LOCAL PRESS

Vucic satisfied with withdrawal of ROSU from north Kosovo (TV Prva/Tanjug)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday he was satisfied with the withdrawal of Pristina’s special police forces from the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings in northern Kosovo. “The Serbs are satisfied that ROSU has withdrawn. The situation today was tense, too, and our people were harassed. They waited almost until the deadline, but they left the crossings…, where they should never have gone in the first place,” Vucic told TV Prva from Dubai, where he is attending the Expo 2020 show. Vucic said there were no easy agreements for Belgrade as Serbia had had no de facto presence in Kosovo and Metohija since 1999. He said the maximum had been achieved in circumstances where the entire Western hemisphere was pressuring Serbia. Vucic said he was satisfied that peace had been maintained and that a regime of replacing Serbian vehicle license plates with temporary plates was no longer in force.

Commenting on license plate stickers introduced by Pristina, Vucic explained Belgrade had been the first to introduce stickers as it did not recognize the so-called Kosovo, and that Pristina had responded in kind. “But they announced that as early as ten years ago, and now they have come up with temporary plates,” he said. “The essence is that we do not recognize Kosovo and we cannot allow them to come in with Kosovo license plates, so now they want to do the same to us,” Vucic added.

Vucic: The game was imposed on us, but we played better (TV Pink/B92/Politika)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic once again on Saturday addressed the public from Dubai.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and who won, he said that these are our small battles in order to stop the process that has been imposed. “Serbs won, but no matter how satisfied we are when ROSU has to leave, as it causes joy, these are our small battles and attempts to stop and slow down something that has been imposed on us.” “People understand. We strive to be part of the EU, but if we apologized to others, we would not be so successful today and we would not have salaries like this,” he said, adding that we did not lose, and we played better. “It is not our game. That game was imposed on us. They wanted to introduce the removal of Serbian license plates and to humiliate us. They wanted to give us Kosovo license plates and they wanted ROSU to control that process.” Speaking about the agreement from 2011, he confirmed that this was written in that document. “A much bigger problem for Serbs is ROSU. A much bigger problem is the verdict against Todosijevic for telling the truth and for introducing a verbal offense and the fact that some outside Kosovo support it. They brutally violated the Brussels agreement with that verdict,” Vucic said. It is a small victory which is reflected in the fact that there will certainly be talks about the Community of Serb Municipalities. “We got another thing here, our reaction, which was perhaps sharper, was legalized and we showed that we can do something. This is no longer an easy thing for them. It has always been hell for us. We need peace and economic progress. We were relieved, we showed that we are strong,” he said and answered the questions why he lifted the planes. “We don’t want to run away from problems and we want to fight – rationally and pragmatically. What was I supposed to do?”. Referring to the history of Kosovo and Metohija, he said that “in 1961 we had 20 percent Serbs, and in 1991 we had only 11 percent of Serbs in Kosovo. Due to the low birth rate, along with the departure of Serbs”. “It was not easy for Milosevic, he made a series of mistakes and he is guilty of not being able to calculate better. Then a group of people came after him who were just looking at how to rob Serbia, they were not interested in Kosovo, they even helped them. What kind of situation we inherited, this is not so bad. They (Albanians) helped us with their mistakes and in their excessive desire. We are in a difficult position, but what little we have left – we will fight for it”. He also commented on Kurti‘s statement that he is the biggest problem in Kosovo, Vucic thanked him for his sincerity and said that it would be like that “at least for some time in future”.

Brnabic: World reminded of provisions of UNSCR 1244 (Tanjug/RTV)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Saturday that the agreement on license plates created security, that it was demonstrated that our country does not tolerate unilateral moves, but also that the world has been reminded of the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

In a statement to the press, Brnabic pointed out that the Brussels agreement preserved peace, security and stability, because the situation was on the verge of conflict. Pointing to the withdrawal of the ROSU special units, she recalled UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which stipulates that only KFOR units can be present at administrative crossings, and she also recalled what has been agreed under the Brussels agreement, which is that the agreements reached must be implemented and the Community of Serb Municipalities formed.

Odalovic: KFOR finally started doing its job (RTS)

The General Secretary of the Serbian parliament Veljko Odalovic told the morning press review of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that he expects the agreed in Brussels to be also implemented, and that traffic will operate in an unhindered manner. “First, in Brussels and in the agreement that was reached, it was definitely made known that no violence will be tolerated,” Odalovic said, adding that by saying that ROSU should withdraw, Pristina was told that something like that would not be treated as “ad acta”. He hopes that such things will not occur again and points out that the great importance of the that was that KFOR reacted in Kosovo and Metohija. “Finally, KFOR started doing its job. I think the essence is that at this moment, in a situation that was difficult, dangerous – the only ones who could take full responsibility, without an incident, are the KFOR sides that are at the crossings. I believe that they will now behave much more responsibly and be much more present when it comes to security challenges,” Odalovic said. According to him, many competencies have been handed over to the provisional institutions in Pristina, which, as he says, they are abusing. “This was the most brutal abuse, because sending so many armed and special forces to do what we have this morning – that two or three administrative workers or police officers will work on the license plates, exposed what they wanted. The whole story is that, and before the beginning of the implementation of any incident that happened, they already sent and occupied, because they wanted to show with their action that they can occupy the north of Kosovo and manage as they think they should manage … This must have sobered them up,” said Odalovic. He also says that Albin Kurti experienced a fiasco, but that the most important thing is that everything ended peacefully and without incidents.

Negotiations concern life issues

He also stressed that the most important thing now is to prepare a good strategy for the working group that will work on a final solution, which will also not be easy because there will be a lot of obstructions. “This is good, we have advocated for this, we have advocated for peace and it is good that the international community has returned at such a delicate time and taken responsibility for it to mediate and persuade Pristina to act more responsibly and not to provoke,” he said. He also emphasized that we must return to dialogue, and that there were many topics in Brussels that Pristina did not even want to discuss. He points out that the agreement in Brussels is not a question of recognizing the unilaterally declared independence, but a question of normalization of relations. “It is conceived in such a way to solve the problems that arose in the period from ‘99 and after the self-declaration of their quasi-state. When you read the Brussels agreement carefully and look at everything that the implementation plan brings with it, it talks about the life problems of Serbs and Albanians,” he said. He also stated that the issue of the missing was resolved during the crisis at the administrative crossings, and that the bodies of three Serbs killed in Kosovo were taken over, and that our side handed over seven bodies of Kosovo Albanians. “Life did not stop, we took care that the families had to take over the bodies and bury them,” said Odalovic, adding that an attempt was also made to marginalize the issue of the missing. He says that the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities is again a topic, and that the international community is increasingly turning to returning to the fulfillment of the obligations that have been agreed. “We have to do what we have assumed to do. It is not easy, it hurts, but the essence is that what was done was done for the sake of peace,” Odalovic said.

According to him, this “adventure” of Pristina with the license plates turned on the light for many, because Albin Kurti has repeatedly shown that he is not ready for more serious compromises. Speaking about the inclusion of the United States in reaching an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, Odalovic said that the Americans would not leave this process, that nothing crucial would happen without them, but also that it was important to work on including Russia and China as well.

KFOR confirms deployment at Jarinje, Brnjak (Beta)

The KFOR mission confirmed on Saturday the deployment of soldiers to the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative line crossings in line with an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. KFOR announced that in the last few days members of the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo had been patrolling roads toward the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings — roads where Serbs erected roadblocks in response to Pristina’s announcement that Serbian license plates would be removed.

In the next two weeks, KFOR will be present in the area, in accordance with the agreement and its mandate resulting from the 1999 Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council in order to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities living in Kosovo, the statement said. The removal of barricades and withdrawal of Kosovo special forces were concluded at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and no members of the ROSU special police unit remain in the area while the barricades at Jarinje and Brnjak were removed early on Sunday and traffic was only open toward Serbia proper. Traffic from Serbia proper to northern Kosovo was re-established at 8 a.m. on Monday, when a regime of stickers to cover certain parts of license plates came into force.

NATO, EU share interest in permanent political solution for the region (Beta)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met in Brussels on Friday with the EU special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak to discuss an arrangement to de-escalate tensions in the north of Kosovo, saying that NATO and the Union share an interest in a permanent political solution for the region. “NATO welcomes the recent arrangement for de-escalation and progress in northern Kosovo reached between Belgrade and Pristina, under the auspices of the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue,” the NATO Secretary General said, adding that the KFOR mission played a fundamental role in ensuring the effective implementation of the arrangement, and that NATO remained strongly committed to the stability of the Western Balkans. KFOR is mandated by 1999 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities living in Kosovo. The NATO secretary general remains in close touch with both President Vucic and Albin Kurti as to the need to de-escalate, show restraint and return to dialogue. NATO firmly supports the EU-facilitated dialogue and other efforts aimed at the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina as the only path towards achieving a lasting political agreement and stability in the region.

Godfrey: Glad to see Brussels agreement being implemented; We must now focus on a durable solution (Beta/NSPM/RTV)

US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey said on Saturday that he was pleased to see the agreement reached by Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels being consistently implemented. “Pleased to see faithful implementation of compromise agreed in Brussels,” he said in a tweet, adding that freedom of movement and trade is the foundation of regional integration and economic prosperity. “We must now focus on a durable solution,” Ambassador Godfrey said.

Petkovic: Implementation of all agreements from Brussels is starting (Tanjug)

The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic spoke on Friday with Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko about the last round of talks between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels and the agreement reached to deescalate in the north of Kosovo and Metohija. Petkovic stressed that an agreement was reached in Brussels yesterday with which we can be satisfied. The new agreement will implement what was agreed in 2016, which means that there can no longer be any so-called reciprocity, but implantation of agreements, stressed the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. “The most important fact is that peace has been preserved in our southern province, that the withdrawal of ROSU units from the north of Kosovo and Metohija was agreed, and the arrival of KFOR, in accordance with Resolution 1244. Also, vehicles with license plates from Serb towns in Kosovo and Metohija are protected, they will no longer be removed, nor will they be able to forcibly impose test plates with Pristina’s status marks, which will enable for freedom of movement, while the agreed stickers will start to be applied on Monday,” said Petkovic. He stressed that the fact that yesterday’s agreement means implementing all agreements reached so far in Brussels is of special importance. “After the agreement on license plates, that will primarily refer to the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, which will be the first topic of the next meeting in Brussels,” Petkovic said and added that the Serbian delegation insisted on the case of Ivan Todosijevic, where the Brussels agreement was violated regarding the presence of two Serb judges in the chamber, which was clearly stressed by the EU in its statement. Petkovic thanked the Russian Ambassador for his support and for visiting Jarinje and Raska, which, he says, also gave moral encouragement to the Serb people who were gathered at administrative crossings to defend the right to freedom of movement.

REGIONAL PRESS

Dodik praises Vucic for solving crisis in Kosovo (Srna) 

Serb member of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Milorad Dodik gave a statement to Srna saying that solving of the most recent crisis in Kosovo was a statesman move made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and he stressed that this is another proof that Vucic is “a man of peace and dialogue and not a man of conflict”. “Withdrawal of ROSU members presents diplomatic victory for Vucic. This is the first time in the Balkans that we witness withdrawal of the forces, which encouraged by support of some international factors tried to use force to solve misunderstandings and avoid dialogue,” said Dodik.

Representatives of ruling parties in RS hold meeting in Banja Luka; Dodik says leaders of ruling parties agreed to be resolute in protecting RS’ competences (BHT1) 

RS representatives of the ruling coalition concluded at a meeting in Banja Luka on Friday that the RS parliament session on the decision of the CC of B&H declaring part of the law on the RS forests unconstitutional will be held by the end of October. They passed the same conclusion at the meeting with RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic (SNSD), who invited leaders of all parliamentary parties in the RS to this meeting but the opposition leaders refused to attend it.

Cvijanovic stated that through its decisions B&H CC goes towards breakdown of the RS and its constitutional competences. She stressed that the latest decision disputing certain provisions of the law on the RS forests and earlier decision disputing the law on agricultural land of the RS show that B&H CC tends to creation of new constitutional solutions. Addressing the joint press conference after the meetings, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated that due to conduct of B&H CC and activities of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), decisions of former High Representatives (HRs) and the RS’ consents previously given to the laws on formation of B&H Armed Forces, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of B&H and indirect taxes will be reassessed. “We will also refer to the imposed decisions of the High Representatives, at all levels, at the level of the RS and B&H. At the RS level, he imposed amendments regarding the RS Council of Peoples, which is not part of the Dayton constitutional arrangement. We will reconsider and reject everything. Our behavior will be exclusively with the letter of the Dayton Agreement,” Dodik told reporters. ‘United Srpska’ leader Nenad Stevandic stated that there is a clear culmination of pressures, huge chase and serious attacks directed against the RS, through decisions imposed by the HRs and B&H CC’s decisions. Stevandic noted that the opposition leaders had no time to come to meeting organized by Cvijanovic on Friday, but they had the time to meet US Ambassador to B&H Eric Nelson on that same day. He added that this shows they have support of a part of the international community and that their actions and protests are supported by those officials. RS parliament speaker Nedeljko Cubrilovic said the parliament is the best place for solving problems and adopting solutions that are best possible options for the RS and its citizens. NDP leader Dragan Cavic said it is unacceptable that 25 years after the war in B&H ended its domestic leaders are still not making decisions for the country on their own. Cavic said the best example of this is the B&H CC, which has foreign judges sitting in it. He said decisions of the B&H CC, this latest in particular, show that this Court is a part of the political system in B&H, and not a part of the legal system. Since it makes political decision, we must give a political response to this, Cavic concluded. He said that response will be prepared at the RS parliament. SP RS leader Petar Djokic said blockade in B&H will only be resolved through dialogue carried out between officials of the RS and the Federation of B&H (FB&H). NPS representative in the RSNA Darko Banjac said that the ruling coalition in the RS is absolutely determined and that it will not give in for one second. “We will go all the way. What does that mean? That means that we will not only reject all future decisions of the OHR or the CC that are anti-Dayton, but we also call on that part of the international community to go back to the original Dayton Agreement,” Banjac emphasized.

Dodik says to Escobar he does not care about new US sanctions (O Kanal) 

O Kanal warned about vulgarity coming from leadership of the state and noted that Milorad Dodik, faced with new sanctions, told US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar to B&H that he does not care about the new sanctions. The reporter noted that US President Joseph Biden announced a long time ago a possible extension of the black list to persons who destabilize the Western Balkans, while Escobar confirmed that sanctions – especially the ones for corruption in B&H – will be used in an aggressive way. In a conversation with Dodik, Escobar warned Dodik of his retrograde ideas by saying that threats with secession and going backwards with reforms in state institutions are anti-Dayton and bring nothing but isolation and economic despair to citizens of RS. According to Dodik, Escobar threatened and he responded in his own style and he assessed that the public does not deserve what he said to Escobar. However, Dodik was discontent with moves of the US Embassy to B&H and he showed a transcript of the meeting. Dodik spoke about his meeting with Escobar and cited him as saying: “F**k sanctions, I experienced those already. If you want to talk to me, then do not threaten me”. Dodik also told the press conference that he will always “use the ‘F’ word in personal conversations with those who intend to threaten with sanctions”. “The RS does not have a plan, but the secession suggests by itself. The only right thing to do after the last war was to go separate way, but then America made a mistake. Now the political intelligence says we should gather around the idea called Republika Srpska, for which I believe will be an independent state in the year 2030. That is the only alternative when an agreement cannot be reached and it would be good for the Bosniaks too, we would reach a hundred-year non-aggression pact, call on the big powers to be the guarantors (…)”, said Dodik. In addition, Dodik said he does not support US envoy Matthew Palmer in taking care of the local electoral legislation. Belgrade-based political analyst and journalist Dusan Janjic stated a few days ago that German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during her farewell visit to Belgrade that “America and Europe will impose sanctions against Dodik and 19 of his people” and that both Dodik and Vucic know about it, due to constant rhetoric about the secession of the RS, undermining of the Dayton agreement, blockade of state institutions, failure to recognize the High Representative etc.

Political analyst Kesic argues US diplomacy came down to threats, violence and ignoring of political will of Serb people, says one should have no doubt that threats with sanctions can be realized (RTRS) 

Political analyst from Washington Obrad Kesic said that the approach of US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar at his meeting with Milorad Dodik proved that the US diplomacy came down to threats, violence and ignoring of political will of Serb people in B&H, which can only deepen the crisis. Kesic added that one should not have any doubts that Escobar’s threats with sanctions were directly intended for Dodik and political top of RS, and not towards citizens of the RS as some are trying to present it to the public. Kesic went on to say that this is nothing new and argued that this is “tactics of the US Administration by which it is trying to find political leaders who would be willing to sell their political influence, out of fear or for sake of their interests, and do what they are asked to do”. Kesic also speculated that this did not come from the top of the US Administration and argued that this is more likely “a move of mid-ranking officials of the State Department who are not mature enough for those positions and who are now bluffing in all possible ways and are trying to achieve results by using threats in order to justify their positions and promotions”. According to Kesic, Escobar already showed that he is not accepting legitimate representatives of people in the Balkans who were elected in democratic elections unless they support stances imposed both by the US Administration and Brussels while, at the same time, there is readiness to compliment non-democratic moves and leaders in the Balkans such as Milo Djukanovic, whom they see as a role model for behavior in the entire Balkans. Asked whether Escobar’s threats with sanctions are realistic and whether those can be realized, Kesic noted that one should have no doubts about it because “it was the mid-ranking officials of the State Department” which imposed the first set of sanctions against Dodik. “This is realistic, but it is also realistic that no problem in B&H can be solved without the RS and Dodik, and the problem lies in the fact that individuals from the international community, in Washington and Brussels, only followed a single path in the past – the path of trying to impose a highly centralized country and deprive the RS, entities and cantons of their competencies. That path turned out to be unsuccessful because of which we reached the most serious crisis” Kesic claimed. Kesic argued that there are no limits to “how far they are willing to go”, especially knowing that there is no need to prove any accusations before sanctions are imposed against someone. Kesic reminded that sanctions against Dodik were imposed “under wide definition that ‘he is threatening the Dayton (Peace) Agreement’, although this threat, in fact, came from those institutions and people who changed the Dayton Peace Agreement and led us to this crisis”.

Kesic argued that force and pressures cannot solve key problems in B&H and those will definitely not solve the problem of the Election Law of B&H. “Unless they solve this problem then this will not be about only, as they see it, obstructions coming from Serb people and Serb representatives, but this will have to expand onto Croat people and Croat representatives. Should this phase be entered, then USA will have to explain what is it that they are trying to save if one half of citizens who live in B&H do not see their future in its survival,” Kesic said. Finally, Kesic was asked whether politicians from Serbia might face sanctions as well, to which he replied by saying that one should not go very far to see the reasons for which Serbian authorities might be under pressures, because there is always the issue of their good relations with Russia and China, so the best option is to state immediately that this type of diplomacy stands no chance of success.

Sattler: Dodik’s secessionist statements are road to nowhere (N1) 

The Head of the EU Delegation to B&H and EU Special Representative Johann Sattler, asked to comment on Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik’s statement on Friday that the blockade of the institutions will continue, and on his secessionist statements, Sattler said: “I think it is unacceptable and it is also impossible. So, very friendly to tell you, this is road to nowhere. I call on all political leaders to come back to the table. There is one spot, one chair for B&H in Brussels to join the EU, and this one chair is for this country, for B&H. This is what is on the agenda, and everything else leads to nowhere”.

Palmer: Fuele’s model is not only one, we would also support variant of Fuele’s model (Hayat) 

US Special Envoy for Electoral Reform in B&H Matthew Palmer said that political leaders in B&H should use this non-election year to meet the minimum requirements for changes to election legislation, which include implementing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and ensuring the transparency of the election process. Palmer repeated several times that the US will not impose any solutions but that they will offer a platform for talks and be a sort of support, so that the leaders in B&H talk about things they agree on and find solutions for those things they do not agree on. Palmer held a number of meetings with political representatives who can directly or indirectly influence changes to the election legislation in B&H. Palmer was quoted as saying: “Changes to the election legislation and minor changes to the Constitution in this regard are not an easy task, because if they were, it would have been done by now, but it is possible and there are many models to achieve transparency in the election process. (Former European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan) Fuele’s model is not the only one, but the concept is open to progress. There is no fixed constituency which is why some have said it is a slippery slope towards the third entity. We would also support a variant of Fuele’s model, but it is quite clear that no one will come out of these talks one hundred percent satisfied”. Even though Palmer said they would not impose their solutions, he confirmed that the US will support the removal of ethnic prefix for B&H Presidency and B&H House of Peoples (HoP), added the reporter. Palmer told reporters after the meetings with political representatives on Friday that the goal is to amend the electoral legislation of B&H and adjust it to the EU legislation processes, as well as to ensure transparency in the election process. He stressed that it is realistic and possible to expect important constitutional reforms and ensure parliamentary support by the end of this year. “I cannot say how the agreement should look like, but this has to be said by representatives of political parties. It is not my job to order someone to do something, but to help in holding talks,” Palmer stated. Palmer said in a statement to the daily that the electoral reform is needed in B&H but the rule of law is fundamental “for everything we are trying to achieve in B&H and throughout the region and this is of central importance for the American strategy”. Palmer added that B&H cannot make any progress on its European path unless it improves judiciary and carries out a judicial reform. “Things are better than they were but we are still not satisfied with the current situation and I think public is not satisfied either,” Palmer said and added that B&H must have a professional and fair judicial system which reacts to the will of people. Speaking about the blockade of the state institutions, Palmer said that the blockade must be overcome and institutions must be strengthened in order to be able to face political challenges. “Crises are normal while navigation through crises is a challenge and responsibility of elected leaders. I understand pressures, but I hope leaders will take this as a signal that they have to launch talks in order to reach an agreement by the end of this year,” Palmer stated. Palmer said that he would be satisfied with a minimal package of reforms that would improve transparency of election process and he argued that citizens are crucial in this story: “It is necessary to establish such system in which a Serb in the FB&H would have same rights as everyone else, and the same goes for Bosniaks in Republika Srpska (RS). This is the basic European principle. This needs to be harmonized with the principle – one state, two entities, three peoples,” Palmer noted. Palmer was also asked to comment on the possibility for the Presidency of B&H to keep its protocol activities while its constitutional competencies would be transferred onto the Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H. Palmer replied by saying it is suitable and useful for people to discuss what are the things an institution should be doing as well as to discuss their competencies. Palmer added that it is necessary to have a combination of idealism and pragmatism when it comes to identification of compromise that can be implemented: “This is not my job. This is a job for political parties, to work together on implementation of what they agreed through B&H institutions”. Asked whether he considered the possibility of getting the Office of the High Representative (OHR) engaged in this task, Palmer reminded that the OHR has its mission, i.e. 5+2 agenda, and he added that he is convinced High Representative Christian Schmidt will be very successful in the implementation of this agenda. “The OHR will not be involved in talks on the electoral reform. USA is working in partnership with the EU, we are discussing this agenda with the OHR, I met Christian Schmidt yesterday, but the focus of the OHR is not the electoral reform but 5+2. There are aspects of the OHR’s agenda which support electoral reform but are not crucial for it”, Palmer stated. Asked about the legitimacy of the new High Representative, Palmer said the procedure was abided by and that Schmidt was appointed through the Peace Implementation Council procedures. “The fact is that Russia rejects it, but I am not interested in that much,” added Palmer.

Palmer ends his visit to B&H after talks with opposition leaders on electoral reform (BHT1) 

US Special Envoy on Electoral Reform in B&H Matthew Palmer ended his visit to B&H on Friday. Within his three-day visit, Palmer and US Ambassador to B&H Eric Nelson held meetings with leaders of political parties in B&H on the electoral reform, with a message that progress on this issue is expected by the end of this year. The meetings were held behind the closed doors so outcome of talks with local politicians is unknown to the public. Palmer held talks on Thursday with HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic, SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic and DF leader Zeljko Komsic in separate meetings, but no details from the meeting were made public. Palmer met with the opposition parties’ leaders on Friday, i.e. NiP leader Elmedin Konakovic, NS’ Predrag Kojovic and SDP B&H’s Sasa Magazinovic as representatives of the Sarajevo-based coalition of ‘The Three’, as well as SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic. However, they were not willing to reveal much details on talks after the meeting either. Konakovic said that the purpose of talks was to hear stances of the opposition regarding the electoral reform, adding that the principle advocated at the meeting includes a single state with two entities and three constituent peoples, civil freedoms and removal of ethnic prefix. Radoncic said after the meeting that consequences will be immense unless B&H politicians realize that the US’ mediation is a rescue rope for reaching a compromise on amending the Election Law of B&H and the last chance for stabilization and safer future of B&H. Radoncic also noted that the public and international partners will realize by the end of the year who are selfish populists who want to have a permanent tri-partite division and who are politicians with full sense of statehood responsibility towards a difficult historical challenge and citizens. Radoncic argued that “compromise is mother of success” and thanked Palmer and Nelson for their extraordinary efforts, diplomatic innovativeness and persistence. FTV noted that many were discontent after Palmer left including representative of citizens who declare themselves as the ‘Others’ Dervo Sejdic. Sejdic sent a letter to Palmer and said that he should also have a conversation with those who plead as the ‘Others’ in B&H and stated that he also has some solutions for some doubts. The reporter noted that there will be more chances for talks as Palmer announced that he will again visit B&H soon and we can expect a new round of negotiations in the upcoming months.

Komsic says Fuele’s model is unacceptable (FTV) 

Member of B&H Presidency and leader of DF Zeljko Komsic said that the negotiation approach of US Special Envoy on Electoral Reform in B&H Matthew Palmer implies that everyone is equally discontent in this process and in his opinion, this is way too demanding. Komsic added that all representatives of the international community – when advocating a certain approach – cannot say “we are for this, but you adopt it” because things do not work in that way. He added: “If you really advocate some approach, then support it publicly”. Leader of SDA Bakir Izebegovic stated that he will try to persuade Komsic that the direct election is much better, while Komsic said that he finds Fuele’s model unacceptable. Reporter noted that member of B&H Presidency and leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik does not find B&H Election Law disputable and it is no surprise that Palmer did not invite him for talks like representatives of the opposition from RS but the reasons and topics of this meeting remain unknown. FTV underlined that there are no changes of B&H Election Law without changes to the Constitution of B&H which is impossible without the opposition but the opposition in the Federation of B&H remained without concrete stance and comments following Palmer’s visit and thus, everything is still in hands of leaders who fail to reach an agreement for years.

Sarovic, Borenovic meet Palmer, Sarovic argued SNSD, SDA and HDZ B&H are key to Election Law (BN TV) 

Representatives of SDS and PDP talked with US Special Envoy for Electoral Reform in B&H Matthew Palmer about reforms to the election legislation. SDS leader Mirko Sarovic said that he and PDP leader Branislav Borenovic attended the meeting. Sarovic said they talked about how they see certain things. “We also have our requests that we have submitted. We also communicated this issue to the working group and others. We presented our views on the election of members of the Presidency. We pointed out that, as far as we are concerned, if it is possible to achieve the whole package. The whole package is the improvement of the Election Law. We are afraid that this is a difficult job if there is no agreement regarding the election in the Presidency,” said Sarovic. He added that SNSD, SDA and HDZ B&H are the key to the Election Law and that the responsibility lies on them.

Izetbegovic says Palmer expects him and Covic to untie knot in electoral reform (Hayat) 

The leader of SDA Bakir Izetbegovic was quoted as saying: “Palmer expects Covic and I to untie this knot. I told him that this was not possible because if Covic and I find the most ideal solution, it ignores the position of the other parties. I told him that the negotiations must be extended to all party leaders. There are leftists, civic options that have two or three times as many hands as the HDZ B&H, so it is irrational to try to bypass them”. Covic was quoted as saying: “Non-discrimination and legitimate representation are crucial, and the rights and equality of the constituent peoples must be fully respected. The process will be completed in accordance with the principles of the Mostar Agreement this election year.”

Sattler: With attention of EU and US, this is right moment to address constitutional and electoral reforms before 2022 (N1) 

The Head of the EU Delegation to B&H and EU Special Representative Johann Sattler, asked if the EU handed over the electoral reforms to the US, Sattler answered negative. “We have started this process together and we are going to finish it together, like we worked very well together on the issue of Mostar,” said Sattler. “I think that is perhaps the key message of his visit, it is high time to come back to the table, that citizens are expecting constitutional and electoral reforms. We still have time, not too much to be honest, but there is still some time. The longer the blockade lasts, the less time remains. Therefore, it is of key importance to get back to the table, to discuss the issues truly important for B&H, i.e. how to eliminate discrimination, how to enable every citizen to run for the highest offices in B&H. The second part that is very important implies elimination of corruption from the system. Unfortunately, we have seen in many electoral cycles too many votes being stolen, suspicious thigs happening during the vote count, then sudden changes of the polling station committees’ members. Those are all elements of electoral reforms we advocate, and we will definitely continue talks with all political parties on a package that will be a good step towards regaining the trust of the citizens,” said Sattler. Asked to comment on the statement by SBB leader Fahrudin Radoncic on the US mediation being the last chance for the stabilization and safer future of B&H, Sattler said: “We have said all along, this is the time to change the Election Law and the Constitution.” Sattler reminded the activities had started immediately after the local elections in December. “In December, I wrote a letter, together with my American colleagues, to the leaders of the B&H parliament, to set up the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG)” said Sattler, and added, although it took long to form it, the IAWG worked well until July, when the work came to a halt. “However, I truly believe we still have some time, and I agree with the statement that we need to address the issues. We have this chance now. We have the attention of the EU and the US, and other constructive players on the ground. We need to use this chance. I fear if we do not reach agreement that we will enter very unpleasant 2022,” said Sattler.

Banja Luka: Thousands of citizens gather at opposition protest under slogan ‘Stop choking media freedom, truth, rights and democracy!’ (Nova BH/RTRS/BN TV/BHT1) 

Thousands of citizens from across the RS cities gathered for a protest under the slogan ‘Stop choking media freedom, truth, rights and democracy!’, at the Krajina Square in Banja Luka on Saturday. The protest was organized by the RS opposition parties – SDS and PDP, and other opposition politicians and organizations in the RS. They addressed the protest and presented their demands concerning criticism against the RS government, media freedoms and latest affairs that are in the public focus. They presented details of the latest affairs. They called on citizens to launch big changes in the RS and conveyed messages criticizing SNSD and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik. PDP leader Branislav Borenovic said that changes in the RS will start as of the 2022 general elections, announcing that the opposition will make sure that SNSD-led coalition becomes part of the political past and history and will request criminal prosecution of some of the officials from the coalition so that they end up in jail.  The opposition leaders also said that this will not be the only protest they will organize due to dissatisfaction with the way how the ruling coalition governs the RS. Leader of SDS Mirko Sarovic presented three requests of the opposition. First one was conveyed to the RTRS, demanding this public broadcaster to enable free access to digital signal for BN TV and other commercial televisions. It was underlined that unless this demand is fulfilled, new protests will be organized in front of premises of RTRS and will not end until abovementioned demand is met. In its second request, the opposition requested the RS judiciary to process all those involved in affairs registered in the RS since beginning of the pandemic – ones referring to procurement of protective masks, respirators and oxygen. The third request refers to immediate removal of RS Minister of Healthcare Alen Seranic, Director of the University-Clinical Center (UKC) of the RS Vlado Djajic and all directors of health institutions that were providing oxygen in opposition to legal procedures. Other leaders of the opposition also address gathered citizens. PDP leader Branislav Borenovic stressed that freedom of media and people must never again be suffocated in the RS. Deputy President of SDS Milan Radovic emphasized that high number of people attending this gathering is evidence that people want to remove current authorities in this entity. DNS leader Nenad Nesic underlined that the RS has to be free. According to organizers, some 20,000 people participated in this protest. BHT1 carries statements of some participants who underlined that they want removal of unsuccessful authorities. Despite to significant number of participants of abovementioned protest, no incident was registered. Reporter commented that this rally was not organized accidentally on 2 October, because general elections in B&H will be held on same date in 2022. According to BHT1, this gathering can be observed as beginning of pre-election campaign in the RS.

Dodik: Gathering in Banja Luka showed that opposition is without program and ambition (RTRS) 

Commenting on the protest organized by the opposition in Banja Luka on Saturday, leader of SNSD Milorad Dodik said that this gathering showed that the opposition lacks ambitions and program. Dodik added that they did not convey any messages, but resumed to insist on classing lies, which cannot be ground for stable long-term political engagement. He went on to saying that the opposition was announcing this protest for a long time with strong support of media prone to them, adding that it was fiasco unlike the protest in Bijeljina where people gathered to request the removal of the mayor of this city. He stressed that it is important both gathering were held without incidents. According to Dodik, the goal of Saturday gathering was to attract dozen thousands of people, but maximum number of citizens who took part in this gathering did not surpass 5,000. He added that this number is too small concerning activities the opposition conducted to bring people from the entire RS. Dodik commented on the protest and said that they should be ashamed. In his opinion, the opposition suffered a total fiasco at the Krajina Square on Saturday and the gathering is not worth of the attention. According to Dodik, political ambition was missing in messages that the opposition sent on Saturday by recycling old topics and speaking about the past.

Plenkovic meets with Ambassadors of EU Member States; stresses need to ensure equality of all three constituent peoples in B&H (HRT1) 

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic met with the Ambassadors of EU Member States in Zagreb on Friday. Main topics of the meeting were Afghanistan, climate change and consequences of the situation in the neighborhood with an emphasis on B&H. Presenting the guidelines of the internal and foreign policy of Croatia, Plenkovic stressed the need to ensure equality of all three constituent peoples in B&H. Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman said that Croatia supports any activity that leads in the direction of changes to the B&H Election Law on the principles of equality. “We want of course to give our own contribution to that, but we want to leave it to the political leaders of the three peoples to decide on their own fate. But who more than Croatia wants a stable, functional and prosperous B&H,” Grlic Radman said.

Krivokapic’s office: Previous disagreements as well as issues that halt work of government and parliamentary majority must end (CdM) 

Prime Minister of Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapic had the first round of talks with all representatives of the parties making up the ruling majority based on the reached agreement between the two strongest political parties, which launched the initiative for the improvement of government’s work, Krivokapic’s office stated. The statement suggests that all parties expressed a high level of readiness and agreement to find the best model for the improvement of government’s work and the relations between the government and parliamentary majority through the exchange of opinion sand constructive dialogue, at the same time abiding by the agreement signed by the three leaders of the ruling blocs on 8 September 2020. “The government will initiate new round of talks as soon as possible in order to establish the basic principles of a model which would enhance the work of both the government and the parliamentary majority” it was said in a statement.

Consultations on government reshuffle begin, elections if no agreement reached; PzP wants Medojevic instead of Abazovic (CdM) 

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic has started negotiations with the representatives of the parliamentary majority regarding the government reshuffle. DF leaders Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic, as well as SNP leader Vladimir Jokovic, have said after the separate meetings with Krivokapic, that if there is no agreement on reshuffle, they will see the only way out in the early parliamentary elections. Deputy leader of the Movement for Changes (PzP) Branko Radulovic has told reporters that he told the Prime Minister that the party was asking for the deputy prime minister position for the security sector to belong to Nebojsa Medojevic. He has emphasized that Krivokapic did not say anything today about that PzP’s request. The security sector is currently headed by the current DPM Dritan Abazovic. Krivokapic is supposed to continue talks on the government reshuffle with the URA leader Abazovic and the Democrats leader and parliament speaker Aleksa Becic. Head of the DPS caucus, Boris Bogdanovic, assessed that they had made a step forward in the negotiations. “We noted that 38 out of 41 MPs of the parliamentary majority back the government reshuffle. We also noted that Krivokapic backed the reshuffle. We stated that we were not in love with any position, but were ready to propose our candidates,” Bogdanovic said after the meeting with Krivokapic. According to him, they didn’t discuss the structure of the government. The government says that Krivokapic will support the agreement and compromise behind which there are 41 MPs of the parliamentary majority, which is a condition for the establishment of political stability, in order to resolutely continue the process of democratization of Montenegro.

MANS: The Djukanovics set up trusts and companies at offshore destinations (Pobjeda) 

As part of the global research project called Pandora Papers, MANS found certified copies of agreements on the establishment of trusts and companies at offshore destinations formed by President Milo Djukanovic and his son Blazo. This was stated at MANS’s press conference, which was part of the project conducted by over 600 journalists globally. Vanja Calovic Markovic explained that the trusts do not exist in Montenegrin legislation, and that they are a form of legal transaction in which one person transfers property to another person, although that person continues to use that property and its benefits. According to Calovic Markovic, it can be seen from the agreement that Djukanovic formed the Victoria trust, and Blazo Djukanovic the Cape Castel trust. According to Dejan Milovac, Djukanovic admitted that he had founded the Victoria Trust, but that he returned to the position of prime minister in 2012 and handed over the ownership to his son. “Blazo said that he did not remember too much and did not directly answer the question about the transfer of the trust to him,” Milovac said. “They denied that they had any assets in trusts, but what the business of such agencies means is that they do not disclose data to third parties, so the validity of Djukanovic’s answer is still questionable,” Milovac added.

Calovic Markovic said that trusts do not have to mean that there was illegal activity, but that the Swiss address hides the secret that is in them. “The scheme was used to hide the property. They used four or five intermediaries so that their real name would not be known,” she said.

Djukanovic’s office: Victoria Trust existed solely on paper, this is MANS’ malicious spin (CdM) 

The latest show for the public directed by the MANS NGO called the ‘Pandora Papers’ is just one in a series of attempts to discredit the President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic and the members of his family, which MANS has been trying to do for years, Djukanovic’s office said in response to the allegations of MANS that the Djukanovic family had set up trusts and companies in the offshore countries. The President’s office also notes that the owner of MANS Vanja Calovic, while speaking in a TV news show aired on the public broadcaster, didn’t know what to respond when a journalist asked her whether there was anything illegal about the afore-mentioned allegations. They further note that the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, ICIJ, has recently sent them questions and Djukanovic responded in detail denying everything that MANS told the public. “In order to inform the public accurately, we wish to reiterate that the afore-mentioned Victoria Trust existed solely on paper, and everything that MANS and its owner Calovic Markovic announced was just another malicious immediately backed by Prime Minister Krivokapic and his deputy Dritan Abazovic as though they had agreed on it. After all, it’s easy to check it, competent bodies won’t have trouble finding out about the facts concerning MANS’ malicious allegations,” it was concluded in a statement.

Local elections campaign: VMRO-DPMNE holds a rally in Strumica, and SDSM goes to Kavadarci (Republika) 

The local elections campaign enters in its second week, with rallies across the country. VMRO-DPMNE will gather its supporters for a large rally in Prime Minister Zoran Zaev’s home base of Strumica, as well as in Radovis. SDSM will be in Valandovo and Kavadarci. Levica party leader Dimitar Apasiev plans a meeting with supporters in Gevgelija and Bogdanci and the LDP-DOM coalition has rallies in Kocani. The BESA party will organize events in Skopje’s Butel and Sutka districts.

Bomb thrown at the house of Roma politician Gabriel Bajram (Republika) 

Roma politician Gabriel Bajram reported to the police that a bomb was thrown in the yard of his house. Bajram said that the blast caused damage to the house, but no injuries. Previously, he would report to the police that he is receiving threats. Bajram is a candidate on the SDSM list for the Council of the City of Skopje at the upcoming local elections. He is the son of recently deceased Amdi Bajram, who was for decades one of the best-known Roma politicians in Macedonia, and a prosperous businessman. Amdi Bajram died of Covid late last year. His other son Elvis, former Mayor of Shuto Orizari – Macedonia’s only Roma majority municipality – is also running as a Council member, leading the list of the Roma Alliance Party in Shuto Orizari. During the last local elections in 2017, when the Bajram family was allied with VMRO-DPMNE, Elvis Bajram was attacked by axe wielding SDSM supporters. Since then, the family switched sides and is now allied with Zoran Zaev’s SDSM.

Rama meets Borrell: We must maintain the momentum of reforms (Radio Tirana)

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met on Friday with the EU representative for foreign policy Josep Borrell. The latter posted on social networks a moment from the meeting with Rama. Among other things, Borrell clarified the conversation he had with Rama and what they discussed with each other. “Met Prime Minister Edi Rama at #WPC2021. We discussed #enlargement, the upcoming #WesternBalkans Summit and the need for concrete results. Important to keep both the reform momentum of the region as well as credibility of the EU,” Borrell wrote.

Escobar: US hopes that Tirana and Skopje will start negotiations with EU this year (Radio Tirana)

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Gabriel Escobar told Bulgarian media online that the United States hopes that Albania and North Macedonia will begin membership negotiations with the EU later this year. Escobar stressed that the United States is convinced that North Macedonia and Albania made important, sometimes painful, reforms to move towards membership in the EU. Therefore, according to him, the two countries deserve to start negotiations as soon as possible. “I hope that all European countries will understand the strategic importance of allowing these two countries to start membership negotiations. “I hope that the European Union, as well as the member states individually, will recognize the strategic importance of the European integration of the Balkan states,” Escobar said.