LOCAL PRESS 

Brnabic: Importance of unity of Serbia, Republika Srpska (Tanjug/RTS) 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic attended on Friday the opening of a cultural center in Nova Topola in the Republika Srpska (RS), whose construction was financed by the Serbian government, and pointed to the importance of the unity between Serbia and RS. Brnabic said that she came to Nova Topola to speak with her hosts about new strategic projects, first and foremost the Trebinje airport, the Buk Bjela hydroelectric power plant, the road from the border to Bijeljina and many other projects, among which are those that are worth less financially, but not less significant. She underlined that she wishes that in every part of the RS territory its citizens can see the help and support from Serbia and the unity and to know that the stronger Serbia gets, the stronger becomes RS too. Today Serbia is much stronger economically than in 2014. That is not the same country any more, but a fundamentally different country and I hope that you felt this strengthening of Serbia here in RS too, Brnabic stated. She added that Serbia stands by RS both in good and bad times. It has been like that in this difficult year, when we are all faced with the coronavirus, we tried to see how we can help, what we can send from Serbia, from tests, ventilators, ambulances and protective equipment, Brnabic said. She said that the government of Serbia with President Vucic and the leadership of the RS are one team that works together and pulls forward. Brnabic specified that this is her 11th visit to RS and the first visit to a country or city in her new mandate. RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic stated that a lot of effort has been invested in the development of RS, but that it is very good to know that this country can count on Serbia, as its pillar of support, and that this feeling gives additional impetus for new projects.

These are big strategic projects, we want to be linked in communication with Serbia in every way and that is why we are discussing building the motorway. We are also grateful to Serbia for the construction of “Bratoljub”, a bridge that connects us to many other things, such as the airport in Trebinje that we will build. She thanked the Serbian Prime Minister for unity and team work.

Petkovic: Regardless of outcome of trial, the West will not change position on Kosovo and Metohija (RTS) 

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic told Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) on Sunday that the key Western countries not only recognized Kosovo independence, but did everything for this process to occur. “This is important for us to understand precisely to know what is our position, to understand in what difficult state and position is the state of Serbia in defending Kosovo and Metohija,” says Petkovic. According to him, many crimes of the KLA heads have not been mentioned in the indictments. “In the indictment itself they mention 15 camps where these crimes occurred, mostly in the region of Metohija. There are many murdered civilians and families of missing, abducted who have been waiting for 20 years for justice to be served,” says Petkovic. Now that we see who the accused are, he adds, we can remember all those pictures and many high-ranking Western officials patting all those officials on the shoulder and saying that they are the new Balkan peacekeepers, and now we see that they are accused of the most serious crimes.

Compromise solution necessary 

According to him, ever since 2012 everything has been done to change the difficult position in which Serbia found itself. “We have found ourselves in a situation where our maneuvering space is like the top of a pin, and step by step we have done everything through the Brussels agreement and other agreements to try to enable the best possible life to the Kosovo Serbs, but also the best possible position of the state of Serbia in international frameworks when we speak about Kosovo and Metohija,” says Petkovic. “When we talk about the attitude of the West about those who are accused, it is important to understand that it is a kind of mechanism for them to be blackmailed on the one hand, but again it is important to understand that what is happening before the court in The Hague will not change the attitude towards so-called Kosovo and it is up to us to fight and do everything we need to do,” says Petkovic.

Property on the agenda 

According to him, the issue of property has been placed on the agenda after seven years. The Pristina side has been refusing all the time to discuss issue of property by claiming that this is their internal issue but well know very well how large is private property and the property of the state of Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church. He says that a large part of property has been destroyed, sold and that around 600 companies have been liquidated south of the Ibar River.

“What we insist on is to establish mechanisms, to establish rules on international standards on how to deal with property issues, given that there are diametrically opposed views of Belgrade and Pristina when it comes to property, and then to start resolving specific issues through special commissions, which would be dealing with this,” said Petkovic.

Petkovic condemns billboards with insignia of co-called KLA (Politika/Tanjug/Beta) 

Petar Petkovic said on Sunday that a billboard with the insignia of the so-called Kosovo

Liberation Army placed near Gracanica was an open threat to the security of Serbs in central Kosovo and Metohija, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija quoted him in a press release.

Petkovic added that this was a provocation and that it revealed that Albanians in Serbia’s southern province were still far from an authentic disavowal of the crimes committed in their name. “I recall that some KLA commanders are facing court because of crimes committed against Serbs and other non-Albanians, but also against their compatriots who opposed the terrorist and criminal methods of fighting for political goals,” Petkovic said.

KFOR change of command in Pristina (N1/RTV/Politika/Novosti) 

KFOR commander Major General Michele Risi handed over to Major General Franco Federici at a ceremony in Pristina on Friday, NATO said in a press release. “As I reflect on the last 12 months, I recall with clarity my words on 19 November 2019, when I accepted the honor, privilege, and responsibility as the XXIV Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission. I chose our ‘Enduring Stability’ motto to exemplify our commitment to the mission and to continued security and stability in Kosovo and throughout the region, no matter which challenges would lay ahead,” General Risi told the ceremony. The press release said that “during General Risi’s tenure, KFOR strengthened its cooperation with the Institutions in Kosovo, the International Community and all security organizations to fulfil the mandate established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 and contributed to fostering inter-ethnic coexistence and developing the security framework for dialogue”. Admiral Robert P. Burke, Commander of NATO Joint Force Command Naples, thanked Major General Risi and his soldiers for the important results achieved during his tenure, the press release said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the enduring work of KFOR. Today, Kosovo is safer and more stable than when our mission began. I want to thank each of you for that remarkable achievement. This is a team effort and your hard work is paying off”, Admiral Burke said. General Federici said that he places “a very high value on teamwork and cohesiveness and will emphasize that a common vision and unity of effort is essential to our mission success, not only within KFOR, but also with other International Organizations and with the Institutions in Kosovo”. “This is the driving force behind our motto of the Kosovo Force XXV: ‘As One We Progress’. With a common vision, we will provide a synergistic effort for KFOR and the Institutions in Kosovo,” he said.

REGIONAL PRESS 

Local elections in Bosnia and Hercegovina (BHT1/N1/FTV)

Due to the local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), election silence was in force in B&H until 1900 hours on Sunday. It was underlined from the Central Election Commission (CEC) of B&H that fines will be issued against all political subjects that violate election silence. Reporter noted that these elections are different compared to all elections held in the previous period because they are being held amidst peak of Coronavirus pandemic. Polling stations opened at 7 A.M. on Sunday and closed at 7 P.M. Citizens elected councilors in 64 municipal assemblies in the Federation of B&H (FB&H) and 56 in Republika Srpska (RS), 120 heads of municipalities, councilors in 21 city councils, 21 mayors and councilors in the Brcko District Assembly. As many as 543 political subjects participated in the elections and there were 30,809 candidates. Central voters’ list was finalized on 1 October and it includes names of 3,283,380 citizens. Some 132,377 B&H citizens have been registered to vote via mail. Since this number is significantly higher than the number of those who registered to vote from abroad in previous elections, many NGOs have been warning about possible electoral frauds through misuses of personal data of citizens. President of B&H CEC Zeljko Bakalar said that all those who believe their personal data have been misused in this way, will be allowed to vote by using unconfirmed ballots. Also, those infected with Coronavirus or undergoing home isolation will be allowed to vote with help of mobile teams. In order to vote, they will have to submit evidence they have been infected or undergoing isolation. Some 109 international observers have been registered for the elections, as well as 123 observers nominated by political subjects and 3,824 observers nominated by civic associations. Mostar citizens did not vote on 15 November to choose their local authorities. Local elections in this city will be organized on 20 December.

Pandemic makes B&H election complicated, claims a candidate’s life (N1/Srna) 

According to incomplete data, voter turnout by 7 pm at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) was 47%, said Zeljko Bakalar, president of the B&H Central Election Commission (CEC B&H). In the Federation of B&H (FB&H), the turnout was 46 %, in the Republika Srpska (RS) 51 %, and data for the Brcko District have not yet been published. The monitoring of the local elections in B&H on Sunday was seriously impeded by the circumstances marked by the epidemic of COVID-19 and this disease also claimed the life of a mayoral candidate in the central town of Travnik. The Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA) reported today that its mayoral candidate in Travnik, doctor Mirsad Peco, 62, died in the local hospital from the complications of COVID-19. The pandemic caused problems for political parties’ monitors and they were barred from following the course at polling stations in Banja Luka and Doboj. This is why the opposition SDS and PDP parties in Republika Srpska (RS) accused the ruling SNSD of preventing their monitors to have access to some of the polling stations in those two cities. The embassies of the USA and Great Britain and the Office of the international community’s High Representative (OHR) issued press statements warning about this problem. Police officers in Istocno Sarajevo said Sunday they apprehended three suspects for alleged electoral engineering in Pale settlement, near the capital Sarajevo. According to the Interior Ministry of RS, the police found out the suspects organised electoral engineering by buying votes and when officers stopped and asked them to show their identification documents, one of them attacked a police officer. Also in Istocno Sarajevo, where Mayor is elected directly for the first time in history, Democratic People’s Alliance (DNS) said five of their activists were taken to the police station for questioning in Pale. The DNS said their activists were apprehended for no reason and without any explanation. Three activists were since released from custody after giving statements. A similar situation took place in Istocna Ilidza, also near Sarajevo capital, where police officials said they prevented Serb Democratic Party’s (SDS) activists from forming a so-called Bulgarian train – a situation where voters enter a polling station with pre-marked ballots, swapping them for the empty ones they receive at the entrance to the station. After they cast their marked ballots, the empty ballots are given to another person who marks them according to a previous instruction and repeats the process. After taking their statement, the police in Istocna Ilidza said they released all three SDS activists.

SDA registers huge debacle in Sarajevo, SNSD lost Banja Luka and Bijeljina (Dnevni avaz) 

According to the B&H Central Election Commission (CEC) preliminary results, 47% of voters in the Federation of B&H (FB&H), 55% in the RS and 45% in the Brcko District exercised their right to vote in 2020 local elections, which took place on Sunday. Daily noted that the election day was marked by many irregularities and both the parties and the independent observers warned about this. However, B&H CEC stated that they have not registered any major violations of the Election Law of B&H. Operational HQ, seated in the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies registered total of 116 incidents, 51 in the FB&H, 32 in the RS and 33 in the Brcko District. B&H CEC’s preliminary results are based on 54.13% of processed votes for heads of municipalities and mayors, and B&H CEC stated that they also registered 5.78% of invalid ballots. At the same time, B&H CEC processed only 10.37% of votes for municipal councils/assemblies. Immediately upon closing down of the polling stations, parties started with publishing of first results. SDA registered convincing defeat in Sarajevo, while ‘The Four’ (SDP, NiP, Our Party and NBL) won convincingly. Non-partisan candidate, nominated by ‘The Four’, Hasan Tanovic won the post of Head of Municipality Novo Sarajevo. ‘The Four’s’ candidate Srdjan Mandic (NS) won the post of Head of Municipality Centar, while ‘The Four’s’ candidate Nermin Muzur (NiP) convincingly won the post of Head of Ilidza Municipality. SDA’s downfall in Sarajevo Canton did not end with this and the party also lost Ilijas Municipality, where NiP’s Amar Dovadzija won and NBL’s Ibrahim Hadzibajric was reelected Head of Stari Grad Municipality. SDA’s candidate, Semir Efendic declared victory for post of Head of Novi Grad Municipality, but B&H CEC preliminary results, published on midnight, show that NiP’s Adnan Delic won after all. Joint candidate of SDP, NS and NiP Erns Imamovic (SDP) won the post of Head of Gorazde Municipality. At the same time, Republika Srpska (RS) registers couple of surprises as well, where PDP’s candidate Drasko Stanivukovic won the post of Banja Luka Mayor, and after 15 years Bijeljina gets a new Mayor, as Mico Micic lost to SDS-PDP joint candidate Ljubisa Petrovic. SNSD candidates won head of municipality posts in Novi Grad, Vukosavlje, Petrovac, Ostra Luka, Celinac, Kalinovik, Novo Gorazde, etc. SDA won posts in Busovaca, Bugojno, Breza, Tesanj, Bosanski Petrovac, Doboj-Jug, Doboj- Istok, etc. HDZ B&H won Neum, Posusje, Kresevo and Citluk, while HDZ 1990 kept the post in Prozor-Rama.

Kojovic: Citizens declared in what kind of B&H they want to live; Mandic: This is beginning of new B&H (Dnevni avaz)

Leader of Our Party Predrag Kojovic stated on Sunday evening that Sunday was less an ordinary election day, and more like a referendum in which citizens decided in what kind of B&H they want to live. “I am proud because citizens of Sarajevo clearly and loudly stated that they want to live in a free city without nationalist boundaries”, said Kojovic. He added that he expects good results in municipal councils as well. Our Party’s candidate for Head of Sarajevo Centar Municipality Srdjan Mandic who apparently won the election also addressed the reports. He thanked his colleagues and coalition partners from NiP, SDP and NBL. Mandic said that the campaign had be brutal, but he is willing to forget it and forgive those who insulted him. “This is a very emotional moment for me, very important day. This is the beginning of a new B&H,” said Mandic.

Izetbegovic: We lost Sarajevo, but we remain strongest party in B&H (Dnevni avaz) 

Addressing the press conference on Sunday night, SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic said that SDA lost elections in Sarajevo, but has won in B&H and he congratulated all heads of municipalities who won, admitting defeat in Sarajevo Canton. Izetbegovic noted that SDA won around 30 posts of heads of municipality all over B&H and remains the strongest party in B&H. Asked about the reason for defeat in Sarajevo, Izetbegovic said that everything will be analyzed. “It is obvious that something happened in Sarajevo. We have had eight out of nine Sarajevo municipalities. Eight of nine is difficult to keep, because everyone united against us. We had a strong opposition, which got united”, said Izetbegovic. He added that SDA lost couple of municipalities in Sarajevo, but won municipalities such as Visoko, Banovici, etc. He noted that it is obvious that citizens in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Bijeljina opted for changes, but argues that these are not “tectonic disturbances, but are significant changes”.

PDP’s Stanivukovic wins elections in Banja Luka, Micic loses in Bijeljina, comments (Oslobodjenje)

SNSD has lost Banja Luka after 22 years and that new Mayor of Banja Luka is PDP’s Drasko Stanivukovic who, according to first information, won more than 50% votes. Stanivukovic stated that out of 257 polling stations, he won at 250, arguing that “freedom has won, fear has lost”. He added by saying that the Krajina Square (in Banja Luka) will be free and that Banja Luka does not belong to PDP, but to Banja Luka. PDP list leader for Assembly of City of Banja Luka Jelena Trivic said that a new spirit won in Banja Luka and that the fall happens to everyone who thinks he/she is untouchable. PDP President Branislav Borenovic stressed there is not much time for celebrations, because there is a lot of work to do, confirming that the opposition has won the elections in Kotor-Varos, Bileca, Modrica, Brod etc. According to the daily, a big surprise happened in Bijeljina where ‘undisputed ruler’ Mico Micic lost the power after 16 years. Namely, he was beaten by SDS-PDP candidate Ljubisa Petrovic, since after 70% votes have been counted, Petrovic has won 48.2% and Micic 40.3% of votes. Commenting the elections in Banja Luka, SNSD President Milorad Dodik said he is not happy and is sad that ‘we’ lost Banja Luka, arguing that (outgoing Mayor) Igor Radojicic did his job seriously. “Banja Luka elected in a democratic way and we respect the election, said Dodik, adding “it is not a small blow against us”. “Radojicic did his job well, I am not happy that we lost Banja Luka. Citizens decided this way, and that is it. Compared to last elections, SNSD grew in Banja Luka. We are disappointed by that fact and we will discuss this, because our coalition partners did not play fair” said Dodik. “These were fair and correct elections and that is what matters most. IT is illogical that we have 60 percent of voters together with coalition partners and that we lost the office of Mayor”, said Dodik. Commenting results in other cities and municipalities, Dodik said that SNSD used to have 40 mayors and heads of municipalities, and now it will have 41.

Both Grujicic and Tabakovic claim election victory in Srebrenica (Oslobodjenje)

By 16:00 hrs, 4,212 Serbs and 1,912 Bosniaks voted in elections in Srebrenica. “This number does not include those who voted on unconfirmed ballots, i.e. those who voted in absentia. There were some 1,600 of those and, at the moment the text was written, some 1,000 of them voted. All those votes are from the Federation of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H). Apart from this, there are also some 2,500 votes from Diaspora, out of which number 1,600 are Bosniaks,” the daily noted. Current Deputy Head of Srebrenica Municipality Nermin Alivukovic said that votes by mail will play a decisive role. The daily reminded that the B&H Central Election Commission (CEC) prolonged the deadline for delivery of votes by mail until ten days after the elections, which means that the results will surely not be known before the end of the week. The daily also noted that B&H CEC too will play an important role, as numerous irregularities were noticed at the polling station in the Elementary School in Srebrenica, such as attempts to vote with expired personal IDs, IDs issued in Serbia or someone else’s IDs. Srebrenica Municipal Election Commission confirmed to the daily that some 20 people who obtained B&H citizenship after October 1, 2020 tried to vote as well, although B&H CEC issued instructions on Thursday saying that people who obtained citizenship after October 1, 2020 will not be able to vote in this year’s local elections. Although Serb candidate for the Head of Srebrenica Municipality Mladen Grujicic claimed election victory around 17:00 hrs, joint candidate of pro-Bosnian parties in Srebrenica Alija Tabakovic noted that it will be necessary to wait for votes by mail to be delivered. President of the Election HQ of ‘Moja adresa je Srebrenica’ Sadik Ahmetovic said on Sunday evening that Tabakovic won the elections and noted that the difference in votes for Grujicic and Tabakovic is about 700 votes, but votes by mail were not included. “We claimed the victory. What we fear the most is breach of Serbian security services and institutions. It happened that we returned a person from a polling station because he/she had an expired ID but the person returned with an ID without an expiration date. This worries us, we will file all complaints to B&H CEC,” Tabakovic said.

SNSD’s Cosic wins post of Istocno Sarajevo Mayor (Oslobodjenje)

In line with the changes of the Election Law in RS, Mayor of Istocno Sarajevo was elected directly for the first time. 12 candidates were in the race and according to preliminary results, SNSD’s candidate Ljubisa Cosic won. SNSD’s candidate, Bosko Jugovic won the post of Head of Pale Municipality, as he was reelected to the post. SDS’ Milovan Cicko Bjelica won the post of Head of Sokolac Municipality, and SDS also convincingly won in Istocna Ilidza, where their candidate Marinko Bozovic won. SNSD again won Istoco Novo Sarajevo, where their candidate Jovan Katic won. SNSD also won in Prijedor and Trebinje, with their candidates Dalibor Pavlovic and Mirko Curic.

SDP’s Imamovic re-elected Mayor of Tuzla (Oslobodjenje)

Jasmin Imamovic (SDP) has won his sixth term in a row as Mayor of Tuzla. Namely, after 92% of votes were counted, Imamovic declared his victory, stressing that he won in all 40 local communities in Tuzla and that it is especially important that votes for him came from all ethnicities. “I am grateful to citizens of Tuzla because the parties that participate in Tuzla Canton government tried to win power in Tuzla and I think the parties are leaving the political scene” said Imamovic.

Kasumovic re-elected Mayor of Zenica (Oslobodjene)

Fuad Kasumovic has been re-elected the Mayor of Zenica. Namely, according to unofficial information coming from his election HQ, Kasumovic won (after vote counting at 2100) 20,778 votes, beating Nezir Pivic (SDA), who won 6,906 votes. In a statement after the elections, Kasumovic said he will eradicate SDA “because it is evil of Bosniaks in this state”.

Ogresevic, Fazlic re-elected in Cazin and Bihac, big fight in Velika Kladusa between Husic and Abdic (Oslobodjenje)

Oslobodjenje daily reported about the local elections in Una-Sana Canton, among other issues, there is a big battle in Velika Kladusa between a joint candidate of seven parties Jasmin Husic and incumbent Head of Municipality Fikret Abdic. Out of 44,043 voters, 16,231 of them voted or 37%. At half-way count Husic was in the lead with 3,285 votes, with Abdic winning 2,957 votes. Daily adds that votes of the Diaspora are due to arrive, some 8,800 of them, who are heavily in favor of Abdic. In Cazin, out of 54,800 registered voters, 19,535 or 37% of them voted. A-SDA’s Nermin Ogresevic is claiming the victory after winning, in his words, two-thirds of the votes. According to unofficial information regarding the elections in Bihac, incumbent Mayor Suhret Fazlic (Pomak) won the elections with 40%, beating seven other candidates. Out of 57,880 voters, 22,532 or 39% of them voted.

SDA’s Ganci wins post of Visoko Mayor (Oslobodjenje)

After eight years of rule of Amra Babic, Visoko gets a new Mayor, SDA’s Mirza Ganic. According to preliminary results, Ganic won around 2,000 votes more than Babic.

HDZ B&H’s Boskovic re-elected Head of Municipality of Stolac (Oslobodjenje)

Stjepan Boskovic (HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)) is the new-old Head of Municipality of Stolac, who has won the fifth elections in a row. He defeated independent candidate Zoran Turkovic. Boskovic is carried as saying he is happy there was big voter turnout in Stolac and that the election day was peaceful. Although votes from abroad are yet to arrive, Boskovic stressed it cannot have an impact on the position he has won because the margin is big. According to the daily, all polling stations in Stolac closed down on time with 11,629 people eligible to vote. Voter turnout was 73.1% percent, which is the biggest turnout in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. According to the Municipal Election Commission, although there were not irregularities, there was one objection. The Commission explained the objection is related to work of a mobile team, stressing it is not a major problem, but an objection and that more information will be available later on.

HDZ B&H maintains number of posts; Loses Tomislavgrad and Prozor-Rama (Dnevni avaz)

When it comes to HDZ B&H candidates in Herzegovina, according to preliminary, unofficial results HDZ B&H maintained posts of heads of municipalities in Siroki Brijeg, Capljina, Stolac, Grude, Ravno, Citluk, Ljubuski, Neum and Posusje. This time, the HDZ B&H failed to secure the post in Prozor-Rama, where HDZ 1990 candidate won. HDZ B&H lost the post in Tomislavgrad. HDZ B&H has not organized election HQ on the election-night and the party stated they will address the issue of elections on Monday.

Sanader, Barisic, Pavosevic sentenced to prison; HDZ fined in Fimi Media case (Hina)

Former PM and HDZ leader Ivo Sanader has been sentenced to 8 years in prison in the Fimi Media case, former HDZ treasurer Mladen Barisic and accountant Branka Pavosevic have also been sentenced to prison, while the HDZ has been fined HRK 3.5 million and ordered to pay HRK 14.6 million into the state budget. Sanader and his co-defendants were charged with siphoning around HRK 70 million (€9.3 million) from state-owned companies and institutions through the Fimi Media marketing agency. The HDZ party, into whose slush fund some of the siphoned money had allegedly ended up, was found “responsible”. Under the verdict delivered on Friday by Zagreb County Court following a retrial in this case, Barisic was sentenced pending appeal to two years and 10 months in prison while Pavosevic was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Former government and HDZ spokesman Ratko Macek, who was given a suspended sentence in the initial trial, has been acquitted. The court ruled that Sanader had illegally gained HRK 275,000, ordering that, if the ruling becomes final, the court confiscate the HRK 15.8 million the origin of which Sanader’s family failed to explain. If the verdict becomes final, HRK 11.9 million will be seized from the Fimi Media marketing agency. As for its owner, Nevenka Jurak, who died during the retrial, the court established that she had illegally gained slightly more than HRK 2.5 million. Some of the money which the HDZ party, as the first political party in the country sentenced for corruption, will have to return, has already been blocked. The retrial in the case started in 2016, a year after the Supreme Court quashed a sentencing verdict handed down in 2013 by Judge Ivana Krsul. In the first trial, Sanader was sentenced to nine years and ordered to return over HRK 15 million in illegal gains, while the HDZ was ordered to return more than HRK 24 million and fined HRK 5 million. In the first trial, Barisic, Pavosevic and Jurak were given milder prison sentences and ordered to return the money. Unlike then, in the retrial they pleaded not guilty. Macek and Sanader were the only ones denying the charges from the start. In the first trial, Macek was given a suspended sentence. Sanader has been in prison since 2019, serving a sentence in the Planinska corruption case. In the meantime, he has been sentenced pending appeal for taking a bribe from the Hungarian energy group MOL and, in 2018, for taking a kickback from the Austrian Hypo bank. He has been acquitted pending appeal for the sale of electricity from the HEP provider to a company owned by Rober Jezic at prices below the market price.

Knezevic: We will support the new government; despite the injustice we are faced with (Dnevne novine)

One of the leaders of Democratic Front Milan Knezevic has stated that the strongest constituent from the governing process has been omitted from the formation of the government and that they will support the government anyway. Knezevic has a clear message for everyone. “Those who have gone through protests, persecution and discrimination with us should receive some sort of satisfaction, either “by depth or by width”. I believe we owe it to the people who carried with us the pole of resistance and riot. Everything else is a brutal fraud and we are not going to remain silent,” Knezevic said.

Will DF support the government of Mr Zdravko Krivokapic? 

Knezevic: As soon as conditions are created, and before the session scheduled for 2 December, I will propose to party bodies to support the government and finally bring a senseless campaign against DF and myself to an end. Besides, I proposed Zdravko Krivokapic as Prime Minister-designate on 23 September and proved once again that DF has remained the main flywheel of the fight against DPS, regardless of the post-election justice we are facing.

You won the elections, but still you are out of the combination for power authorities. Why is that? Why Mr Becic and Mr Abazovic haven’t been omitted? Why is the top of the church against Front in the government, even though you were the loudest in the fight against Law on Freedom of Religion? 

Knezevic: Time will show faster than we expect why DF is out of the government. I am proud of what I did to stop the adoption of the anti-Orthodox law and I would do everything the same way, because I didn’t do it to receive the department from Zdravko Krivokapic but because I truly believe in ideology and principles. According to some undeserved rule, prisons, courtrooms, prosecutor’s offices, police cordons, teargas and rubber bullets are for me, but I don’t regret it. Finally, there’s a higher order of sense that will soon arrange this chaos.

Will DF have any functions by depth? 

Knezevic: I would just like to stress one more time that I have never asked for any department for myself. The objective of my political actions was not ministerial function. Our people crave justice and I think those who have gone through protests, persecution and discrimination with us should receive some sort of satisfaction, either “by depth or by width”. I believe we owe it to the people who carried with us the pole of resistance and riot. Everything else is a brutal fraud and we are not going to remain silent.

Will the government last 200 days or for the entire term of office? 

Knezevic: Mr Krivokapic has asked for the 200-day deadline but nobody has asked for any deadlines, this is question for him, not for me.

What’s your comment on the allegations that at least one third of new ministers were in former government? 

Knezevic: As far as candidates for ministers are concerned, I have already stated they will have my support on 2 December. Mr Zdravko Krivokapic assumes responsibility for their work. I would like it to be a successful government, able to meet citizens’ expectations at all levels.

What kind of decision do you expect from the Court of Appeals regarding the coup? 

Knezevic: If this was an arranged state, I would expect the court to take into consideration all the new evidence and render decision on the basis of the law. But since this is not the case, I think it’s a sort of political tactic aimed at resuming the institutional torture and creating the atmosphere of “inadequacy”. What satisfies me is the fact that Montenegrin citizens saw the political persecution. Add to this new evidence on the pressures on the accused and witnesses to point their fingers at Andrija Mandic, Mihailo Cadjenovic and me, a question arises: Who will be held accountable for this terrible persecution we have been going through for the past four years.

Politicians in Montenegro must not allow resurrection of nationalism (Pobjeda)

Montenegro is a very good example of a multi-ethnic, secular state with a clear European profile. I think that Montenegrin citizens show more maturity, want peace and understanding and a good and safe perspective for themselves and their children. And the duty of politicians is to rule in a way that meets those expectations and does not allow nationalism to resurrect, the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Montenegro Meglena Plugchieva says in an interview with Pobjeda

The participants in the summit held in Sofia on 10 November as part of the Berlin Process signed the Declaration on the Common Market of the Western Balkan Countries and the Declaration on the Green Agenda. What does this mean for the citizens of our region? 

These are two very important documents for accelerating the process of European integration of the Western Balkan countries. The establishment of a common regional law market is a preparation for the inclusion of countries in the EU common market, where the principles of free movement of people, goods, services and capital are applied, while ensuring the connection of WB economies with other EU countries. It also means a shared commitment to attracting foreign investors for the entire region. It also means creating digital, industrial and innovative connections. For example, a reduction in roaming prices, the introduction of a 5G mobile network. Better economic integration means higher economic growth and more jobs, and that creates a real prospect for citizens, especially young people, to stay in the region. The Declaration on the Green Agenda is in line with the EU’s efforts to combat climate change, protect the environment and develop a so-called resource-saving green and low-carbon economy. The countries of the Western Balkans are committed to action in 5 key areas: climate, energy, transport, water and air protection, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation. Both documents are in line with the Economic and Investment Plan adopted by the EC in October.

For citizens, this means a lot of new, mostly economically good opportunities, but in order to use them, governments and parliaments in the Western Balkans must take appropriate action.

What kind of actions? 

One example – next year the EU will ban the use of single-use plastic products, and Montenegro should harmonize its legislation in this area, and people must comply with the requirements. At the same time, sustainable forest management and wood products will become more important!

Speaking about the Declaration on the Common Market, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria said: “It was our dream. 20 million people live in the Balkans and we want them to have higher incomes and stay in this area”. Do you believe that the countries of the region are ready to put aside all open issues and cooperate for the better future of our citizens? This question reminds me of the comment of a colleague, an experienced diplomat, who told me 15 years ago: “You sleep in the same bed in the Balkans, but you dream differently”. I did not like this formulation and I am glad for that dream expressed by our Prime Minister. Bulgaria has just become a reality, as it was in 2018, when during the presidency we managed to convince everyone that the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans is a common priority and duty, a common goal, interest and desire. You see, since 2018, serious progress has been made. Let’s just put aside prejudices and bad memories from the past and cooperate. Only with common will, reconciliation and a lot of work will we be able to resolve open issues. Why not look at how many things connect us in the Balkans, common geography, destiny, history, tradition and culture. We have very talented people and it would be good to keep them here, at home. We have a multi-ethnic structure and we can be a good example of tolerance and understanding, and good neighborliness. Montenegro is a very good example of a multi-ethnic, secular state with a clear European profile. I think ordinary people show more maturity, want peace and understanding and a good and safe perspective for themselves and their children. And it is the duty of politicians to govern in a way that meets those expectations and not allow nationalism to resurrect. Public opinion polls in Montenegro show that two thirds of citizens see their future in the EU. This is the strongest European vision of the population in the countries of the Western Balkans. And this gives me confidence that compromises will be found for the sake of a better common future. The EU has succeeded in transforming Europe, which has been marked by wars in the past, into the best example for uniting different countries and cultures living together in peace and prosperity. Why would the Balkans fail?

So, the EU path is the key for WB… 

There is no better alternative for all of us than EU membership. I am convinced that then and very soon the old enemies of the past will be forgotten. All of this reminds me of conversations with fellow ambassadors to the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2006, while I was ambassador to Berlin. As you know, both countries were part of Czechoslovakia, and in the early 1990s they split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and in 2004 they joined the EU. My colleagues then commented: “It is good that we have entered the EU. Now we are together again. There are no borders, and we are part of one big family”. To what extent will these two declarations be enforceable in practice, given the huge problem of the pandemic that is closing the countries of the region again? How to improve cooperation in these difficult conditions? This period is really very difficult for everyone and that creates additional difficulties. The vaccine is expected in 2021, and as you know, the EC has concluded an agreement with the German-American concern, Biontech-Pfizer, on the production of 400 million units of the vaccine doses for EU citizens. I am sure that the countries of the Western Balkans will be included in these plans. This situation will be overcome, but in difficult situations the best thing we can do is show more tolerance, solidarity, mutual help and good cooperation. We have to look for any way to help each other if we want to succeed. Division and conflict will only make the situation worse.

The signing of the declarations was supported by all leaders of the European Union, as well as Chancellor Merkel, who is the patron of the Berlin process. Do you think that the EU is sufficiently committed to the region of the Western Balkans and aware of the numerous problems and external pressures that this part of Europe is facing? 

The new EC and EU leaders show a clear will to support and speed up the EU accession negotiation process. There are many examples, but I cannot list them all. How much financial aid and donations to Montenegro have arrived from the EU and some EU member states in the last year alone, since the beginning of the virus crisis. I will only mention the aid of €53 million and €60 million of preferential loans to Montenegro since the beginning of the pandemic. Then there is the EC Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, officially announced by Commissioner Varhely in October, which includes specific projects such as: improving the Sarajevo-Podgorica connection; Tirana – Podgorica railway, Blue Highway from Croatia to Greece near Budva; the Piva hydropower system and the construction of the Komarnica hydropower system will begin; the trans-Balkan electricity corridor connecting Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina will connect the region with the EU; integrated regional waste management system for Albania, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Serbia; digital infrastructure and projects to support agriculture and mountain areas. And special attention and measures to support young people.

How much will the Berlin Process and these declarations help speed up the path of the countries of the region towards the EU, and when can we expect Montenegro to become a member of the Union? 

The Berlin Process and the declarations are important, but in order to achieve real acceleration on the road to the EU, common will and real work are needed to make them happen, because otherwise a beautiful but empty text on paper will remain. I would very much like to see Montenegro in the EU much earlier than the commented 2025. To date, Montenegro has been a leader in the negotiation process and I hope it will remain in this position. But membership can’t just be the date we’re waiting for. Every day, all interested parties- politicians and societies from the Western Balkans and we from the EU must make efforts to make this a reality soon.

Bulgaria is aiding Montenegro through development projects, but there are many challenges on our path to the EU. What would be the key advice of Bulgaria, as a member, which Montenegro should heed to become part of the European community as soon as possible? 

Only for the period between June 2019 and November 2020, Bulgaria is financing four projects worth a total of €132.000 euros in Podgorica, Danilovgrad and hospitals in Bijelo Polje and the lung hospital in Brezovik in Niksic. All negotiating chapters are important, but achievements in the areas of rule of law and economy are crucial and guarantee the sustainable development and future of the country. From our experience, I can say that a successful recipe is a lot of constant concrete work on meeting the standards and criteria and national consensus on EU membership, which means the common will and joint efforts of politicians, institutions, civil society, business and the media. Bulgarians are individualists by nature, but there was unanimity and unity around this topic and it was crowned with success, which is visible today in Bulgaria in all areas.

Zakharieva: Macedonia is not ready for EU accession talks (Republika)

Macedonia is not ready to meet the conditions to start EU accession negotiations, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva said on Sunday. According to her, Macedonia is not fully implementing the neighborhood agreement signed in 2017, the entire state policy is based on hatred towards Bulgaria and its people, and the activities of the historical commission were terminated unilaterally. “No one disputes their right to self-determination and to call their language whatever they want, but we do not agree that the right to self-determination should be based on hatred, theft of history and denial of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian language” she said. “There is no way to say “yes” at this stage, the minister stressed. She added that Bulgaria has always been good to Macedonia. Bulgaria is an EU member and hardly any other EU member will make such an effort to help Skopje handle EU,” she said.

Zaev is off to Berlin for a last-minute push on the Bulgarian veto (Republika)

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev is off to Berlin where he will receive an award from the left-wing Friedrich Ebert foundation. The purpose of the visit seems to be to make another lobbying attempt to get Germany, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, to pressure Bulgaria into allowing Macedonia to open its EU accession talks. So far, despite a flurry of meetings and phone calls including Chancellor Merkel, Germany has not been able to get Bulgaria to move. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, usually a major supporter of the Zaev, even acknowledged that Germany needs to look for the interest of its EU partners like Bulgaria as well. Zaev travels to Berlin with Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, and will meet German state secretary Michael Roth and members of parliament for the SPD party.

EU accession negotiations postponed until second half of 2021 (Tirana Times)

EU accession negotiations with Albania will most likely be postponed to the second part of next year as both the discussion between the foreign affairs ministers of the triple presidencies of the EU and an early draft document of the General Affairs Council obtained by Albanian media shows. The document foresees that the first intergovernmental conference can be held this year in December. “The Council expects to hold the first intergovernmental conference with Northern Macedonia and – if the conditions set in the March 2020 Council conclusions are met – with Albania, in December 2020.”-reads the declaration that can still change. However major impediments exist for both countries. Albania still has to fulfill key conditions set out on March 24, 2020 when the first green light was given by the EU. These include the functioning of the Constitutional and High Court. North Macedonia also is facing significant push back from Bulgaria in the last months regarding issues of national identity. The Council will need to convene on 17 November to discuss the negotiating framework and the set of conclusions expected to be approved on the same date. If not then the issue will be retaken on the Council in December. A slightly later timeline was discussed this week, by German Minister for European Affairs Michael Roth, who spoke in a videoconference to Portuguese and Slovenian counterparts Ana Paula Zacarias and Gasper Dovzan and where they mentioned that it is likely that the first intergovernmental conference for both Albania and North Macedonia will be held in March 2021. In their joint declaration they highlighted that all the three presidencies consider enlargement as a key priority and that following presidencies will work towards opening the negotiations for both countries. In any case that also leaves the second intergovernmental conference to be done before the chapter by chapter process begins. Experts believe that this will be left to the Slovenian presidency given also the significance of this chairmanship since Slovenia is also part of the region. In the meantime, in a few months, Albania is holding its general elections in a highly polarized climate and amidst political tensions, with the opposition having walked out of the parliament two years ago. A senior researcher at the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) told Tirana Times that “elections will be the ultimate test for the government’s political will to conduct a free and fair process. A NATO member state with the ambition to open negotiations such as Albania is yet to pass the basic test of free and fair elections.” Domestic commentators agree that failure to hold proper elections will put the country’s overall stability to risk and ultimately undermine the European integration process.