private actions, according to Dodik. He stressed that Zvizdic’s insisting on the NATO integration process is contrary to the will of people in B&H and may be considered his own wish. Dodik stressed that if this was not Zvizdic’s personal action, then Serb personnel at the B&H CoM could answer the question of whose stances is Zvizdic representing in the United States. Dodik further asked whether Mirko Sarovic (SDS), Dragan Mektic (SDS) and Igor Crnadak (PDP) believe that failure to adopt the Annual National Program (ANP) for membership in NATO is the biggest problem, or the fact that SDA does not accept election results. Zvizdic reacted to Dodik’s claims and said they are irrational and an expression of his personal frustrations. He underlined that he is going to do his job properly until new Council of Ministers of B&H is appointed, and he refused to argue with Dodik about his “anti-constitutional intentions to create conditions for domination of entities over state” and proposed to Dodik to pay a visit to the US and explain his stance on the current issues related to the NATO integration.

SNSD, DNS leaders to meet on Wednesday; Dodik: I believe coalition between SNSD and DNS will survive (ATV)

Delegations of DNS and SNSD, headed by party leaders Marko Pavic and Milorad Dodik, will hold a meeting in Banja Luka on Wednesday. Dodik said Tuesday that SNSD representatives will have a friendly talk with DNS representatives at Wednesday’s meeting, adding that he believes that the coalition between SNSD and DNS will survive. “We had the fact that, for example, DNS supports the authorities in Bijeljina, which is still considered to be a bastion of SDS, when it was enough for it to establish coalition cooperation with us at the local level and we would have parliamentary majority there and everything would be different. But, we did not believe that we should say then that we will terminate our cooperation and we did not terminate it. Problem occurred because it happened in Prijedor… I believe that this coalition cooperation will survive. SNSD is not conducting any talks under wraps, but we can hear, or that is mere speculation, that this is not the case on some other sides. We will discuss all of that and I believe that we will understand each other and continue to work together,” Dodik underlined. Asked if SNSD will “eliminate” DNS from the ruling coalition if this party supports SDS leader Mirko Sarovic, Dodik said that he would have rather heard a question as to whether this is logical at all, adding that his response would be: “It is”. “This coalition was formed for the level of Republika Srpska (RS) and for the joint level. On the basis of the resources that DNS has within the RS parliament and the B&H Houses of Representatives, as well as the agreement we had with regard to the B&H House of Peoples, it is implied that we are together. Any deviation brings into question this level of the coalition agreement, of course. Nevertheless, I believe it will not happen,” Dodik explained. On the eve of the meeting, the reporter noted that DNS and SNSD seem to have resolved their issues, given the recent appointments of DNS’ staff to state-owned companies and public institutions – despite DNS’ announcement that it would put an end to all activities as part of the coalition agreement. The reporter also reminded that DNS’ ministers have been attending the recent sessions of the RS Government as well. Asked if this means that the coalition will continue to exist, Dodik told reporters that it is up to local organizations of these parties to reach agreements at the local level, which he will insist on at the meeting on Wednesday. He added that Banja Luka Mayor Igor Radojicic informed him that he has good cooperation with people from DNS.

Migrant crisis not subsiding (BHT1)

The migrant crisis in the Una-Sana Canton (USC) is not subsiding and the situation at the improvised reception center for migrants ‘Vucjak’ near Bihac remains difficult. The state-level authorities have not provided a concrete response to the issue of migrants, due to which the number of migrants, especially in the USC, continues to grow. However, the migrant centers in USC – ‘Vucjak’, ‘Bira’ in Bihac, and ‘Miral’ in Velika Kladusa – are running out of capacities to accommodate the migrants. At the session held in Bihac on Monday, the USC Government’s Operational Group for Monitoring of the Migrant Crisis in the USC passed a conclusion demanding from higher authority levels to urgently transfer migrants from the USC into existing migrant centers outside USC – ‘Salakovac’ near Mostar, ‘Delijas’ near Trnovo, and ‘Usivak’ near Hadzici. The Operational Group has taken a stance that Medeno Polje near Bosanski Petrovac should be a new location for accommodation of migrants, and also warned that the EU, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the B&H Council of Ministers (CoM), as well as the B&H Ministry of Security in particular are not involved enough in solving this issue in the USC. In line with the Operational Group’s conclusion, the USC civil protection units took over providing of the services of water supply at ‘Vucjak’, while the humanitarian aid organization ‘Red Cross’ continued providing meals to migrants i.e. one lunch box per migrant a day. USC Prime Minister Mustafa Ruznic warned that the migrant centers in the USC are full, while the migrant centers outside the USC are half-empty “or some of them are almost completely empty”. The USC authorities’ demands and conclusions from the Operational Group’s session sparked a series of reactions. Since 2018, the EU has allocated EUR 34 million for solving the issue of migrations in B&H. The EU Delegation (EUD) to B&H issued a statement, which reads: “Most of the EU funds that have been awarded and which are managed by the IOM and its partners have been spent in the USC for food, clothes, hygiene, utility services, complete or partial renewal of the reception centers, purchase of accommodation containers and providing medical assistance, as well as education. The country also has use from the regional IPA program worth nearly EUR 14.5 million.” The IOM confirmed that the funds for support to opening new migrant centers have been secured, but that the organization is still waiting for the state-level authorities to agree on a location. IOM representative Drazen Rozic said that the IOM supports the local authorities in their stance that the migrant centers should be relocated outside the urban zones, but explained that the situation will remain as it is until the locations are agreed upon. B&H Minister of Security Dragan Mektic said that he does not feel responsible and that he will not submit his resignation because of the inability to adequately respond to the problems of the migrant crisis in B&H, especially in the Una-Sana Canton (USC). “I am coordinating in this situation. There is no readiness of lower authority levels to reach a fair and realistic agreement on this. I am once again reminding the Mayor of Bihac that the Brussels agreement said that within 30 days, you will offer a new location. You did not offer it. I addressed you in writing, but you never informed me in writing which is the new location. Furthermore, we pledged to open a reception center within B&H. Initially, RS absolutely refused to form any kind of reception center on the territory of the RS, but now the same situation is in the Federation of B&H as well. No one will allow establishment of a reception center on their territory,” Mektic stressed.

European Commission confirms Croatia is prepared for Schengen (Hina)

The European Commission assessed on Tuesday that Croatia met the conditions for joining the Schengen Area and asked the Council of the EU to include Croatia in the area without internal border controls. “The European Commission considers that, based on the results of the Schengen evaluation process initiated in 2016, Croatia has taken the measures needed to ensure that the necessary conditions for the full application of the Schengen rules and standards are met,” a press release said. “Croatia will need to continue working on the implementation of all ongoing actions, in particular its management of the external borders, to ensure that these conditions continue to be met. The Commission also today confirms that Croatia continues to fulfil the commitments, linked to the Schengen rules, that it undertook in the accession negotiations,” the press release said. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “I commend Croatia for its efforts and perseverance to meet all the necessary conditions to join Schengen… This is why I trust that Member States will take the right steps for Croatia to become a full Schengen member soon.” Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “Schengen is one of the greatest and most tangible achievements of European integration. But its strength very much depends on its inclusiveness – now that Croatia has taken the measures to ensure that the necessary conditions are met, we must recognize this. Once it becomes a full member, it will contribute to further strengthening the area and ensure that the EU’s external borders are better protected.” In order to join Schengen, a country must prove that it can assume responsibility for controlling the EU’s external borders on behalf of the other member states of the area and issue short sojourn visas, efficiently cooperate with the security authorities of the member states, and apply the Schengen rules such as control of external land, sea and air borders (airports), issuing of visas, police cooperation, protection of personal data, and the need to connect to and use the Schengen Information System and the Visa Information System. Regular evaluations are conducted in Schengen member states to check if the Schengen rules are applied correctly. The Commission’s evaluation on technical preparedness is not enough for joining but it is a prerequisite for the member states to make a political decision on the accession. Bulgaria and Romania, for instance, have had a positive evaluation since 2011 but have still not joined Schengen because there is no consensus among the member states.

Slovenia has made it clear that it is going to block Croatia’s accession to the Schengen Area due to Ljubljana’s dissatisfaction with the unresolved border dispute with its eastern neighbor.

Currently, the Schengen Area includes 26 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. Of those 26 members, 22 are part of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The non-EU members covered by this passport-free area are Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The six EU member states not included in the Schengen Area are Ireland and United Kingdom, which still maintain opt-outs, and Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus, which are required to and are seeking to join soon. Three European microstates that are not members of the European Union but which are enclaves or semi-enclave within an EU member state – Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City – are de facto part of the Schengen Area. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday the European Commission’s decision that Croatia met the conditions to join the Schengen Area was another big European success for Croatia, but did not say when he expected Croatia to join. “This is an important day and yet another big European success for Croatia,” he told reporters. “In the technical sense, today we received objective verification, by the only institution in charge, that we are prepared.” Asked when Croatia would join, Plenkovic said he “wouldn’t speculate on a precise date” but that “it’s not realistic” that Croatia will join during its EU presidency in the first half of 2020. As for Slovenia’s possible blockade of Croatia’s accession, he said the border dispute with Slovenia was “bilateral in nature.” “We will try to separate those bilateral topics from this one because this is a topic we should resolve with Slovenia in a different way, through dialogue and by looking for a solution with which both sides will be satisfied.” He said it was a success that Croatia did not have an additional monitoring mechanism for joining Schengen such as Romania and Bulgaria had.

Slovenia criticizes EC decision on Croatia’s Schengen preparedness (Hina)

Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec said on Tuesday the European Commission’s decision that Croatia met the technical conditions to join the Schengen Area was political, and insisted that Croatia implement the arbitration ruling on its border dispute with Slovenia. “We regret that the European Commission decided on such an important matter, the assessment of Croatia’s preparedness to join Schengen, just before the end of its term and that it adopted a political decision” Sarec said, according to a press release from his office. “We expect Croatia to meet all the conditions for joining Schengen, technical and legal ones, including respect for the rule of law,” he said, alluding to what Slovenian authorities consider respect for the rule of law, including the implementation of the border arbitration ruling. Slovenian MEP Tanja Fajon said it was an “unacceptable decision” by the outgoing Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Fajon was disappointed by the Commission’s decision. “We would very much like to see Croatia join Schengen, but only after it has met all the conditions. It seems that’s not the reality. Reports by nongovernmental organizations reveal what happens on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” she told Croatian and Slovenian reporters.

Markovic-Merkel meeting contributed to better relations between Montenegro and Germany (CDM)

Montenegro’s Prime Minister Dusko Markovic and German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier concluded at the meeting in Podgorica that the two countries cherish open and friendly relations without open issues, and that cooperation particularly advanced following the last year’s Markovic’s official visit to Germany and his meeting with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. “This visit will be a new impetus for our administration, as well as the private sector, to provide all the necessary conditions to attract your companies to invest more in Montenegro” PM Markovic said. The Prime Minister informed the guests on successful economic policy of the Government of Montenegro, emphasizing that the Economic Reform Program resulted in high economic growth, which was among the highest in Europe last year, as well as in reduction of unemployment by over 8 per cent. Speaking about Montenegro, Altmaier reiterated that Germany appreciates Montenegro’s position of a leader in the European accession process and the reforms it has implemented, and reaffirmed its continued support to our country. “We want Montenegro to become the EU member state. We are supporting and will be supporting this process. There is only one chapter to be opened. You are making a good progress. It shows that your government is working very seriously and with great commitment to create all the conditions for acceding the EU” Altmaier said. Both sides regretted that North Macedonia and Albania haven’t been given the chance to continue the process of European integration, noting that the EU enlargement policy and the European perspective of all the Western Balkan countries represent strategic commitment of both countries.

Former Foreign Minister says expecting Serbia to adopt EU values is unrealistic (HRT)

Participants of the conference agreed that with the changing geo-political map of Europe and the world, Croatia must play a more active role in the region. HDZ MP and former Croatian foreign minister Davor Ivo Stier argued that in spite of Serbia’s insistent failure to acknowledge its past, adopt EU values and implement reforms that will put it on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration, Zagreb needs to establish a direct line of communication with Belgrade. “While Euro-Atlantic integration and democratic reforms in Serbia should be supported, it is not realistic to expect Serbia to adopt European values and norms in the near future, if at all. However, for a number of reasons, from the economy and security to migration and radical Islam, Croatia must open up bilateral communications with Belgrade.” He added however, that this pragmatic approach to politics in the region should not affect Croatia’s bilateral relations with Serbia. “This, however, is no reason for Croatia to abandon its positions on open issues with Belgrade, quite the contrary. But a new political impulse in bilateral relations is needed, all the while bearing understanding the processes on the international scene, or better said, the current climate is better for settling relations with Serbia than it will be a couple of years’ time.” Stier concluded that thanks to its membership of the EU, Croatia is no longer part of the bloc of countries referred to as the Western Balkans by Brussels. “However, Croatia must have an active role in the Western Balkans for its own national security. We should never forget that from the Ottomans to Milosevic, attacks on Croatia have frequently come from the Balkans.”

US Senate ratifies Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol (Republika)

The US Senate ratified the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of Macedonia with 84 votes in favor and 2 against it. The United States is the 25th NATO member state to ratify the country’s NATO accession protocol. United States Ambassador Kate Byrnes has welcomed the Senate’s ratification of Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol, saying it is a result of hard work and commitment to investing in the future. “So pleased to see the overwhelming support in our Senate for U.S. ratification of North Macedonia’s NATO accession protocol. This is the result of much hard work & commitment to investing in the future. Looking forward to continuing to develop & deepen our countries’ partnership,” said Ambassador Byrnes.

Mickoski: Zaev refused elections in January; VMRO-DPMNE has a plan for EU integration of Macedonia (Republika)

VMRO-DPMNE President Hristijan Mickoski said that the opposition was prepared to go to the polls as early as January, but that it was rejected during the meeting in the residence of President Stevo Pendarovski on Sunday. Mickoski reaction comes after Prime Minister Zoran Zaev insisted that they wanted to go to the polls in December, but the opposition balked at this idea. This would’ve meant that Zaev cuts short the period of 100 days during which he needs to resign and the opposition must hold some of the key ministries associated with abuse of the government power by the ruling SDSM party. “The law is clear, it provides for 100 days of a technical Government, and it takes 45 to 60 days from the dissolution of Parliament to hold elections. We said we are prepared to dismiss the Parliament and form a technical Government next week and then count the 100 days and have elections in what, January or February. But that was not accepted. Zaev’s party machine clearly had a different goal in mind, and wanted to present a situation that we are allegedly fleeing from early elections,” Mickoski told Sloboden Pecat in an interview. In the interview, Mickoski said that he expects the extremely difficult period which Macedonia endured under Zaev will end with the coming NATO accession, and a new work begins. “It will be an even more challenging path, to accomplish full EU membership. But we are prepared to do that and we should not discourage the citizens who are beginning to believe that Macedonia can’t succeed. Don’t fall victims to the SDSM propaganda. We have a plan about how the country can be placed on a fast track to the EU and will become part of the European family,” Mickoski said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Balkan nations bank on regional ties after EU snub (Financial Times, by Valerie Hopkins, 22 October 2019)

Serbia’s president sees vindication of Belgrade’s closer links to Russia and China

The EU’s decision to keep the door closed to two Balkan nations has left the region realising that it cannot rely on its western neighbours alone, Serbia’s president has warned. Aleksandar Vucic also said the EU’s refusal to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania vindicated his policy of forging closer ties with China and Russia. Belgrade is ready to sign a free trade deal with the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-centred customs union with five members, on Friday, and has also called for further regional integration. “We need to take care of ourselves. That’s the only way, that’s the only approach. Everything else would be very irresponsible,” Mr Vucic told the Financial Times in an interview. His comments are likely to reinforce fears that the EU could lose influence in the Balkans after the bloc’s leaders failed to agree at a summit last week to start accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. The decision, which was driven by opposition from French president Emmanuel Macron, was criticised by both countries and by the US. Paris believes the bloc needs to resolve more of its own problems before seeking to bring in new members. Speaking in Belgrade, Mr Vucic said the EU’s decision — taken despite reform efforts made by both Albania and North Macedonia at the bloc’s behest — had made clear to the region that “it is not all up to us”. “They were always speaking, ‘Oh it is up to you, the speed of your reforms’ . . . Now, at least, they are pretty much fair. They say, ‘at least it is not all about you’,” Mr Vucic said. “What can I do, cry and [go on] hunger strike in [front of the] Berlaymont?” he asked, referring to the European Commission’s headquarters in Brussels. “I am not going to do that, no one is going to do that.” Mr Vucic said the Balkans should do more instead to forge regional co-operation. “We cannot be dependent on the next decision of the European Council, or whether the Dutch government will decide this way or another way, or the Danish government will do something differently than we expected,” he said, referring to the countries that joined Paris in contravening Brussels’ recommendation to open accession talks.

Last week, Mr Vucic, along with the premiers of North Macedonia and Albania, signed a declaration creating a co-operation agreement modelled on the EU’s Schengen Agreement, providing for the free travel of people, goods, capital, and services between their three connected countries. The declaration invites other regional countries to join, with the intention of creating a joint market of 18m people. Mr Vucic said the commitment to the agreement had been strengthened by the EU’s block on enlargement talks. Previously, he said, Serbia’s neighbours “were not really interested because they expected a lot more from the EU. Now they see that we have to turn to ourselves firstly, of course staying firmly on our EU path, but not waiting for charity from anyone.” Mr Vucic said he was ready to synchronise value added tax rates and investment incentives with Albania and North Macedonia, which he said would create a market of 12m people between the three countries. Serbia opened accession negotiations with the EU in 2014 but is considered by the bloc to be less prepared for membership than North Macedonia. An EU diplomat in Belgrade said that Serbia belonged in the EU “because of simple geography”.

Mr Vucic’s policy of regional co-operation and balancing great powers resembles the geographical calculations made by Yugoslavia, which was a founder of the nonaligned movement — though the country was much bigger then than Serbia today and the policy had the acceptance of both the Soviet Union and the west. However, the regional mistrust and the bilateral issues generated during the bitter wars that followed Yugoslavia’s collapse will pose a challenge to deeper co-operation. Serbia still refuses to recognise the independence of its former province of Kosovo, which is 90 per cent ethnic Albanian, despite almost a decade of EU-mediated talks. It also has complicated relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Belgrade supports a predominantly ethnic Serb statelet, Republika Srpska, whose leader advocates secession. “One would really have to see a sea change of behaviour towards its neighbours to be convinced that Serbia is really interested in improving relations in the region as something to help the process of reform and stability stay on track,” said Florian Bieber, director of the Centre for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz in Austria. He noted that to be truly successful, the so-called “Balkan Schengen” would need to include Bosnia and Kosovo, but Belgrade is still engaged in an active campaign to get countries to revoke their recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

Iran, Serbia discuss bilateral ties (MNA, 23 October 2019)

TEHRAN – Iranian and Serbian top diplomats explored on Wednesday the ways to expand bilateral ties between the two nations in different spheres. Heading a high-ranking delegation, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met and held talks with his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic, in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on Wednesday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral ties between the two nations, as well as the latest regional and international developments, including the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The diplomats are in Baku to take part in a two-day ministerial meeting (Oct. 23-24), ahead of the 18th Non-Alignment Movement Summit, which will be held on Friday. Earlier in the day, Zarif met and held talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Mohammad Ali al-Hakim, on the sidelines of the ministerial event.