LOCAL PRESS 

Vucic: We are going to Brussels in best faith to discuss and solve concrete problems (Tanjug/RTS) 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday a Belgrade delegation would travel to Brussels on 19 July for a resumption of the dialogue with Pristina in the best of faith and to solve concrete problems. When asked by reporters what he expected from a new round of Brussels talks, Vucic said he believed progress was necessary but that it was yet to be seen whether it was possible. “As far as Brussels is concerned, we are going there, and we are going in the best of faith, to discuss and solve concrete problems ranging from missing persons to everything else,” Vucic said after a visit to the engineering center of a ZF Serbia plant in Pancevo. The dialogue is important for the whole of our country because when we make progress in it, we can bring in investors more easily and more quickly, Vucic said.

IPA funds very important for accelerating reforms in Serbia (Tanjug/RTS) 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today that the EU’s financial support through pre-accession funds is important because these funds are used to accelerate reforms and reach the ultimate goal – full EU membership, and thus increase the quality of life of the citizens of Serbia, which also applies to the citizens of the EU. In his online address at the conference on the results and possibilities of IPA funds in Serbia, entitled “Serbia and the EU: support for development and membership negotiations”, organized by the Ministry for EU Integration, Vucic said that we appreciate every euro that came to our country from the European Union. He added that he believes that so far we have acted responsibly towards the assistance that is available to us as a country that is in the process of accession. According to him, the negotiations on membership and the reforms that are being carried out within those negotiations are a significant impetus for our economic and social progress, but they are also a condition for further sustainable development and development as a whole. It is important for us, he emphasized, that all projects that will be financed from future IPA projects 2021 2027 in agreement with the EU focus on what is in line with our national reform goals and what can contribute to sustainable development in the entire region. Serbian Minister for EU Integration Jadranka Joksimovic pointed out that the IPA 3 fund aims to reduce the differences between the region of the Western Balkans and the EU. IPA 3, out of the total amount of 42.4 percent, will be focused on the green agenda and sustainable connection, and it is completely clear how important this topic is for all of us in Serbia, she said. In a written statement for the conference, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhely said that the EU wants to accelerate the enlargement process, which for Serbia means the opening of two clusters in the accession negotiations already this year. Enlargement policy remains at the center of our activities and we want to speed it up, Varhely said, adding that Serbia plays a key role in the region and Europe and that the Western Balkans is one of the EU’s top priorities. The economic investment plan adopted by the EU for the Western Balkans, as he emphasized, should help the region to transform and get out of the crisis stronger.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sam Fabrizi pointed out that within IPA 2, in the period from 2014 to 2020, Serbia received 1.5 billion euros and another €900 million from regional projects that were done in Serbia. About 40 percent of those funds were used in the area of ​​rule of law reform and good governance, 40 percent of the funds were spent on economic and social development, and about 20 percent on emergencies, such as floods, the migrant crisis and the pandemic.

Braathu informed about violation of right to free movement of Serb returnees in Kosovo and Metohija (Tanjug/RTV) 

The Head of the Serbian parliamentary delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vesna Markovic and delegation member Zarko Obradovic met on Wednesday in parliament with the Head of OSCE Mission to Serbia Jan Braathu to discuss the delegation’s activities and opportunities for the further development of cooperation. Markovic said that the parliamentary delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is very active, especially in election observation, citing its participation in the OSCE observation missions during the elections in Bulgaria, Albania and Moldova. Markovic also pointed out that last week the delegation took part in the OSCE PA annual session in Vienna, expressing satisfaction for the opportunity to acquaint parliamentarians with current events in Kosovo and Metohija, where human rights of Serb returnees are being violated. She stated that it is important for the parliamentarians to be informed about what is happening in the heart of Europe and how the right to free movement of Serbian citizens in Kosovo and Metohija is being violated. She praised the quick reaction of the OSCE Office in Pristina, which condemned the violence and appealed to the authorities in Pristina to allow the free movement of Serbs, but added that despite that, as well as the reactions of some embassies of European countries, the attacks on Serb returnees continue. Markovic also pointed out that Serbia is committed to dialogue with Pristina and that the goal is to achieve peace and stability in the region. Obradovic pointed out that the security situation for Serbian citizens in Kosovo and Metohija is very difficult, that dialogue and cooperation with Pristina, which are an important part of Serbia’s European path, are almost non-existent because Pristina does not want to talk or solve the problems, nor does it want to ensure that all the citizens of Kosovo and Metohija live peacefully and safely. This has been going on for a very long time, Obradovic said adding that according to European Commission data, 250,000 people were exiled from Kosovo and Metohija in 2000, only 2% of which have returned, and that constant pressure was exerted on Serbs to emigrate. Obradovic said that in Pristina we do not someone to have a dialogue with, pointing out that Kurti is publicly saying that he would not respect either the Brussels or Washington agreement, and the international community should react to this behavior by Pristina. Braathu pointed out that the OSCE Mission to Serbia is a natural partner to the parliament, especially the parliamentary delegation to the OSCE PA, and that it is there to provide support to the parliament, within its mandate and proclaimed values, in fulfilling its agenda. The officials agreed that there is room for reciprocal cooperation on many topics and all issues important for security in the Western Balkans region and Europe in general. Braathu also said that it is important to protect the Serbs living in 24 municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija, and opined that Kurti’s statements encourage the worst part of Kosovo society, which produces fear and insecurity in the Serb community.

Molina: Spain not to change stance regarding Kosovo (RTV/Tanjug/Beta) 

The members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) with Spain, headed by Balint Pasztor, met on Wednesday with Spanish Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Raul Bartolome Molina. Pasztor thanked the Ambassador for taking the time to meet with the PFG, adding that since their last official meeting, with the new legislature the Group had been amended and expanded to include new members. Pasztor said that the PFG with Spain has 93 members and is the seventh largest in the parliament. He went on to say that the sizer of the PFG is not surprising, considering that Serbia and Spain share a sincere friendship and good bilateral relations, based on mutual trust. He pointed out that territorial integrity and sovereignty are topics that connect the two countries, and thanked the Ambassador for the principled position of non-recognition of the so-called Republic of Kosovo. He took the opportunity to express gratitude for Spain’s support of Serbia’s European integration, stressing that Serbia considers the stability of the region to be one of the country’s key priorities. The Head of the PFG said that trade with Spain has been growing in the past few years, which is a good indicator, but there is always room to further cooperation. Speaking of deepening relations, he drew attention to parliamentary cooperation, which he believes to be underdeveloped, and represents one of the potential aspects for the development of cooperation. “We are open to more active cooperation in the field of parliamentary relations, which would provide a solid foundation to deepen relations at the level of state governments,” Pasztor said. He pointed out that, as the President of Subotica City Assembly, he is very proud that the company Labiana, as one of the biggest Spanish investors in Serbia, acquired the city’s Veterinary Institute and with it became one of the leading companies on the market. Molina thanked the PFG for the invitation, saying that the pandemic had paralyzed contacts and visits at the parliamentary level, but since the easing of measures, three Serbian ministers have paid an official visit to Spain, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense and the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications. Molina pointed out that the political relations between the two countries are extraordinary and reaffirmed that Spain would not change its position on the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, emphasizing that the Kingdom of Spain respects international law. He said that, at the Intergovernmental Conference of the EU on 22 June Spain supported the opening of new chapters with Serbia and expressed hope that this would happen during the Slovenian presidency. The Ambassador said that a general agreement on cooperation between the two countries is being prepared, which will support infrastructural cooperation, especially the use of European IPA funds, cultural cooperation and at the same time promote trade. Molina went on to say that parliamentary friendship groups do not exist as a concept in the Spanish parliament, but that during the Serbian Foreign Minister’s visit to Spain, there was talk of forming a kind of forum that would connect the parliamentarians of the two countries. The meeting also touched on cooperation and connecting the different regions of the two countries, as a new impetus for economic and cultural cooperation.

Tadic and Dacic differ on election process (RTS/Beta) 

The opposition Social-Democratic Party’s leader Boris Tadic said on Wednesday that whatever agreement might be reached over the requirements of a free and fair election, the government would have the advantage, because the election was much too close. Tadic said in an interview with RTS that time was running out, and it is impossible to discuss every political issue in Serbia in a serious, democratic way, giving citizens a chance to perhaps reconsider their views. A guest together with Serbian speaker and the Socialist leader Ivica Dacic, Tadic said that “the same positions have been solidified for years by the government, the ruling coalition, Aleksandar Vucic and the media under his absolute control, and there’s just “very little time left” to reverse them. “It doesn’t mean that we should not fight for a better election process now, because even a small victory means a lot at this point,” Tadic said. Dacic argued that new electoral terms could not create any advantage. “You will obtain better conditions, by all means, insofar as they are realistic, acceptable and sustainable. In the end, election conditions alone will create no advantage,” the Serbian speaker said.

Inzko under new pressure of Bosniaks (Politika, by D. Stanisic) 

Politika noted that political representatives of Bosniaks again stared exerting pressures on High Representative Valentin Inzko to use the Bonn powers and impose a law on prohibition of genocide denial before his mandate ends on 1 August. Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Sefik Dzaferovic urged Inzko to do this as soon as possible and “leave B&H with dignity” and SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic sent a similar message to Inzko as well. Politika contacted the Office of the High Representative (OHR) for a comment and the OHR replied by saying that “‘the answer’ can be found in a statement Inzko delivered on the occasion of 26th anniversary of ‘genocide’ in Srebrenica”. Politika reminded that this statement, among other things, noted that B&H needs a law which punishes and prohibits denial of genocide as well as that “such law should be adopted by representatives of peoples, because it would reflect the will of citizens of B&H – from each community – to once and for all distance themselves from fear and hate which encouraged crimes that were committed in 1990s”. Commenting on the latest calls of Bosniaks, representatives of the Republika Srpska (RS) noted that imposing of the law “is a thing of the past” and warned that “only legislation on which consensus was reached” can be adopted in B&H. They also warned that “Srebrenica cannot serve as a mortgage against Serbs”.

Bakir’s plan was ‘seen through’ in Croatia (Novosti, by S. Misljenovic) 

Banja Luka has been warning for three decades already that Sarajevo and Bosniak politicians are trying to impose their vision of B&H and added that even Croatian President Zoran Milanovic confirmed that the stance of Banja Luka “that only Dayton B&H with two entities and three constituent peoples, without outvoting and imposing of decisions without consensus, can survive”. Novosti referred to Milanovic’s three-day visit to B&H and claimed that Milanovic’s stances especially hurt SDA’s Bakir Izetbegovic and Sefik Dzaferovic as well as Croat member of the Presidency of B&H Zeljko Komsic who was elected thanks to Bosniak votes. Chair of SNSD Caucus in the House of Representatives (HoR) of B&H Snjezana Novakovic-Bursac told Novosti that Milanovic’s messages were the first time “a healthy and correct approach when it comes to terms that were used” were applied. Novakovic-Bursac noted that processes in B&H were named in a wrong way in past and tendencies of Bosniak politics to create unitary B&H were wrongly presented as civic initiatives. Chair of Serb Caucus in the parliament of B&H Nenad Stevandic stated that it is good “Milanovic admitted a mistake, because he was against stances of the RS and he supported Komsic in past”. Stevandic argued that Sarajevo will have to change its policy because the idea on unitary B&H is the source of all problems in B&H.

Deputy speaker of the RS parliament Milan Petkovic said that he expects the EU to hear that Bosniaks have been deceiving the international community for years to the detriment of the RS, Serbs and Croats. “Members of the EU often ignore stances of the RS but, after messages from Croatia, the message that Bosniaks are the generator of problems in B&H has reached the EU”, Petkovic added. Political analyst Darko Kuzmanovic told Novosti that Milanovic did support stances of the RS, but he primarily supported the Dayton Peace Agreement. “Regardless of whether Sarajevo likes it or not, the stance on the Agreement also illustrates the stance on B&H”, Kuzmanovic concluded.

REGIONAL PRESS 

Trial in ‘Novalic et al.’ case continues before Court of B&H (Nova BH/AJB)  

The trial in the ‘Novalic et al.’ case continued before the B&H Court on Wednesday. Federation of B&H (FB&H) Prime Minister Fadil Novalic, former Director of the FB&H Civil Protection Administration Fahrudin Solak and owner of the company ‘Srebrena malina’ Fikret Hodzic are indicted of money laundering, abuse of office, while FB&H Minister of Finance Jelka Milicevic is also suspected of the lack of commitment in office. The case refers to purchase of the 100 disputable Chinese respirators for the FB&H in 2020 and obtaining illegal material gain, while the indictment was confirmed in January 2021. During the hearing held on Wednesday, the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H continued with presentation of evidence to back up their claims and presented documents that in their opinion prove that purchase of the same type of respirators in other countries was carried out under way lower prices than the ones in the FB&H. The defense teams reacted by saying that these contracts were never realized in practice as delivery of goods was missing. The Prosecutor’s Office of B&H also presented communication between Novalic and Hodzic that in their opinion, proves that parts of the contract were subsequently changed, while the defense teams questioned authenticity of the Viber communication. The Prosecutor’s Office of B&H reacted by saying that this was the only way to present the communication as the messages in this case were erased from mobile phones of the accused persons. The defense teams called on the Court of B&H to accelerate the process of presentation of evidence, while the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H stated that this is why they gave up on interrogation of some witnesses.  

Director of OSA Mehmedagic arrested due to abuse of office, forgery of documentation and money laundering (Hayat/AJB)  

Members of Sarajevo Canton (SC) Ministry of Interior (MoI) arrested Director of the B&H Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) Osman Mehmedagic on Wednesday morning and following the interrogation, he was detained in the detention unit of the SC MoI. According to the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H, there is an investigation underway against Mehmedagic due to abuse of office, forgery of official documentation (related to his faculty diploma) and money laundering (related to purchase of some real estates). The Prosecutor’s Office of B&H has been trying to prove that Mehmedagic obtained his diploma at the American University in B&H in an illegal way which is why Director of the American University in B&H Denis Prcic was arrested on June 20 under suspicion of helping Mehmedagic in obtaining the diploma. The SC MoI has the right to detain Mehmedagic up to 24 hours after which they should hand him over to the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H for further proceeding. Upon the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H, police officers also searched Mehmedagic’s family house on Wednesday. Spokesperson for the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H Boris Grubesic stated for the media: “The Prosecutor’s Office of B&H is conducting an investigation in which Mehmedagic is suspected of criminal offences of abuse of office or power, falsification of documents and money laundering. The Acting Prosecutor is coordinating the work of the police officers in the field and will, during the day, order further activities in the case”.   

Izetbegovic and Dzaferovic on Mehmedagic’s arrest (Haya/AJB)  

SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic reacted on Wednesday to the arrest of Director of OSA Osman Mehmedagic. Izetbegovic stated that the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H directed its focus against Bosniaks who are at important positions neglecting other affairs like affairs codenamed ‘Ikona’, ‘Pavlovic banka’, ‘Aluminij’ and others. Izetbegovic reminded that all previous reports against Mehmedagic were rejected during investigations or before courts, “but they are persistent and they continue further with the goal to remove Mehmedagic from the leadership in the OSA so that anti-state policies can establish rule over the intelligence service in order to make it a branch office of intelligence agencies from the neighborhood.” Izetbegovic added that the focus of the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H is also on officers of the RB&H Army regarding war crimes. “The Prosecutor’s Office of B&H and Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office Gordana Tadic are silent about referendums of SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and attacks on the constitutional and legal order of B&H, as well as on murals of former RS Army Main Staff Commander General Ratko Mladic and wartime videos of snipers, who were killing people in Sarajevo”, Izetbegovic stated. He reminded of what happened with former FB&H President Zivko Budimir and how he was framed up with evidence and after five years of trial it turned out that Budimir is not guilty on any grounds. He added that Budimir was an obstacle to someone at the time and the same thing happens with Mehmedagic now. Izetbegovic concluded that the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H is obviously under strong political influence, it is unprofessional and it does not perform its function, which is why it needs to be reformed. Hayat – Izetbegovic also said: “There is no attempt to hide the goal, thus we have witnessed that some of the highest-ranking Serb politicians call the OSA B&H a hostile agency,” Izetbegovic was quoted as saying. Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency and SDA member Sefik Dzaferovic said: “Respecting the principle of judicial independence and without getting into the facts and reasons for which the OSA B&H Director was arrested, I cannot escape the impression that work has been done for a longer period of time to discredit the institution and to remove its Director”. Media outlets that are close to SDA tried to present Mehmedagic’s arrest as an attack on the country and a conspiracy against Bosniak officials. They also claim that SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic are behind this, as their plan, as the media outlets said, was to remove Mehmedagic from the OSA B&H and get control over this institution. Izetbegovic and Dzaferovic (SDA) said this was a “coup d’etat”. Izetbegovic said that the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H is only processing Bosniak officials, and in this context, Izetbegovic mentioned Mehmedagic, FB&H Prime Minister Fadil Novalic and the B&H Minister of Security Selmo Cikotic. Izetbegovic even mentioned B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Bisera Turkovic in another context, added the reporter. Izetbegovic claimed that this whole story is connected with an attack on B&H as a state.  

SNSD: Mehmedagic and OSA have no credibility, least he can do is to withdraw from position (RTRS/AJB)  

SNSD also reacted to the arrest of Osman Mehmedagic by saying that Mehmedagic and the OSA have no credibility or authority and the least that he can do is to withdraw from this position. SNSD stated that statements of leader of SDA Bakir Izetbegovic are expected and in the function of pressures on the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H. SNSD stated: “Today’s press release can also be read as sorrow for days when SDA decided who will be questioned, detained, arrested or tried. Izetbegovic’s claims that Bosniaks are the only victims of the judiciary are true as much as it is true that Bosniaks were the only victims of the past civil war, that they keep on repeating for years.” “All insinuations that SNSD is involved in the arrest, coming from circles close to Mehmedagic, we reject as malicious and we are of the view that such stories are used as an alibi for the Agency’s Director, who, according to the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H, violated the law,” reads the statement by SNSD. Member of B&H Parliament’s Joint Commission for Defense and Security Dusanka Majkic (SNSD) stated that it is incredible that Mehmedagic has not been removed despite the fact that his tenure has expired, that he had lost his license to access confidential data and that he is accused of forging his university diploma. She underlined that all key security-related posts in the country are currently controlled by Bosniaks. Majkic also noted that the Parliamentary Commission for Supervision of OSA does not function, which means that there is no control over OSA whatsoever.  

International, regional media report about Mehmedagic’s arrest, reminding of wide-spread corruption in B&H (Dnevni avaz)  

Numerous media in the world and in the region reported about the arrest of OSA Director Osman Mehmedagic, including Washington Post, Reuters, Associated Press, Euronews, ABC News, Telegraph, etc. “Bosnian police on Wednesday arrested the country’s intelligence chief on accusations of money laundering and abusing his office to forge university diplomas, police and prosecutors said. Corruption is widespread in Bosnia, ethnically divided after the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the Balkan wars of the 1990s, infiltrating all spheres of life, including the judiciary, education and health”, wrote Reuters. Washington Post also noted that corruption in B&H is at a very high level. Regional media also reported about the arrest and reporters of Jutarnji.hr portal noted that Mehmedagic was appointed to the post as a person close to SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic who asked for another mandate to be awarded to him after his first, five-year long mandate expired.  

Russia and China submit UN SC with text of resolution which limits competencies of HR Schmidt and demands closing down of OHR by 31 July 2022 (Oslobodenje)  

Russia and China submitted on Wednesday the UN Security Council with draft resolution about competencies and mandate duration for the new High Representative Christian Schmidt. According to the resolution, the new HR would no longer have competencies in overseeing the implementation of Dayton Peace Agreement i.e. he would no longer have Bonn powers. This is justified by a statement that Bonn powers are no longer necessary, “as the progress was made in B&H”. US portal UN News wrote that the text of the resolution reads that the appointment of Christian Schmidt to the post of a High Representative is accepted, but that the OHR should be closed by 31 July 2022 at the latest. UN News comments that such text of the resolution is compatible with the request of political representatives of Serbs, who oppose use of Bonn powers, because they are executive and there is no possibility of appeal and the article reminded that political representatives of Serbs in B&H have very close ties to Russia. Article reads that until now, Russia was the one that strongly opposed Schmidt’s appointment, adding that Schmidt received strong support of Western countries such as Germany, USA and UK, adding that this is why it is expected from the US to strongly oppose the text of the resolution. BHT1 also carries that Russia and China proposed the UN Security Council the Resolution on the Abolition of the Office of High Representative (OHR) which would strip the High Representative of all powers immediately. This was carried by the Washington Post on Wednesday. Associated Press carried a short draft of the Resolution, which states that competences given to the High Representative in 1997 are not necessary anymore given the progress achieved by political parties in B&H.  

Dodik comments on reactions to Milanovic’s visit to B&H: This shows Bosniak political Sarajevo cannot find joint stance with anyone who does not support their stances on unitary B&H (ATV)  

Chairman and the Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik said on Wednesday that hysteria and harsh words addressed at Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who visited B&H over the last couple of days, show that Bosniak political Sarajevo cannot find a joint stance with anyone who fails to blindly support their stances on unitary B&H. During the visit to B&H, Milanovic said that the function of the HR is “worn out and depleted”, which bothered Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic and he told Milanovic that he acts as a rude guest in someone else’s house. Dodik said that the manner and words that they addressed to the president of the neighboring country tell that Bosniaks do not care about peace in their own house much less in the region because if this was the case, Bosniaks would respect the fact that Milanovic is the Croatian President and that Croats are one of the three constituent peoples in B&H. Dodik said that all those that speak based on facts will say that Milanovic did not insult anyone in B&H. Dodik said Milanovic made his stances clear, and some might agree with him, others may not. However, Dodik says that nobody has the right to offend Milanovic in any way.   

Komsic: Milanovic insulted me and B&H (FTV)  

Croat member of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic (DF) commented on Wednesday on the latest statements of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic given during his visit to B&H. Among other things, Milanovic said that B&H is the “bottom rung” or meaningless in the EU and that he will not pay official visit to Sarajevo as long as Komsic is the Croat member of B&H Presidency. However, Komsic assessed that not only that Milanovic insulted him personally, but he also insulted the state of B&H that he formally visited. Komsic also said that Milanovic for some reason has a need for fight, adding that his latest moves and stances on B&H are inappropriate and they will affect Croats the most. Komsic said relations between B&H and Croatia are not normal, but if they were – and such insults were stated – the reactions to this visit would be quite different. “For some reason he assesses that that should be done in that way,” Komsic said.  

Covic, HNS defend Milanovic and his latest statements (O kanal)  

HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic stood in defense of Croatian President Zoran Milanovic and his statements given during the latest visit to B&H. Among other things, Milanovic said that B&H is the “bottom rung” or meaningless in the EU and that he does not recognize Zeljko Komsic (DF) as the Croat member of B&H Presidency, after which B&H Presidency member Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA) and SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic reacted. Covic expresses his surprise over such reactions and stressed that for Bosniaks there is no greater friend in Croatia than Milanovic.  

“Milanovic was greatly insulted only because he dared to visit places where his people (Croats) live in B&H, and he did not first ask Sarajevo if he could do that”, say members of the Croat People’s Assembly (HNS). The HNS members say they will not make any threats or insults against Izetbegovic after he made his threats and insults against the Croats. “We will especially not do this at a moment when the rule of law enters into force, and when people close to him are at the court benches,” the HNS stated.   

Turkovic and Podzic meet with Stoltenberg; Stoltenberg: NATO remains strong partner to B&H institutions (Hayat)  

B&H Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic and B&H Minister of Defense Sifet Podzic met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the current situation in regards to cooperation and the integration process between B&H and the NATO. Hayat reports that Turkovic stressed that majority of citizens in B&H support B&H’s progress towards the NATO membership and the reform direction is embedded in laws and strategic documents adopted by the B&H institutions, Hayat reports that Stoltenberg said the NATO supports the reform processes and remains strong partner to the B&H institutions. Stoltenberg praised B&H’s participation in NATO-led missions and the country’s commitment to strengthening the operational partnership with NATO. The ministers thanked Stoltenberg for the support that the Alliance provides to B&H. It was highlighted that B&H needs to continue the process of implementation of the Program of Reforms in order to contribute to the progress of B&H and the stabilization of the region. The B&H Delegation will attend the session of the Euro-Atlantic Council, where the further cooperation with NATO will be discussed.  

Plenkovic comments on Milanovic’s visit to B&H and issues related to B&H Election Law: B&H is friendly, neighboring country that we help and we will continue to do so (HRT1)  

Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic was a guest for HRT1. The majority of Plenkovic’s interview was dedicated to internal affairs of Croatia. Plenkovic also commented on the President of Croatia Zoran Milanovic’s visit to B&H and issues related to the B&H Election Law. Plenkovic was asked to comment on reactions of Bosniak officials to Milanovic’s visit and the statement of the Croat member of the B&H Presidency Zeljko Komsic in which it was said that Croats in B&H will suffer the greatest damage because of Milanovic’s statements. Plenkovic stated: “The attitude of the government and HDZ towards B&H, towards the position of Croats as one of the three constituent peoples, has been for years that they must be equal, that the letter and the spirit of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) must be respected. The problem dates back to 2006, when we saw the situation on the territory of FB&H, that Bosniaks elected a member of the B&H Presidency for Croats. This, unfortunately, was repeated in 2010. Then there was a break because Komsic could not have two consecutive terms. After one term of (the Leader of HDZ B&H) Dragan Covic, we had that scenario again in 2018. What Milanovic has been saying now, we have been saying for years, there is nothing new here. I opposed that both as a diplomat and as a politician in the Croatian parliament and in the European Parliament as the Prime Minister. B&H is a friendly, neighboring country that we help and we will continue to do so”. Plenkovic listed ways Croatia has been helping B&H in the form of vaccines donation and different projects. When asked how will these tensions affect the agreement regarding the changes to the B&H Election Law and whether the Law can be changed in time for the elections in 2022, Plenkovic pointed out that he spoke on this issue at the Dubrovnik Forum with the US Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer, the former High Representative to B&H Miroslav Lajcak, the future High Representative to B&H Christian Schmidt and other officials. Plenkovic added: “We want to help the processes, which must be as follows – that political parties and institutions in B&H, with the help of the international community, including Croatia as one of the DPA signatories, find a solution for a fairer election system that will avoid electoral engineering”.  

Croatia again stops NATO’s joint statement on B&H because of Dayton (Vecernji list)  

NATO will not have a joint report that cites key assessments about progress of B&H because Croatia has not given consent for the document. Namely, in line with its earlier announcements, in order for Croatia to accept the document, the document would have to include the Dayton agreement and the constituent peoples – Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. In this context daily reminds that Croatian President Zoran Milanovic stated in Mostar three days ago that each time any international institution adopts a document about B&H, he will request and insist that the Dayton agreement, the original Dayton agreement and constituent people are mentioned. “If there is no reference to the constituent peoples and Dayton, there will be no joint statement. It will just be a paper of a chairperson, that is nothing”, said Milanovic. According to the daily, this is exactly what happened, which became clear to Bosniak Ministers in the Council of Ministers of B&H Bisera Turkovic (Foreign Minister) and Sifet Podzic (Defense Minister), who visited the NATO HQ on Wednesday where they met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Daily went on to say that even the wording of documents adopted by the European Commission (EC) is changing, albeit frustratingly slow. Namely, the daily notes there was a significant change in a document dealing with achievements within that Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Daily underlines that the document in question explicitly reads that, apart from the judgment in the Sejdic-Finci case, judgments of the Constitutional Court (of B&H) have to be implemented too, most importantly the judgment regarding the legitimate political representation (Ljubic case).  

Steinmeier to Djukanovic: Rest assured that Germany will continue to be with Montenegro (CdM)  

President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic and the citizens of Montenegro on the occasion of 13 July – the Statehood Day of Montenegro. “We are still preoccupied with the Covid-19 pandemic, but with joint efforts we have managed to make significant progress in combating the pandemic. It is good that the epidemiological situation in Montenegro, meanwhile, has significantly eased, and I am glad that the mission of the German Robert Koch Institute from the spring of 2021 has also contributed to this. I hope that this development of the situation will have positive effects on the tourist season in your country and that Montenegro will soon be able to greet many guests from all over the world, including those from Germany,” Steinmeier said in his congratulatory message. He wished President Djukanovic and Montenegro a lot of energy and success for the continuation of the engaged and targeted reform course on the path to the EU. “Rest assured that Germany, as a friend and partner, will continue to be with Montenegro, supporting it in its reform course,” he stressed.  

Adzic on Krvokapic’s attempt to deceive the public (Pobjeda)  

The thesis of the Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic that division issues in Montenegro should be resolved according to the model of the Spanish dictator, General Francisco Franco – by installing a monument to “all victims, regardless of events” is, according to lawyer and historian Novak Adzic, not only meaningless, but a rough attempt of a prank, writes Pobjeda daily. Franco’s ‘Valley of the Fallen’, of which he was proud, and which was built for 19 years, is still a symbol of his dictatorship and was never what the current Montenegrin Prime Minister is trying to present. This monument is still a symbol of division, not reconciliation in Spain. On Monday night, in an interview screened on the public broadcaster RTCG, Krivokapic told that, in his opinion, Montenegro should deal with the issue of divisions in a way Spain had done. Adzic reminds of the fact that nationalists and Falangists led by Franco won the Spanish Civil War with the help of the Nazi-fascist forces – Italy and Germany.  

VMRO-DPMNE will not add “North” in the Resolution on the red lines of the Republic of Macedonia! (Republika)  

VMRO-DPMNE will not change the Resolution on Macedonia’s red lines in the negotiations for European integration, said Timco Mucunski on Wednesday. This decision was made by the party leadership at late Tuesday’s session of the Executive Committee, following the condition of PM Zoran Zaev that SDSM will support the Resolution if it contains the new name “Republic of North Macedonia”, and not its abbreviation or the old name “Republic of Macedonia”. VMRO-DPMNE will not accept a well-structured Resolution, to become a subject of party calculations and bargaining, says the party. The Executive Committee of VMRO-DPMNE remains on the proposed concept of unity of all political parties, behind the text created and written by the top scientific, educational and social institutions MANU, UKIM and MOC. The fact that SDSM decided to change its position for the third time and to open topics that are not related to the content of the resolution, unfortunately weakens Macedonia’s position in any future talks with Bulgaria, said Timco Mucunski from VMRO-DPMNE.  

Mucunski: SDSM is not really serious about supporting the VMRO resolution on Macedonia’s relations with Bulgaria (Republika)  

In an interview with Republika, VMRO-DPMNE official Timco Mucunski says that PM Zoran Zaev and his SDSM party are not serious about supporting the resolution that would set clear red lines in the negotiations with Bulgaria. After VMRO proposed the resolution, SDSM initially protested it, then Zaev announced that he will sign on to it, only to eventually say he can’t support it because it doesn’t use the imposed name “Republic of North Macedonia”. For a long period of time, the behavior of parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi is undemocratic and he is reading the Constitution and the rules of the parliament as he sees fit. If the ruling majority wanted to have the resolution on the agenda, they would have done it by now. Instead, we see them hypocritically say that they support the positions in the resolution, but refuse to adopt it. SDSM often changes its position on different issues and I would not be surprised if they reversed on this issue as well, Mucunski said. The resolution would affirm the historic and territorial continuity of the Macedonian people and VMRO-DPMNE asked that all parties in parliament sign on to it. Mucunski said that, unlike the Bulgarian declaration which laid claims on Macedonian history and national identity, this proposed resolution is not provocative, and will not harm Macedonia’s EU integration. But it does aim to protect the Macedonian national identity, he added.  

Soreca: Justice institutions should offer the integrity and independence of the system! Rebuilding trust in the judiciary reform EU top priority (Radio Tirana)  

EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca called on all justice institutions to continue to work together to ensure the efficiency, integrity and independence of the justice system, to rebuild trust in the judiciary and to serve justice for the Albanian people, this was a message from Soreca. The EU says Soreca will continue to fully support justice reform, which continues to be a top priority. “All justice institutions must continue to work together to ensure the efficiency, integrity and independence of the justice system, to rebuild trust in the judiciary and to serve justice for the Albanian people. They must also show the leadership and direction needed to “Implement the highest possible EU standards. The European Union will continue to fully support justice reform, which continues to be a key EU priority in Albania,” Soreca wrote.  

Rama: We are making our own reforms, not because someone imposes it on us, but because we have to do it for future generations (Radio Tirana)  

Rama is present at the 23rd edition of the Symi Symposium, organized and led by former Prime Minister George Papandreou and with the participation of well-known personalities of politics, economics and the international academic world. Rama said that Albania is at the same point in the EU accession process as last year. “We are at the same point in the accession process and in the Balkans’ relations with the EU as last year,” Rama said. “Less and less predictable, more and more unfair, but we can do nothing but be patient, get prepared, make our own reforms, not because someone imposes it on us, but because we have to do it for future generations. Meanwhile, we are intensifying the cooperation between us,” Rama pointed out. “I met North Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev several times recently with some of my ministers. And this is not news, it is our new regularity,” Rama added in his speech. For his part, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, said that the pandemic showed that there is no isolated country and that decisions should be in solidarity.  

Premier criticizes Bulgaria for blocking EU talks for Albania, N. Macedonia (ADN)  

Harsh criticism was made Wednesday by Prime Minister Edi Rama against Bulgaria, which is upholding its veto on the start of accession talks with North Macedonia, despite mounting pressure from the European Union. In his speech during the 23rd edition of Symi Symposium in Athens, PM Rama said that in this case Bulgaria used local policy to block other Balkan countries, and this stance is the result of what it learned in the European Union from the “big fish”. “The Bulgarian attitude is a result of what Bulgaria learned from the big ones within the EU. Bulgaria learned that you can use local politics to block others. I did not want to mention it, but you are not the only one in the Balkans, when we copy we go further than the original. We are hostages of EU nationalisms. The path of integration of the Western Balkans is increasingly depending on EU nationalisms. When I talk about nationalism, I am talking about those important countries that hold leaders hostage, who are not yet nationalists and fall prey to these games of using the EC to squeeze the Balkan countries to show the muscle to their countries.  

The EC has no cohesive decision. It is a place where games of non-nationalist leaders are played. Bulgaria is collateral damage in this respect”, noted the Albanian PM among other things.  

On 22 June, Vice President of the European Union and Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal, Ana Paula Zacarias confirmed that there will be no opening of accession negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia, and the date of the first intergovernmental conference (IGC) will be postponed. Reason behind this stalemate on Albania’s and North Macedonia’s path to EU integration was the veto of Bulgaria. All countries were in favor of opening negotiations for Albania, even the most skeptical Netherlands gave its ‘okay’ for holding the first intergovernmental roundtable. However, Bulgaria has been blocking the beginning of the accession talks between North Macedonia and the EU since November 2020 over disputes regarding language, ethnic minorities, and historical issues. Bulgaria objects to the notion that the Macedonian language is separate from Bulgarian, insisting it is a “dialect”. Sofia also wants Skopje to recognize the “Bulgarian origins” of the Macedonian nation.  

Rama, assessed that the EU is not fair to Kosovo, which fulfilled all the conditions, and did not receive visa liberalization (ADN)  

The Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama assessed that the EU is not fair to Kosovo, which fulfilled all the conditions, and did not receive visa liberalization. He stated that at the Symi Symposium in Athens, which was organized by the former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, where he also spoke about the Little Schengen initiative. As he said, it is about the efforts to make the region of the Western Balkans similar to the EU in terms of four freedoms of movement. – Several years were lost because (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic wanted the free movement of goods, capital, but not people, because he thought that if he agreed with that, the border between Serbia and Kosovo would be formal. In the end, we agreed and an extraordinary horizon of possibilities opened up. Kosovo and Bosnia do not want that. How can you not want something that makes you free? What we agreed with N. Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev and Vucic is that this is not like the EU and that we do not have to do this thing on the basis of consensus – Rama stated. He added that highways may not bring democracy, but that democracy without highways is a mess that goes to hell. Rama has highlighted Wednesday that the Balkans Schengen initiative is not the new Yugoslavia as some claim while declaring that Albania will be the last to leave the European Union. Rama said the euro optimists say that “Turkey will join the EU when Albania has the presidency”, while the euro pessimists say that Albania will join the EU when Turkey has the presidency. “Highways may not bring democracy, but they can also take democracy to hell. Anyone who joins the mini-Schengen is welcome. It is clear that Serbia cannot say that it should do it with everyone, or with anyone. We have to walk far. Madness of being isolated towards yourself and the EU. There are also rumors that this is the new Yugoslavia. But it is not so. We are very small. But big companies make history very differently. It would be bad to waste time”, Rama marked.