LOCAL PRESS 

Vucic: We will defend our interests regardless of almost hopeless situation (Tanjug/RTS/RTV) 

Serbia knows what its national and state interests are and will continue to fight for its people, and their rights, regardless of the fact that the situation is almost hopeless, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, when asked to comment on whether Serbia has a response to new pressures from Pristina and Washington and announcements of a new platform for continuing the dialogue.

“You don’t have an adequate answer, I see that Albin Kurti is also solving our internal situation, talking about what Serbia should look like and who should be in power. You stop, keep quiet, let them go, they are all strong and smart. We will let them go, let them do their job, we will do ours,” Vucic told reporters at the airport. He later told reporters at the airport that dialogue and talks with Pristina are most important for Serbia, but if they think that it is not necessary, and that they will solve their problems in that way, he says there is no problem with that. Regarding the fact that Kurti says that he is not interested in dialogue with Belgrade, but with the Serbs in Kosovo, Vucic notes that the representatives of Serbs from Kosovo are not the ones who get 0.62 or those who get two percent, but those who get 95 percent. They tried in every way to install the Serbs with whom they want to talk, from Rasic to Rada Trajkovic, but they did not succeed. You can buy someone, but you can’t 95 percent of the people,” said Vucic. He also pointed out that this situation is extremely difficult for us, almost hopeless, after 2004, 2008 and 1999, but that we still have to fight for our people, their interests and our right, and added that we will see how far and how. “It will be difficult for us, and for them, as they say, everything is easy. We will see how easy it will be,” concluded Vucic.

Vucic: Relationship with Croatia is important, Serbia not hiding missing persons information (RTL/Beta) 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on that relations with Croatia were very import, dismissing allegation that he was hiding information about persons who went missing during the 1990s wars in the former Yugoslavia. Speaking for Croatia’s RTL TV, President Vucic said that difficult past aside, Serbs and Croats would share the future. “I am not talking about a joint state, or similar nonsense, but Serbs and Croats will have to be much closer and work in unison, because that’s the only way for them to survive,” Vucic said. When asked if he considered a lack of top-level political contacts normal, as his Croatian counterpart, Zoran Milanovic, said that he would not meet him until Serbia fully disclosed information on missing persons, Vucic said that Milanovic had the right to do so, and that Serbia was not hiding anything. “I want every unaccounted-for Croat to be found, and I don’t want to hide a single criminal. I don’t want to justify myself to anyone. If someone thinks that we may be hiding reports for whatever reason, that says more about them than us. I don’t think that President Milanovic is among them,” Vucic said, adding that Serbia was prepared to permit searches or excavations at any location that Croatia might think contained the remains of missing persons.

European Parliament report calls Belgrade to resolve issues (N1) 

Amendments to a draft European Parliament report on Serbia say that the authorities in Belgrade have to resolve a number of issues, including the affairs at the Krusik munitions plant, Jovanjica marijuana farm and Telekom Serbia dealings. The report was drafted by EP rapporteur Vladimir Bilcik MEP with other MEPs filing a large number of amendments, some of which have been adopted. “Serbia is called to achieve convincing results … in the fight against corruption and organized crime, especially on cases which draw great public interest, including the Krusik, Jovanjica and Telekom Serbia cases,” one of the amendments says and recalls the case of the illegal leveling of buildings in the Savamala neighborhood. The report also calls the Serbian authorities to disband large criminal groups who have spread outside the borders of Serbia. One of the amendments expresses concern over the growing violence by extremist groups and organized crime and calls the authorities to investigate the cases reported by investigative journalists and hold accountable the public officials responsible. It condemned the public attacks and hate speech in the Serbian parliament against Tanja Fajon MEP and political opponents, independent media and journalists as violations of democratic practices and basic democratic values. The Committee will vote on the amendments and the report on 23 February, and the EP will do so in plenary on 24 and 25 March.

Vulin: If you didn’t send us vaccines then you didn’t have to send us the amendments (Tanjug/RTV) 

Commenting the report of the EP on Serbia referring to the Jovanjica, Telekom and Krusik cases, Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin stated on Sunday that the MEPs couldn’t or wouldn’t send us vaccines then they didn’t have to send us their amendments. “Since you have kept the medical equipment and vaccine for yourselves, I asked the European to also keep to themselves their political views, pressures on our judiciary, and hypocrisy. If you cannot give us what we need, you can keep what we don’t need at all,” Vulin said.

Third session of the Committee on Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug) 

At the session held on 19 February 2021, the members of the Committee for Kosovo and Metohija reviewed the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Activity Report for the period January – December 20209, submitted by the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. Igor Popovic, acting assistant Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, presented the Activity Report to the Committee members. Popovic explained in detail the assistance provided by the Office in the field of justice and property issues to persons living in the Autonomous Province and internally displaced persons, as well as the legal support to the local self-governments in Kosovo and Metohija, and assistance in the fields of business, economic development and infrastructure projects. Speaking of legal assistance in the reporting period, 330 letters were sent, 140 parties were received for verbal consultations and in 932 instances, advice was provided by telephone and/or electronically. In said period, the Office continued to provide assistance to persons of Serbian and non-Albanian nationality, against whom the judiciary of the Provisional Institutions in Kosovo and Metohija had mounted criminal proceedings for alleged serious crimes committed during armed conflicts on the territory of AP Kosovo and Metohija or for other criminal offenses under the indictments constructed in order to exert pressure to evict the remaining Serb and non-Albanian population and prevent the return of displaced persons. In the reporting period, the Office continued to provide assistance to the Serbian Orthodox to protect church property by financing the work of the Legal Service of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren. He also submitted a report concerning the Office’s worn on the return and survival, infrastructure project planning, IPA project management, international cooperation, implementation of agreements, cultural heritage protection, public service support, welfare and assistance to local media. Popovic also spoke about Chapter 35, as well as financial affairs. Following a constructive discussion, the Committee members accepted the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Activity Report for the period January – December 2020. On item two on the agenda – current state of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Committee members were addressed by Miloje Zdravkovic, Assistant Director of the Office for the Coordination of Affairs in the Process of Negotiation with the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina. Zdravkovic informed the Committee members about the situation and dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, stressing that they had been blocked from 2018 to April 2020. He noted that in the first Agreement on Normalization of Relations between Belgrade and Pristina, signed on 19 April 2013, the first six items regulate the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities, where Pristina did not fulfil any of them, which is the main problem in the continuation of the dialogue. Speaking about Chapter 35, which concerns the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and is specific because it contains a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the agreements reached within the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, he concluded that its opening is not possible until the full implementation of the first Normalization Agreement is achieved. Zdravkovic pointed out that what burdened the dialogue in addition to the fact that Pristina did not fulfil its obligations from the Agreement, was the imposition of the 100% tax tariff on goods from Serbia in 2018, until April 2020 when Miroslav Lajcak was elected European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, whose appointment restarted the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. He stated that so far, in the period from June 2020 to the end of 2020, there have been 11 rounds of negotiations addressing the issues of missing persons, internally displaced persons and economic cooperation. There is an agreement in principle on these issues, but no arrangement has been reached so far. The problem we are faced with, Zdravkovic stated, is that during the talks with the provisional institutions of Pristina in Brussels, our side demanded the opening of archives, i.e. the KLA diary, which is otherwise available to their institutions, while the Pristina side denied that such a thing at all exists. He also spoke about property and financial claims and stressed that Pristina insists on reciprocity in those areas. Also, the members of the Committee passed the Decision regulating the manner in which the meetings of the Working Group for the Collection of Facts and Evidence for the Investigation of Crimes Committed against Serbs and Other National Communities in Kosovo and Metohija are to be held.

The session was chaired by Committee Chair Milovan Drecun.

Comoro Islands do not recognize so-called Kosovo (RTV/Tanjug) 

The Foreign Ministry of the Comoro Islands informed the Serbian Embassy in Nairobi that the position of the Union of Comoro Islands regarding the issue of non-recognition of the so-called Kosovo remains unchanged. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Union of Comoro Islands expresses its respect to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Nairobi and with reference to note no. 071/2021 of 17 February 2021 on the information that appeared in the foreign media about the alleged note of the Comoro Ministry in regard to the so-called state of Kosovo, has the honor to inform it that the alleged note does not originate from the Comoro’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and must be considered a null and void document,” the note said, the Serbian Embassy in Nairobi said. The Comoro Islands recognized Kosovo in 2009, as the 59th country in the world to do so, but that recognition was withdrawn on 7 November 2018, as announced by the then Serbian foreign minister Ivica Dacic.

Bosniaks are now against closing down of the OHR (Politika) 

Politika daily reported that there is an increase in frequency of requests for closing down of the OHR, which are now coming not only from domestic, but also certain international circles. However, according to the daily, Bosniak representatives interpret such requests as ill-intentioned and dangerous for Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)’s interests. According to the daily, even though Bosniak representatives earlier supported the general opinion that B&H cannot join the EU while the High Representative is present, they no longer feel this way and they fight to keep the OHR, especially considering the fact that during the mandate of Valentin Inzko this institution demonstrated huge support towards “the politics created in Bosniak political circles”. Author noted that in last couple of days, the Head of EU Delegation to B&H Johann Sattler is under the criticism “from Sarajevo” because of his statement that it is necessary to strive towards gradual closing down of the OHR, because existence of this institution, in the long run is incompatible with EU membership. SDP MP in B&H House of Peoples, Denis Becirovic immediately responded, saying that this statement is “reckless, superficial and dangerous” and not founded in Dayton Peace Agreement. Becirovic underlined that instead of calling for closing down of the OHR, Sattler should focus on “gradual closing down of the politics which calls for weakening of B&H and strengthening of destructive forces”, openly alluding to Chairman of B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik. Chairman of Council of Ministers, Zora Tegeltija deems that the OHR turned into lobbying office for certain Bosniak politicians, adding that the High Representative for years has not served as factor for solving of issues. He added that OHR often creates solutions which are suitable only for one side. HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic expects that after the change at helm of the OHR, this institution will be transformed. He added that it is not realistic to have this parallel institution with the Bonn powers, and at the same time get the status of EU candidate and open the negotiation on membership.

REGIONAL PRESS 

CEC holds press conference: First preliminary election results presented, Jerinic wins 67.44% of votes, Grujicic wins 67.62% of votes (FTV) 

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Central Election Commission (CEC) held a press conference where they stated results of repeated elections in Srebrenica and Doboj. President of the B&H CEC Zeljko Bakalar stated that in Doboj, out of 61,300 registered voters in all regular polling stations, 32,764 citizens have voted which is 53.42% of voter turnout. Bakalar commented that this was significantly less than the voter turnout during the elections held in November 15th 2020. In Srebrenica, out of 10,524 registered voters, in all regular polling stations, 4,897 citizens have voted which is 46.53% of voter turnout. Bakalar emphasized that the B&H CEC did not receive even one complaint on Sunday concerning the violations of the election process which are in the first instance jurisdiction of the B&H CEC. “We have received three complaints which were delivered to the first instance jurisdiction of the Doboj City Election Commission. Two complaints from the SDS, and one complaint from the political subject ‘Banja Luka calls’ (Banja Luka zove) which concerns accredited observers. Once we have decisions of the Doboj City Election Commission, we will decide whether it is final or not”, stated Bakalar. Bakalar added that they have received regularly throughout Sunday information from the RS Ministry of Interior according to whom there was no recorded mistakes or information that could point to endangerment of the election process, except for one case of disturbance of public order, according to RS MoI. Bakalar read preliminary results of the elections for the Mayor of Doboj and the Head of Srebrenica Municipality from regular polling stations. Bakalar pointed out the results include the results from regular polling stations where elections were not annulled, which were held on 15 November 2020. The results for Doboj City Assembly and Srebrenica Municipality Assembly were arriving during the press conference and were being entered into the application, and those results will be published on Monday morning through the web page Izbori.ba, said Bakalar. When it comes to the elections for the Mayor of Doboj city, 96 out 106 polling stations were processed. The candidate for the Mayor of Doboj Boris Jerinic of the SNSD has won 19,148 votes, which is 67.44% of votes. The candidate for the Mayor of Doboj Srdjan Todorovic of SP has won 4,645 votes, which is 16.36% of votes, and the candidate for the Mayor of Doboj Cvijan Filipovic of SDS has won 4,600 votes, which is 16.20% of votes. When it comes to the elections for the Head of Srebrenica Municipality, the candidate for the Head of Srebrenica Municipality Mladen Grujicic of the Coalition ‘Together for Srebrenica’ has won 5,189 votes, which is 67.62% of votes. The candidate for the Head of Srebrenica Municipality Alija Tabakovic of SDA has won 2,433 of votes, which is 31.70% of votes. The candidate for the Head of Srebrenica Municipality Mile Janjic, an independent candidate, has won 28 votes, which is 0.36% of votes. The candidate for the Head of Srebrenica Municipality Aleksandar Simic, an independent candidate, has won 24 votes, which is 0.31% of votes.

‘My Address: Srebrenica’ leader Ahmetovic says boycott of elections in Srebrenica was 99 per cent successful (N1) 

Members of Initiative ‘My Address: Srebrenica’ Sadik Ahmetovic, asked if the boycott of the elections was successful and how many Bosniaks went to the polls, Ahmetovic said that only dozens of Bosniaks voted on Sunday, “those, I would say, were pressured by the municipal institutions, out of fear and we do not resent them’’. Ahmetovic noted that the boycott was 99 per cent successful. Asked how Bosniaks who voted were pressured to that, and if there is evidence of that, Ahmetovic said there is no evidence “and we concluded that based on conversation with them’’, noting that the pressure by the local authorities “has existed for four years and they concluded from that that they may have certain problems if they do not vote’’. Asked if the candidates who said they would not accept their mandates remained of that view, Ahmetovic said they all “individually said they would not accept the mandates under such circumstances and injustice done to our citizens in Diaspora’’. Asked what would happen if some of them accept their mandates, Ahmetovic said it is their decision, but “it is difficult to do that in Srebrenica to enter the Assembly where you are nothing’’. Asked to comment on the statement by candidate of Serb political parties Mladen Grujicic, according to which, even if there were no Bosniak representatives at the Srebrenica Assembly, Grujicic will fight for the rights of Bosniaks, Ahmetovic said there have been many obstructions in the past three months, including not allowing issuance of identification documents to Bosniaks “so that they cannot be on the voters’ register’’ in an attempt that as few as possible Bosniaks go to the polls and now “there is a situation where you call on Bosniaks to vote’’. Ahmetovic added, the situation is maybe necessary to Grujicic at the moment, but “Srebrenica needs justice, and we will fight for justice’’.

OHR, EUD, US Embassy express discontent with decision to boycott elections in Srebrenica (Dnevni avaz) 

Asked for a comment about the boycott of elections in Srebrenica, the OHR stated for the daily that boycotting of democratic processes is usually not a good idea, when the goal is to achieve results for wellbeing of the community. “Political parties and subjects can independently decide whether they will participate in elections or not. However, they should carefully think whether consequences of such decisions are in the best interest of their electorate. At the same time, everyone involved need to be engaged in order to secure that elections are fair and free in the highest possible extent,” OHR stated.  Representatives of the EU Delegation (EUD) to B&H told daily that participation in elections is a democratic right and at the same time, all participants are able to reach their own decisions about participation in elections, but boycott is not in the best interest of voters and does not reflect healthy democratic society. “Central Election Commission is preforming important work in line with the Election Law of B&H, but also the other positive legislations, which guarantees integrity and transparency of election process, and independence of this institution is of extreme importance. All political stakeholders need to respect final and obligatory decisions of competent institutions, in order to preserve the rule of law. Concerns regarding the integrity of election process need to be addressed through improvement of the election legislation in B&H in line with European standards, as well as adequate recommendations of the Venice Commission, as it was underlined in key priorities from the European Commission’s Opinion,” stated EUD. The US Embassy to B&H stated that they are disappointed and added that concern regarding integrity and transparency of the elections should be solved via constructive dialogue, including advocating serious efforts in adoption of reforms that the ODIHR recommended in order to strengthen the election system, and not with boycott of the democratic process.

Inzko urges patience regarding appointment of new HR as most PIC members are yet to reveal their stances about possible appointment of German politician Schmidt (Face TV) 

High Representative (HR) Valentin Inzko, commenting on possible appointment of the new HR, Inzko reminded that he attended a meeting organized by the cabinet of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in relation to the candidacy of German politician Christian Schmidt for the new HR, adding that he will do his best to help with transition and he will fully support Schmidt just like Germany fully supports him as the HR. He stressed that he has yet to start preparing to leave because the whole process to appoint the new HR might last for months and Schmidt must talk to all members states of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC). He revealed that Schmidt already addressed the PIC once in order to present his candidacy and several member states of the PIC gave their support while one member state is opposed. He explained that the remaining member states are engaged in consultations and if they give their consent the PIC will announce the decision to appoint Schmidt as the new HR, after which the PIC’s decision will have to be approved by the UN Security Council (UNSC). He deems that questions about support for Schmidt’s candidacy should be addressed to Schmidt himself and members states of the PIC but the situation with the US may pose additional problems because the administration of newly elected US President Joe Biden has yet to fully take over and the coronavirus pandemic, vaccination in the US, the situation in the Middle East are probably more important than Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). He pointed out that Biden’s team for the Balkans will probably be formed in the next few weeks but some of appointed officials are very much familiar with the situation in B&H, namely new CIA Director William Burns and new Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. As to allegations that the US wants Schmidt to present his program and plans regarding B&H before giving him support, Inzko said that having such expectations is good because bringing in new faces and figures is not enough and there should be a new program. He claims that the new HR should come with a new policy, new tools at his disposal and new paradigm and Schmidt is already working on this. According to Inzko, Merkel’s press service explained that Schmidt’s candidacy was motivated by Germany’s desire to bring B&H back “into the agenda of the international community” and this is exactly what he was trying to do for most of his tenure as the HR but he had no success. He said that peacekeeping forces include soldiers from South America and numerous countries but not from Germany and few other European countries, which is another indication that something went wrong and the international community should pay more attention to B&H. He stressed that Germany and France are understandably more interested in other countries and areas but their engagement in B&H should be stronger. Inzko pointed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking Russian officials seem to always find time for certain political leaders from B&H, in particular Chairman of the Presidency of B&H and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, and the West should do the same and dedicate more of its time to B&H. Inzko reminded that most terrorist attacks in Europe were in one way or another linked to B&H or certain B&H citizens, adding: “Therefore, European security starts in the Balkans”. He called on B&H political leaders to turn their words into action and prove their commitment to the path to join the EU and the rule of law in practice. He deems that Merkel probably selected Schmidt as the candidate for the new HR due to Schmid’s vast experience as politician and diplomat, his knowledge of politicians and relations in the region, as well as the fact that he helped with signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) by intervening and showing how export of agricultural products from B&H to the EU will not decline after B&H signs the SAA. He stated that Germany should address allegations that Schmidt’s candidacy was announced quickly and suddenly because the presidential elections in the US were seen as an opportunity to bypass the US. Nevertheless, HR Inzko claims that he is glad Germany selected the candidate for the new HR and Merkel is clearly delighted with Biden’s election regardless of different allegations while the US is probably pleased to see one of great European countries showing desire to get more engaged in B&H. He urged patience regarding the appointment of the new HR as only one country is clearly opposed to Schmidt’s candidacy and stances of other countries are mostly unknown. Inzko commended Biden for including B&H and the Western Balkans among the US’ top priorities given the number of problems and issues in other regions, saying that Biden knows there is “imperfect peace” in the Balkans and Biden wants to finish the job.

He said that he cannot understand why former HR Wolfgang Petrich is calling for the shutdown of the Office of High Representative (OHR) and transfer of its powers to the EU Delegation to B&H, mostly because Russian Ambassador to B&H and Dodik are saying pretty much the same. He deems that the OHR’s shutdown and transfer of its powers to the EU Delegation is still “a dream” and will not happen for at least another 20 years because the US, Turkey or the UK would never agree to this. He noted that he would not hesitate to shut down the OHR if it would help B&H in any way but one of the conditions for this is to have positive assessment of the situation in B&H by the international community.

Inzko: Blagojevic will face consequences for ignoring B&H CC’s rulings regarding imposed laws and state property (Face TV) 

High Representative (HR) Valentin Inzko, asked about the issue of state property, in particular refusal of judge of the Banja Luka District Court Milan Blagojevic to implement the law on temporary ban of use of state property in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) in the case ‘City of Banja Luka vs. Republika Srpska (RS) Administration for Geodetic and Property Affairs’ with explanation that HR Inzko has no right to take over competences of executive authorities and impose laws, Inzko replied that judge Blagojevic is not authorized to interpret the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) while the Constitutional Court of B&H (B&H CC) already discussed this issue a long time ago and ruled that the HR actually does have the right to impose laws as a part of the mandate given to him by the UNSC, meaning that Blagojevic is also not respecting the ruling of the B&H CC. He deems that Blagojevic will have to face consequences, not for ignoring him personally or the HR but for ignoring the B&H CC and its rulings regarding laws imposed by the HR and state property. He reminded that the B&H CC already ruled that state property belongs to the state, including rivers and the location designated for the construction of an airport near Trebinje, and he welcomes Serbia’s investments in the construction of power plants on the Drina river and other investments as well but existing order and the owner of state property have to be respected. He claims that he expects from the Council of Ministers of B&H to quickly give its consent if Serbia does file a request regarding power plants on the Drina river. He underlined that the state should remain in possession of state property but small parts that the state cannot use can be given to entities, municipalities or local communities although there is strict procedure for this. He reiterated that he is not against investments and the construction of aforementioned power plants or airport but everything has to be in line with the law.

Inzko sets deadline for adoption of law on ban on genocide denial, says there will be consequences unless decorations to war criminals are revoked (EuroBlic/Face TV) 

High Representative Valentin Inzko, in a statement to Face TV, set May as a deadline for leadership of RS to revoke decorations to former RS officials who were sentenced for war crimes. Asked whether this means that sanctions will be imposed against speaker of the RS parliament Nedeljko Cubrilovic and RS parliament deputy speaker Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic unless the decorations are annulled, Inzko replied by saying that “there will be consequences”. Inzko also said that he already has a draft law on ban on denial of genocide in his drawer and noted: “We will surely send this to the Parliament, so that they can have the final chance to adopt it”. Inzko stated that he will react unless MP adopt this law, but he did not specify what kind of reaction this will be. The daily noted that, judging past experience of politicians in the RS and entire B&H with the High Representatives and Bonn powers, these consequences could be very serious as they primarily include removals. Inzko also said that he is still not packing his suitcases and that he will stay in B&H until further notice, as well as that “shutting down of the OHR is a distant dream”. Asked whether Christian Schmidt will be the new High Representative, Inzko replied by saying that he “would have to look into a crystal ball to find an answer” but he noted that, out of 200 problems worldwide, B&H is among the first five or six priorities. “New (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote speeches on B&H with (US President Joseph) Biden during the war. His father is a Jewish man who survived Holocaust. Blinken knows what genocide is”, Inzko concluded.

RS officials strongly oppose Inzko’s insisting on adoption of law on ban on genocide denial (Glas Srpske) 

Following the announcement of High Representative Valentin Inzko on possible consequences unless law on ban on genocide denial is adopted, Deputy Speaker of the RS parliament and attorney Milan Petkovic said that it is unacceptable to impose any kind of documents and threaten with sanctions to a country with democratically elected representatives in 21st century. “When it comes to the specific law mentioned by the High Representative, courts – especially The Hague Tribunal – interpreted the definition of genocide very widely in past” Petkovic said and added that The Hague Tribunal proved that it is not “strictly legal but a political institution, because of which Serbs have never and will never accept its certain stances and verdicts”. Petkovic argued that all verdicts can be reconsidered and subject of a revision and reminded that even Draza Mihailovic was sentenced as a war criminal but was rehabilitated several years ago. Petkovic noted that it is difficult to speak hypothetically about a law on ban on genocide denial but he added that, from legal point of view, there could be serious problems: “Will I, as an attorney, be able to defend a client charged with genocide without being accused of violation of this law? This would be absurd and would completely destroy the principle of presumption of innocence because anyone charged with genocide would be sentenced in advance because nobody would be able to defend him”. Chair of SNSD Caucus in the House of Representatives (HoR) of B&H Snjezana Novakovic-Bursac said that “Inzko should finally read the Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA)” and argued that Inzko’s threats are nothing more than “a bluff to which nobody serious in the RS will react. What will he write in the preamble and where will he find the constitutional-legal basis for such stunts? He will find it nowhere because there is none”. Spokesperson for SNSD Radovan Kovacevic said that Inzko’s intention to impose any kind of law is unacceptable and noted that this is the stance of all political representatives from the RS. Kovacevic argued that the function of the High Representative is clearly defined by the Annex 10 of the DPA and it is related to the implementation of the civil aspect of the DPA and mutual cooperation between the RS and Federation of B&H. “The Bonn powers, which Inzko relies on, are illegal and have no grounds in the international law, and nobody in the RS has any intention to respect those”, Kovacevic claimed. MP Nenad Stevandic (United Srpska) said that Inzko is trying to create additional tensions among people in B&H and added: “This is obviously his intention because he was silent about this topic for five years”. “The only question is with whom Inzko reached this agreement but it is obvious that he is trying to leave tensions behind him,” Stevandic said. Chair of SDS Caucus in the RS parliament Miladin Stanic said that it would not be good for Serb people to have such law adopted and it would especially not be good if it were imposed.

CoE receives information that B&H Parliament’s interdepartmental working group should start working on constitutional reforms soon; Poirel: B&H Constitution outdated and in need of change (N1) 

The five-day mission of the Council of Europe (CoE) in B&H has been completed (on Friday), and its focus was set on implementation of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)’s ruling in the case ‘Sejdic-Finci vs. B&H’ and related cases. The CoE has been informed that the interdepartmental working group of the B&H Parliament should soon start working on the necessary constitutional reforms. The previous interdepartmental working group in charge of these reforms was formed four years ago, held 13 meetings, but failed to yield concrete results.  The mission included a virtual visit of Director of Human Rights of the CoE Christophe Poirel to B&H during which he said that the Constitution of B&H is outdated and is in need of change. According to Poirel, it is time for B&H to move onto a different, modern system in which there is no discrimination and which is not based on constituent peoples. Speaking for Fena agency, Poirel noted that there are political leaders connected to the system of three constituent peoples, but such system cannot last forever. “I consider that the main obstacle is related to the existing constitutional framework. It has been designed after the war, when a lot of people died. It was designed with constituent peoples, but the war ended a long time ago and that is why it is important for B&H to move onto a different, modern system” Poirel underscored. The Human Rights Director expressed hope that the reforms will be complete by the end of this year, before the general elections of 2022, noting that the CoE i.e. the Venice Commission can help. He stressed that B&H should look to the future, where the future implies a system in which there is no discrimination. According to N1, it remains a question how to come to such future if there are disagreements among political leaders with regard to amending the Election Law of B&H and, more importantly, amending the Constitution – all necessary for implementation of the ECHR’s rulings. The Croat People’s Assembly (HNS) showed on Friday that they are far from complying with the messages sent from the CoE, as they have started working on the proposal of amendments to the Election Law based on which constituent peoples would have to have their constituencies according to the principle of non-territorial autonomy. HNS representative Bozo Ljubic specified the proposal the HNS is working on, by saying: “All those who declared as members of one constituent people in the last census of population would elect only the candidate for the member of the Presidency of B&H from rank of their constituent people.” Ljubic assessed that “legitimate representation” would hence be respected. Ljubic also said that it will be necessary to execute the rulings of the Constitutional Court (CC) of B&H as well as of the ECHR. “Without implementation of these rulings, B&H cannot obtain the EU candidate status” he concluded.

EU calls on B&H authorities to form new task group to amend electoral legislation, HDZ B&H and SNSD do not want B&H CEC members in this body (BHT1) 

BHT1 commented that new local authorities in Mostar were formed and according to so called Mostar Agreement (Signed by leaders of SDA and HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)), talks about amending of the Election Law of B&H should start soon. Reporter noted that initiative of the international community (IC) to form again task group to amend electoral legislation will be discussed at next session of the Joint Collegium of both houses of B&H parliament. BHT1 carries stance of the EU that B&H authorities need to improve country’s electoral framework in line with the EU standards. The European Union expects B&H to launch activities related to this and other key priorities without further delays. Abovementioned task group should consist of representatives of B&H House of Representatives (HoR), B&H House of Peoples (HoP), the Central Election Commission (CEC) of B&H and B&H Council of Ministers (CoM).

HDZ B&H and SNSD officials oppose participation of members of B&H CEC in work of this commission, because two parties believe members of B&H CEC were not appointed in legal way. Leader of SDA Bakir Izetbegovic stated earlier that he had requested stronger engagement of the EU and the US in process of amending of the electoral legislation in B&H.

Representatives of the IC expressed support to reforms of electoral framework. They deem that changes will depend on preparedness of B&H officials to claim responsibility and achieve compromise. Leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik thinks that no compromise will be achieved in this regard. “I do not believe agreement will be achieved in B&H and that the Election Law will be amended,” stressed leader of SNSD.

Blinken writes to Turkovic; Now, more than ever citizens depend of our leadership (Dnevni avaz) 

Newly appointed US State Secretary, Antony Blinken sent a letter to B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chair of Council of Ministers, Bisera Turkovic: “As a State Secretary I am looking forward to cooperation with You and Government of B&H on deepening of our partnership and improving of joint interests. We are faced with many crises all over the world and I am convinced that we can raise together and face these historic challenges. Now, more than ever, our citizens depend of our leadership. We have an opportunity and obligation to build peaceful future, rooted in freedom and prosperity for all,” reads the letter.

Picula: All accusations made ahead of Niksic elections to be clarified ASAP (Pobjeda) 

Interference of other countries in the election process represents a first-rate political and security challenge. I believe that political parties, as well as all those who take part in the Niksic elections, must abide by laws and rules of Montenegro, and all accusations should be clarified as soon as possible. Otherwise, a bad message is sent to citizens, voters are confused, especially if it’s happening just before the election, Tonino Picula, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Montenegro and a longtime Croatian politician, MP and foreign minister, says in an interview for Pobjeda. As the European Parliament has been seriously concerned about the limited progress in the fight against corruption and calls on competent Montenegrin bodies to improve the results so far, especially in the area of confiscation of criminal assets and records of prosecutions and final verdicts, asked about his opinion on the ways of our further progress in these areas given the announcement of abolition of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office and amendments to the prosecutorial laws, Picula tells: “We made it clear in the report that we regret the limited progress Montenegro has made in judicial reform. We called on the authorities to address the issues of independence, professionalism, efficiency and accountability of judges as soon as possible, in line with the recommendations of GRECO, the Group of States against Corruption. Montenegro already possesses the mechanisms needed to ensure both judicial and prosecutorial independence – they just need to be further upgraded. Any sudden attempt to change sensitive laws gives the impression that this is not about an ambition to make all functions in the judiciary equally strong, but more like an attempt to strengthen party influence on institutions crucial for the fight against corruption and crime.” On the fact that Serbia’s been meddling in internal affairs of Montenegro and that supporters of the Serbia’s ruling SNS party are operating in the town of Niksic, investing large amount of money in the campaign ahead of the local elections, he notes: “Interference of other states in election processes is a first-class political and security challenge for every country. The EU itself pays great attention to this and invests huge funds in order to prevent foreign factors from pursuing their political interests, by financing candidates and disinformation campaigns. In this regard, I support the right of every democratic country to defend its democratic processes and the rule of law.”

Radulovic already informed countries about the recall of ambassadors (Dnevne novine) 

Montenegro’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already informed the countries of reception about ambassadors who were to be recalled via a note verbale, even though the process hasn’t been completed yet, as the President of Montenegro hasn’t signed a decree on their recall, several sources confirmed to Dnevne Novine daily. A source says that the ministry used a note verbale to inform the countries that it intended to recall ambassadors and that their tenure would cease on 15 February. In addition, the ministry sent names of chargés d’affaires. It’s another in a series of moves that undermine the reputation of Montenegrin diplomacy, whereas it may happen that the entire process, due to procedural mistakes of Minister Djordje Radulovic, is returned to the very beginning. In addition, recalled ambassadors may file a lawsuit for the reputational damage. The procedure itself was part of the discussion of the Committee on International Relations and Immigrants, and the DPS MP, Andrija Nikolic, asked Radulovic if it was true that the ministry had sent a note verbale –  statements the Minister strongly denied. The head of the parliamentary international relations committee, Miodrag Lekic, said at the session that the Constitution implies that the proposal for the appointment and the recall of ambassadors is given by the government. Radulovic said that a diplomacy show had been made in the previous days. Lekic explained that President Milo Djukanovic received explanations from the Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the doubts he had and that the job was made easier. Djukanovic sought the opinion of the Committee on International Relations and Emigrants on the recall of extraordinary and authorized ambassadors on a resident basis. In a formal diplomatic note sent to embassies, Radulovi proposed diplomats who are going to run the Montenegrin embassies until new ambassadors are appointed, the CdM portal has learned. In majority of cases, Minister Radulovic proposed diplomats of the lowest diplomatic rank. According to sources of CdM, he proposed I secretary to run the embassies in Vatican City, Beijing and Sarajevo, while in Abu Dhabi, II secretary will take over. Only in Rome he proposed a diplomat of a higher diplomatic rank to run it – a minister-councilor. To briefly explain, the ranks of diplomats go as follows –ambassador, minister-councilor, I advisor, advisor, I secretary, II secretary.

Djukanovic’s office: PM and Minister Spajic are embarrassing the state (CdM) 

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic,and the Minister of Finance and Social Welfare Milojko Spajic who indebted the state almost a billion euro on their first working day, hiding it not only from citizens, but from those who brought them to those positions, are now selling that same public a bill of goods by telling stories about savings and solving social issues, that is, the sale of two cars, the head of the Cabinet of the President of Montenegro Miodrag Radovic stated. He points out that both Krivokapic and Spajic are embarrassing the state and their positions with the way they announced the sale of two Maybachs, one of which the President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, has been using. “If their job of car dealers, which they have become, would be successful, that would be the greatest success in the first 100 days of this government. However, they keep quiet about the spread of their staff throughout the administration and how many Maybachs the citizens are going to pay for it,” he added. As for the Maybach itself, he says: “The armored car for the President was procured based on the assessment of his safety by competent services. We expect those services to assess whether such a car is needed anymore and take responsibility for that. And that’s where all their Maybach philosophy ends.”

Zaev doesn’t give up, asks the opposition to support the census (Republika) 

We must not allow non-seriousness and not have a census for the next ten years. If we are a country that has not held a census for 20 years, we should do it as soon as possible. I am convinced that we will have a successful census 1-21 April, as planned, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Sunday in Probistip when asked to comment on the initiative of the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE to collect signatures to nullify the census law. The Prime Minister says that the Law is in line with Eurostat and all international standards and that it is a statistical operation, adding that any kind of blocking, any distraction of people or causing uncertainty, is not at all a patriotic act towards the state.

Karakachanov says he will suggest that Macedonia and Albania be separated, so that Albania’s EU path isn’t blocked (Republika/BNT) 

Bulgarian Defense Minister Krasimir Karakachanov claims that the Macedonian political elite has generated great hatred towards Bulgarians. In an interview with BNT, he said repression and pressure on Bulgarians in Macedonia had intensified, including from senior government officials. The Bulgarian minister says he sees no reason why US President Joe Biden or anyone else should support such a policy. Karakachanov believes that the EU does not need a new problem such as Macedonia. There are enough problems in the EU. Nobody needs a new problem in the Balkans if it is not solved in a normal way, added Karakachanov. He announced that in the coming months, when the issue of Macedonia and Albania joining the Union is reopened in Sofia, he will propose that the two countries be separated, so that Albania is not blocked.

Why Albania’s foreign policy toward Serbia should change (Tirana Times, by Albert Rakipi)  

The issuing of official charges and the start of a trial for the former top leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the Specialist Chambers in The Hague are an extreme development that may have serious political implications in Kosovo; but also in its relations with Serbia, as well as international relations in the region. This is true for at least three reasons: First, it is due to the fact that those accused of “establishing and directing a criminal enterprise” and “committing war crimes and crimes against humanity” are the very same people who founded and led the KLA — an undertaking aimed at protecting human lives and resisting Serbia’s state war machine, which is responsible for at least 10,000 victims, the displacement of 50 percent of Kosovo’s population as well as of massacres and genocide perpetrated on Kosovo’s civilian population. Those formally charged in The Hague are individuals, but in a final analysis, these charges are an attempt to criminalize the KLA and the just war of the people of Kosovo. Secondly, among the top KLA leaders standing accused in The Hague is Hashim Thaci, the central political figure of Kosovo for the past two decades, a former Prime Minister and former President of the Republic of Kosovo. During those two decades, he led the war, the process of independence and the process of state-building; as well as established and developed Kosovo’s international relations. At the end of that journey, he now stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, paradoxically, by a court which would not have been created and approved without the political will of Hashim Thaci himself. Third, because the charges against former KLA leaders, who are also the former leaders of the Republic of Kosovo, have been filed by the Specialist Chambers Prosecutor’s Office and the trial will be conducted by the Specialist Chambers Court, both justice institutions of the Republic of Kosovo established by the parliament of Kosovo with a special law, this is an unprecedented case in the modern history of the administration of justice for war crimes. More specifically, the charging and prosecuting of Kosovo’s top leaders are likely to have political implications in several aspects: First of all, there are implications in Kosovo itself, in its domestic policies on the functioning of institutions, including the stability of the country. President Thaci’s resignation has created not only a “vacancy” in one of the important institutions of the state, such as the presidency, but also a political vacuum that appears hard to fill with the simple act of electing a new president. The political scene in Kosovo may soon have a new configuration and political developments may create uncertainty, at least in the short term. But it seems that there will be serious implications for Kosovo’s international relations too, first in line being its relations with Serbia. High-ranking politicians in Kosovo have called for a freeze on the EU-mediated dialogue process with Serbia. Recently, the government of Kosovo rejected Belgrade’s request for a visit to Kosovo by the President of Serbia and the Minister of Defense. Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo has stated that visits by Serb statesmen will not be allowed until Serbia apologizes for the crimes committed in Kosovo. But, in the meantime, bringing Kosovo’s former President and other senior state officials to The Hague could have implications for international relations in the region, for example, in Albania’s relations with Serbia. On the day that the former President of Kosovo traveled to The Hague, the Prime Minister of Albania and the President of Serbia met (virtually) to discuss a number of agreements under the Balkan Mini Schengen, an initiative of Tirana and Belgrade to strengthen regional cooperation, an initiative of which Kosovo has rejected. The meeting of the heads of states and governments of the Western Balkans on the Mini Schengen initiative, held exactly on the day when the former President of Kosovo was traveling to The Hague, remained completely in the shadows in the Tirana media. Meanwhile, voices critical of Albania’s foreign policy toward Serbia have grown louder. According to the critics, Albania not only did not help, but went the other way entirely — harming Kosovo — because Tirana offered an unconditional approach to dealing with Belgrade. In its relations and discussions with Serbia, Albania has included Kosovo and its issues, as if the latter were a province of Albania. Other critics from Kosovo believe that through the deepening of relations with Serbia and the friendship that Tirana has offered to Belgrade, Albania has helped promote “a humane and democratic face of Serbia, at a time when Serbia has yet to face its criminal past, with even elements of the former Milosevic regime continuing to hold leading positions in the current government in Belgrade.” Others accuse Serbia of being behind the setting up of the charges against the KLA, so Albania should review, and even consider freezing relations with Serbia. Last, but not least in terms of the importance, the trial on charges on war crimes and crimes against humanity against the highest leaders of the KLA and the most important politicians of the Kosovo state, may have serious implications for the reconciliation process between Kosovo and Serbia, which is also the main avenue of the process of reconciliation of Albanians and Serbs in the Balkans. By accusing the KLA of war crimes, that strong dividing line between the aggressor and the victim, which had nevertheless begun to fade, could be erased as if it had never existed. Perhaps, as Veton Surroi writes, with the accusations and the trial in The Hague, a process of dealing with the past and reconciliation can start with Albanians among themselves in Kosovo. However, a process of reconciliation and dealing with the past within the Albanian community in Kosovo will overshadow and even discourage the process of Serbia’s confrontation with its past, when Serbia operated as an aggressor state against Kosovo and its population. And as Dominique Moisi of the French Institute of International Relations points out, without dealing with the past, there is no reconciliation for states that have entered and been defeated in war. The following article examines, first, Albania’s political response to the issuing of charges and the commencement of the trial against the former leaders of the KLA and the state of Kosovo, and, second, argues that, although it should revise its foreign policy toward Serbia, in fact also toward Kosovo, Albania should develop and strengthen relations with Serbia, relations which should be guided by the state and national interest of Albania and of course not by the short-term interests of power.

Using Kosovo politically in Tirana 

When a journalist asked what Albania would do after news came out that Turkey — an ally and strategic partner of Albania, as it has been noted — is selling weapons to Serbia, Pandeli Majko, the former Albanian prime minister, answered: “Kosovo has us.” In fact, “Kosovo has Albania” and “Albania must help Kosovo” has been a prevailing narrative since the fall of the communist regime and the beginning of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Despite the fact that the capacities, capabilities and opportunities of Albania to help have been very modest, the equation: “the mother country, Albania, must help Kosovo,” has remained unchanged, even now that Kosovo has entered its second decade of functioning as an independent state. Political elites on both sides of the border continue to feed this narrative while constantly failing to find ways of cooperating and helping each other as two independent states. Moreover, political leaders in Tirana and Pristina continue to use relations with Kosovo or relations with Albania, politically in the internal political struggle and for their short-term political interests. The dramatic development of the issuing of charges and the arrests of the leaders of Kosovo, starting from the head of state there, could not but have the attention and reaction of political Albania. And, regardless of the divisions and political alliances, or the political disputes and conflicts that exist among the leaders of Albania and Kosovo, the reaction of Tirana was an example of unity — something rare — in the attitude and reaction to the issuing of the charges: an expression of full support for the just struggle of the KLA and its leaders. Apart from expressing support, no assistance was actually expected from Albania. Although the charges go beyond the personal fate of four or five individuals, they are related to Kosovo’s history, but also its future — the battle in The Hague is a legal one and must be won by the accused individuals. Being essentially a legal battle, the chances for Albania to help are slim, if not all. Thus, no commitment was expected from Albania, or its leaders, its institutions, except for political statements and support for the just cause of the KLA during the war. Likewise, one could never expect this extreme development in Kosovo to be used politically for the internal political war in Albania, as has always happened with every issue and political development there. But the most incredible thing happened. Political leaders in Albania saw the charges and arrests of the former President of Kosovo and others as a golden opportunity to gain political advantage in Albania’s internal political struggle. The government-controlled single-color parliament of Albania set up a special commission to investigate allegations against the KLA raised by Dick Marty in his report and the role of public institutions in Albania during the Kosovo war. According to the Socialists, the former government led by the Democratic Party, now in opposition, “voted in favor of Dick Marty’s report in 2012” and damaged the reputation of the KLA and Kosovo’s just war. As incredible as it may seem, it was a clear attempt to blame the opposition for Dick Marty’s report in 2012 and, consequently, for the accusations against KLA leaders in 2020. That action is extremely lamentable! Dick Marty’s report, on which no evidence was found against the KLA and which was buried by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, was exhumed by the Albanian Socialists ten years later. Despite demands from the entire political spectrum in Kosovo that, “Kosovo and its issues should not be used for the internal political war in Albania,” the Socialists carried on with the establishment of a special commission. The government even ordered the convening of parliament in an urgent session on Friday, Dec. 3, although earlier in the week the government itself had by decree suspended all meetings, including parliamentary sessions, due to the pandemic. There is no doubt that the Socialists are trying to use Kosovo and the trial of KLA leaders for their electoral interests, just months before the parliamentary elections in Albania. After the establishment of the Parliamentary Commission, the accusations focused on the leader of the opposition, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, who, according to the Socialists, while working for UMNIK “helped prepare the files” based on which the leaders of the KLA are now charged in The Hague. Moreover, even the investigation and allegations of organ trafficking in Albanian territory, found in the Dick Marty report, “were led by Basha,” according to the Socialists. But they did not stop there. They managed to “find” a witness “who stated that when EULEX had arrested him, Lulzim Basha was also present, but, masked.” (? !!) This tragic-comedy would continue with another witness, with whom, the head of the Socialist parliamentary group raised another accusation: Basha had hidden the crimes and the massacre that the Serbs had committed in Krusha, a Kosovo village. According to the head of the Socialists in parliament, the Democrats’ Basha had hidden the tape with the recording of the massacre. However, the witness himself stated in a TV interview that he had handed over the recording of the massacre in Krusha to the BBC, not Lulzim Basha, through another person, Dashamir Peza, who later went on to serve as a Socialist Party MP. It is certainly unimaginable that such banalities will help the Socialists in the next political elections. No one can buy the Socialist argument that Kosovo’s leaders are in The Hague because of the previous Democratic Party government and its current leader, Lulzim Basha. Likewise, it has been difficult to push the political drive and sponsorship of the debate on “anti-national activity and against the KLA of the DP and Chairman Basha” as a way to avoid the attention and debate of the Albanian society on the economic and political crisis that Albania finds itself in. According to independent observers, the situation in Albania has been made worse by bad governance, the arrogance of the government, but also because of the 2019 earthquake and the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

How should the foreign policy toward Serbia change 

There is no doubt that Tirana’s attempt to use the trial of Kosovo’s leaders in Albania’s domestic political conflict will negatively affect Albania’s relations with Kosovo, relations that are already increasingly conflictual. But the charges and the trial against the former KLA leaders are likely to damage Albania’s relations with Serbia as well. It would be necessary to critically review Albania’s relations with Serbia in the interest of their sustainable development, but also in favor of strengthening the very confusing relations between Albania and Kosovo. Albania’s populist approach to relations with Serbia has failed to lay the groundwork for lasting reciprocal ties; while, at the same time, this approach has negatively affected and damaged Albania’s relations with Kosovo. It is very likely that the same populist approach under the new circumstances of having the KLA’s former leadership in The Hague, will lead to a freezing of relations between Tirana and Belgrade and at the same time, maintain the status quo in relations between Albania and Kosovo. Albania and Serbia are two key countries for the stability, security and economic development of the entire region. But, above all, Albania-Serbia relations are bilateral inter-state relations and they should be developed in a mutual way and based on shared interests. Over the past six years, relations between Tirana and Belgrade have developed modestly. Even after the enthusiasm of 2014, they soon reached a status quo, although the top leaders of the two countries, Prime Ministers Edi Rama and Aleksandar Vucic, exchanged mutual visits and maintained an active dialogue and communication. There is currently no significant progress in economic relations and in trade exchanges, which have remained almost at the levels of 2014. The same is true for areas like investments and tourism — as well as education, in which there has been a failure, for example, to reach an agreement on the recognition of university degrees. There are several reasons for this situation and low level of relations, but a fundamental reason is that the Albania-Serbia bilateral relations have been “taken hostage” by the “Kosovo issue.” During the last seven years, the agenda of Albania-Serbia bilateral relations has been dominated by a third state, Kosovo, even without the consent and will of the latter. It is clear that it is in Serbia’s interest for the agenda of bilateral cooperation with Albania to be dominated by Kosovo and Kosovo issues. Serbia, by keeping Kosovo on the agenda of relations with Albania, not only continues to question its independence, but seeks a “solution to the Kosovo issue” with Albania, which also questions the independence of a third state, Kosovo — an independence that has been recognized around the world. During his 2014 visit to Belgrade, the Prime Minister of Albania called on Serbia to recognize Kosovo’s independence, which not only eclipsed any other issue of bilateral cooperation, but marked Kosovo as a key issue in these relations. But before 2014, Albania and Serbia had supported the initiative of Italian foreign minister Mogherini to mediate bilateral meetings between Tirana and Belgrade. Through the “Mogherini initiative,” there was a tripartite tour of Rome-Tirana-Belgrade at the level of foreign ministers. I asked a senior Serbian diplomat what Italy mediates between Albania and Serbia, when currently the two countries have no problem seeking international mediation, even from a friendly country like Italy. “Kosovo is an independent state,” was my comment on his answer that “we have no other problem, except Kosovo.” Simultaneously with the European diplomacy, the international press read and misinterpreted the “historic” visit “after seventy years, of the Prime Minister of Albania to Serbia.” Of course, it was true that the visit of the Prime Minister of Albania in 2014 took place seventy years after the visit of Enver Hoxha in 1946. But the reason for such a long absence was not Kosovo at all, but the Cold War and Albania’s extreme self-isolation. The honeymoon between Yugoslavia and Albania ended in 1948, as is universally known, and not because of Kosovo. With the exception of the first meeting in 2014 between Albania and Serbia, in which the Prime Minister of Albania publicly demanded the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state by Serbia, in all meetings of the past six years, Kosovo continued to dominate the bilateral agenda, but for purely technical issues such as the “arrest of the director of police in northern Kosovo,” the issue of driving licenses, the Trepca Mine and the like, which are and should be the exclusivity of the Kosovo government. This agenda creates the perception that Kosovo is an autonomous province of Albania. Such a policy of Tirana created nervousness in Pristina, especially when it became clear that Albania’s ambitions were aimed at leading the peace process between Albanians and Serbs in the Balkans, when the Prime Minister of Albania stated that Albania and Serbia should do what Germany and France have done in Europe. To this erroneous equation of peace that Albania claimed, Kosovo responded that reconciliation with Serbia passes through Pristina and not through Tirana. But Albania ignored and neglected this advice from Kosovo and together with Serbia undertook the initiative of the so-called Balkan Schengen. The real Schengen Agreement, as established and implemented in the European Union, is an idealistic and utopian vision in the Balkans. The Schengen Agreement in Europe was proposed long after Germany and France had made peace and many years after the establishment and functioning of today’s European Union. Think about whether Schengen would work in Europe, or even the European Union itself, if some of the countries did not recognize one of the countries, as is the case of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the two Western Balkan states that do not recognize Kosovo. On a political level, Albania’s initiative for the mini-Schengen in the region simply promotes its ambitions to lead peace and reconciliation in the Balkans by neglecting Kosovo, on which peace with Serbia actually depends. At a theoretical and philosophical level, the proposal for a Schengen model in the Balkans could resolve disputes and conflicts through a bottom-up approach, applied by the European Union in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, which has failed. In fact, it is the top-down approach that should be applied, with Serbia recognizing Kosovo as an independent state and then, through Schengen, or similar models, continue the process of reconciliation and dispute resolution on technical issues. There is no doubt that with the latest developments with the charges being issued against former President Thaci and other Kosovo leaders, the Albania-Serbia relations will decline further. This is also due to the pressure from populist elements in Albania and Kosovo. But the root cause of a possible decline or freezing of relations in the short and medium term, is the populist approach with which Tirana has built its policy toward Belgrade. A foreign policy built on populism is highly influenced by populist pressures and thus is easily made unstable: relations with Serbia can easily move from full-on enthusiasm to freezing or deteriorating for the same reason: populist approaches and drives. It is not useful, or even realistic and possible, for Albania to condition its relations with Serbia with Kosovo. On the other hand, keeping Kosovo on the agenda of Albania’s relations with Serbia hinders the normal development of these relations and may lead to their freezing or deterioration, and, at the same time, can at least cast doubt on Kosovo’s independence, if it doesn’t undermine it altogether.

Mazi reveals details from the meeting held by Rama with EU Commissioner (Radio Tirana) 

Albania’s chief negotiator with the European Union Zef Mazi has revealed details from the meeting held by Prime Minister Edi Rama with EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson. In a joint press conference with Commissioner Johansson, Zef Mazi said that Albania is on the verge of opening negotiations. “The Prime Minister had the pleasure to receive in a meeting the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Mrs. Johansson, with whom he had an open discussion on our cooperation with the EU so far, on the whole range of issues that include the topic of internal affairs. This visit takes place at the right time, with an important focus on Albania. Albania is on the verge of EU membership. The issues discussed by the Prime Minister with the Commissioner have an impact on our progress forward. The Prime Minister and the Commissioner agreed that the close cooperation between Albania and the EU is based not only on the common values ​​they share, but also on our mutual interest, for more security for our citizens. The Prime Minister noted the long list of achievements marked by our authorities. “They focused on important aspects, police cooperation, with EU law enforcement agencies, cross-border control issues and immigration issues,” said Mazi.

The extradition treaty with the USA and Albania signed by American Ambassador Kim and Justice Minister Gjonaj (Radio Tirana) 

American Ambassador Yuri Kim and the Minister of Justice Etilda Gjonaj signed the extradition treaty with the USA and Albania. Article 7 of this Treaty states that if a person has been sentenced to death in the United States and is apprehended in Albania, extradition shall take place only if the “Requesting State” (America) guarantees to the “Requested State” (Albania) that, the convict will not be sentenced to death. The wanted persons from Albania to the USA or vice versa according to this treaty are arrested with a term of 60 days until the full arrival of the extradition file, and in case this material is delayed, the wanted person can be released but the request for extradition is not canceled. The only case where extradition in the interest of the US or Albania will be automatically denied is when the offense has a political and military character under Article 4.